Joan and Kim with Nelly (in the middle) - the founder (along with her husband Nelson) of CasAyuda.....they keep this school going, along with the amazing staff!
Well, I have managed to re-gain my memory, which enabled me to regain access to Joni on the GO! - I tried to add some updates while on my last trip but could not get to the right place to sign in, nor did I have my correct access/password etc! So, what have you missed? Well, trips of late consisted mostly of round trips to Pennsylvania for school! However, the much anticipated return to CasAyuda, the school in Comayagua, Honduras rapidly approached, and sadly has now come and gone. The good news is it was a FANTASTIC trip on multiple levels.....
This trip included five OT students from Misericordia University (MU), 4 master's students and one doctoral student. We had a good, cohesive group. The class was taught by myself and my partner in crime, or should I say disaster, Kim. I (we) are happy to report, no political unrest (including coups, election recounts, riots, fires, etc.) on this trip. Additionally, Veronica Olicon, our clinic assistant at PTN donated her time to be one of our translators. This was great - not just to have an additional translator, but having her along on the trip was an added bonus! Of course the trip wouldn't be complete without our "in country coordinator" and dear friend, Mishelle - native of Honduras who ensures that all is smooth sailing (with or without a coup!).
This trip included five OT students from Misericordia University (MU), 4 master's students and one doctoral student. We had a good, cohesive group. The class was taught by myself and my partner in crime, or should I say disaster, Kim. I (we) are happy to report, no political unrest (including coups, election recounts, riots, fires, etc.) on this trip. Additionally, Veronica Olicon, our clinic assistant at PTN donated her time to be one of our translators. This was great - not just to have an additional translator, but having her along on the trip was an added bonus! Of course the trip wouldn't be complete without our "in country coordinator" and dear friend, Mishelle - native of Honduras who ensures that all is smooth sailing (with or without a coup!).
Our students along with Mishelle and Veronica....Kim and I are conveniently missing!
We arrived in Honduras on a Saturday and made our way to Comayagua, about 1.5 hours from the capital city of Tegucigalpa. The weather was perfect, warm, sunny, and blue, blue skies! We got settled in, dinner, etc. Sunday was a day of fun and sight seeing. We made our way out and to the waterfall, to El Rosario (a very small town/village); stopped in on a Bible study for some cute kiddos and provided them with a drink and snack and went on our way. The landscape is different in March then my usual August visit - different flowers and trees blooming, drier, and dustier.
Monday we arrived at CasAyuda to find the staff and kids happy and healthy and we were welcomed with open arms. The fun began - observations, teacher interviews, all so we could plan our interventions based on their needs, add additional information to our presentations (chosen by the staff) that was specific to the site, a student, and culturally appropriate. The MU students jumped right in and away we went....So, the week went on with observing and helping in the classrooms and in the afternoons we saw kids from the community. This year was a little different, and to make a long story short, someone else did the scheduling (not Mishelle) - which included advertising on the radio that "therapists were here" - needless to say, our team of OT's ready to treat pediatric clients had 78 year old men with sciatica showing up....not such a good match....it all worked out. One afternoon though, we saw 13 kids in 4.5 hours! It was crazy. We had two groups running clients through. We all slept well that night. On the Friday, we gave an all day inservice with topics chosen by the staff. We had some community people come as well, so all in all, a great day. The staff is so willing to participate in the learning activities, treatment activities and if I had 1/2 of that participation when I was presenting in the States I would be happy. I love their enthusiasm and willingness to "do."
Monday we arrived at CasAyuda to find the staff and kids happy and healthy and we were welcomed with open arms. The fun began - observations, teacher interviews, all so we could plan our interventions based on their needs, add additional information to our presentations (chosen by the staff) that was specific to the site, a student, and culturally appropriate. The MU students jumped right in and away we went....So, the week went on with observing and helping in the classrooms and in the afternoons we saw kids from the community. This year was a little different, and to make a long story short, someone else did the scheduling (not Mishelle) - which included advertising on the radio that "therapists were here" - needless to say, our team of OT's ready to treat pediatric clients had 78 year old men with sciatica showing up....not such a good match....it all worked out. One afternoon though, we saw 13 kids in 4.5 hours! It was crazy. We had two groups running clients through. We all slept well that night. On the Friday, we gave an all day inservice with topics chosen by the staff. We had some community people come as well, so all in all, a great day. The staff is so willing to participate in the learning activities, treatment activities and if I had 1/2 of that participation when I was presenting in the States I would be happy. I love their enthusiasm and willingness to "do."
OT time....
I am always so happy to see the continual growth at the school with the staff and the children. I am continually impressed at their dedication, their willingness to provide with limited resources and the amount of progress that I see! This was my 7th year at CasAyuda and I am so blessed to be a part of that school. It is definitely a give and take; they learn from us, we learn from them. I wouldn't have it any other way. I wait for the day when I can spend more than 1-2 weeks at a time....
So, our time was short. We had hoped for two weeks, but the university gave us one. I think next year I will stay the second week after the students leave. There is just not enough time in the week to implement what you have identified and started to formulate a plan - so, that is my plan for next time.
All that started well ended well...friendships revisited, new strategies learned, and many more memories made...the usual tears were shed, though this time I was not alone in this department!
It was a great time,for sure!
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