Ecuador here I go :)!

1996blackmax

I was asked yesterday if I would be interested in going on a medical mission to Ecuador. I work in the medical field, and we will be down there helping out little ones. I am very excited about going there. We will be there for a week, and probably working from around 7 in the morning to about 7 or 8 at night. I went to Bolivia with one of my friends last December and that experience made a lasting impression on me.

F1nut

Go forth and do good.

amulford

Excellent. Godspeed...

Schris22

Good to put your skills to a charitable use...

sure everyone over there is hyped up on world cup stuff as well so should be an exciting place in some cities...if you go there.


Chris

1996blackmax

Thanks guys . I will be going from September 23 through the 30th.

Frank Z

Not trying to be an **** (it comes naturally) but....
Why not provide some free health care here at home? Seems that the more good we do abroad the more we get kicked in the teeth.

Charity begins at home.

tonyb

Go ahead young grasshopper..do some good.These life choices tend
to mold the kind of person we become.Though I too will admit we take our shots from the rest of the world.

1996blackmax

Frank Z wrote:

Not trying to be an **** (it comes naturally) but....
Why not provide some free health care here at home? Seems that the more good we do abroad the more we get kicked in the teeth.

Charity begins at home.

Because were are all human beings.

I asked my son a question before, being that he comes from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds, what do you consider yourself son? He paused to think, then turned to me and said "a human being dad". I was taken back by his response, specially since he was around 8 years old at the time.

I understand that people here at home are at need, but the people down there are too. People here have a way better chance at getting quality health care than the people down there. When I went to Bolivia, the lack of basic surgical instrumentation was astounding. I donate money that goes toward good causes here at home. If asked to donate my time I would as well.

ohskigod

Frank Z wrote:

Not trying to be an **** (it comes naturally) but....
Why not provide some free health care here at home? Seems that the more good we do abroad the more we get kicked in the teeth.

Charity begins at home.

yeah, we get kicked in the teeth, but yet people like blackmax still volunteer for the less fortunate abroad. thats one of many things that makes our country great.

good on ya Black, just be careful

janmike

Have a safe trip.

George Grand

You go down there and help those kids and their parents out. You're a good man.

Demiurge

Good luck, and be safe.

ND13

And certain people think that American's are all selfish and only think of themselves.

Don't wander off into the jungle(there is a jungle, right??:o )by yourself, without a bigass gun.;)

Good on ya!!!

Be safe and spread the goodwill.

1996blackmax

Thanks again guys. I would love to actually see the jungle, maybe if time permits .

steveinaz

Cool opportunity, be safe...

zombie boy 2000

I spent two semesters studying at the University of Quito and there is no place like Ecuador on the planet. Think of a country the size of the state of Georgia with the rain forest, desert, beach, mountains and the Galapagos Islands thrown in for good measure. It's like four continents all rolled into one. Watch out for the altitude and take it easy for the first few days you're there. The temperature may read a "cool" 72 degrees, but the sun we'll feel like a million needle **** all over your skin.

Where in Ecudaor will you be traveling?

1996blackmax

Thanks for the tips. I was in La Paz, Bolivia in December so I know all too well the effects of being up that high. The first day we were there we went to eat at the shore of Lake Titicaca. After we ate I told the guys to keep going as I was zipping up my jacket, it was kind of cold . I then forgot where I was and ran up the stairs. Let's just say that I had to sit on a chair that was up there, and it did not look very graceful. Took a little while to catch my breath. I have never fainted in my life, but I think I now know how it feels to be pretty close to it. I kind of walked like an old man for the next couple of days. It was pretty funny trying to cross a busy street as we then had to stop to catch our breaths immediately afterwards. We did get out and do things in the evening, just slowly. I also remember the huge headache I had for a couple of days, still it was well worth it .

As far as where I am going, I have not found out yet. I was asked on Friday morning if I would be interested in going, and I called back that evening to say yes. The doctor was still in the operating room so I did not really get into that. I will get more information later this week.

wingnut4772

Good luck and take lots of pics.

zombie boy 2000

If you have a chance, find your way to some of the "ranches" up in the mountains. If you're lucky, you'll get a chance to see a cattle round-up unlike anything here in the States. For one, everything is completely free-range and the terrain is a jagged series of 40 to 75 degree inclines.

The caballeros (sp?) go out and rustle in a stampede from all over the mountains and it sounds like armageddon when they come through. I might spot 5 or 10 on the horizon before they go to work, but when all is said and done, it's seems like hundreds.... and sounds like thousands.

One of the coolest things I've ever witnessed. I don't even understand how the horses even traversed the terrain, much less, performed this function.

And the rain forest.....:)