Reflections on Bolivia

Well, I’m finally en route back to LGA, the place where this whole journey started 30 days ago. I can’t believe how quickly the month has passed. It really does seem like just yesterday I said goodbye to my family and navigated my way through airport security headed for La Paz. Yet, I cannot believe how much I have done and seen since then. And, although cliché to say, I have learned about myself as well.

For one, I am surprised at how well I adjusted to living on my own in a different country. Prior to going to Bolivia, I anticipated a fair amount of culture and language shock. I even prepared myself for nights of feeling lonely and just in case, I packed lots of comedic movies to lift my mood and bring familiar American culture to my lonely Bolivian bedroom. However, I can happily report that I did not need a single one of those movies, and although I missed my family and certain aspects of life in the U.S., I was happy— really happy— in Bolivia!

Mostly, I believe my avoidance of culture shock is due to the amazing group of friends I had with me. Joanna, Erica, and Annie are some of the most open, fun, and caring individuals I have ever met, and I am so lucky to have had them with me! – So if you guys are reading this, thank you so much for sharing this experience with me and making it what it was!! You are all awesome and I will miss each one of you!

I was also surprised at how welcoming Bolivians were to us “outsiders.” In other countries, I have felt slightly less than welcome: weird tourist stares, inappropriate comments, etc. However, in La Paz, people really couldn’t care less where you are from, or what you are doing in their country. As far as they are concerned, their lives are too busy (and probably too interesting) to really care who you are. That sense of anonymity really helped me feel like a regular, Bolivian resident.

Another important lesson I have learned while in Bolivia concerns healthcare. Regardless of the problems of our healthcare system, I am so grateful that we have all the newest technology, treatments, and facilities at our disposal. Yes, there are major flaws with our medical system, but a child would never be refused necessary treatment because his parents could not afford it. Can you imagine living in a country where you know there is a treatment for your child’s illness, but there is nothing you can do for him/her simply because of where you live? Yet, despite the drawbacks of their medical system, Bolivian parents and patients are so kind and gracious for what they do have – a refreshing but sad reality.

Perhaps this is just a mild case of reverse culture shock, but immediately upon my entrance into Miami, I noticed that American culture includes an aspect of attitude and perhaps snobbery. Although it’s probably an unfair generalization of my fellow U.S. citizens, one of the first things that struck me in the airport was, gosh, Americans are rude!! In particular, a few custom agents and some passengers made me miss the quiet respect Bolivians have for one another.

Funnily, upon my return, I also had to continually remind myself to speak in English! I have become so accustomed to using simple Spanish pleasantries such as, “Hola, buenos dias, gracias, etc.” that I find it strange that people here speak English! Haha! My Spanish skills have undoubtedly improved while in Bolivia; however, I still wouldn’t describe myself has conversational (maybe at most minimally conversational). I mean, I can get my point across, but my verb conjugations still require a fair amount of thinking before speaking. I believe it would take me a minimum of 4-6 months living in a Spanish-speaking country to really develop fluidity of speech. Maybe we spent a little too much time speaking English with each other? Alas, I hope to continue to study/practice Spanish here at home.

Ahh! As we speak, we are starting to descend into the New York area, and I can't help but smile. Mostly because I know Peter will be there waiting for me, but I also feel a deep sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I had a wonderful time in Bolivia and wouldn't change a thing. I now have countless memories and experiences that are absolutely priceless. I gained confidence in my ability to rely on myself and have fallen in love all over again with the values of travelling and experiencing the world. Bolivia is undoubtedly a beautiful country, and I am grateful to have visited such a place. The people, the landscapes, and the culture have so much to offer, and I consider myself lucky to have experienced the even the smallest amount.

Thank you, Bolivia, for opening my mind and for providing me with a wonderful home over the past few weeks. You are an inspiration, and I am humbled and gracious to have known you.

All the best,
♥ Mallory

Last Day

Well, we said our goodbyes to Erica and Annie, who are on their way back to the states. My room is just about packed up. And it’s almost time for me to bid farewell to Bolivia. I’m surprised at how sad I am to leave La Paz. I feel like there is still so much to see and so much to learn!! The time here has gone by too fast!

For my last day in La Paz, Joanna and I are going to bum around the city for the day … We are going to start with a yummy waffle breakfast at the new Dutch restaurant, then we’ll hit the markets one more time for last minute souvenirs, and finally, we’ll head down to Zona Sur (the wealthier side of town) for some window shopping and a relaxing dinner before heading home in the morning!

