Brazil Day 7

A much better day today.  Everything got resolved and by the end of the course everyone had placed 8 implants.  I think the only exception is Raj who has placed 7.  I am really impressed with Raj who gave up one of his scheduled implants so that the less experienced Aalok could get another one done.  It was very generous of him.

The spectacular view from the clinic window.  Pindamonhangaba is in a valley.  This is the Eastern mountain range.

Nadeem found me a great case which nicely replaced the one that I missed out on yesterday.  It was the removal of a patient's remaining lower teeth and insertion of 5 implants in their place.  I was assisted by Raj and we worked really well together again .  I was very pleased to get this one done. It is exactly the kind of case that I want to introduce in the practice. All the tutors had a turn at supervising this one, Kelly, Marcelo, Nadeem and Prof.

Prof Luís Otávio Palhari- The man who can find bone where there is no bone!

At lunch time we went to a nearby restaurant.  This was an amazing place.  It just looks like a tobacconist from the outside but inside it opens up into a huge dining hall and buffet.  The system is that you collect as much food as you think you need and place it on some scales at a weighing station.  You are then given a ticket with the weight recorded and additional items like drinks get added on.  You get a huge plate of food for about £2 or £3.

Collecting the food mountain

"Hey everybody, look at this crazy English guy.  You'd think he had never seen a barbecue before!"

In the afternoon I was the "floater" for Raj and Aalok.  Aalok went first and placed a lower molar implant.  Raj followed with the extraction of a knackered upper premolar and immediate implant placement.  After we had all finished there was a ceremony in the large lecture theatre.  I hadn't expected this and it was a nice way to finish the course.

We started with the Brazilian National Anthem.  I think I counted 26 verses of this.  All the Brazilians sang along nicely.  There then followed a very short "God the Save the Queen".  Frankly we could have made a better fist of it.  However it did come in very quickly and it never was in my key.

Nadeem thinking.. "I really need to learn the Brazilian National Anthem for next year."  Nadeem had his suit pressed and everything for this and then didn't get the chance to get back to the hotel and get dressed.  However the Brazilians are very informal and they liked him wearing the national colours anyway.

Everybody made speeches and thanked the tutors and assistants.  We were all then presented with certificates. Everyone was very grateful to the tutors and staff and we said our goodbyes.

Keith is presented with his certificate.  Prof pronounced his name as "Katy Murphy" causing much amusement amongst the English and Irish.  In the background, English speaking Marcelo gets the joke.

After a quick trip back to the hotel we all went out for a meal in Pindamonhangaba accompanied by Marcelo and Arianne.  Arianne is Marcelo's girlfriend and has been a big help on the course helping with translation and making things easier for us.  She is a final year dental student and has exams at the end of the year...good luck Arianne!

Arianne on the clinic

The meal out was good fun.  Raj set about trying to get Marcelo drunk but he wisely resisted.  Everybody had to stand and do their Mohammed impersonation.  Has that guy come out of his shell or what !  In addition to his ongoing banter with Keith he now insists on being addressed as "Prince Mohammed"  He has now revealed that he was in the Egyptian army for two days only.  He found out early that he would have to run for many miles in the desert as part of the training.  Now Mohammed is built for comfort rather than speed and so he took the only course of action he saw open to him, he jumped out of a window and broke his leg.

Deirdre asked Mohammed if he would like to visit Ireland.  "No I don't go, there's nothing there!" he replied.

Prince Mohammed remonstrates with Keith at the restaurant in the evening.  Keith appeals to Margaret whilst Marty looks on.

Arminder does his Mohammed impersonation complete with ever-present cigarette.  Marty and Raj look on.

I will probably do the last day, day 8 on the plane which will be my final thoughts after a fantastic week.  Thanks for visiting the site.