My Ride....

The last few days..........

It seems that every time I try to update my blog, make a phone call or do some school work we lose electricity. Maybe it’s g-d’s way of saying that it’s not the right time to post anything…haha…

This project has begun to take on an Anthropology role as time progresses and I realize the importance of retaining the culture the way I found it. When I was on my way here, I remember thinking that I was going to show the village that we had everything together in the United States but I’ve changed my mind. My number one goal is to improve the health of the area without losing any aspect of the culture.

I’ve begun to come up with ideas to incorporate the town, it’s natural resources and it’s people in a health education program. I’ve been toying with the idea of developing a pseudo-wilderness EMT program where I teach the community to use things around them that are readily available and not expensive. I’ve been testing the strength of the branches here to see if they are strong enough for a limb splint and today I will learn how to wash my clothes, BY HAND. I want to see how clean the clothes are, once the people in the town wash them. If they don’t get most of the dirt out, I don’t want to teach them to use dirty t-shirts for a bandage. That might make the problem worse…..

My other interest is in personal hygiene. As I witnessed when I paid $2.50 for dental floss, the cost of these products is high compared to other things in the region. I’ve been contemplating researching alternatives to toothpaste and soap that are cheaper and work as well.

I guess, in sum, I want to create an educational plan that is geographically and culturally sensitive.

And, I learned to Salsa dance last night!!!!

Reflection

Most of my blogs up to this point have been about how wonderful this place is...probably because I spent the first few days here getting to know the town, finding where people hang out and trying to look "not so white"...plus, in the states we drink at bars to meet people we don't know and we don't care if our Spanish skills suck when we drink~

I stopped taking my Malaria medicine after a long dileberation with myself. Malaria meds make you very sensitive to the sunlight( and it's summer here)...and I was sick everyday...sunburn and having horrible dreams every night...I decided that if I get Malaria, it's the same medicine that they use to prevent it...I will begin the pills if I start to get sick....I figured Malaria is better than skin cancer and roja (red) isn't my color....

I began my interviews yesterday with the help of Patty...we visited families that were "well off" by Ayampe standards and the poorest family in the whole village. The experience was heartbreaking, even at the "well off" family's home. Simple things that we take for granted are not availabe here in Ayampe...things like band-aids, neosporin or even any type of medicine. The nearest famacia (pharmacy) is at least ten minutes by car...and most people don't have a car or the money to pay for the bus (40 cents).

I met a family with a husband that has had a "cold" for a month. He saved up his money last week to go to the doctor...when he got there, they stole his money and he never was treated...he said "maybe tomorrow I will have money". He is a daily wage worker with no work...and he is old. Coming from a health backround I know the scenerio all too well...he will continue to be sick and work all day in the hot sun...the simple cold may progress into something else...and there is a chance this might be his last sickness...his cough was terrible and his wife said he had had a fever the entire time....I could only think of Sepsis....

A few weeks ago in Temple, the Rabbi said something that has stuck with me through this entire trip..."If you save one life, it's as if you saved a million"....unfortunatly, I want to save everyone...the answer to the man above may be fixed by a simple antibiotic that he probably needed a month ago....I have enough antibiotics to save the village but a part of me is scared...what if he is allergic to the medicine and has a reaction...I couldn't get an epi-pen fast enough and I'm allergic to Benedryll so I don't have any to give him should something happen.

I've already decided which villager will get my mega first aid kit when I leave...I met her during one of my interviews. She will hopefully be key when David's students come back in July for their health day. She is a retired Red Cross worker who said she "would do anything to help improve the health here" she just needed a refresher course....

I've been to houses where there are 12 people living in a one room house with no inside bano and everyone sleeps in the same bed...dirt floors and houses made of Cane....and even the nicest houses in the village would be poor by american standards...However, the people here are happy...happier than most people that live in the states...Most say they stay here because they have family and they have friends...they don't worry when they don't have money as much as we do...of course, when they say they don't have money, they don't have a dime...broke has a whole different meaning in this country......

To me the cost of living is cheap...less than 2 dollars for a beer, 1 dollar for a gallon of water but for the villagers, this is a lot of money....the laborers in this town make only 3-10 dollars a day and I met someone who only makes 25 dollars a week and her rent is 150 dollars...

This has been an eye opening experience for me thus far and I wonder if I will be able to assimilate back into American society...will I actually enjoy a hot shower, remember than bug spray isn't necessary every 4 hours and to run in the house at dusk to run from the bugs....will 4.50 for a beer seem outrageous and will my Land Rover still be a wonderful as I've thought it was since the day I got it....

