2013 BN Duke International Summer of Service: Quito, Ecuador

Natalie Williams, Class of 2015

Fundación Tierra Nueva

La Clínica de la Mujer My second internship was at a women’s health clinic in central Quito, where I spent time assisting gynecologists, obstetricians, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, and surgeons. On a daily basis I would help out in the neonatology ward (normally feeding and cleaning the babies), take electrocardiographs and ultrasounds of expecting mothers, and measure babies’ heart rates. I also shadowed several surgeons and was able to witness Caesarean sections, normal births, hysterectomies, myomectomies, and breast tumor surgeries.

Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador Facts: •  Capital City: Quito •  Government: Republic •  Religion: 80.44% Roman Catholic, 11.30%

Protestants, 7.94% atheists, 6.97% other, 1.29% Jehovah’s Witnesses

•  Languages: Spanish, Quichua, Shuar •  Health:

•  Childhood Mortality (per 1000 live births): 24 •  Child malnutrition rate: 25%

People & Lessons

Exploring the Beauty of Ecuador On the weekends I took advantage of living in the prettiest country I have ever visited and did a lot roaming around Ecuador. The first weekend I visited Quilatoa, the most Western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The same weekend I visited several indigenous villages about 2-3 hours outside of Quito. Another weekend I took a night bus to the Ecuadorian coast for a day, and another weekend I visited a town called Misahuallí where wild monkeys were running around everywhere. The other weekends I explored Quito and spent time getting to know my host family. In between all of the exploring, I managed to take a salsa and a cooking class, too!

Special Acknowledgements Thank you to the following individuals and organizations for all

their support : •  BN Duke Scholarship Program •  Jenny Wood Crowley •  Charlie Thompson •  Sarah Stacke •  Pablo Proano •  The Marcillo Family •  Bethzaida Fernandez •  Michaella Thomas

Fundación Tierra Nueva (“New Land Foundation”) is a large nonprofit organization founded by the late Father José Carollo, an Italian priest. Tierra Nueva began as a social services center for Quito’s poorest citizens—many of whom are concentrated in the southern half of Ecuador’s capital city. At present, Tierra Nueva is comprised of an outpatient medical institute with 26 specialties, a fully functioning medical hospital with 148 beds, a mobile medical unit, a school for developmentally disabled youth, two daycare centers, a legal services center, a microcredit institution, and social work department. During my time at Tierra Nueva, I mostly worked in physical therapy. My tasks included electrotherapy, ultrasound, laser, and magnetic therapy. I also assisted in x-rays and daily exercise routines with the patients.

During my time in Ecuador, I stayed with a host family in Quito. The Marcillo family consisted of a father, mother, and a fifteen-year-old daughter, and I honestly don’t think I could’ve been luckier with my placement. Even though my flight got delayed when arriving and I showed up knocking on their door at 4 a.m., they welcomed me into their home and made me feel like a member of the family. The Marcillos took me on daytrips around Quito and other cities, taught me about Ecuadorian food and culture, and were always so patient and helpful with my Spanish. However, these weren’t the only amazing people I met during my time in Ecuador. I became really close with everyone I worked with at Tierra Nueva, especially two of the patients. One patient even invited me to her house for lunch every week. I could write a book on all of the amazing people I met in Ecuador, and all of the lessons they taught me. Some of the biggest lessons I learned were not to be hesitant of forming relationships with those around me, not just trying to get to know a community, but letting them get to know me, and to be “tranquíla”—aka relax and don’t worry!