Hey, everybody! We made it to Ecuador!!!
I love this place. I really should have blogged or emailed days ago to confirm my safe arrival here, but I've been enjoying Ecuador and not getting on the computer too often. Shall we start at the beginning?
So I'm down here in Guayaquil, Ecuador with a group of 18 other BYU nursing students and several instructors. (Mykell, Marie and I might not have been the cleanest-feeling people ever at 1:30 Sat, but we were happy.) We will be in this area for three weeks then go "de paseo", or just for fun, up to Quito and Otavalo. While here we are working and learning in several hospitals, specifically on the medical-surgical and maternity units. We are also working with an organization called "hogar de Cristo" (home of Christ) to build houses for people, organizing diabetes and hypertension support groups, and screening hundredes of elementary school children for disease, deficiencies, and expected growth.
Friday morning we met early in the SLC airport and safely got off to Atlanta then down to Guayaquil. One girl actually had a different flight route since she was supposed to go to Peru, but that trip was cancelled. Unfortunately flights from San Francisco were delayed, meaning she missed her connecting flight in Lima up to Guayaquil. The worst part is that she doesn't really know Spanish. It was pretty scary for her (probably also her parents and the programs directors, too) for a day, but she's now with us. The exciting part for the rest of us was just the free selection of movies on personal tv's on the second flight. For me, there was a specific point on the plane when I just wanted to jump for joy as I contemplated coming back to a country and people I love so much.
Saturday we went to various hospitals to become familiar with the facilities and organization thereof. It was interesting to see people react to things I don't, because to me, that's just Ecuador (for example, the "reckless" driving, the crowded and unorganized housing going all the way up the hills, etc.). I just smiled as I saw the concrete houses with brightly colored, but flaking paint. Even the buses are a familiar comfort to me.
After touring the hospitals, we went to the Historic Park of Guayaquil, which includes a zoo and an historic building portion. I think the part with the monkeys was best, and everyone else seemed to agree. Cassidy (here) is my roomie for the trip. It was fun to see people try Ecuafood for the first time and get to advise them on what was what, too. For my first realy Ecuameal, I had maduro con queso (ripe plantain with cheese). It was greasy (surprise), but good. On the way back, we stopped by the big kind of grocery store (and expensive) to stock up on water and other convenient foods to have, especially as we're out working during the day without time or the convenience of just picking something up. I didn't think I'd actually be eating PB&J down here, but I'm grateful for it, now!
Sunday is the most relaxed day for us (thank goodness). We just walk to the closest church building, which is about 10 minutes away according to my walking pace and 20 mins according to what our instructor said. Time helped us get there more at my speed, which I always like. Upon arriving at church, it was weird for me to not go around and greet everyone, like I tried to do as a missionary to have more contact with everyone. I did talk to a family, and thought one guy behind the sacrament table looked pretty familiar, but I didn't go talk to him. As it turns out, we served in Quito together. Throughout the day, I met several others who served with or before me. With around 200 people in a mission that rarely has mission conferences (there was one during my entire mission), it wasn't really a surprise to not actually have known all the elders from the mission. While I was conversing with some people after church, the few guys in our nursing group came up to me with someone from the bishopric. Somehow, my name had been suggested (this is when I gave a dirty look to the guys) and I was asked to speak the next week in church. I would actually be bitter, but then I found out that one of those guys would be asked to speak the following week. I suppose that's fair.
After church, we all pretty much collapsed for a nap. I remember Michael talking about hating to train because he needed to provide nap time for the greenies adjusting to the mission and the climate. I think the trip and the climate were both having their effects, because it was clear by the sign out sheet (more on that in a minute) that no one left the hotel for several hours.
One great thing about our location is that we're super close to the malecon, a huge boardwalk that goes for miles along the edge of the Guayas River. Mom and Dad went there with me just over a year ago. We're also blocks from the park that's full of iguanas that just stay there (probably because they're fed and happy...like the BYU ducks on the south side of campus). We've also already located a really great ice cream shop, and there's plenty to explore and buy here close, since we're right in the city. The temple is pretty close, too.
