buenos noches ;)

· Its 9 15 right now and Santiago is just lighting up, my friends are on their way up in the elevator and I have fixed, what I consider, a pretty south American meal. I have the wine chilled and food out, we will start with chorizo, avocado, cheese and a slice of fruit and progress to mojo chicken and rice stuffed red peppers, also with tomato cilantro cucumber salad on the side. I love that people live out loud here. Even in the hospital people wear bright colors and flowers and kiss each other hello They answer their phones with such gusto and seem passionate about their opinions. Looking outside the sun has now gone down over Santiago and the skyline has this crazy calm duo about it – quite a paradox but amidst all the loudness of people having a good time and walking on the streets the andes bring a sense of protection, and the virgin mary looking down from cerro san cristobal does not hurt the mood (Despite the phone towers that have been put up around her.)

 Even though I don’t speak the language and probably stick out as a foreigner/tourist, I think I could stay here for a while (I do realize I say that about every country I visit…but I mean it!) Sotero del rio is an awesome hospital. I really enjoy seeing this side of medicine. When resources are slim and patients need care, the residents rise to the occasion.  Chilean time is always a little on the later side – good for me because this is my paradigm lol. I guess the Lebanese in me takes to a later schedule. The people in this city really know how to have fun, I cant believe Im just getting together w friends for dinner at 930 but when in rome, do as the romans. I still wonder how those who work in the morning pull off these late nights – maybe they just go to sleep with a fully belly  J

Today at the hospital I really started to feel in the groove of the schedule. I am on the lactantes team which I mentioned in yesterdays blog. We have some really neat cases so UAB friends be ready, im gonna come back ready to practice my Chilean medicine. I will say the highlight, sit down ladies and gentlemen this really happened, was when our little 24 day old ALTEs mom was in our room receiving CPR classes (From resident and attending) and they had me sing the infamous song ….staying alive. For real though, having our patients mom in the same room with us and the little simulation baby and discussing the ins and outs of resuscitation made me really feel like a part of something bigger than myself  and reminded me how blessed I am to be a pediatrician. The mom was very thankful and we wished her well upon discharge. Some neat factoids I learned today, all babies in chile get the Tb BCG shot and so it takes a PPD of > 1 cm to count as positive (sorry for the random medical info to all my non medical readers!), and I actually didn’t realize to order thyroid studies for neonatal hyperbili – but Dr. Sandoval reminded me. 

Now that dinner is over and friends have headed home, and given that its bedtime I will say adios. Tomorrow is sure to be a cafe drinking day given we will have a night on the town with Phillipe, Cony and their friends! Hasta luego (still working on spelling ;)....

besitos XOXO

marta