A different perspective

1. English first
2. Español abajo


Welcome! It’s been an interesting start to 2007, exemplified by some pretty varied photos this time. Check out some more images from our holiday in Cartagena, the Barranquilla Zoo, a trip to El Rodadero near Santa Marta, and some shots of local food.


An eye-opening experience

In spite of my generally ‘lazy bugger’ lifestyle here (my words, not yours!), I have managed to make a small, but meaningful, contribution to the people here in Barranquilla. Recently I found out about a project being run by some Christian missionaries from the US and Canada. I am not at all religious, but when I heard about this project I decided this was for me…

A group of almost one hundred ophthalmologists and optometrists have come here for two weeks to run clinics offering massively subsidised operations and free eye check-ups to the city’s poorest residents. So where did I fit into this equation? Most of the ophthalmologists speak not a word of Spanish, and those that do understand it can’t speak it well enough to communicate with natives here. I heard they were looking for interpreters so I decided to give it a shot. After all, I had little else to do!

My first impression was not the best. I got talking to several Colombian translators, many of whom had found out about the missionary project through their local church. If you have ever been trapped in a conversation with a religious zealot, you will recognise what I am about to recount. The exchange starts off normally: where are you from? what brought you to Colombia? etc… Then, after a couple minutes the other person undergoes a rapid transformation as they passionately begin to discuss their favourite topic: God. I find it very uncomfortable to be trapped in a conversation with such fanatical believers. I was asked, by various people (all Colombian, not the North American missionaries), if I felt Christ’s presence in my life, why I didn’t feel drawn towards the Church, if I knew that God loved me etc… I patiently explained that I am not a believer, and though I respect those who do fit into this category, I prefer not to delve into profound dialogues about something I find uninteresting.

Of course, not all religious people are of this ilk. The majority are not, but it is a shame that a small minority leave you with a negative impression. Why do they have to be so intense? If you are talking to someone you have just met, why immediately start extolling the virtues of something important to you? In short, emotional intelligence should let you know that the person you are talking to clearly does not share your ardent beliefs, therefore maybe it would be wise to switch to a more neutral topic.

So, my first morning was an unnerving experience. But, happily, I soon managed to sidestep the fevered voices and the unfaltering ability to steer conversations towards god. I am full of admiration for the noble work carried out by these medical specialists and those who travel with them. Whatever your creed or beliefs, it is impressive to see people from North America devote time, money and energy to provide a valuable social service in a developing country like Colombia. People get few holidays in the States, therefore I admire those who are willing to fork out from their own pocket, and take time from their own schedule, to spend two weeks operating on Colombia’s poorest people for free.

I have been translating most of the time for an ophthalmologist who is an expert on retina treatment. Joe bares an uncanny resemblance to the actor Steve Carroll, especially in his tone of voice and mannerisms. I have been interpreting between him and his patients, which has allowed me not only to see how eye-doctors fix problems, but also to hear the cool language they use when talking to one another. The lingo employed by these surgeons always impresses me! I guess it’s cause I studied something completely different and I generally haven’t a clue what they actually mean, but it sounds highly impressive. Ophthalmologists and optometrists will come together for rapid exchanges of opinions, saying things like:


“it might be prudent to perform a secondary IOL”
“The glaucoma is severe. Our best shot is to laser this guy at 450”
“The optic nerve is producing too much blood. This calls for a thin dissection”

I usually stand back, taking it all in. I then nod gravely, and say “I concur, my thoughts exactly”.

This experience is unlike anything I’ve done before. There will be more details next time.



Machismo and narcissism

This culture is a particularly macho one. Colombia itself is traditionally a male-dominated environment (although this is changing in recent years). Some people in Barranquilla are still desperately clinging onto antiquated attitudes and this is seen in the culture here. Around Christmas we spent a day at Rochy’s uncle’s farm. For a while, we went to visit an older cousin of Rochy’s, who has a cool farm down the road. We drove there, and saw a circle of guys (many of them were distant members of her family) sitting in a circle, drinking whisky and telling jokes and anecdotes. Some had killed a chicken and were serving the results: a traditional, delicious soup called sancocho. Others were talking about cars, whisky, football and similar stuff. I think I have never seen such a testosterone-charged environment!

