While in Peru, we are expected/required to "work" Monday through Saturday. However, Saturday morning instead of our regular clinical sites, we ventured to another public hospital a few minutes away and got a tour (IN ENGLISH!) of their facilities. It still amazes me at the work these doctors and nurses do each day with very few resources (in regards to what we are accustomed to). The woman giving our toured has visited an American hospital before and she was very aware at how different everything is. It almost made me feel shameful....below are some pictures of our tour! Nothing crazy.
This is a waiting area inside the hospital. Yes, inside. Almost all of their rooms and hallways open to the outdoors and it's quite warm. We are also here during their "cooler" months. Ah!
Their new blood bank which is just over a year old!
One of the units we toured. I think this was a surgical floor.
Going through their OR and post-op areas. These Peruvians are so nice; they don't say no to much!! I can't ever imagine an American hospital giving a tour this willingly to travelers.
One of the operating rooms. This one is used for smaller procedures given the size of it.
We then traveled into the maternity ward and this is the delivery room at this hospital. It looks luxurious compared to the one we work at!
Two little babies that were born last night a few hours apart. They are not related in any way but the hospital keeps their babies together for warmth and so they don't have to constantly use the warming lamp. I love the idea!!!
This is one room on the pediatric wing. One thing I forgot to mention is most of these units have one nurse and one tech assigned per shift. That's usually 25-35 beds for one nurse. AKA, Insanity.
ICU and their trauma room which holds up to three patients.
The children's emergency room which has 16 beds.
Oncology!! The patients here only have outpatient chemotherapy so they don't require hospitalizations. Below is their chemo room.
After lunch and siesta, we got a 3 hour walking tour of Piura! It was great to see the surrounding area and get out to explore a bit. Most of our clinical sites are here in the parish clinics, at the hospital across the street, or out in the villages.
This is a skatepark a couple blocks from the parish. We are permitted to walk/run to this park during free times.
Sarah and me in front of a statue--I think this man was the founder of Piura. It was difficult for me to understand because the tour was in Spanish and there was so much traffic and noise surrounding us.
The Marquette students in the Piura city center. (L to R: Tobin, Sarah, Alex, Lauren, Asmita, Anna, Kerry, Stef, Gen, Meghan)
While we were in the city center, a little blonde haired blue-eyed seven year old came up to us and started talking to us like we were long lost friends. It was totally hilarious; we found out she's from Arkansas but her mom was raised in Peru so they're back here for now. Luckily for us she was holding her new puppy, so we got to ham for a bit.
She was so awesome! Even better is when our tour guide started asking her questions and she responded in the most perfect Spanish. I wish she could fit in my pocket--I need her around all the time!
This is a mostly-dry riverbank that we walked across on the tour
The walking tour ended at this sweet exercise park where there was all sorts of equipment to get a little sweat going! This is Anna and Meghan on the running (?) machine.
Stef and Alex giving it a go.
A snap of the group towards the end of our tour.
After the tour we headed back to the parish for mass and a nice dinner then some time to relax. Today was an incredible day full of sunshine, relaxation, and laughter. Here's a sneak peak of what you'll be reading about (hopefully--having a photo problem) tomorrow... :)
On behalf of all of the Marquette gang in Peru, we hope that you all enjoyed your weekends and feel refreshed as Monday morning is knocking on the door. We pray that tomorrow you wake with bright eyes and big smiles just as we will as we prepare for another rigorous week! Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers!!! We wouldn't be anywhere without them :)
Love and laughter,
Alex & the gang
WOW, Alex, I didn't realize you had to work six days per week. Happy you were able to enjoy some downtime today and do some fun things.To be able to experience another country and their culture in person must be awesome. I don't feel one could ever fully gain the same knowledge by reading about it in books! You are one lucky young lady, and Peru is lucky to have you and the gang there learning and working with them at the same time. Keep on ~ keeping on .... Love, Grammy
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