Days of Lasts

Wow, my time here in Bolivia has really flown by!! Today is a day of lasts in Bolivia. I had my final day in clinic and soon I will attend my last Spanish lesson. In addition, sadly, I will also have the last dinner with my fellow students who have made this trip what it was. Annie and Erica are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning, so tonight is our last hoorah with the four of us here in La Paz. Cheers! ♥

Last Week in La Paz

Though I can’t say that Hospital del Nino is as beautiful as the Salar, this week in clinic has also been inspiring! I am working with Dra. T, who is a specialist in Sindrome de Down (Down’s Syndrome). The children who come to the clinic are the sweetest kids I have ever met – they love to give hugs and kisses and are sooo much fun to play with! La doctora is fantastic with all the children and is so encouraging to the families. With her help and the aid of different services, many of these children complete school, attend university, and some are even bilingual! Wow!

... This is probably the perfect rotation to round out my clinical experience in Bolivia! :)

Weekend of Bolivian Wonder

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve had time to sit down and write a blog entry, but at last, I find myself with a few minutes to reflect on the past week. Today is Wednesday, Sept 1st, which means I will be back in New York in 4 days!!

I think this past week has been my favorite here in Bolivia. Last weekend we ventured down to the Salt Flats of Uyuni, drove through the gorgeous mountains, and visited with flamingos, vicunyas, and other faunal residents of the Bolivian “wilderness.”

I cannot even begin to explain the natural beauty that we witnessed. The multicolored mountains, the vastness of the Salar, and the brilliance of the lagoons left me speechless. It was the kind of place where there is literally nothing to say but, “Oh my gosh, its so gorgeous!” and then repeat. I must have sounded like a broken record, but really, I did not have any other words to describe the emotion and awe I felt in our surroundings. And although I took plenty, pictures never do such landscapes justice.

We spent our first night on a bus – yes, it was an 11 hour bus ride from La Paz to Uyuni. Luckily, the bus was fairly comfortable if only a little bumpy.Plus, the recline-able seats, leg rests, reasonable heat, and Dramamine allowed me to sleep through 75% of the night.

In the morning, we arrived in Uyuni, had a quick breakfast, then eagerly climbed into the jeep with our team: me, Heather, Annie, Ruben (the driver), Nenna (the cook), and our old friend from Copacabana, Quik (the guide)!

Our first stop was a train graveyard. At the start of the desert, there is a deserted rail line, with abandoned, rusted, graffiti-ed train cars. Not very exciting, but interesting I guess? Next, we headed to the Salar – and oh my gosh, it is absolutely gorgeous! Although in our pictures, it appears as if we are in a vast expanse of snow, the blinding whiteness is all salt!! We stopped at an island in the middle of the salar to have lunch and take some silly, but oh so fun pictures in the Salar.

Later, we spent the night in a hotel made completely of salt – how cool?! Admittedly, when we first arrived at the hotel, we were a little weary as it is literally in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the tiniest, deserted town. But once we saw the inside of the rooms and heard they had hot showers, we were game! All the walls, furniture, and floor are made completely of salt! Talk about cuteness and charm ...

The following day, we woke up early enough to see the sun rise, then headed out to see the colored lagoons. Although not appreciable in the pictures, some of the lagoons are home to specific species of algae that make the water appear pink! What a sight! The lagoon was also full of flamingos (who apparently get their color from eating the algae?)!!

That night, we stayed in a ¨hotel¨aka icebox. After a freezing night with no hot water, no heating, and minimal warm blankets, we woke up at 5 am and drove to the nearby geysers – Ack, it was sooooooo cold, but also so worthwhile to arrive at the geysers with the sun rising, and the moon still hanging on for the last few minutes of nighttime (or first moments of the morning).

Once thoroughly chilled to the bone, our next stop could not have been planned better: a soak in natural hot springs! Though the run from the car in our bikinis to the water was quite a sight, the heat of the water was more than worth the pain!

We did and saw so much, that I can only give you the highlights here, but between each destination, there were awe-inspiring landscapes that frequently prompted us to stop our car so we could get out, take pictures, and wallow in the splendor of nature. One stop even included rock formations that are rumored to be the inspiration to many of Dali’s paintings!

Now, I know that I haven’t traveled to many countries, but this weekend absoltely convinced me that Bolivia has to be home to some of the most beautiful, unspoiled landscapes in the world!

