27 mayo 2009

What a fun day! We had an early start again (much to our chagrin), but it was well worth it. After a couple hours, we arrived to the rain forest area northwest of Quito called Mindo. We had to get off the bus and board camionetas just to get back to "the canopy". There, we enjoyed a course of 13 ziplines, which were scary at first for some and really fun for all by the end. Even Sondra got into doing the tricks, like Superman and the Mariposa. For those, we got to zip along with the support of a guide, so we could basically be flying along upside-down or just like Superman. As we went, we got to enjoy the beautiful view of the lush mountains beneath.
Then, we went on a hike to see several cascadas, which were also muy lindas. For a while, part of the group went off on its own, but we all ended up together soon enough. Then we really climbed into the falls. In that process, some may have become more mojados than what they wanted, but nobody ended up with hypothermia in the heat. All that hiking and heat reminded many of us of girls´ camp days, so of course we started singing those songs, too. Plus we were able to keep enjoying the great views. It was another reminder of the love of our Savior to create such an amazing world for us and a fun way to terminar our great adventures in Ecuador.

Otovalo...Bensonian Style

We spent another day in the lush sea of green! We met up with the Benson Institute, and they took us to visit families involved in their programs. They help families become self-sufficient by raising livestock and farming. First the family grows enough for their own family, then for food storage, and finally for the bishop's store house or for the community. Pretty sweet, eh?
It was fun to actually be in the homes of the people. One woman we met with was a 89 year old Midwife, who had been practicing since she was 20yrs old. She said she could tell if the baby was a boy or girl by feeling the shape of its head. Apparently Cilantro tea speeds up labor and a licorice-like herb helps with bleeding. We even practiced her squatting birthing position. She gave us some infertility advice, such as positions, timing, etc - so... if you have any questions regarding pregnancy, birth, or getting pregnant, you may want to give her a call. She seemed to know everything!
The culture is so rich up here! I feel like they really practice their traditions. The men keep their hair long and wear brown hats. The women wear beautiful white lace tops, embroidered with designs, gold necklaces, and long dark skirts.
We checked out a beautiful lake, which was picturesque and breath-taking! The lake was inside the crater of a 3,000yr old volcano. We all looked fabulous in our orange life-vests as we took a boat ride around the lake.
We took a long ride to Quito, and arrived safe and sound! Look out Quito! Here we come!

Nearing the End...

It was our last real clinical day for us here in Guayaquil! We did our last school's health screenings in the community, some interviews with postpartum moms, and some dietary recalls with 6th graders. THAT was funny. A few of us went into the classroom to give them instructions on the dietary recalls. After we gathered them, one girl handed us her notebook for us to write down our names. Then, a flood of 6th graders (like 30 or 40) started throwing their notebooks in front of our faces for us to sign them. Absolutely INSANE! Sarah somehow got them to all sit in their seats before we left (they didn't know where their teacher was), and then I was about to take a picture of them before I walked out when they started CHARGING the door. We had to kind of run away...haha....funny kids!

We also toured the University of Guayaquil's nursing school today. We got to meet with a lot of their students and talk to their director. Turns out, some things are just universal with nursing: Mosby's for example...plenty of those in their library!

Then tonight we sang at a fireside at a chapel for investigators. The missionaries sang a few songs, and we sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" and "I Need Thee Every Hour." We've been able to do a lot with the stakes here, so it's been nice to see a few familiar faces in the church!

El 17 de Mayo

This was our last Sunday in Guayaquil. Que lastima. We have really grown to love the people in the ward we have been attending for the last 3 weeks. Jacob gave an excellent talk during Sacrament and we all participated in the special musical number. We sang "La Oracion del Profeta" and apparently did a good job because they asked us to sing at a missionary fireside this Thursday. Later in the afternoon, several of us went down to the Malecon for dinner. We also went on a little walk through a park which some of us refer to as "the jungle." Ecuador is a beautiful place and I will miss it when we leave....so many different and exciting kinds of plants,flowers, fruits, foods, and people. What an adventure.

Week 3: Still working hard!

This is our last week of clinical in Ecuador, meaning those of us who have waited all this time finally get to go out into the community to get a "real" taste of this country and others get to see the Ecuadorian Hospitals from an up close and personal point of view. From what I have heard from the hospital clinicals today eyes have been opened and many emotions were experienced. As for the community, a few of us went out to the furthest subcentro, surviving the very bumpy and treacherous ride, to teach the people waiting at the clinic there and to check some blood pressures and blood sugars. The rest of the group screened more children, making them cry as they had to poke them for blood...that is really not a fun job! But I thought it might be kind of interesting for those of you not here to see what the inside of a school looks like out in the community.

We also had the delightful opportunity to go and see their "mechanical soy milk cow" that they hope to utilize to make what the name implies...soy milk. I think we all had different expectations of this "cow" before seeing it. Here, Jacob demonstrates his love for soy milk and his eagerness to try some!

We also actually had quite a scary experience. So, if it has not been mentioned before, it is best to know that driving here is NOT like driving in the US. There really aren't many regulations, and people just drive, but are usually pretty good at it. Well, we were all jam-packed in the back the the Land Rover ambulance that takes us out and picks us up at community and we were all riding back. Well, we were cruising down this dirt road that appeared to be free and clear of all traffic when we all of a sudden came to an abrupt halt, I mean to say the driver SLAMMED on the breaks. Apparently a little girl ran out into the street from the left side and thanks to the driver's excellent abilities he was able to miss her by inches. It not only scared him to death, but also the rest of us...but luckily no one was hurt! This is a picture of us being frightened.

