Drama...and resolution

Yay! I graduated!

....now what?

For those of you who don't know, I can't actually do anything with my BS until I take the national council licensure exam (NCLEX) to prove that I can practice safely. I love that a degree from an accredited university means so little.
So, the plan of action to accomplish that after graduation? Wait for BYU to post transcripts, then drive mine up to Salt Lake to the licensure office (it's faster than mailing it) so they will give me an approval to test number. There's the whole criminal background check and application, as well as paying the hundreds of dollars for the test, but I did that part months ago.

Last Thursday at about midnight I noticed with joy that transcripts were finally up. As I looked at my final semester scores, though, I was confused. I'm embarrassed to admit I texted a friend to ask what an 'E' meant, especially for a pass/fail class like skiing. (I knew pass would show up as P...but an E?) Well, as it turns out, BYU doesn't give F's, but E's for failing grades. I was wondering why my gpa looked so low.
I laughed to myself as I realized how bad that would be...since I did need that exercise credit....to not graduate from BYU because I'd failed a class like skiing.

Truthfully, I'm not that bad of a skiier, especially for a beginner. However, that class score is really just based upon attendance. So, starting early Friday, I was emailing and calling the secretary of that professor and talking with the Records office about getting my transcript. After communicating with the head of the exercise department, I learned that the change grade process involved the submission of the change grade sheet by the secretary, a signature from the department head, and then the actual change down in the Records office. The latter also let me know I should expect about a week for the change to appear.

With all the deadlines I met during my college degree, I wondered why it would require one week for a person to sign a paper and send it to another department. Don't we believe in fax machines!!?? I thought about hassling the department head more and offering to walk the paper over to the Records office myself, but refrained. I also found that, according to the person I talked to at Records, I was told 3 days or a week. That's how I decided who my favorite people were in that office.

Understandably, I was a little miffed that after waiting anxiously for the posting of my transcript, some little error (I understand they happen) would take so long to fix. But, realizing frustration wouldn't help, I just laughed about it. The next Wednesday when it was corrected, my sweet roomie Emily dropped it off in SLC for me, so I didn't have to worry about it as I went up to the cabin for the weekend.

Gratefully, the licensure office was slightly more efficient, and I found my approval to test in days. So I am now registered to take the NCLEX on June 3rd...just in time to get it over with before my birthday and before I start my RN job the next week.


Oh, did I forget to mention that?

I have a registered nursing job lined up!! It's true. I'm becoming a more legitimate adult everyday. I'll be working up on the same floor, in the medical and oncology unit. Unfortunately I'll start off working nights....probably for a while. I can sleep fine in the day; I just prefer the day shift for selfish social life reasons.
Oh well. I have a job!!

I'm very grateful for roommates and others as they prayed for me. It's interesting to see obstacles and such arise in life, and to see how things work out. They always do.

Now all I need to do is stay motivated in my studying and actually pass the NCLEX. :)

Ready to Run

In a month, I'll be a real grown-up. I know that sounds weird. There's enough people who still think of me as some little Cindy-Lou Who hopping around sitting on people's laps and fibbing about my age. Let's be honest, I still may not feel like any more of a "real" grown-up, but I'll be done with my undergrad education! (finally!) Earlier in the term, this was pretty intimidating. It means change. It means finding a job and starting a new chapter of my life. It means no more student perks.
Let's be honest-that's all fine with me! At this point, I think the senioritis has taken over. We're almost done!!! Yay!!! We'll be able to work, and not come home to doing more homework or studying. It's time to count down the days and look forward to change, to sniff out and find the new cheese. I bet it's super yummy, anyway. :)

Ingrid's Words

For a few years, Caroline and I have made Valentine CDs. It started as a great cheap idea for a boyfriend and something for us. Now, I feel like it's as much for the fun of putting our favorite romantic (and not too sappy) songs together, and having the sister time to compile it. This year, I even made a special edition with additions for my roommates, such as "All The Single Ladies" (Beyonce) and "Haven't Met You Yet" (Bluble). It's a fun chance to get our favorite songs together and to discover new music. In the process, and thanks to Kristy, I've discovered I enjoy Ingrid Michaelson. Tonight I just have the first verse of her song, "Be OK" in my head.

I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today

I feel like this is a good theme for my apartment tonight. We're all about to graduate and take on the world. It's exciting and scary at the same time. I realize everyone who actually reads this blog made this transition a while ago (or a long time ago), but it still is intimidating to face real adulthood and these changes. I keep thinking about the book Who Moved My Cheese? and the fact that I should anticipate and make the most of opportunities, rather than shrinking from decisions, change, etc. Some weeks, I feel like life is a roller-coaster between the changes and challenges that not only we, but other sisters and loved ones face in their lives. I think one of the most difficult things is knowing others are suffering, and realizing there is little we can do to alleviate it. Sometimes it's part of life or a consequence of sin, but it's still hard.
One of my patients this week went home. That's usually a happy thing. I've worked with her before, as she's come in for chemotherapy treatments. However, this time around it was different. Her family was gathering, and she was off to see her young daughter's first swim tournament. It may be the only one she sees in the few weeks she will likely live. That's when it's hard. That's when I hurt for them, though I know my suffering is so minuscule in comparison to theirs.

At the same time, I think of the people in Chile and realize how blessed we are. I consider the people of Haiti whose lives were flipped so upside-down and realize not even my roller-coaster days are too bad.

Indiana

I'm writing tonight from the great state of Indiana. This is just a place that I think will always make me want to bust out into song about Gary, Indiana, just like little Winthrop in The Music Man.

