Hi Everyone! just thought I'd update everyone a bit. We just started clinicals last week- the part of the quarter where we will be working in the clinics and hospitals, getting hands on experience. Last week I was in an EBAIS, which is a little community clinic. I gave a lot of shots and a lot of flu vaccines as well. Within the EBAIS they have this program where medical personel go out to visit each house to check in with whoever lives there, to do some health teaching, to assess how the people are living, and to give vaccines. I got to go home to home with two of these women. The first day I went we went house to house and just checked in with the family, asking how they were doing, checking blood pressures and glucose levels, and doing some teaching about the importance of breast self exams. The second day, me and another student went around with two of the medical technicians and gave flu shots to anyone over 65 years old and children under 8 years old that have conditions that make the flu more dangerous for them (asthma, etc.). It was a really great experience to get to see health care working in the community like that.
Plus, it was amazing to get invited into people's homes so warmly. There was a really interesting aray of homes where we were. There are rundown looking homes with patched metal roofs and junk in the yard next to these large beautiful homes, some with sprawling lawns and gardens. Everyone has large pictures of Jesus in their front room. And many of the people wanted to give us gifts- of fruit that is. By the end of the second day, between the four of us we had one grocery bag of oranges, one bag of sweet limes and multiple bags or limes.
Next we I will be going to the Guardaria, which is kind of like a children's daycare center. It opens it's doors to 230 children a day. The kids range from infants- 12 year olds and stay at the guardaria while their parents are working. They all come from families in severe poverty, and a number of them are Nicaraguans. I am so excited to go work with the kids. Last week's group said they got bombarded with hugs.
All in all, I'm doing really well. We still have a few classes (childrearing and ethics), but three days a week we're in clinical. I'm keeping myself busy trying to get my homework done and enjoy the scenery and culture here.
I'm going to work on updating my pictures now. I'll post the web site as soon as I have it all fixed up.
Pura Vida!
