La Casa Della Mamma San Lazaro

Decided to get a move on from Ecuador although not seeing it as much I would like to. I wanted to see Peru in sufficient time so travelled through Cuenca and the border, which was a real treat with these sneaky Peruvians.........I told him that I needed a stamp out of Ecuador but he still insisted on taking me to the Peruvian border which is 8 km apart and it allows ...

It's been a while since I've updated and without going into too much detail let's just say that several team members have started taking Cipro in the last 24 hours and the internet is no good in the restrooms.

Yesterday I went with the Sierra team to Vicus, a "campo" that is just a 20 minute drive from Chulu. We arrived and there was a large building that had 20 years of dust on the floor and broken glass from the windows but adaptation is the name of ...

After discharges today I went to the hospital to watch in the OR, I saw Liz do several prolapsed bladders, uterus...the word of the day for her was "prolapso!". I also stood in on the abdominal surgery for Florentino- the older gentleman who had the GI issues and had lost so much weight. It was really some amazing work that George and Gary did- it was a complete anatomy ...

Here are a few highlights from yesterday...

First, the container arrived! but more on that later. Mass was beautiful- I even recognized some of the songs and could sing along in English! After mass we went across the street to the plaza where there were three groups of guards dressed to the nines in their uniforms representing the city of Chulucanas, the "state" of Piura and the country of Peru. they ...

Good morning from the Centro Pastoral! We arrived at the final destination yesterday afternoon. So far we've have a good time getting to know eachother and the city, we are settled in our rooms, and have had our first meal from the ladies at the CEO Bentania (not Chief Executive Office, it stands for the Center of Occupational Education and is pronounced "Say-Oh"). I also did take my first shower here last night and maybe I'm crazy but ...

After an 8 hour bus ride through the desert and up into the Andes we arrived in Huancabamba. It is famed for its witch doctors and healers as well as high alpine lakes. All we found was a small town, where we were the only gringos. The hostels were pretty bad, as far as cleanliness and actual beds. The people all seemed to stare and we actually got spit on by a passing motobike cab. Lucky for that ******* Sherise did not mention ...

As our service is coming to an end. Peace Corps Ecuador sponsors a few days of relaxation, bonding, and information sessions to get us ready to move on with our lives. I'm very excited to go back to the States, but it was tough thinking about all of the things that i'm going to leave here in Ecuador.

my work involves alot of variety. here are some pics from San Bernabeo and Pichig. In San Bernabeo, i'm working on a few animal production projects with INNFA, a private organization. San Bernabeo is in a lower-altitude region, it's almost desert-like. Pichig is in a very high-altitude, indigenous, region. the weather there is very unpredictable. I like to get up there on the weekends, do some farm work, and breathe some fresh air...

Vilcabamba is known as the "Valley of Longevity" in Ecuador because it's inhabitants live well into their 100's. The reason for this has been a mystery for decades. Scientists have been there for years, and nobody can figure it out. I accredit it to the unbelievable natural diets, the incredible scenery, perfect weather (mid 70's, no humidity, everyday) and the overall ...

Well, here I am in the ****-end of nowhere, waiting for a truck to take me to the border in a couple of hours, and what do I find? An internet cafe. That'll keep Bill Gates smiling at least, but I really wasn't expecting to find one down here in the border town of Zumba (Where you have to go through a military check-point just to get into town). The weather finally turned **** on the one day when I could have done with some sunshine and a bit of cheer because crossing the border ...