Latin America Withdrawal

I'm finally settled in Los Angeles, CA. Fortunately, LA provides a relatively smooth transition from Latin America, as I live in a community that is predominantly Hispanic. I can even get ceviche just a couple blocks away from my apartment (albeit for 3x the price)! I'm currently living in Echo Park, which is conveniently located next to a beautiful park, grocery/99cent stores, restaurants, metro bus, etc. I love it so far, although I may have to update in a few months, as I am still in the honeymoon stage.

But I have to say, I really miss Ecuador. I've made it my home for the past 13 months, and I miss everything about it--especially the people. The 101 women from my exercise/nutrition class, the children and teens from our library and teen center, the staff from the Ministry of Health, partners from the local Cooperative, Dr. Lance and the Waldo's staff, my wonderful host family, Wendy Decalle and her family + 5 dogs + 24 horses, Cristian and Laurita, Susana the venta lady, Pati (my spa lady) and her son Jorge, Julia and family from the papeleria, my Chinese friends, and all my other Ecuadorian friends and Gringitos I've met during my time there.

I miss the simplicity. I still can't get over the fact that I have to pay $1.25 for ONE ride on the metro bus here in LA (which, according to my friends in NYC, is cheap. WHAT?!). I really miss public transportation, but here in LA, it is hopeless.

I never thought I would say this, but I actually miss the stray dogs barking at night. Every morning here in LA, I am awoken by this hyperactive hormonally charged bird that cawks, not chirps, but cawks like a sexually disoriented toad.

Thank God for the free section of craigslist. Or else the apartment would still be unfurnished.

At least the economy is flourishing in California. HA.

Miss you, Ecuador. See you soon...


View from our apartment roof



Favorite time of day



A slight ant problem. But not anymore. Terro really works. Poor ants.

Summit

On the peak of Cerro Taurichupa, <20km South of Otovalo

360 degree views of grandiose mountains, turquoise gemstone lakes, clear blue skies, distant snow-covered peaks, exotic plants, hovering clouds, soaring condors, and inseparable delicate butterfly lovers. It is absolutely silent, except for the whistle of the breeze among the waltzing shrubbery and the occasional buzzing of the bees. A hiker and artist's haven for serenity and reflection.

Top 5

Top 5 places I need to go before my soul leaves this world:

1. Egypt
2. Australia
3. South Africa
4. India
5. Madagascar
6. Fiji Islands
7. New Zealand
8. Greece

OK that's 8 but close enough.

Foresight

A visit to a public hospital ran by the Ecuador Ministry of Health:
-Cost of receiving vitamins and micronutrients for all children ages 3 and under: Free
-Cost of an x-ray: Free
-Cost of a C-section: Free
-Cost of a TB vaccination: Free
-Cost of getting your eyes checked: Free
-Cost of anti-diabetic meds: Free
-Cost of an emergency service: Free

In the US?
-Contact your insurance company. aka, get out your pocketbook.

Of course, I'm not saying the health care system in Ecuador is superior in any way. All health care systems are internally flawed. But here I am, living in a relatively impoverished country that is considered "developing" by Western standards, and getting a free physical check-up without having to fill out any forms about who my provider is. In the same situation in the US, without insurance, I'd be paying close to triple digits. I don't get it.

But unfortunately, free services do come with a price. There are not enough medical personnel working for the MoH to service all patients who are in need of care. Many clinical physicians find themselves multitasking at both the micro- and macro- levels and end up running entire clinics completely on their own. Although Rafael Correa is increasing spending on health care, the patient to physician ratio is oversaturated, so patients will only be seen if they are showing physical symptoms, thus diverting the attention away from the important aspect of prevention.

This is where we come in.

