Saturday, April 28, 2012 - , , 0 comments

Update on the "Situation"

Since last week, things haven't gotten better around the house for me, unfortunately.


Luckily, the Doña is back in the house, but can’t do anything for herself and there is a constant stream of people here all day long. When I leave for the Centro de Salud in the morning, about 3 people are here. When I’m back in the afternoon around 4, that number triples, at least. 
I’ve been in this country for about 4 months and I’m used to being stared at; however, what really hurts is that the people visiting aren’t just giving me curious looks, they’re giving me rude, mean glares like I did something wrong. All I do when I’m at the house is go to my room to workout, work and just be by myself and leave my room to make dinner or take a shower.
I’m only comfortable in my room, which to me, is depressing. Sure, I walk in the community and get to know different nooks, but I can only do that certain hours of the day. I don’t feel comfortable reading on the porch or in the living room because I know I’ll feel blame for something I didn’t do. So I end up in my room, reading or watching reruns of shows I have downloaded on my computer.
I offered to move out last week at the height of everything but the eldest grandson (15 years old) and the girl who acts like a “daughter/older sister” to the family both said that I’m fine and I shouldn’t have to worry about being a burden or in the way. What I didn’t mention to them is that the youngest grandson (5 years…woops, I mean 10 years old) is driving me up the wall. I love kids, don’t get me wrong, I have been a babysitter for years, but the thing is, I’m not here to be a babysitter. This kid is disrespectful, messy and loud. He prefers to yell across the house for something rather than walking 20 feet to ask in a normal voice…all hours of the night. The Doña is up all hours of the night, too, moaning, calling for people to help her, and unless I have my fan on to drown out the noise, I can't sleep...even with the fan on it's hard.
I’ve talked it over with my colega and she has noticed that I have been stressed and not myself. I’ve also talked to my APCD (my Peace Corps supervisor) and we’re fixing the situation ASAP. I told the Doña’s sister earlier this week that I am moving out and she says I don’t need to worry about being a problem. (A lesson that PCVs told me in training was, “When all else fails, blame the Peace Corps”) I told them that the PC wants me to live closer to the Centro de Salud because there have been reported acts of crime recently, and I’d be living with a respected high school/university professor and the director of MINSA (Ministry of Health).
When my APCD was here during her initial site visit, we checked out the house, but the professor was at the school teaching. From the outside she approves of everything, and I've seen the inside and reassured her that everything is safe and up to Peace Corps standards. However, it needs to get checked over by a PC official. So, today, a fellow Volunteer from a neighboring site, Dipilto, is coming to check it out and since he has to be here for a wedding this afternoon, it all worked out. After he checks the house and calls my APCD to say everything is a go, I'm out of this house and starting over in the new one.
The profe lives alone; her daughter attends university to become a Veterinarian in Estelí and comes home to visit on the weekend. Profe also has a puppy and a kitten and when my host family from Dolores gives me one of their German Shepherd puppies (by the end of the year, fingers crossed!) she’ll be totally ok with that.
I’ll also be sharing my side of the house (the profe has her side of the house and the other side is where I’ll be living…kind of like a townhouse) with the new director of MINSA (the ministry of health…where I work). She’s super chill, really nice and travels a lot, so I’ll essentially have my own little casita.
Best part: NO SCREAMING, DISRESPECTFUL, CHAOTIC, CHAVALOS. 
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - , , 0 comments

The Highs and Lows of This Tuesday Afternoon

Today was a mixture of emotions. Let's start with the good stuff, first.

I went with one of the physical therapists to one of the primary schools today to give a few charlas about the Chagas disease. As with previous charlas I've been asked to go to, I semi expected to help out with the presentation...little did I know that I was to give the entire presentation! Luckily, I brought along a flip chart charla that was already prepared so my part was easy.

I hadn't had a great experience in delivering charlas in schools when I was in Chinandega during Practicum week and almost swore off giving them altogether because the children were rude, didn't listen, and I lost my voice afterwards because I screamed the entire time. The professor wasn't there, so that added to the chaos as well.