Off to the Salar!

We are heading to the Salar de Uyuni today! These are the largest salt flats in the world and apparently are a beautiful must-see when in Bolivia! However, getting to the Salar from La Paz is quite a journey. We will be taking an overnight bus ride from La Paz to Uyuni ... 11 hours! Eek! Hopefully it will all be worth it, and I will have amazing photos to share with all of you.

We will be completely out of communication for the next few days as people on the Salar only have radio as means of communication! So until then, enjoy! ♥

Feliz Cumpleanos, Pedro!

Totally unrelated to Bolivia, but just as important ...

Happy Birthday, Peter!!!

Hope you have a very special, exciting, and happy birthday. Have an awesome time in New Mexico and enjoy yourself!! Miss you and love you! ♥

Heather´s Here!

Yayyy!! Heather is now here in Bolivia. We spent the weekend in Coroico, the Yungas jungle region in Bolivia. We stayed in a cute cabin on the mountainside. Here, we had two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and nice indoor/outdoor area complete with comfy couches and a hammock -- perfect place for rest and relaxation! It was so nice to have a weekend outside of bustling La Paz to read, sleep, and basically do nothing.

The town center was just as lazy as our weekend. With little more than a handful of restaurants and a few hippies selling some handmade jewelry, Coroico is really not an eventful town and left us wanting a little more.

Unfortunately, however, I was sick for most of the weekend, and spent the majority of my time laying on the above mentioned couch recouperating. Despite my illness, it is so nice to have Heather and Shirin here with me, as I think I was getting to the point where I needed to have family around <3.

Busy in Bolivia!

Ah sorry for the delay in posting! This last week has been crazy, then complicated by my mild illness, so finding time to sit down at the internet cafe has been tricky. But, I am so glad that I have time today to add some posts. And, as you can see, I´ve inserted some select pictures relevant to some of the posts!

So, I finished out the week at Servicios de Adolescentes finding more babies in uteruses, running around with the doctor to and from different places, and listening to the woes of local teenagers (pregnancy, STD concerns, school stress) -- very similar to those in the U.S.

Needless to say, sexual education is severely lacking in the lives of young Bolivians, and thus, many young women become pregnant and/or contract STIs prematurely and unnecessarily!Although I don't know how much of an impact we will make in our broken Spanish, my fellow CHFIers and I will prepare a presentation on safe sexual practices and the signs, symptoms, and treatment for common STIs here in Bolivia ... this should be interesting!

La Gymnasia

I joined a Bolivian gym today! The gym here is brand new and is located in the multicine (a complex with a movie theater, food courts, arcades, and a few random stores). The membership was expensive, at about half the price I pay for the gym at home in NY. However, I’ve always been a strong believer that exercising and taking care of my body is well worth the “splurge.” Even on a student’s limited budget, I always make allowances for a membership to a nice gym.

Due to the altitude, I was a bit nervous for my first workout. So I decided to take it easy today: 20 minutes on the elliptical, minimal ab work, and only 2 sets of exercises with the free weights. Although I must say, the altitude did affect my workout. After the first 15 minutes on the elliptical, I thought perhaps I should stop, but I powered through and did not pass out! My little 5 pounds weights also felt a little heavier here, but perhaps that’s because I have not been to the gym in about 1 month! Oops!

Overall however, how did it feel to work out again? Pretty darn good – yay for endorphins!

Erica and I are going to try out the pilates class this week, and if we are feeling really optimistic, we may even attend a spin class! Maybe we will be superathletes when we return home due to our increased tolerance for low-oxygen states?!

Servicios de adolescentes

Today I ventured away from Hospital del Nino and hiked up to El Alto for a rotation in an outpatient adolescent clinic. La Paz is surrounded by high mountains, which have homes built into the hillsides. These surrounding neighborhoods are known as El Alto. From La Paz, the homes in El Alto provide a stunning view, especially at night when the homes are brightly lit, almost like lit skyscrapers in New York. However, upon entering El Alto, I quickly realized that El Alto is the exact opposite of rich mountainside homes overlooking La Paz.

The clinic mainly serves pregnant adolescent females. Due to the lack of proper education about birth control and contraception, countless teenage girls end up pregnant, with no options other than to raise her child(ren) on her own.

I enjoyed my first day here. Annie and I got some basic hands-on experience including palpating for the fetal lie in the mother’s uterus, measuring the height of the mother’s growing belly, and even finding the fetal and placental sounds using a small portable sonography device.

