A lot of America in my last week (in the best ways)

Pretty street art in Otavalo

I keep writing in my journal how wonderful and helpful it is to return to a house full of children who respect neither claims of exhaustion nor excuses about being busy. As many of you have already heard through the grapevine, I accepted a placement with the Peace Corps in Belize as a community health volunteer, set to leave at the end of June. I got this news while checking my email at my Spanish teachers house, 5 minutes before my bus was set to leave. I literally ran out the door after reading the email and was a bundle of nerves and excitement for the next 30 minutes of bumping and jostling on the commute back home. Had I been left to my own to devices I would have spent all evening thinking about what this meant for my future etc. etc.(don´t worry, I have freaked out plenty that I am committing myself to one place for over two years) but instead I returned to my siblings wanting piggyback rides, thumb wars, and endless hugs.

Even prior to the news the Peace Corps, my host family has been an important grounding force for me here, which is funny to say given how difficult my first couple days felt in their home. My position as the public health intern for the Tandana Foundation has not been realized as smoothly as one would hope, but it is not for a lack of effort on the part of other Tandana compañeros. Though not ideal, attempts to find more fullfilling and active positions for me has facilitated a lot of exploring in the area.

Partera Training

Yesterday I went with this awesome community nurse to a training for parteras, traditional healers often times working like a midwife, though they all have different stories of how they learned their trade. The women wore their traditional clothing, which is a bit different from the anako worn in the communities where I am, immediately surrounding Otavalo. Different communities have different dress styles, all of which are beautiful particularly in contrast with the same 3 ratty outfits I wear day in and day out. The women at this training were a riot, cracking jokes and really fiesty. They also talked about issues with firefighters and other people of authority respecting their use of medicinal plants, in conjuction with referals to health centers. These complaints proved pertinent as the latter part of the training was an exercise on how to better speak in public and with people of authority. Many of the women who were boisterous and charismatic amongst themselves became timid and uninspiring when placed in a more formal situation - a universal phenomenon I think, and a good reminder of the variety of ´skills´we can develop to work toward change.

In a totally different vein, I used the excuse of needing to make a trip into Quito for visa logistics to stay with Claudia, a friend from Pomona, over the weekend to watch the superbowl. So different from the community feel outside of Otavalo, it was a blast for a short weekend. Because it was Sunday the bar was to close at 4, though the game didn´t start til 630. So speakeasy style two rooms full of tourists from around the world jammed into this 'irish' bar for two sweaty hours before the game even started. I found a couple fellow seattlites who had come prepared with face paint, Claudia and I got a betting pool on the score going, and I met some great British and Australian folks who had never really watched American football. I was dismayed I couldn´t celebrate in the strees with everyone back home but so so proud to be from Seattle.

Top of Imbabura

The previous weekend I went on a gorgeous and difficult hike to the top of Imbabura, one of the volcanoes I see everyday. I went with two doctors who were down here for a  month and have now departed and a guide/friend of Tandana, Benicio. The top is at 15,190ft and Benicio said that the trail was only 4km - I dont believe him, but it was pretty much straight up the mountain with a bit of 'exciting' vertical rock climbing at the end. The clouds dance through the crater and over the peak, changing radically as we made our way to the top. As always, with the mix of exhaustion, triumph and probably a bit of altitude sickness at the top, out picnic of ham and cheese sandwiches and overly sugary juice tasted phenomenal.


With those same doctoritas the following Monday and Tuesday we ran an open clinic for community members in Mojanda. The preschool group of 1 and 2 year olds was by far the cutest group of patients anyone will ever see and I was elated by the lunchtime volleyball circle.

More to write soon, particularly about the incredible quantity of starches I am consuming and hopefully a rafting trip. Best to everyone and thanks for all the emails - I love hearing what everyone is doing in their corner of the world!