Last Days

Today is my last day in the Clinic, can´t believe its been over 5 weeks. Tomorrow night I will be leaving for Lima. It feels like I have a million things to do before then. I was told the other day that my spanish is a lot better which was good to hear. It will probably be lost since it seems the only way to remember spanish is to use it everyday. So today will be spent packing, doing laundry, and getting my plants for my project. When we get to Lima I am visiting my host family from Lima and hanging out, possibly do some shopping. Then its off to the beach somewhere for our retreat and then home.

1 week left

I only have one week left in the Selva before its back to Lima. Today in the clinic I got my warts off by the doctor. The gave me shots to numb my fingers then burned them off. Im hoping that they are gone for good know. We went to Highland Coffee yesterday which was interesting to see where a student from our group is doing their service. They sell a lot of different things and we were able to sample a few things. We also went to 2 cremolada places. Cremoladas are the best thing in the world here. This week is packed with last minute trips and lastly finishing up projects and readings.

lost flip flop

It was Alishas sisters birthday yesterday and sadly i wasnt able to go. Communication is sometimes difficult but i stopped by today to have cake and some candies. My back was bothering me at work today and the doctor ask if I wanted hime to fix it. I was like i dont know butthe nhe insisted and it felt a lot better after it was cracked back into place. We went swimming near a waterfall last weekend and my brother said he needed my flip flops to stop the water from going down the water fall so that it would make a decent size pool. And a long story short one of my flip flops washed away with the river becuase it went through one of the wohles that is was supposed to stop the water from going thru. So know i only have my left flip flop. The same thing happend to one other person we both only have the left one.

Visit

The directers of SST are visiting the Selva this week. That means all my homework that has been done at this point in service is due. They are coming to my house for lunch today and then the clinic thrusday. This week has been a busy week at the clinic. I´ve had the chance to cut open a persons leg becuase of an infection and watched a cesarean birth. My cousin Miguel comes over a lot to play cards and takes me to waterfalls that are close by. We will probably see another one today when Alisha comes over after work.

Chanchamayo

This week was an interesting week. The head doctor of the clinic is back so there is a lot more going on. Saw an amputated fingure and lots of other interesting things. The weekends a mostly filled with various hikes and walks around the jungle. The weather here is really nice it doesnt rain as much as i thought it would, except whenever i do my laundry it decides to rain. Yesterday the families kitten came who is 5 months old and is so cute. I have gotten to assist in the clinic more which is nice and i can actually see that my spanish is improving. And i will even be attending a peruvian wedding in 2 saturdays which will be cool. We are required to wear all white so i guess that means im going shopping.

Service

The first week in the clinc was pretty slow but this week has gone a lot better so far. A lot of the medical machine equipment is all in english so i have had fun typing it in google translator for them. I have gain a lot of experience in the role of a nurse that i am enjoying a lot. I may also see what it is like in a Peruvian hospital which i am excited about. I held a monkeys hand twice, we went to a place where there are lots of butterflies and also had animals. I liked it so much that i went back the next day to show alisha. I found a nice gym in san ramon that i go to in the mornings on tuesday and thursdays before work which has been noce to feel like im still working out and will be more prepared for track season when i come back to the states.

San Ramon Selva

Arrived at the selva 3 days ago and today happens to be the day it rains alot. Anyways it is beautiful here and we have already gone to a waterfall that is close to where i live which is beautiful. i have taken a few pictures of the flowers already for u dad they are very interesting. Also i ate a mango today that was awesome. They just fall from the trees and i eat them. The clinic has been a good experience so far but sometimes there are no patients so there is a lot of down time. But overall having a great experience so far on service.

Despedida

Last night we had our despedida (party) for our host families in Lima. I sang in a couple of songs and was in two plays. We did one in Spanish and I played the role of Ima Sumac. It was very challenging but I managed to memorize my lines. The second act was about our experience taking the bus in Lima. It was so funny and I wish I had taped it, we got many laughs out of the crowed with it. A group of 3 girls and I sang the song "Imagine" and I also played the Cajon which is a type of drum. We finished the night with 3 hymns since we all love to sing. In the end the night turned out great. The families that have hosted many other SST people in the past commented on our origionality and really enjoyed it. Tomorrow I leave at 8:40am for San Ramon.

