“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ―
I'm still in awe, how quickly a new year began. The first month is practically over and before we know it, another year will be rung in. With new beginnings comes new resolutions and the feeling of wanting to be better, wanting to improve ourselves and to finally get our lives together-as a colleague of mine would say. So today's post will touch on preparation.
I am definitely big on preparation even for the smallest of things, so I surprised everyone including myself when I hadn't packed for my out of town rotation the 'normal' two weeks before. I'll share how I'm regretting that but still managed to make the most of it.
Just some background for those who may not be familiar with the medical internship rotations here in The Bahamas. Our internship program runs for a year, from July-July. It usually starts the month following the University's graduation date. There are four major specialty rotations which each has their own set of requirements for completion in order to be eligible to apply for a Senior House Officer position at the end of the year.
The major specialty rotations are inclusive of Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Each rotation spans a three month timeframe with an examination at the end. Depending on the schedule you may find yourself at the Rand Memorial Hospital, the sister hospital on the island of Grand Bahama. All rotations with the exception of the Surgery rotation are for three months on Grand Bahama, for surgery it is split into two six-weeks period.
So now for the important stuff. As the hospital is by far smaller than the Princess Margaret Hospital in New Providence, it allows for more hands-on opportunities and one-on-one teaching if you take advantage of it. Depending on the specialty your calls may be one in four, five or six.
The island is more slow paced than Nassau, however the hospital is a revolving door for everything, so you won't be sitting around twiddling your thumbs.
Freeport Essentials 101
1. Transportation is Limited
It's no secret that the transportation system in The Bahamas is lacking, on the islands of The Bahamas, they're practically non-existent or non-existent the further down the chain you venture. Hence, putting your car on the boat and having it brought over would allow you unlimited freedom to explore the island when your schedule permits.
For some this may not be cost effective if you're only there for a maximum of six weeks, but it all depends on whether or not you can handle the unreliability of the transport system.
2. Prepare to Spend
With its close proximity to the United States, one would think the cost of living here would be a little less expensive than it really is. Consider bulk/wholesale purchases for your stay here as it will be less expensive than purchasing fast food every day and gaining weight that you would not have wanted.
There is a Cost-Right on the island that is similar to Cost-co or Sam's Club in the U.S. There are some local farmer's markets on the island but you'll have to be sure to ask the locals or pay attention to the advertisements to find out when they will be popping up.
3. Exploration is Essential
There is so much to do from shopping at the stores in Port Lucaya, to venturing down to West End for the famous pancakes and fried fish that it would be a crying shame if you allowed work to consume all of your time.
While exploring Port Lucaya, be sure to visit Bootlegger's Chocolate Shop if you're interested in trying out new flavours of chocolate made in The Bahamas. You won't be disappointed.
If you're interested in sports or land adventures, there is a local tour group that offer ATV tours!
4. Pack for chilly weather!
I had no idea how different the weather was in Freeport, compared to other parts of The Bahamas especially Nassau. The worse thing I did was to pack one sweater, which was more like a windbreaker than a sweater. The weather changes often and whatever the weather is like across the ocean, we're sure likely to get remnants of it here as well-more often than not, unexpectantly.
5. Be vigilant!
Like any new experience, or when visiting a new place, always be vigilant. In Freeport, since the last hurricane, the lampposts and road lights haven't been repaired so driving after hours can be difficult if you're not familiar with the area. Road traffic accidents are high, and the last thing you'd want to do is to find yourself hospitalised.
This post has been long overdue, and I wished I had stayed on track and finished it during my 6 weeks in Freeport. Overall the experience was life-changing. I met some really wonderful people and it gave me a new outlook on embracing new beginnings. I hope you come and visit.