Why, you wonder, am I out here on a random weekend like this? Well, there's a conference going on this week for Sigma Theta Tau, an international nursing honor society. Though I thought I'd just pay the dues, get some recognition, and not think much about it (let's be honest), I've actually done a lot with the organization over the past 7 months. For example, at the beginning of October, we had a 5K Fun Run Purple Dash to raise funds for nursing education scholarships. Somehow, I went from signing up to help on the committee to being the sole person in charge of publicity for the event. That was a little stressful. The race did have its...difficulties, but it turned out to be fun. Since I received a small scholarship from STTI when I went down to Ecuador for study abroad this summer, I was also expected to present on our collective experiences at the BYU College of Nursing research conference. I did that at the very beginning of October. That was a little scary, but it was only 15-20 minutes. It was just intimidating to be a REAL person up there presenting like a professional or GROWN-UP (yes, I know I'm 24...coping comes slowly). Anyway, that went well and was a good experience.

So now, I've been out here in Indianapolis for a few days with a fellow student and STTI member, Katie, as well as two of our STTI mentors/teachers. Katie and I worked together on a presentation which we gave, sharing 15-20 minutes together, as we explained the aims, methods, and outcomes of our Human Health and Global Diversity study down in Ecuador. Of course, this audience was not the same as the previous conference, but nursing educators with years of experience and their graduate degrees and certification alphabet soup following their names. (There was actually a student reception to welcome us to the conference, and I think there were a total of 7 students there.) Anyway, they were surprised when Katie introduced us as undergraduate students, as we could see from their faces and hear in the slight gasp that passed through the room. They were also shocked that we were in Ecuador for an entire month. It was nerve-wracking for a bit, but I think we both presented calmly and professionally. Someone mentioned afterwards that we looked perfectly relaxed as we spoke, and I realized that we just stopped worrying once we started talking, because all we had to do was tell about something we loved doing. It was good to get the stressful aspect of the trip over with. For the rest of the conference, we can just listen to the presentations we want to, and enjoy VACATION!

Then, we celebrated Halloween by visiting the zillion vendor booths and collecting some candy, but mostly loot like pens, water bottles, highlighters, and little band-aid dispensers. Katie and I decided we rather liked the grown-up trick or treating we got to do. Afterwards, we went to an Irish Pub for dinner with our two professors. I really missed the clean-air act when we first walked in, but we survived the experience, but the food was really good.

Today was the BEST!! After going to a quick conference thing, we went to sacrament meeting at the local Spanish branch. Then I went down to Matthew's area in time to go to classes with their family. Sweet little I (almost 4) gave her first talk ever in Primary on King Benjamin's address on service. She prepared and projected well, and I pretty much think it was the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. The message was "God wants us to serve others!"
Then I got to go home and just spend time with that amazing portion of the Frogmorton Clan. It's crazy how fast they grow. I finally got to meet my namesake baby #9 today and snuggle him! Back at their house, we just had dinner, drew pigs, ate Halloween candy, danced in the kitchen, and just had a great time. :) I'm so grateful for my wonderful family!!

P.S. I just realized that Indiana reminds me of who's currently in Diana, and will be enticed (well, induced) to come out in the next 12 hours or so...!!!

Summer Fun

I may have been remiss in posting for a while, but I do have some redeeming photos to share now. It seems like I've just played this summer, considering my study abroad back to Ecuador, visiting with family, and not having a job until recently. I guess that's okay, though, since things seem to have worked out well.

My most recent playing was out in California. This was my first time out there, excepting my layover there to get my visa to go on my mission. It was also my first experience in the ocean off of a North American coast.
I went with a group of about 25 from my singles' ward. We stayed at someone's house, but most of us really slept in tents in the backyard. Let you think my summer has been too luxurious, I will also add the detail that there was one shower for 30 people at that house. Luckily, the local pool had a shower, too, albeit an outdoor shower.
Here we are in front of an old Catholic cathedral in the historic San Juan Capistrano area. There were all these quaint little old shops and buildings that we rather enjoyed visiting. We did spend a couple days at some beaches...I helped people share their artistic talents by being the body under the muscular sand body and ever attractive seaweed wear.

Jump pictures...how did they get to be so popular in the first place? (I rather like how all of us ladies were caught in this one!)
We also went to the Newport Beach Temple. We were able to go as a group and do baptisms for the dead. It was a great opportunity with this group of friends.

Since I've been back out in Provo, I've enjoyed playing with my good old BYU ward. As I didn't really get assigned to a specific family home evening group, I just started attending with whichever group had the most adventurous activity planned. Well, actually I just go with those who invite me first. Thus, I ended up rafting down the Provo River twice in three weeks. This is me with some of my "family" the second time around. By the end of the evening, though, most people were pretty wet, if not from falling in, they were wet from splashing wars. The water was freezing!!Earlier in the season we accomplished the great mulberry harvest of 2009. That involved setting up many tarps beneath the tree and sending James up a ladder to then shake the branches while we sat on a bench and watched/felt the raining berries. Then the real work started as James sorted through the collected berries with some cute helper kids while Caroline and I worked on the cooking and processing inside. It took the entire day, but the fruits of our labors sure are yummy. :p




Clark obviously stayed busy supervising. I think he learned it from Boss, or was it the bossy sister?

Good News! (and bad)

So the best news is that I was able to visit with all my sisters (and Em, who's PRACTICALLY a sister genetically) over the course of 2 weeks. That doesn't happen often, so I feel very blessed. From enjoying delightful foot soaks and sister talk I went on to helping with a new baby, playing 4-square and making faces at a camera. Then, back home I went on to water park fun, jewelry making, swing sitting, and story time on the top bunk. Just look at these great kids! Now I get to cuddle with Lioness and eat mulberries! Summer is great!

