Day 6: Of Steps and Sensibility

Another bright day of sunshine greeted me as I woke up, you guessed right at 7AM sharp. I was thinking that the day would be a relaxing day because in Manila it usually is. People usually sleep in late after partying hard the previous Friday night. Well either people here don’t party as hard or they just wake up early on weekends – I had my first consult at 730AM! I was barely out of the bathroom when I was called.  Checking myself to be fully dressed and decent, I attended to my first consult.

It ran on for many hours and I ended up seeing the most number of patients I had here so far. They later on informed me that it was really busy Saturdays here simply because this is the only time people working and studying the whole week to seek consult. Which would also explain why the cases are usually several days on already and are seeking the first consult after days of having symptoms.

Lunch was ground pork with tomato sauce and an abundance of diced carrots and onions. So obviously I didn’t eat it, what with vegetables and all. Maybe I have time this year to work eating vegetables in to my goals here...maybe. I had to go to the mall to eat a hearty lunch which I deem Rodel-friendly. Turns out it was a great mean of sweet and sour fish, 3-piece dumpling and spicy garlic rice. Ha!  Feeling fully sated, I headed back to the hospital. Walked there, I might add. Nothing better to enjoy two straight days of sunshine than a little stroll through the City’s main thoroughfare. I arrived after about 7 minutes of walking and I felt invigorated and energized.

Tonight was another sight-seeing night for me. I was still with my OB friend here but we were joined by 2 younger nurses this time. We ate in this local grill house called Kandaga and I had my fill of Sinarabsab. A hearty dish of thinly sliced grilled pork cut like liempo mixed with a vinaigrette and topped with onions, green mangoes and bagoong. Ten stars here so far. And apparently they also have a 3 liter beer tower. Quite a feat I must say for a place so far away.

The next stop is local watering hole called La Cabane. This is a night spot with a live band. And of course being the newbie in town, I was asked to sing a song with the band. Sort of an initiation to the city I guess. I requested the song Faithfully by Journey. After the song, the people asked for a second song. Either it was a custom I know nothing about or they actually enjoyed it but I obliged. I sang Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses. The people shook my hand and told me I was good but I wasn’t really able to hear myself cause apparently there were no monitors facing the stage so I really couldn’t hear myself. After one of the nurses hurled on my OB friend,  we went home a bit later than usual here (1230AM) but had a great fun.

Yet at the day’s close the little steps I took to get myself and the city integrated made more sense to me than I ever wished. This adventure is really on!