Still in Ba'Quba

Well I;m still in Ba'Quba. I'm waiting on at least one of the medics that is normally here to get back so that I can get back to my camp. It's been a different experience and I've gotten to see some new and different stuff, but I like my smaller camp better.

It's been said that it's better to give than to receive and I would say that definitely has to be true with som things including removing ingrown toenails. I don't mind doing it, but damn if I want to have it done to me. We don't have a nail anvil so we had to make do with scissors. It went well although it was a little messy. Operating on someone while they watch is always a weird feeling. The poor fellow had a hard time walking in but after numbing it up, he watched with interest as we dug around in his flesh to extract the offending toenail segment. Clean it, dress it, some antibiotics and Tylenol and out the door he went. He walked to work the next day and did a full day's work.

I don't have much to do here after hours so I generally go back to my hooch, read a bit, and sack out around 9pm. I've finished all of the magazines that I brought with me and one of the books. For anyone who is interested in South America and the popularity of Che Guevara and Marxism, I would definitely recommend Chasing Che by Patrick Symmes. An American reporter, Symmes retraces Guevara's 1952 motorcycle trip through South America. It definitely helped me to understand the legend behind Che and the culture behind Marxism in Latin America. The author is not a Marxist, but is simply interested in the legend behind the man and his continued popularity.

I originally picked up the book on the recommendation of my cousin who studied Latin culture in college. He knew of my interest in Central and South America (we've traveled together to Mexico and Guatemala) and in my interest in motorcycling to Tierra del Fuego. The writer rides an older BMW R80GS, I'd like a little more modern bike myself, but I definitely have an affinity for BMWs.

Well I need to help pack up supplies, the clinic is being relocated out of a hooch and into another building tomorrow.