Trinidad and Tobago: The Other Side of the Caribbean

“Small things start us in new ways of thinking” ― V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River

The home of bake and shark, doubles and any kind of pelau you can imagine, Trinidad and Tobago gave me a greater appreciation for island living.

Also known as the land of 'fete', Trinidadians can be described not only as 'fiery spirited' but also as laid back and overtly relaxed.

With the end of year 3 well behind, I was able to indulge in the local festivities that spanned across a long Easter weekend which began on Good Friday (March 19th) and ended March 31st.

I will truly miss having so many holidays to either use as extra sleep days or ones where I could get caught up on studying.

To my knowledge, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the only countries with so many holidays in a year-28 to be exact.

My mother and cousin blessed me with their presence during the break and we spent most of our time touring the country.

The Island Circle Tour was our first tour. It granted us the opportunity to see most of Trinidad in just one day.We were able to experience the lifestyle of the people, the agricultural belt of the country as well as the industrial aspect all while appreciating the nature and wildlife which is unique to this side of the world and climate.

     


As we traveled along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway we passed various schools and trees such as the Poui 'poo-e' (left) and the "red tulip" (top center) tree and areas that showed the red rich soil (lower center) that the country possesses.

We continued along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway eastwards passing Arima until we came to Valencia where we stopped at the Valencia Visitors Centre which is also opened to the general public throughout the year including holidays.

 Here we were able to see local, macaws, green parrots and howler monkeys which are indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. The centre also has possums, anteaters and other animals for viewing as well.

From Valencia we journeyed through Sangre Grande and our tour continued along the coastline where we stopped and allowed the ocean breeze to wipe the sweat off our brows at the picturesque Manzanilla Beach, which is situated along a lush coconut plantation, stretching a distance of 14 miles.

We proceeded eastward passing sugar cane plantations, small villages and countless papaya and cocoa plantations until we came to the coastal village of Mayaro.

As we traveled through Mayaro, there were so many things to see. Things you won't see on a daily basis in The Bahamas. Such as corn being roasted on the side of the street by a local vendor outside of the market. 

 In Guayaguayare (which lies at the southern end of the county of Mayaro) we enjoyed lunch which consisted of  fried snapper also known by locals as 'red fish', fries, potato salad and cole slaw washed down with fresh Portugal juice (similar to a tangerine) as local soca tunes serenaded us at the restaurant The Ranch. This was the only restaurant since I've been in Trinidad and Tobago where the fish was cooked as close to what I'm use to at home in The Bahamas. It was seasoned nice and a lime wedge topped it as well.

From Guayaguayare we drove southwards along the west coast passing counties such as Rio Claro and Princes Town. Along this route we came across a road where a Hindu temple is situated across the street from a Catholic church. Each having its own unique architecture added something special to the route.

We continued through San Fernando, the second largest city and commercial centre of the south and then as we ventured home we made our way through Chaguanas and onto the Uriah Butler Highway.

All in all it was an enjoyable day touring Trinidad.

Plan with Me| March

Decorative planning has been my way of staying connected to my creative side. It has allowed me to try my hand at a new kind of organization and planning which I greatly enjoy.

I have been using my teal Color Crush as a daily personal and school planner and although I was intimidated by the small lines and what seemed to be limited space, utilizing things such as washi tape, stickers and doodling added a unique flair to planning that has somehow made tasks more enjoyable to look at and actually complete.

For the month of March, I decided to use colours such as blue, teal, coral, pink and gold. I received a random acts of kindness package that was filled with so many planning goodies from a fellow planner. I also received my stickers I had ordered earlier in the year from Sweet Kawaii Designs, Memories and Pastimes and The Angel Shoppe along with custom planner clips.

As year three came to an end, the middle of March was filled with examinations. I found myself more prayerful and pressed for time. Keeping my planner bright, and inspirational with various encouraging texts such as Philippians 4:6-7 propelled me to study hard and to be diligent and wise with my time.

In the above photo, the Presentation sticker as well as the heart checklists were purchased from the Etsy shop Memories and Pastimes. The champagne glass at the bottom of the right page was apart of a custom sticker order from The Angel Shoppe also found on Etsy.

