This morning at Daniel Carrion I did rounds in the men's internal medicine ward. We had no one with us today, so I just had to ask questions to the med students because it is so hard to hear the doctors with their masks on and like 20 people around each patient. No joke, it's crazy how many people follow the doctors around. Today we saw a lot of cardiac problems, and more pulmonary problems like pneumonia. We're getting good at reading pulmonary x-rays by now, that's like all we ever see in internal medicine. It's crazy because they have no place to read x-rays here and the lighting inside is horrible but they just kind of hold it up and look at it...We also saw one younger teen who had supposedly tried to kill himself by drinking a lot of some poisonous liquid and had his stomach pumped. Quite a few of the patients are diabetic and have complications from that. The diet here definitely promotes diabetes. Also, the reason why we all have to wear masks in internal medicine ward is because apparently tuberculosis is really common here. Dr. Jumpo told us this is a problem because the rooms have poor circulation, just a few windows open for air, and also many of the patients are not sure they have TB for a long time because they don't have the fast prick test we have, they have to do a culture which takes 30 days...

After the hospital we went to a friend of Elena's school to do the lesson on handwashing and dental hygiene. This school was a more well-off "private" school in Huancayo than those that we usually go to outside the city. The children ranged from age 2-5, they start school so young here! Oh my goodness they were the most precious children I've ever seen! After our lesson, we taught them a few songs in English, like Heads, shoulders, knees and toes and they sang us a song they had prepared, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...hilarious!! We then went into their classrooms, I went with the 4 year olds, and taught them some basic English like colors, numbers, animals, basic body parts, and family names. They were really smart and some already new colors and numbers. They were soo excited for us to be there and they presented each of us a little gift at the end and said in English, "Thank you for visit." I think we almost all shed some tears they were so sweet. We hardly did anything for them, yet they were so so appreciative. I think we each got at least a couple kisses and ciaos from each of them before we left! I really enjoyed this morning.

This afternoon we are going to the HIV center to do a lesson on everyone is unique and promoting self-confidence in individual talents and such. We have some crafts and activities planned. We have been working hard this week on different lessons for the Dia del campesinos (farmers) festival in Sicaya tomorrow where we will have a booth and teach the community about the nutrition of quinoa (my part), nutrition of cuy (guinea pig), basic methods to filter and sanitize water for poor people with bad water and no real resources, and the dangers and harmful side effects of cooking with open wood fire in houses. Should be fun/interesting. We have already booked with a "tour" group, our driver, Henry's friends to go hike to the Huaytapallana glacier on Saturday, which is an all day hike. Hopefully I'm completely better by then because I think the glacier is at over 14,000 feet! I can't believe I only have like 5 days left in Huancayo...Our group was talking and it seriously feels like we live here now. We don't even think twice about where we are going when we walk back to our house or our daily routine. It's going to be a serious adjustment to be back in America living with all the luxuries we have and knowing that when you speak English everyone understands you! haha This trip has been like a week in a day and a day in a week all at the same time. Our days often seem long and busy, but at the same time the weeks and time fly by!