Not speaking Arabic can be a small barrier to getting an accurate weather report when you don't have internet access for most of the day. On Tuesday we heard snow was predicted for Thursday. As day went on it, it became Thursday night it would start and end Friday night. Until we got back to our rooms, we were at the mercy of those around us. One translator told us it was going to be the worst storm Jordan has ever seen. Our hosts told us not to worry. By Wed, the report was a little clearer and our hosts told us more than likely it would be a short work day. The translator suggested we stay at the airport Thursday night because weren't going to be able to get to the airport on Saturday. Later that night it was announced schools were closed on Thursday. I took that to mean, we'd either have a lot of patients or none.
Thursday morning as we headed out the sun was shinning and we joked about the universal struggle of being a weather reporter. A little after lunch time it started to rain. The site we had set up as the clinic, the majority of the waiting room is outside. We moved those who were waiting inside and everyone crammed in the hallway. The noise level rose a bit but other than that we kept plugging along. Our hosts recommended we finish up because we needed to get back before the snow started. We snuck in one last patient and finished for the day. Our final total for the last day, a record breaking 147!
Just as we pulled up to the place we were having dinner, the snow started falling. By the time we left, I could see why there was concern. A good comparison is probably when it snows in the south. It's not a normal occurrence so the level of comfort in navigating the hilly roads is less. There isn't much pre-treatment for the roads and the plows are not plentiful. By Friday morning, 5-6 inches accumulated, there was a travel ban and it was very apparent we were spending the day at the hotel.
It's been a little like college, hanging out in one another's rooms. Chatting, eating snacks and taking a nap. By no means has this been a hardship. We are thankful this happened on our day off and didn't impact a clinic day. And it looks like we will be able to get out on time tomorrow. Also very glad the translator wasn't accurate in his weather report.
Thursday morning as we headed out the sun was shinning and we joked about the universal struggle of being a weather reporter. A little after lunch time it started to rain. The site we had set up as the clinic, the majority of the waiting room is outside. We moved those who were waiting inside and everyone crammed in the hallway. The noise level rose a bit but other than that we kept plugging along. Our hosts recommended we finish up because we needed to get back before the snow started. We snuck in one last patient and finished for the day. Our final total for the last day, a record breaking 147!
Just as we pulled up to the place we were having dinner, the snow started falling. By the time we left, I could see why there was concern. A good comparison is probably when it snows in the south. It's not a normal occurrence so the level of comfort in navigating the hilly roads is less. There isn't much pre-treatment for the roads and the plows are not plentiful. By Friday morning, 5-6 inches accumulated, there was a travel ban and it was very apparent we were spending the day at the hotel.
It's been a little like college, hanging out in one another's rooms. Chatting, eating snacks and taking a nap. By no means has this been a hardship. We are thankful this happened on our day off and didn't impact a clinic day. And it looks like we will be able to get out on time tomorrow. Also very glad the translator wasn't accurate in his weather report.