I might have to agree with David when he said I would love it here and not want to come home...so what if my cellphone doesn't work and the electricity works when it wants to...a small wind can take out the internet for a whole afternoon...but this place is so peaceful....

As I'm writting this, I'm watching the sunset on the beach and it is so beautiful...I would be out there but I had a fight with the crabs on the beach earlier as I was listening to my tapes...they sure looked tasty....but they have those claws...and I"m allregic to shellfish

I bought a bike yesterday and I"m going to post the picture on here after this blog...I feel mobile and I've learned to appreciate it's rusted stem and rusty basket....it gets me from point A to point B...even after being here a week, that Pinarello Prince (road bike) that I wanted seems pointless to me.....

I've always loved my family, lovers and friends but this trip has shown me to really appreciate them...I've actually been known here to get up at 5am just to chat through email or call on Skype....

Most importantly, I'm at peace and grateful to be here....When I went to David's office last year and said, "I want to go to Ecuador", he could have said no....maybe he should of when I told him I didn't know what the hell I was doing...but I'm figuring it out....my Spanish is getting better...people actually understand what the hell I'm saying....and I have a nickname "La Flacka" which means "skinny" in Spanish.....

The Beach

Mamie goes to the Tienda

FYI....brushing your teeth with the water that comes from the sink is just like drinking the water...just in case you didn't know...

So after laying on the beach all day (only two hours) and starting to win my bet with David Cardenas (los Estados Unidos) I realized that I needed water....so I go rinse off in the shower which felt fantastic (it was warm) I headed down to Fernando (manager) to have Pilsner and ask for directions. Here's our conversation:

Me: Fernando, donde esta una tienda? Por que necessito agua y cerveza
where is the store? I need water and beer

Fernando: Ahhhh, you do speaka Spanish

Me: Si, un poco (a little)

Fernando: Thata way....(points to the left)

Me: Si, okay...y "want" comprar una bicicleta a manuana (and I want to buy a bike tomorrow)

Fernando: Porque?

Me: Por que no illeva un carro (Because I don't have a car)

Fernando: ahhhhhhh

Fernando goes and takes his seista and I head thata way....

Twenty minutes later, I arrive at the tienda and it's at least 90 degrees. This cute little old lady comes to the locked window and I proceed with my order.

Me: Necissito 4 bottelas de agua y 2 pilsner (I need four bottles of water and 2 beers)
Old Lady: Pico o grande
Me: Grande
Old Lady: 4????? No, esta mucho pesado per una mujer (4, that is to heavy for one girl)
Me: No problema, necissito 4 (it's not a problem, I need 4)
Old Lady: Ok, ok, ok (places my four gallons of water on the dusty street)

I guess I didn't think large was a gallon! So here I go walking down the long hot road with my four gallons of water and three liters of beer...so what if it's hot as hell outside...I have water!

I'm in the cafe on Ecuadorian standard time...which is, "whenever". Fernando is going to take me to Porto Lopez in a little bit to buy a bicycle to get around on and store at Caesar's house for the next time I come...

<--------- I've only been here 10 minutes and I already have guest in my tent....go ahead and make fun of my 75 lbs of luggage...but do you have the spray to combat this little bitting ants??

My first four friends in Ecuador..I picked them up in Guyaquil Ecuador...such a same I had to kill the with Nix!

My trip thus far…..

I have made it safely to my tent camp and per the suggestion of my trusty driver and tour guide (Sandy), I am way at the end of the “street”. It is four o’clock in the morning right now and I have awoken partly from all the cerveza from last night and the Malaria medicine. And….probably the mosquitoes! ( I put up the mosquito net after an entire day of “getting to know Ecuador”…and Pilsner) When the sun comes up, I will make my way to the kitchen where the internet is plentiful. I plan on finding a YouTube video on how to properly put up the net. I’m sure there is a disclaimer that says “drinking all day in the hot sun and then putting up the net to save you from Malaria infected mosquitoes is contraindicated!

I’m grateful that Sandy was the person to pick me up from Guayaquil and transport me to Ayampe. It’s normally a two and a half hour drive but we made it in three and a half. After stopping at the gas station, detours, no cell signal and a less than clean bathroom (thanks mom for the toilet paper, forming hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes) we made it here in one piece. Sandy can speak broken English and I can speak broken Spanish so together we were able to communicate the entire trip. I think I know her entire life story in English and in Spanish, however, my favorite sentence was when she told me “you no what I was expectin, I think I pick up mujer like me”. Guess she thought I would be wearing a bright colored beach dress with long hair. Instead, I show up for transport with 75 lbs of luggage, cargo shorts, t-shirt and a pair of keen sandals..

