Tristan : My First Day’s on Tristan da Cunha 30th November 07
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 09.12.2007 (Article Archived on 23.12.2007)
Please, allow me to introduce myself: My name is Dr Laszlo Pal Szabo. When I applied for this job, I had absolutely no idea about Tristan da Cunha, but I’ve since started to learn about it, as much as can.
My First Day’s on Tristan da Cunha 30th November 07
Please, allow me to introduce myself: My name is Dr Laszlo Pal Szabo. When I applied for this job, I had absolutely no idea about Tristan da Cunha, but I’ve since started to learn about it, as much as can.
To the best of my knowledge I am the first Hungarian doctor to practice on Tristan, although there has been Hungarian tourist visiting. On the day on my arrival I woke up at 3.00am. I went to the Kelso’s bridge, and the view took my breath away. The ocean was like mercury, and the island a large dark blue rock in the starlight. The darkness gradually turned into the daylight, and the sunshine painted the bluish land to green, gray, beige etc. Amazing enough, the highest point Queen Mary’s peak 6,760ft was not covered by clouds, and was watch by some islanders on board, which were very nice people and myself. I was gazing, until I was asked for my passport after anchoring and nearly fell into the water when getting into the motorboat. I’ve never tried to swim with my guitar on my back, and hopefully, I will still miss the experience.
I came ashore, and met Dr Carel’s wife, who quickly took me everywhere around the small village, but let me stop here as I do not mean to write a chronicle, but, rather, about some of my first impressions. I have found the Islanders extremely friendly and honest people, and could see this from the Christmas shown at the St Mary’s School on arrival.
The children on the scene were sentenced to success, and lovely they were, and it was something very different, as they were not simply lovely but excellent. Wherever else it could have been performed all over the world. Before the lovely show, I had taken part in an elective operation as an anesthetists in the Camogli Hospital. Our Dr Vander Merwe was super, and I’ve found the nurses full of care, and absolutely reliable. I have walked with Father Brown the Anglican priest and have jogged once, however the blue jeans are not really suitable for the purpose. I saw about 25 patients in the consulting room on my first real workday.
I hope that the Tristanians will enjoy this article, and my stay on their beautiful island.
Yours Truly
Dr Laszlo Pal Szabo
8th December
When Dr Laszlo wrote this article, little did he know that he would be so busy treating people with the flu that has hit the island? He has since given advice to the island community to try and prevent a repeat of the virus. He has advised not to have any large gatherings (something difficult for Tristanians), the school has been closed a week early and will reopen on January 2008. The annual shearing due to take place on Saturday the 8th has been postponed until the Saturday the 15th December.
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