Back to today. I had one of the health center staff with me, the profes stayed in the classroom, and of course we enticed the students with cookies and soda if they listened (I'm not a fan of this kind of snack, especially as a health promoter; I'd prefer to give them some jocotes or other fruit and some natural frescos to wash them down with). After a brief introduction, I was on my way and gave the quick presentation.

In the first class, we had about 43 students. They all paid attention, for the most part (I told them if they didn't listen, profe wouldn't give them their treats), and they all participated when I asked questions. At the end of the presentation, I asked if they had questions about what we had just talked about, but they were more interested in who I was!

It seems as though I was the first gringa from the United States they had ever met! I signed autographs for them (seriously!), got my pictures taken with them and was translating their names to English. I felt like a celebrity and it turned my thoughts about working in schools completely around! I even got some gifts to take home, too :)

Por todo lo especial que eres para mi...siempre cuanto conmigo. ¡Gracias por tu amistad!
You are always special to me...always with me. Thank you for your friendship!

De: Belen, Para: Carolina

Hola Karolina T, K, M [Te Kiero Mucho]. Recuerdese de mi. -Gaby
Hi Carli. I, L, Y [I Love You]. Remember me. -Gaby

My friend

I wanted a picture of them to take with me; this pretty much sums the craziness up!


The second class was a little smaller, only 40 students, but they were just as good of an audience. They asked questions, too, but I wasn't bombarded as much as the first class; mostly questions about my favorite soccer team in Spain (I luckily said Barcelona and was instantly among amigos) and in the world--gotta go with CA Boca Juniors! 

The most popular questions were: Where am I from? How old am I? Do I have a husband? Do I have kids? I told them the truth and added that I do not have plans to start a family until I am at least 30. The girls were very intrigued by that. I told them they can go to school, go to university and enjoy life before settling down; it's not required that as soon as they are done with school they need to have kids. I told them to remember that and they all gave me big hugs, because the recess bell had rung.

I talked to the profes after the presentations and offered to come back in the future to give more presentations to the students about personal hygiene, self esteem, and other themes that are important to the youth in our town. Walking back to the Centro de Salud after that, I was walking with my head a little higher and feeling really great!

Now...the low. When I came to Jalapa for the first time for my site visit, the doña I live with was making food and was walking around town; very mobile and active. She had some problems with her left foot, moving slowly and limping a little bit, but with some medication she was doing fine.

Since I have come back in the past few weeks, she has progressively been getting slower. We have a woman who comes and cleans the house and makes food every day from about 7:30 in the morning till about 5 in the afternoon. I think she's a housekeeper/care giver (just in case)/errand runner for the family. She has definitely been a big help, because the grandsons (ages 10 and 15) sure do know how to dirty up a house in only a matter of hours.

The past few days, the doña has been moving less and less. Going only from the bedroom to the couch in the living room or even the bathroom; if that. She has been in her bedroom the majority of the time. She told me that she has high blood pressure and her left hand and foot have been ridiculously swollen and warm to the touch for a while and got rapidly worse in such a short time. Last night, doña, the grandsons, one of the other renters (who is practically part of the family; she acts as an older sister to the boys) and the doctor that lives around the corner of the block from us were all awake at 3:30 in the morning to care for her. I wanted to help, but with the language barrier and all of the bodies working, I felt as if I would be more of a nuisance than of assistance, so I stayed in my room. They all stayed up until about 4:45 and everyone was sleeping when I left for the Centro de Salud this morning at about 7:30.

When I got home this afternoon, I felt like I was walking into a wake and immediately was concerned. I saw the doña's sister and the older grandson, among about 15 people crowded in the living room and bedroom, and asked if everything was alright. Doña was hanging in there and they were going to take her to a hospital in Estelí right away. She had no movement or feeling in her left arm or foot whatsoever and was vomiting continuously all day. She doesn't like nor trust hospitals, so she was doing everything she could to refuse to go. However, we have a doctor that lives right around the corner from us and he took her in his car to the neighboring department 133 km (or 82.6 miles) away.

