Sunday 3/15
Less than 12 hours after Iowa set foot upon Ecuadorian soil, we learned how to massacre live chickens. And as bloody and unappetizing the process might have been (eg, hand-squeezing fresh feces out from the large intestines), the end result was vale la pena (worth the pain). Pepita, Mayra, Francisco, and Julio (one of our favorite Ecuadorian families) were experts in this field. Needless to say, this was a perfect skill to learn with med students! I wish I did this before anatomy class... Details aside, I think these pictures will be sufficient.
Taj tries his hand...may have to work on this a little. Going to chicken hell.
Anatomy lesson
Pobrecito gallinos
Iowa + Pepita, Mayra, Francisco, Julio and family
Iowa, Holly and I then got opendhandsdirtyfeet, cleaning up the cancha from last night's library/teen center inauguration (Pilseners and $1 boxed wine, anyone?), before enjoying a local soccer game from the patio of our new space.
We ended the day after a relatively more conspicuous visit to Sangolqui markets, haggling with success to some extent (it's harder to fool the Ecuadorians with 11 Gringos flashing hi-fi photos in their faces). So far so good. Everyone is alive and kicking.
Monday and Tuesday 3/16-17
Iowa split up into 3 different groups in the morning, with each group going to:
-Alinambi (to measure kids for our Positive Deviance-based nutrition pilot- more to come on this!)
-Waldos clinic/Sangolqui hospital
-Ministry of Public Health of Conocoto
Some highlights:
-Julie and Brett watching a woman get her tubes tied
-Spontaneously turning the MoH emergency room into a full-out salsa/reggaeton dance club; patients walking in witnessing the doctor grinding up on the nurse(s) (pictures to come)
-Dan screwing up his feces sample. Rosanna the nurse at Waldos laughing at his liquid-soaked sample.
-Amanda, Taj, Ryan, and Brett basically running the ER at Sangolqui hospital (via body language and me translating) due to shortage of doctors... including suturing a black-out old man's head (yes, during the middle of the day), building a "nose bridge" for a man with a broken nose (who doesn't remember breaking it bc, surprisingly, he got drunk during lunch last Sunday), stabilizing two teenagers who just got into a fatal motorcycle accident, etcetcetc.
University of Iowa med students and their 133 boxes of gloves they generously donated!!
(From left to right): Matt, Serena (MPI co-leader), Alex, Brett, Julie, Collin, Dan, Amanda, Taj, Anna, Ryan, Seth (MPI co-leader)
Wednesday 3/18
Spent the day doing touristy stuff, including climbing the breathtaking Basilica, walking through Quito's Old Town, and visiting la Capilla del Hombre- the museum of Guayasamin. I think us Program Directors need to keep reminding ourselves just how amazing this country is, as we have lived here long enough to feel relatively desensitized. Watching the reactions of Iowa and the other spring break groups- served as a constant reality check, telling us not to take this place for granted.
Iowa at the top of the Basilica
Iowa at the top of the Basilica
Thursday 3/19
Summited Pichincha- the 3rd highest mountain in Ecuador (4600m). Our lungs definitely got their workout today. Lesson of the day: EAT FOOD before attempting to ascend a 300m. Waterproof gloves are also nice.
Friday and Saturday 3/20-21
Weekend excursion to Banos! I don't think any of us could ever get sick of Banos. Rejuvenating massages, hot springs, majestic waterfalls, exotic birds... we could get used to this.
Iowa went on the infamous bike ride to the waterfalls, which is always an exhilarating experience, despite some mishaps on the way (Amanda's flat tire, dog biting Anna's leg). By the end of the trip, despite the exhaustion, we were all regretful the trip was coming to an end.
Iowa went on the infamous bike ride to the waterfalls, which is always an exhilarating experience, despite some mishaps on the way (Amanda's flat tire, dog biting Anna's leg). By the end of the trip, despite the exhaustion, we were all regretful the trip was coming to an end.
Sunday 3/22
Thanks Iowa for picking the earliest possible time to leave Quito (6:40am) ha. Ryan, Brett, Anna and I strutted it out and kept our lids up till 3:30am, spending a romantic night together by the fire roasting cinnamon-chocolate-bananas, and watching Aladdin.
Miss you Iowa. Vengan a Ecuador prontisimo!!!!!!!
Miss you Iowa. Vengan a Ecuador prontisimo!!!!!!!
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