Coming to an end....

So, I`ve been so mixed up with every type of emotion as the program has officially ended and already one of my friends has left Oaxaca today. I finished up my internships but am still struggling with finishing my assignments (Gotta get them done by tomorrow! Such a procrastinator!), and today I said goodbye to all the kids at Casa Hogar where I was doing part of my internship. Although I was only there for a month, and although I really was a little more distant knowing so, I still cried. No matter what, I always have my sensitive heart and I can`t help but share it with people whether I really know that I`m doing so or not. Also, as the days are running out, I`m still thinking about the family from Mixteca... they`re hospitality and how they opened up their home and hearts for us. I have their address and so I`m planning on printing out the picture of us to send to them as a post card. Wish I could`ve visited them again!

Overall, this has been an amazing trip for me. And really, Oaxaca has become my home and I am so sad to leave this wonderful place. There`s been both the bad and good, but I am seriously not ready to leave which tells me that maybe my time here isn`t over and I`ll return after graduating. I`ve thought about maybe teaching English here, volunteering at a physical therapy organization on the coast of Oaxaca, or maybe even just taking this opportunity I`ve had to improve my Spanish and using it in the United States while I work and try to save money. We´ll see what happens!

And as many of you know, I`ve actually found myself in a relationship here with a Oaxaqueño! :) Definitely something unexpected (as I had been imagining myself single for many years while traveling and working in other countries - was my plan at least), but it`s been absolutely a blessing to have met and developed such a wonderful friendship with Daniel. I don`t even want to imagine how that goodbye will go!

And something that might seem weird but I guess was a huge part of the purpose of coming here is that I absolutely love speaking in Spanish, and I am so sad that I have finished my minor! No more Spanish classes!!! So, I´m reeeally hoping that my friends in the group will continue speaking in Spanish once we`re back at PLU.

And something that I`m really looking forward to (don`t know if everyone has heard) is that my family is coming to visit! So although the program has ended, I still have ten more days to spend in Oaxaca. The fam is flying in on Monday and we`re going to spend Christmas here but coming back to Spokane for New Years. :) And I seriously don`t know how I`m going to survive in Spokane with all that snow! I`ve been cold here when, at nights, it`s in the 40s. I`m going to be a popsicle when I get back!

Well, since I started the trip with the blog "Things To Get Used To," I`m going to finish off with a few random things that I have now gotten used to....

-I am now pro at crossing the streets here! (although I still trip while walking on the sidewalks)
-Seeing a pack of dogs run by at 10:30 at night is completely normal
-Completely comfortable squeezing into the "colectivos" (which are taxis that have a route that they drive like the buses do. It`s only about 50 cents to take the colectivos but the thing is, they fill up until there`s no space meaning you don`t get the taxi to yourself but rather you share it with four other people. So, I am now used to sharing the passenger seat with a complete stranger while the taxi driver has to shift gears with me practically sitting on it! Yep....)
-Eating waaay to much ... although I still haven`t learned to pace myself
-Walking, walking, walking...
-Mezcal ;)
-Kissing when greeting people... to my friends from the group: you better still be kissing me every time we see each other at PLU!!!
-Spending about $2 for three tacos and a coca cola
-and the weather... I`ve turned Oaxaqueña I think as I shiver when it`s 50 degrees out...

It`s funny that when I first got here I remember thinking, "I can`t believe I`m actually doing this! I can`t believe that I`m going to be here for FOUR months! That`s such a long time!"
And now I`m thinking, I CANNOT believe it`s over. It went waaay to fast and I feel like it wasn`t enough time. But now, because of this Oaxaca adventure, new doors have opened up. And while I thought I had my life a little planned out, while I practically had a list of how things were going to turn out and all I had to do was check them off, I have been completely inspired by what I have experienced here and with the people I have gotten close to. I now see endless possibilities and I feel a certain force pushing me forward. I am so excited to see what life brings me and what I end up doing because of Oaxaca. From the time I went to Tijuana when I was 16 to when I suddenly went to Tonalà for a month two years ago ... and from then until now, when I had thought I was going to study abroad in Spain but suddenly changed to Oaxaca, I have felt drawn to Mèxico. I`m not exactly sure why, still, but I really do feel like I`m being pushed and pulled in different directions and I believe Mèxico happened for a reason. I`m so excited for the future (a little nervous at times too), but once again I`ve been reminded that sometimes you can`t plan the way your life is going to turn out but rather you have to truly listen to yourself, take some chances, and allow yourself to grow outside your comfort zone.

Thank you so much to everyone who has kept up with my blog. I know it`s hard during the year with our busy lives, but I`ve really appreciated the support and contact. Can`t wait to truly catch up with everyone! Take care, Merry Christmas, and we`ll see each other in the states!

Love,
Michele

the month of December....

.... is absolutely flying by. Ok, it just started but I'm already feeling the pressure of things to do with only two more weeks left of the program! For the past two weeks I've been a part of two different organizations to complete my internship part of the program. The first one is called Casa Hogar which is a home for children of all ages. They live here in this home just during the school year because their families cannot afford to take care of them the way they'd like to. So they stay here so that they can go to a nearby school, have the proper clothes and food and shelter. But they still have contact with their families which is the most important part. Since I'm getting credit for my pre-physical therapy major, my role in Casa Hogar is to work with the children who have physical disabilities. There was one little boy who had been carried on the back of his mom for all four years of his life. Because of this, he can't walk and his legs as of now are permanently crossed. He actually just left for vacations with his family, but for the past two weeks I gave him massages which he was always really excited about and then just spend time with him, playing and giving him attention. Also there are two women in wheelchairs who work there, and I've constructed some exercises to do with them to help with their upper body strength. So this is where I'm at Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I am observing in this beautiful place called CRIT which is a rehabilitation place for children. There are so many resources here! There are a team of physical therapists as well as occupational therapists, psychologists, and other doctors. There's mecanical therapy, hydrotherapy, stimulation rooms for babies..... It's amazing and I'm going to be researching more about the place. I have been able to help to with different exercises and the other day I was incredibly impressed as I watched this little 5-year-old girl with perfectly braided pigtails and a little determined face practice standing and walking in her leg braces. She can't use them quite yet outside of the clinic but watching her work so hard inspired me. And although some patients were harder to work with than others, this opportunity has made me realize that I really do want to become a physical therapist.

Well, I can't talk for long today, but I will try send some more updates befoooore.... I leave! Can't believe how fast the time has flown by but yes, two more weeks and here comes the fam for Christmas and then we fly back on the 30th. I have very mixed feellings. I'm missing parts about home, but really I am absolutely in love with Mexico and I'm not ready to leave yet. I have made amazing friendships and relationships and four months just doesn't seem like enough time. But the nice thing is that there are things like email, facebook, and skype to stay in contact and I'm sure before I know it I'll be returning to Oaxaca for a visit here and there!

And I'm looking forward to seeing all of you when I get back! Or at least be able to know you're a phone call away! Hope all is well with everyone! And also that everyone had a great Thanksgiving a couple weeks back!!!

More to come....
~muchos abrazos~