Nicaragua to Dominican Republic



Ahhhhhhhh!!!! Estoy en el Dominicana Republica!  ( I am in the Dominican Republic). Many of you may be confused, but no worries. There were a few complications with Nicaragua, however it was sorted out and I was relocated to the DR.

Life in the DR is very vibrant, the people are warm and the environment is very beautiful and I am excited to be able to practiced my spanish. I landed on Monday, June 4th 2018, and have officially been here for almost a week.  On Tuesday, the girls and I (Meghan and Rachell) went to the clinic to submit the remaining paperwork for the IRB and get our final approval for the research. During the rest of the week we had the opportunity to shadow the doctors who are treating patients with HIV. The patients were initially shy but warmed up to us and even allowed us to take their measurements and weights. My Spanish is not perfert just yet, but each day I am learning new words and phrases and improving my listening skills, Luckily Rachell and Meghan are fluent and help me out when needed.

We had Thursday off and had the opportunity to visit the beach. The beach we went to was called Sosua and is located in Santiago and it was muy bonita (very beautiful). The food here is also very tasty and fresh! Especially the fruits and veggies!

Tomorrow we will be going to the clinic which is about a 6 minute walk from the house to shadow the doctors once again prior to getting the IRB approved. Once this is in motion we will be conducting our studies on the patients to assess what social economic trait is hindering some patients from receiving adequate treatment or being consistent with their treatments.

Though I am not with my original MHIRT  members the MHIRT ladies from Brown University have been very sweet and welcoming to me. Today we also had the opportunity to visit the Monuments of Heroes who helped saved the DR from their previous dictator. Below are a few pictures I took with the girls, Unfortunately we are not allowed to take pictures in the clinic (which is understandable) so I do not have any to post.

Welcome to Florianópolis

Flying into Florianópolis was incredible. Seeing the entire island from the sky was unlike anything I'd seen before. The vast number of trees were littered across the island over mountains and around giant lakes. Our mentors introduced us to their beautiful city, showing us where to eat, how to get around, and what to do. They told us about their culture and what we should expect living here. My roommates and I have made a conscious effort to stay open to new experiences and to the culture, even though it may be different for us. On our first day alone, we went to the Iguatemi mall to buy food at the BIG and pick up other supplies. While our Portuguese is still limited, everyone we have met so far has been friendly to us and tried their hardest to communicate. Although it was hard to step out of our apartment for the first time, we have been amazed at what we have found here, learning as we go. In the area, we have visited different bakeries and stores, talking to the locals as we go. I have been so impressed by the hospitality the people of Floripa have shown us here. During the first day in the lab, we had a chance to meet the other students that worked there. I am excited to start my research and am happy for the challenges that await me. I know the following months will be different and new, but it will all be worth it.

Bem-vindo Brasil

Hello all, this post is from Jamila.

 My first day here, I was blessed to have a classy dinner with Professora Dora Ventura! She stopped by the apartment, fixed my Wifi, and offered to take me out to dinner. We ate at a restaurant called: Ritz with her husband, and talked about many things. Here, she provided my second peek into what I would be researching this summer.

 

The day after my teammates, Laura and Clorissa, finally arrived to Sao Paulo after a 37 hour delay, we visited the University of Sao Paulo for the first time. The girls got to eat their first fancy meal with Dora. The food was tasty, but the espresso was bitter (eat the orange skins, they help)!!

 

With day one down, the lab wanted to get to know the girls and I. From left to right around the table: Clorissa, Me, Laura, Vitor, Louise, Andre, Heydi, Maria Julia, Leo, and Diego. These students' ages range from 24 to 33. some are working on their post-docs, some are in the process of entering into graduate schools, and others are working on their Ph.Ds.

 

 The lab students were very helpful getting the girls and I acquainted with life in Brasil. Heydi spent 4 hours, 6000 steps, blood, sweat and tears to take us to get bus passes, and our currency exchanged. I learned how to ride the metro and bus lines around the city in order to get these things done. We even tasted a variety of pastais (bread pastries) along the way.

 

The first time we ordered pizza on our own. What an experience! Our Portugeese was truly tested at this restaurant: Estrella de Buntant. We tried a traditional Brasilian pizza called Pizza de Portugeese. It consisted of peas, hard boiled egg, ham, onions, and of course, cheese. One interesting fact, the cheese was on top of the toppings!

And just like that, we are in Uganda.

It has officially been over one week since our arrival to Uganda. I'm constantly in awe of the beauty of the place, and kindness of the people. Here are a few photos from our first week.

Views of Lake Victoria. A long time friend of MHIRT, took us on a tour and we were able to see several landing sights. 

We made chapati, fried egg, and avocado for dinner. 

Our home on the hill for the summer. 

A beautiful sunset that could only be captured from our home, here in Ishaka. 

Dar um jeitinho

View of Curitiba from outside the city

Dar um jeitinho

Life in Brazil is colorful and captivating. Brazilians are some of the most kind, caring individuals that you will meet, and they are constantly joking around. But this is not just coincidence; it’s survival.

Life in Brazil is hard and unfair. Many here live in extreme poverty, but it’s more than that. The government is full of corruption. Tasks that are barely an inconvenience for us, like going to the bank, can take all day in Brazil. And the necessities of life are incredibly expensive. Being taken advantage of is just something that Brazilians have to put up with. My cell phone was stolen last week, and I heard more Brazilians say, “join the club” than “oh my god, no way!” Yet Brazilians have a warmth and a vibrancy that you will not encounter in many other places in the world.

One of the ways they are able to survive this harsh environment is the combination of creativity and a family mentality embodied by the title of this post. In English, “dar um jeitinho” could be translated to “make it work” or “figure something out”. But here in Brazil, “dar um jeitinho” is a way of life. Brazilians help each other out and are willing to give, even past the point of hurting. When something does not work out the way you hoped, you figure something out. When you can barely afford to buy food, you get together with your friends and help each other out.

I am privileged to be a part of autism research at a children’s hospital in the beautiful city of Curitiba for the summer. It is a fairly large city and, according to many, one of the nicest cities in Brazil. But the people here dar um jeitinho just like the rest of Brazil. It is a way of life that most of us are not used to coming from the US, but it is one way to be more positive and thankful for what you have, in spite of whatever circumstances you are facing. While I am here over the summer, I hope to adopt this mentality. I believe it is a secret to being stronger, happier and more adaptable.

And I already know I will have to try very hard not to bring a Brazilian or two home in my suitcase….