Today we woke up around 7 and left at 8 for our placements. Olivia and I went to the same hospital but different parts. She went to the physical therapy part and I went to the women's ward. It was like being in the nursing home last summer but I saw things that were 100 x worse. It didn't bother me too much because I had done some of my clinical hours for CNA school in some of the worst homes in the inner city and I'm glad I had that experience before I came here. However, not all was bad. The lady that I was pretty much shadowing was a nun as well as the head nurse and gave me a tour of the hospital introducing me to all of the doctors and supervisors. Then we sat down in the Nun's room with a cup of this like hot banana liquid. It sounds so nasty but it was delicious! We talked about lots of things, our family, our interests and medical things. It amazed me how she could just get up leave all of the patients whenever she felt like it. They didn't seem to be neglected, there were lots of nursing doing a very good job.
After our banana drink, we came back and folded some gauze. In America our cotton balls, gauze and basic materials come prepared for us. While we were folding, these nurses started making a big fuss about something and at first I thought something was terribly wrong and got worried. It ended up being the nun's birthday!! haha. We had fruit cake and Coke. It was tasty... yet I began to really notice that they didn't really seem to understand my position in the hospital yet and were clearly making fun of the la gringa (me, the foreigner). Finally sona antonio (head nurse and nun) described what I was doing there. She said I spoke enough spanish but they still continued to make fun of me and one said she wanted to learn english and I told her, "Puedo ensenarle!" which means, I can teach you. She proceeded to get up on a chair and act like a stripper. Really? Again? The stereotype of slutty Americans is pretty bad. I swear I'm not giving off a vibe. Khakis, blue conservative tee, and a SATCHEL worse than the fanny pack. Whatever. I hope to improve my spanish fast to be able to talk in big groups.
This afternoon we went to a museum that had different pieces from the mayan culture all the way back from 9,000 years ago! So many interesting things. The culture changed a lot after the Spanish conquered the Mayans by converting their religion. And by force. My favorite thing was the replica of TItlan with all of the pyramids and it showed how they were constructed. After the tour of the museum was over, we went to a station to make some of our own Mayan replicas out of clay. I felt like a kid that had been handed a wad of Playdough for the first time. I just used a template and molded it onto a square piece of clay and called it my art for the day. Good thing I wasn't a Mayan some thousands of years ago I would have been useless. haha.
Soccer was fun again today. I'm improving with my soccer as much as my Spanish! Henry taught me a way to pass by kicking it backwards. I still think I'm going to join a gym here because it rains a lot and I just need to run.
Olivia, Eric and I have decided to go to Lake Tikal for the weekend. That trip entails a 10 hour bus ride, staying in a cool hostel and climbing some Mayan temples. I'm looking very forward to that after a long week working hard in the the hospital. I hope everyone is doing well at home! Miss you all. xo Carolyn
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