I also took the NCLEX-PN. It is the big national test to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Though I've been studying nursing for years, I did have some last-minute cramming hours the night before the test (okay, I'd been perusing another review book for a few weeks, while having the fun explained above, so I obviously wasn't too focused on studying.) However, the next morning during the test, I was not feeling completely positive on enough questions, or even very sure enough for my liking. Anyway, this test may take up to 5 hours, but is an adaptive computer test, so what questions I get are based upon how I've answered previous questions. I'm not sure what a typical time is, but I was cut off at 2 hours. The papers we were given specifically state that no conclusions about either passing or failing can be drawn from the test shutting off quickly. So I just hoped it was not a bad omen for real. Two days later, I grudgingly paid the $7.95 with a credit card to check my score online. (man the states and centers milk you for every cent! I'm surprised I wasn't required to rent the chair I sat in to take the test...oh, wait I probably was, just beforehand.)Thus, I discovered.....


I PASSED!!!!

I'm officially a nurse! (even if only a "Little Pretend Nurse", as I like to say)

The bad news is that I don't have a job, so that license isn't getting put to use just yet. I've applied to several places and checked in person at the closest place, a plasma donation center close by here. My plan for tomorrow is really get in to other locations in person, as I'm pretty sure the man who's present is more likely to be the man with a job. (depending, but it shouldn't hurt) Of places where I've applied, I'd really like to work with a company that makes home health visits to help with diabetes control.

I'm also trying to decide which singles' ward to attend. The bishop from my old ward (where I was all last year) has made it clear I'm still welcome, even though I don't live exactly within the borders. That's very tempting, as I already have friends there, it's really close still, and I'll just be moving into a new ward with my new apartment in 2 months anyway. However, I feel like meeting new people can be a great thing, as well as some obligation to attend the ward to which I should pertain geographically. Even if only one person asks me who I am each week, I'll at least meet 7 over the time I would spend in the ward....luckily I talk to people. So the other bad I guess is that I'm indecisive, but the great part is having options.

The New Arrival

As the new aunt (for the 27^th time), I believe I have the duty of posting the first blog about my favorite little neonate! On Monday, June 8^th, T. H. Strickland came into the world. He was born at 2:23 pm and weighed in at 8# 5oz (I won, Peanut) and measuring 20.5” in length.

I was lucky enough to get to come down with Mom to TN on Saturday. Not only the Stricklands, but Peanut was also at the airport to pick us up. Despite the readiness of the whole crew to throw a party, TH was waiting for his time. However, he lost his opportunity as Monday morning and the scheduled induction rolled around.

AM was pretty much wonderwoman (uh!), enduring the contractions and increasing pain with the help of a lot of counterpressure, encouragement, and massages from her doula. It was a really amazing experience to be there to help and see AM accomplish something she had planned and hoped for so much. This won’t mean much to those with little birthing experience, but literally only 11 minutes passed between the nurse checking to find she was 6.5cm dilated and TH’s birth. That is so fast! So apparently he was fine with taking his time, but AM maintains her rocket-speed birthing record. I hope she teaches me her uterus exercises sometime… It was pretty funny that the doctor barely ran into the room just in time to catch the baby. I think that’s fitting, as AM was born before the doctor made it in to help Mom years ago. It was also great to see what a great team AM and Tober make, because he was helping in every way, large or small, possible. Thanks so much for letting us be there for such a special miracle! Congratulations!

To see the photos, check out this album: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=sueyhoney&target=ALBUM&id=5345912216653034097&authkey=Gv1sRgCN_VyICOjIu_iAE&authkey=Gv1sRgCN_VyICOjIu_iAE&feat=email. I love the photos with Grandma and siblings!!

P.S.

My last couple days in Ecuador were awesome! My favorite part was visiting people I love that I know from my mission. Here I am at a family home evening with some families from a ward in which I served. I was ecstatic to learn that one of the families that had been inactive and with which we'd worked a lot had actually become active and been sealed in the temple in Guayaquil. (This is part of the family!)
That may have been the most wonderful moment of the trip for me. Of course, it really was a pleasure for me to stay an extra 24 hours, too, because that gave me more opportunity to make visits as well as prepare myself emotionally to leave a land and people I love so much.

Volunteers?

Our flight left last night around 11. I´m still in Ecuador! Apparently they overbooked the flight, so they asked for about 10 volunteers to wait and go 24 hours later. Six of us girls from the BYU nursing group decided to stay. It´s not so bad, considering we´re at a 5 star hotel and all...

