A la playa

I went to the southernmost beach and walked north Saturday. It was overcast and I still got a nasty burned. After about half a mile there is a stone path that follows the shoreline. The waves literally wash across it, crabs crawl across, and there's a great view. Enjoy! 

ps. I have never seen cacti in a humid and wet environment before.

CRABS! They were camera shy... 

 After the long walk we stopped at the beach closest to our house to swim and relax. I also made a new friend. His name is Herby. And he lives in a mobile home. 

My newest friend =)

From around town

I believe I mentioned before but Puerto Escondido is very much a tourist town. The water front is beautiful and there are tons of markets and restaurants to go to. As you move inland the city changes. Streets are no longer paved, there are no sidewalks, dogs prowl, and things are not as clean. I prefer this part of town as it seems more authentic. I have been going to a clinic 45 minutes away from Puerto in Copala. Today I was not able to go because it has been raining for the last 24 hours. Hard rain. I love it! Copala is in the mountains and the roads are windy and not always paved. There's a river as well with a small bridge. 

There are a lot of diabetes, pregnant women, and babies. I learned that patients can receive up to 12 condoms a month. They are really expensive to buy so they go to the doctor for them. The government sends supplies of medicines and other necessities monthly but the doctor never knows what time of the month to expect the supplies. Right now he has a shortage and has to improvise to help his patients. 

The doctor is a great teacher and really goes out of his way to insure that we are getting the most out of our time there. I have drawn blood, put in IVs, and learned how to give vaccinations. I am not sure how ethical all of this was but it was a great learning experience. 

Side note: There are a lot of palm trees here. Everywhere. Coconuts litter the streets. I have taken up a collection in my room.

Road to the beach from my house

Supporting dengue prevention at a basketball court. The other side of the court supports national vaccination week which is in January.

Construction in town

Surviving the Vomit Bus: and other classic tales

I spent my last week in Oaxaca trying to steal the newborn babies. I finally managed to swipe one before her mother came back. I then took an 11 hour bus ride through the scenic mountains to Puerto Escondido for the next 5 weeks of my life. I did not ACTUALLY take the vomit bus. That bus goes straight to Puerto and takes less than half the time. It is also well named. I figured with my history it was best to take the 1st class bus that went around. I still vomited twice. 

I know have a roommate and no internet connection. Win/lose? She is from Oregon as well and left behind her husband (we can relate!) and kid (maybe not). The first thing we did was go to one of the many beaches.   The culture here is very different. It is a tourist town. Because of this it is a lot more laid back and casual.People walk around in their swimsuits and live for surfing. 

The clinic I work at now is 45 minutes outside of the city up in the mountain. It has two rooms and one doctor. The doctor is a great teacher. One of the big diseases here is chagas and the next dengue. My host family was telling me the best ways to kill scorpions when I see them too. I think I may die of the heat before some animal gets to me. The news reported the temperature today as 86F but feels like 91F. This is with a humidity of 78%. I would like to amend this to a temperature of 103F but feels like 120F with humidity so thick you can drink the air. Esther - where is my snow? 

My roommate and I are going to the same clinic this week and we decided to walk part of the way home today. We used the time for fotos. 

There are iguanas every where here.

La Gualaguetza

Sorry for the delay. My computer kept crashing every time I tried to download pictures. (a sign that the heat is getting to more than just me). 

I went to the Gualaguetza Monday. It was Awesome. Gualaguetza is an indigenous word that means "the sharing." It is a time when the different communities in Oaxaca come together and share aspects of their culture to enhance one another. Pretty awesome. 

The big Gualaguetza held every year is in honor of Benito Juarez and is the first and second Mondays that fall a week after the day he died (18 July). It is a big dance festival. People from the different regions of Oaxaca dress in their cultural attire and perform their regions most popular dance. After the dance they throw items into the crowd like: apples, oranges, bread, tortillas, hats, ceramic bowls. The crowd really loves this part and it can get pretty intense as people fight for gifts. One dance included LIVE turkeys. They were very well behaved and stood were the dancers placed them. I don't think my dog is that well trained.

Here are some of the highlights:

La calenda de la Guelaguetza

Today there was another big parade through down town. BUT! before I post pictures of the parade there are a few from yesterday I would like to share:

This fountain is in front of the Hospital that I go to every morning. It has statues depicting 7 of the 8 regions in Oaxaca and their traditional dress (at the time it was made there were only 7). It is meant to honor the indigenous heritage. The man in the middle is doing La danza de la pluma. It is a Zapotec dance that was done in celebration of the Spanish conquering the Aztecs.

