Blogs from La Libertad, Peru, South America

Hello people! Long time no write I know. Well, I have a few days of holiday before starting my next job so I am taking advantage of the time to update you… So the quick version: I´ve been in Trujillo (or Tru-tru-JI-lo! as they say on the radio) , northern Peru, for the last two months volunteering as an English teacher at an ngo in a poor part of the city. It´s been great - the students were super-cute, even the older ones, and my fellow professors were equally fab - if they are reading this - I miss you!!! It was a good experience for me on the road to becoming an English teacher, and it was great to meet so many people in the area and learn about their lives. I felt part of ... read more

I have been working at Sta. Lucia since September, 24th. I have had the opportunity to observe and learn from brilliant, kind physicians here. Last week I learned how to properly examine a patient: Inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion. Dra. Matrissa drew out schematics of the pulmonary system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal system. She explained the quadrants and the reason for watching, palpating, listening, and percussing the areas that we do; what is considered normal and abnormal during the exam. And for anyone who knows me, I thrive in an environment regulated by reason and theory. I have seen many diagnoses, especially lots of colds and flus. I met a young man with AIDS who was only 23 years old. We gave him a referral to a specialty clinic. He had this smile and grace about ... read more

I had my first medical campaign yesterday. It was organized by a local health clinic with both doctor and nurse participants. We packed up the medical supplies and medicine and set off to a remote area of La Moche, a town outside of Trujillo. Our arrival was immediately ensued by a line formation outside of our worksite. The worksite was a one-room schoolhouse. For the children, we recorded their names, age, weight, and height. We conducted hemoglobin testing and documented these results as well. There was a table devoted to listening to their hearts and lungs and another devoted to administering medications. For the adults, we also recorded their blood pressure. I was able to circulate amongst the tables providing help where I could.I also managed a dental hygiene station. Here, I brushed their teeth, instructed ... read more

One of the many things that has been an adjustment is the transportation in Peru. Where to start... Public transportation is a choice between "micros" (buses), "combis" (public vans), "mototaxis" (carriages attached to motorcycles), and taxis, depending on your location. Micros and combis are marked by color, letters on the lower right corner of the windshield, and letters on the top of the windshield. Taxis are marked by company, if marked at all (depending on the city). Even with the marked vehicles, you still ahve to ask everytime you get on if they are going to your location. The micros and combis have two personnel working, the driver and the cobrador (collects fares, opens and closes doors, yells out to pededstrians on the street...) Basically, the cobrador has his head of the window, yelling, the entire ... read more

Time on the North Coast of Peru slides by easily, but we didn't realize that it's been so long since our last update. When we came to Huanchaco, we were looking for a sleepy little beach town, and that's just what we found. Most days are taken up with a little bit of work on the computer, a little bit of almuerzo and a little bit of time in the sun. Not bad, but not very exciting subject matter either. We've also been healing our scars (literally, emotionally, financially, etc.) from the previously chronicled theft and hospitalization. But, as everyone knows, bad luck comes in threes, so we knew we were due for something else. One night, as Justin sat watching the finale of Homeland, it came in spectacular fashion. The television exploded in a burst ... read more

The busses here are an experience, that's for sure. I don't mean the busses to get from one city to the next, but the ones within a city. I've only taken them a few times, and every time I'm enormously proud of myself. Somehow I always end up on these little busses (which may be called collectivos.. half the time it seems they are called that, the other half a collectivo is seemingly just a taxi that fills with people all going to the same place.. who knows!) So don't picture a real bus. Picture a van. Just a van with seats. Filled to the brim. Sometimes people have to stand and literally their heads are horizontal, there's just no room! Today I took one to Trujillo, which is the city about half an hour away ... read more

Last night I arrived in my tropical paradise. I've been waiting all trip to get here. Ya, I know I've only been travelling two weeks but still.. this is what I've been waiting for. So last night I arrived and set up my new tent (thanks Scott!) for the first time in the dark. No problem. Then I set up my hammock for the first time ever, with a little help from a new Swedish friend (who I found out just turned 45. Ok he may eventually read this but fuck if he wasn't the hottest 45 year old I've seen in my life!) I met a guy from the states, named Jake (though he first told me his middle name, as people down here have trouble pronouncing Jake.. it was Rafael. Ya, I just instantly ... read more

On Thursday, we had one last lunch at the California Kitchen and headed over to the Cuenca bus station. To get to the North Coast of Peru, the quickest way is to cross at the coast... however, this crossing is notable for its sketchiness. So, we decided to cross into Peru at the mountain crossing, near Macara, for caution's sake (in literature, this would be called foreshadowing). This also gave us a chance to spend our last night in Ecuador in Loja, other than Cuenca our favorite place in the country. We had some tamales and empanadas at url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/the-southern-highlands/loja/restaurants/south-american/el-tamal-lojanoEl Tamal Lojano, and a couple of drinks at url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/the-southern-highlands/loja/entertainment-nightlife/pub/el-viejo-mineroEl Viejo Minero. Friday morning, we headed out early for the long bu... read more