Day 67

I spent the first two hours this morning in maternity, organizing and helping with paperwork. After I finished what I had started, I headed to the lab to help out there.

I started helping out in the lab a bit last week - one day, I just went and asked if they needed any help. They said they absolutely needed help (and it was very obvious, judging by the line-up out the door of patients waiting to have tests done, and by the 5 lab techs on shift...). Because I have lab experience, I understood how to use most all of the equipment, and the lab tech only had to teach me a few specifics of the different (older...) equipment. Within 20 minutes, I was doing glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol tests on over 50 blood plasma samples. Pretty neat stuff. They're all very simple procedures, and I felt very comfortable working in the lab. Although, take comfort in knowing that in Canada, you could NEVER just walk into a lab and handle human blood without extensive training...haha Only in Nicaragua.

I feel like I am a huge help in the lab - every extra set of hands increases the amount of testing they can do by that much more. I like this kind of work, because I can physically see the work that I am accomplishing. It's very satisfying to know that I can actually help in this way. I even was helping them figure out some of the specific operating instructions of certain equipment, because the instructions are only in English.

I've been spending the majority of the evening sorting things out here - uploading pictures and sorting through them. I've decided it's too big a job for right now, and it might be better suited for my 7 hour plane ride on Friday.

Day 64/65/66

Bitter-sweet weekend...my last in Nicaragua!

We left after work on Friday for Leon. I had already been to Leon in June, but it was where the new volunteers were headed this weekend, and there were many things I didn't have the chance to do while I was there the first time!

We had a relaxing Friday night exploring the city and enjoying some great live Spanish music. We woke early on Saturday morning to go "Volcano Boarding", which is basically sledding down a volcano over the volcanic ash. We hiked up the Cerro Negro Volcano (about an hour away from Leon). We checked out the craters and learned all about the volcano. After a "How to" tutorial and putting on our gear, we volcano boarded down the volcano! The slope is at a 43 degree angle, which is extremely steep. I clocked in at 35 km/h! Couldn't believe how fast I got going! It was an adventure and a half...and probably one of the most intense things I've ever done! The hike itself made the experience worthwhile - the views were just incredible!

We spent what was left of the day exploring the city. We sought out a well known Vegetarian restaurant for dinner, which was delicious. On our way back to the hostel, we encountered a horse in downtown Leon, holding up traffic. Apparently, locals will ride their horse to the bar, and the horse will find it's way home after. No drinking and riding! That's something I don't think I'll ever see in Canada...haha

We spent Sunday admiring the incredible churches. We spent a few hours at the beach, and then headed back to Jinotepe.

It's hard to believe that next weekend I'll be back in Canada. Actually, I can't believe it! The fact that I've been here over 9 weeks just blows my mind. Where did the time go!? As much as I've loved my time here in Nicaragua, I'm definitely feeling ready to come home.

Day 63

I spent the entire day today at the rural clinic. I had very different tasks from what I did last time - I was helping with sexual health education. More than half of the patients today had come from Canas Blancas and it's surrounding communities to receive birth control. All forms of birth control are completely funded by the Nicaraguan government. Typically, women under 25 receive a monthly injection of something called Norigynon, and women over that age receive Depoprovera every 3 months. They also use IUDs and oral contraceptives, although not nearly as commonly as the injections.

It was an extremely interesting day...a lot of thought-provoking experiences and conversations.

Day 62

Today was a slow day in Maternity, so I had the opportunity to visit the operating room! I saw a foot surgery and an appendix removal, both of which were pediatric surgeries! It was really interesting!

Day 61

So guess what? There were NO babies born at all yesterday. All day. It's the first day of the year that there haven't been any babies born! Crazy, eh?

To make up for the lack of babies yesterday, there were 4 births this morning! Busy, busy, busy! It's as if all of these moms were waiting for today, because they didn't want to miss out on yesterday's festivities!

Day 60

Today was a holiday - the independence day of the Carazo region! The public health clinic was closed, and even though I spent my morning at the hospital, you would think that was closed too! There was half the staff there usually are, and a third of the patients. For the first time yet, not ONE baby had been delivered yet today. Even if a baby is not born while I am on shift, there was surely a birth between midnight and 7:00am - not today! The other girls, all working in schools, had the day off completely!

The festivities have definitely continued on today - there have been fireworks all night, and the marching band has yet to lose momentum! Cindy, the volunteer who just arrived on Friday evening, thinks all people do here is party! Too funny...

Day 59

Hipica!

We enjoyed a traditional Nicaraguan breakfast this morning - nacatamales. It's basically a cornmeal-like dough, filled with chicken, pork, tomatoes, peppers, green onions, and spices, wrapped in plantain banana leaves. It's then steamed for several hours, giving it a super unique flavour. It definitely tastes like nothing else I've had before!

Despite the pouring rain, the town was full of festivities! Music and street performers were everywhere, as were people selling handcrafts, clothing, and food. The streets were packed with people! We were told they come from all across Nicaragua for this festival. Hipica is a grand horse parade. You would think it was the Calgary Stampede the way people were dressed! I wished I had brought my cowboy boots, hat, and my plaid shirt, because I certainly would have fit in better!

The parade was beautiful. The horses were traditionally groomed and tacked, and there was no doubt the riders were proud to be showing their horses! It was really something to see. And the entire town was full of life!

The festivities continued late into the night - it seemed like people of all ages were out to celebrate!