Friday, July 30

Warren here, it is Friday morning now and we are wrapping up the week. Since I blogged last Monday, everyday has been more interesting and rewarding than the last.

On Wednesday we had moved most of the students in the school through the clinic already and we had opened up to the public. This proved to be the point where knowing Spanish would have really come in handy. With the students I could get by with knowing “come with me” “blue line” “right eye” and “left eye”. It was much tougher to actually discuss what the problem was so we could determine if they needed an optometrist or reading glasses. I got a break and was able to go over to the Guarderia where the pre-schoolers are to help Jack and James make playground repairs. The playground is relatively new, but 6 months of rainy season every year had rotted out some boards and railings.

Now the Guarderia is about two blocks from the dump. Standing on top of playground equipment you can see the surrounding housing leading up to the dump walls. There are no dump tours this week due to violent activity at the cemetery overlooking the dump. This is the best vantage point I will get this week. Buzzards wheel constantly through the air and dogs walk about all over the streets. Men are burning the plastic coating off of piles of copper wiring. People everywhere are sorting stuff into piles. Dump trucks rule the roads. And there is the smell. Inside our little oasis, we are sawing, drilling and varnishing in front of a happy little crowd of faces pressed against the windows of the lunch room. There are also kids watching us from just a couple of feet away – but on the other side of the Guarderia wall. These are strong images that will stay with me for a while.

The three of us go in with the Guarderia to buy some fresh wood chips for the play area. We fix up some drainage issues in the tunnel and under the tire swing. We fix broken railing and replace the floor of the play fort that had broken. Apparently, the playground had been off limits to the kids recently. There are just two Maintenance folks for all three of the Safe Passage buildings. They let us borrow tools and supplies and get us wood when we need it. This is some pretty productive work.

Shared Beat, as a group, are a pretty good bunch. My cousin Marie, sums it up pretty well for me – She doesn’t mind the work, but its gotta be fun. So at night, the fun comes out! A couple of times we have gone out and couple of times we have stayed in. Last night we went to the Sky Bar that had a great view of the city and volcano. The night before we self produced a talent show. I know, I know, I should post a few pictures. The most fun place to shop has been in a little gift store run by Safe Passage that features jewelry made by local artists out items they found at the dump.

I have had a great time talking to folks – There are 4 teenagers on this trip and several young health care professionals in training. Plus several of us who do not have a health care background but can help out regardless. When us seniors sit around and talk we are very impressed with the youths in the group for all their hard work and willingness to help and sacrifice their time during the summer. All of us are nice people to talk to and work with – a versatile and flexible mix! It would be nice to bring down a group of people who had skills in plumbing and wiring to help with maintenance projects around the buildings. I’m starting a little list for if/when my wife makes it down.

That’s it for now, Warren