it keeps getting better...afternoon in the andes y mucho mas!

Buenos noches a mis amigos y amigas! Santiago continues to amaze me and we are having such a rich experience here. I dont know where to begin and then same disclaimers abide that go with every one of my blogs - be prepared for my stream of consciousness and know that I just cant hit all the high points or i would go on and on for days (and not sleep but im willing to drink more cafe for the sake of documenting our adventures)


Well after waking up sleepy (Again) and hitting up some nescafe we enjoyed another full day at sotero del rio Today I went between 3 services (miscelaneous, lactantes and auguros ...spelling?). There are definitely a wide variety of patients, new onset hemophilia that presented with crazy big cephalohematoma, fulminant hep A, autoimmune hepatitis flare/sepsis w ascites, prune belly, etc. not to mention febrile neonates and altes (same here!)...again sorry non medical friends! we attend morning report and afternoon seminar every day. even though i am just learning spanish, i can understand the concepts of the lecture because its similar medical language and pictures. these lectures are actually helpful for helping me get geared up for boards studying as they have hit on some concepts I havent gotten alot of exposure in back home (GI, biliary atresia, hepatitis, hyperbili... so have no fear UAB, we are learning and working....and its so fun). Two of the interesting patients allowed me to take photos of them and we will present stuff when we get back home to our residency.  We have lunch every day with the interns/residents. We are becoming so close with ana, laura and carolina our friends from columbia (interns). 


After work today dr manchega - the director of peds program at sotero del rio, took us out for an adventure that he had planned since its one of our last days there (sad face!)...the columbians joined. we drove out into some of the most beautiful land/mountain etc area i have EVER EVER EVERY seen...the andes are A M A Z I N G. it was by far the most overwhelming mother nature type experience - notice the picture of glacier ice and bright sun in the same photo - crazy right. on the ride back into santiago we stopped at a very cute cafe and had sandwiches and wine (dr manchega had a fruit milkshake since he drove..how cute!), and wonderful desserts and cappucino). we didnt get home until 10 30 and he dropped us off right in front of our apartment and waited until we got in to drive away (our chilean dad!). wow, such hospitality. he did not let us pay. this is such a humbling experience and so heart warming. despite the junk that we see in the news and the problems we may have at work etc, it is a very wonderful world and there are people out there who always want to lend a helping hand. i can tell this is not my last international medical experience - and i think i can speak for jennifer (yes, i think we are starting to speak for each other :-)!)


Im going to try to fall asleep but with the music coming from outside our apartment (clearly thursday night begins the weekend here) and my excitement i may just be laying here but closing my eyes will at least count because we need our energy for tomorrow. this weekend will bring dancing tomorrow night, wine tasting in santa cruz and much more to blog about. we miss you all and cant wait to share our adventures in person! until then, besitos!


ciao :-) .....(cant forget my italian!)


marta XOXO