Week 1

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Hello all,

pictures tomorrow hopefully thanks to a nice roommate with a computer.

The past two days have been hectic. I started in the clinic yesterday and the only way to describe my experience is overwhelming. None of the doctors or nurse speak english so communication continues to be challenge. Our clinic was open yesterday for some reason even though all of the clinics have been closed due to the strike. Needless to say, we were very busy. I spent most of the morning observing a doctor. She showed us how to interpret lab results for urine tests as well as blood tests. We saw one woman who looked to be about 60 but in reality was only 30 (its almost impossible to tell ages here) who came in fatigued with a completely white tongue. Her glucose level was 248. 100 is normal. She was diagnosed with diabetes. Apparently type II diabetes is very prevelant here even though no one is over weight. Doctors have been overlooking it for years because they believed the people to be healthy in that regard. We attended a lecture last night on diabetes from the peruvian american medical association, which is here for a month setting up a diabetes clinic. It was very interesting to hear about, and a possibility for research. They are trying to get some of the interns into the clinic sometime in the near future.

Today was easier at the clinic. It was once again closed due to the strike so only emergencies were being admitted. I learned how to take blood pressure and how to administer a nebulizer. Respiratory problems are very common in children here due to the amount of dust in the air. We also had a guest speaker come and talk to us this afternoon about the Shining Path. It was heartbreaking to hear first hand some of the accounts of what the SP and the military did during this time such as animal and childbombing as well as mass massacres of entire villages for no reason. It definitly explains why Ayacucho is in extreme poverty today. Next week we are going to visit the SP museum with Marisole (our director) who had to escape Ayacucho as a child to Lima because of the shining path.

The strike is heating up and marches are becomming a daily occurance. The people are very upset at the president because he isn´t listening to what they are saying. It looks like the clinics and schools will still be closed next week. It gives me an opportunity to experience other work sites though. Tomorrow I am going with my friend Jenny to her wawawasi It will be fun to play with the little kids. I swear peruvian babies are the most adorable children I have ever seen. Everyone here wants to someday adopt one.

Things are still going well, I love the city more each day. Its absolutely beautiful. I haven´t felt any affects from the altitude apart from headaches and some nose bleeds. We all feel like old people every time we walk up hills because we run out of breath so fast. Tomorrow we are visiting a small village and the wari ruins, a pre-incan civilzation at 1300 feet so we will see how that goes .

miss you all!

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Comments

[Connie Utecht]

Keep up the good work!
Hello Emily, Your Dad shared your site with me and I wanted to say "HI" and send you my best wishes for a safe, fun and interesting journey! Keep up the good work and your mind and heart open! Take care! Connie