I just got my fortune read by way of coca leaves... apparently I will be making a trip from New Mexico to Washington state soon and to California (Jacob and I have talked about going to Disneyland for our last spring break). I have a weak point in my health/body which was surprisingly not my hip but rather my lungs so I was told to drink hot drinks and stay away from dusty places. Oh, and I am supposed to eat yellow prickly pears. I will be neither rich nor poor, I'm not supposed to buy lottery tickets, and I won't travel anywhere out of the US ever again unless its Mexico or Nicaragua. I think that's all... it was really interesting to see this ancient tradition of coca leave readings and the man was doing the ceremony in Quechua. Have a nice night all! I am going to go make myself some mate de coca! Yay for warm liquids!
-Caity
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Machu Picchu
Oh man! There is so much to say because I have done so much this weekend and I don’t even know where to begin. I spent over 50 hours in a small van, round trip and I would have to say that seeing that sunrise at Machu Picchu was well worth the sore butt. When I decided to go in this trip, I knew that I was not going to be able to go because of how long the trip takes and from the mere fact that we only had two days off for travel and the trip would have taken five to six days, but it was Independence Day this week so all the placements were closed Monday thru Wednesday so I jumped on the opportunity.
We left on Friday and stayed for a night in Nasca before heading out to Cusco the next morning. Cusco is a huge tourist city, with lots of small side streets and when you think you see a small shop on the street it ends up being a tunnel leading to rather large markets. It was like a never ending maze of treasures and just plain fun, mostly because all of us enjoyed the guilty pleasure of being a tourist. We also spent an hour in this HUGE market in the Sacred Valley. It was so big I think that I maybe went through ¼ of the place and I just walked around without much stopping. The jewelry was so beautiful at this market because it was all made of silver and precious stones, and I have to say I am the bargainer of all bargainers. It is almost not fun shopping here sometimes because the women follow you around calling you madam and trying t guilt you into buying just anything from their stand.
After the market we went to feed and pet llamas! My roommate Alice ended up naming most of them and we learned that they are more than willing to get in your face so that they can take the food from your hands haha. I also tried Alpaca that day, it tastes a lot like a really rough gamey steak and some people were comparing it to venison. They gave us free Pisco Sours at the restaurant and they are really good, its really hard to describe how they taste I will have to make them for you all when I get home. I even tried chicha, which is a fermented corn beer that is traditional to Peru. It was very sweet, which is common to a lot of the food and drink here. Ketchup is sweet here and even pizzas taste a little on the sweet side.
We spent one night in Cusco before heading up to Agua Caliente (get it? I stayed in Hot Water hahaha), which is the small town were you can take a bus to get to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is absolutely amazing! We woke up at 5:30 in the morning so we could beat the crowds (even though it is always kind of crowded) and we were hoping that we would get to climb up the giant peak that lies behind the ruins but there was already a line of about 400 people waiting so we had to scratch that off the list. Instead, we decided to walk part of the Inca trail so that we could still see an aerial view. The rocks were so slippery from three days of rain before so the hike was a little tricky, but I can’t begin to describe how beautiful it was. Machu Picchu lies just above the mist in the mountains, everything is so green, and the colors of the ruins shine almost gold when the sun first hits these massive rocks that are carved to fit so tightly together that a piece of paper couldn’t fit through the cracks. The ruins are so extensive that you don’t feel crowded or cramped by the other tourists if you go early and there are all kinds of interesting rooms, each with their own special significance to the Incans that lived there.