Some of us girls went for a walk along the malecon after church. We found out you're not supposed to climb the trees, even for pictures (there's some sweet, easy-to-climb mangrove trees) and we successfully avoided the creepy guys that wanted to give us a tour of the inside of the stationary boat along the dock (actually a cool boat, but I didn't trust them.) Good job, us.
The one rub I have to mention has to do with independence. I remember writing to Peanut as a teenager and discussing reasons for teenage frustration and teen-parent difficulties. I wasn't talking about personal frustration or anything, but recognizing that a major reason for problems was issues over independence. On that note, sometimes I think it's funny that we are sent out into the community without instructors to test children and to teach their parents about nutrition, but we need to sign-out and go in threes if we want to leave the hotel. I understand that safety is important, and I agree it's wise to take precautions. However, the fact that I need to ask people to do me the favor of walking across the street with me so I can call the temple is a little annoying. Also the fact that we have class around 8pm and are not to leave the hotel afterwards. That's fine, generally, but I need to restrain my eyes from rolling when the instructor reminds me that it's fine if a sister from the mission comes to visit here at the hotel after class as long as we're down in the lobby. Maybe I should just buy some walkie talkies and we can all be connected, safe, and satisfied. I understand it's just an aspect of being here with the program (and specific instructors), but I do feel like I'm on some ninth-grade field trip sometimes.
Yesterday we went to Hogar de Cristo to learn about the houses we'd be building, the organization, and their plans for our community teaching and screening activities. It really is an awesome group. It was formed by a Jesuit priest and really helps empower people. The original organization just helped the poor get houses, which they paid off over several years. Now, HdC also helps women get microcredit loans and form groups who are accountable to eachother to keep up with payments (they've found that 98% pay it all back...but it doesn't work with the men).
There's also education and health departments that help people and follow up with them in the community. I think it's really great. They have 400 employees and work with many, many volunteers in several cities up the coast of Ecuador. Funds come from donations, the government, and investments (it's non-profit). I really love that it's an organization that works on building people up, on development, on enabling them to reach their potential.
In the afternoon, we went to eat back in the city and I had my first ceviche con camaron (it's like a tomatoey, cool soup with shrimp...but it's good) in years. Yum! I also enjoyed a strawberry batido (thin smoothie). Love it. I don't think anyone has collected parasites just yet. Honestly, though, I'm not too worried. I'd rather enjoy the food of Ecuador for a couple weeks and just take some antiparasitics when I get home than be super paranoid about everything. (not that you can't eat yummy Ecuafood without getting parasites.) I'm not going to peel every apple and pear, though. Even as missionaries we'd just soak them in bleach water and call it good. :)
I really like dusk along the malecon. Maybe someday I'll have to live by a beach. It's just very soothing.
I also like that most nights we have devotional at 8pm. It's a good thing to do. Some nights we have class, and Mondays we have FHE.
Today was crazy. It was the first real day. Different student nurses went off to different hospitals, some went to health subcenters for hogar de Cristo, and I went with a group of 6 to a community school to do screenings and teach the parents a nutrition class. First of all, we went about half an hour in a bus to the main office of HdC. Then, we got in a super ambulance and went 20 more minutes up winding, bumpy dirt roads. On the way, we were reviewing what would be taught and some classic Spanish songs for kids, including the Pio Pio Pio song I remember my oldest niece asking about when I first went into the MTC. (The words talk about chicks and their mother hen.) While Cassidy and Sonya led a nutrition information and goal-setting session with parents, the rest of us entertained the children with song, dance, and play. I joined in futbol with the boys, which I noticed motivated little girls to jump in, too. It was pretty funny that one girl just wanted to hold my hand as I played, but didn't want to actually play the game. Oh yeah, used water bottles work as great soccer balls on a hard, dusty courtyard.