The gym Rochy and I go to is full of mirrors. They cover all the walls, and provide ample opportunity for gym-users to admire their bodies. This seems to be the main reason why some of them go there. The other day, I was using an exercise bike which happened to be beside the wall. Another guy started using the bike beside me, and immediately started inspecting himself in the wall mirror. He was craning his neck and standing up on the bike just to catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror, sweating away! Some of the bodybuilders are the worst: they stand for minutes on end flexing their muscles in the mirror and making low, affirmative, self-congratulatory sounds. It’s hilarious.




Los Carnavales

Lastimosamente me tengo que ir antes de los famosos carnavales de Barranquilla. A mí me encantaría estar aquí para experimentar algo que la UNESCO ha nombrado Obra Maestra del Patrimonio Oral e Intangible de la Humanidad. No obstante, como que debo volver a mi país para buscar alojamiento antes de empezar mi trabajo en marzo, no voy a poder. Cuando los amigos y familiares de Rochy se enteraron de que no alcanzaré a estar aquí para vivir los carnavales tan queridos, muchos protestaron puesto que les resultaba incomprensible que un extranjero pudiera marcharse antes de la Obra Maestra. Cuando le explicamos a una amiga de Rochy que yo iba a comprar mi tiquete de vuelta, ésta se puso brava, y me imploró “no te lo compres!”.

Otro año Rochy y yo volveremos juntos para festejar los carnavales a lo grande. A pesar de que yo no vaya a estar para los carnavales, algo que me da mucha pena, logramos participar en unos cuantos eventos de “pre-carnavales” y ayer salimos a bailar en el desfile del Carnaval de Antaño. Sacamos unas fotos de puta madre: en el siguiente blog las publicaré.



Una experiencia verdaderamente enriquecedora

Como expliqué arriba, he estado participando en un trabajo voluntario aquí, el cual ha resultado muy interesante y desafiante para mí. Estoy de intérprete para un grupo de misioneros cristianos, oftalmólogos que están ofreciendo subsidiados servicios médicos a la población de escasos recursos aquí en Barranquilla. Mediante mi trabajo como traductor, he tenido la oportunidad de conocer a una gente diferente. Rochy vive en uno de los mejores sectores de la ciudad y me he dado cuenta que casi no salgo de esa parte de Barranquilla. Aquí se encuentran casi todos los lugares de interés: los mejores bares, las discotecas, restaurantes, cines, gimnasios, parques, centros comerciales etc… Saliendo de esa área he podido ver otra realidad: barrios pobres, calles de familias más humildes, arquitectura y ambientes totalmente distintos a los cuales estoy acostumbrado. Lo más interesante es la gente con la cual estoy trabajando. Muchas personas no tienen nada y si no tuvieran la opción de recibir tratamiento tan subsidiado, realmente no les quedaría ningún otro remedio para aliviar sus problemas médicos.

Los oftalmólogos examinan a los pacientes, les dan unas cuantas instrucciones básicas en castellano, y después me dicen el diagnóstico, el cual yo traduzco para el paciente. Por un lado, revelar el diagnóstico puede ser pesado. Me ha tocado explicar a varias personas que por motivos diferentes (generalmente por falta de disponibilidad) no ha sido posible ofrecerles una operación. Yo no había pensado mucho en eso antes, pero de veras explicar a alguien que no le puedes ayudar y verle llorar después es algo difícil y algo que te conmueve bastante.

Por otro lado, me ha agradado mucho ver la reacción de muchas personas cuando les explico que podemos programarles una operación que les permitirá mejorar la vista. Por supuesto me toca preguntar al paciente si desea operarse, algo que normalmente es seguido por una afirmación contundente! “Nojoda, claro que sí!”, “Sí señor, dile al medico que cualquier cosa yo le agradezco!”.

El otro día el oftalmólogo estaba atendiendo a un señor bastante mayor. Generalmente ellos pueden ofrecer la operación para quitarles las cataratas a las personas de avanzada edad, pero no la pueden garantizar para todos que padecen este problema. Sin embargo, a ese hombre le pudieron ayudar, y cuando yo le pregunté si él quería operarse para poder ver mejor, su respuesta estuvo buenísima!

“Claro, joven, quiero la operación. Yo te voy a decir una cosa: yo tengo 72 años pero me siento joven todavía. Me gustan las mujeres, sabes? Cualquier cosa que me ayude a verlas!”

No tiene precio!


Pronto ustedes verán unas fotos excelentes de los disfrazes de La Arenosa. Quien lo vive, quien lo goza!

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