Solving problems anyone!

This morning when i was in the taxi on my way to work one small taxi (size austin mini) had broken down a little further up the street and was blocking the road. Well not so good when everybody is on their way to work so what happened? Five or six men jumped out of the cars infront of my taxi and lifted the small taxi out of the way so the other cars could drive round it. Thats what i call solving problems:-)

There are so many illegal taxis here, many who charge gringo/a price to tourist. On my way home from work the police was doing a raid among taxidrivers to see if the had all papers in order. Of course my taxi was stopped and luckily for me he had all papers in order so we could continue. I wonder what would have happened if he hadnt, would i have to get out there in the middle of the street and wait for a new taxi, i hope i dont have to find out.

Started my third week at the Clinic today, where did the time go, i have allready worked there for 2 weeks. Soon i will be home in the snow.

Went to a local foodmarket today, called gastronomica, only Peruvian food. Lots of stands where locals cook and sell their food. I was the only tourist, dont know why, to me this is a wonderful tourist attraction, well at least for foodlovers. The guinea pig is a local delicassy, i havnt tried it, but who knows!!

I had chicken and rice and it was so good. My company had baby goat with mash and rice and well it was nice, actually quite good.

If i get sick from eating there, well it was totally worth it, the food was so good and it was a fun experience.

Check out who was waiting for taxi with me at lunch when i was going home from work. Its not a common sight in Cusco but in poorer neighbourhoods you might see a pig or 2 on the street eating garbage. I was just happy to have my camera with me.

Weekend.....

Via ferrata and Zip-line

I survived the rock-climbing and zip-line. I will put in some pics later, the guide had the camera so i am waiting to get the pics from the trip, should be any day now.
The rock-climbing was kind of like climbing upp a ladder exept the ladder was on a rock. I am afraid of hights so when i was vertical and had to both climb up and to the side at the same time it was almost to much. I cleanched to the ladder before i continued. After the rock-climbing it was time for the Zip-line that is flying on a cable down the rock again. That was so much fun, but scary as well. Taking that step over the edge and putting all your trust on the equipment. There were 4 ziplines from 100-500 m long. If you come to Cusco i can recommend it. Good and scary fun.

I didnt have to work today, the Clinics were on a strike, why i dont know i was just happy that i could sleep in the morning.

Tomorrow i got the day off work and i am going rock climbing. Check it out here, there is a video. Looks amazing right? Little scary, but i promise to take pictures.

Work is fine. Even though i have a trouble understanding everything i try and well just smile and try to help out as much as i can. Injections, washing instruments, drying instruments, packaging intstuments, folding gauges i know so time goes by at work.

Spanish is going well, the teacher always says correcto or muy bien, positive reenforcement like Pavlows dogs?

Maybe but it works;-)

You all know how important it is with communications? Here the drivers communicate with their horns. Almost all corners are blind here so that everytime the taxi gets close to a corner the driver honks the horn to let other drivers and those who are walking know that he is coming. The even honk when they think you are in the way, when they see you and want to offer you a ride.

The police here is very visible, they stand infront of the banks and allover the streets. They even control traffic, even when there are traffic lights. The stop the traffic to let us who want to cross the street over, but only on zebra lines. Last week new law started in Peru, you cant jaywalk. if the police catches you crossing the street where its not safe you get a fine. I dont know how many polices i have seen writing tickets.

Well of to my spanish lesson

The first week of work and spanish is done. It is getting and going better for each day. At least now i can answear some easy questions. Today we had basic conversation in spanish in class and well it went ok, i even got a muy bien for my homework on describing my family=)

I really like Cusco. Its small narrow oneway streets, all the old buildings and all the history that lies here. One of the best thing about volenteer working like i am doing is that you see a whole new side of the city you wouldnt see as a normal tourist. I know i dont think i would have gone into the poorer community as a tourist. The area where my clinic is, is a poor area. Thats another thing i like about peruvians, they may not have much but they are happy. Maybe we have something to learn from them?

I live in a neighbourhood called San Blas, its one of the oldest parts of Cusco, it has a lot of art and souviners.
Check out these webcams, the number 2 is the street i walk up and down everyday. If you are lucky you might see me.

Today Cathy from Maximo Nivel came and she could explain a lot better than me about my skills, so i have been quite busy today, giving injections both intra muscular and intra venously and assisting with wound care. Today we even got an acute patient who needed to go to the hospital.
The Clinic has emergency where the patients come after they see the doctor to get their injections or for wound care, even in the emergency comes patients from the street who need acute care. Fractures and bigger problems go directly to the hospital. It even has obstetrics and ultrasound, taking care of expecting mothers. Pediatrics, general medicin and a lab. Its very interesting to see how everything works.
I am struggeling with the language but i am determened to become exelente in spanish.

I bought a membership for a local gym yesterday and let me tell you that working out at this hight is not as easy as at home. After 5 minutes on the crosstrainer my pulse was up to 200 so i just hit the machines and weights instead. I was so tired last night i think i passed out around 10.

