Headed Home Part I

 
 

The river was too high for anyone to do the morning activities. So, naturally, everyone watched Ecuador play Switzerland in futbol. Pretty funny, because we were staying at Casa de Swizia (home of the Swiss). Sadly, Ecuador lost in the last 15 seconds of the game. Nuts! We had to rush down to the boat after lunch because the river had kept rising and would soon be too rough to travel. I am not quite convinced that we should have been on the river at all. It was wild! The water was so choppy, there were there were trees flying by, and the water was so high. There were multiple times that we were not even moving. But, we made it.

Then there was a nice long drive back to Quito. We took a different way back; through an Amazon mountain pass. With all of the rain there were multiple mud slides. Plus, the road was just ridiculous to begin with. I thought that since it was almost dark out that we were not making a stop at the hot springs. Katty totally surprised me though! It was such a nice pit stop. I think we were only there for two hours, but it was totally worth it.

Tearful goodbye :(

Until next year...

Jungle Time

June 12, 2014

Now that this mission part of our adventure is complete, we get two days to relax and reflect.

Early morning and a long bus ride to the jungle. We took a pit stop in Baños for shopping and to use the baño (bathroom). Last year, this was one of my favorite places. It is small town with tiny colorful streets. I love the atmosphere.

After five hours of driving, the bus stopped at the very edge of the Napo River. The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River… so it’s basically the Amazon River. Just in case you didn’t know, we are at the butt end of the Amazon Rain Forest for the next couple days! We jumped onto boats and off we went. It was about a 15 minute ride to the hotel. Then, it was about a 15 minute hike up a huge hill to the hotel. AY! It is absolutely gorgeous! Also very humid too. I LOVE the jungle!

June 14, 2014

Jungle adventures were on the plate for the day. At breakfast, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Yup, it was a spider. I saw a tarantula out of the corner of my eye from across the courtyard area. Lots of pictures. A sweet old lady even touched the ugly beast.

Half of the team went on a medicinal plants hike through the jungle, while the other half went on a kayaking trip down the Napo. I was on the kayak adventure with my ladies. It was pretty exciting. It was about a two hour trip with a pit stop on a small island for a sniggy (snack).  Pretty much, it poured down rain the entire time. Just like we were in the rain forest or something. Ha! Katty and Stephen flipped their kayak twice, while Miss Katherine flipped her’s only once. Not that it mattered; we were all soaked anyways.

In the afternoon there were also two adventures. Most everyone went to a Quichua (key-chey-wa) home and Linda and Sharron hiked to the butterfly farm. The home was pretty neat. We learned how chicha, a local fermented beverage, is made. They had some jewelry and other trinkets for sale. I tried on one that I really liked. Right about then Blair said, “Hey Tash, how does this look?” When she turned around, she was wearing the exact same necklace that I had on. We were twinsies the rest of the day… I mean really, we were wearing green shorts, tan tanks, same necklace. Super cute.  They showed us how to use a blowgun. Let me tell you, I was the first one to hit the hanging fake monkey with the dart. Yea buddy! Next, we saw how to make pottery. In the shop that had all of the pottery for sale there was a water bottle with two small snakes in it. I made Aneesh squeal like a girl… again.

There were more heart-to-hearts this evening/night. It is so sad knowing that this trip is almost over.

P.S. I saved Katherine and Blair from Jiminy Cricket. Meaning, I removed a cricket from the room.

If It Fits It Ships. That's What I Always Say!

Last day in clinic for the trip. It was such a wild day! We saw just as many people today as we did today, only in half the time. I had the amazing Mary and the fabulous Katty again. We are a great team!

Every night one of the military men stays at the village so that we do not need to tear down every night. When we arrived this morning Victor, who stayed the night, was wearing a machete. I asked if it was a rough night. His response, “yep, there were dunks. But, this scared them away.” I laughed so hard!

