Witnessing Injustice

September 3, 2011

         Today Sister Juanita took Kyle and I out to tour Hospice, where I will be working, and other services offered by a program that she works for. We were able to see different libraries, day cares, primary schools, collegiate programs, and safe houses.

         Hospice is absolutely beautiful, and I am ecstatic to work there. She has done an incredible job with it, and I can’t wait to be a part of the Hospice team!! The building itself is very clean, with 2 different wings of patients and multiple gardens outside. There is an entire interprofessional team there; doctors, nurses, psychologist, social worker, nutritionist, physical therapy. Along with the Hospice building, there is also an external Hospice team that meets at 8am Monday-Saturday and goes out into the community. This is what I will be doing. Going into people’s homes and cleaning wounds, changing dressings, starting IVs, giving medications and vaccinations, bed baths, family education, etc. We go out in teams of 2 nurses. I am really anxious to start working, but nervous at the same time. I am ready to be nursing again and be out in the community learning more about the people of Chimbote and forming relationships with families and my co-workers, but I am also nervous about the language.

A photo of the squatter community

         While we were driving around, Sister Juanita told us about a neighborhood we were driving by and how there was a huge panic because all of the people living there (about 300) had a week to move out. They were a squatter community that the government gave 3 weeks to find a new home, thus they are all being displaced. Driving by we saw mothers carrying babies, kids playing in the street, an old man sleeping on his porch. It was frustrating to think that the government is just removing all of these people from their homes and their lives, and not even helping them to find another place to go. It is easy for the political officials in their nice clothes in their nice offices, far away from this community in Chimbote, to thoughtlessly sign away these people’s neighborhood… but what about these individuals who literally have no where to go?? What happens to the babies, the children, the old man on his porch?? I am sure they don’t know where they will be sleeping in a week from now. All I know to do is pray for him.

The prison to the right

         We also toured Cambio Puente, where Kyle will be working. The largest prison system in the area is there. This prison is highly overpopulated, with thousands more than it was built to hold. I understand they are criminals, but they are also still human beings. It doesn’t make sense in my mind to punish people for treating others inhumanely, by treating them inhumanely. To punish injustice with injustice. I understand that there needs to be consequences for wrong actions, obviously… but isn’t this just further motivating the cycle of violence and a disregard of human life??



Little by little, we can change our lives to be better

          In lighter news (sorry for all of these rants ahh!!), we went to our friend Anthony’s birthday party on Friday night and it was super fun!! Lots of sitting against the walls and dancing in the middle… but with good friends and good food and little Tequila!! I am slowly learning to not be such a Gringa and dance salsa and cumbia with out getting totally confused the whole time. Tonight we are going to the wedding of Rita’s son!!!! I think it is going to be really fun and I can’t wait to experience a Peruvian wedding. I am sure there will once again be wonderful food and lots of dancing.

         Our community is doing well still. Fidea sleeps with me every night and we snuggle. I might get fleas, but what matters is that Fidea is cozy and has a warm place to sleep at night, right?? I start work Monday and I am so excited but so nervous!! Also, the churros here are amazing and I am going to gain a million pounds because the food is so good. I went to a couple of TEFA meetings, the parish theatre group, and I really like it!! I really think I might join. Every day I feel more familiar with the streets around our neighborhood and with our neighbors (I am starting to identify my neighbors homes by their dogs sleeping on the sidewalk outside their door haha). I start teaching English classes this week too, so my schedule is all coming together!! I am excited for my Peruvian life here and to start really feeling like I am a part of something.