We then attempted to screen the kindergarden class in an organized manner. We did a lot, but the order aspect wasn't exactly there. I love that young kids will just agree with whatever you ask, "Does your tummy hurt?" "Is this your paper?". Well, they didn't necessarily agree that they wanted to be poked for the hemoglobin tests I was doing, but most of them admitted that it didn't really hurt (or at all) afterwards. I liked that I got to give them candy after my test. I think I'll just subject my children to such tests frequently so they learn not to freak out; that's the only time it's actually difficult, time-consuming, and probably more painful. The great thing about HgB level testing (for anemia)is that you only need one good drop of blood, though it does need to hit the strip spot just right.
We will be screening the rest of the students at that school and several others in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully we'll go much more efficiently each day. We'll see.
I love that one of my classmates, Casey, commented that that was the greatest thing she'd ever done in her life, but that it was also super crazy in there. Though we're doing some simple things, I have to admit that it's those moments of personal interaction during whatever intervention that really make it all worth it. It was amusing that so many children wanted to come back to my booth, and were even sticking out their un-bandaided hands (tricky) because they learned that after the poke, they would get a salt water taffy. It was cute that some of the kids who hung around (remember they're about 5) started walking other kids (and me, I guess) throught the process, as I'd done for them and they began to see repeated many times. They provided the reassurance that it would just be "one drop", that waiting for the machine was normal, the bandaid would come, then a paper and candy! It was really fun, though chaotic.
Unfortunately, we noticed some kids had lice, even without close examination. We'll be addressing that issue with parents in a final meeting, especially since they're not usually just found on a child, but the family and community, too.
Also, after playing with and being close to the kids, some of us nurses are concerned we may have new friends, too. I told one director that we'd be in her bed (we usually are in her room for devotionals at night) tonight. She objected, saying we'd be in my and Cassidy's room. I just reminded her that's impossible, as we have the smallest one. Guess she gets our new head lice, too. Maybe her concern will make class tonight shorter? My head is itching, now.
Hasta luego, mis queridos!
Friday morning we met early in the SLC airport and safely got off to Atlanta then down to Guayaquil. One girl actually had a different flight route since she was supposed to go to Peru, but that trip was cancelled. Unfortunately flights from San Francisco were delayed, meaning she missed her connecting flight in Lima up to Guayaquil. The worst part is that she doesn't really know Spanish. It was pretty scary for her (probably also her parents and the programs directors, too) for a day, but she's now with us. The exciting part for the rest of us was just the free selection of movies on personal tv's on the second flight. For me, there was a specific point on the plane when I just wanted to jump for joy as I contemplated coming back to a country and people I love so much.
Saturday we went to various hospitals to become familiar with the facilities and organization thereof. It was interesting to see people react to things I don't, because to me, that's just Ecuador (for example, the "reckless" driving, the crowded and unorganized housing going all the way up the hills, etc.). I just smiled as I saw the concrete houses with brightly colored, but flaking paint. Even the buses are a familiar comfort to me.
After touring the hospitals, we went to the Historic Park of Guayaquil, which includes a zoo and an historic building portion. I think the part with the monkeys was best, and everyone else seemed to agree. Cassidy (here) is my roomie for the trip. It was fun to see people try Ecuafood for the first time and get to advise them on what was what, too. For my first realy Ecuameal, I had maduro con queso (ripe plantain with cheese). It was greasy (surprise), but good. On the way back, we stopped by the big kind of grocery store (and expensive) to stock up on water and other convenient foods to have, especially as we're out working during the day without time or the convenience of just picking something up. I didn't think I'd actually be eating PB&J down here, but I'm grateful for it, now!