The most challenging aspect of this clinic is the complete lack of ingles spoken here. However, la doctora would like us to prepare a 20 minute presentation on any topic related to adolescent health -- ack!! I will definitely keep you posted on how this plays out ...

Addicted to Pasankalla

We discovered a new treat in Copacabana called Pasankalla. Pasankalla is a traditional Bolivian snack made from corn. They are light, puffy, and slightly sweetened; think kettle corn popcorn crossed with rice puff cereal.

They are sold on the streets of Copacabana, in large bins, and for less than $1 (or 5 bolivianos) you can get a large bag to take with you. Although native to Copacabana, I know I’ll find Pasankalla somewhere in La Paz to satisfy my cravings, but I wonder where I can get some Pasankalla in New York?

La Estancia, Ecolodge

Although exhausted from a packed day of traveling, altitude, sunshine, and beautiful vistas, we had one more challenging hill to climb before arriving at La Estancia, a beautiful, romantic ecolodge situated on the hills of La Isla del Sol over Lake Titicaca. So, we dragged our tired bodies up the imposing hill, stopping frequently along the way to catch our breaths, only to realize that every fatigued step was more than worth it.

La Estancia is the kind of place that makes me realize how beautiful the earth is, and how fortunate I am to be able to travel and experience nature. Upon arrival, we promptly inhaled some coca tea and crackers and headed to our individual cabins for much anticipated hot showers. Then we headed to the lodge for another relaxing dinner, wine, and a few brief, cold moments of star gazing.

La Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

Before leaving Copacabana, we ate a yummy breakfast at our hotel and walked to the Church of Copacabana. Outside the church, local residents line their cars up, decorate them with flowers and brightly colored decorations, and wait for the priest to come out and bless their cars.

Once inside the church, there is a room to light candles for loved ones in exchange for protection from the Virgin of Copacabana. The walls of this room are covered in wax images of houses, cars, and people, which are sculpted by local families as form of prayer. I bought and lit five candles for my family in hope that the Virgin will keep us all safe J.

After our spiritual morning, we headed out on Lake Titicaca and took our motorboat to La Isla del Sol. Lake Titicaca is so beautiful, beyond what my words can convey here on this blog, so please check back for pictures, which I will post soon!!

Our first stop on La Isla del Sol was a quick visit to a local town. Here, we walked up a small hill and learned a little about their local “Fountain of Youth.” Although our guide encouraged us to take a sip from the three water spouts, we all kindly declined.

Next, we headed back out onto the water to our next destination where we visited some ruins and enjoyed Aptapi, a traditional lunch of the island. The lunch consisted of chicken, trout, dried sardine-like fish, 3 different kinds of potatoes, chocla (corn with kernals the size of dimes), beans, cheese, and fruit.

After filling our bellies with Aptapi, we headed to another part of the island to see the Incan Chincana Ruins. On this part of the Island, we walked for a few hours up and down hills to see a few temples and places of worship. The views and hikes were literally breathtaking – Isla del Sol is at slightly higher altitude than La Paz, and we definitely felt it! In addition to the altitude, the sun was strong and we mistakenly forgot to bring water along with us, so unfortunately, we had to cut our time at Chincana short, and head back to the boat a little earlier than planned.

Her Name was Lola …

This weekend, we said goodbye to La Paz and headed to Copacabana and Lake Titicaca! We left Friday afternoon in our private minivan and drove 3 hours through the beautiful Bolivian countryside to Copacabana, a small town on the coast of Lake Titicaca. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking!! The countryside consists of large rolling hills, but because of the altitude, there is not much greenery. The hills are brown and the soil appears very dry, but apparently this is the perfect climate to grow lots of different species of yummy potatoes! In the distance beyond the hills, huge, gorgeous snowcapped mountains rise out of nowhere, which makes the climate here a bit perplexing … during the day, we walk around in t-shirts, get a little sunburnt, but if we look up, snow covered mountains are not too far off in the distance. Then once the sun sets, it’s time to break out the scarves, hats, gloves, and llama sweaters!

