Hey. Dave here.
We finished phase 1 of our mission - Culebras Valley. We came back to Huarmey in the most uncomfortable bus that any of us had ever taken in Peru. There were sheep in it AND the floor was covered in feces AND it was really crowded AND the roof was really low AND a urine/feces mixture was dripping through the ceiling AND there was little ventilation AND it was terrible.
The good news is that we did a great job of the part of our mission that involves figuring out what projects will be useful or necessary in the future and how well the current projects are performing. The bad news is that we lack most of the know-how necessary to fix the systems that aren't working. We can identify problems well! We just can't fix most of them.
My spanish is improving. The most stressful part of this trip for me is trying to communicate with people here. I understand that the most important part of what we're doing is forming a connection with people and talking with them to learn what life is like for their community and how it might be improved. That's why it's so stressful. It's really crucial and it's really hard! We had very good experiences in Huanchay, Raypa, and Huayash talking to posta workers, school teachers, and mayors. Quian is another story. Jeez.
Anyway, I felt like our readers deserved some insight into what's going on, so I've provided you with the bare minimum - an impression, if you will.
-Dave
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
House Arrest
Like I said before, I'm stuck in Huarmey. Everyone left today except me and Robert, who is also kind of sick. We are both feeling better, but it's too late. We've been left behind.
I'd like to get back to work, but it seems like it'll be forever until that happens. The crew is gone and won't be back until Friday morning. Then we're going to the beach, which last trip was a welcome relief from two weeks of strenuous work. This time, it will just be another day of sitting around and relaxing that I wish I could spend doing work.
I spent all day yesterday following the team around and hoping to make myself as useful as I possibly could. I did a decent job. I bought the bus tickets for the people who are leaving on Saturday.
My doctor visit went well. He's very happy about my progress. He gave me some more pills, so I'm on Cipro until next Domingo. I feel good!
-Dave
I'd like to get back to work, but it seems like it'll be forever until that happens. The crew is gone and won't be back until Friday morning. Then we're going to the beach, which last trip was a welcome relief from two weeks of strenuous work. This time, it will just be another day of sitting around and relaxing that I wish I could spend doing work.
I spent all day yesterday following the team around and hoping to make myself as useful as I possibly could. I did a decent job. I bought the bus tickets for the people who are leaving on Saturday.
My doctor visit went well. He's very happy about my progress. He gave me some more pills, so I'm on Cipro until next Domingo. I feel good!
-Dave
Monday, June 9, 2008
Culebras Trail
Pretty much every time you play Oregon Trail, your children die of typhoid fever before you make it to the coast. Minus 5000 points.
Fortunately, I saved Professor Duffy 5000 points. On Friday night, I started feeling like I had a little fever and a headache. It didn´t seem like a big deal because I had a sinus infection going on, as I mentioned below.
Fast forward a few hours and Im lying awake in a bed in Raypa in the medical post alternating shivers and sweats - throwing in plenty of trips to the baño to excrete a vile red-brown liquid.
In the morning, mi compañero, Rafael woke up to the sound of me vomiting. He went to get the nurse (how convenient that I was already laying in a medical bed). She took my temperature - 38.8C or roughly 101.5F. She gave me a pill to reduce the fever and came back an hour later to see if it had worked...39.5C (103F) was the result. I was given an injection of something that I could not understand to reduce my fever and passed out.
At 11:30, Rafael roused me from the bed. The next bus was at noon. Raypa, by the way, is four hours of mountainous road away from anything close to what the average American might consider civilization. When the bus came, I had to help Rafael carry our heavy duffels of gear and a car battery and throw them on top of the bus. The ride that ensued seemed it would be impossible to endure. Luckily, the human body has a contingency plan for such events. I either totally passed out for most of the ride or at least switched off the short term memory part of my brain. Next thing I knew I was carrying the bags again up the church stairs in Huarmey. We then walked to the hotel and checked in (finally a bathroom). From there, a moto-taxi to the hospital.
I was admitted immediately and after describing my symptoms, I gave a blood, urine, and stool sample. The nurse thought I had misunderstood her instructions because my urine and stool looked alike. I assured her Id understood.
"Fiebre de Tifoidea"
Did I hear that correctly? I was immunized to typhoid I explained, but fiebre de tifoidea it was. A few IVs of saline, a lot of antibiotics, and two days of rest later, I was released. It was like getting out of prison. Now Im free and feeling much better. Now to continue on the Trail.
Other than the Typhoid, things are great! Seriously, I mean it. I couldnt be happier to be living with a family from Laguna that I already know well. Also, my work is going awesomely.
In Laguna, the stove I gave to Rosita last time went over incredibly well. The first thing Rosita's daughter, Margarita said to me when she saw me was, "Tu cocina nos salvó." However, my spanish still being rusty, I heard, "Tu cocina... no salvó." What I thought I heard means, "Your stove - she didn't save it." What she actually said was, "Your stove saved us."
In March, a flash flood destroyed a lot of things in this area including the biodigestor in Laguna. Laguna was knee deep in agua. The only place above water was the small concrete porch of the school. The whole town crowded onto this porch and the only way they were able to have food was to carry the stove onto the porch and use the tiny amount of dry firewood they could salvage to cook with. They said they would not have eaten for a week without it. Wow.
