Travel Resources

Background

Participation in our campaigns is generally a very rewarding experience, regardless of the capacity in which one works. While most agree that the work is fun, “work” is the key word. The hours are long and there is always plenty to do, from counting and sorting eyeglasses to dealing with any number of details which may arise along the way. While there is always a small amount of time set aside for relaxation, sight-seeing and shopping, the purpose of the trip is to carry out a successful campaign, treating as many people as we possibly can during the time that we have.

It is very easy to make a difference in this part of the world. People often lack even the most basic resources and appreciate the clinics and the care they receive from the “Norteamericanos” immensely. In fact, people often walk from many miles away for many hours to wait in line to receive an eye exam and, usually, eyeglasses, the chance to see one of the other doctors, obtain medications, etc. Those volunteers that have participated in the trip have almost always decided to return year after year, and often feel inspired to bring a personal touch to their work in some way.

The following information will help you to prepare for the trip. It is always helpful to know in advance what one may anticipate for living conditions. etc.
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What to Expect

(1) We fly into the capital of El Salvador which is San Salvador. The drive from the airport to the ASAPROSAR training center and headquarters, in Santa Aria, takes approximately 1-1/2 hours. Santa Ana is the second largest city in the country. Friends of ASAPROSAR makes all arrangements for travel (unless someone wants to make their own) and ground transport.

(2) Clinics have been held in various communities around Santa Ana in the past but more recently have been held in the city of Santa Ana, at the ASAPROSAR headquarters, and in San Miguel, about a 6-hour drive from Santa Ana. Surgery is done only in Santa Ana at this point.

(3) Accommodations are dormitory style at ASAPROSAR with rather Spartan bunk beds, but many people, particularly the surgical staff, enjoy the opportunities for interaction and choose to stay on-site. Linens and pillows are provided but if you are fussy about your pillow, you may wish to bring your own. Hotel accommodations are available nearby but cost more. All volunteers working in San Miguel stay in a hotel. 

(4) Showers are usually hot, but not always. Electricity and/or water may be shut off at points during the day but less so over the years. Bring a flashlight and be flexible. There are flush toilets (yea!!), though you must not flush the toilet paper (boo!!!). There are separate containers for toilet paper disposal.

(5) The weather is warm and pleasant, but generally not humid. Temperature is usually in the 80s in Santa Ana, but hotter in San Miguel. Bring sunscreen, and a hat is useful. Bring one sweater/sweatshirt just in case. Dress is casual. Men do not need a tie or sports jacket, but men and women will need one casual, but appropriate, outfit, such as would be worn to a nice restaurant. Jeans/cotton pants are fine for 90 percent of the time. Many people wear scrubs.  If you have them, you may want to bring them. Short shorts/tight shorts are customarily not worn and may be considered offensive by many of the older Salvadorans. The same should be said for skimpy, revealing tops. Bermuda shorts are fine. Comfortable shoes are a must! We wear ASAPROSAR tee-shirts every clinic day (if possible) in the dispensary, one of which will be provided for you to keep if you are a first-year volunteer. We try to be as culturally sensitive as possible and that is often reflected by dress.

(6) Do not count on facilities being available for laundry, except hand-washing, of course. You will be able to pay a staff worker to do it for you, but try to bring enough stuff with you to last.

(7) We are careful about where and what we eat but we do eat local food prepared by local people in typical style. Most meals are provided on site and are excellent. We will sometimes decide to go to a local restaurant as a group. In San Salvador, you can be on your own for meals but most people stay in small groups. We cannot guarantee that you will not have gastrointestinal problems but if you limit your eating to the things you are offered within the group, your chances of GI problems are significantly reduced. If you are exceptionally fussy about what you like to eat or have an extremely sensitive GI system, you may not wish to come along. Not only wiIl you be miserable but we will be short of help! Special dietary needs can almost always be accommodated, if made known ahead of time, e.g., vegetarian, kosher, etc.

(8) It is not wise to go off walking, shopping, etc., by yourself, outside of the hotel area in the capital! Throughout the entire trip, your time is generally structured, both because of the amount of work to be done and for your own safety. Local knowledge is necessary for safety and, even then, it is very risky. We do have fun though, honest!  In almost 20 years, we have never experienced a serious problem with respect to the safety of one of our volunteers.

(9) It is not necessary to speak Spanish before you go, but you will be able to communicate with the local people more and the trip will be more enjoyable if you learn the basics beforehand. “Friends of ASAPROSAR” pays for a number of translators, but usually not one-on-one, unless you are an eye professional and it is absolutely necessary for examinations, etc. Therefore, you may wish to begin early to learn key words, phrases, questions and sentences that you will need to use repeatedly in the fitting process. The “old-timers” can help you with this. Remember, this is Central American Spanish. If you are so motivated, there are really good computerized programs and CDs to learn beginning Spanish but, remember, it is not required. If you are interested, you may want to check on the Pimsleur series. Many of our volunteers have learned basic Spanish with the system.

(10) No one is allowed to come on the trip who does not expect to work in the clinic unless arrangements have been made for work in some special program. You will be assigned to a job and a job site. You will not be able to self-select on-site.

(11) Clinics will be held 6 days with 200-250 patients scheduled per day in the clinic plus the surgical patients in Santa Ana. Wake-up call is usually around 6:00 AM and dinner usually over around 9:00 PM but sometimes much later, especially for the OR crew. Days are long and you will be exhausted, hot and sweaty most days.

