My Adventures

My trip to Canada was totally great. My brother Jason who lives up there is the funniest person I know-his personality is so entertaining, so it was great to see him. My new niece Brynn is a cutie-she did what any newborn does-sleeps and eats. I got to know my niece Hayley better spending quality time playing Guess Who and coloring in the Dora coloring book I bated her affection with. I also did Yoga and spent one day with one of my best cousins, Kristen. I had to hit up my favorite stores-Lulu Lemon, Aldo, The SilverStone, Roots and a few others and pretty much went on a total shopping spree with my mom and sister-in-law Shona..




SacTown-four days after I got back from Cananda I headed to Cali to see my big bro Clarkey and his adorable family. Again, more quality time with the kids as I do love being an auntie-we made cookies, decorated easter eggs, painted nails, went to the outlets and the mall etc. Sabrina and Clarke had a closet organizer from IKEA I helped wedge in-girl power, right Sabrina! We went out for dinner and then saw Taken, which I had wanted to see for quite a while and thought it was really good. Anway, good times there as well-pictures to come.


Now for my current adventure in Quito, Ecuador. I was home for another four days-or you can say nights since I've been working nights lately and then flew down to Ecuador on a read eye flight. I had so much stress prior to leaving as I was exhasted from work in many ways and had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that my Ecuatorian friends from Charity Anywhere wanted me to teach some respiraotry therapy techniques with some anatomy and physiology, but I didn't know who my audience would be, what type of technology I'd have at my disposal or how in depth to go. I was feeling uneasy flying out and really felt blessed when I sat by two gentleman from Australia who were so engaging and nice to talk to-one was visiting with his family to ski and gave me his info if I ever wanted to visit. The other worked at BYU and we had really good discussions about our lives and I was amazed at how open he was with me for just meeting. Anyway, it's pretty fun to fly alone and to just see who you meet. When I landed in Quito about 16 hours after I left, I was hasseled at customs because I brought a bunch of medical supplies for Charity Anywhere-I just acted like a dumb American who didn't know better and they let me go. When I got out of the gate I didn't see anyone there to pick me up-I paniced a little inside as I didn't have their phone numbers and had already been hasseled and was a little on edge. I had to wait a bit but was told by some people who spoke english the traffic was pretty bad and my dear friends finally came and got me. Things are so different from the last time I came almost 5 years ago, but one thing still remains the same-don't count on things to go as planned. I schelude the trip so that I would be here for a four day service expidition in Otavalo which was canceled but not explained to me before I came. My pseudo parents went to Argentina for 6 out of the 10 days I'm here missing the whole workshop-which is why I came. They did hired me a driver to take me around and I've been kicking it with their kids-who I like but it does change the dynamics a bit.
The respiratory work shop ended up being a two day affair with about 70 medical students and several more doctors. I felt like I got in way over my head since I couldn't speak spanish and was told to teach them anatomy and physiology-which they already knew probably better then me. I haven't felt so overwhelmed since high school elections-or maybe my first board exams. The first day we covered respiratory anatomy/physiology, pathophysiology and chest xrays which didn't go so well because the sound was bad and my translator, Juan, having to translate for me and medical terms at the same time kind of mixed things up. The second day was so much better-Anita, Juan's sister as well as a med student, translated and did a great job. I taught CPR, the heimlich, nebulizers and chest physical therapy. The medical students were young and seemed to be very forgiving and all wanted pictures with me following the workshop. It was such a relief to have that over with-I seriously don't know how much good I did but did my best with what I had to work with I think.
Wednesday after the seminar I went with Juan to Mindo-a two hour drive to see waterfalls. Juan got instructions but we quickly got lost as the trail was not well marked. We went about three quarters of a mile then found a man clearing the trail in the middle of no where and paid him $3 to get us back on the track. He took us to where the mountian became steap and directed us to what ended up being a barbed wire fenced path. We hopped the barbed wire and went down the mountian for a bit before we decided to turn back feeling like it wasn't the right way. It was a good time to reflect and enjoy the beautiful terrain though I was sad I never saw the falls.

Yesterday I went to a public childrens hospital to see what it's like here-not the best environment; pretty shabby to say the least. They let me walk right in which was awesome I found they had one kid on a ventilator in their ICU-which was cool to see. My mom sent me with a bunch of toys and I had a fun time giving them to the kids there. Later that day I worked a little in the medical center for the charity getting vitals and then visited my old stomping grounds where I lived 5 years ago-central historical. So many memorise were relived and I finally had my frozen mango yogart pop-it was soo good. I have three more days left and will be going to Otavalo, church and then home. It's been good to be here and a growing experience. Much has changed in me and the foundation since my first visit-both have grown and matured and have much more to do in the world. For anyone who has not returned to the people they served on their missions-I encourage you to do so. There are so many things that I haven't forgotten but just didn't think about that was brought to my memory. I'm so thankful for the life I have in the US and for the government and all the social programs. Be grateful. (pics to come when I get home)