The Project, the strike

Origionally when I wascomming here I was told that I would probably be spending most of my time preparing materials and doing statistical work for a public health education project. In fact, although I will be spending some time doing that, most of my time will be preparing stool samples for lab tests (which 98% of the cases show evidence of one of many types of paracites) and testing children for anemia. I was pretty excited today to meet the nurse that works with us on the pojects (who´s name has escaped me - I have met so many people in such a short period of time). She is patient and sweet and so talented at what she does. Her mother tongue is spanish, I believe, but she also speaks quechua and some english. She demonstrated how to do a papsmere (called a papanicalao in spanish) which looks very painful, but the way. This is something that we may o may no be doing later on. She also taught us about STD´S, sexual and woman´s health. The poject itself focuses on the health of woman and children, and hopes to empower and educate woman to make their own independent decisions ( in particular surrounding sexual health) and to take charge of their own and thier childrens health care needs. This of course, is a long term goal and will take perhaps take a decade or more to come to fruition.

Later in the day I had my first spanish class - sooo refreshing as it was at my curent level of spanish - very basic. My spanish maestro is Chris - a lady who has been teaching for 11 years and is Brazilian.

I also got some really good information on the political situation here from Havier, who spoke to all of the different teams rom ProPeu after we ated dinner together. He also hlped me break into my really stupid locked gate so that I could go home and sleep in my bed! At the moment there is a teacher´s strike, which is affecting the entire country, and has even gotten the Venezuelan Presdent involved. It is all pretty complicated, and is roted in a lack of regulations for teacher qualfications as well as party politics and factions, regonal indepndence, ect. What has resulted is a stop in the the transpotation system as well as in education. The protesters have blockaded not just one road, but practically every road, a least in the povence of Cuzco so you cannot safely go from one town or city to another. There has been a concerted effort among people from various groups to suppot this. Me Jefe (my boss) Edy left Urubamba last nignt at about 10 pm and did not get home to neighbouring Calca (it´s normally about a half hour drive away) until 1:30am, and had to go home on a potato truck.

So, this is affecting the projects being carried out at ProPeru just ´cause we can´t work with the schools or go out to other communities.