After fixing the biodigestor, which was remarkably easy, we held a town meeting. We explained the projects that we might work on for them during the week. When I asked them who was interested in having a stove like Rosita's someone from every household raised their hand. Some said they wanted two or three. Some wanted one for their other house in Huarmey. I told them what materials were needed and that they should get them by Monday, when I'd return. I didn't know I'd get typhoid. Manuel, who deserves a blog post of his own sometime, agreed to build a composting toilet with me. See you soon, Manuel!
I'm resting in Huarmey until at least Thursday, so there should be a surge in blogging. I have to meet the Public Health and Physical Therapy gang for dinner.
Hasta,
Davíd
Fortunately, I saved Professor Duffy 5000 points. On Friday night, I started feeling like I had a little fever and a headache. It didn´t seem like a big deal because I had a sinus infection going on, as I mentioned below.
Fast forward a few hours and Im lying awake in a bed in Raypa in the medical post alternating shivers and sweats - throwing in plenty of trips to the baño to excrete a vile red-brown liquid.
In the morning, mi compañero, Rafael woke up to the sound of me vomiting. He went to get the nurse (how convenient that I was already laying in a medical bed). She took my temperature - 38.8C or roughly 101.5F. She gave me a pill to reduce the fever and came back an hour later to see if it had worked...39.5C (103F) was the result. I was given an injection of something that I could not understand to reduce my fever and passed out.
At 11:30, Rafael roused me from the bed. The next bus was at noon. Raypa, by the way, is four hours of mountainous road away from anything close to what the average American might consider civilization. When the bus came, I had to help Rafael carry our heavy duffels of gear and a car battery and throw them on top of the bus. The ride that ensued seemed it would be impossible to endure. Luckily, the human body has a contingency plan for such events. I either totally passed out for most of the ride or at least switched off the short term memory part of my brain. Next thing I knew I was carrying the bags again up the church stairs in Huarmey. We then walked to the hotel and checked in (finally a bathroom). From there, a moto-taxi to the hospital.
I was admitted immediately and after describing my symptoms, I gave a blood, urine, and stool sample. The nurse thought I had misunderstood her instructions because my urine and stool looked alike. I assured her Id understood.
"Fiebre de Tifoidea"
Did I hear that correctly? I was immunized to typhoid I explained, but fiebre de tifoidea it was. A few IVs of saline, a lot of antibiotics, and two days of rest later, I was released. It was like getting out of prison. Now Im free and feeling much better. Now to continue on the Trail.
Other than the Typhoid, things are great! Seriously, I mean it. I couldnt be happier to be living with a family from Laguna that I already know well. Also, my work is going awesomely.
In Laguna, the stove I gave to Rosita last time went over incredibly well. The first thing Rosita's daughter, Margarita said to me when she saw me was, "Tu cocina nos salvó." However, my spanish still being rusty, I heard, "Tu cocina... no salvó." What I thought I heard means, "Your stove - she didn't save it." What she actually said was, "Your stove saved us."
In March, a flash flood destroyed a lot of things in this area including the biodigestor in Laguna. Laguna was knee deep in agua. The only place above water was the small concrete porch of the school. The whole town crowded onto this porch and the only way they were able to have food was to carry the stove onto the porch and use the tiny amount of dry firewood they could salvage to cook with. They said they would not have eaten for a week without it. Wow.
After fixing the biodigestor, which was remarkably easy, we held a town meeting. We explained the projects that we might work on for them during the week. When I asked them who was interested in having a stove like Rosita's someone from every household raised their hand. Some said they wanted two or three. Some wanted one for their other house in Huarmey. I told them what materials were needed and that they should get them by Monday, when I'd return. I didn't know I'd get typhoid. Manuel, who deserves a blog post of his own sometime, agreed to build a composting toilet with me. See you soon, Manuel!
I'm resting in Huarmey until at least Thursday, so there should be a surge in blogging. I have to meet the Public Health and Physical Therapy gang for dinner.
Hasta,
Davíd
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Casma Casma Casma
Professor Duffy, Janice and I are in Quian along with the physical therapy and health education crews. This morning we checked out the radio and called a bunch of the other pueblitos to find out how their systems were working. The health crew led a prenatal exercise course with some of the obstetricians at the hospital and now we are going to be installing a radio in the ambulance.
Very good news: we know where the three of us will be living this summer and it is with a family we know already-- relatives of the Laguna family. The mother´s name is Graciela and there are five children living in the house and two are away at university in Lima. They are very nice and last night entertained me with videos of the marinera, a famous dance of Peru.
After we head up in the mountains for about 10 days, there will be lots of pictures of all this. For now, my time at the internet cafe is up.
Ciao,
Bonnie
Very good news: we know where the three of us will be living this summer and it is with a family we know already-- relatives of the Laguna family. The mother´s name is Graciela and there are five children living in the house and two are away at university in Lima. They are very nice and last night entertained me with videos of the marinera, a famous dance of Peru.
After we head up in the mountains for about 10 days, there will be lots of pictures of all this. For now, my time at the internet cafe is up.
Ciao,
Bonnie
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