Remember that time...

Remember that time I said that power was back, and it looked like it was going to stay? Ha. Just kidding.

The power cycle has looked a little something like this.

We have power.

It rains and, for some mysterious reason, the power goes away.

Sometime the next day the power comes back on. Again, mysteriously

It rains, and the cycle repeats

I am beginning to have a love/hate relationship with rain. 

I love it because it means for the first time that day the temperature drops below ninety.

At the same time, I hate it, because it means I have to try and find my toothbrush in the dark.

And then there was light!

Wahoo! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have power!

The past week has been one long power outage. Granted, the power would come back from time to time. Just long enough to get your hopes up, and then away it would go again!

The clinic is lucky enough to be the only location in town with a generator, but it is only on when there are patients here. Weekends and evenings there are FAR fewer patients, which has been making for some very quiet nights!

Oh well, the power is back, and seems to be sticking around for a bit. 24 hours straight, to be exact!

It's getting hot in here

I looked at the temperature yesterday

Big Mistake.

Huge.

 

It read something like this:

Current temperature: 90 degrees

Feels Like: 113 degrees

This is the cooler part of the year.

January, according to folks from here is "like an oven"

Translation: I may not survive January. 

MAIL

I have an address now!

Erin Glesne-Smith
Clinica Hombro a Hombro
Santa Lucia, Intibicua, Honduras

Now the mail can start rolling in!

Life as of late

In case anyone was wondering what I do with my time, here was my schedule this week:

Monday: Shadowing in the Dental Clinic

Tuesday: Visit to Yo Puedo program in Magdalena

Wednesday: Shadowing in the main clinic (I helped cast a leg!)

Thursday: Visit to Santa Theresa, a nearby-ish community that Shoulder to Shoulder sends a doctor to once a week

Friday: Research for Yo Puedo, and the Neo-natal breathing project I am going to start helping with.

This week went fast!

I think I saw about 1,000 things this week that I have never seen before.

Book Reviews

So with all the power outages and internet issues, it has been really easy to keep up with my book a week plan

Actually, I think I am ahead by a few.

LOTS of reading time here.

However, I have not been so good at keeping up with my book reviews.

Anyway, here are the books I have read recently

The House on Mango Street: A really wonderful book of short stories. Told from the perspective of a young immigrant girl

Don’t be Afraid Gringo – A Honduran Woman Speaks: I think this a must read for anyone living in Honduras! Plus, the introduction provides a really sucint, but thorough history of Honduran land reform movement.

The Massacre at El Mozote: GAAAAH!!! How have I never heard about this! In 1981, a US trained branch of the El Salvadoran Army, entered a remote village (which is located just over the border from where I am now), and massacred over 700 people. Many of them children. In horrible, and violent ways. And the US government kept funding them!!! READ. THIS. BOOK.

Lesson Number 9 Million

This week I figured out a VERY important equation

Love of Children + Love of Public Health Projects ≠ Love of Child Malnutrition Campaigns

I always figured I would love working on projects aimed at ending malnutrition.

I love kids

I love Pubic Health

It just made sense

I was WRONG!

Now, I want to preface this story with this statement: I still believe that programs aimed at ending malnutrition are probably the most effective and critical public health initiatives in the world. The fact of the matter is, ending malnutrition in children has been proven to have long lasting positive impacts on the children, their families, and the future of communities. It works. Period.

But for me, there was something I had not figured into my little equation: Blood Draws

Tracking micronutrient deficiencies involves measuring iron levels. This, as anyone who has ever given blood knows, involves a finger prick.

And you know what?

It HURTS.

Baaaaaaaaaad.

I went out last week a few of the Health Promoters from the clinic, who work on a project called MANI. This program is aimed at treating micro-nutrient deficiencies in children under the age of five, through a supplement called Chispuditos.

So, they do a chat about the program, and then call the first kid up to the front to get weighed, and finger pricked.

Now, kids are not stupid. That kid took one look at the health promoter, who was trying to act like it was no big deal, and…

LOST IT

A full on tantrum. Screaming until I thought he was going to pass out.

And that is all it takes. One crying kid. From that point all the other kids (who are also not stupid), started crying the moment their mom brought them up to the front.

Here is the catch. I really hate watching kids cry. It breaks my heart.

After a few hours of this, I realized that what sounded like an incredibly fun way to be involved in public health, was in fact, not so glamorous. That job takes a real tough person.

Also, if I ever have kids, someone else is taking them to get vaccinated.

Radio Silence

The past two weeks have been one long internet issue. It has been great for my reading, but not so good for my blogging.

First, we used up too much of the bandwith

Then there was an issue with my access

Then, about three days ago, we lost power, and it still has not come back. We have a generator, but internet only works sometimes when it is on.

It is amazing how quickly you just get used to whatever.

Anyways, be prepared for a barrage of old posts I could not get up before!