Breasts! (well...breast feeding that is...)

So I would just like to say that Obama is now our nominee for president and I couldn't be more ecstatic!! Even though I'm in Peru, I shall still be pulling for my candidate.

Onto life at the Institute (which I can probably bring back to Obama somehow if I wanted to...). For those of you who are interested, the website for the institute where I am working is:

http://www.iin.sld.pe

It gives all the information on the researchers working here, current research going on, and past research published and unpublished.

I began working on a reproductive feeding project through Dr. Hilary Creed-Kanashiro that is currently training women to go out into the field to collect research on how women in parts of Peru are supplementing infant feeding between 6 months and 24 months of age. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women breastfeed until at least 6 months and then begin supplementing the diet of the child with a variety of food sources along with breast milk (breast fed, pumped, etc) until 24 months of age so that the child gets adequate nutrition after just receiving solely breast milk. (Yes - this applies in the states - breastfeed your children! There's tons of research out there.) The research is being conducted to see what the current practices of women are and how research could influence breastfeeding toward the positive.

I'm supposed to be helping to train the women as well...but I know so little Peruvian foods that I'm not worth much there I'm afraid. The first day was an absolute terror for me because I got thrown into a group full of women who all are speaking Spanish at the same time and trying to talk over each other to answer questions and give suggestions. My head HURT after yesterday. Today was definitely much better and I realized how much Spanish I have. I will always be learning Spanish and have a lot to learn yet...but I'm getting there. In this project I will be involved in data organization once the health workers go out and collect data from the mothers. It's at least a 3 month study so I will only be involved in 2 of the months...but I am soo excited about it. I think it is going to be a great opportunity!

I am slowly learning my way around the city...and for not having a map yet I think I'm doing awesome! Haha. My house is in Surco (a district) and the Institute is in La Molina (I have posted a map so you can see the districts) so it takes two "micros" (pronounced "me-crows") to get to work and back. I was expected to use public transportation on the first day of work but that freaked me out enough that I was able to convince people that was a very bad idea. I didn't have a phone yet and if I got lost, I didn't have a map either...so I would wander aimlessly through the streets. That would make me a liability...hahaha. One of the other professors who is staying with Dr. Penny as well took me around part of the city this evening and let me see the indigenous market and other cool restaurants and stores...so I am feeling a bit more comfortable with getting around and getting my bearings.

We shall see what life has in store for me tomorrow. Life is always an adventure.