Vision for All arranged a trip to Mexico March 30-April 15.
7 volunteers went along, including Anne as an optometrist and 4 optometry students. They brought with them a few thousand glasses that were categorized by strength. They went to several places in the Tabasco part of Mexico where they gave eye examinations and gave out glasses to those who couldn't afford to buy.
When they arrived in the morning at each place where they were to work, there were usually about 200 people waiting in line for them. Everything was usually done outdoors in an area with a cement floor and a roof to keep the sun off. Around the sides there are a number of tables (you see them in some of the pictures) with the glasses from Sweden spread out, sorted in different strengths. There were three stations for eye examinations. Anne manned one of them all the time and the four optometry students took turns at the other two stations.
After their eye examination, the person who was examined went and sat in another line. When an assistant was available, she/he took he individual to check out the different glasses that had the strength she/he needed. After a pair or two were selected, the assistant adjusted them to fit properly on the nose and ears.
On this trip 3,792 people were examined and we gave out 6479 pairs of glasses. Most of the people had not had glasses before.
Anne has taken a Spanish course one evening about 20 weeks a year for the past years to be able to use Spanish during her eye examinations. It goes faster and smoother when she doesn't need an interpreter.
We believe that these Visions for All trips are such worthwhile enterprises that we don't mind using some of our savings for these trips. I have been asked why I don't go with Anne, and the answer is that it costs too much. It is much better to invest the money in another trip for Anne because she is a much greater asset for these trips than I would be. Therefore, we are already planning another trip for her.
7 volunteers went along, including Anne as an optometrist and 4 optometry students. They brought with them a few thousand glasses that were categorized by strength. They went to several places in the Tabasco part of Mexico where they gave eye examinations and gave out glasses to those who couldn't afford to buy.
When they arrived in the morning at each place where they were to work, there were usually about 200 people waiting in line for them. Everything was usually done outdoors in an area with a cement floor and a roof to keep the sun off. Around the sides there are a number of tables (you see them in some of the pictures) with the glasses from Sweden spread out, sorted in different strengths. There were three stations for eye examinations. Anne manned one of them all the time and the four optometry students took turns at the other two stations.
After their eye examination, the person who was examined went and sat in another line. When an assistant was available, she/he took he individual to check out the different glasses that had the strength she/he needed. After a pair or two were selected, the assistant adjusted them to fit properly on the nose and ears.
On this trip 3,792 people were examined and we gave out 6479 pairs of glasses. Most of the people had not had glasses before.
Anne has taken a Spanish course one evening about 20 weeks a year for the past years to be able to use Spanish during her eye examinations. It goes faster and smoother when she doesn't need an interpreter.
We believe that these Visions for All trips are such worthwhile enterprises that we don't mind using some of our savings for these trips. I have been asked why I don't go with Anne, and the answer is that it costs too much. It is much better to invest the money in another trip for Anne because she is a much greater asset for these trips than I would be. Therefore, we are already planning another trip for her.
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2019-03-30-31 - Lots of glasses with us. Arrived in Mexico City after a long day on the flight. All cartons arrived but it took a long time in customs plus VFA also had to pay customs. We then missed our next flight, Outside the airport we bought freshly squeezed juice and tapas. We stayed at the airport overnight. Once in Villahermosa we were picked up by 2 pickups where we loaded cartons and bags on the back. We rode for an hour to Paraiso where we will sleep 3 nights. Tomorrow we leave at 7am to a smaller place and start working.
2019-04-01 - Went from the hotel about 7am and came back at 21.30. Distributed glasses to many. Just over 500 pairs to 334 people. We worked in a church hall. Church bells and worship echoed in the room sometimes. We had to try to be heard above those sounds - good laugh when it was most noisy. Tired we finished the statistics and then in bed prepared to leave at 7 am in the morning. 2019-04-02 - We are in an area with a lot of oil extraction. We get breakfast in the hotel which is very good including large glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice. For lunch 1/4 we got food at the church. 1 soup, 2 empenadas, 3 chicken stew with vegetables and rice. The program here is called "Programa de Lentes" Today we had a little shorter trip to Chacalapa. There are many fine trees i bloom with pink flowers. Some sort that is used for furniture. I get to practice a lot of Spanish here. Today we have examined more than 500 people. Had to use flashlights in the evening on the syntax pictures and on the reading tests. Macuili heter träden med de rosa blommorna. Idag ska vi jobba här i Paraiso. Vi sover en natt till på samma hotell och i morgon packar vi allt och reser 2 timmar till området Cardanas där vi jobbar under dagen och sen bor vi på ett annat hotell 3 nätter. I dag ska vi äta frukost hos en lokal medhjälpare som driver en restaurang. |
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2019-04-03 Tonight we have lots of statistics to do for yesterday and today. We did 384 eye examinations today, but Andrej believes we set a record yesterday with 556.
Today we went to an area that is dangerous to be in. We weren't to go out ourselves and stopped working at 4pm so we could get away before it got dark. 2019-04-04 Today we examined 373 people. At 5 pm we went to the new hotel. It was hot today. The sweat has run off our backs and we have been drinking electrolyte drink. We stopped to wait for the other car and bought a giant pineapple. Have never seen such a big one. The hotel is like a bunker. You drive through a gate. Then into the garage with large doors. The rooms are upstairs. The reception has a glass pane that you can't see through, with a small compartment at the bottom for exchanging keys. Downstairs in the garage is the best WiFi, so that's where we stand. |
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2019-04-05 Today we examined 372 people and distributed 604 pairs of glasses, about 70% to women. 32 celsius in the shade today and they say it'll be 36 tomorrow. We handed in a sack of sweaty clothes for laundry which we get back tomorrow.