I also wanted to tell you guys this funny story from last week, I felt bad I only wrote really sad stuff last week that I completely forgot to tell you guys. Anyways, this woman in the obstetricians office hands me this half blown up yellow (the second smallest) exercise ball and this box with this Oliva Newton John looking lady on it with exercises and signaled for me to go upstairs to teach these two really pregnant girls some exercises. People that pregnant really shouldn’t be rolling around on a flat exercise balls but I did what I could because it’s their custom and I didn’t want to offend. So, I get up there and one girl speaks only Spanish and the other only speaks Quetuchan (I know I bombed the spelling on that) which is the language of the Peruvians ancestors. Needless to say we were quite the group, me rolling around on this flat ball showing them exercises, and all of us trying to use these hand gestures to communicate! I think it was the most fun time I have had at the clinic so far! Haha! Well I wrote a lot… sorry… I will let you all go! Miss you and talk to you soon!
-Caity
We left on Friday and stayed for a night in Nasca before heading out to Cusco the next morning. Cusco is a huge tourist city, with lots of small side streets and when you think you see a small shop on the street it ends up being a tunnel leading to rather large markets. It was like a never ending maze of treasures and just plain fun, mostly because all of us enjoyed the guilty pleasure of being a tourist. We also spent an hour in this HUGE market in the Sacred Valley. It was so big I think that I maybe went through ¼ of the place and I just walked around without much stopping. The jewelry was so beautiful at this market because it was all made of silver and precious stones, and I have to say I am the bargainer of all bargainers. It is almost not fun shopping here sometimes because the women follow you around calling you madam and trying t guilt you into buying just anything from their stand.
After the market we went to feed and pet llamas! My roommate Alice ended up naming most of them and we learned that they are more than willing to get in your face so that they can take the food from your hands haha. I also tried Alpaca that day, it tastes a lot like a really rough gamey steak and some people were comparing it to venison. They gave us free Pisco Sours at the restaurant and they are really good, its really hard to describe how they taste I will have to make them for you all when I get home. I even tried chicha, which is a fermented corn beer that is traditional to Peru. It was very sweet, which is common to a lot of the food and drink here. Ketchup is sweet here and even pizzas taste a little on the sweet side.
We spent one night in Cusco before heading up to Agua Caliente (get it? I stayed in Hot Water hahaha), which is the small town were you can take a bus to get to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is absolutely amazing! We woke up at 5:30 in the morning so we could beat the crowds (even though it is always kind of crowded) and we were hoping that we would get to climb up the giant peak that lies behind the ruins but there was already a line of about 400 people waiting so we had to scratch that off the list. Instead, we decided to walk part of the Inca trail so that we could still see an aerial view. The rocks were so slippery from three days of rain before so the hike was a little tricky, but I can’t begin to describe how beautiful it was. Machu Picchu lies just above the mist in the mountains, everything is so green, and the colors of the ruins shine almost gold when the sun first hits these massive rocks that are carved to fit so tightly together that a piece of paper couldn’t fit through the cracks. The ruins are so extensive that you don’t feel crowded or cramped by the other tourists if you go early and there are all kinds of interesting rooms, each with their own special significance to the Incans that lived there.
I also wanted to tell you guys this funny story from last week, I felt bad I only wrote really sad stuff last week that I completely forgot to tell you guys. Anyways, this woman in the obstetricians office hands me this half blown up yellow (the second smallest) exercise ball and this box with this Oliva Newton John looking lady on it with exercises and signaled for me to go upstairs to teach these two really pregnant girls some exercises. People that pregnant really shouldn’t be rolling around on a flat exercise balls but I did what I could because it’s their custom and I didn’t want to offend. So, I get up there and one girl speaks only Spanish and the other only speaks Quetuchan (I know I bombed the spelling on that) which is the language of the Peruvians ancestors. Needless to say we were quite the group, me rolling around on this flat ball showing them exercises, and all of us trying to use these hand gestures to communicate! I think it was the most fun time I have had at the clinic so far! Haha! Well I wrote a lot… sorry… I will let you all go! Miss you and talk to you soon!
-Caity
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Ok, Let's do this...
