I have a Namesake in Ollanta!

A funny thing happened in the clinic on Monday. I was introducing two new volunteers to one of the doctors and the obstetrics nurse came in with a man and a chart. Well, the man was the proud father of a newborn baby girl and the chart was not completed yet as the little girl had no name. So the doctor started going around the room asking the new volunteers their names and then said "Emma" (the nurse) and then they all looked at me and Dr. Arnaldo was like, "Alison, that is a pretty name and look, she is really pretty too". So this poor man looks at me with this big smile on his face, and I was like, "no, you don't have to name your daughter Alison" Which, by the way, is not pronounced the way we do but more like Ali and then Son. So the man nods his head in agreement and next thing you know, his new daughter is named Alison. So the jokes start up about how I will now have to be the Godmother! I was very amused yet also touched that I now have a namesake here. We'll see how the man's wife feels about his naming his daughter after a gringa!

Anyway, things are getting a little stressful with trying to wrap things up and train the new coordinator and deal with the influx of volunteers. We are getting about 3 health volunteers a week right now. We definitely need to put a cap on this for the future. We are just saturated. Plus, the majority do not have good Spanish skills so it makes it difficult in that they are only here for 6 weeks to 2 months and need Spanish to really get a good experience in the clinic. I am just getting a little frustrated at times. But overall, the volunteers are great and really enthusiastic. I think there are about 25-30 total Awamaki volunteers here at the moment. We are huge!!!

June seems to be the month of festivals in this area as Cusco is just one big party all the time. The clinic is only open for emergencies tomorrow and Thursday due to Inti Raymi in Cusco. I was in Cusco on Saturday for a night out with some of the clinic staff and it was craziness in the Plaza. There was a concert and then a great fireworks show. I am now prepared for the 4th of July. The only problem is that the festivities start again at 7am so sleep is very difficult. We had a really fun night out. Abby and Sydney and I were the only non-Peruvians. I was so happy because the old Intern, Elio, met us out and I just love that guy. I hadn't seen him since he left the clinic to start his rotations at the Cusco hospital.

We attempted to see the Winter Solstice sunrise light show on Monday morning, but the clouds thwarted that attempt. We all met up at 4am to hike up towards the Canteras and sit in a field for a good view of what was supposed to happen. So, what is supposed to happen is the sun comes up over the mountains and the rays come through the mountains and form this pyramid of sunlight on some fields in the valley. Well, with all the clouds, the rays had nowhere to go. So we had all been waiting around from about 5am until 7:30 when we realized it wasn't happening. Luckily, we got a second chance this morning. Marjo and I got up and out of the house a little before 6 and made it up to the spot by 6:40ish. It was a clear day and the sunrise was amazing. The pyramid of light was a bit anti-climatic though. One side of the pyramid was a bit wonky. It was still really nice.

I went with my host parents and baby Fabricio (who is bigger and bigger and cuter and cuter each day) to Shura's high school for their Father's Day celebration. The different classes either put on a skit or a traditional dance for the celebration. I was just sitting there thinking how you wouldn't catch most U.S. high school juniors and seniors out in traditional dress doing traditional dances if their lives depended on it. These kids were great though. I just love how old some of their cultures and traditions are here. Then Ana and I had dinner together and I am catching up on this.

I made some quinua and vegetable soup today. I used the chicken carcass from our baked chicken last night to make the broth. I think it turned out pretty bland but Betsy and Marjo really liked it. So I guess it wasn't all that bad. I will continue to work on that recipe at home though. I just love quinua!

Okay, I have to run to the pub quiz to coordinate where everyone is working tomorrow since the clinic in Ollanta will be bare bones. After two days of waking up before sunrise, I am beat and ready to go to bed!

I am home in my house in 10 days! Seems so strange! So much to do here before I go!