Two more teeth were pulled today. It still amazes me how many people want teeth pulled. Ayayayay! I had Pastor Ramon check on Luz, my tooth girl from EMM13. Unfortunately, she is no longer at the school we served at anymore. He did say that it was taken care of and that she was doing well the last time he spoke with the family. What a sweet girl.

There was an older gentleman that came in with the help of his son and two walking sticks. From across the room I could see that I was going to need Dr. Hall’s help; his right eye was super infected and dripping.  He was totally blind in the left eye and starting to loose sight in his right due to the infection. I am pretty sure that this was the first time on this trip that I almost threw up. Doc had me holding open the infected eye while he examined the eye. When he touched a white spot with a Qtip it ruptured. First of all, eyes are yucky. Second of all, infections are nasty. Third of all, it was stinky. He also needed teeth pulled, but was in too much pain for them to come out. I hope that we were able to save that eye.

There was a handsome old man that came to clinic today. He reminded me of my Papa Bear. He was loving that all three of us wanted pictures of him. Such a sweet heart!

A school from a considerable distance came today. There were about sixty kiddos and three teachers. It was a bit surprising when they rolled up in a tiny pickup. They were stacked in there like vacuumed sealed sardines. WOW! Safety first. As my dear sister would say, “if it fits it ships!”

Good byes. Oh, good byes. I always suck at those. It was great to hear stories from the trip. Being my mothers child of course I cried. Every time… The last two week have flown by. I am sad to be leaving this beautiful country and these beautiful people.

Viva la Selva (jungle)! 

It's Not A Bag Of Cheese... It's A Dog

Mary and Katty were my crew today.  We worked so well together and saw a ton of patients. It was interesting to say the least.

We pulled two teeth; a whole lot more actually asked to have teeth pulled. The teeth have been so bad!

There was a 6 year old boy who has had a chronic eye infection for over two years. Poor thing! He had been infected and dealing with the inflammation for so long that it was starting to damage his eye sight. We gave him treatment for the problem with hopes that it will work. I am sure that if he were to continue with how it has been, that he would be blind by thirty.

Our station was giving out STD treatment to almost every other patient and sometimes three at a time. In all, it was 10 shots that I gave today, with a whole punch of “partner packs.” There was a group of three ladies that were having a great time all things considered. All three needed treatment. They got laughing at the fact that they had to show me their hinies. It never stopped. HA! Well, then Aneesh tried to duck into our room to put his coat somewhere out of the way. One of the ladies already had her backside exposed. He was so embarrassed and the ladies loved it! They roared with laughter. That group also gave me a new nickname: Angel Hands, since the shot didn’t even hurt. When I told Renae, she gave me a different one: STD Queen. Mmmmmmmm….. I like Angel Hands better.

The toddlers at this village seem to be deathly afraid of my albino skin. I have made almost everyone one of them cry. Well, today I had two that I made smile. GO ME! YEA! Katty made me take a picture with him to prove it (just for you David).

We were getting ready to load onto the bus when someone pointed out a puppy in a potatoes sack. Not joking. His head was the only thing sticking out. One of the soldiers went to see what was up, because all of the gringos were upset. Apparently, they had bought the dog today and were taking it to their home. The dog in a sack was freaking out. It was traumatic.

I feel like I am always referencing the lack of roads that we travel on in Ecuador. Here I go again… Our bus hardly fits on this road that we take every day. We were just about to fly around a ninety-degree corner when leaving the village today. Fernando hit the breaks sending all of us flying. We stopped inches from another bus the same size as ours. From the very back of the bus, I could see the whites of the other drivers eyes. And, somehow we were able to slide by each other.

We made it home safe and sound. One more day in Quiningua.

Mucho Gusto

David’s last day on the dream team. Very sad, but we made the most of it!

Lots of headaches from dehydration. Lots of stomach aches from not eating. Lots of anemia from no meat. Lots of rotten teeth again. David, Katherine, and I pulled one almost right off the bat this morning. The thing just popped right out. Dr. Hall sent one over shortly after that. I think he realized that I actually kind of enjoyed pulling them. The most difficult part is not making a scary face when you are yanking on the teeth. I mean those poor kids are looking straight into your face. That one wouldn’t come out as easily, but we were able to get most of it. Just like yesterday no pain.

