The Road Family: Peter

If Katie's our home girl, then Peter is our home boy.

He's a fellow Wisconsinite who holds tight to his roots but opens his arms to new experiences on the road...even if it almost killed him a couple times.

Peter's wit is best experienced in person, so if he sounds harsh at times, blame my inability to write sarcasm.

Peter's Road Bio

This is Peter (and, yes, that's a lion cub in his lap).  He's from Hartland, Wisconsin and an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

He's worked for UOP five and a half years, traveling four and a half as a process advisor and chief.

"I go around the world and tell oil refineries how to do it right," he said, "and I get ignored."

The countries he's worked in include:

Sydney, Australia
Curitiba, Brazil
Alberta, Canada
Karamay, China
Yinchuan, China
Mumbai, India
Visakhapatnam, India
Johannesburg, South Africa
Mokpo, South Korea
Tarragona, Spain
Ras Laffan, Qatar
Multiple assignments in the USA

CLICK on the Map for a Larger View

For those not keeping track, that's every major continent except Antarctica.

His favorite job sites were Tarragona, Spain; Curitiba, Brazil; and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Tarragona was a favorite because he said the food was "absolutely amazing."  The area's house wines were a particular high point.

Peter only spent a short time in Curitiba, but he travelled around a lot.  He went to Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls, which is on the border between Argentina and Brazil

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

The timing for his New Orleans job was impeccable. In 2009, we was there for both Mardi Gras and the Saint's Super Bowl victory.  He said the atmosphere was rough and hostile.

"There was a real violent vibe on Bourbon Street after the Super Bowl," he said, "like someone was going to get stabbed."

Peter said the hardest part about living on the road is missing holidays, family get-togethers, marriages, and other once-in-a-lifetime events.  Peter's missed a few weddings at the last minute thanks to the road.

Despite those difficulties, he loves his job and does it well according to his co-workers.   "I get to see the world," he said, "and I don't have to pay for it or any other expenses."

While the financial cost of living on the road is low, it pays us back through inconveniences.  Perhaps the scariest inconvenience for Peter is not having access to the medication and health care he needs.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Hong Kong

A Late Night Ride for Insulin & Medical Road Lessons

Peter's diabetic.  He buys insulin shots in bulk before heading overseas for a long period of time.

Thankfully, our health insurance covers that kind of large-quantity medication purchase. If we run out overseas, it's difficult to find replacements.

It's particularly difficult to find the proper insulin and needles for a diabetic.

While Peter was in Visakhapatnam, India, he almost ran out of insulin.  He brought four and a half months worth of shots, but the job was nearing its fifth.  He had a week or two of supplies left, but the job was extended even further.

UOP has a program called Medex, a 24-hour call center that provides medical and prescription drug advice for people overseas.  Peter emailed Medex.  It responded with him a name, number, and no further clarification on how it would help him.

Peter didn't have a choice.  He called the number.

"Hello," said the voice on the other end in a thick Indian accent.

"Hi, I heard you could help me get insulin," Peter said.

"Where'd you get this number?!"

"Medex."

"They're not supposed to give out this number."

"Can you help me?"

"No."

The man on the other end was irritated and confused.  Peter and he went back and forth for a few minutes.  The other guy evaded any responsibility for helping Peter find his insulin.

Eventually, he relented.

"Where are you?"

"My hotel room. I can't drive in India."

UOP's Field Operating Services (FOS) doesn't allow us to drive in India or China.  It's too dangerous.  We're required to use a UOP driver, but only when going to and from the refinery and the hotel.

The driver wasn't available to help Peter.

"Stay there.  I'll come pick you up in 15 minutes."

An hour later, a motorcycle cycle pulled up to the hotel with a mustachioed driver.

"Hop on," said his man with the insulin hook-up, "We'll go to the place and get it.  Cash only."

"I have insurance."

"No, no. No need."

"I need to go to an ATM, then."

"Ok, ok."

The bike had a back seat, but no place to put his feet.  Peter got on and propped his heels on the muffler.  As they pulled away from the hotel, they hit a bump, and he burned his ankles on the hot exhaust pipe.

After getting cash, they pulled up to a shady looking pharmacy.  It was in a back alley, away from traffic.

The pharmacy interior was sparsely decorated.  Three men sat at a fold-up table, waiting eagerly to help him.

His driver told him to ask for insulin.

Insulin in America comes in packs of five pens, each lasting Peter about a week.  It has to be refrigerated, because of its short shelf life.

One of the pharmacists went back into the storeroom and brought out sampler packs of his insulin. They were warm.  Peter didn't know if they were any good.

The mustachioed driver told him to trust the pharmacy.

Turns out, Medex didn't just give Peter a driver with a drug-hook-up.  He was a pharmaceutical rep for Peter's brand of insulin.  It was illegal for him to sell or influence the sale of his product to Peter.  He didn't help Peter because he could've lost his job.

Peter paid the pharmacy in cash.  It cost him half as much as his co-pay!  He used the insulin samplers first, keeping his refrigerated, American insulin as back-up.

He didn't need it, though.  The Indian insulin worked without issue.

Taj Mahal in Agra, India

The Indian insulin incident, however, was not his first or last run-in with health care in other countries.

In China, he almost ran out of insulin, again. He studied the words for needle, insulin, injection, and diabetes, but it still took him over an hour of explaining and cajoling to get only a week's supply.

During a long-off in Mumbai, he woke up one morning with half his face paralyzed.

He had a nerve disorder called Bell's Palsy that's common in diabetics. It can last a couple months and usually goes away on its own.

Peter was aware of this, but he sought medical attention just in case it was something more serious.

He called the front desk and asked for a doctor.  He went to a neurologist at a local hospital, where they gave him an EKG, MRI, and blood panel.

The test results confirmed Bell's Palsy, and he thought he'd have to wait out the effects.  His doctor, however, recommended a shock treatment for his face that would prevent the muscles from atrophy.

As his facial functions started returning, he underwent the treatment.  He needed no overnight stays.  His muscle functions returned within four to five days.

The cost of his total medical bills in Mumbai? $200!

Seeking medical attention anywhere in the world can be scary, difficult, and inconvenient. Add that to the cultural and language gaps, and one would think there's a recipe for disaster.  Not for Peter; knock on wood.  He jumped through the necessary hoops, and in the end, came out better both physically and financially.

Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia

Peter's Road Advice

There's an emerging theme with SB's co-workers when it comes to their road advice.

When asked, Peter said, "Take advantage of the opportunities. Don't be afraid to try new things and make mistakes."

Katie and Nate had similar advice about "getting outside of the hotel room and our comfort zones."

Peter took his advice further, though, and said we should get comfortable talking to people randomly, because it makes the whole experience friendlier.

He also said traveling on the road is all about the attitude you bring into it.  "If you decide not to get pissed off, life will be happier...I don't get paid enough to go to bed angry."