Trending with our tendency to improvise, today proved to be another time for that skill. The families were already at work and we were unable to see their children. Instead, we were welcomed into a home to look at their cuy farm (I mean cuy - look it up); it is their means of income that was established by a government program and maintained by that family. It is one of many programs that this community has created and provides its people with. They were explained to us further in the main government building by the mayor. He was most kind to fit us into his office space and talk to us during his busy day.
During our walk between buildings, we met a woman whose son had a hip dislocation when he was younger; a Dutch medical volunteer group reduced it six years ago. Now, he plays soccer, runs, and participates in other sports with his friends; however, he is hesitant to ride a bike to school because he falls frequently. Without meeting her son, the woman was asking us for ideas on exercises and things that would help him. It was a hard question to answer safely without seeing the boy at all. We had no idea if it was balance, strength, range of motion or another impairment(s) at the base of his behavior, but she clearly wanted help from us. We did our best to select exercises that had potential to be beneficial - or at the very least not harmful. After demonstrating, explaining, and leaving her a drawn copy (my stick figures cross language barriers that I can't cross myself), we had done everything we could.
We then walked over to the school to see students with physical disabilities. I literally cannot describe how excited I was to see a bunch of them at recess playing soccer. I asked Liz and Corrin about five times how to say, "can I play soccer with you," and five minutes later I felt practiced enough to ask. It might have been the first time they ever witnessed a tall, white, curly sand-colored hair girl do some tricks with a soccer ball. They were laughing and cheering every time I touched the ball and we put together some great plays! It was fun to be able play and connect over something we both love.
Recess ended and the principal and some teachers put together a group of students that they had concerns with and wanted us to help. With this scenario, we ran into another tricky corner. Most of the problems the children had were out of our scope of practice - that is to say they were not physically disabled. Whether it was memory, retention, learning, speaking, social skills, or some combination of the above, we were looked at like we had all the answers and solutions. It was a type of pressure that I haven't felt before. I wanted so badly to be able to help each of the students and teachers, but had to explain that it wasn't our expertise. They understood and we were able to end on a conversation about body mechanics when working with children. Hopefully that information will continue to help the teachers in the future as they work to serve their students to the best of their ability.
Catching a bus back into Cusco, there was plenty of time to reflect on the experience and I am more than happy to share the magnitude of emotions experienced that day in person. It is far too long to put in a blog post.
The evening was a bit lighter! Corrin and I went with Rossana to her aerobics class to rock out to some jams. We basically got to shake it, punch, run, and jump, jump, jump around at 11,500ft. :) So great! Then we came back home to watch a volleyball final between Peru and Argentina. PERU WON in 5!!! They came back to win the last three games of the match.
Alright, great talk. Sorry this took so long to post!
Best,
Catey Lynne
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