Art in el Caminito, Historical Arts District in Buenos Aires

Ricoletta Cemetary in Buenos Aires, where Eva Peron is buried

Downtown Buenos Aires

McDonald's in Buenos Aires, home of the Triple Mac

Mural Art in El Caminito

We had a 12 hour layover in Buenos Aires, so we left the airport in two mini-buses to tour the city. We began in Boca, at the Boca Juniors Futbol Stadium. At a capacity of 60,000, complete with museum, was a very impressive site. We then went to El Caminito, Historical Arts District. This place touted restaurants, art exhibits and vendors, and shops. We spent the next hour enjoying the sights and sounds, taking lots of pictures. We had lunch at a very nice McDonald's and tried a Triple Mac, like a Big Mac, but with an extra layer. Next stop the Obelisk, a very tall monument like the Washington Monument and then to Plaza Mayor, home of the Capitol, La Casa Rosada. Our last stop in Buenos Aires was the cemetary at the very upscale Ricoletta, where the cemetary is an enclosed city of mausoleums. There we hunted for the resting spot of Eva Peron, Argentina's most famous First Lady. After satisfying our photographic needs we headed back to the airport where we would begin our 10 hour flight back to the U.S.

What an incredible two weeks. The memories will last a lifetime, and so will the new friendships we made with each other. Thank you for following this blog and showing your support to OneSight.

yours truly,
Luis Santiago

Just landed in Dallas after an overnight flt from Argentina! Spent yesterday touring Buenos Aires, sightseeing and shopping, took great pics. Thank you for following our blog, will post pics from Buenos Aires and more stories.

Retun to Asuncion

The Capitol Building of Paraguay

Pizza Hut Pizza for lunch

Hand-made straw hats with all the flourish

Traditional Paraguayan Hand-made lace

Bottle Dance performed at Lions Club Celebration Dinner

Clinic Day 8

Outdoor view of clinic

Indoor view of clinic

Military choosing their sunglasses

Military Band playing at the closing ceremony

Conga line

As promised, here is an entry for Clinic Day 8, Thurs 25th. Today was our 8th and last day of clinic. We arrived early, expecting to close early after seeing 1000 recipients. We were amazed by the end of the day to discover that we saw 2061! We began shutting down the clinic, which included packing up the equipment and taking inventory on glasses. Everyone worked diligently and swiftly. Immediately after, the Lions Club of Piribebuy began setting up what would become a fantastic ceremony in our honor. The military band was there, we had dancers and a string band. The dancers performed traditional folk dances, which were really exciting to see. Afterwards we all flooded the dance floor ourselves, culminating in the longest conga line I have ever seen. We were joined by the volunteers, the Lions and some of their family. It was a bonding experience with the people of Piribebuy.

Olga, from our hotel--and Lions Club member--brought Hors d'oeuvres for a closed ceremony--celebrating the local volunteers--where we give them gifts for all their efforts. Traditionally, we give them OneSight T-shirts and pins. In addition, each member of the Clinic Team brings items from their respective home towns. The gifts covered over 4 tables. We had them line up and circle the tables, collecting one item at a time until all the gifts were taken. It was fun and rewarding to watch their excitement.

Yesterday was Clinic Day 8. We were expecting 1000 patients and were scheduled to have a short day. We did have the short day but saw 2061! Following clinic, was a Closing ceremony in our honor. We arrived at the hotel a little later than usual and had another delicious meal. Immediately following dinner was our pinning ceremony. There were lots of heart-felt feelings shared about each other and a few tears shed. Today after we return to the capital and check into our hotel, Porta del Sol, we should be able to thoroughly blog complete with story and photos.

Clinic Day 7

Outdoor view of clinic

Dr Tanaz Mohammedi scoping a patient

Dr Randy Edwards with a patient

Dr Charles Steinberg examinines a patient

2635. What an amazing day! Our biggest day ever. The temperature started at a brisk 40F (5C), rose to 60F for 2 hours and fell back to 40F. It was cold! We gave the gift of sight to over 2600 recipients. Everyone has settled into their niches, whether it be refracting, dispensing, selecting or picking glasses. We manufactured over 150 pairs of 'Chabellas'.

Some of us had some amazing experiences; "I stepped outside of the clinic and a woman who was wearing the glasses she had just received, recognized my OneSight T-shirt and she said, 'I don't speak English very well, but I want to thank you and God blesses you for what you are giving to Paraguay', then she gave me a big hug." David Stotz, SGH, Cincinatti, OH

There were so many recipients that we extended the hours of the clinic so that no one would be turned away; "We soon forgot how cold and tired we were and pulled together as a team." Steve Losey, LC, Buffalo, NY

"Our time together is drawing to a close." (Marsha Russell, Mississauga, Canada) "In two days we will be saying goodbye to our extended family--Team Paraguay, June 2009--the Lions Club member and our many helpful volunteers. The experience we have had working together over the last one and one half weeks has provided us with many memories we will cherish for a lifetime. We have helped change the lives of many Paraguayans for the better and in the process our lives have also been changed. For this I am grateful."

Although we had an exciting day of clinic today, we look forward to tomorrow's clinic and the memories it will bring us.

Clinic Day 6

Dr Jeff Harter with a happy recipient

Lions Club Banner

88yr-old woman smiling after being able to see clearly in a very long time

Dr Jane providing eyecare for an entire family

Luis Santiago with a happy recipient who will be able to read for the first time in years, thanks to two pairs of glasses

"Hi Morgan, Tristan, Ryan and Elizabeth. Having lots of fun, but boy they sure are making me work hard!! What a wonderful gift this mission experience is. Always the opportunity to help others. I tears of joy and sadness, but appreciate the experience, Love Dad." Dr Randy Edwards, LC, Chico, CA

"What an amazing experience! Hard to believe, I feel like I’m world’s away from home, yet the One Sight Team, the Lions Club members, the volunteers, and the patients all make me feel so welcome. I don’t have any single story about specific patients, ALL have been appreciative and deserving. To be able to contribute to so many others is a humbling experience and I’m so honored to be here. Want to say hi to Terri, Jaclyn, Jocelyn & Garrett back home in CA. Looking forward to seeing you soon, I miss you all." Rob Schmidt, LC, Sacramento, CA

1867! We had another very successful day of clinic. It is Tuesday, June 23rd and we can hardly believe we are on our last leg of our journey. We began clinic with a OneSight version of "We will, we will Rock You!" courtesy of Steve Losey. Our Lions Club hosts and volunteers look on with interest every morning to see how we begin our day.

Everyone is experiencing that special moment. Luis had his when he helped 77yr-old Tomasa read for the first time in years. She was fitted with a pair of "Chabella" glasses--special frames which resemble "Harry Potter" glasses and can be fitted with round lenses--that accomodate a wide variety of prescriptions. However, these only addressed her distance, which was a very high plus prescription with an astigmatism correction. By fitting her with a pair of +4.50 readers under her "Chabella's" she was able to see upclose for the first time in many years. She nearly cried with joy and expressed how happy she was that she could once again read, something she missed dearly. She is pictured above.

"I saw a shy little boy on Monday and fitted him with a pair of distance glasses, which caused him to smile really big. On Tuesday morning I saw him peaking out at me from the line of patients and wondered why. In a few moments I saw that he had brought his younger brother for his eye check and I fitted him with glasses also. That afternoon, I saw both of them in my line again, this time with their mother. It was her turn. When I examined her she told me how much the boys loved their new glasses. I felt privileged to have taken care of an entire family." Dr Jane Herman, Sears Optical, Marion, IL