We were in Church of San Antonio de Padua in Cardenas. Often when we go on a double-lane road and should turn left, we have to drive further and find a place we can make a U-turn and then drive back and turn right. |
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2019-04-06 We left Cardenas early this morning at 6 am since we worked far away in Francisco Roeda. No breakfast in the hotel so we stopped along the road. Papaya, juice, coffee and toast with jam for me.
We have 2 pick-ups and 1 passenger car today. On the flake were the cartons with glasses. We were 13 people today, 7 of us from Sweden. All 3 vehicles went together. Fairly good road for the most part but sometimes a stretch of big holes which we had to crawl over. We saw cultivated areas of lemon, orange, ecalyptus, pineapple and several kinds of tree orchards. It was still a hot day but tomorrow we are vacant. We will do some excursions and go to some market. We didn't do so many eye examinations today as we were in a small village far out in the country. 268 people. We got both lunch and dinner. Tonight we'll eat the big pineapple. |
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2019-04-07 Today we went 4 hours south to Chiapa in the Xualpa district. There we took 7 km trip on a tourist boat back and forth through a canyon The trip took about 2.5 hours. In addition to beautiful views, we saw a couple of monkeys, a couple of crocodiles and a statue of a saint in a cave.
After the trip we ate dinner at one of many outdoor cafés. Tonight we will stay in a hostel. 10 people in 3 rooms. About an hour's walk from here. Today we paid road tolls 3 times. About 60 - 75 kr for 3 cars. |
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2019-04-09 Tuesday we ate lunch for 250 kr - for 10 people and then I rode with Miguel who is from Mexico. He trains his English and I practice my Spanish.
We have enjoyed swimming and beautiful nature for a couple of hours. Cascadas de agua azul. In the evening we slept in a house here at the waterfalls. We have 2 rooms. We 6 girls sleep in one room with 3 double beds. Today we visited some Mayan ruins and then another waterfall. We did some shopping and I had a half hour run amidst a bit of rain. One of the guys ran with me. I've continued to ride with Miguel and also Emanuel and so I train Spanish! First stop today was at some ruins! I wandered around for a couple of hours. Second stop was for lunch at another waterfall "Misol Ha" a 45 meter high. We swam at both but the last one was the best. This evening we are in Palenca in a good hotel. It feels luxurious with seat-ring on the toilet, toilet paper and that it is even possible to flush the toilet. |
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20190410 - Today we worked in Emiliano Zapata. We left the hotel in Palenque at 6am without breakfast. Kl 7.30 we got breakfast: a pile of fruit, some yoghurt and granola granola.
We did about 470 examinations today. Anna and I will do the statistics tonight. Another warm day, but now we have showered and are going out to eat pizza. Now we will stay at the same hotel for 3 nights. Tomorrow we will work about an hour from here. We will be in a place where VFA has not been before so we don't know how many people will come. |
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2019-04-11 - Same breakfast as yesterday. Fruit with little yogurt and muesli. About an hour ride to Balancán, which is on the same river where we had our boat up a Canyon, Usumacinta.
Today we did about 400 eye examinations again. Another hot day, longing for the shower in the hotel. Today we had rice and chicken again PLUS a little cold potatoes and peas for lunch. 2 kinds of melon for dessert. Every day we also get a red drink made from Hibiscus flowers which everyone seems to like. Many people we examine have Pterygium, so we could have had with us more sunglasses. Today, the gave out ou strongest pair of glasses + 17.0. Tomorrow we have a shorter trip. |
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2019-0412 - Today we worked near the border to Guatemala - in a small village called Tenosique. Today we were 12 people (7 from Sweden). Before we left the hotel, I quickly did eye test on the four kitchen staff at the hotel, who all needed reading glasses.
Another warm day of 38 degrees I heard. For lunch we got grilled fish (fresh today) with a pile of vegetables. Some of our local assistants who travel around with us sang for us while we waited for lunch. We tested about 305 people today. Afterwards we took a small dirt road to a bathing place at a small, sparkling river. The children who bathed there looked at us pale people and asked where we came from. |
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2019-04-13 Our last working day was in Jonuta. We had 4 local assistants who interpreted and helped in giving out glasses. In addition as always, there were other local helpers who helped and served us with water, fruit salad and lunch. They also fixed the premises, tables and chairs. They also help to get the line-ups working smoothly s that people came quickly to the examination chair.
Another hot day and for lunch we had fish again and vegetables. We tested 369 people today and distributed 518 pairs of glasses. In the evening we drove to Villahermosa. Tomorrow we are free half of the day before our flight takes off. If you want to hear our Mexican helps sing a song go to www.optikeranne.se. (At the bottom of the page.) |
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2019-04-14 - Today we will fly home in the afternoon.
We had our final dinner yesterday at a different restaurant with a lot of service and a lot of food. The younger people then went off to a Salsa club which they thought was great fun. This morning we had breakfast in the center of Villa Hermosaat at coffe shop where we had sandwiches, and then we went to a shopping center. In the middle was a worship service with lots of people. It is probably finished shortly when they open at 11am. We were also to a market before the airport. The pictures here show, among other things, queues for eye examinations and some pictures of the VFA group in preparation for the return journey |
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