Anyway, after driving for a few hours and taking a ferry across Lake Titicaca, we finally arrived in Copacabana, just in time to see the sunset! Unlike the song, Copacabana is actually a small, sleepy, religious town on the coast of the gorgeous Lake Titicaca. Before dinner, we walked around the town and had some traditional Bolivian treats – Api and Bunuello. Api is a hot, thick, sweet, purple drink made from corn. The taste of Api is reminiscent of hot apple cider with a starchy texture of thin yogurt. Bunuello is a cross between a zeppole and a doughnut, drizzled with a sweet honey-like glaze – sooo delicious!

After our pre-dinner treat, we headed back to Hotel Gloria and had a relaxing evening of dinner, wine, and stunning views of the lake. Tired from our travels, we hit the sack pretty early and rested up for our next adventures …

First Week of Spanish Lessons and First Week in Hospital del Nino!

Wow, speaking only in Spanish for two straight hours is taxing on my brain! After every Spanish class, I feel mentally exhausted, but also a sense of accomplishment. My Spanish teacher, Cynthia, is nice but very strict when it comes to the rule of “No Ingles!” Although the topics we cover in class are pretty basic, such as when to use Usted vs. Tu and how to congujate verbs in the past, not using any English is challenging!

However, compared to rounding in the hospital, Spanish class is a breeze! I completed my first week in Hospital del Nino with the pediatric nephrologist and let me tell you, medical Spanish is a whole other animal!!

When I first arrive in the hospital in the mornings, I attend rounds with all the doctors, nurses, residents, a nutritionist, and a social worker. Rounds in Bolivia consist of a crowd of the aforementioned people, walking from bed to bed discussing the progress and treatment plans of the patients in the unit. In addition, the resident pushes a little table on wheels and types the notes dictated by the attending physician on a typewriter (!!!). This is similar to rounds in the U.S., however in Bolivia, there is no such thing as patient privacy – not even curtains separate beds to provide the illusion of privacy. Here, everyone in the unit can hear every detail of every other patient.

In addition, this past week was the 37^th anniversary of Hospital del Nino, so I attended a special conference covering numerous lectures on various pediatric health issues. It was hard for me to follow the discussions as they spoke very quickly and used complicated medical terminology. I’m trying to remain optimistic that this will become easier with time, but unfortunately, I’m starting to realize that four weeks is not enough time to really get a handle on Spanish.

Random Post of Thanks! :)

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to thank you all for following my blog! Keeping you updated makes me feel connected to home! :)

Also, muchas gracias for all your concern. I am happy to report that everyday, I am becoming more acclimated to the altitude:

• Day 1: Near fainting in airport, oxygen therapy, throbbing headache
• Day 2: Minor headache, tingling fingers from Diamox (altitude sickness med), short of breath when walking
• Day 3: Headache completely gone! Stopped taking Diamox (didn't like the tingles), only short of breath when walking up steep hills or walking too fast (like a New Yorker)!
• Day 4: Acclimated (mostly)! Considering joining a gym to work off these huge almuerzos!! :)

I have also noticed that my casual Spanish skills are improving day to day. I can now hold a basic conversation with my host family without getting blank stares in return!

Also, I hope to add some pictures soon, but I've been so busy running around the city, I haven't had many opportunities to have a tourist moment. But I promise, pics will appear soon!

Miss you all!!

♥ xoxo ♥,

Mallory (pronounced by Bolivians as "Mahl-yor-dee")

First day at Hospital del Nino!!

Wow, Hospital del Nino made quite an impression on me! I don’t quite know what I was expecting, but the hospital was a lot older and poorer than I imagined. I realize that may sound a bit elitist, but I want to give you my honest impression. The building is pretty old and the hospital units look like they are out of a movie from the 1920s. There are large open rooms, with beds in a row along both sides of the room. There are no IV pumps, no central lines (even for chemo), and even general supplies are very limited.

Regardless of the appearance of the hospital, however, the children are the same here and back home – they love to smile and play, and they also get the same diseases (for the most part). Also, the doctors and nurses here are very professional, very smart, and have excellent bedside manners!

I was assigned to a pediatric nephrologist for the week. After rounding on the floors, I went with la doctora to her out-patient consults. We saw a lot of children with recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney stones, a couple of cases of hydronephrosis, and a severe case of phimosis leading to secondary urinary tract and renal infections. (For those who are not medically inclined, those are basically problems with the kidney-urinary system). Despite my poor medical Spanish abilities, the doctor was very welcoming and even had me write some of the notes – in Spanish!

Orientation and Spanish Assessment

We had our orientation yesterday with Gonzalo. He gave us a mini tour of the area, handed out our clinic schedules, and then briefly talked about safety while in Bolivia – very short and sweet.

