An Afternoon with Ronaldinho (4/6/13)

 The Stadium

 

 The Brazilian Fans

 There he is....

 And Neymar

 

Waiting for the game

 The Bolivian Team from 1963, winners of the Copa America

 "Dos Pueblos Unidos por la Pasion de Futbol"

 

After a hard day of work at the clinic (actually we had a meeting Wednesday to figure out how we would make it to the game on time) where four of us left at 10 am to get back to Santa Cruz and save seats at the stadium for two hours before the game, we got to watch the Bolivian National team play the Brazilian National Team. The stadium was packed, with just as many Brazilian fans as Bolivian fans. Although we were hoping to see at least one Bolivian goal, the final score was 4-0, Brazil. However, it was amazing to see Ronaldinho y Neymar...can't wait to watch them in the World Cup!

Following the game we went to the restaurant of Dr. Vargas's brother and had the best Pique Macho we have ever tasted. Eventually we went back to our house and taught our Bolivian friends some new games....possibly involving some solo cups and cards...

Chicago!

A Special Night: January 5, 2013

So, I have been tasked with giving a brief account of our special night over X-mas break.  Although Kara had some notion that this was in the pipeline, I think that it was still a bit of a surprise for her.  We didn't have much time together over X-mas break, as we were both trying to enjoy some family time during our only return to Los Estados Unidos.  Anyways, here goes: 

For those that know Kara and myself, you already know that we both love basketball.  While I am borderline obsessive, Kara and I have always loved to play basketball together.  This has been one of our important past times in Chicago.  Whenever we have time on a Saturday, we would go up to the gym at Loyola Medical Center where we would play pick-up bball for anywhere from two to sometimes four hours at a time.  Basketball was actually one of the first things that we did together (as our friendship developed late Freshman year), and it remains an important part of our relationship SIX (yikes...) years later.  So on the morning of January 5th we went up to Loyola to play bball together.  I'm happy to say that we played on the same team (always a good thing for a competitive couple...) and managed to string a few wins together.

Our HomeCourt

After a couple hours of hoops, I planned on having a lunch at Yum Thai.  For those who don't know about Yum Thai, it is a wonderful (and relatively inexpensive) Thai Restaurant on Madison St in Forest Park.  I discovered this restaurant (well, it was recommended to me...) my first year at Loyola, and since then Kara has always tried to make a stop here whenever she would visit from St. Louis for the weekend.  Try the Pad See Yew or the Massuman's curry, you won't regret it!

 

I try not to think about how much of my loan $ went directly to Yum Thai

View from Yum Thai

After Yum Thai, we had made plans to enjoy a show at The Second City.  This has become another one of our favorite past times in Chicago.  When Kara used to take the Megabus from St. Louis to Chicago, I would pick her up from the station and we would head up to North Wells where you could walk-in to see the Improv skits after the shows had ended.  Sharing laughs here with Kara is one of my fondest memories from our time together in Chicago. 

The Second City!

Front Row Seats!

After a couple of hours of laughing it up about the Cubs, Chicago politics, and a particularly funny skit concerning the summer tourists, we headed back to Kara's old neighborhood, Lakeview.  Kara was lucky to enjoy a year living with some of her closest friends here--Teresa and T-wong.  We walked a bit around her neighborhood and then sat down for dinner at her favorite local restaurant Cafe Orchid.  Cafe Orchid is a family-owned Turkish Restaurant that is bluntly honest about their platters--dishes include "Best Hummus" as well as entrees with "(highly recommended)" written behind their names.  Order the Iskender, feel free to thank me later...

 

 Hello Turkish Wonder fullness

After enjoying our Turkish feast, I suggested to Kara that we might go walk around a bit downtown.  I think that is when she might have started to get suspicious for the first time--it was a actually a bit colder than I had hoped and at one point I thought she was going to reject the idea completely.  We made our way out to the Adler Planetarium, one of the best views of Chicago (in my humble opinion).  So we took a walk...

