Island Time

Weekly Research Report

So that meeting with the chiefs?  Didn’t happen.  I show up early to Dr. EJ’s office in what I call “smart island casual” attire (knees and shoulders covered) and print out study materials in triplicate for the meeting.  Dr. EJ is held up with truck trouble, so a very smiley man with no teeth and no English escorts me across the street to the hospital administration where I wait near a secretary for the chief’s meeting.  Dr. EJ and Dr. Jim and Dr. Hedsen arrive but the director of the health department Dr. Keller does not arrive.  So there is no meeting and my ethics approval letter from FSM is still not signed.  But I did learn how everyone went at the fishing tournament on Saturday.  I show Dr. Hedsen the picture of the tuna I caught and secure an invite out on his boat, so not a complete loss.

My next responsibility is to give a presentation to all the hospital physicians, about 20, at their Continuing Medical Education meeting Thursday afternoon.  Boris tells me to make a powerpoint and clearly outline how they can assist in study recruitment.  Thursday morning, Dr EJ calls to inform that the CME is postponed because of Easter.  Ummmm…..  So apparently Easter is a big deal and a 5 day celebration.  Everyone takes a half day on the Thursday which also meant that there was no one at the telecommunications building to receive my home internet application.

However, on Wednesday I did manage to meet with Lisa who runs the laboratory.  Much of my study revolves around the cooperation and assistance of the lab, so I want to build a good relationship early.  Lisa is Australian, married a local Pohnpeian and has been living here for 10 years.  She helps to remind me that the long shorts I’m wearing do not quite cover my knees.  We discuss shipping protocols, really interesting local disease outbreaks, and her concern for my safety as a single menwai.  She’s pretty concerned that I’m living alone and that I’ve been jogging alone (especially in jogging shorts) and that my residence at Tino’s house will soon be widespread public knowledge.  I’m not too worried.  Kevin, who’s been researching here for 10 years, says Pohnpeians are the sweetest people around and that if I’m really freaked out then I can get a machete.

So most of the menwai researchers can’t seem to adjust to the speed at which things get accomplished (or don’t get accomplished).  Doesn’t bother me, I’m on island time.