Sorry about earlier, it was an extremely emotional night and I needed to find a good way to put it. I have been working in the clinic for two weeks now, which doesn't seem like a lot becuase its gone by so fast, and it has been an unreal experience. The hospitals here are nothing like North American hospitals. The hospitals are filty, crowded, have stray dogs walking through the halls, and supplies are limited. Earlier this week I saw a man who had almost lost his thumb because a rock had fallen on it. The only thing that they could do for the poor man was rinse the wound off with alcohol and wrap it with gauze. There were no shots to dull the pain, just pure alcohol and hopefully they were able to prescribe him some antibiotics (and hopefully he could afford them).
The doctor I shadowed last night and I got into a deep talk about the status of heathcare in Peru and how things work around here. The most shocking thing for me was that they have no blood stores. None. Peruvians are scared of giving blood and many of them don't donate for religious reasons. While working last night, I witnessed a few women who had come in due to severe pain and were profusely bleeding because of miscarriages. They had the women hooked up to saline but were not given any blood to refresh their bodies from how much they had lost. If blood is in dire need only family members will offer to donate as much as 1 liter, which is not nearly as much as most women lose. Blood transfusions are not an option here. Most of the Ayacucho is O positive in blood type so it would be easy to store blood because everyones is the same.
Dr. Paul, the head gyno, also told me that he wants to get his Masters in America, particularly Florida ( he wants to take his three kids to see Mickey and Minne at Disneyworld :p ). Med school in Peru is about five years at the University from what I could understand when we were talking, which doesn't seem like much by North American standards. He was asking about the kind of technology that they have in the US, and he said that it must be easier to be a doctor in the US which I would have to agree. They have to work with what they got which isn't much and the poor condition of the clinics is really taking a toll on me.
Right now its a good month in Ayacucho because there are some American doctors here offering free check ups, surguries, and mental health evaluations to any one that needs/wants it. There are long lines waiting as early as five in the morning for the help of these professionals. Well, thats all I have for now. Hopefully I will give you guys a happier story after this weekend! I am headed to Macchu Picchu and we are leaving early so that we will get to see the sunrise at the ruins. It will be a nice mental break. I love you all and miss you! Please write your names on the end your comments! I love getting them and I am curious as to who is following me! Ciao!
-Caity
The doctor I shadowed last night and I got into a deep talk about the status of heathcare in Peru and how things work around here. The most shocking thing for me was that they have no blood stores. None. Peruvians are scared of giving blood and many of them don't donate for religious reasons. While working last night, I witnessed a few women who had come in due to severe pain and were profusely bleeding because of miscarriages. They had the women hooked up to saline but were not given any blood to refresh their bodies from how much they had lost. If blood is in dire need only family members will offer to donate as much as 1 liter, which is not nearly as much as most women lose. Blood transfusions are not an option here. Most of the Ayacucho is O positive in blood type so it would be easy to store blood because everyones is the same.
Dr. Paul, the head gyno, also told me that he wants to get his Masters in America, particularly Florida ( he wants to take his three kids to see Mickey and Minne at Disneyworld :p ). Med school in Peru is about five years at the University from what I could understand when we were talking, which doesn't seem like much by North American standards. He was asking about the kind of technology that they have in the US, and he said that it must be easier to be a doctor in the US which I would have to agree. They have to work with what they got which isn't much and the poor condition of the clinics is really taking a toll on me.
Right now its a good month in Ayacucho because there are some American doctors here offering free check ups, surguries, and mental health evaluations to any one that needs/wants it. There are long lines waiting as early as five in the morning for the help of these professionals. Well, thats all I have for now. Hopefully I will give you guys a happier story after this weekend! I am headed to Macchu Picchu and we are leaving early so that we will get to see the sunrise at the ruins. It will be a nice mental break. I love you all and miss you! Please write your names on the end your comments! I love getting them and I am curious as to who is following me! Ciao!
