Another Hector is born

As it turns out, Peruvian babies are born in pretty much the same way that American babies are. Shown here is baby "Hector", named after my boss. We helped deliver him by c-section yesterday. So far there have been 3 c-sections during our time here. (Well, there have actually been more than that but only 3 during the day time). When there is a c-section, we hold off on one of our surgeries so that the baby can be delivered. Then we go back to our hysterectomies. Hector has been coming to Chulu for something like 15 years. Apparently there are a lot of little "Hectors" running around. The moms name the babies after him when he is here to help with their c-section.

I am having an incredible experience here in Peru. I can't begin to explain the things I am seeing and feeling. Before coming here, I had heard several presentations and seen tons of pictures of this place. None of it compares to actually living this experience. The poverty here is overwhelming. So many people have so little. You look at these little mud huts and it breaks your heart . . . until you realize that at least those people have houses. So many don't. We did surgery yesterday on someone that walked for two hours to catch a bus that then took 8 hours to get here in order to have her surgery. She is so grateful for the chance to have her prolapse fixed.

The people here are beautiful. Everyone is friendly, gracious. If you have never had a chance to do mission work or try something like this, I would strongly encourage you to try. This is not nearly as intense as the Peace Corps or those types of committments, yet it is still an eye-opening taste of how the rest of the world lives.

There will eventually be more pictures and stories to tell, but that's all for tonight. And just to add to the irony of life . . . here I am with internet access in the middle of all of this abject poverty. Sometimes the world just doesn't make sense.

Love,

Turtlewoman

Chulu Bound

Tomorrow morning I am headed to Chulucanas, Piura, Peru. Chulu is in Piura, the northernmost little yellow province. I will be spending two weeks there with Global Health Ministry . I will be part of a surgical team that includes gynecologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, optometrists, podiatrists, general surgeons, nurses, primary care doctors, and multiple support staff members. For two weeks we will provide surgical services for the poor in this area of Peru. I am *almost* finished packing. The big stuff is done, I just have to pack this computer! Hopefully I will have more pictures and things to show when I get back. And I will keep my eye out for some great Peruvian yarn and pottery. Wish me luck!

Turtlewoman

Thank you Chesley and the Knit at Night Crowd!

Wow, has it seriously been since JULY? Well, obviously a post is long overdue here and I am not going to do it justice now . . . just wanted to give a shout out to Chesley and the folks at Knit at Night for some much needed fiber and friend therapy. Outpatient rotations always get me a little down in the dumps, and I needed some company and fiber time tonight. It was wonderful to finally meet all the people I have been reading about for the past 2 years!

I will try to catch up more over the weekend. I have lots of tales to tell from the interview trail including pictures of Baby Dylan and Big Boy Will! I wish I had some pictures of Craig and Heath, but this stupid Auntie didn't have her camera when she went to visit them! Maybe C and G will donate a picture to my cause. If I don't get to it this weekend, I will probably be non-communicado again until I get back from Peru . . . leaving a week from tomorrow!

Good night and thanks again Chesley for the fiber (and retail) therapy!

Love,
Turtlewoman

Wow

Fantastic read. I felt it started a little slowly, but was very happy with the ending. I wasn't sure how Rowling was going to pull it all off without making me feel like she had sold out to Hollywood or plunging me into deep despair . . . but she did it. Since I know a bunch of y'all are still reading it, I won't say anything else at this point. I think the title word says it all. Wow.

Turtlewoman

Tired is . . .

Looking ahead at your schedule and realizing that after this weekend you will either be travelling (one weekend for pure fun, two for interviews, two for the mission trip to Peru) or working for every weekend from now until Thanksgiving. Now how this worked out this way I am not quite sure. Especially since I MADE the stupid schedule. Sigh. Ah well. . . it is all for a good cause right?

I am almost done with my month of nights. It has been a good month, but I think I might be ready to see daylight again soon. Aside from when I am sleeping that is. And sleeping is what I should be doing right now . . . and will be soon.

Interview update: now with a total of four! UConn, UMaryland, Pittsburgh, and Rochester. Outright rejected by Johns Hopkins. Still awaiting a reply from 5 schools. Keep your fingers crossed, I would really like to get at least 1 more interview offer!

Knitting update: just finished a VERY cute project which I will photograph and post after I give it to its rightful owner. Playing around with my Denise changeable circulars right now for fun. They are really smooth and light weight. Thought I had become a wooden/bamboo needle snob but now realizing that there may be good in other needles too. =-)

Now reading . . . . Harry Potter #7 . . . DUH. Isn't everyone. Okay, okay so most people are actually done with it already but not all of us have a day off to just sit and read all day . . . talk to me again next week and see how I'm doing.

Good night!

Turtlewoman

Interview Update

Here's an update on the interview front. I now have two! I will be visiting Rochester, NY (we all know how much I love Upper State New York!) in late August. Then I will head to UConn in September.

For those keeping score, Mass General and Michigan have told me that they will get back to me one way or another within the next month. That leaves 6 programs left to hear from.

Keep your fingers crossed! I am VERY excited to do some interviews, get a chance to see the different places and programs, and hopefully have some options for the Match in October!

In knitting news, I am still waiting for my new Sox Stick to come in. I made the mistake of buying a different brand of size 1 needles to try to start the second Jaywalker sock . . . and apparently they are just different enough that I knit a whole different gauge with them. So I will have to be patient and wait for the new one to come in. I am also working on some other little projects right now, but they will remain secret for the moment. =-)

In goat news, the Life Is Goat farm will be obtaining a new Angora stud this summer. His name is Arthur and he is a fine looking boy. We are still trying to figure out ways to keep Tank away from the girls . . . but he is a strong willed, hard-headed son of a gun so that is WAY easier said than done. I am hoping to get up to the farm this weekend for a visit. Just need to get a bit more sleep before undertaking the big drive.

Turtlewoman

Interviews

I have one. Can you feel me smiling?

Turtlewoman