Here, there, all around the country

Thursday was my last day in the maternity hospital. I just walked around and did whatever I wanted to as if I owned the place. We discovered that if you just do your thing with confidence, people don’t question. Actually, when people would question some of the girls, they wouldn’t get far anyway, with their minimal understanding and speaking of Spanish. Don’t worry; we were doing good things.
With things that I wanted to accomplish that day in mind, I started off doing a few more interviews. I only planned to do two, as there were only that many thank you gifts left, but then someone else begged me to give her something, too, so I did an interview with her for another 45 minutes. It was good, because she actually opened up a lot and provided a better interview than the other two that morning. I’m grateful I could have that one on one interaction with the moms. I like getting to know them and learning their stories. It’s sad to see them suffer, though, or to hear about some of their concerns. For some, the major concern during pregnancy is the typical concern for the health of the child. However, others were very troubled about what the reaction of their mothers or significant others would be. The one who was 16 when she got pregnant was obviously worried about the first. Another worried her live-in boyfriend (the most common living situation I encounted with my interviewees) would leave her when he found out, because that’s what the father of her first child had done. Another woman was concerned about diseases her baby might get because of the father’s infidelity and STDs that were then brought home. It was a reminder to me of how grateful I am for a different concept of family and other goals for myself, such that those won’t be concerns as I have children. I hope those women are doing well now.
After those interviews, I dropped into the transition nursery where babies are kept if their moms have infection or just haven’t been moved out to the later post-partum room yet. It was not too exciting, so I went ahead up to the labor room for a while. There, I talked with ladies and provided some labor support until I followed a C-section. It was fine. After that, I followed that mother, Maria, to the post-partum room and then spent time with her baby in the newbie nursery. She was a cute little one. I took some pictures to show to mom and saw how some of the other babies were doing. I felt so honored when Maria asked about my name again and said that since I’d been with her through it all, she would use Susanna as one of the names for her baby. That was pretty special for me. I couldn’t find her husband to tell him about his wife and baby before I left, but he knows by now.
Friday was a wrap-up day with the different organizations we’d been working with. We reported on what we did and what we’d found with the growth and health evaluations of the children and discussed what improvements could be made for the future. The best part of the day was when Hna Dolores Ramos, one of my first mission companions came to visit me. We hadn’t been able to communicate much, as our schedules were very opposite (she is in class in the tarde and night, and that’s the only time I was free), but she decided she could come on over to the hotel. She, Paul Sotomayor, and some nursing friends all went out for ice cream and just strolled around the city. It was just so exciting to see one of my latin compañeras again! J
Saturday we took off for Quito by plane and then to Otavalo in bus. Sadly, with the big “tourism” bus waiting outside the airport, I think we attracted some unwanted attention. In the chaos of loading up the bus and allowing people to help us with our bags, a scamming group came by, with people asking distracting questions from outside and others “helping” to put bags up in the overead walking off with one of my peers’ bags from the inside. They came close to getting others, but other people had been more adamant about keeping their bags close. We all mourned that we had not been more aware, whether from the outside or inside. Our tour lady then said we should never talk to strangers, which made me laugh, since there were three new people to us who were working for her that were also loading our bags. Anyway, I felt really bad for Tricia, whose passport,computer, and other important things were in her bag.
We then went up to Otavalo to the famous poncho’s market that’s there every Saturday.
Sunday I’d hoped to go down to Quito to go to church, but my friends were too traveled out to want another 4ish hours in a car so I could go to “my” wards in Quito. It was really disappointing, but I wasn’t surprised people just wanted to rest. We were at this really beautiful hotel in Otavalo called Puerto Lago, right on a lake there in the mountains. It was a great place to relax and enjoy nature, but also to go boating, play tennis, and see the llamas!
Monday we had te great opportunity to work with the Benson Institute. It’s an organization that works on the development aspect of humanitarian aid. With that, I mean to say it helps people become more self-sufficient, providing aid in a sustainable manner. Families that lack the necessary resources to obtain sufficient nutrition are recommended by either the bishop or the community president to obtain help. Then, the institute does an evaluation and may begin working with the family. They not only provide starter kits, such as alfalfa seed or materials to build guinea pig houses and 10 guinea pigs, but they train the people on crop maintenance and rotation, how to build the shelters, and how to maintain the animals. The institute also helps the families get started with their own garden, which is actually the first step to saving them a lot of money and improving the family’s nutrition. (That makes me so happy to think about all of my gardening family!) Then, follow-up is provided to help the family continue to improve. The goal is that the families will first be self-sufficient, that they’ll be able to start a food storage, that they’ll then give to a communit storehouse for those in need, and that they might be able to make an income through sales. It was really great visiting with the families.
We also met this 89 year-old midwife. She was teaching us some things she does to help women in birth and even to help people who haven’t been able to get pregnant or don’t want to anymore. I thought the natural methods were pretty interesting. Of course, she didn’t tell us some of her special herb combinations, because those are the secrets of her trade. She was so cute.
Now we’re in Quito! I really felt like I was coming home in some ways as we flew into the city the other day. Our hotel is just blocks from my mission office, too. My goal is to see as many people as posible, and to do better at keeping in contact with converts and loved ones down here.

Making a Difference

It's so easy to get behind when there's something I feel like I should write everyday on a study abroad program. Last Friday was my first day in the Maternity hospital, also known as "the Sotomayor". Cassidy and I went mostly to do some interviews for a study one of our instructors is doing to explore the meaning of the childbirth experience for Ecuadorian women. That's what I've been doing this week in the mornings, too. It's really interesting talking to the women and learning about their experiences and perspectives. In the afternoon when their family members can visit (12-2), I go upstairs to help in the birthing room or one of the nurseries.


Friday night we went to an institute dance after a health fair. I'm not sure if I've explained how we do those. We teach 4 classes-Nutrition, Hypertension/Diabetes, Adult CPR, and First Aid/baby CPR-check everyone's blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and have another class for the kids. The plan is that each class lasts 20 minutes and they rotate through them all. (However, some people come really late, and since Tuesday night's started at 8:45 instead of 8pm, we cut the class times down to 15 minutes....so we could get home before midnight...) It's pretty fun. The trick is, if you speak the language, you need to be ready to take the bulk of the teaching and clarify. We also switch up assignments every time so we get experience teaching everything. It's fun, but that variability can also make it a little more difficult to feel super comfortable and confident. It's okay, though. We have fun with it and just try to involve people as much as possible so it's a great experience for all.



Anyway, so on Friday we had the health fair at 7 and went to the dance afterward. It was pretty great, since I saw at least ten guys from my mission there. It was fun to see them again and to crash the party. Most of the married people of our group opted not to come (we went straight there from doing a 2 hour health fair), which wasn't surprising. Some people were convinced to come after the health fair, but didn't get a chance to bring other clothes, so a good number just stayed in scrubs so people would not feel bad about not having "cute" attire. It was really funny to see this pack of 12 gringas bust into a latin dance and start dancing like crazy Americans.


I learned that at their dances here, people tend to line up in two parallel lines as couples. Then, the songs just meld one into another, so if you want to dance with someone else, you need to say you want a drink or need to go to the bathroom to escape. (Even the Latin guys told me that's what they do...and that such an attempt to get away can be foiled if the girl offers to accompany them to go get a drink...hahaha) There are very set dances that people know, like merengue, salsa, etc., so when they ask how we dance, they're a little confused that we just....do, without such order. Their most similar dancing to our craziness is what they do as they rock out to reggaton (reggae). So we were good at that. It was great fun. I loved that some of my old mission leaders patiently tried to teach me their ways, too.


