Fun

What we do in our free time?

Rebecca, one of the other coordinators is also keeping a blog this year
http://rinbolivia.tumblr.com/

More at the Clinic

Although we are still working on completing our papers for our temporary residence, in the last three weeks we have been able to spend more time working at the clinic and beginning our job as coordinators. Rebecca and Grace are both here too so now all 4 of us can begin working together. This weekend we went out to the clinic for a couple of days to complete an inventory during the days the clinic was closed.

No escaping them...on the drive out to clinic we pass through at least 4 toll booths! Thankfully you only have to pay at the first one and show your "ticket" at the others....and as long as you save your ticket you don't have to pay on the way home!

Most of the drive from Santa Cruz to Palacios is on a nice paved road (however some of the road is a one lane highway, to pass you have to go into oncoming traffic...I drove on it yesterday with a stick shift car, somewhat terrifying). However once you near the town we get to drive on this dirt road for about 7 or 8 miles.

Once on the dirt road its very common to see cows or horses right along the side and chickens or dogs in the middle of the road necesitating some honking to get them out of the way

Sign outside of the clinic

 The house we stay in when we are in Palacios is connected to the clinic; the house is the building on the left in this picture; you can see a little of the clinic in the right

Another picture of the property with slightly more of the clinic in view; in the back you can see one of our two horses....although the last time I rode a horse I broke an arm hopefully I'll get to try it soon

For you Donovan; a sign that the horses were on the road....they also leave numerous presents on the soccer field.

A view of the "soccer field," it's pretty nice and Don Pepe said we don't have to really worry about snakes here because it's kept so short; however there is no net in the goal and if you notice the brush behind it is not kept so short....

Some views from inside the clinic

Without patients

The lab; here Marvin can do basic blood and urine tests and take specimens to send to Santa Cruz for additional analysis. We're in the process of trying to find additional supplies for the lab in order to increase the types of tests Marvin can perform....this task is somewhat difficult as one of the chemicals needed is strongly regulated here because it is reportedly used in the production of cocaine

One of the exam rooms; this one also has the EKG machine in it, I'm practicing making sure I get all of the leads in the right place so I can start doing this with patients

One waiting area

In most of the waiting areas there are posters hanging made by health promoters to educate patients on different topics including nutrition, STDs, exercise, etc.

The pharmacy, the jefes wanted us to inventory all of the meds so we spent the last two days counting all of the medications in the clinic; more than 350,000 in total....with 5 people working it took us more than 9 hours to complete....but now we have it!

David hard at work putting the inventory into the computer; on clinic days this is the desk where patients check in with the nurses.

Sucre...in the City

 Our walk on they way to school every morning....the walk there was always nice; however the walk home was slightly uphill to put it lightly.

 The Main Plaza

Woman selling fresh orange juice

 The Main Plaza

There were always pigeons around and always people selling bird seed. The birds were afraid of nothing!

 The Main Plaza

Many times during the day and in the evening it was packed with people.

In the Main Plaza

The Main Plaza

A stand selling fruits, candy, drinks, etc. These were all over the streets and the parks in Sucre.

 "The Basketball Court"

The school we were at was pretty good about taking to do different things in the evening. Twice they took us to play walleyball. However, we told them we liked basketball and they took us to this court! Literally a raquetball court that they bring two portable wooden hoops into. It was awesome.

 "The Basket"

Me in Front of one of the many Churches

There were tons of churches here; all of them painted white; more than 99% of Bolivians are Catholic I think.

The Mirador

A short walk from the house at the top of the hill was an area called "The Mirador." This is the view from there during the day.

The Mirador

This is in the same area as the view from the previous picture; if you turn the other way there was a large plaza area. During the day it was fairly empty. In the evening and at night (in this picture) it was turned into what I think of as a "fair." There were probably at least 100 foosball tables set up, there were fair games along the wall, merry-go-rounds and children's rides, and even gambling games. We played some foosball....needless to say I was no good.

 The Mirador

As it got darker they set up strings of lights above all of the foosball tables.

The Mirador

In the evening; you can see a jumper set up with Bugs Bunny, a trampoline, and to the left an airplane ride set up for the kids.

 At Dinner one night

Next to the Mirador was a nice restaurant/hotel that we treated ourselves to one night....and by treated ourselves we both got dinners and drinks for both of us for under $20. There was a great view of the city behind us.

