armchair traveller Hi Guys, it all looks/sounds fab. So much so I feel like I am there but not having to cope with the humidity/mosquitoes. Looking forward to the rest of my holiday, oh I mean your travels!
we miss you! Hey Liz! I am glad you are doing well. Hope you enjoy your travels with Iain.
Nelly got moved to the other hospital as there is no room for her here at the moment. And I saw Cristal today. She came in for physio. She sends you un beso grande. And also greetings from everyone at the hospital. We miss you lots. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Love
Greetings WOW, what an adventure you're having. I do hope you're feeling better today? Enjoy your time with Iain. I'll be praying that you can share a great deal about your time in Cocha as well as enjoy your well-deserved holiday! Don't worry about the emotional goodbyes, it's better that way. Can't wait to see you, but that's not yet, you've so much more. I must say that you look very happy in the photos!
With love,
Naomi
Well done you! Hi Liz (notice I didn't call you Elizabeth!) I have just caught up with all your writing. You have been so busy and really sound like you have made a difference to those children. Good for you - you are an inspiration to us all. Love Tracey
Heart moving last blogs in Cochabamba I loved your last two blogs, they made me cry too! What a lovely send off and how thoughtful they all were. Maybe the Education Minister can help to move things in another department
Coming in June Dear Gail
Nice to hear from you. This is my last week, unfortunately, so I won´t be around in June, however send me a message, as opposed to a comment with your email and I´ll very gladly send you some tips and a list of things that are helpful here.
Best regards,
Liz
I am coming there Hi liz how are you doing? You don´t know me but I am coming as a physiotherapy volunteer to the burns unit in cochababma at the end of may this year. I am in my final year in Manchester and this is part of my elective placement. My Spanish isn´t great at the minute but I am learning. I found your blog through google and was just wondering if you had any advice for me on things there and what I should bring that you never would have imagined you´d need or things the unit needs that i could bring over. Will you still be there in June? I hope you are enjoying your time there all the best. Gail x
Caught up Hello Sistrin, finally all caught up with your blog, and it's fascinating and, often, heartbreaking reading. I am full of admiration for what you're doing, and I'm really proud of you. You're one tough (but caring) cookie.
Hope everything is well and stay strong in these final weeks.
Lots of love,
Bruv x
Been catching up with all your journals on Joanne's laptop in Singapore. Have nothing but admiration for you and will find out from your Dad how to contribute some money when we get home next week. Much love.
Strikes and laundry! It´s hard to judge, how dodgy it is when protests are on. I tend to take advice from Maritza, my ´mum´here. She is super-protective of me, so if she says it´s ok, then it probably really is, to go into town, but just not the parts where people are getting agitated.
Meanwhile, the strike has lifted, some kind of solution has been reached re the transportation within the city and the town has gone from ghost town to buzzing again. Also, traffic is now getting through from Sacaba so I´ve collected my clothing. Hurrah!
Garden Good question, and well spotted! I think the plants have all been placed strategically around the plot, where the garden would be if/when they have a house. However, that would imply a ´grand plan´and I am not so sure there is one, in so much that they´d like to build a house but I don´t think either Maritza & Lucho or Carla & Michael would have the money to do so.
Protests and strikes I'm not sure how it is when you are English, but for Americans it's advised to always stay away from strikes, protests, and areas of political unrest. So I agree with your plan to stay away. I hope things look up and you get your laundry back soon!
Watering plants on a vacant lot? What's the reason for keeping the plants watered on a vacant lot where the house is to be built? Are they trying to keep it looking good, or does it have to do with erosion control?
Family networking Hi ´Bony´
The thing about here is that many, even most, of the children are from families in the countryside and their families are very unlikely to have access to computers or even know about working them. Furthermore, there are no computers for patient use (possibly even for staff use) in the unit. I have lots of ideas about how technology could help this place, but they´re not there yet. As I´m only here another three weeks, all I can do is pass your information to the more permanent workers in the hospital. Regards, Liz
Physio Yes, we call the treatment physiotherapy in British English and the person how administers it physiotherapist.... I keep hearing physical therapist here, and was wondering why!!
Physio? Hey, Liz... help my poor American self out with some of the medical jargon. Is "physio" what we'd call "physical therapy" when you are talking about what the children have in the morning time, and "physical therapist" when you are talking about the people who administer it?
Cheers, and apologies if you have answered this elsewhere.
social family network we have been reading your post n found many new things. We just introduced Kincafe- www.kincafe.com. This is for families to come together. Children can get updates about families.
We just launched a family 2.0 social network. We would like to invite you for the review of the service and provide feedback to us at andy@kincafe.com.
Thanks
Andy
Hola guapita, it's great to read your news every morning before I start work, and to hear how the experience is turning out. Even better than you hoped? I can hear your voice as I read. It makes me want to get on the first flight to join you. Keep up the good work. Big hugs, Karenita xxx
Thank you Dear Elisabeth,
It is so good to hear about the wonderful work you are doing at the Burns Unit in Chochabamba.
How you bring happiness to the children in the middle of their pain.
You have no idea how special it is to me to read your blogs, especially from the Burns Unit. Thank you for writing.
Kind regards Birthe (Kirstens Mom)
PS: Kirsten told me that Nelly lost a brother in the accident that burned her.
A Carribean cruise for 8 weeks would've been so boring in comparison Hey, sounds like you're having a truly memorable trip, for a variety of reasons! Must be tough at times but also v. rewarding. Hope you continue to enjoy the trip - I'll have a look and see what you've been up to from time to time, so keep writing!x
I'm off on March 10th for an 8 week visit to Bolivia. For the first five weeks I will be a volunteer at a children's hospital in Cochabamba, while for the last three weeks I'll be travelling with Iain to get to see some of the rest of the country.... full info
Rochelle
non-member comment
armchair traveller
Hi Guys, it all looks/sounds fab. So much so I feel like I am there but not having to cope with the humidity/mosquitoes. Looking forward to the rest of my holiday, oh I mean your travels!