I'm a nurse! A couple of weeks ago I started shadowing a doctor at clinic. In Ecuador, after finishing medical school, new doctors are required to spend 1 year at a rural site. My doctor, Andres (or affectionately Andresito, since he's only 25), was the only one at his rural clinic (or subcentro, as we call them), so when several us expressed interest in shaddowing at the hospital, I was assigned to be the nurse at the subcentro in Jatumpungo, because Andres needed help. Excuse me? Jatum-what?
After explaining no less that 12 times that I am in fact NOT a nurse (university is much more specialized here, so they don't understand how the US degree system works), I made my first trip to Jatumpungo and fell in love. I'm working alongside Andres every Wednesday to help see patients and make house visits in the rural community. I do a lot of administrative work with paperwork and all, but I've learned how to do a lot of physical examinations of patients as well. Ecuador has a motto of "hear one, see one, do one", so Andres has taught me about and allowed me to do tasks I wouldn't be allowed to do until after finishing nursing school in the states. I've taken vitals, checked breathing patterns with a stethascope, written prescriptions, etc. My favorites were giving charlas (mini-lectures) to elementary school kids in the area about Tuberculosis and giving Hepatitis B shots to middle schoolers. I was so nervous giving shots, but the histerical kids forced me to keep my calm. It was so exciting to have hands-on experience like that.
At one of the schools, I was referred to as "Doctora Haley" by one of the teachers. Not yet, Se
ñora Suntaxi... but nurse just may be appropriate.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
oops...
Dear Blogging world,
Please forgive me for the lack of posting in the last month. Life has been crazy as usual. I've been teaching an average of 9 women per exercise class. I have been shaddowing a doctor at a rural clinic every Wednesday. Children's English has kept me on my toes, while test making for Adult English has given me a new respect for teachers. Life in the house is chaotic, as usual. I spent a week with Dave, who came to visit and experience life "Manna Style". And I've been a slacker at updating my blog. Please accept my apology with a few annecdotal stories and pictures from Dave's visit.
Much love,
Haley
Fútbol!! I played in my first soccer game (EVER) last weekend, and I still have bruises on my legs to prove it. The best part of the game was not being as tall as the goal, or getting schooled by intense Ecuadorian ballers (whoever told us this was a non-competitve league, was SORELY mistaken), but when I got a yellow card. Why, you ask? I wasn't too aggressive, I didn't talk back to the ref, and I didn't kick anyone. I picked up the ball. I bent over and picked up a soccer ball as it rolled towards me. Despite my lack of soccer skills (what can I say; I'm a basketball player), we tied 3-3 against the toughest team in the league.
Listening to small Ecuadorian children (ages 4-9) trying to pronounce English words continues to be something I look forward to week after week. I always get a kick out of the enthusiastic "APPLAY!!" One of my favorite stories from Children's English arose out of our alphabet lesson. We asked the niños to give us an example of an english word that starts with the letter. With every letter, we would get responses in spanish or with the wrong letter (for c, one kid yelled "HORSE".... maybe because "caballo" is horse in spanish? who knows). When we got to "W", every kid raised their hands. Sarah and I looked at each other and were excited that the kiddies knew a word. When we called on them, in a loud unison, they all screamed, "WHISKEY"!
Please forgive me for the lack of posting in the last month. Life has been crazy as usual. I've been teaching an average of 9 women per exercise class. I have been shaddowing a doctor at a rural clinic every Wednesday. Children's English has kept me on my toes, while test making for Adult English has given me a new respect for teachers. Life in the house is chaotic, as usual. I spent a week with Dave, who came to visit and experience life "Manna Style". And I've been a slacker at updating my blog. Please accept my apology with a few annecdotal stories and pictures from Dave's visit.
Much love,
Haley
Fútbol!! I played in my first soccer game (EVER) last weekend, and I still have bruises on my legs to prove it. The best part of the game was not being as tall as the goal, or getting schooled by intense Ecuadorian ballers (whoever told us this was a non-competitve league, was SORELY mistaken), but when I got a yellow card. Why, you ask? I wasn't too aggressive, I didn't talk back to the ref, and I didn't kick anyone. I picked up the ball. I bent over and picked up a soccer ball as it rolled towards me. Despite my lack of soccer skills (what can I say; I'm a basketball player), we tied 3-3 against the toughest team in the league.
