testing testing...

Ecuador in t-12 days and counting and i can hardly wait!!  

Last minute preparations include: 

-purchased toms to live in during the month (as an aside: dear tom, you'd better seriously donate a pair of shoes for every pair of toms i buy... those things are expensive! just sayin') 

-find sunscreen that is at least spf 3246 (I fear wrinkles now that i'm getting later into my 20's) 

-purchase an array of bug sprays containing a minimum of deet/carcinogenic chemicals 

-meet with the travel doc to discuss vaccinations and get me some acetazolamide! -continue collecting supplies for donation 

-find stethoscopes to bring along on the trip - there is no way my littmann is coming


Here is a tentative itinerary (get an idea of the adventure ahead and decide how much/if you'd like to stay up-to-date):  

Week 1: Urban Quito and Rural Mountain Imbabura Region * Move in with Quito host families, general orientation * International health conferences * Medical Spanish: getting started * Travel to Imbabura region, lodging in small indigenous community * Group tour of mountain communities, overview of health problems * Visits to local health centers and hospital * Patient care in group rural community health brigades * Individual participation with indigenous health practitioners * Visit to regional indigenous marketplace  

Week 2: Rural Imbabura Region and Return to Quito * Patient care in group rural community health brigades * Medical Spanish classes * Individual and group indigenous health care activities * Sweat lodge healing * Visit to community health center * Return to Quito, lodging with host families * Patient care in group urban community health brigades  

Week 3: Quito * Mornings work in individual clinic/hospital healthcare sites * Afternoons medical Spanish classes * Group visits to medical school and medical museum  

Week 4: Travel to Rainforest * Travel to rainforest, lodging in rainforest eco-lodge * Overview of healthcare provision in a rainforest setting * Patient care in group rural community health brigades * Observation of healthcare activities in rainforest health center * Visits with indigenous rainforest health practitioners * Guided observation of rainforest medicinal plant uses * Farewell celebration * Program concludes


so there you have it... how i intend to spend february 2013 - and i couldn't be more excited!! my ohsu travel companions are lauren (lo) and anne. i'm guessing i'll mention them quite a bit in the blog, so there's your introduction!

thanks for reading...

oh and etd is feb 2, so peace until then!