Saturday was a fun day at the beach...check the class blog for more details, because I was in charge of writing for that day.

Sunday is generally the best day of rest (I'm so glad to be here with a BYU group, so the Sabbath is observed!) A while before sunset, a group of us went out and walked up to the lighthouse up on a hill. We also went with some guys from the ward here/mission friends. We were able to accomplish just what I'd envisioned; we arrived there in the cool time of the evening when we'd be able to feel the fresh breeze from the ocean and in time to watch the sunset. I never knew the sun set so quickly here! I don't know what exactly about being on the equator makes it so you can really see a difference in sunset time (I understand it's a different angle and perspective toward the sun, though); it just zips down and slips away as you watch, rather than being so gradual and almost unperceptable like at home. It was interesting and beautiful.

Monday and Tuesday I was in the maternity hospital. Monday was really hard. In the couple hours I was actually up in the labor area, I saw a stillbirth and a spontaneous abortion (aka miscarriage). That was sad in itself, but I was also saddened to find that there is no emotional support for those women. I understand that they don't have a psychologist on staff and that the staff member/patient ratios are not the same as at home, too. As I talked to a doctor about it, she said it was a sad truth. She herself had had a term stillbirth and knew the emotional pain it brings from personal experience. However, as she stated, people just see the women crying and don't ask why or assume it's due to physical pain. She said she tried to talk with them and teach such mothers when she had time.

I should explain what it's like a little bit here, at least if you're in the normal (poor) part of the hospital. All the patients are out in one big public room so the few nurses, doctors and staff members can make rounds more quickly. If you have more money, you can get a private or semiprivate room, but that's rare. Sometimes there's a sheet or something that covers you and provides some privacy, but mostly patients just know to avert their eyes from one another, because sheets and robes are pulled away and private parts are out there in view of all the other 30 people in the room. If you scream or react to pain, you are told that will hurt your baby or slow your healing process. A patient I helped who returned to the hospital with infection of her C-section wound was told she must not really want to heal, and that if she wanted to, she would be just fine.

As I continued in the pre-birthing room doing labor support (counterpressure on the women's lower backs or on the front of their knees during contractions, etc.), I was suddenly asked to help a woman who was saying something was coming out. I went to help, finding that was indeed the case. When I told a doctor, he asked around a minute, realized the patient was in the miscarriage line, and went on with his business. Soon, the little body was all the way out, and I let another staff member know, but she just kept on with her business. In the meantime, I just stayed with the crying mother, answering her questions, and applying counterpressure as she continued to have contractions to expel the placenta. It was probably 10 or more minutes before the placenta was out, and no one from the hospital staff came to explain anything, make any assessment, or anything. Minutes continued to pass, and my teacher had been over a couple times to check on us. She finally relayed the message that they were waiting for a space in the OR/for the anesthesiologist so the mother could be taken in there to assure that everything was out of the uterus. (otherwise, hemorrhage and infection easily occur) I was glad I could finally tell the mom what was going on. It was just frustrating to see this mom suffer and cry silently, covering her face with her sheet as she used it to wipe her eyes, without any aknowledgement from a nurse or anyone. Then, she just had her poor 18 week old child lying there between her legs, soon followed by a placenta for at least 20 minutes. All this without someone from the hospital to teach her why such things happen, what they were going to do to help her, or anything. I don't know that I did much, either. I could answer her questions and did reassure her of the omniscience and understanding of God. Maybe the counterpressure doesn't seem like much to see, but she said it helped with the pain. Maybe things like holding her hand or just caressing her shoulder didn't really help, but I wanted her to know that someone was there, that even though I don't really know how it feels, I was sorry for her loss, for her pain. And it made me hope someone else had been there for my mom, sisters and loved ones who'd experienced similar loss, too.

Monday night several of us were invited to have dinner with a family in the ward. The hermana that invited us, Martha, teaches relief society. She and her husband have three little girls, Diana, Martha, and Emma. The little sister (of big Martha), Marjorie, just got home from a mission in Chile 3 months ago and also lives with them. We had a fun night just sitting and talking with them. It was very Ecua to just sit and visit for several hours, then have them share their dinner with us and visit for another hour. No one else who went was completely fluent (not that I always know what's said perfectly, either) but enough to always get what was going on and participate. I love that we felt super honored to be invited to their home and they were so pleased that we accepted the invitation. I guess it's just the shared joy. I sat by the youngest when I was up on the stand the other Sunday to speak. She had cute pictures prepared for each of us. I thought mine was pretty impressive for a 9 year-old.

Wednesday I was out in the community, which was pretty fun. We got some 24 hr intake recalls from the kids to understand what they're eating normally and what they perceive as healthy. I also interviewed several of the mothers about their typical alimentation at home and their perceptions on health. We were told to be ready to go at noon, so I didn't start any more interviews at that point. However, the ambulance didn't come to pick us up until 12:30, so Marie and I enjoyed a good 30 mins of tag and red light-green light with the kids. They loved it, and so did we. We also got to go to the temple again, where I saw some mission friends, as always.

The today part is pretty great, too, but we have a meeting with the nursing school of Guayaquil that we need to leave for now. I've obviously been working on this post and not publishing for a while since I've needed to finish it, but each day, I just feel like there's more to add. So, since Michael is now objecting. I must mush. I'll figure out some pics later.