First day of work today.
Language barrier..... YES
The job done differently..... YES

My scrubnurse collegues in Karlskrona would have a fit if they seen how work is done here.
I put my scrubs on at home, take the bus or taxi to work. I was prepared that it would be different but wow. I was in Topico today wich is emergency. I havnt figuerd the system out yet but the patients came to us with prescribed things to do and the medicine they were supposed to get. Lot of injections, all given intra muscular in gluteus maximus, didnt matter what it was, antibiotics or diazepam, it all went to the butt. Patients also came in for woundcare. It looks like they come in every day to get their injections because they said goodbye with hasta mañana, witch means see you tomorrow.
The instrument used were then washed in the sink (just like when you do your dishes), dried and put back into their steelbox, and than into what looked like a heat cabinet. Not so sterile?
I was helping out with cutting gauge first into 10x10 cm squares and than every square had to be folded in a special way to like 3x4 cm and that will be packed and used for wound care.

Is fun seeing how things work here, i think i will be in topico all week wich will be great. I cant wait until i speak a little spanish and can be of more help and understand the patients and staff. We tried talking today but is not so easy, is a little frustrating when you really want to do something but you cant say what you want.
Just got to be active in spanishclass and study hard at home.

Just came back from my orientation at Maximo Nivel, the organisation i will do my volonteer work with. I will start tomorrow at Centro De Salud Independencia at 8 in the morning. What i will do there, well i will find out tomorrow but according to the information i have gotten it will be assisting in taking medcial history, draw blood, give vaccinations etc. I let you know when i know more.
I will start my spanish class today at 2 o'clock 2 hours a day monday-friday.

Went to a local footballmatch yesterday. Big game for the Cusco team, they had to win to stay in the division. The match ended 0-0 so the team fell down to 2nd divison. The fans were not happy, and the referee missed a penalty for the Cusco team so after the game when the referees were leaving the field angry fans threw bottles and stuff att them. Well they got shielded police escort out of the field. I guess it is like that in countrys were football is like religon.
But it was a whole lot of fun, i sat quite far away from the real hulligans, they were blowing up smokebombs, jumping around, playing drums. Well its fasinating to watch from a safe distance.

hugs and kisses

Went partying yesterday with my new friends.
Crazy. crazy party. You have heard about happy hour but have you heard about happy minutes? The DJ played a good song, 3 bartenders jumped up on the bar each with a bottle and just pointed at people to come and then they pore alcohol into you mouth, free shots..... i have never seen a bartender do that either in Sweden or Iceland.
I went home at 4:30 and the party was still going strong.

Cusco is a beautiful city, small narrow streets with old buildings.
So far i like everything very much.

Slept for 10 hours so my head is a bit clearer now, and so is the sky. The sun is shining in my honor of course.
My 30 hour trip was ok, the 4:30 hour wait in Madrid went by fairly quickly with my new book, the flight Madrid-Lima 11:30 hour was ok too. The tv wasnt working so all i could do was try to sleep. When i had been dosing off for like an hour, the airhostess shouted on the intercom that they had a medical emergency is there a doctor or a nurse on board. Well normally i just sink down i my seat and look the other way but this time the patient was sitting in the next row. So i told her that im a nurse. But since my german is limited to my name is Anna and im a nurse, the airhostess waited for the doctor who had risen from his seat. She obviously doesnt know a skilled nurse when she sees one ;-) so i just turned the other way and tried to go back to sleep. The patient was ok btw, he walked off the plane in Lima.
In Lima the stress began, i had to go trough immigrations, did not take to long so was ok, wait for my bag, to check it in on the plane to Cusco. The line for check in was 50 minutes, my plane had allready started boarding when the finally finished my check in, i was not allowed to go to bagdrop even though i was allready checked in from Copenhagen. So a very stressed out, sweatty Doris ran upstairs, had to stop by first to pay airport taxes, then run through security and sat down in my seat with 10 minutes to spare. But i made it and now i am in Cusco.
My program starts on sunday so i have few days to find the office and get use to the altitude.

kram kram

After 30 hours of travel i finally arrived in Cusco this morning. After warm welcome i came to the apartment i am staying in. Have just been taking it easy today. Resting, getting use to the altitude. My heart is beating faster and i breath a little heavier.
Going to go to bed early and try to catch up on some sleep

Let the adventure begin.....
In a few hours at 9:38 am my train leaves for Copenhagen airport and my adventures begins. At 9:30 am on wednesday i will arrive in Cusco. I am so nervous and exited at the same time.

Well my bags are packed, i have my ticket, my passport and visacard so that should cover everything.

Think happy thoughts

Komin heim frá Florída.
Yndisleg ferð með fjölskyldunni. Mikið hlegið, ekkert grátið og mikið skoðað.
Vildi bara láta ykkur vita að ég ætla að blogga hérna um ferðina til Perú og kem til með að gera það á ensku svo að bæði íslenskir og sænskir vinir/fjölskylda geti fylgst með ferðum mínum.

Here i will tell you about my experience in Cusco, hope you will follow my journey and dont be shy about leaving comments
Doris