-Caity
My First Night Shift
Well I just got back from my first double shift day, I went for four hours in the morning and 10 hours last night at the emergency obstetricians office (from 8 pm to 630 this morning). I am extremely tired and a little queasy. I saw my first emergency medical procedure last night and it has to be the most, I don't even know how to describe it, I thought most of the night how I would put it and I still have nothing. I think all I can say now is that it was very upsetting for me and it was not what I had thought and what it would be like or look like. I think I might feel better talking about it later, I just dunno. I am going to try and get some sleep now... I love you all and I miss you.
-Caity
-Caity
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
P.S!
P.S- I ate guinea pig today, it tastes like greasy chicken and there isn't a lot of meat on it. I was looking out the window later that day and I saw where they "raise" them in their little cage... I felt guilty. Sorry Jacob... it had to be done.
Long Time No Blog!
Sorry it has been such a long time since I have written, there has been so much going on here that I haven’t had a chance to even to write in my own journal! To start off, a 24-hour flu had hit the house (we call it the Gringo Plague), and I was the second person to get it, so Wednesday and Thursday were absolutely miserable. I couldn’t go to placement on either day even if I felt a little nauseous, because Peruvians already think all of the gringos have Swine flu, and if I did get sick at the health clinic they wouldn’t let anyone from the program go anywhere in Ayacucho in fear that we were going to contaminate the whole city. I think that 24 people were ill on Friday, which turned the house into complete chaos! You see, we had about twenty of us leaving for the Peruvian coast this weekend and so a good portion of the people couldn't go because they were stuck in bed.
Luckily I was better by then, so after placement on Friday I hopped onto the bus for an 8 hour drive to Ica, Peru. The drive was gorgeous! Large rolling mountains, whispy white trees that reminded me of the Aspens in Colorado and at home in New Mexico, vineyards, wild llamas, and a crisp clear blue sky filled the windows, it was like a piece of art that stretched for miles and miles. And the sky! I never thought that such a deep black exsisted. There were no lights along the road so I swear I could see the cloudlike belt of the Milkyway as we drove along. We slept in Ica that night and continued our journey to the sand dunes and the winery the next day.
We got to see how it is they make wine in Peru and went to a museum where the owners kept all of the things that people would trade their wine for in the past. I bought champagne at the second winery we visited but the high altitude and the heat of the bus made the corks pop on the champagne everyone bought. All of the wine tastes a lot sweeter here than what I have had in the US. I also tried a sip of Pisco, its kind of the national hard alcohol, its very strong and is supposed to have a flavor much like that of brandy. After the wineries, we went in a dune buggy all around these giant sand dunes! They took us to these huge sand hills where we took sand boards and rode down the dunes on our bellies like penguins. I don’t think I have screamed that loud in my life or done anything that terrifyingly crazy!
The next day we went up in a tiny plane to see the famous Nasca (or Nazca) lines and the pilot was moving the plane back and forth, side to side, oh man lots of people lost their breakfast that day. After the awful plane ride, we drove to the coast and had dinner and our warm flat champagne by the ocean. There was a black out during dinner and I have to say it was extremely scary being in a dark that deep, in a strange country, and you can barely see your hand in front of your face.
Our last day we took a boat trip out to the Paracas Islands to see the Peruvian penguins and the sea lions in their natural habitat! It was awesome and the penguins are so cute. The boat ride was freezing so it was nice to be back on the bus in the warmth, even though we had a long drive back home. All in all it was a great trip and it was so nice to not be sick. I got a great look at a different part of the landscape in Peru.
Well have a great night everyone! Thanks for listening! Miss you all! Love you!
- Caity
Luckily I was better by then, so after placement on Friday I hopped onto the bus for an 8 hour drive to Ica, Peru. The drive was gorgeous! Large rolling mountains, whispy white trees that reminded me of the Aspens in Colorado and at home in New Mexico, vineyards, wild llamas, and a crisp clear blue sky filled the windows, it was like a piece of art that stretched for miles and miles. And the sky! I never thought that such a deep black exsisted. There were no lights along the road so I swear I could see the cloudlike belt of the Milkyway as we drove along. We slept in Ica that night and continued our journey to the sand dunes and the winery the next day.
