At 3:30 Wong (a major supermarket here) was hosting a parade for Las Fiestas Patrias (the holiday is not actually until July 28th). The park was absolutely packed and as we tried to move down Larco avenue towards a clearer spot, we were elbowed and stepped on and pushed by all of the people squished very closely to us. We decided to go away from the main road a block and walk towards Larcomar. Eventually we ran into the start of the parade and were able to watch it fairly peacefully form there. Patty joined us and after trying to stand for an hour, we decided to walk to Larcomar for more waffles. As it turns out, the parade lasts a total of 5 hours and consists mostly of advertising floats for various Wong products. Not so worthwhile. As the afternoon progresses, I got crabbier and crabbier until I decided it was best to leave and grab a quick dinner with Fernando before heading home.
Monday, I can't remember what I did at the clinic. At some point, I went with Rosario and the Obstetrician to the college to do more depression screenings and height/weight check-ups but I think that was last Tuesday. Oh well, it was either that or sit in on more psychology sessions with Rosario. Tuesday, Rosario had a meeting so the Obstetrician and I went to the school to do more height/weight measurements. Beforehand, they weren't very clear with their plans and kept telling me to just wait a few minutes while they went to another hospital. I ended up waiting in Admissions, chatting with Oscar, for an hour and a half until Patty showed up and asked me what was going on. I told her that as far as I knew, the two were just supposed to be gone for a bit and then we were going to go. After asking around for a while, Patty found out that Rosario was not coming back and I was just going with the Obst. That was fine and the two of us went. The Obst. unfortunately speaks with marbles in her mouth so it is very difficult to understand her. I hate to ask her to repeat herself because every time I do she decides that it isn't my understanding but rather my hearing that is lacking and consequently yells the same phrase in the same quick, garbled way at me but loudly.
She and I had a seemingly complex conversation about sexual education in Peru and why changes aren't being made to prevent so many 16-18 year olds from having kids. It seems that there is no regulation on the information provided to students and if a doctor doesn't come in to present it, then a teacher may volunteer to do his or her best job at telling the kids not to have sex. This system obviously isn't working well and I think having a little old lady come in to talk about it isn't very influential either. I think there comes a point when the community needs to decide to own up to the fact that lots of kids aren't acting as catholic as they theoretically ought to and therefore should get some good information about preventing pregnancy. I've seen so many girls under the age of 20 coming into the clinic with their second or third pregnancy and a scabby, unhealthy-looking child tagging along behind. The system sucks and it would be good if people could just say it and then try and fix it.
When I asked the Obst. why she thought so many kids were pregnant, she said that often the parents both work and there isn't enough supervision in the homes. I think that's probably a valid reason, but one that can't really be changed. What can be done is to teach and encourage parents to talk with their children about sex and responsibility and family values as well as provide confidential resources for contraceptives. There is also a lot of neglect and familial violence in this area which can't possibly encourage kids to feel good about themselves and build enough self-esteem to refuse persuasive situations. Bah. That's my rant for the day. Maybe someday I can come back and help remedy this situation
Oops, wrong, here is my second (personal) rant: Also, I decided that I don't like the Obstetrician because she was gossiping with the other volunteers about how my Spanish isn't very good and that I used my phone while at the school (a received call about an immediate travel issue). None of the volunteers can understand her much so I think perhaps she is the one who doesn't speak Spanish well. I did feel a bit wounded though, like, I'm trying hard and I did have a lengthy conversation with her about a fairly complicated matter. It just makes me that much more self-conscious about my speaking abilities and I think perhaps in the future if someone said that I would rather not know. It's frustrating too because as far as I know, I've been helpful to her while at the school and it doesn't seem so polite to insult me to others after doing a favor. If she'd rather I didn't come, then she ought to tell me that and not jab at me. Whatever, I've just decided to tell myself that she's angry because she's so short and needs my help to measure any of the students who are over 5 feet tall.
In the afternoon I went to the school and again worked with Paula for a bit. Today, one of the students who had been sick last week finally came in and I was so, so happy because he was amazingly cute. It was a little boy with Down's Syndrome and he didn't say much, but yelled his own version of "este" while pointing at little decorations hanging from the ceiling. Also, whenever anyone came in, he would point at all the people in the room until everyone had a greeting kiss with everyone else. It reminded me of how Tovah points out who hasn't clinked glasses with whom during a dinnertime Salud. There is also a little girl with mild cerebral palsy who melts my heart with her smiles and blown kisses. I think I'll come home with 20 students in tow. After, I went to a classroom for 10 year olds and it was a refreshing change from last week (I forgot to mention before, but last Thursday I was in a class of twelve 14 year-olds for a while and the teacher looked horribly burnt out and was really harsh-seeming with some of the kids; it was a surprising and negative experience). This teacher was always smiling and she played music and some of the students and I danced and had a great afternoon. I can't imagine having to teach a class of 8 or 12 students with very different disabilities who are very different levels. Perhaps teaching is too much of a stretch and it really is about controlling the class. It's not really fair to the kids though who aren't given enough individualized attention, but this is still one of the best schools for students with disabilities.
Today (a miracle, I'm writing about the same day!), Rosario was not in her office so I spent half an hour writing down patient information in the nurses' office and then another 2.5 hours folding gauze into neat squares so that the frayed edges don't stick out. I should be very good at that now too. I can't decide if I prefer the menial tasks because at least then I'm helping or if I feel like I'm wasting my time. Both, I guess.
This evening, Annie, Danielle, Sam, and I tried to go to a park in Lima Centro that has a beautiful fountain and light show. Unfortunately, they are closed this week and Annie didn't get to see it before she left. She did invite us back to her house though to partake in some of her celebratory goodbye cake from the hospital. It's sad seeing one of our three musketeers leave, but I suppose it's time that Danielle and I try to meet up with the other volunteers too.
Sorry about the long delays between posts. I haven't had much free time at home (which is generally a great thing). I have a special-topic next post so stay tuned for the excitement!