I am hoping that they can get everything figured out and she can recover quickly. I also don't want to be a burden on the family. In the worst case scenario, which I'm definitely praying against, it's better to be among family members and loved ones; I don't want to be added stress to them and let them all be together for support. I mentioned this to the "sister" and the oldest grandon and they said not to worry about it. However, I have options. One of the nurses that I work with at the hospital has a room that I am able to rent out, for a price equal or a little less than what I'm paying now (C$1000/month; about $42 dollars) and it is closer to the Centro de Salud. Also, the new head of the hospital, is currently living with my colega but will be moving to her own house very shortly and will be living by herself. She prefers to live with someone, and the rent, again, would be a little less than I'm paying now and is also closer to the Centro de Salud.

We'll see what the future brings and I'm only thinking positive thoughts for the doña and her family, and I please ask that you do the same.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - , , , , , 0 comments

My First Charla as a Volunteer!

This afternoon, we were expecting some adolescents to come to the health center so we could give them a charla (presentation) about family planning. I had all of the information that the Peace Corps had given me on my USB and one of the fellow nurses said that she would present the material, which was what I understood and I was completely OK with. 

When everyone showed up, she asked if I was ready and I had the look of terror on my face. WHAT? I have to give the presentation?! She started the presentation off by explaining the importance of family planning and I explained the section about different types of contraceptives.

It was fun, and a little nerve racking, even though I had given the charla before at the health center back in my training town, and I had the physical materials that I had drawn out rather than in a powerpoint presentation that I had put together in about 10 minutes.

We had two nurses, the head of the Casa Adolescencia y Juventud, a representative from the NGO ProFamilia, my colega, about 19 cheválos (Nica slang for "kids") and another volunteer from a Japanese organization called JICA (from what I've heard, it's like their version of Peace Corps). She lives in Ocotal and will be here until January and knows some fellow volunteers, so I hope to collaborate with her a little bit before she leaves!

Next up, we are going to have some meetings to plan a few huertos (vegetable gardens) at the casa materna and ProFamilia with help from kids at the primary schools; a project that the agriculture volunteer from El Carbón is going to help us out with, too! And on Sunday, I have to give another charla to 50 cheválos about adolescent pregnancy.

Wish me luck!

Nery starting the presentation.

Explaining different types of contraceptives. It wasn't that boring, I swear!

We improvised using an empty soda bottle for the condom demonstration.

It was difficult to use the soda bottle, but humorous and good fun all at the same time :)


PS: For those of you who would like to follow my adventures and upcoming projects on Facebook, I have created a page that will document all of that!
Sunday, April 8, 2012 - , , , , 0 comments

Plan Verano: Dia de los Balnearios

Translated to "Summer Plan: Day of the Water 'Resorts'"

Today, my colega and I, along with several other nurses, a hygenist and a fellow licenciada (college graduate) went to different balnearios in Jalapa to make sure they were up to health and safety standards. We reminded the dueños (owners) that they need to add a certain level of cholorine to their waters to make it safe to swim in, and if they served food at their location, the kitchen and sitting area needed to be clean of any roaches or any unsanitary things.

The majority of the balnearios in Jalapa are created with the water from the river that goes through the valley, Rio Lindo. River water can be quite dirty, with people bathing in it, washing their dishes, their clothes, and animals using it for natural reasons, it's very important that MINSA (Ministry of Health) does this check and make sure that everyone that goes to enjoy themselves during the summer are doing so safely.

Our first stop was at a place called Verano Feliz (Happy Summer). We got their fairly early, and people were already swimming and the water was quite dark. We left a nurse there, so she could supervise the swimmers, as well as talk to the dueños when they came in.

We then headed to a place right down by the river, a little farther out of town. We talked to the owner of the restaurant and looked at his pool area. It was quaint and the entire property was closed in. He says that a lot of teenagers and families like to come there because it's a very friendly atmosphere and because it's safer than going down directly to the river to enjoy the water. His establishment passed the test and after picking up some Cruz Roja (Red Cross) life guard volunteers, we were on our way to the pueblo of El Limón.