The Worth of Souls

Just so you all know, the rest of the week at Vernaza, I was not appalled or disgusted by things I saw, because it was much better. Wednesday our guy from the Junta de Beneficencio (group of benificence...it runs several hospitals, nursing homes, etc. and is funded by the lottery), Vicente, got us all into surgery. I was able to watch a full thyroidectomy with Marie and Taniel. The nurse who intubated the patient seemed very ready to let me go ahead and do that, but I admitted I didn't know how in practice. Somehow I just can't claim I "know how" to do it (like he asked...in Spanish) when I've only seen it and know the theory. I'll go ahead and do it someday, though.
Thursday I was super excited because we'd heard such great things about the burn unit. Well, Taniel and I got there to find that the whole surgical section (where you'd see more cool stuff like debridement and get to help with intubations, IVs, etc.) was closed down for that day for cleaning. The 2 surgery burn patients were being sent to the ER, but we knew 3 of our students were already there. It was still a pretty fun day, though. We saw how they run things there, talked with pretty much all the patients, gave meds and such, and learned about the treatments provided. People are bathed/showered everyday with soap and water, and then, depending on their burn, they'll either get a cream or a sulfur powder on their burn areas to fight infection and help with the healing process. I thought it was interesting to see they used a hot lamp to dry new skin grafts onto people.
I loved that we got to know Beatrice. She was severely burned as a girl and would not even show her face to people. So apparently she had surgery in the States and then was referred to the Vernaza for follow-up surgeries. She's originally from Brazil, but apparently has no family. Whether that means they were killed in a terrible fire, or she was abandoned, or what, I don't know. Our instructor, Debbie, told us a little about her, and I was intrigued to hear she lived there. Apparently after having work done several times at Vernaza, and since she has no family, she just sleeps and stays in the subacute burn unit. She will go out and work around the hospital (though I don't really think she's an employee...but one surgeon was having his son in high school help out with some surgery, too...lol) and go visit people she meets from all over Ecuador who were in the burn unit before, too. She didn't really tell us this story, but the head doctor of the unit did. She introduced herself to us and started interviewing us in English with her camera on video. We told her about our likes, asked about hers, and she and I even sang "Anything I do, I do it for you" by Brian Adams. (I know we're all sad that was on her camera, so we can be more sure it won't show up on YouTube.) She was cute. It made me sad that she never let us take a picture with her. Not so much because I need some visual evidence, but because I want her to feel loved and beautiful, confident to be in photos. I wouldn't jump to that conclusion, but she did change the subject directly or run away when we wanted pictures with her. Even with the obviously scarred and deformed face, after that interaction, she will always be a beautiful friend to me, not some lady who looks different. Hopefully she can feel that way someday and know the great worth she has as a person, as a treasured child of an Eternal Father.

Happy Nurses' Day!

So I didn't write yesterday. I was a little disgusted. For clinical, I was at Vernaza hospital in the intensive care unit. We went in and actually got paired up with nurses' aides first, so I was just helping a lady give bedbaths for a while. Now, this ICU is all in one big open room. Remember that in Ecuador there are not the same laws or resources. For example, the family must provide medications and such, so sometimes the scheduled ones are not given because the family hasn't been able to buy them and bring them in. I can even handle the fact that we had to use the same basin for water to do bedbaths, changing the water and cleaning it out (with water) between each person. We even changed gloves between patients. However, I was shocked the aide I was working with just kept rinsing off the same piece of gauze (our washcloth to bathe the people) and using it on all of the people. Gag, gross, unclean, ACK! Now I understand why one of my instructors says that if she's in a bad accident down here, she just wants us to send her on a plane home, and she'll be squeezing her own Ambu (oxygen) bag the whole way home. I did feel a little better when she started sending me to get fresh water and rinse stuff off, because I started using hot water and made sure visible pubic hairs were not still there... (still gross)

I did let my teacher know about that, and she let some of the infection control directors know, who were shocked. So, you can sigh a breath of relief to know that's not just standard protocol, but evidence that the concepts behind infection control are not understood. However, there is evident progess. (Hey, they don't use the same gloves for all the surgeries anymore!)

There's also other evidences of progress, such as some of the signs that I took pictures of the first day we were there. My favorite, and the first that caught my attention says "don't spit on the floor." Yeah, it's just on the wall up in the cardiac unit. haha The next one says, "please don't rest your feet on the wall, help with hygiene-the administration." Then, the notice on the door at the pediatric hospital reminded me of Arkansas. For those of you who don't know/remember, we had a glass door infront of the blue solid one, and apparently sometimes it was clean enough that people didn't notice it, and would walk right into it. Thus, "Warning! Glass door!" hahaha I know I said the spitting one was my favorite, but I think this last one might be tied for that rank. This is from the zoo/historical park. It reminds me of the funny interpretations of signs that Mark sent us all a long time ago...like hand dryers really being bacon dispensers. I'm still unsure on the meaning, though. No, to smoking and hamburgers, but feel free to pick out a monkey? Please don't give the animals cigarettes or greasy fast food, but your own flesh is fine? Or maybe don't smoke or eat here, but go ahead and bring your pet monkey and hand (like the Addams family?) I'm up to more suggestions, if you can decipher the meaning. :)

I quickly decided accompanying the aide was not new or useful for my educational experience, so I bounced around, talking to and following nurses, residents, and just trying to be really nice with the patients. One thing that really made me sad was how disrespectful some "higher ups" were to the aide. She was also sometimes kindof cold and threatening with patients. That's sad. Sometimes, though, I saw a lot of respect and good caring. I think it's hard for people to remember that each patient is really somebody's loved one....mom, brother, sister, someone, and that we should treat them with such regard as we would our own loved ones. I'm grateful to be in a program with peers who also understand that each patient and person is a beloved child of God. It can be hard to remember that in all of our daily interactions, no matter the profession or setting, but I think the more we do remember that, the more we treat others that way, making everyone's life more pleasant.

I then went with a group to teach CPR, supposedly to firemen. However, we arrived to find a room of mothers. Apparently the coordinating guy misinformed us. It was kindof funny. So instead of teaching advanced care life support, we taught basic life support. It was a good review and practice (though I was teaching some of that last Saturday, too).