 The main plaza at night

 Dave with our host Mom

At the Airport in Sucre

This is where the drama began. We had a flight for 1:30 Friday afternoon. When we got to the airport we founds out that our flight, along with the other four flights for the day (the airport was very small, in total they only had four flights the whole day) was delayed. They didn't know how long but they continued to state that it would be delayed. Finally, they told everyone that the plane would definitely be leaving at 5:30! However, at 5:25 they come on to make a new announcement; the flight has been canceled for the day and is rescheduled for morning due to "problems getting the flight in" (no other details were given). Now, normally in the US if this happened they would have a representative from the company come and speak to the people, possible provide other options, maybe food and a place to stay; people would be grumpy, complain, and then do what they were told. Here, however, no representative came, people were given no other options, and told to leave. People were clearly not happy with this and within minutes a full out mob had developed, people stormed the desk, jumping over and around it and screaming at the workers. They workers shut down the computers, fled to the back office, and locked the door. Eventually the police came, we stayed around for another half our to see if the people would get what they demanded (a flight that night) and when it was clear this wouldn't happen we returned to Sucre for the evening. Definitely and adventure.

Okay last blog about Sucre....now we are officially up to date on the blogging!

Sucre: Sunday Trip to Tarabuco

Look close...."Welcome to Tarabuco"

Tarabuco is a town about two hours driving from Sucre. It is home to many indigenous people and one of their main industries is textiles. Many of their goods are sent to Sucre and other towns in Bolivia. Every Sunday they have a very large market; two markets where people from Tarabuco mainly trade goods with each other and very little money is used. There is also a section for tourists that contains mostly textiles.

 

Our first sight in Sucre

At one point there was a large battle for independence against Spain (Sucre was the first city in all of Bolivia  to declare and fight for it's independence). A monument to the indigenous people who fought (somewhat scary though....notice he is holding the man's heart in his hand...)

 The main square in Tarabuco

 Walking to the market

 

The set up of the streets in Tarabuco is very similar to those in Sucre; however the houses in Tarabuco are mostly brown while those in Sucre are white.

In the Market

Dave is so much taller than everyone here...notice how he towers above everyone! College friends, also notice the backpack he is wearing....some things never change.

You can also see the hair style of many of the indigenous women; two braids down the back and a hat. 

 Outdoor Market

 Indoor Market

 More Outdoor Market

Lots of small "cubicles," each one had a small stove and had someone selling food. See the colorful bags on the backs of the women on the left hand side? They were used to carry everything, from produce to babies and were actually large blankets like the orange one below.

More Outdoor Market

Bulls 

 Yes, bulls walking down the middle of the street, not an uncommon sight in Tarabuco. Also common, young boys, maybe age 10 or 11 leading the bulls and throwing rocks at them when they veered off path.

Found a playground during our walk, the city is behind us.

I know, so cute....

Sucre Part II (Saturday Trip)

 On our walk to the castle

 So on our Saturday in Sucre I went on a hike outside of the city to a castle with another student and the director of our Spanish school and his niece and nephew. David was unfortunately home....ughh...on the toilet....

 Also on the walk to the castle

Apparently there are two capitals in Bolivia. The people of Sucre will tell you that Sucre is the true capital.  It has always held the judicial branch of government; however, the other two branches are in La Paz (apparently there people will tell you La Paz is the true capital). Several years ago there was a movement to bring all of the branches of government to Sucre; many students marched in the streets during this movement. At this spot the national police where brought in to stop the students and many students died during the march. This is a monument built at that point along the road.

 

 The Castle!

Notice the tallest tower in the background that is partially cut off...

 The view from the top of the tower in the previous picture

The blue and orange-ish building in the background used to be an orphanage. Apparently there was only one family to ever live in the castle, a wealthy husband and wife.  They used their money to perform many good deeds in and around Sucre, including building the orphanage. Apparently because the people of Sucre loved them so much (and because they were quite wealthy) they were given the title of king and queen. 

 The staircase up to the top of the tower

....Mom I thought you would enjoy this

 The only cemetery in Sucre....near the front of the cemetery

After the castle we took a bus back to Sucre and were given a tour of the cemetery. It is the only cemetery in Sucre and it immediately reminded me of cemeteries in New Orleans. Everything is above ground; the wealthier families are in the front and poorer families are in the back.

 Near the front...tomb of one of the wealthiest men ever in Sucre

The back of the cemetery