Later in the afternoon, we took our Spanish assessment, a test to determine our level of language classes. On the written section, I surprised myself and did better than I thought I would! I was able to read the passages and understand the written Spanish; however, I totally fumbled on the oral exam!! He asked me about past vacations and my future plans – I can definitely get my point across, but my verb conjugations definitely leave something to be desired! We were each assigned a teacher, and will have 2 hours of one-on-one Spanish lessons Monday through Friday.

After our Spanish test, we met our local Medical Director, Doctora Cecilia. She gave us a lecture on the insurance system in Bolivia – very complicated, but so informative. A major problem in La Paz, if I understand correctly, is children are only covered under the public insurance plan until age 5 years. After that, Bolivian children lack insurance until (and if) they attend college or start working and obtain insurance through their employers. Although public hospitals like Hospital del Nino will not turn away a child without insurance, he or she may not receive all the care they would if they could afford it. :(

Gooooooooool!!!

So, I have met all the other CFHI participants: Marissa, Erica, Joanna, and Annie. Last night, we went out for dinner at a local restaurant (a very cheap local restaurant) and got to know each other a little bit. Luckily, Marissa has already been here for a month with CFHI, and Erica has been here for a week taking Spanish lessons, so they have a lot of valuable knowledge to share – especially when it comes to navigating the city.

Everyone is very nice and enthusiastic about being here in Bolivia, so it’s great to have them around! Also excitingly, everyone is game for taking weekend excursions to different areas of Bolivia. So we have already started to plan a trip to Lake Titicaca for this weekend! We still have to iron out the details, but I am so excited!

Today, we went to a local futbol game at Estadio Hernandez Siles! The La Paz team, “The Strongest” beat the rival team, “Real Mamore” 3-0! I enjoyed experiencing the local culture, but I can see why Bolivia did not have a team in the World Cup ...

Anyway, I don’t know if it’s the altitude, or just the adjustment to travelling, but I’m beat and I’m going to hit the sack now (even though it’s only 9:30pm). So adios for now!

Almuerzo (lunch)!

In Bolivia, lunch is the main meal of the day. Almuerzo is the largest meal of the day and serves as time for families to spend together -- many Bolivians are able to go home from their jobs for almuerzo and even a brief siesta! As Senora explained, Americans are overweight because we eat large meals for dinner then go right to bed! Haha!!! – But sadly, she is correct.

For my first almuerzo, I was served a large bowl of sopa (soup), which I graciously slurped down, thinking that was the menu for the day. However, after finishing the sopa, the family brings out a full plats of rice, beef, fried plantains, and tomatoes – ack! I was pretty satisfied after the bowl of soup, but of course, this is my first meal with the family, so I eat every bit of it to avoid bad impressions.

I’m going to have to learn a polite way to kindly turn down offered food as I am not accustomed to eating that much midday!

Meeting the homestay family!

At the airport, when retrieving my luggage, there was another girl looking for her bags as well. I immediately recognized the CFHI letter that she was holding in her hand and introduced myself to Joanna. Together, we found Gonzalo and headed to our respective homestay families.

After dropping Joanna off at her lovely apartment, we pull up in front of a large gated house, where Gonzalo says, “This is you!” My host mother greeted us at the gate and gave me a kiss on the cheek – what a warm welcome! She seemed about my mother’s age and my first impression was that she could have been the mother of any one of my friends back home.

Once inside, I immediately noticed that they have the same area rug that Peter’s parents have in their living room back home in Long Island –haha!! I took this as a good sign and immediately felt a sense of home – yes, all because of that green rug (I'll try to sneak a pic of it at some point)!

As Gonzalo and Senora (as I call her) exchanged some pleasantries, I looked around at my home for the next month and was impressed by how nice it was! I told Senora about my little ordeal at the airport, so she fed me some coco te (the local remedy for altitude sickness) and panitos (little breads), then took me up to my room and told me to sleep because “No se puede dormir en el avion! Es impossible!”

My bedroom is on the top floor of the house. I have a twin bed, a nice big window, a desk, and a wooden armoir all to myself. I share the floor with the family’s 16 year old son. His bedroom is next to the bathroom and across the living area from my room.