We got to see how it is they make wine in Peru and went to a museum where the owners kept all of the things that people would trade their wine for in the past. I bought champagne at the second winery we visited but the high altitude and the heat of the bus made the corks pop on the champagne everyone bought. All of the wine tastes a lot sweeter here than what I have had in the US. I also tried a sip of Pisco, its kind of the national hard alcohol, its very strong and is supposed to have a flavor much like that of brandy. After the wineries, we went in a dune buggy all around these giant sand dunes! They took us to these huge sand hills where we took sand boards and rode down the dunes on our bellies like penguins. I don’t think I have screamed that loud in my life or done anything that terrifyingly crazy!
The next day we went up in a tiny plane to see the famous Nasca (or Nazca) lines and the pilot was moving the plane back and forth, side to side, oh man lots of people lost their breakfast that day. After the awful plane ride, we drove to the coast and had dinner and our warm flat champagne by the ocean. There was a black out during dinner and I have to say it was extremely scary being in a dark that deep, in a strange country, and you can barely see your hand in front of your face.
Our last day we took a boat trip out to the Paracas Islands to see the Peruvian penguins and the sea lions in their natural habitat! It was awesome and the penguins are so cute. The boat ride was freezing so it was nice to be back on the bus in the warmth, even though we had a long drive back home. All in all it was a great trip and it was so nice to not be sick. I got a great look at a different part of the landscape in Peru.
Well have a great night everyone! Thanks for listening! Miss you all! Love you!
- Caity
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
First day of placement!
Internet was down in the city last night so I am posting today!
7-14-09
Today was my first day at my placement! You hear a lot from the older volunteers about how most of it is just sitting and observing but the girl I am with at Santa Elena (she is also an intern with CCS) and I actually did quite a lot today! I took blood pressures of all of the patients that came through today and its weird how low their blood pressures are. The doctor at the clinic actually left us to do most of the work ourselves. Stray dogs walk around the hospital in the halls which give you an idea of how clean the conditions are at the clinic. We get to wear these awesome white lab coats and name tags,.
Kasey ( the other girl at my placement) and I have a great system going for us. She takes weight or pela I think its called in Spanish and I take blood pressure, then we take turns doing heart rate. She is helping me with my Spanish and I am teaching her how to use the BP cuff. Oh and the reason why the BP’s are so low is mostly due to the altitude and the weather right now because it is their winter. They are about 100/80 ish… muy bajo. Sorry about some of the Spanish, I am trying to absorb as much as I can because it is easier to do more if you can talk to the doctors. It’s all about taking initiative and the more Spanish I can learn the more I can hope to do. Kasey has been very patient with me and so have the doctors. I might get to give shots soon! One guy even asked today if I was Japanese… which was weird. I have never been asked in my life what my ethnicity is, but I guess since we are like unicorns in a herd of horses my “asian” features stick out a lot more than if I was in Europe or another American city,
I might go to the obstetrician’s office on Thursday because some of the girls also working in a clinic in their first half hour saw a birth. I also learned today that some of the guys actually saw an abortion today. Now, Ayacucho is a very religious city, they have 33 Catholic churches, one for every year of Jesus life, so abortions are not common. Recently though, the death rate of pregnant women has doubled from its normal value so I feel that abortions are going to be more common.
I had a really nice walk with some of the girls today, we went to the “Gringo Plaza”, that’s what the Ayacuchan people call it anyway. We went and had coffee and a snack . It’s been so long since I have hung out with just girls that it’s very refreshing! Well I better go! So may people so few devices f communication!
Love and miss you all!
