January 31, 2008
There are spiders in the microwave. I draw the line. There is something about webs and little crawly things in the food heater that just doesn’t appeal to me. I’ve become immune to the little ants that crawel over me and my keyboard as I’m typing, I’ve succumbed to cleaning up the detested termite alas de muerte (wings of death), and I’ve gotten used to sleeping on my sandpaper sheets. But, I will not clean arachnids from the microwave. Not that I can’t mind you, I just don’t want to and that’s that.
I feel like a mosquito is buzzing in my brain. It’s bouncing around in the dark and empty crevices of my cranium looking for a way out. But no, it’s just the helicopter about 50 ft from my head. I live across the street from Alas de Socorro (wings of mercy). These are the mission aviation flights that bring tribal members from deep in the jungle to the hospital. Usually the airport kick’s in about 7am in the morning and is active until about 7pm at night. For some reason they sound like they’re trying out a new engine at 10pm in the evening. And it’s not a quiet one. They’re not installing the whisper lite that’s for sure.
And now for the local news. The phone system is once again up and running and Carnivale is looming. This is basically a nationwide waterfight. For some reason they have a national holiday where the object is to get everyone wet. It had already started last week. When I was on the bus coming back from my weekend in Napo, we had a very large tub of water thrown at us. It managed to enter the bus at a midway window, projectile through the aisle, and land on me in the very last seat. Apparently another game is to throw oil at someone and then douse them with flour. A kind of tar and feather act. I even heard that some unlucky folks get urine dumped on them. So you see the Ecuadorians are creative. It sounds like any liquid substance is fair game.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Detritus and drawings
1/29/08
The termite wings are beginning to accumulate again. In the morning I see their wormy bodies writhing in the last throws of death before becoming prostrate carcasses on my kitchen sink. In the agony of death they must let loose of their flying appendages which then scatter in irradescent hues across the counter tops. I am loath to clean up the nasty detritus. I’ll have to find a vacuum I think.
With my artistic skills in full swing now, the plans for the clinic are almost complete. Today I finished up overhead views to scale including all interior and exterior walls and doorways. I’ve completed side views with a 1:4 roof ratio and front and back views with the windows and doors included. Next I hop on the electrician band wagon and will be designating all outlets, circuit breakers, light switches, and lighting units into my plans. No, I’ve never done any of this before, but Arthur the hospital administrator gave me some paper with boxes on it, his ruler, and his really good erasure, and I’ve given it my best shot.
News of note: The entire phone system is down from 1 to 2 days to 2 weeks secondary to being completely fried in the last electrical storm. (Refer to close encounters of the lightening kind on 1/28/08)
The termite wings are beginning to accumulate again. In the morning I see their wormy bodies writhing in the last throws of death before becoming prostrate carcasses on my kitchen sink. In the agony of death they must let loose of their flying appendages which then scatter in irradescent hues across the counter tops. I am loath to clean up the nasty detritus. I’ll have to find a vacuum I think.
With my artistic skills in full swing now, the plans for the clinic are almost complete. Today I finished up overhead views to scale including all interior and exterior walls and doorways. I’ve completed side views with a 1:4 roof ratio and front and back views with the windows and doors included. Next I hop on the electrician band wagon and will be designating all outlets, circuit breakers, light switches, and lighting units into my plans. No, I’ve never done any of this before, but Arthur the hospital administrator gave me some paper with boxes on it, his ruler, and his really good erasure, and I’ve given it my best shot.
News of note: The entire phone system is down from 1 to 2 days to 2 weeks secondary to being completely fried in the last electrical storm. (Refer to close encounters of the lightening kind on 1/28/08)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Butterflies, rats, and snakes
1/27/08
I’m tired. Rode out to La Casa del Suiza (The Swiss House) in the Napo province yesterday and back today. Suffered through the infamous bonejarring journey over unpaved and pot-holed roads. When we did have paved roads they seem to have gone crazy on speed-bumps which just adds a ramp of sorts for the bus to launch off of. My but-cheeks are actually sore from clenching too much in an effort to stay in the seat and not be vaulted down the center aisle!
It was a short but beautiful trip. To get to the resort they took you in a motorized canoe about 15 minutes downriver from the “ferry landing”. The resort was on top of a bluff overlooking the Napo river with beautiful views of the surrounding jungle. Plenty of hammocks around to while away the hours and we went to a butterfly farm and jungle animal rehabilitation zoo as well.
