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!!!!