I've found that having a theme and a word or phrase for the month to be an easier way to plan especially when pressed for time. All of the washi pictured were used throughout the month of March along with the pens which were sent to me in a care package from a very good high school friend.

Jonas always seems to find time to play with the washi either as I plan or decorate my photos or set up an area for photos. He highly enjoys my tassel and chasing the washi. 

All in all, the month of March was a great month despite the numerous examinations and presentations but having a planner filled with colorful pages, photos of moments cherished and the campus where I made precious memories for the past 3 years made it bearable. 

SHE MATCHED!

A special congratulations are in order for one of my blog contributors Carmen who matched into a Residency program during this years Match Day.

To my fellow Med Pals, we all know what a big deal this is for anyone studying in the U.S.A. and for those who are wanting to practice there as well.

Be determined, be dedicated, remain focused and whatever you do remember to "let your faith be BIGGER than your fear!"

Carmen, thank you for your contributions to The Night Owl Chronicles and I wish you all the best as a new journey soon unfolds.


If you would like to read some of Carmen's posts you can find them here and here.

Curveballs

"Life was throwing curveballs at me, left and right. But God gave me a bat and showed me how to swing."-Anonymous.

This is my last week of back-to-back examinations for the moment. After which, I will be afforded the opportunity to introduce myself to patients and all of you as Cara D, fourth year medical student. Looking back on the year, I will admit, academically it was not the best and for that I have no one to blame but myself. There were more times than I can count, where I lost my focus, my drive and my determination. The curriculum and all of its flaws and strengths got me discouraged and believe it or not, medicine was a burden and I was bored of simply going through the motions and being another number, passing through the system.

It did however get better when my Hematology clerkship began and I was taught by practicing Hematologists who are connected to the theory but their interactions with their patients demonstrated that at the end of the day "the needs of the patient comes first." After a semester of non-stop studying, lectures and clerkships, with exams one after the other and everything else that occurred this academic year, being present when Dr. Charles saw his patients and how he interacted with them, it made me realize that the theory and practice of medicine both have an equal place. I was so anxious to interact with patients that I neglected the required time needed to learn and fully understand the basic pathology that made any patient interaction a tad bit meaningless.

I previously mentioned the importance of maintaining a balance, and I may have overlooked my own advice and shifted my attention on something that was out of my reach. As a third year student at the UWI, balance is mandatory and vital for the next rung of the ladder. You see, the didactic will allow the patient interaction which is to come in a matter of weeks, an enjoyable learning experience and the time when countless "ah-ha" moments will occur. But before that can begin, the foundation must be laid, and laid well.

I would like to encourage the new set of anxious soon to be third year students to do your best now to plan your time-realistically plan your time. Clerkships will have their share of challenges, however they're small PBL's of sort gauged to assist with clarifying any doubts in that particular discipline that you may have. Firstly however, you must read, attend lectures in order to have doubts and I encourage you to be prepared for lectures and to make the MOST out of those clerkships. Walk with a set of questions you came up with during your preparation if you must, just don't wait until the last minute to seek guidance.

As far as Skills sessions go, utilize those classes and volunteer to practice and to be critiqued. It will be beneficial especially when time is of the essence and you're pressed for time before OSCE.

If possible, make use of the professors who encourage students to stop by their office if they have queries, you will be surprised at how much information they are willing to share and to know that they were once students who struggled with Anatomical Pathology when every histopathology slide looked identical. They are mentors to be treasured. Even though I ventured out a tad bit later in the semester than I should have, I am glad I didn't allow my pride to swallow me up while I searched the internet for answers.

There were curveball after curveball thrown in my direction and often times I questioned whether or not I was going out and looking for the path with the most curveballs. Nonetheless, on that path I was reminded that to be a great doctor I must master balance, put the patient first and always seek ways to change what needs to be changed and things that can be changed no matter how big or how small and to always remember as a doctor I am not a team of one.

Thank you Dr. Charles for a great clerkship experience and for the reminder.

I've always thought curveballs were meant to be avoided. Little did I know, they were meant to be faced and knocked out of the park. Deterrents are a dime a dozen on this journey, but it's just another character building experience that may seem unbearable but is easy to overcome with dedication, commitment, perseverance and faith.