Caity (Robbie)
7-14-09
Today was my first day at my placement! You hear a lot from the older volunteers about how most of it is just sitting and observing but the girl I am with at Santa Elena (she is also an intern with CCS) and I actually did quite a lot today! I took blood pressures of all of the patients that came through today and its weird how low their blood pressures are. The doctor at the clinic actually left us to do most of the work ourselves. Stray dogs walk around the hospital in the halls which give you an idea of how clean the conditions are at the clinic. We get to wear these awesome white lab coats and name tags,.
Kasey ( the other girl at my placement) and I have a great system going for us. She takes weight or pela I think its called in Spanish and I take blood pressure, then we take turns doing heart rate. She is helping me with my Spanish and I am teaching her how to use the BP cuff. Oh and the reason why the BP’s are so low is mostly due to the altitude and the weather right now because it is their winter. They are about 100/80 ish… muy bajo. Sorry about some of the Spanish, I am trying to absorb as much as I can because it is easier to do more if you can talk to the doctors. It’s all about taking initiative and the more Spanish I can learn the more I can hope to do. Kasey has been very patient with me and so have the doctors. I might get to give shots soon! One guy even asked today if I was Japanese… which was weird. I have never been asked in my life what my ethnicity is, but I guess since we are like unicorns in a herd of horses my “asian” features stick out a lot more than if I was in Europe or another American city,
I might go to the obstetrician’s office on Thursday because some of the girls also working in a clinic in their first half hour saw a birth. I also learned today that some of the guys actually saw an abortion today. Now, Ayacucho is a very religious city, they have 33 Catholic churches, one for every year of Jesus life, so abortions are not common. Recently though, the death rate of pregnant women has doubled from its normal value so I feel that abortions are going to be more common.
I had a really nice walk with some of the girls today, we went to the “Gringo Plaza”, that’s what the Ayacuchan people call it anyway. We went and had coffee and a snack . It’s been so long since I have hung out with just girls that it’s very refreshing! Well I better go! So may people so few devices f communication!
Love and miss you all!
Caity (Robbie)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hola!
Sorry I can't always get on the computer so i am typing them on days and pasting them when i get the chance!
07-12-09
Mi es muy cansado…..
I have been up for over 40 hours now and have gotten 4 hours of sleep total. Ayacucho is a beautiful, but still sad from what I have seen so far. The first thing they give you when you head off the plane is a nice little pamphlet on Swine Flu, and all the workers in the airport wear surgical masks which made everyone a little nervous and it made it harder for me to understand what it was they were trying to communicate (not that my Spanish is that good to begin with). The stewardesses all wear these bright colored matching outfits that look like they had come from the sixties, and they speak over the intercom so fast that it just seems like one really long word.
Home base is extremely nice and I am sharing a room with three other girls. We have our own bathroom and shower, along with no hot water.... going to be very difficult for the next six weeks. We are sharing one phone and two internet hookups with 45 other people, so keeping in contact is going to be a definite challenge. As the weeks go on though, and we get closer to the end of summer, I am guessing that the number of people incoming will decrease as well as the number of those leaving.
The plaza is really the only partially developed part of town, as most of the city and streets are very old and worn. This makes the sky so beautiful at night, because of the lack of bright city lights. Thousands of stars that I may never have seen before are now clear. It’s wonderful. The marketplace is packed with all different kinds of knick-nacks and what not! And the fresh fruit looks so good that it is so hard to keep from eating it, along with all of the breads, cheeses, and pastries that the rest of the vendors sell. There are stray dogs EVERYWHERE!
The older volunteers bought us a fireworks display made from bamboo. I am really sad that I forgot to bring my camera because it would be so much easier to explain what it looked like! The man whom they had bought it from started off by firing the small fireworks into the air (the ones that don’t bloom but rather just pop) and then he lit this awesome contraption that he had been working on all day. It had all kinds of bottle rockets and fountain fireworks that would spin in circles as they let off streams of sparks. The finale was the best part, he had put a wheel on the top rigged with fireworks that when it finally lit soared into the sky spinning casting off massive amounts of sparks! It was amazing! Again sorry for not bringing the camera but we are hoping to do it again sometime soon, or even for some new incoming volunteers.
