Even a 108 year old likes to have good vision.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Many patients are already lined up as we arrive in Colima. We are at the same station as yesterday. There will be 5 times as many patients, so we prepare for a long day.
We all wear our T-shirts indicating that we are part of the vision Clinic volunteers.
The patients we see are mainly seniors, the poor in particular who can not afford to pay for eye care themselves.
Seeing a 108 year old lady who wants to improve her eyesight so she can sew, is quite something. We are impressed.
Some patients express their gratitude and shake our hands, hug, or even kiss us on the cheek.
It’s a great experience working with our team of volunteers and the three doctors who teach us so much. Every now and then we need to stop to allow the doctors to catch up and we are able to chat and learn about each other’s interests, Rotary involvement or families.

It is extremely hot in the facility. Large tarps have been hung to keep out the sun, but the air does not move. The fans we brought don’t help much either. Volunteers come around refilling our water bottles.
Lunch is not until 2:30 pm. It’s take out lunch, packages of beef tortillas are being distributed. To stretch our legs, and spend some time together, Ramiro and I go for a brisk walk in the heat. In Cofradia it is usually cooler because we are at quite a bit higher altitude there.

Volunteers are starting to feel sleepy but we still have many more patients to see and need to stay awake. We joke and laugh. My team at the Autorefraction Station #5, consist if Patm Francie and Jan.
Interacting with the patients is wonderful, even if it is to a limited extend.

Representatives of the department of Family Support as well as a representative of Seniors Services come to address us and present both Beto, Director of Project Amigo and Doctor Kurt, who started this clinic ten years or so ago, with a certificate to take back to his Bear Creek Rotary Club on Oregon.

The last patients come through at six o’clock, by the time they have reached the last station where they are fitted with new glasses every one is pretty hungry.
Joe is asked to drive one of the vehicles back to Cofradia and takes us and Karin, the daughter of Francie and Hal to Colima. Joe needs a headset to enable him to use Skype. Ramiro needs a cell phone he can use here in Mexico and Karin needs a power converter for her Camera Charger. She lives in Rome and her plug does not work here.

It’s past 9 pm when we arrive at the Hacienda and we still haven’t eaten.
Tonight is suppose to be the last day of the Fiestas and there will be fireworks. We are very tired but do not want to miss it.
There is so much activity on the square. Kids in the ancients rides, Teens playing fuzzball. Cowboys with their dancing horses. The bull, which is a person carrying a metal frame with fireworks, runs around spewing fire. Everyone runs away screaming.
Finally at 10:45 pm, the fireworks start. A large tower has been constructed and little by little each part is ignited, showing a spectacular array of colours.
Just as we think it’s over and are ready to walk back home. The top part is lit and reveals a beautiful butterfly. This is worth staying up for.