So, for an afternoon activity a few of us decided to see a movie. Some of the more "mature" people went to see Angels and Demons, and the rest of us were more in the mood to act a little younger than we really are…so we opted for 17 Again, featuring none other than Zac Efron!!! Let’s just say it was well worth our $3 to giggle and whistle at the young man…a break definitely fun and well deserved!!!

Salinas- 09 Mayo 2009

Our first day out at the beach. Two hours to paradise. Our best friends Luis and Susanna drove us out to the sea where we tasted salt and sand and had a great day of relajar. Short and sweet.

Items on the unwritten agenda included: water bottle toss followed by frisbee toss (thanks Kristy Sue for bringing it along and Sarah for your amazing catching skills), swimming out to the buoy (great workout for those of us not so accustomed to ocean water), soaking up the sun, and a beautiful boat tour which Shelly was able to capture on film. Thanks for sharing your talents.

The time that wasn't spent on all the above was sold to vendors bartering down prices for jewelry and refusing all other sales. I believe Tricia won the prize for most diverse selection of aretes.

Lunch/dinner was served up at a beautiful restaurant gracias a la Junta. First time most of us felt safe eating vegetables from the buffet. Chocolate cake and coco ice cream also were some of the favorites.

As we arrived home we rushed in the showers
to show up a half hour later clean and pretty as we waited to leave for the health fair. The fair went smoothly with Kristy Sue and Allie running the show. RCP, la presion, la azucar de sangre, y muchas charlas. A great time for creating relationships and teaching health. Busy day- but vale la pena.

Sun, Sand and Salt

With another busy week behind us, we set off early this morning for Playas, a very appropriate name for the town on the shore. Before heading to the beach, though, we set off in small boats to find and swim with the dolphins. After going a long way, we finally saw them! No swimming actually happened at that point, but we did see the delfines race the larger boats, surface close to us, and even do some gymnastics. So despite some of our doubts, it turned out to be a fun and interesting activity.
Hungry for the beach and food, we went to the Hostal Bellavista ("beautiful view") and were very satisfied. (Even the non-fish-lovers enjoyed the scrumptious sea bass.) Then, without waiting 30 minutes, we hit the waves. For the remainder of the day, we played, swam, barely avoided being pull far out to sea, lost possessions to the ocean, bought new treasures from passing vendors, traced messages in the sand, chased the frisbee, and enjoyed soaking up the sun.

Staying Busy!

Today was a full day for most of us here! A clinical day at the hospitals, teaching CPR to the traffic controllers, and then going to the temple!

Sotomayor, the maternity hospital, was busy with babies this morning! In the first hour of us being there, there were three babies born! The labor support given was much appreciated by the new mothers. It's amazing how grateful a person can be to have a blanket, a wet towel on their head, or someone pushing on their knees through contractions. We got to help a mother breastfeed her first baby ever. We also got to hold the babies in the nursery. Sarah, with her excellent Spanish skills, interviewed women in the postpartum room about their birth experience for a research project.

The hotel we're at has been so kind to us, and today they gave us little "Happy Nursing Day" cream puffs. YUM. Last night we had a pizza party, headed up by Allie, and they helped us order the pizza too. They have been good friends to us here...and we all LOVE the chocolates they give us on our beds.

We got to go to the temple again tonight, and it was great as expected! We all can agree that we love love love the temple workers here and their Spanglish! :) The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple has been very busy...70,000 baptisms so far this year! We left around 9 at night, and it was still busy in baptistry.

Everything is going pretty well here! We're sad that Debbie went home today, but we're glad she got to come!

Happy Nurses Day!

Today we got to go to La Veranza and participate in the celebration of nurses with the people of Guayaquil. There were several booths including people who took blood pressures, our own CPR lessons, and other nursing students from the nearby university. It's great to see how much nurses are appreciated, they even had a special mass in the honor of nurses which we were able to attend. At the end of the day we were treated to a yummy lunch and we were also given very nice planners as a way of saying thanks for our help! We had plenty of photo ops with the heads of hospital and later that night Debbie received a "special award" for all the PR encounters she had. Everyone needs a little fun now and then, and we decided to have a little fiesta with pizza and a movie. After we got all the kinks worked out it was a nice relaxing night. We are looking forward to going back to our various locations and continuing to serve to people of Ecuador!!

Week 2: Switching it up a bit!

Today we began our second week in Ecuador and thus our second clinical rotation. Our particular group migrated to the maternity hospital to lend a hand in labor support…literally! Much of the time was spent bent over talking calmly to the laboring women, telling them to breathe deeply, holding their hands during excruciating contractions, applying counter-pressure by pushing on their knees or backs (as Ryan is demonstrating so spectacularly in this photo to the right) and basically acting like big teddy bears for them to hug and cling to. I think I speak for everyone, and yes including the boys, when I say that we never want to have a c-section after witnessing a few.

The interesting thing is there is usually a lot of waiting around that just inherently comes when participating in big group activities, and as we all have had a taste of this, I thought I would add a few pictures to show that side of things.

Below is the group at the maternity

hospital patiently waiting for the vans to arrive,
catching a cat nap...showing off some sexy legs...

To the right is the community group also patiently waiting after a long day's work, but they instigated a valiant team effort in order to work in a little shut eye.

And opposed to popular belief, nursing students do need to eat sometimes! In fact, we quite like to eat and we like to eat very often, as portrayed in this very becoming snap shot!

This evening we also had a great FHE where we practiced our muscial number for church on Sunday in which we are going to blow their socks off, and had an uplifting and enlightening discussion about what it is that we know because we have the gospel.

Altogether things are going well...we are experiencing, growing, learning, caring and having a blast here in Ecuador.