I guess I have been here a while. I feel as though I should have I solid routine by now, like I would back in Ohio, but my routine is still in the developing stages. On Mondays and Wednesdays I do not have class, so last week I started volunteering for the equestrian therapy program on the ESALQ campus. For those of you who don't know, equestrian therapy helps patients with physical and mental handicaps by riding horses. On a very simple level, riding a horse is fun and brings joy to the patients. There is also a physical aspect to the therapy which has to do with the way the horse walks. What I was told is that the horse's pelvis moves in a similar way to the human pelvis, so for patients who have trouble walking, riding a horse helps to stimulate the nerves that would be used if they were walking themselves. With conditioned nerves the hope is that the patient will improve his ability to walk. My role in this therapy is very simple but cool. I walk along side of the horse and support the patient.
Ask and you shall..
Before classes even started I was interested in the program. I was walking on campus with my host sister one day and saw a horse and crew with a patient. I admired the program out loud and told my sister I would be interested in volunteering there. Two weeks later, once my classes started, I was unhappy with one of the classes because ON THE VERY FIRST DAY the teacher had zero control of the classroom. I took it as a bad omen and got the hell out of there. In search for another class and not one related to economy (as 4 of the 5 classes I am in are in the area of economy) someone suggested Eqüinocultura, a class where one learns all about the horse. I signed up and made friends with a classmate who volunteered for the equestrian therapy program. One day she took me to the stables and introduced me to the therapy directors and that was it. They didn't mind that I had no experience.
About that Crazy Class
You know, here, you don't always have to arrive on time to class. You can leave whenever you want and while you are actually in class you don't have to be quiet or pay attention. Logically you should, and the more serious students do, but 3 of the 5 teachers I have don't require these basic standards that USA culture tends to consider mandatory. Interesting isn't it?
Area Where the Patients Ride
Pasture on Campus
Chubby Kitty named Sonho (Dream)
Two Large Dogs
those look like horses
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