Trip Log (Letter written April 12, 2008)

reh@knology.net — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

April 12, 2008, Saturday

8:00AM Fernando came by. Drove to El Amatillo. Roxana has classes but Suyen went with us.
9:00AM Dr. Castillo and assistant arrived. First school was Andrea Ganzales (Roxana’s school). Kida, teachers, parents waiting. Dr. set up one person to take names and one to give pills. It took about 3 minutes to realize that we would be there all morning with all the kids that shows up; students, kids too young for school, and post 6th grade. I suggested we set up two lines. Even with 2 lines, it took almost two hours to accommodate everyone. The response to this type of effort is pretty impressive; the parents know the importance and really come forth when the opportunity is presented.
Dr. Castillo insists on making these events a party so the children will see the event as a positive, party type of event so passes out a lollypop (bomba) to every kid and brings a piñata. We knew we were eating up too much time so left a loaded piñata with the teachers and went to our next school.
Second school was Jose Trinidad Cabanas. This is a small school (I think 36 and no kindergarten). Every kid was there and many of the parents. This was a much more orderly affair as the group was smaller and more parents were around. Once again, we left the piñata as we were losing time due to the long drive and number of kids. On the way to the van, we passed a stick house with 3 little kids and Dr. Castillo asked if they had been at the school. The mother said they hadn’t as the kids are too young to go to school. The Dr. insists that every child swallow each pill before the child can get a bomba, so we stood at the front of the dirt floor of this stick built lean-to with our bottled water and parasite pills while the Dr. gave the kids their pills. Once again, the appreciation for the gesture is evident.
Third school was Manuel de Jesus. Some kind of mix-up that I still don’t understand. Only about a dozen children. Fernando and the principal, who wasn’t there when we showed up, talked. We gave pills to the few kids that were there and rescheduled.
Fourth school was Policarpo Paz Garcea . The place was packed with kids and parents, and pre-school kids. This was the first time I really looked around and noticed all the kids with slightly brown hair. I mentioned to the Dr.s’ assistant that the brown in the hair usually indicates malnutrition; the Dr. said that Dr.s’ refer to it as the national color (malnutrition brown).
2:00PM Chinese restaurant in El Amatillo (noted for bad service, mediocre food, big portion). Everyone was very pleased with the day’s activities. I believe the Dr. realizes that getting all schools twice a year will be a huge effort. I reiterated our concern that a rep. of his organization attend every session as we are not medical people. I think he understands our concern (though he doesn’t share it). This is a much larger project than it sounds like when discussing it.
There is no question that the extensive frontend work by Fernando and the enthusiastic reception by the parents/kids brought this project back from the brink of death; now, we’ll see what happens from here forward.
3:00PM At around 2:45 Fernando told us that his daughter is having a birthday party at 3:00 so we rushed lunch, dropped the Dr. and his assistant off at his car and headed for Nacaomi. Fernando insisted that I come by for his daughter’s birthday party.
4:00PM At Fernando’s house. After the kids broke the piñata, I told Fernando that this was our 5th piñata in one day! Left with my apologies as the children’s party was winding down and the adults were just starting (passing up free beer on a hot Saturday afternoon; a true sign of aging).
5:00PM At the motel. End of day.

The Motorcycle Diary

Trip Log (Letter written April 12, 2008)