Last Weekend (and Monday) in Cuenca

Hola!

After another busy week we had a great weekend with absolutely beautiful weather! On Saturday, we went hiking at El Cajas National Park which was amazing. It was definitely one of my favorite places so far. We had all been fitted for rubber boots because it can be wet and muddy, and were warned that people have gotten stuck in mud up past their waist! Luckily, we had a beautiful, sunny day with no rain, so we didn´t have any problems! There were a lot of great views of mountains and glacier lakes, as well as an amazing forest full of ¨snarly¨ trees that made you feel like you were in a scene from a movie. Pictures definitely don´t do it justice! We also learned a lot along the way about plants and flowers that can be used as natural medical remedies. After the hike we stopped and ate lunch overlooking one of the lakes, before heading back to Cuenca.

We got back to Cuenca with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the afternoon! Some of us went to Parque de Calderon  for ice cream, and then went to explore Parque Paraiso which was down by the river. It was a great place to just sit and enjoy the sun before we have to go back to winter weather!

Sunday was another gorgeous, sunny day! We went to Ingapirca with a couple stops along the way. The first stop was at a church up in a mountain and it had spectacular views of the city! Even though we had to climb 147 stairs to get to the top, it was worth it! We then stopped in a small town at a market with a lot of fruits and vegetables. It all looked so good and the prices were so much cheaper than what we´re used to in the states! In Ingapirca we toured the Incan ruins and it was interesting to learn about why they built in certain places and how everything had a specific meaning and purpose. Again, there were amazing views and a lot of great photo opportunities!

Today, we had our last Survival Spanish class with Bea. It was great to as a class just be able to talk about how much we´ve learned in the short time we´ve been here. Later in the morning we went to Stephen Hawkings for our last visit. We were able to spend time playing with the kids and then we helped them make a craft, which they then gave to each of us. It was so sweet to see them get so excited about being able to make something for us. We then got to sit in a circle with them and sing songs and play instruments. We took turns singing English and Spanish songs and we all had a lot of fun! Afterwards, we were able to spend some time with the director of the facility and give her the toys and cane we had bought for the facility. She was so excited and grateful for everything. It was really sad to say goodbye to the kids since we all had so much fun with them. Overall, spending time at Stephen Hawkings was a great experience. We learned so much from being able to work not only with the kids, but especially with all of the wonderful teachers and therapists there.

After that we had the rest of the day free, so some of us took the opportunity to do some more shopping of course! I can´t believe we only have 3 days left in Cuenca, it has gone by way too fast!

-Kiley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Our last Friday in Cuenca

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone is enjoying the blog. It will be great for me, personally, to remember what we did each day.

We started out the morning in Survival Spanish, for most of us anyway. Today we learned clothing vocabulary and then described pictures of people in magazines. Bea is a great teacher because she has us engaged in what we are learning by doing a lot of talking and listening to one another in the class.

After Spanish, we again met as an OT class to discuss what we´ve been doing and our reactions to the public hospital. I still cannot believe that they only had one OT for the entire, crowded hospital.  It will really make me think twice about having a heavy work load in my future as an OT.

After class, we headed off to the Steven Hawking school for children with disabilities. Fridays are a bit different because the kids aren´t there. It is a day for the staff to meet and discuss treatment and progress of the children. We sat in on their meeting today.  Instead of talking about the children, though, today we discussed what we wanted to do with our “$30 projects.”

Just to be sure everyone knows what I am talking about, I will give a brief description of this project.  Each SAU OT student was given $30 from our fees and from money from various student groups on campus. This $30 is to be used by the OT student to either buy supplies or have equipment made to give to any of the sites we visit during our trip.  These supplies or equipment will be given as a donation to the sites to be used in therapy.

So, today in our meeting with the school staff we discussed how they could best use our money and our donations.  In addition, we had a conversation about how education and therapy for students with disabilities is different and similar in the U.S. and Ecuador.  It was very interesting and I think we can all agree that both parties learned a ton from each other during this short time working together.

The meeting was interesting in another way because for about the first hour we did not have our translator. However, is was a good opportunity for us to practice our spanish and for them to practice their english as well. Luckily our coordinator and translator, Peter, eventually came to our rescue! Thank goodness!

After leaving Steven Hawking School we parted our ways in the city center of Cuenca for lunch and an afternoon of shopping for our projects.  A few of us ate a traditional restaurant near our favorite park, Parque De Calderon (spelling?). It was absolutely delicious. We then stumbled upon an adorable “hole in the wall” coffee shop and enjoyed some coffee and tea. We then finished off the night with salsa dancing class at CEDEI (our school), which I am actually late to….