What a bumpy ride! We picked up a local doctor and she traveled with us to La Reforma, an ecotourist area that has several pools to play in. This was the first area in which we saw there were security guards, aka police. It was very comforting to know that they keep the place safe. We walked around, talked with some of the workers. It's a very nice little area and I'm kinda bummed I forgot clothes to swim in!

Side Note: I have noticed that the majority of women here swim with all of their clothes (shorts and tank top) on. I asked my colega why and she says they are very shy to "reveal" any of their skin. There were a few with actual swimsuits, but males were the only ones comfortable enough to be walking around in normal swimming attire. I was also told that "machismo" (machoism) is still very prevalent here up north, and that may be adding to the conservativeness of the females here.


After La Reforma we went to my favorite place of the day: Son Zapote. It's the closest thing to a water park I've seen here, with little waterfalls, hammocks, swinging tree chairs and a water slide! Mom, Dad and other people who are planning to come and see me: we're coming here when you visit! The establishment was very secure, sold no alcohol and was up to all standards we were checking for. The dueños were also very nice: they gave us free lunch!

It was a very successful morning/early afternoon and when I returned home, after taking a quick shower and doing my laundry (by hand!), I turned into sloth-mode. I've been fighting a cold for a few days and I'm trying to get over it as soon as possible.

¡Hasta pronto!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - , , , , 0 comments

Day 1

Today and tomorrow were supposed to mark a two day "capacitacion" or training for a group of 25 "brigadistas" or health volunteers (see how much Spanish you can learn when reading my posts?!). I arrived at the Hospital/Centro de Salud (they're in the same location in Jalapa) at 8, met up with my "colega" or counterpart and we waited for everyone to show up. At about 8:15 we had about 6 brigadistas show up. Fifteen minutes later about 3 more came. The bulk of the group was supposed to be coming from Managua, a 6 hour bus ride away.

...back up. I forgot to mention that we are in Semana Santa. The holy week. If they don't have the entire week off, people typically work until Wednesday and take Thursday thru Sunday off to enjoy their families, friends, and tend to do so near a body of water because it's HOT.

With that said, we probably could understand why the Manguans didn't show. At about 8:45 we said farewells to the brigadistas that DID show up (we gave them parting candies for their time) and decided to take a free day the rest of the day. We are, however, going to have another training on Sunday in which we travel to different areas where people will be for the holiday (rivers, local pools, etc.).

So I pretty much have the whole week off. Cool! I had a feeling it was going to be a slow first week in site, especially because of the holiday. I have been keeping myself busy, though!

Yesterday I went for a four mile run to test out the conditions and trails near me. I can run along side the main highway, where a lot of other women run, and it's perfectly safe. Getting there from my house is fun, though. I need to find the streets where the stray dogs DON'T come running after me so I don't have to slow down to a walk. I also learned that I need to run EARLY. At 7 in the morning it was hot and humid already; oy vey!

I've also bought some groceries (though I'm probably going to be stocking up again before the weekend). I'm becoming domesticated! I even made tortillas by myself! I'll be cooking all my own meals so I'll be helping the Dona pay for the gas I use.

Also, the electricity and water have been spotty these last two days. Yesterday and this morning, I took my first bucket baths! This morning I took it in the dark because the lights have been out all day. As a matter of fact, there WAS internet when I started this post about 5 minutes ago (6:17), and now I'm writing it offline...waiting for the electricity to come back. Let's time it and see when it comes back!

It's back! 6:24 now. Not too shabby! The water is still out, but that's ok!

That's all for now, I believe. Have a great Semana Santa (if you celebrate)!
Monday, April 2, 2012 - , , , , 0 comments

What Do You Think?

Upon browsing the internet lately (thanks, Jalapa house!), I found some entertaining photos that are relevant to:

A. Being in the Peace Corps
B. Living in Nicaragua.

Enjoy!



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