Along with summer volunteers Mari and Priya as well as our new Country Director Bibi, we have been working tirelessly on finalizing a promising health proposal in hopes to turn the 4th floor of the MPI library/teen center into a full-fledged, no BS, locally-owned Preventative Health Center (PHC). So far, we have held the first of many successful focus groups with 20+ women from the Exercise and Nutrition Program and attended various meetings with the MoH to obtain insight on local/national health issues as well as how to get this moving. We're currently in the process of contacting local health promoters and prospective community health workers (our aim is 10), connect them with the municipio (town) to provide professional and certified health promotion training, and then finally, in the long-run, hiring them to work at the PHC to create local ownership and sustainability. We hope our surrounding communities will frequently utilize the health resources provided by the center, learn to properly care for their health before getting (and while being) sick, and in the long-term lower the national cost burdens spent on preventable illnesses.

Empowering individuals: Check
Strengthening institutions: Check
Building networks: Check

With the help of Healthechildren, we have high hopes of turning our idea into reality that is nothing short of extraordinary. Oye, that's how the library started, right?

Promises

"No se vaya!" 4-year old Jori latches onto my leg, making his irresistible puppy dog face. I turn to his positive deviant mother, Paola, and notice her eyes swelling up a little.

We have a little over a month left, and our Ecuadorian families are already beginning to worry about missing us after our departure, and vice versa. I don't think it has settled in how fast the next month will come by... and just how much I am going to miss Ecuador and the numerous friends we have made along the way.

I made a promise to Paola, and my other hijitas y abuelitas, that I will one day come back and give them free health services once I am actually qualified to do so (that is, on a professional level). So now you have it. It's posted. And I am not one to go back on my word.

Nos vemos :)


Jori being a ferocious tiger



Paola, fellow PD Holly, and Jori

Papa and Margaret made it!

My dad and my lil sister (who is now taller than me FML) have made it past customs!!!!!!!! That in itself is worth a blog entry.

And they brought an entire suitcase full of goodies.

Goodies = Sour patch kids, swedish fish, Dove dark chocolate, hot chocolate mix, hot and regular cheetohs, cheese-itz, honey nut cheerios, cinnamon toast crunch, garden salsa and french onion sun chips, goldfish...to name a few

First thing my dad does when he gets into our itty-bitty hostal? Takes out a yellow, red, and blue (Ecuadorian colors) horn from his suitcase, honks it about 3x in my ear. Then tells me (well, more like shouts at me) that he's ready for the soccer game we're going to next Wed. I think my ear drums are temporarily impaired.

Love you family.

No...no puede quedarse embarazada si esta encima del hombre durante el sexo...

This past Sunday, 5/31, MPI had its first joint health fair slash 2nd annual *marathon with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health. And it was, to say the least, extremely successful.

With the help of two summer volunteers, Perry and Priya, hundreds upon hundreds of Ecuadorian men, women, and young *marathon runners now know how to correctly put on a condom (apparently, many Ecuadorian women are taught how to put condoms on with their mouth so they can put them on discreetly without their male partners' objections); how to pin various artificial contraceptives on the correct anatomical region; how to utilize a string of beads as a standard method of birth control; how and where to insert an intrauterine device; the relationship between cervical mucus and fertility, and also the fact that you are just as likely to get pregnant if you're on top relative to your male partner than if you're on the bottom.

Public reception was incredibly warm and positive, which made us feel accepted and welcomed. People were actually interested in what we had to say and offer (granted we did give out **free t-shirts thanks to Jens and Healthechildren as well as Cycle Beads). I'm very thankful to the MoH for trusting us with our own tent, giving us the freedom to whatever we wanted with it, and letting us participate in their grand parade. All the hard work was well worth it in the end :)

*kids ages 6-11 racing in a 4k "marathon"
**IF they answer their question correctly



Perry, Holly and I proudly representing MPI and Healthechildren at the MoH parade



"Choose a question. You will receive a free t-shirt if answered correctly. Good luck!"



Our Family Planning (by Perry and Priya) + MPI posters (by Holly)



Our tent was PACKED the entire duration of the health fair



We were pretty popular, relatively speaking



"Yes, your pene has to be erect when you take off the condom."



Me with some of my favorite MoH staff


Proudly marching in the parade



Perry is quite the crowd pleaser :)