 

And...

 

 

I must give a quick word of thanks to my older brother JP, who was in on the scheme and played the role of our chauffeur as well as provider of the much-needed hot-chocolate (peppermint Schnapps? check). 

Thanks mon frère "that means brother in french. I don't know how I know that, I took 3 years of Spanish"

 

Whats a special night without Chicago's finest hotel.

The view from our Lakeside Suite!

Sofa on the elevator?  Treat Yoself!

Our chauffeure dropped us off at the Drake where we took a minute to spread our good news.  Then it was off to the lobby for a drink and a dance.  We enjoyed some Michael Jackson including "I Wanna Rock with You" as well as "The Way you Make Me Feel." 

Some older couples cutting it up on the dance floor.  

Lobby of the Drake

A Few of our Favorite Things: Andre Champagne and Mint Meltaways

 

Morning View

Thanks to our friends and family who have supported us over the years.  We have been blessed to have this time in Bolivia together, and we understand how lucky we are to undertake an adventure like this together.  That being said, we are looking forward to returning to Chicago (very soon!) for at least a year.  Looking forward to seeing you all. 

Some Clinic Stuff....Deparisitation and Promotoras

In November we had a program to help prevent parasites in the children in the communities the clinic serves. We went out to each community, either to the schools or to a group meeting and provided the children with a medication to help prevent parasites for the next six months. We are about to start going back to the communities this coming month.

 Weighing and measuring each child

Waiting in line for their medications

We also held a class to train new health promoters to work within the communities we serve. The class ran for nine weeks and we taught lessons on a range of topics including diabetes management, tropical diseases, first aid, and exercise. We had about 10 new graduates who have now begun working in their communities. More or less these individuals hold office hours once a week in their communities and see many of the clinic patients who have diabetes and/or high blood pressure. They check their sugar and blood pressure and give short talks on ways to modify their lifestyle and appropriately take their medications. This is a program that has been running for several years; this semester we are attempting to improve the continuity of education and the education that the promoters are providing to their communities.

 Maria teaching first aid skills

 Some of our students during a lesson

 Grace teaching about nutrition

 Kara teaching how to correctly use a cane

David teaching about diarrhea...with slightly out of control hair and a mustache

 The graduating promoters with Maria, the nurse who works at the clinic and is in charge of the program

Promocion

As you might be able to tell we had an incredibly busy social calendar while Meg was here. One Saturday night in December in Arboleda, a small town just next to Palacios, we went to the graduation of some of the highschoolers from Palacios who we know. This included Lalo, the son of Mumi and Pepe (they work at the clinic), and Stefanie who had been volunteering at the clinic on Saturdays and who has just started medical school. (Graduation here is in December because the season's are opposite...) It was awesome and so different from any highschool graduation I have been to in the States. It started around 6....well was supposed to start around 6 but like all things here was late....all of the kids processed in, had their names called, and received their diplomas. We then went to eat dinner at a nearby house with Lalo's family. Afterwards we returned to the cancha (field) where the graduation had been held to celebrate with all of the other graduates, families, and friends. There was a live band, soda, beer, and lots of dancing. We stayed out until about 3am and at that time it was not just the students still dancing, full families were still out including grandparents and little kids....AT THREE AM!!  We later found out it lasted until 6 or 7 in the morning! 

Before we leave, with Don Louis, one of the caretakers of the clinic property

When we first arrived, the girls and a nice sunset

The boys, Marvin, Pepe, Dave, and Kevin

Graduation was held at an outdoor field...it is basically a concrete basketball court/ futsol court (small sided soccer). However, to our disappointment basketball is more or less never played.

Students waiting in back and then processing up the center aisle

Mumi and Pepe, Lalo's parents. And Santiago, one of their grandchildren

Maria, she works at the clinic, handing out diplomas

 Stefanie and her dad

Lalo and Mumi, first dance after everyone has received their diplomas

The graduation from afar....