So, until next time— Adios!

Necesito bailar!

Leah

 

Jan 10

Hola,

Today we had a visit to a public hospital named, Vicente Corral Moscoso. This hospital is funded by the government. For people who can’t afford to got a public hospital this hospital is completely free and you generally see people with lower SES at this place. When we came in and met with the occupational therapist we would be observing she was so excited to see us. She repeated many times how happy she was that we were visiting her hospital. She talked to us for awhile about how occupational therapy is done in Ecuador and it sounded very similar to the United States. A lot was said about the importance of functional activities and giving patients just the right challenge so they can be successful in therapy. While she spoke to us I looked around the room and saw that there were about five patients doing therapy exercises and activities with a family member. While we were at the hospital she was overseeing multiple therapy sessions and giving us a tour at the same time, she was an incredible therapist! She told us for children she makes appointments of about 45 minutes two days a week but for the adults they are free to come in and stay as long as they need to work, and it is still free.

We had a chance to show the therapist some of the materials we brought to donate for her clinic. We brought a clock that had been adapted into an alternative communication device so that when a button was pushed the hand on the clock moved and the person working the clock could stop the hand when it was pointing to the word the person wanted to use. We also showed her toys we had adapted so that a child who did not have the ability to press a small button could still operate the toy using a large switch. We left directions about how to make adaptions and explained that the instructions were useful for adapting many things not just toys. We also left assessments for her to use with children, splinting materials, books, and catalogs of therapy equipment.

Our donations could not have gone to a more grateful person! She showed us items that past SAU students had donated and that she as still using. Plastic splints are very useful for therapy but are also very expensive. Ones we had previously donated the therapist would mold for a specific individual and lend it out to the person like you would lend a library book. The person would take the splint for a certain amount of time and write their name and information in a book. When the splint was returned it was melted down and remolded for another person to check out. This therapist was probably the most creative one I have ever witnessed. She had made or adapted a lot of her equipment herself and other things were donated.

We also had an Ipad and showed her some useful therapy applications that could be used on it, for example it could be used as a custom communication board during a therapy session. She was so excited about the implications of being able to use this type of technology in her practice that it motivated a student to make a promise that when we went back home we would raise money to buy one for her. She was so moved by this she had tears in her eyes. There is a group of SAU nursing students coming to Cuenca over spring break and our goal is to have an Ipad to send with them in March to give her. We have got some fundraising to do when we get home but we are really motivated. She was so pleased about the Ipad we went around to other departments like speech to show them and they were thrilled.

We left the hospital but before we did we were asked to give an impromptu lecture on neurological exams on infants for the PT and OT students at the collage. We were scheduled to have a visit to the woman’s prison today but it was cancelled because of riots in the prison, so our afternoon was free. None of us students have had our Peds class yet so it fell on to Terry to give the lecture. In front of about 35 Cuencan students, 9 American students, and a couple faculty Terry gave her lecture and it was great! It was wonderful for us SAU students because it was a great introduction to our pediatric class. For the other students it was great too because we were told that although they are qualified to give exams they typically don’t so it was a good opportunity for them to see one. Terry enthusiastically evaluated a normally developing 5 month old and a 3 month old. We got to see the differences in development in reflexes and it was very interesting! The students seemed to really like it and they asked some good questions.

All for now!

Therese

Miércoles (9 de Enero)

Today in our Survival Spanish class we worked on adjectives to describe personalities and physical characteristics. We each pulled a celebrity’s name from a bag and had to present a couple of sentences in Spanish to describe that person.

Spanish was cut short so that we could visit Centro de Reposo y Adicciones (a mental health/psychiatrist hospital). When we first arrived a psychologist (who was acting as the hospitals OT) gave us a brief tour of a women’s room. In most rooms there are about ten people. To stay in one of these rooms it costs approximately $450 per month. This does not include the cost of medications. If a family chooses, they can pay more for their loved one to live in their own room or in a room with fewer people. This can cost up to $950 per month! No matter what the diagnosis, all patients are expected show independence by making their own beds and doing their own laundry. This is unlike the United States, where hospital staff will complete these tasks. The psychologist also took us through the outdoor grounds, which are beautiful! There are many flowers and greenery for the patients to view while they spend time outdoors. Very relaxing!

