Parasitology Course with Mike Levy

So I was really happy and greatful to have my parasitology professor from NCSU come to Nicaragua just to help with some of the fundamentals of my project. Dr. Mike Levy you are the greatest for enduring the Nicarauguan heat and various adventures that we had along the way. I will always be greatful. The parisitology course review was great and I feel as if we made some great progress along the way.

Mortar Bombs, Tear Gas and Burning Buses. Oh My!

One of the things that I have not written about is the strikes that have been ongoing in the country primarily in Managua. The bus drivers and the public hospital physicians have been at this for a while in order to earn better wages. For me the whole thing reached a scary height in May when I, by chance, happened to be at one of the universities and actually saw this bus on fire. And yes there actually were mortar bombs, and tear gas. Mom I am sure that you could have done with out all of this news. Because if you had know you might not have come to visit me :)

To know more in English

http://www.americas.org/item_25037

June 6, 2006 - Consumers Plan Massive Protest While Authorities Fail to Provide Solution to Energy Crisis; Violent Protests Against Bus Fares Continue After Short Ceasefire;

April 12, 2006 - Fifty Percent of Buses Back on Managua's Streets;

April 5, 2006 - Frustration for Managuans as City Bus Stoppage is on Again

February 22, 2006 - IMF and Business Group Reject Tax That Would End Bus Strike;


And if you can read the Spanish
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2006/mayo/25/noticias/nacionales/119551.shtml

http://www-ni.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2005/abril/21/ultimahora/

May - Costa Atlantica

Nicaragua is a very diverse place ethnically. There are Nicaraguans of European descent (mostly Spanish, German, Italian and French), and European an indigenous peoples. Nicaragua's pre-Columbian population consisted the Nicarao people and six other ethnic groups including the Miskitsos, Ramas and Sumos along the Caribbean coast. About 9% of Nicaragua's population is black, or afronicaragüense, and mainly resides in the country's sparsely populated eastern or Atlantic coast.

Among this African, Coastal population English is widely spoken. Due to the African influence, in the East Coast, there is a different kind of music and dance called 'Palo de Mayo', or Maypole, which is celebrated during the Maypole Festival, during the month of May. The music is sensual with intense rhythms. The celebration is derived from the British Maypole for May Day celebration, as adapted and transformed by the Afro-nicaraguans on the Caribbean.

The photos are a snapshot into my trip to the coast ( 16hrs by bus and then speed boat, $20) during this May Pole celebration.

 

April - In search of Nicaraguan Rotarians

One of the things that is taken very much for granted when one speaks a language well the ability to receive directions, find places, and make appointments.

It has been exceedingly difficult for me to find the Rotarians in Managua. I was very excited when I had great luck and found the Rotarians in Granada. I have made some efforts that looking back to me are just comical and I figured I would tell the story.

The Rotarians in Managua meet in the Hotel Crown Plaza on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. This is the information that is posted on the Rotary website. What is not posted is that they are not always there every Thursday at 7:00pm.
Over the course of my initial efforts I have made 3 unsuccessful trip in which I dress very nicely ( my mother would have been proud) and arrived with business cards, banners, speech, and smile well prepared. All to no avail.

On one of these failed attempts I made and initial call to confirm location and time and such, knowing how difficult it can be. The person on the phone indeed told me that I had the direction, time and day confused. I was excited and wrote everything down including, directions on how to arrive. Only when later reviewing everything with a friend I found out that I had called the wrong city in Nicaragua. I had called the Rotary Club of Leon.

I am not yet discouraged but I am getting there.

April - Semana Santa

This is a weeks long vacation basically for the entire country...
Well not really. Since it is a very catholic country their are various saints that are celebrated. It is supposed to be a holy week but there is a lot of commercialism and everyone goes to the beach and makes a big party. It can be very dangerous because there is a lot of drinking and driving. I decided to avoid the crowds and stay in Managua. Really I had mis- understood an appointment and had no plans because I wrote the wrong date down. At the very end of the week I went to San Marcos with friends to get to know this little town.

April - UCC

For the month of April I bought an Agenda. Everyone here has these great leatherbound books that they use to write in and take notes. I was jealous so I went out and got one. It is brown leather with maps of Nicaragua and various cultura photos inside. It is the main reason I can go back and have an actual record of what I did, what course I attended, or what cases were in the hospital.

For instance there was a spay and neuter course called " Rapid Microsurgery Techniques" given by a group of Cosatarican veterinarians. It was a 2 day seminar with the highlight comming where the faculty got to particpate and sterilize roughly 30 animals on the second day of the course applying the techniques that we had learned. It was very cool.

Aside from the small animals I also had a chance to work with some large animals at the university farm. This course was provided by the instructors and delt with basic animal handling skills for the students. The professors and I went out a day ahead to prepare for the course. I had a chance to palpate various cows ( yes with a glove that had a very long sleeve) to determine if they were pregnant or not. This is definately a skill that comes with practice.

In addition to these courses the university has a clinic that sees a lot of very interesting cases. The thing I like most is that some of the cases are completely not what I would expect to see in the States. Such as the growing puppy with protien deficiency. Most of the food that the animals eat here is prepared at home. There are also not many comercial foods here and the quality of these foods is questionable. Also getting to practice using all of my senses to diagnose a disease is a skill not necessarily taught in the states or even one that can be developed because there is so much technology readily avaliable.

All in all the clinic was a welcome distraction when I was frustrated by the inertia of my project. I got to learn and practice as well as share my knowledge and skills with the other veterinarians and students here.

New Leaf...

Wow! So much has happened. It has been a long time since I have posted to this blog. Instead of squeezing everything into one entry I am going to break things up so that everyone gets the feeling for what has been going on over time. I will be reviewing my personal journal and posting things at least 2 times per week until I am up to date. Continue reading and posting. Enjoy!