DAY 2: Patch Blogger Heads to Peru

Dos. I’ve become an official translator in these parts, assisting in 3-way translations from Korean to English to Spanish and vice-versa (both variations of it).

The funny thing is, it seems as if everyone here speaks a totally different language, but they all find a way to communicate with each other. Today marked the first day of our mission work in Peru, and the majority of the morning was spent handing out flyers to the locals, informing them of the medical convention we were holding later in the afternoon.

We had brought along a handful of eyeglasses and vitamins in our luggage, and planned to have some of our pharmacists “prescribe” them to the best of their abilities. Handing out the flyers and walking around the neighborhood also serviced as a tour of the region, exposing the living conditions many were experiencing.

I couldn’t capture it on film, but one of the most heartbreaking moments of the day was witnessing a little girl playing in a little ditch in front of her house. No toys, no clean clothing – just dirt, sticks, and stones. Throughout the morning, I got to meet several of the locals and share brief conversations, handing out free t-shirts and snacks along the way.

The medical expo was jointly held with a children-centered community event. We had a great turnout, complete with entire families showing up for the free food and activities. By the middle of the afternoon, I think we had nearly 300 kids show up for the festivities. I was one of the four group leaders who guided the kids around four rotating stations: movie stations, sports/activities, crafts, and snacks.

By the smiles on their faces, I think all the children had a great time. They all went home with a full stomach, daily vitamins, and several bottles of medicine.

We also urged both adults and children to return tomorrow, for the second day of our expo. On a side note – today also marked the first day I had papaya, and I wasn’t disappointed. It tasted like a mixture of pumpkin and mango, and was delicious. I was warned previously that papayas usually housed a bad stench, but I guess the ones I ate had either been cleaned out or I was too hungry to worry about how a food smelled. Anyways, tomorrow looks to be another day of hard work, and I’ll need to catch up on my sleep. Hasta luego!