After settling in, I feel comfortable here, but I am still trying to figure out proper homestay etiquette. I want to engage the family and learn from them, but I also do not want to seem intrusive – after all, this is their home, which they have kindly opened up to me and other students. Yet, on the other hand, while giving them privacy, I also do not want to seem standoffish or aloof. So this will be a learning process …

Bienvenidos a La Paz! Pero bienvenidos a la altitud tambien!

Coming to La Paz has been quite the experience so far! After taking off a bit late from Miami, I had a restless sleep on the red eye to La Paz. Upon arrival in Bolivia, I immediately felt the effects of the altitude!! Most noticeably, my heart was beating a little faster and harder than usual and I had minimal traces of a headache.

After exiting the airplane, there was a long line for customs and tourist visas (tourists visiting Bolivia must “apply for,”aka purchase, a visa for $135 USD). About halfway through the snaking queue, I realized I was about to faint! – You know the feeling: hearing decreases, vision goes white, blood drains from your head, the cold sweat begins, and then stomach pains join the mix. So, I grabbed the arm of the man standing in front of me and said “I’m going to pass out!” Luckily he was a nice guy and kindly helped me over to a seat, where I sat, curled over, and dropped my head between my knees to encourage blood to flow back to my brain!

Soon a customs official came over and asked if I would like to see a “medico.” I shook my head yes, and he ushered me to the front of the visa line. Still not feeling strong enough to walk, I sat back down in a chair and assumed my curled over position. Finally, after all my paperwork was completed and I paid my $135, I was assisted to the area for “Oxygen Therapy.” I collapsed onto one of the stretchers and graciously accepted the oxygen mask. All the while, the doc was checking my pulses, my oxygen saturation, etc. I couldn’t help but think, “oh my gosh, I'm going to be sent home after a brief 20 minutes in Bolivia!"

Luckily, after a few minutes on oxygen, I felt good as new, relieved, and slightly embarrassed. After leaving the medic station, the long line of passengers had cleared out, and I set out to retrieve my bags and meet our local CFHI coordinator, Gonzalo.

Goodbye LGA, Hello MIA!

Before I left today, I told my family and Peter that they were not allowed to cry when saying goodbye. They each strongly held up their end of the bargain and said their nice goodbyes. I, on the other hand did no such thing. Although I wouldn’t say I cried, my departure was definitely a tearful farewell. Nevertheless, I gave my hugs and kisses, and got on the security line to quickly regain my composure and start my solo journey to Bolivia.

I anticipate a month of excitement, nervousness, growth, and perhaps a little self-discovery – or as much as one can learn about the self in 4 weeks. Ok, so that was my brief philosophical moment.

Now, I am in Miami International Airport, passing a three hour layover before boarding the final leg of the trip: “The Red Eye” to La Paz!! Buenas noches Estados Unidos! Buenos dias Bolivia!

Bolivia Bound! (Departure Date!!!)

I am Bolivia bound! Well, not yet exactly, but today is my departure date!! Ahh!

The last few days have been crazy!! I completely underestimated how long it takes to run around New York City, going from store to store for last minute shopping. Thus, needless to say, I unfortunately did not have time to relax on the beach.

I must say, there are two things I am not good at when it comes to traveling (and probably life in general) ... 1. I can not make quick decisions. I tend to think about every little thing and double and triple guess every choice I make. And 2. I overpack. A lot.

So, the next 2.5 hours will be spent editing my luggage and trying to calm the nerves! Then it's off to the airport

... Bolivia here I come!!!

Semester = Done! Next up = Bolivia! (4 days until departure)

The summer semester has finally come to a close, so now I can really start preparing for Bolivia. I cannot believe I am leaving in 4 days!! I found out my host family's name and address today, so it is slowly becoming real ... Now, there is a place and a name, and soon there will be a face to the name! :)

Although there is still so much to do (including mental preparation), I am going to try to take it easy over the next few days and enjoy my first and last few days of summer vacation in New York. Somehow, amidst the packing, I hope to squeeze in last minute shopping, dinner with friends, dinner with family, beach, and relaxation!

Okie dokie ... time for me to get to my jam-packed schedule -- Hasta luego!!

"Hay tortugas en mi reloj!" (There are turtles in my watch!)

I decided that I should have a watch in Bolivia, so I bought a new one today! Since I work in settings where I am exposed to lots of germs, and I constantly have to wash my hands, I prefer to have two watches: one for clinicals and one for other occasions. However, my clinical watch recently stopped working, so I was on the hunt for a new one.