The majority of our time at CRA was spent working with approximately twenty-five patients on a craft activity called God’s Eye. If you haven’t made or seen one yet you should Google what one looks like! Kiley and Katlyn led this group and did an awesome job! The rest of us divided ourselves among the patients and assisted those with questions. All patients had varying diagnoses, but some included depression, schizophrenia,and drug/alcohol addiction. There was one younger boy with Tourette’s. Most patients picked up on the craft right away. At first I thought the two individuals I worked with would be bored since they figured it out so easily. But, when I asked them if they liked the activity they both said they found it very relaxing and wanted to complete another!

After our craft activity, the psychologist gave us a tour of the addictions unit. She explained to us that most patients were committed by family members. The patients spend two weeks in detox. After that, it is the patient’s decision on whether they want to stay or not. If they choose to stay they must sign a self committal form. Patients who stay after detox are not able to see their family for one month. After one month, they are given incentives, such as time on the phone or extra time with family.

Next, we headed to Stephen Hawkings for another visit. When we arrived the children were on a break so we were able to spend time playing and talking with them. After the bell rang we each went with a therapist we had not observed at the site previously. I spent my time in the Alternative Therapy room. The first patient was a six-year-old girl with severe spastic CP. She also has seizures, is blind, and has very limited hearing. Since many of her senses are impaired, the therapist focused on tactile stimulation. She used sponges, brushes, and a powder applicator on the patient’s arms. She also utilized massage. I was impressed by how quickly these techniques worked! When she first arrived, she was very spastic. After only a couple of minutes her arms loosened up and remained that way for the duration of the session. The therapist said she also uses reflexology, spaghetti/rice/gelatin baths, aromatherapy, and music in therapy with other children.

The second patient was a seven-year old boy with Autism and Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy. The therapist said the boy was losing muscle strength quickly. Just last month he was able to walk with assistance, and now he cannot bear weight. The therapist worked on dressing with him (doffing socks and zipping and unzipping his jacket).

After Stephen Hawkings some of us went to the Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes. Here, we were able to see many artifacts, including some ceramics of people with disabilities/ deformities. These included Siamese twins, hydrocephalus, Down’s Syndrome, and individuals with kyphosis. Some of what we saw dates back to 1500 B.C! Sorry for the long entry! Chao!

- Jordan

Hola!

Monday afternoon, we were able to work with the therapists and teachers at Stephen Hawkings.  We all split up and went to different areas of the facility and worked with an OT, PT, Speech Path, or Special Ed teacher.  I observed with a Physical Therapist.  He was working with a young girl with spastic Cerebral Palsy.  He did a lot of preparatory activities on the mat, including stretching and weightbearing activities.  I was then able to switch rooms, where the children were working on very functional, purposeful activities, such as making a bed, putting away dishes, and ended with dancing.  Most of the children had adapted the way that they performed these activities and had learned how to use their affected extremities as an assist in order for them to be independent.  Throughout our time at Stephen Hawking, we will be rotating locations within the facility, so that we are able to experience different disciplines and classrooms. 

Following Stephen Hawkings, we had a tour of the Banco Central museum.  We were able to learn about many of the indigenous cultures and history of Ecuador, along with see some shrunken heads and Incan ruins. 

Today, we began the day with Spanish class again, followed by our OT class.  In OT class, we discussed our individual experiences at Stephen Hawkings from the day before. We then had a visit at OSSO, which is the Orphanage Support Services Organization.  We were able to tour their orphanage for children with disabilities and interact with the children.  OSSO is a nonprofit charitable organization run by the Mormon Church in the United States and is funded based on donations and volunteers.  Many of the volunteers are from the US, and can stay for a duration of 2 weeks to over a year.  The children come to the orphanage for a variety of reasons.  

There were 27 children at the orphanage, and they were separated into 3 different houses.  The Happiness House housed children who were younger and healthy that were ready for adoption.  The House of Hope housed children who were middle aged with severe disabilities.  The final house is the House of Miracles which houses older kids with severe disabilities who have gone through surgeries. The children that are able to attend schools go to nearby schools, and they have a PT and psychologist on staff. 

Most of the children have CP, of which a majority were spastic quad type. We were all able to get a feel and experience working with a variety of tones and contractures. Almost all children at the facility utilized a wheelchair or other type of adapted chair. We played with the children outside on adapted tire swings, took them on walks, and played soccer.

After our visit at OSSO, we had the rest of the day free to explore Cuenca!

 

Laura

Weekend Post

Hola!

I am assigned to blog for today, however, in case I cannot get on the internet tonight to blog about all we did today at Stephen Hawkings, I will at least post now how our weekend was and either get back on to post about today, or tomorrow add more.