1/28/08
Last night was close encounters of the lightening kind. For two hours I feared for my life through the most intense thunder/lightening storm I have ever witnessed. For two solid hours there was thunder and lightening about every 5 seconds. It was within 1 to 6 miles away this entire time (I know this because I was counting; one, one thousand KABOOM, one, KABOOM, one one KABOOM) I was afraid I was going to be electrocuted through my fishbowel windows and just fried up like eggs in the microwave.
Ate dinner with the HCJB school principal for the missionary kids. Margie and her husband are on the search for a rat trap. They have a large rat in their attic whose eating there bananas when they’re away. The last one her husband caught he gave to his pet boa who mistook him for the rat and bit his hand and then coiled around his arm and tried to squeeze the life out of him. He showed me the bite scars on the web of his left hand to prove it. Hmmm, think it may be time to get rid of that boa too….
I’m tired. Rode out to La Casa del Suiza (The Swiss House) in the Napo province yesterday and back today. Suffered through the infamous bonejarring journey over unpaved and pot-holed roads. When we did have paved roads they seem to have gone crazy on speed-bumps which just adds a ramp of sorts for the bus to launch off of. My but-cheeks are actually sore from clenching too much in an effort to stay in the seat and not be vaulted down the center aisle!
It was a short but beautiful trip. To get to the resort they took you in a motorized canoe about 15 minutes downriver from the “ferry landing”. The resort was on top of a bluff overlooking the Napo river with beautiful views of the surrounding jungle. Plenty of hammocks around to while away the hours and we went to a butterfly farm and jungle animal rehabilitation zoo as well.
1/28/08
Last night was close encounters of the lightening kind. For two hours I feared for my life through the most intense thunder/lightening storm I have ever witnessed. For two solid hours there was thunder and lightening about every 5 seconds. It was within 1 to 6 miles away this entire time (I know this because I was counting; one, one thousand KABOOM, one, KABOOM, one one KABOOM) I was afraid I was going to be electrocuted through my fishbowel windows and just fried up like eggs in the microwave.
Ate dinner with the HCJB school principal for the missionary kids. Margie and her husband are on the search for a rat trap. They have a large rat in their attic whose eating there bananas when they’re away. The last one her husband caught he gave to his pet boa who mistook him for the rat and bit his hand and then coiled around his arm and tried to squeeze the life out of him. He showed me the bite scars on the web of his left hand to prove it. Hmmm, think it may be time to get rid of that boa too….
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday night
1/25/08
It’s Friday night in Shell. Let me tell you about Friday night in Shell. I did the wash. I watched 4 episodes of Seinfeld from a DVD set a missionary loaned me. I watched the bugs on my window.
It’s Friday night in Shell. Let me tell you about Friday night in Shell. I did the wash. I watched 4 episodes of Seinfeld from a DVD set a missionary loaned me. I watched the bugs on my window.
Friday, January 25, 2008
belly buttons and such
1/24/08
I have two more annoying bus driver habits to add to my previous list. One is looking down at your cell phone to dial while going around a blind corner (with the aforementioned 1,000 ft drop off and no barrier), and two is changing drivers while the bus is moving. The bus driver actually stood up, stepped to the side, and then waited for the other driver to slide into the seat while the bus was cruising along driverless at about 40 mph. Not only that but the two bafoons congratulated themselves with cheeky grins when the maneuver was finished as if they couldn’t believe they had done it themselves!
I also have my favorite church name: La Iglesia de la Senora Terremoto. Basically the Blessed Church of the Lady Earthquake.
Joined Denise for a trip out of town to check out some locations for a future retreat. We passed through Banos again, but the volcano was still obscured by fog and smoke. Locals report that she’s blowing more ash and that they can see fire coming from her mouth at night.
This evening I joined a group called “Spotlight”. This is a program put on by HCJB to help people learn to speak English. They play an audio CD with someone speaking v e r y s l o w l y on a certain topic and then discuss it in English. Tonight’s topic was all about belly-buttons. Try to explain the difference between an “innie” and an “outie” in English. Who thinks up these topics anyways??
I have two more annoying bus driver habits to add to my previous list. One is looking down at your cell phone to dial while going around a blind corner (with the aforementioned 1,000 ft drop off and no barrier), and two is changing drivers while the bus is moving. The bus driver actually stood up, stepped to the side, and then waited for the other driver to slide into the seat while the bus was cruising along driverless at about 40 mph. Not only that but the two bafoons congratulated themselves with cheeky grins when the maneuver was finished as if they couldn’t believe they had done it themselves!