She introduced me to “el doctoro” who is some big political guy in these parts. He also owns a hotel kind of place. We drank some beer with his family and then he had one of his workers show me around the property. If I ever get married, I want to spend my honeymoon in the marriage suite. I’m sure his place is “mucho carro” but anyone that agrees to marry me should get the best despite any cost. He is distantly related to the author of Don Quiote and he named the place after the author.

Sandy took me all over the town as well as to Porto Lopez after she noticed she needed air in her tires. Woman in Ecuador, even in their 40’s, don’t change tires or put air in them! At the house of “el doctoro” two young men tried to change her tire but gave up after ten minutes of trying to figure out the jack…”Quantos hombres necissito para “change tire”…she thought it was funny!

I’ve met all of David’s cousins in a short time but I’ve spent most of my time with Sandy and Caesar. Caesar tried to sell me his house already, which isn’t such a bad idea. It’s close to the beach and the town and he built the entire house with his own hands…did I mention he is a sculptor/wood carver??? The entire house is filled with beautiful cabinets and a handmade hardwood floor…eat your heart out Home Depot!

After more Pilsner than I could count we headed to dinner at the hotel. I’ve been instructed to make a good impression on the cook. Of course, I’m not sure exactly what the hell I’ve been eating since I got here, I made sure than Sandy knew that “yo soy una hodia” which is Spanish for I am Jewish and “no puedo comeda churletta” (I can’t eat pork chops). I know I had octopussy (haha…octopus in broken English) and fried fish so far. I’ve eaten enough green plantains to begin to grow on a tree and I’ve fallen in love with this hot sauce here, Texas Pete has nothing on this stuff.

I will begin my research after a few days of practicing Spanish on the beach…I know, it’s such a hard life here in Ecuador. I’m in a tent camp within walking distance to the beach and I know where to buy beer.

In the words of Ida Mae with an Ecuadorian twist, “you can get beer when you can’t get a glass of milk”.

My flight(s) here…..

I remember when I booked my trip I thought that taking multiple airplanes to get here was a great idea partly due to my paranoia of a DVT (blood clot). However, after sitting next to this crazy weird man on the first leg that was rude to me when I had to go to the bathroom…I take my decision back! The six hour flight from Houston to Panama was for lack of better term, “interesting”…I was between a large Asian man who cleared his throat every three minutes (I counted) and three Hasidic children that thought it was mucho fun to play in the aisles of the plane….no rest here!!!!! I think at one point during the flight I had a vision of tying the children down by their own tzitzit!

Arriving in Panama was hot…the local temperature at 2000 was over 90F and humid! The airport was super confusing but I made it to my gate with three minutes to spare on a two hour layover…I arrived here in Ecuador around 2300 and headed to immigration…

My first encounter with the people of Ecuador was fantastic, even at customs. They make you go through immigration before you can get your bags from baggage claim. They kind of just let me through immigration when the officer realized that my Spanish sucks and I could only say “I am a graduate student from the United States, I will be here for four weeks and I am going to Ayampe”. I guess since it was the middle of “carnival” which judging by the people dressed in black paint and pelting the car with water balloons, is equivalent to American Halloween, he didn’t think it was strange that I was going to the beach….

As I approached security, which is nothing more than a man in a pair of shorts and flip flops, I didn’t have some paper that I was supposed to get on the airplane he said “no worry, have nice day”. Guess he didn’t think I needed to declare my Clorox wipes, water bottle, medicine and enough bug spray to deter any mosquito from dinning on my skin…

I made it to the hostel in Guayaquil around midnight or so…it was so beautiful on top of the mountain. My room was situated in the lower portion of the hostel and it had air conditioning…something that seems like a faint memory. The owner of the hostel was a nice woman who jumped at the chance to practice her English with me. When I had problems connecting to the internet she said “I have MAC, it work great”…so once again, I am contemplating buying a MAC…

Two things that I have learned so far….
Cash is king in Ecuador (thanks David for telling me to go and get some cash before I got here, the hostel in Guayaquil only takes “effectivo, no puedo payar con trajeta de credito”)…..only cash, you can’t pay with a debit card
Everyone is so nice, even the damn mosquitoes who want to give you Malaria