This morning, thus far, we all had our spanish class, then short OT class, and a meeting with Dunia. All profesors have been so sweet this morning, seeing how tired we are from the weekend. Everyone here is always so nice and always trying to make sure we are doing well, both physically and mentally. (My morning has already been long, but I loved it. Mi mama knows that when I am back home, I love to get up early to exercise and so last night she asked me if I wanted to get up with her and go on a walk at quater to six. It was so nice, felt like a morning almost back in the states. We went on a walk down by the river, talked then had a nice breakfast together afterwards. Told her I hope we can do it again )

Our weekend was filled with activities, as everyone here seems to want to make sure we get the full Cuencan experience. We left early Saturday morning for Saraguro. I think we would all agree it was a long, bumpy bus ride, and everyone seemed happy once we finally reached the destination! Our Hostal was very neat, gorgeous view, nice rooms. We then took Chivas (think that is how to spell them, similar to trolleys back home) to where we were going to hike from. We arrived at our location, ate our sack lunches (always interesting as our mamas all pack different things and lunch often then becomes community-style where we all pass/share what we have/want or don’t want). We were given small demonstrations on different traditional practices in a house. During these demonstrations, it is always so hard to imagine people living in ways they describe to us.

We then started the hike-and what a hike it was! Very cool, awesome views, and once at the top, well-worth it. Our guide had us “scream at the mountains” so we could hear them talk back in the echos:)

After our hike we saw a short demonstration on how they ferment Guajango, a type of local alcoholic drink. Before we left for the trip, we were all advised not to try it, however, when they offer, because it is a very hard drink to stomach for those not used to it, and in the past, many students have gotten sick. Naturally, however, we all (or at least most of us) had to try it…just to taste:) To make it simple…I will just say it is a drink I will be fine not to try again, and the man who demonstrated and took a full cup is a “champ!”

We had a nice meal that night (all very good, though as always, too much!) with a family who then played music for us to dance along with. Very tired, we all then went back to our hostal and pretty quickly then to bed. The next morning we had a nice breakfast (cafe/tea/chocolate, fruit juice, rolls, eggs) which I think we all enjoyed. We got to see and be aprt of a very spiritual ceremony which was a neat experience. Drank some more interesting things..but all very imortant to the ceremony and tradition, which I think is a great experience. We then went into town where we shopped the Plaza a little and got to see the festivities of el 6 de enero. Then a short lunch where we were all officially introduced to Cuy. Wouldn’t say it tasted like chicken…but it wasn’t bad either. The texture is what I found challenging.

Bus ride home…everyone zonked. This is getting long so just want to add one last thing..something I keep reminding myself here, during the visits, demonstrations and all other activities, is that this is life for people here, it is not a trip or an experience. We come and live it only for a few weeks, but after we leave, it all still goes on. The indigenous carry on with their lifestyle that for us was just a demonstration, and our families go about these lives that seem so different. I guess that is why I am trying to take so many pictures and remember so many things, because this is here all the time, not just when we are. Something I hope will stay with me when I leave-the people we met, music they played for us, and desire to make a difference in our experience, similar to how we want to make a difference here too, not only while we are here, but when we leave also.

Thanks for bearing with the long blog, off soon to Stephen Hawking where today we each will get to go into our own class, to work more hands-on with the professionals and children.

Adios,

MARY

 

Cuenca Day 3

Hola!

Today we once again started our day with survival Spanish. For me this is very nerve racking because I am not very good at Spanish. Fortunately Bea makes the class fun and interesting.

Our OT class met to discuss different childhood diseases. We discussed the five different types of CP which are hemi, di, quad, spasticity and low tone. This was very interesting because we were able to see all of the different types of CP at Stephen Hawking today.

Today at Stephen Hawking the children and the staff put on a show for us. This took place because Sunday it is ´´Three Kings Day´´ so everyone was dressed in Halloween costumes. After the show was done the Saint Ambrose students had the opportunity to dance with the children with disabilities. This was a very fun and educational experience. We were able to truly understand the different types of tone that the children have. After dancing we showed the staff how to use an IPad and also how to adapt toys for the children.

Once we returned back to school we had a demonstration on cleansing the body. I was chosen to be the volunteer that would be cleansed. The man rubbed an egg throughout my body. The egg was then broking to show all the areas of my body that were not healthy. He then blew an herbal liquid on my stomach and my back to cleanse my body of everything that is not healthy. He proceeded to give herbs to students that where having pains in their bodies or had colds. This was a very interesting experience. I am very glad I got the opportunity to experience this because I will never have the opportunity to experience again.

After the cleansing we had a great workout learning to dance.

Well that’s all for today. Next blog will not be until Monday because will to be taking a trip outside of Cuenca.  

Jenn