I also have my favorite church name: La Iglesia de la Senora Terremoto. Basically the Blessed Church of the Lady Earthquake.
Joined Denise for a trip out of town to check out some locations for a future retreat. We passed through Banos again, but the volcano was still obscured by fog and smoke. Locals report that she’s blowing more ash and that they can see fire coming from her mouth at night.
This evening I joined a group called “Spotlight”. This is a program put on by HCJB to help people learn to speak English. They play an audio CD with someone speaking v e r y s l o w l y on a certain topic and then discuss it in English. Tonight’s topic was all about belly-buttons. Try to explain the difference between an “innie” and an “outie” in English. Who thinks up these topics anyways??
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
La Selva
1/23/08
I actually jumped at my own shadow tonight. I saw it coming out of a door in the night and it looked like a big scary person. That was right after I jumped because I heard someone else following me on the bridge and then realized it was just me. I tell you this jungle can play tricks with your mind. Tonight the moon is full and blood red with dark cloud trails floating by. I crossed the 50 ft high suspension bridge in the dark which is still unnerving in the daylight. I haven’t quite gotten the knack of timing my steps correctly so I don’t get bounced all over the place. Never the less, it is still my favorite part of the trip to and from the hospital. You feel as if you are in the heart of the deep jungle. There are birds calling, frogs chirping, and the rush of waters effervescing below. The vines hang from the top of the jungle canopy and stretch in Tarzan like cords to the river below.
This morning I got to help one of the maintenance guys get his tractor unstuck. As I was walking to work he called me urgently, “venga, venga”, and motioned for me to come help. I was instructed to stand on a long pipe he had placed over the fulcrum of a rotted stump to help lever the tractors wheels up. I stood there on the pipe while he placed various wooden planks and implements to give the wheels purchase. We gave the tractor a mighty heave and the mud was forced to relinquish its victim. Then I was on my way again. A bit different from my previous commute, but all in a day’s work in the Amazon.
I actually jumped at my own shadow tonight. I saw it coming out of a door in the night and it looked like a big scary person. That was right after I jumped because I heard someone else following me on the bridge and then realized it was just me. I tell you this jungle can play tricks with your mind. Tonight the moon is full and blood red with dark cloud trails floating by. I crossed the 50 ft high suspension bridge in the dark which is still unnerving in the daylight. I haven’t quite gotten the knack of timing my steps correctly so I don’t get bounced all over the place. Never the less, it is still my favorite part of the trip to and from the hospital. You feel as if you are in the heart of the deep jungle. There are birds calling, frogs chirping, and the rush of waters effervescing below. The vines hang from the top of the jungle canopy and stretch in Tarzan like cords to the river below.
This morning I got to help one of the maintenance guys get his tractor unstuck. As I was walking to work he called me urgently, “venga, venga”, and motioned for me to come help. I was instructed to stand on a long pipe he had placed over the fulcrum of a rotted stump to help lever the tractors wheels up. I stood there on the pipe while he placed various wooden planks and implements to give the wheels purchase. We gave the tractor a mighty heave and the mud was forced to relinquish its victim. Then I was on my way again. A bit different from my previous commute, but all in a day’s work in the Amazon.
La Clinica
1/22/08
The site for the new Hospital Vozandes del Oriente clinica terapia fisico will be to the south side of the laundry facilities. I decided this after pacing to various proposed sites through out the hospital and weighing pros and cons of: distance to front door, distance to toilets, not blocking windows, room for expansion, least disruption with construction, located within hospital secure zone, proximity to inpatient wing, and the all important proximity to the caja (cashier). I discounted the site offered next door to the morgue for obvious reasons. (On an aside, Denise the radiologist is on the search for bodybags. Apparently there is a country wide shortage. In the meantime they are going to use large sheets of plastic. If you have any leads let me know). I also took a census of the hospital staff and all were in favor. So now the hospital administrator would like me to complete some drawings to scale with all the proposed equipment accounted for. I’ll let you know how it goes. My drafting skills are a little rusty. Actually, I forgot, I never took any drafting classes. Oh well.