Listening to small Ecuadorian children (ages 4-9) trying to pronounce English words continues to be something I look forward to week after week. I always get a kick out of the enthusiastic "APPLAY!!" One of my favorite stories from Children's English arose out of our alphabet lesson. We asked the niños to give us an example of an english word that starts with the letter. With every letter, we would get responses in spanish or with the wrong letter (for c, one kid yelled "HORSE".... maybe because "caballo" is horse in spanish? who knows). When we got to "W", every kid raised their hands. Sarah and I looked at each other and were excited that the kiddies knew a word. When we called on them, in a loud unison, they all screamed, "WHISKEY"!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Soccer Times
A few of us recently joined a soccer league. Now, if you know anything about my previous experience with soccer, you might be laughing.... as it is none. Never ever played before, and I joined a county-wide women's league in a South American country. Am I insane? Yes.
We had our first practice several days ago, and BOY was it a day worth blogging about.
First thing in the morning, Sarah, Jackie, Krysta, and I hopped on a bus to meet Bibi at our field (about halfway in between our house and Quito). Once we got there our "coach" took us on quite the route to her house, because she wanted to see how the gringas play. After scooping up no less than 17 pounds of poop from her backyard (they have quite the collection of dogs), she through some tires down in her back yard, and we were off. She was having us run drills and yelling that our kicks were too hard, too soft, or just bad! All the while, a crowd had formed in the backyard to watch us while listening to Lady Gaga's new hit, "Pokerface" (where am I?!?!). Frustrations were rising on our end, as we were assured that this was a non-competitive social event.
An hour later, we were scrimmaging with other women on our team. We showed our loud mouth, nazi-esque, abrasive woman just how gringas can play, as we ran around aggressively and it showed that we were some of the best players on our team.
Of course, we didn't look as good as Liga (a pro soccer team from Quito of which we've become avid fans), but give us some time.
LIGA Game!!
mmm.. footlong hotdog with mustard, mayo, ketchup, tomatoes, onions, potato chips
The crew after the game
As far as our Ruminahui team goes, looking forward to jerseys and our first game next weekend!
We had our first practice several days ago, and BOY was it a day worth blogging about.
First thing in the morning, Sarah, Jackie, Krysta, and I hopped on a bus to meet Bibi at our field (about halfway in between our house and Quito). Once we got there our "coach" took us on quite the route to her house, because she wanted to see how the gringas play. After scooping up no less than 17 pounds of poop from her backyard (they have quite the collection of dogs), she through some tires down in her back yard, and we were off. She was having us run drills and yelling that our kicks were too hard, too soft, or just bad! All the while, a crowd had formed in the backyard to watch us while listening to Lady Gaga's new hit, "Pokerface" (where am I?!?!). Frustrations were rising on our end, as we were assured that this was a non-competitive social event.
An hour later, we were scrimmaging with other women on our team. We showed our loud mouth, nazi-esque, abrasive woman just how gringas can play, as we ran around aggressively and it showed that we were some of the best players on our team.
Of course, we didn't look as good as Liga (a pro soccer team from Quito of which we've become avid fans), but give us some time.
LIGA Game!!
mmm.. footlong hotdog with mustard, mayo, ketchup, tomatoes, onions, potato chips
The crew after the gameAs far as our Ruminahui team goes, looking forward to jerseys and our first game next weekend!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A new month, a new outlook...
I let having a lot to do and being busy get the best of me. During the last several weeks I've worked tirelessly from the moment I wake up to when I go to bed. I've worked and worked, and my to-do list just seems to get longer. With this job, you get out of it what you put in, and I want to see our programs succeed. I want to build relationships with community members and organize documents so future years have a good resource for programs. I want to be effective. However, all of those statements are about what I want. Today I ate my breakfast on the roof and settled my soul. I read my bible and realized that I need to not be so self-focused. I need to set boundaries with work and decide what's important. God has led me here for a reason, and I need to let him work on me and through me.
So here is to starting out the month of October with a new mindset. One where I take every day as it comes, and rejoice in the time I have to be here, in Ecuador.
p.s. There is a cow mooing outside of my window. Typical
So here is to starting out the month of October with a new mindset. One where I take every day as it comes, and rejoice in the time I have to be here, in Ecuador.
p.s. There is a cow mooing outside of my window. Typical
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