Today is Nurses' Day! We all were at the Vernaza Hospital in the courtyard at a booth. We had the mannequins again and I got to teach adult, child, and infant CPR stuff to a bunch of people who came up. I might have thought it was a big waste for all 24 of us to be there all morning to do so little (there wasn't really work for all of us...but we got some reading for class done, and lots of people went to mass at the little cathedral behind the stand), but my opinion changed as I taught. I was surprised at how interested people were in learning. Nurses here go through a 5 year course of study, so I assume some form of CPR is covered, but in the States we have to recertify often, and it can still be confusing, as standards/recommendations are changed often. I think the best was when I taught a peditric nurse who had specifically come to the Vernaza (she works somewhere else) because she saw in the paper that we'd be teaching CPR, and she's always been nervous about having to resuscitate a baby when she's alone on the shift. That comment made me decide our hours of there were all worth it, even just for her. I'm glad we were able to teach many more, though. I love teaching!

(For those of you who are wondering, current standard is 2 breaths, 30 compressions...5 cycles and reassess for respirations and pulse.)

Homes, Best Moments

Well, it's been a couple more great days down here in hot, sunny Guayaquil. Thursday I was back at the community school with a group. We had 150 more kids to get through all the screenings and tests, 6 students, a few volunteers and awesome helpful parents. Remember, the first day we only got through 40 kids, so the feat seemed rather great. I started off with Sonya teaching a half hour lesson on nutrition to some parents. We tried to make it a discussion as much as possible, with them suggesting different ways to improve diets and nutrition for their children and families. I love how motivated people are to learn and grateful they are for what they are taught. I hope they keep their goals and really work toward them. (Yes, we had them set personal goals and I even found myself promising blessings. Classic missionary pattern. Love it.) After that lesson, we were amazingly enough able to get through the rest of the tests, which were way faster with the older children (something we were counting on). The kids are so cute. I always feel bad when they just come up (I was doing finger sticks and hemoglobin testing again) and are so afraid, just because they know they will be poked and think it will be way painful. Even though other kids who have already gone assure them that it doesn't really hurt, some are almost to tears when they approach. At least they really do find out it's surprisingly not very painful and they are happy to get candy afterward.

Thursday evening I met up with one of my old zone leaders from the mission, Paul Sotomayor, and we were able to catch up as we ate with a group of my peers. We served together (not as companions) in Tena-my little branch we worked very hard to keep going out the in the Amazon. Unfortunately, after the mission, he pretty much had to start college over again because they nixed his major while he was gone. Though the same has happened for many others in the states, it seems like I've always heard that they were allowed to still graduate from that program and not start over. Paul has a good attitude about it, though.

Friday was one of my favorite days yet. I know I like manual labor, just for the physical satisfaction it brings as you see the fruits of your labors, but it was really fun, too. We teamed up with hogar de Cristo again, split into two groups with a professional for each as the leader, and built two houses for people. The deal with hdC is that if people make less than $1 a day, they are eligible to have a bamboo house built for them that they can pay off over three years. The bamboo house on stilts with a metal roof costs $830. Even with the water we took and the sunblock we applied, we were feeling dehydrated and burned fast. Jadira, the sweet lady we were building the house for made us lunch and we shared our PB sandwiches with the workers and the Jadira's family, too.

Saturday was really a play day. Don't think we're too spoiled, but we went out to Salinas (which translates to saline=salt water), a beautiful beach 2 hours away. We had some good conversation and study time in the van going and coming back, too. Debbie, one of our instructors, even related the long version of meeting and hooking up with her husband. I love getting to know people better thought their life stories. At the beach, we dove right in and swam out to the buoys. I found out really quickly how appropriate the name Salinas is. I'm not sure about the osmolarity of that water, or its comparison to ocean fronts in the states, but this was pretty much a strong gargle. At least my burst blister from the day before was very clean.

Some of the guys (yes, there are 3 male nursing students in our group here) were getting bored and filled a water bottle to throw around in the water. Luckily, I go about prepared with a frisbee, so we didn't have to play with a bruising bottle for long. First we were just throwing it around to each other in the water, but then we decided a fun game was making people run along the shore and have to dive to catch it in the water. I hear there's some pretty good pictures from that, too. Good old frisbee.

We then had the best lunch ever. It was a great buffett. Everyone was really excited to get lots of vegetables and to taste all the delicious desserts. It's funny how much we missed a good (trustworthy) green salad after just a week here. I don't even like cake much, but that moist, chocolately oreo goodness passed the bar in my book, too.

We got back to the hotel with a half hour to get cleaned up and back downstairs to go do a health fair for two stakes. Of course, when we got there, one of the first people I saw was a mission friend, Elder Aguirre, who actually went home when I did last February. At the health fairs, we have 4-5 classes on nutrition, heart disease/hypertension, diabetes, first aid and baby CPR, and adult CPR. There's also classes and activities for the children. Either before or after, we check blood pressures and blood sugars, which people love. We didn't realize all hundred people would want us to check. That took a while, but it's good for them to know where they stand personally after that control and management teaching. I was teaching baby heimlich and first aid. I just love teaching. I think I get really enthusiastic about it sometimes, and I love it when people have fun as they learn, too. It's really great that we have the mini mannequins for adults and babies so people can practice, since people probably don't have many other such opportunities. The first few times through the class were a little more rocky (I was the only really fluent one of the student nurses there), but we got a lot better and more confident as we went.