The site for the new Hospital Vozandes del Oriente clinica terapia fisico will be to the south side of the laundry facilities. I decided this after pacing to various proposed sites through out the hospital and weighing pros and cons of: distance to front door, distance to toilets, not blocking windows, room for expansion, least disruption with construction, located within hospital secure zone, proximity to inpatient wing, and the all important proximity to the caja (cashier). I discounted the site offered next door to the morgue for obvious reasons. (On an aside, Denise the radiologist is on the search for bodybags. Apparently there is a country wide shortage. In the meantime they are going to use large sheets of plastic. If you have any leads let me know). I also took a census of the hospital staff and all were in favor. So now the hospital administrator would like me to complete some drawings to scale with all the proposed equipment accounted for. I’ll let you know how it goes. My drafting skills are a little rusty. Actually, I forgot, I never took any drafting classes. Oh well.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
First day in Shell
1/21/08
At 5pm this morning the local military base decided to practice it’s marching song and send off fire-works. That’s OK, I wasn’t sleeping anyways as my sheets felt like sandpiper and the bug bites were itching. No mosquitos though, just bugs you can’t see that bite you.
Today was mainly a housekeeping day. Got the internet set up (Yeah!), gas water heater lit, leaky pipe fixed, and phone cleared for outside lines. I also ventured out for a little shopping for food supplies. I passed on the card table butcher shops with their sides of beef hanging in the wind and opted for the veggie stands. Met with the Hospital administrator and we discussed the clinic plans and viewed possible building sites. The administrator is returning to the states in July and fully intends to have this clinic up and running by then.
At 5pm this morning the local military base decided to practice it’s marching song and send off fire-works. That’s OK, I wasn’t sleeping anyways as my sheets felt like sandpiper and the bug bites were itching. No mosquitos though, just bugs you can’t see that bite you.
Today was mainly a housekeeping day. Got the internet set up (Yeah!), gas water heater lit, leaky pipe fixed, and phone cleared for outside lines. I also ventured out for a little shopping for food supplies. I passed on the card table butcher shops with their sides of beef hanging in the wind and opted for the veggie stands. Met with the Hospital administrator and we discussed the clinic plans and viewed possible building sites. The administrator is returning to the states in July and fully intends to have this clinic up and running by then.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Quito to Shell
1/20/08
Imagine crossing the center line of a one lane highway in a bus while passing two trucks, around a corner with a 1,000ft drop visible from your window going downhill at 60 miles an hour and you would get the gist of the drive down the panamerican hwy towards Shell. And of course the ride started with my host declaring, “Just to let you know there was a really bad accident in Rio Verde yesterday when a bus flipped over and 6 people were killed.” Rio Verde being on the same bus route we were taking. Couple that with passing through smoking volcano territory and I think it classifies as a mini adventure. My friend John Finlay always used to say, “It’s not an adventure until you don’t know if you’re going to make it.” Well the volcano didn’t blow and the bus didn’t flip so I guess it came out OK in the end.
My spacious apartment is right above the Nat Saint Memmorial School and is part of the “Historical district” as far as the mission is concerned. I am in one of the original buildings and living in the previous teachers home. It has hard wood floors, windows all around, and two bedrooms. So not only does it have fish-bowel views, but it has an extra room for guests as well! My living area and smaller bedroom have a view of the airport and runway, my dining area and kitchen have a view of the back of the school, and my bedroom has a view of the basketball court. Did I mention I had an extra room for guests?
Though Shell has two main streets (one being the Pan American hwy), I’d have to classify it as a one horse town. Maybe two ponies, or one very big llama if you pushed it. Not very much here at all. Did I say it was small? There are a couple ladies from the mission that actually, no joke, walk the runway every morning at 5am before the planes start flying,. And to think I was jesting when I said I’d run up and down the runway for exercise! It’s about a 10 minute walk to the hospital from where I am living. To get there you have to cross a very narrow and quite long suspension bridge. There was some big black bird with white wing tips hanging out under the bridge. I was wondering if it was a condor. Anyone want to look it up for me? Some crazy bright red butterflies, loads of birds, orchids, and wild ginger about. It smells like Hawaii and has already rained 3 times since I got here.