(12) We have learned that we need to place limits on the consumption of alcohol but we certainly encourage everyone to relax and spend time with each other in the courtyard at the end of the day. We do not expect alcohol abstinence but we do expect people to use common sense.

The primary purpose of this trip is to carry out a successful campaign and provide desperately needed help to as many poor people as we can. If you want a relaxing vacation, with a lot of time to tour/sightsee/shop, this trip will not be enjoyable for you.
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More Information Specifically for Dispensers/Fitters:

If you are volunteering to assist in the eye clinic and are not an eye health professional, you will need to be trained to dispense and fit eyeglasses. The day before the first clinic day will be an organization and training day. When the clinic opens, you will apprentice with an experienced person until fully trained. Everyone is always encouraged to ask for consultation/advice when faced with a difficult prescription or fit.

We are happy to help you to learn the necessary skills to work in the clinic but it takes significant time from our experienced volunteers and, therefore, as a general rule, we ask non-eye-care-professionals to commit to returning on future trips. Volunteering, while knowing at the outset that you will never go with us again, is a major handicap to us. We fully recognize, however, that you cannot know if you would like to go with us a second or third time until you complete your initial experience and, with the best of intentions, sometimes people learn that this is not a good fit for them.
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General Information on Costs:

The economy of El Salvador is based on the American dollar and the U.S. dollar is the common currency. FoA will advance the funds for the airfare, hotels, room and board at ASAPROSAR and all group meals. A bill is sent out to volunteers after the trip. All costs to volunteer in the campaign are tax-deductible.

Everyone is generally expected to underwrite his/her own costs. Round trip fare is usually around $600.00. Last year we used Taca Airlines and the trip from Boston was non-stop. Flight arrangements are made by FoA as a group, to the extent possible. Costs of food and lodging at ASAPROSAR are approximately $40.00 U.S. per day per person. San Miguel will be comparable. Each person pays for his/her own room and board so the donations we raise throughout the year go to benefit the project (supplies, etc.). We usually also have a group that flies on American Airlines because some of the group choose to arrive before the others or leave after the others in order to fit in a few days of rest and relaxation.

Total cost of the trip, excluding souvenirs and gifts, usually will be between $1,200.00 and $1,500.00. This will include lodging, meals, bottled water, other drinks, flight and other transportation. The last night in the country, prior to the flight home, we spend in a "ritzy” hotel (Hotel Presidente), with a pool. Bring your bathing suit!

As noted above, some of the volunteers choose to go to El Salvador early or stay on later for vacation at the hotel. That decision needs to be made at least 60 days prior to our departure and you will not have the option of changing your plans without significant penalty. If you decide to go early or stay later, FoA will make those arrangements as well. In the past, we have consistently been given a great group rate at the hotel and people have enjoyed their stay.
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At Least Two Months Before the Trip:

(1) Check your passport to make sure it has not expired. As of this revision of this document, you will not need a visa to enter the country but you will need an entry permit. A visa can be obtained easily, however, and will save you the cost ($10.00) and the time waiting in line at the airport in San Salvador for the entry permit. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to check with the Salvadoran embassy in Washington, D.C., or your nearest consulate.

(2) You will need to be immunized for typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria and polio. Check with a travel clinic on the status of boosters. You should seriously consider permanent immunization for hepatitis A and B, if you are not already immunized. Otherwise, you should get a gamma globulin injection.

Check with your own health care provider regarding malaria protection. We generally use chloroquin tablets, 500mg once per week. Begin two weeks prior to leaving and continue with the weekly dose for four weeks after returning. Many of the volunteers do not choose malaria prophylaxis and no one has ever had a problem but one never knows when there will be a first time.

Some of the volunteers take a half-dose of antibiotic daily, beginning on the travel day, as a prophylactic measure against “Montezuma’s revenge.” Again, check with your own PCP about whether or not that makes sense for you. Each year, we end up treating some of our own crew for GI problems and dehydration. We are well-prepared to do that if necessary, but please keep in mind that most of these problems stem from eating food from local vendors on the street, drinking too much alcohol, not drinking enough water and/or lack of sleep. If you become a “regular,” you will begin to build up antibodies and prophylaxis will be unnecessary but, even the locals are affected, at times, by the things they eat and drink. Their public health standards are somewhat different than you are used to.

We pack everything, except personal belongings, in enough time to have a 40-foot cargo container arrive in El. Salvador, by ship, prior to our arrival. We schedule a packing day, usually late in November or early in December, each year. Everyone who can possibly get there comes to help and we need everyone who can be there. We usually pack in a warehouse in Brockton.
We are in El Salvador during their dry season and it hardly ever rains at this time of the year.

You will have access to a telephone, with the use of a calling card (AT&T, Sprint or MCI), or, if you want to call collect (expensive), you can do so. You can’t count on someone in the office being able to speak English, if someone from the U.S. is trying to call you there. However, in an emergency. someone could send you a FAX at 011-503-447-7216, or to phone ASAPROSAR, the number is 011-503-441-0646. E-mail is available all day at our work site in Santa Ana, but has not been available in San Miguel.      

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Helen or Alan Gruber at 781-383-9780 (home) or 781-682-1060 (office), as well as the Friends of ASAPROSAR number above (usually voice mail).
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