Sunday is the most relaxed day for us (thank goodness). We just walk to the closest church building, which is about 10 minutes away according to my walking pace and 20 mins according to what our instructor said. Time helped us get there more at my speed, which I always like. Upon arriving at church, it was weird for me to not go around and greet everyone, like I tried to do as a missionary to have more contact with everyone. I did talk to a family, and thought one guy behind the sacrament table looked pretty familiar, but I didn't go talk to him. As it turns out, we served in Quito together. Throughout the day, I met several others who served with or before me. With around 200 people in a mission that rarely has mission conferences (there was one during my entire mission), it wasn't really a surprise to not actually have known all the elders from the mission. While I was conversing with some people after church, the few guys in our nursing group came up to me with someone from the bishopric. Somehow, my name had been suggested (this is when I gave a dirty look to the guys) and I was asked to speak the next week in church. I would actually be bitter, but then I found out that one of those guys would be asked to speak the following week. I suppose that's fair.
After church, we all pretty much collapsed for a nap. I remember Michael talking about hating to train because he needed to provide nap time for the greenies adjusting to the mission and the climate. I think the trip and the climate were both having their effects, because it was clear by the sign out sheet (more on that in a minute) that no one left the hotel for several hours.
One great thing about our location is that we're super close to the malecon, a huge boardwalk that goes for miles along the edge of the Guayas River. Mom and Dad went there with me just over a year ago. We're also blocks from the park that's full of iguanas that just stay there (probably because they're fed and happy...like the BYU ducks on the south side of campus). We've also already located a really great ice cream shop, and there's plenty to explore and buy here close, since we're right in the city. The temple is pretty close, too.
Some of us girls went for a walk along the malecon after church. We found out you're not supposed to climb the trees, even for pictures (there's some sweet, easy-to-climb mangrove trees) and we successfully avoided the creepy guys that wanted to give us a tour of the inside of the stationary boat along the dock (actually a cool boat, but I didn't trust them.) Good job, us.
The one rub I have to mention has to do with independence. I remember writing to Peanut as a teenager and discussing reasons for teenage frustration and teen-parent difficulties. I wasn't talking about personal frustration or anything, but recognizing that a major reason for problems was issues over independence. On that note, sometimes I think it's funny that we are sent out into the community without instructors to test children and to teach their parents about nutrition, but we need to sign-out and go in threes if we want to leave the hotel. I understand that safety is important, and I agree it's wise to take precautions. However, the fact that I need to ask people to do me the favor of walking across the street with me so I can call the temple is a little annoying. Also the fact that we have class around 8pm and are not to leave the hotel afterwards. That's fine, generally, but I need to restrain my eyes from rolling when the instructor reminds me that it's fine if a sister from the mission comes to visit here at the hotel after class as long as we're down in the lobby. Maybe I should just buy some walkie talkies and we can all be connected, safe, and satisfied. I understand it's just an aspect of being here with the program (and specific instructors), but I do feel like I'm on some ninth-grade field trip sometimes.
Yesterday we went to Hogar de Cristo to learn about the houses we'd be building, the organization, and their plans for our community teaching and screening activities. It really is an awesome group. It was formed by a Jesuit priest and really helps empower people. The original organization just helped the poor get houses, which they paid off over several years. Now, HdC also helps women get microcredit loans and form groups who are accountable to eachother to keep up with payments (they've found that 98% pay it all back...but it doesn't work with the men).
There's also education and health departments that help people and follow up with them in the community. I think it's really great. They have 400 employees and work with many, many volunteers in several cities up the coast of Ecuador. Funds come from donations, the government, and investments (it's non-profit). I really love that it's an organization that works on building people up, on development, on enabling them to reach their potential.In the afternoon, we went to eat back in the city and I had my first ceviche con camaron (it's like a tomatoey, cool soup with shrimp...but it's good) in years. Yum! I also enjoyed a strawberry batido (thin smoothie). Love it. I don't think anyone has collected parasites just yet. Honestly, though, I'm not too worried. I'd rather enjoy the food of Ecuador for a couple weeks and just take some antiparasitics when I get home than be super paranoid about everything. (not that you can't eat yummy Ecuafood without getting parasites.) I'm not going to peel every apple and pear, though. Even as missionaries we'd just soak them in bleach water and call it good. :)
I really like dusk along the malecon. Maybe someday I'll have to live by a beach. It's just very soothing.