Imagine crossing the center line of a one lane highway in a bus while passing two trucks, around a corner with a 1,000ft drop visible from your window going downhill at 60 miles an hour and you would get the gist of the drive down the panamerican hwy towards Shell. And of course the ride started with my host declaring, “Just to let you know there was a really bad accident in Rio Verde yesterday when a bus flipped over and 6 people were killed.” Rio Verde being on the same bus route we were taking. Couple that with passing through smoking volcano territory and I think it classifies as a mini adventure. My friend John Finlay always used to say, “It’s not an adventure until you don’t know if you’re going to make it.” Well the volcano didn’t blow and the bus didn’t flip so I guess it came out OK in the end.
My spacious apartment is right above the Nat Saint Memmorial School and is part of the “Historical district” as far as the mission is concerned. I am in one of the original buildings and living in the previous teachers home. It has hard wood floors, windows all around, and two bedrooms. So not only does it have fish-bowel views, but it has an extra room for guests as well! My living area and smaller bedroom have a view of the airport and runway, my dining area and kitchen have a view of the back of the school, and my bedroom has a view of the basketball court. Did I mention I had an extra room for guests?
Though Shell has two main streets (one being the Pan American hwy), I’d have to classify it as a one horse town. Maybe two ponies, or one very big llama if you pushed it. Not very much here at all. Did I say it was small? There are a couple ladies from the mission that actually, no joke, walk the runway every morning at 5am before the planes start flying,. And to think I was jesting when I said I’d run up and down the runway for exercise! It’s about a 10 minute walk to the hospital from where I am living. To get there you have to cross a very narrow and quite long suspension bridge. There was some big black bird with white wing tips hanging out under the bridge. I was wondering if it was a condor. Anyone want to look it up for me? Some crazy bright red butterflies, loads of birds, orchids, and wild ginger about. It smells like Hawaii and has already rained 3 times since I got here.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Last day in Quito
1/19/08
“Oy, I’ve done it again!” That has become my habitual morning expression after I’ve just realized I’ve used tap water to brush my teeth and not the filtered water sitting in the bottle to the left of the sink. Usually by evening it sinks in and then we start all over again in the morning. I can feel the Ecuadorian parasites coursing through my body at this very moment.
Traveled down to the new town by bus with the Austrailian physio Serene to check out prices for Galapagos tours. Looks like they range from $1,000 to $1,700 to travel aboard a boat or yacht with from 12 to 16 people for 8 days Tourist Superior class. This would include all airfare roundtrip from Quito to the islands, all meals, the guide, and in most cases snorkeling equipment. There is plenty of room, but it should be booked about 4 months in advance.
I leave for Shell tomorrow at 9:15am by bus for the 5 to 6 hr journey from Quito. I am traveling with Denise and two Swedish women who will be working there as well. We will be passing through Banos where the cranky volcan Tungarahua is so I’ll try to get some shots of spewing volcanic debris. To appease you in the meantime you can check out www.lgepn.edu.ec for the most recent photos of tungarahua, other volcanoes in Ecuador, and the rest of the world.
“Oy, I’ve done it again!” That has become my habitual morning expression after I’ve just realized I’ve used tap water to brush my teeth and not the filtered water sitting in the bottle to the left of the sink. Usually by evening it sinks in and then we start all over again in the morning. I can feel the Ecuadorian parasites coursing through my body at this very moment.
Traveled down to the new town by bus with the Austrailian physio Serene to check out prices for Galapagos tours. Looks like they range from $1,000 to $1,700 to travel aboard a boat or yacht with from 12 to 16 people for 8 days Tourist Superior class. This would include all airfare roundtrip from Quito to the islands, all meals, the guide, and in most cases snorkeling equipment. There is plenty of room, but it should be booked about 4 months in advance.
I leave for Shell tomorrow at 9:15am by bus for the 5 to 6 hr journey from Quito. I am traveling with Denise and two Swedish women who will be working there as well. We will be passing through Banos where the cranky volcan Tungarahua is so I’ll try to get some shots of spewing volcanic debris. To appease you in the meantime you can check out www.lgepn.edu.ec for the most recent photos of tungarahua, other volcanoes in Ecuador, and the rest of the world.
First two days...
1/17/08
The venting, firey, smoking volcano I was hoping to see, could never have been spotted through the thick clouds that barred all vistas of the country as I traveled south from Costa Rica to Ecuador on Taca flight 66661. I remember thinking I had never seen clouds so dense, it looked like you could scoop ice-cream out of them or make snow balls, they were so firmly shaped and packed together. I was thankful however that the flight number didn’t have one less 6 and 1 as that would have been a bit ominous.