Service

Found out where i am going for service today! Im going to Junin, San Ramon which is the Selva (rain forest). I will be working in Elera Clinic. Im very excited to live in the rain forest. It should be an awesome experience.

Villa Maria

This is the place we went for a two day service trip. One of the activities we did was learn how to make Lomo Saltado. It is soooo good. We also met another set of twins during our trip. Would have been cool if Alisha and I were matching as well. Only 1 week left in Lima then its time for the service portion. We should know by wednesday were we are going!

Machu Picchu photos

Adventures

Went to see the sherlock homes 2 movie with some friends in the group and it was in english and it cost around 3 US dollars.  I found the spanish subtitles helpful at learning more spanish. It was weird to be watching a movie in english and it felt like i was at home. Touring Lima is a blast and navigation around the city has not turned out to be as hard i as i had expected. The buses can be a challenge at times. I have yet to get lost (knock on wood) I have been to 3 birthday parties already with my host family and ive only been here a week. The cake is sooooo good, well really all the food is good. Im hoping to go out to watch the super bowl sunday with friends that will be nice and go to a discoteca possible on saturday.

Lima

So I just got back to Lima. The city is so big and the traffic is neverending it seems like. I really like the weather, nice and warm. There are 6 people in my host family in lima. My mom, dad, 24 year old brother, 22 year old sister with a 3 month old son (so cute) and husband, and 15 year old sister.  They live next to many parks which is nice to run in. We are having a tour of lima tomorrow which should be fun to look around the whole city. My final exames will be coming up soon in just 3 weeks. School seems to go really fast here.

Me and my host mom

Acopia

We went on a field trip to acopia this week. We planted over 200 trees. We climbed up mountains for 3 hours it was very tiring but worth it in the end. It only took us 1 hour to get back down. We also went to many inca ruins and museums in Cusco. I only have 2 more days with my host family. Then we are traveling for 4 days and finally going to see Manchu pichu.
This picture was taken at one of out stops on one of our trips.




planting trees in the mountains!

Serivce project

We had our first service project in the place were I live. We shoveled dirt to make a place were they could park cars. We took a before and after picture. It was really hot that day and I took many breaks. This week we also when to a salt mine and an incan ruin. The salt mine was cool and we even tasted the salt in the rivers. We had the chance to taste cuy which is guinnea pig, but i chicked out. This weekend my host family is taking me to cuzco for the day and then I am playing futbol with Alisha and others from our group with other peruvians. In about a week I will be back in Lima to finish the rest of the study portion of SST.

Host Family

I live in a place called Haucaurpay (not sure if its spelled right). It is about a 30 min bus ride to where classes are held. I live with another student Cornine for Goshen College who helps me a lot with the language barrier. Its a  lot colder up in the mountains and gets down to 60 degrees or cooler. Im really close to two of my host sisters Hilda and Juana. They are very patient and help a lot with the tradition to Peru living. We play games like yatzee and dutch blitz which is a lot of fun. I did my wash this morning and when i was getting down from where the washer was i bumped my head on the ceiling, oh course everyone laughed at me. We take lots of walks throughout the town and go to a big lake near by. This weekend Juana is going to take us to Cuzco to some makets and show us the clinic where she works. Shes a nurse and Im glade to be able to lean new things from here. Sunday we are going to play soccer which im excited for. It hard to breathe from the altitude so that will be intersting. i´m still healthy but miss home sometimes but overall just love having this new experience living in a different country.

Cuzco

These pictures are of some of the people in our group in Cuzco. We spent a day in Lima were it was sunny and warm. I was pretty sun burned but the sun was so nice. We meet our host families tomorrow and will begin our studies this monday. There are numerous short trips planned throughout our stay including Machu Pichu. No altitude sickness yet, I hope that i continue to stay healthy.