I also like that most nights we have devotional at 8pm. It's a good thing to do. Some nights we have class, and Mondays we have FHE.
Today was crazy. It was the first real day. Different student nurses went off to different hospitals, some went to health subcenters for hogar de Cristo, and I went with a group of 6 to a community school to do screenings and teach the parents a nutrition class. First of all, we went about half an hour in a bus to the main office of HdC. Then, we got in a super ambulance and went 20 more minutes up winding, bumpy dirt roads. On the way, we were reviewing what would be taught and some classic Spanish songs for kids, including the Pio Pio Pio song I remember my oldest niece asking about when I first went into the MTC. (The words talk about chicks and their mother hen.) While Cassidy and Sonya led a nutrition information and goal-setting session with parents, the rest of us entertained the children with song, dance, and play. I joined in futbol with the boys, which I noticed motivated little girls to jump in, too. It was pretty funny that one girl just wanted to hold my hand as I played, but didn't want to actually play the game. Oh yeah, used water bottles work as great soccer balls on a hard, dusty courtyard.We then attempted to screen the kindergarden class in an organized manner. We did a lot, but the order aspect wasn't exactly there. I love that young kids will just agree with whatever you ask, "Does your tummy hurt?" "Is this your paper?". Well, they didn't necessarily agree that they wanted to be poked for the hemoglobin tests I was doing, but most of them admitted that it didn't really hurt (or at all) afterwards. I liked that I got to give them candy after my test. I think I'll just subject my children to such tests frequently so they learn not to freak out; that's the only time it's actually difficult, time-consuming, and probably more painful. The great thing about HgB level testing (for anemia)is that you only need one good drop of blood, though it does need to hit the strip spot just right.
We will be screening the rest of the students at that school and several others in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully we'll go much more efficiently each day. We'll see.
I love that one of my classmates, Casey, commented that that was the greatest thing she'd ever done in her life, but that it was also super crazy in there. Though we're doing some simple things, I have to admit that it's those moments of personal interaction during whatever intervention that really make it all worth it. It was amusing that so many children wanted to come back to my booth, and were even sticking out their un-bandaided hands (tricky) because they learned that after the poke, they would get a salt water taffy. It was cute that some of the kids who hung around (remember they're about 5) started walking other kids (and me, I guess) throught the process, as I'd done for them and they began to see repeated many times. They provided the reassurance that it would just be "one drop", that waiting for the machine was normal, the bandaid would come, then a paper and candy! It was really fun, though chaotic.
Unfortunately, we noticed some kids had lice, even without close examination. We'll be addressing that issue with parents in a final meeting, especially since they're not usually just found on a child, but the family and community, too.
Also, after playing with and being close to the kids, some of us nurses are concerned we may have new friends, too. I told one director that we'd be in her bed (we usually are in her room for devotionals at night) tonight. She objected, saying we'd be in my and Cassidy's room. I just reminded her that's impossible, as we have the smallest one. Guess she gets our new head lice, too. Maybe her concern will make class tonight shorter? My head is itching, now.
Hasta luego, mis queridos!
4 comments:
Como siempre haces lo buien con amor.
That sounds wonderful! I'm so glad you arrived safely and are busy helping the people in Ecuador. It sounds like a great program--thanks for sharing. and keep up the good work!
I substituted in a kindergaten class with 23 five-year-olds. They were excited and sweet to work so hard to teach me just what to do in their class. It sounds like your group was just as sweet.
Wish we could be with you in Ecuador. We remember being in Guayaquil with you. We love you, have a great time. You are always blessed as you serve Father's children. Love, Dad
Christiesue! It all looks amazing, keep updating. I love hearing about everyone's adventures!
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