The last few days of our trip have been some of the most interesting and travel-filled for sure.

Wednesday is the day we will always remember as the day we took a 2.5 mile hike up a forested mountain to see a patient. It was a grueling walk, the path winding in every direction, but the views were spectacular and, of course, Dra Mendez is one who will go to great lengths to reach the patient in need. I was actually surprised to find how such a difficult to reach place was fairly inhabited, with a church, school, and plenty of livestock.

 

Pictured above is Dra Mendez herself. 🙂

We made our way down by a combination of cattle car and ambulance, thanks to a patient and her family with whom we were traveling, which is all that kept us from getting home before dark. Though exhausting, the dedication on the part of the group and the medical team was amazing.

Thursday, we split the team into two groups. Those studying psychology (Sara, Chris, Amanda) stayed at the hospital to tour the Psych and others (Jaci, Nicole) wrapped up our last day with Dra Mendez on her patient visits. The psychology team ended up spending most of the day touring the hospital and spending time with kids in the pediatric unit, while the others finished the week strong with three patient visits in one day.

Finally, we were able to discuss how we would like to see the $900 we donated to be used among the patients we met throughout the week. This proved to be a difficult task, due to the fact that most of the patients were in need of so much. In the end, our money will go toward the installation of a septic system, new beds, and other necessities.

We were sent off with gifts and kind wishes from Mendez and her team in la Clinica de Atencion Integral — truly amazing people with whom to have worked.

Friday was our one true day of leisure, as the “mom” of love and hope, Rachel Sanson, took us to one of her and the kids favorite oceanside destinations. In the province of La Libertad, the property was called “El Otro Lado” (The Other Side) and I can say that it is hands down one of the most beautiful properties I have ever been to.

Yes, we took these pictures.

All in all, it was an amazing, eye-opening, and worthwhile trip. I know I’m coming back home more mindful and thankful for what I have, and I would love to have the privilege to offer such service again to a demographic that so desperately needs it. Many thanks again to Dra Mendez and Hospital de San Rafael, Rachel Sanson and the coordinators at Love and Hope, Dr Wyszynski for his planning and effort, and the kind donations from Dra Zanetta in the Department of Modern Language and the EXL Center. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear about next year!

Continuing our trip, we were welcomed to Hospital San Rafael by Dra. Zulma Mendez and her staff at Hospital San Rafael to talk to patients and assist in  information collection.

On Monday, we were welcomed to Hospital San Rafael and La Clinica de Atencion Integral (in English, comprehensive care clinic). Mendez specializes in the support and treatment of HIV patients, many of which come from all over El Salvador to seek treatment. Surprisingly enough, we were allowed to sit in on and participate in real appointments. (Of course, not something you’d ever see in the U.S.) Dra. Mendez assessed the lifestyle and use of medication of each patient, all of whom were polite.

(Pictured: With financial help, our first patient will be getting a septic system installed soon!)

After that, we hopped in a 15-person-van and drove to the homes of various patients, some more than 25 minutes away from the hospital, in different cities in La Libertad, and in rural and urban locations.

The experience was, at the very least, humbling. We went out to the houses of different female HIV patients, many of whom were from unfortunate socioeconomic circumstances and lacked much-needed support from their families in their diagnosis. They lived with multiple people to the bed, latrines and sometimes no electricity, because their illness and the extreme financial extortion imposed by gangs left them with almost nothing to live off of. Through these visits, we conducted interviews with the patients, in which we found out about their family circumstances, the amenities of their homes and their treatment plans. Often times, the children/siblings of the patient must aid them with receiving and taking their medicine.

I was taken aback by how kind and welcoming the patients were, letting us sit in their home and play with their kids with no prior knowledge of our arrival. All of these women were strong and persistent in their own way, and I felt privileged having been able to hear their stories firsthand.

We will continue these visits throughout the week, until our departure!

More to come!

 

 

 

 

Needless to say we have accomplished our fair share of exploring the last couple days!

Friday consisted of us getting more acquainted with the city of San Salvador and the surrounding city of Santa Tecla where we are staying.

First thing, we visited Catedral Metropolitana De San Salvador, the biggest cathedral in San Salvador and resting place of Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, archbishop killed during the Salvadoran Civil War in 1980.

The cathedral was previously burned in the fifties but was reconstructed with lots of beautiful stained glass and mosaic works.

Next we visited Iglesia el Rosario, a more modern church finished in 1971. From the outside it looks ver grey and nondescript but inside are interesting and beautiful metalwork and stained glass features which make it, personally, probably the most interesting church ive ever been to.

Metalwork sculptures were features that told the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Next on Friday, we did some exploring outside the city by going to Puerta del Diablo, an amazing geographical feature.

It took a lot of climbing up jagged steps but the view was well worth it!

Here’s the whole group!

We then practiced our presentations for the comunidad and went out to dinner for pupusas- iconic Salvadoran food (basically a thick tortilla pancake filled with cheese, garlic, beans, herbs, etc.)

Saturday was presentation day. The comunidad that we visited was a narrow path surrounded by houses which led to the community center where we presented to about 60 people. There we gave presentations on the importance of hand washing, dental hygiene, and stress management. Coupled with crafts, a soccer game,  and goody bags full of toiletries to practice what was taught, it was a morning very well spent.

Here are some photos taken while walking through.

Finally, we spent the remainder of the day playing with the kids back at Love and Hope, and shopping at the local mall. More fun and group pictures to come as we work in hospitals all next week!

 

My name is Sara, one of 5 UA students participating in a 9 day service trip to El Salvador. As of about 12:30 p.m. yesterday (2:30 p.m. Ohio time), we have been exploring what it feels like to be a Salvadoran.

(Here’s where that is for those who were unsure)

 

Although it’s not notoriously the world’s safest place to be, it has many features and cultures that have already made it wonderful to visit. Upon arrival, we traveled from San Salvador to La Libertad, where the children’s home we will be working with the duration of the trip is located, in addition to the hospitals where we will be volunteering.

The “Mama” and founder of the home, Rachel Sanson, was kind enough to pick us up from the airport personally and tour us around our guest house where we will be living for all 9 days.

 

 (Here are a few quick photos of the guest house and our pet conejito, Sami- I will be sure to have more photos of us actually doing, first day was more of a travel day.)

After touring our space, we were able to meet the kids we’ll be working with at Love and Hope Children’s Home. The kids are full of energy to say the least, but they were more welcoming than anything- they would have played hopskotch and tag with us all night if we stayed that long!

Feel free to check out their website: http://www.loveandhopechildrenshome.com/

More interesting things to come!