Today was a good day of rest for real. I spoke on talents and service. My focus was how they help us to acheive our purpose on this earth of having joy and preparing to return to the presence of God, or what role talents and service play in the Plan of Happiness. Basically, we are all given talents and expected to increase them, whatever they are. As we serve, we can receive blessings (as stated in For the Strength of Youth) such as increased capacities, hearts full of love, blessed lives, and a greater nearness to God. The challenge I gave was for everyone (and each of us) to begin to pray to know whom to serve and how best to do so. I think that's a lot more common (or was for me) during mission life, or maybe with regard to specific aspects of life, such as Relief society callings. However, I know I don't do that on a regular basis just in everyday life. One thing I really noticed about the example of Christ with regard to service this week was that His service wasn't necessarily planned out like a project, but part of life. In Spanish, "to go" is IR, but in the scriptures it doesn't use IR to say "He went about doing good". Rather, the verb andar is used, which signifies that something is more part of a constant lifestyle of doing good, part of who He was and is. I like that. I feel like so much of the most significant service we give that really touches hearts is performed as we are aware of those around us and just are ready with a helping hand and loving heart, as Pres Monson talked about a couple conferences ago.

Speaking of which, I want to mention that I'm really glad I'm able to room with my friend Cassidy down here. She's very ready to serve and give. We bought some bananas that were going bad and she saw a woman on the street with her child, but only had juice to offer at the time. Arriving back at the room, she asked if we could go out with our bananas to hunt down the lady and share with her. We did, and though we never found the lady, we started operation guineo (banana) of taking one of those ripe bananas with us to be able to give them to people who might be asking for money or begging on the street.

My favorites of today were: 1) While we were eating, some children came up to the hotel restaurant window and started knocking on it to beg (or sell something to?) a couple sitting there. The hotel worker shook his finger at them and started to go out. However, instead of just shooing them away, he went out with a candy for each one. The children had started running away, and I was touched as I saw the young boy practically skip back to the hotel worker in excitement, followed by his sister. It not only matters what we do, but how we do it. 2) Hearing the reactions of our teachers as they found the dozens of roses we'd purchased and prepared for them between 11:30pm last night and 8am this morning (they were in our bathtub in the meantime). They had a good mothers' day, even tought they're far from their children. That means today was a success. 3) Being in the primary for the third hour at church. I really love singing time, and that one loud kid in every primary who sings the loudest and holds the notes out extra long. Cute kids.

For updates from the whole byuecuador group, go to byuecuador2009.blogspot.com

What's not to love?

So I'm going to try to post things here more regularly. I figure I'm fine with all of the people who would read this pretty much knowing whatever I might write in my journal, so I might as well just keep you all updated simultaneously. Bueno.
My first piece of good news is that I did get the message on what my topic for speaking in church should be-talents and service to fellow men.

The last 24 hours have been hard in some ways, but just so great, too. Last night at 9:13pm I was still sitting in my instructor's room in class (which was supposed to end by 9), deciding that I would only stay for 2 more minutes. I was more worried at that moment about standing up my good mission friend, Yuri Delgado, who I thought was waiting in the lobby. We had decided it was the one time she could come due to her work schedule and I'd spoken to my teacher about it beforehand. However, Yuri was not downstairs when I ran away from class. Disappointed, I returned upstairs. Then, just as I left my teacher's room after class, I was called back because Yuri was on the phone for me (she'd already tried my room) and had just arrived. I love how things work out sometimes! So, we had a great chance to catch up and visit for a good while. I think I finally sent her off in a taxi around midnight.

Today I was out in the community, but at a health subcenter in an hogar de Cristo area. We were supposed to have a guide that would take us out to recruit people to come form a hypertension/diabetes support group, but she never came. So we (just Marie and I) spent the day checking blood pressures and sugars of people waiting outside to see the doctor. As we saw need, we recruited those people to come back for a group meeting tomorrow. We also gathered up the mothers and children and asked them what they wanted to learn about. I loved that our lesson on nutrition really just became a time for discussion, sharing ideas, and asking and answering questions. I was very impressed with their knowledge and efforts to help their children actually consume vegetables and protein-rich foods. I love that in just a few hours people can become so attached, and that without really understanding our qualifications, they looked to us as great sources of knowledge. It's rewarding to realize we can give them educated answers, mostly. Some women came to me after visiting with the doctor, as if to get a second opinion. Unfortunately, I couldn't just provide easy answers, either. One woman was counseled to see a specialist, and after talking with her about her history, I really had to agree completely. Though I could teach her some basic general techniques to help with her bladder and kidney infections, I felt bad to not have a solution besides saving up money, since she admitted she cannot afford to see a specialist. It's just hard when you really can't do much.

Something about starting to have a siesta here is addicting. I decided to just lay down for a while to cool off and relax, thinking I'd be there 10 minutes, and woke up still wanting to nap hours later to go to the temple. However, I was nice and alert for the session once I was up.

For some reason, I then felt kindof out of sorts and grouchy. Maybe it was grogginess from the nap. Maybe I was just feeling stressed about not having my temple recommend (though I'd contacted people before and knew I'd get in just fine) or forgetting to bring money to rent clothing. (I promise I love going to the temple and usually arrive more prepared...renting clothes, eating food, and not having my normal stuff is just not part of my routine, but neither is being abroad.) Anyway, I just said a prayer as I walked around the temple before entering, and started to feel much better. Then, as we started the session I saw another great friend from my mission, Diana Baqui. She wasn't my companion either, but we served together in the same zone a couple times. (Mom and Dad, she was the smaller one who met us at the temple before, if you recall.) I think being surprised to see old friends in the temple is one of the greatest feelings ever. It's the perfect place to find them, because you know they're doing alright, at least in some ways. Also, something about listening in another language just makes the experience suddenly fresh and new for mental digestion. I loved it. Baqui and I then had a short chance to visit after the session. I was nicely surprised to see her, as I knew she'd gone to the temple yesterday. I'm excited about our plans to meet up at the same time and place next week.

I love how the temple brings peace and clarity to life. After, I just can't help smiling and hugging people. And that's okay with me.

En el Pueblo de Sion

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!