Week 2

So I have to start with this evening because there is some strange energy in the air tonight. First, it got cloudy today. Very unusual. Big dramatic stormy-looking clouds. And I even felt a few droplets materialize before they decided not to rain. Then we rode a van home, only half of us, and Alida and I got dropped off in the main square to hit an ATM, but though it was there yesterday, it was literally uprooted and there was no money to be found. So on the way home we used our last soles to buy pasta, avocado, and milk. We walked home in the dark, arms full of groceries, and delayed in the courtyard talking to Edwin about hiking the nearby glacier (we're anticipating another strike Weds and Thurs). When we came into the lobby, I waited for Alida to get her key, and from the darkness emerged the silhouettes of a couple. A very hassidic couple. My friends who run the chabad house, Ofer and Yael, came out of the shadows with a... "Rachel!?" The Rabbi and his wife are staying at Edwin's hotel. Not only that, they are old friends with Edwin and his family. They came out for a visit, etc. And they were throwing a BBQ next door. A BBQ. With kosher meat. After many meals of banana and peanut butter and yogurt and granola and the occasional avocado ("palta"), a barbeque sounded too good to be true. Amazing. Plus, I made plans to stay with them in Cusco over Shabbat, assuming the strike is over.

What a small world. I came to Peru when I saw Ana Dodson on TV one morning; she had adopted her town Lamay, whose Mayor is Guido, who worked with a higher political figure who connected him with Edwin, who funds projects for the town but who really lives in Cusco where he was connected with Ofer and Yael through the Chabadnik's uncle who apparently worked with the President of Peru, who of course knew Edwin as well, so they became friends. And I spoke no Spanish so had to come a month early to Cusco during which time I became friends with Ofer and Yael while learning to talk to Edwin and Guido, and now, with my arms full of avocado, delayed 1000 times, I was standing in the lobby at the exact right moment to intersect with both the Rabbi and his wife and Edwin. Go try and tell me that is random.

Anyway. We had a big meeting last night in which we reviewed the goals and accomplishments of the clinic thus far and planned for the next week. Today went smooth as butter. We saw 100 patients, of which a number of them (like 20 maybe) were only for glasses. If youre interested, this is what we're talking about and thinking about:

Meeting after week 1:

• Broad goals for next week
a. Sustainability
i. Interfacing with current clinic setup better
1. Discuss with Carla – set up meeting time
a. Emphasize that this is their show
b. Learn more about the community
i. Community Education how?
ii. What would you like us to teach?
iii. Domestic violence issues, engage religious leaders in community, group: living hearts, ask Guido for advice
iv. Do they have literature etc that we could work with in Public health campaigns
ii. Outreach: Pampallacta
1. Set up with Edwin details
2. Monday of the last week health fair
iii. What else is needed to keep this sustainable
1. Microscope, ultrasound
b. Better organization of clinic
i. Smooth running of clinic
1. The Cap: 80 - 100 medical
2. Separate glasses from medical by numbering system
3. Set a schedule daily
c. Educational componant
i. How to make Docs positions meaningful
ii. Improve 4th yr experience
iii. Improve 2nd year experience
1. Triage in the morning
iv. Other necessary seminars/study sessions?
1. Stagger second year students

To bear in mind:
Part I of their hopes for our participation is to see if we can help get them fitted with the missing pieces that will allow them to work with the Federal government and be self-sustaining.

Part II is to help the clinic gain the confidence of those not only in Lamay, but the thousands of underserved who live in the deep rural mountains and receive no medical care at all.