We saw a little girl with Cerebral Palsy. It was hard on everyone who saw her. Her left elbow was totally immobile, no ability to point her toes, or straighten her legs. What a sweet girl though. Unfortunately, there was nothing that we could provide her.

Today there were a lot more prego’s too. I cried when three different ladies were able to hear their unborn babies heart beats. Being that I know 0% about pregnant women and babies in the womb, I had to learn a little before I used the Doppler. Holy Moly!!! That was so cool!

David was super excited that we gave a shot. He has been anticipating it since he first started translating for me. It was one of the very last patients of the day too! I would also like to note that today was another embarrassing day for David. There was a lot of talk about sex and male parts today.  Blushing in full effect. What a trooper. Katty said after dinner tonight, “I guess I have to translate for you tomorrow since you scared David away.”

 

Katherine was on point today in clinic. I was so grateful whenever she would chime in on stuff!

There were quite a few older people today. It was pretty interesting because their card would say one age, they would say another, and people from town might also say a different age. One gentleman was between 82 to 105, depending on who you asked.

I brought a quilt my Mama made me for Christmas last year. Blair and I got to have some heart-to-heart/Tasha demanding snuggles time. Thanks for keeping us warm in Ecuador Mama!!!!

Teeth Again This Year!

A new town: Quiningua. We will be here for the next three days. 

Holy moses. There were so many kiddos. Aneesh was super busy washing everyone’s ears. Maddie and Katelynn got to do a breast exam (ha, I passed that one off to them). I pushed Dr. Hall out of his comfort zone by making him pull two teeth. A lot of kiddos had rotten teeth. They told us that they ate sweets more than food. Margot, had a little mouth pain and many rotten teeth. One was so loose that it just had to come out. So, out it came. I cried more than that sweet girl. Without anesthetic she only let one tear roll down her face and only squeezed my hand one time. Wow! There was another boy that had his tooth pulled. He told me the his Mama usually pulls his rotten teeth. Today Dr. Hall and I got to take her place.

 

I somehow managed to get David the translator let me wash his ears. He would only do it if I let him wash mine. Hahahah! It does feel pretty strange. But, not too bad. I was embarrassed that his ears were cleaner than mine!

Guano - The Town Not Bat Poop

Rachel’s Birthday! And, a day of rest.

We all had the chance to sleep in a bit/relax. Pizza for lunch and shopping in Guano (that is not misspelled).

Then we went to church at 5pm. For being a day of rest it was pretty busy.

Last night when I updated with stories I had forgotten to tell, there was one in particular that I wanted to tell and was the reason that I got back onto my computer in the first place! But, I forgot…. So, Blair got peed on yesterday. To top that, she needed a urine sample from a little boy, testing for an infection. When he came back with his cup he had pooped in it. Hahahahaha! Wowie! That opened up a whole can of worms at dinner. It turns out that the natives that we see call pee “little pee” and call poop “big pee.” Pretty funny!

We were at the Super Maxi (grocery store/mall) one night. Everyone had a list. Michelle wanted to make sure to get sharpies for the pharmacy. Somehow, in trying to figure out the Spanish name for pen, she decided that it was probably the same just with an –es added to the name. Pen-es. Say it…. PENES. It sound like penis. She was walking down one of the isles loudly talking about penes. This poor Ecuadorian family was traumatized!!! We still are laughing about that.

The lovely translator Paula learned some new words from Miss Renae last time she was here. Things like awesome and cool. Paula was telling Renae that she learned her new word for the trip, crappy. I think Renae was a bit surprised. Well, it turns out that Michelle taught her the word sharpie. Paula ended up learning two words this trip!

I thought for some reason I would be able to take a quick nap before everyone made it back to the bus from shopping today. My whole row of people showed up, so, I just laid on them. I nearly flew through the roof when David said, “Oh! Lice.” Even though he was kidding there was no sleep after that. Very funny.