All in all, though a very long flight, it went quite smoothly. I was superbly jealous of the man sleeping across three seats on the L.A. to Costa Rica leg, but was able to claim three for myself on the Costa Rica to Quito segment. Once I disembarked I sped through immigration and customs, picked up my bags and met Nancy from HCJB at the airport exit in about 15 minutes flat. Nancy hailed a taxi and deposited me at the guest house. I had arrived in Quito!
The shower beckoned and I waited about 10 minutes for the hot water to kick in before I realized that it was probably regulated to the morning and evening hours. So no hot water, but I do have a very nice room with two queen size beds should anyone like to visit. :)
1/18/08
I expected memories of Ecuador to come flooding back the moment I arrived in Quito, but it has not been so. I feels as though I was here in a dream once, but it it is all murky and foggy and doesn’t quite feel real. I achieved my hot shower this morning, and a very nice one at that. I actually had to put the heat and the electric blanket on last night so it is not too toasty here at 9,300 ft at the equator. Another visitor from Oregon keeps asking me if I can feel the altitude and seems mystified when I answer no. She has been drinking a special tea to help with the altitude and reports her breathing feels strained.
I had my first almuerzo menu today. This is the set menu for lunch offered all over Ecuador. Lunch is typically the main meal. I had sopa de pollo (chicken soup) complete with noodles and neck vertebrae, jugo de marancuya (passionfruit juice), arroz con bistek (rice with beef), and a beet root salad (don’t know the Spanish for that). I ate this all back at the guesthouse while I listened to the house-keeper describe how she eats patas de pollo (chicken feet) which are supposedly very high in Calcium. She makes sure her new grand-daughter gets chicken feet soup to make her strong. Umm....that’s interesting.
Tonight I have been invited to dinner with Denise, a radiologist with whom I will travel to Shell on Sunday. This afternoon I will meet with the Austrailian physio who is currently working at the hospital in Quito to exchange ideas for the clinic in Shell.
The venting, firey, smoking volcano I was hoping to see, could never have been spotted through the thick clouds that barred all vistas of the country as I traveled south from Costa Rica to Ecuador on Taca flight 66661. I remember thinking I had never seen clouds so dense, it looked like you could scoop ice-cream out of them or make snow balls, they were so firmly shaped and packed together. I was thankful however that the flight number didn’t have one less 6 and 1 as that would have been a bit ominous.
All in all, though a very long flight, it went quite smoothly. I was superbly jealous of the man sleeping across three seats on the L.A. to Costa Rica leg, but was able to claim three for myself on the Costa Rica to Quito segment. Once I disembarked I sped through immigration and customs, picked up my bags and met Nancy from HCJB at the airport exit in about 15 minutes flat. Nancy hailed a taxi and deposited me at the guest house. I had arrived in Quito!
The shower beckoned and I waited about 10 minutes for the hot water to kick in before I realized that it was probably regulated to the morning and evening hours. So no hot water, but I do have a very nice room with two queen size beds should anyone like to visit. :)
1/18/08
I expected memories of Ecuador to come flooding back the moment I arrived in Quito, but it has not been so. I feels as though I was here in a dream once, but it it is all murky and foggy and doesn’t quite feel real. I achieved my hot shower this morning, and a very nice one at that. I actually had to put the heat and the electric blanket on last night so it is not too toasty here at 9,300 ft at the equator. Another visitor from Oregon keeps asking me if I can feel the altitude and seems mystified when I answer no. She has been drinking a special tea to help with the altitude and reports her breathing feels strained.
I had my first almuerzo menu today. This is the set menu for lunch offered all over Ecuador. Lunch is typically the main meal. I had sopa de pollo (chicken soup) complete with noodles and neck vertebrae, jugo de marancuya (passionfruit juice), arroz con bistek (rice with beef), and a beet root salad (don’t know the Spanish for that). I ate this all back at the guesthouse while I listened to the house-keeper describe how she eats patas de pollo (chicken feet) which are supposedly very high in Calcium. She makes sure her new grand-daughter gets chicken feet soup to make her strong. Umm....that’s interesting.
Tonight I have been invited to dinner with Denise, a radiologist with whom I will travel to Shell on Sunday. This afternoon I will meet with the Austrailian physio who is currently working at the hospital in Quito to exchange ideas for the clinic in Shell.
Monday, January 14, 2008
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