I am going to go sit up on the roof now and roast some marshmallows by the fire pit! I love you all!
07-12-09
Mi es muy cansado…..
I have been up for over 40 hours now and have gotten 4 hours of sleep total. Ayacucho is a beautiful, but still sad from what I have seen so far. The first thing they give you when you head off the plane is a nice little pamphlet on Swine Flu, and all the workers in the airport wear surgical masks which made everyone a little nervous and it made it harder for me to understand what it was they were trying to communicate (not that my Spanish is that good to begin with). The stewardesses all wear these bright colored matching outfits that look like they had come from the sixties, and they speak over the intercom so fast that it just seems like one really long word.
Home base is extremely nice and I am sharing a room with three other girls. We have our own bathroom and shower, along with no hot water.... going to be very difficult for the next six weeks. We are sharing one phone and two internet hookups with 45 other people, so keeping in contact is going to be a definite challenge. As the weeks go on though, and we get closer to the end of summer, I am guessing that the number of people incoming will decrease as well as the number of those leaving.
The plaza is really the only partially developed part of town, as most of the city and streets are very old and worn. This makes the sky so beautiful at night, because of the lack of bright city lights. Thousands of stars that I may never have seen before are now clear. It’s wonderful. The marketplace is packed with all different kinds of knick-nacks and what not! And the fresh fruit looks so good that it is so hard to keep from eating it, along with all of the breads, cheeses, and pastries that the rest of the vendors sell. There are stray dogs EVERYWHERE!
The older volunteers bought us a fireworks display made from bamboo. I am really sad that I forgot to bring my camera because it would be so much easier to explain what it looked like! The man whom they had bought it from started off by firing the small fireworks into the air (the ones that don’t bloom but rather just pop) and then he lit this awesome contraption that he had been working on all day. It had all kinds of bottle rockets and fountain fireworks that would spin in circles as they let off streams of sparks. The finale was the best part, he had put a wheel on the top rigged with fireworks that when it finally lit soared into the sky spinning casting off massive amounts of sparks! It was amazing! Again sorry for not bringing the camera but we are hoping to do it again sometime soon, or even for some new incoming volunteers.
I am going to go sit up on the roof now and roast some marshmallows by the fire pit! I love you all!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Holy Cow!
Well, I leave tomorrow and I have to say I am extremely nervous but very much excited for the journey ahead of me. Long trip and an early day tomorrow and I am pretty sure I have everything I need for a safe trip (at least I hope I do). I hope my blog isn't too boring, haha, it's my first stab at it and I hope I leave you all with more exciting posts and pictures in the future.
I will be shadowing doctors at Santa Elena Health Clinic in Ayacucho for the next six weeks and some of my tasks will include: weighing and measuring babies, taking patient vitals, taking patient histories, and I will get to join some of the doctors on house calls. Along with all this, I am going to be participating in an extensive immersion into the Peruvian culture by taking Spanish lessons, dance classes, and trips across the country to get a feel for how the people of Peru live.
From this experience I am hoping to use the knowledge that I gain to learn how to work in less than ideal conditions so that I may help people in the US while I continue my schooling. I hope this hasn't been too essay like, I hope to talk to you all soon! Bye!
I will be shadowing doctors at Santa Elena Health Clinic in Ayacucho for the next six weeks and some of my tasks will include: weighing and measuring babies, taking patient vitals, taking patient histories, and I will get to join some of the doctors on house calls. Along with all this, I am going to be participating in an extensive immersion into the Peruvian culture by taking Spanish lessons, dance classes, and trips across the country to get a feel for how the people of Peru live.
From this experience I am hoping to use the knowledge that I gain to learn how to work in less than ideal conditions so that I may help people in the US while I continue my schooling. I hope this hasn't been too essay like, I hope to talk to you all soon! Bye!
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