Clinical watches can not be any old watch ... A clinical watch should be made of material that can be easily washed, should be waterproof, and cannot rust or provide a breeding ground for bugs and germs! And most importantly, a clinical watch must have a second hand!!

Taking all these must-have features into account, I decided to buy myself a classic Swatch Watch. In addition to meeting all the aforementioned criteria, Swatches also have adorable designs that are perfect for pediatric settings! The particular watch that I chose features a sun on the face and five cute turtles (or tortugas) on the band. This watch will hopefully serve as entertainment and/or distraction for children in clinic.

By the way, Peter and I named each turtle on the watch from top to bottom. Please say, "hello" to Pablo, Eduardo, Miguel, Javier, and Bob! (... and yes, this ridiculousness demonstrates why I am in pediatrics)!

"Taking care of business"

I really should start keeping a list of everything that needs to be done before I leave. There are so many silly things that I might accidently overlook.

For instance, today I put my gym membership on hold, which means I will only have to pay about 25% of the regular membership price for the time when I won't be utilizing the facilities. Other things that need to be done: tell credit card companies I will be abroad, so they won't freeze my account while I'm away, leaving me stranded with no money (like they did in Iceland, thank you very much BOA), give rent money to Peter, prepare documents for my visa, buy medical supplies like gloves, masks, et cetera et cetera, blah blah blah ... yawn!

Oops! This post is turning into a boring stream of consciousness/mental to-do list, so I'll switch gears and get back to more exciting topics ...

We had another Spanish lesson on Wednesday night, which involved role playing nurse/patient scenarios. Although complete details will not be divulged, Glenn created multiple situations, some involving a "sexy" nurse and a sexy "nurse." Haha oh Profesor Glenn, your "role-playing" definitely keeps things interesting -- (Note: these scenarios were diaglogue only)!!

I've also realized that my comprehension of Spanish far exceeds my ability to speak and build grammatically correct sentences. So, here's to keeping fingers crossed that I won't drown in Bolivia!

"Departure date sneaking up!" (2.5 weeks until departure)

Well, I am now 2.5 weeks away from leaving for Bolivia and I don't think it has quite hit me yet. I have so much to do, but with classes and clinicals, I've barely had time to think about preparing.

Luckily, I have already received my recommended vaccinations (Hep A, Yellow Fever, and Typhoid) and I've obtained prescriptions for all the diseases that I hopefully will not encounter: malaria, altitude sickness, and traveler's diarrhea. -- What a surprise ... Nurse Mal has taken care of all her healthcare needs!

My Spanish skills are slowly improving, but I anticipate quite a bit of culture/language shock upon arrival. Thus, despite my best efforts, I have a feeling my departure date is going to sneak up on me like a ninja! :) Ack!

"Spanish Lesson 1"

We had our first official Spanish lesson last night with Profesor Glenn. :) It was so much fun and very exciting! One can only learn so much by listening to podcasts. There is nothing like building sentences and asking questions to a fluent Spanish speaker. After only one lesson, I feel encouraged that the more I speak, the more confident I will become in my language ability.

Thanks, Glenn. You are awesome.

“Estoy aprendiendo espanol!” (1 month to departure)

My departure date is quickly approaching and the nerves are really starting to kick into gear! No, travelling solo is not what makes me most nervous. In fact, I am fairly certain that I will find my way there, will be safe, and will learn a lot. What makes me most nervous is the potential communication barrier that will exist between myself and everyone else there! My Spanish language skills definitely leave something to be desired, so it is time to cram!

For the past few weeks I have been downloading and listening to podcasts for learning Spanish. These lessons have prepared me with basic Spanish language skills: I now know how to ask where places are, how to inquire about prices, and perhaps how to discuss the weather or other pleasantries. However, I don’t quite feel prepared to live in a country with a host family or speak with local doctors and patients about complicated health issues … hence, the nerves!!

Luckily, a friend has kindly agreed to tutor Heather and me in Spanish. Did I mention this friend is a Harvard graduate and has created amazing powerpoint slideshows for our lessons? I believe I am in good hands and these additional lessons will jumpstart my language skills to the next level, or shall I say al siguente nivel!

Welcome to Mallory Goes to Bolivia!

I have never had a blog before, so I am excited to start this one.

I will be leaving for La Paz on August 6, and I am hoping this will be a good way for keeping friends and family updated while in Bolivia. So, check in here for updates, pics, and stories.

Thank you for visiting and enjoy! ♥