Añadir leyenda

 While wondering between stores I found this awesome map of Oaxaca. It's super helpful because people tell me they're from so-and-so region and I just smile and nod because I have no idea of where in Oaxaca that is. Now I do!

A map of the 8 different regions

Next to the map where examples of traditional clothes from the region.

As mentioned, there was a big parade through the down town this evening. I spent most of the parade with a charming two year old girl on my shoulders. She is soo much litter than my brother, Gideon, it was almost easy. Half way through I decided that her parents shouldn't have it easy and had them take pictures for me (don't worry, I know and trust them). 

Participants marching through a crowd of people

A very unattractive picture of me with Genesis

People will join the parade as it goes by and walk with the participants. At one point there was a 5 minute break because soo many people had joined the parade. Sometimes tourists will walk in and out of the dancers with their camera.

 

There was a dance from the women of Tuxtepec called the Flor de Pina. Each woman must carry a pineapple during the dance. 

The dance of the Pineapple 

I always know where I am based on the scenery. This view of the mountains means I am close to home.

This blog has conditions

Do not read this blog IF:

Your first name begins with the letter C
You are into philosophy, religion, or basketball
House is your favorite TV show
You do not like eating Quiche for dinner
You have recently hiked near/at Ramona Falls on Mt. Hood, OR
The words, "Hubba, hubba" have meaning to you
You can not eat spicy foods
You like to play golf
Or the game that shall not be named
You have mowed your backyard with a push mower
And start fires with starter logs


You have been warned.


This week I have been in several different areas of the Hospital and I feel pretty special because a lot of the Residents know me. Yea, I'm special =) I've learned the more you try and talk Spanish the more you learn they really appreciate it and will try and let you participate more by sneaking you into the cafeteria. It's awesome!

OB/GYN is probably my favorite part of the hospital. I have been able to see two vaginal births (sin medication) and a hysterectomy. I can honestly say that I never want a hysterectomy in my life. Ever. I have yet to see a C-section but am determined to see one before I leave.

The workings of the hospital are very different than those in the US. I could not even begin to describe all the ways. A very obvious one in OB is that there is no nursery. Babies stay with their moms and that means if mom needs to sleep, go to the bathroom, take a shower baby is hanging out on the bed the entire time. Today one kiddo had a fit when his mom left to take a shower so I swiped him and walked him up and down the halls until mom was ready for him again.

Yesterday there was a taxi... hold up? on the way to the hospital. The buses could not get through and kicked us all off. I was with three others and we took our time walking the rest of the way to the hospital (1.5 miles). Hundreds of taxis blocked major intersections of the streets and there was bags of garbage blocking the smaller ones. This went on in various parts of the city all day and ended on a street close to my place last night.

Oaxaca is a very political state. People are very involved in what is going on around them and have a lot to say. Why this particular event was happening know one could give me a straight answer.

Taxi hold up near Crespo

In surgery I watched an amputation. If that was not clear: they cut off that man's foot. As in his FOOT. Better? I am not sure whether to be amazed and think this is the coolest thing ever or feel sorry for the man. He is about 61 years old, has severe diabetes, and it was infected. The man was also awake during surgery. I think they gave him an epidural.

Burning skin/muscle from bone: Fibula and Tibia already sliced

The man's FOOT

 There is a fourth year resident that is charged with making sure we stay out of trouble. He was also the one that amputated the man's leg. I want his autograph. Instead I got a picture. Almost as good. Almost. If I printed it do you think he would sign it?

Dr. Jesus, Kirstin, Me, His friend

One of the other residents is in the picture as well. It was the only way we could talk the resident into taking a picture with us.

There is a Doctor that meets with us once a week to explain how the health care system works in Mexico, she also over looks our rotations, and ensures we are having a good experience. Tonight was our last night meeting with her. We talked more about Diabetes, Hyper tension, and other common diseases in Oaxaca.

All the gringos with Dr. Maggali

El museo de Santa Domingo y bicicletas

The Guelaguetza is starts on Monday but the town has been gearing up all week and there have been parades almost every evening. I learned that Mexico has a traditional two month vacation in July and August. A lot of people do not have work which gives them ample time to celebrate their culture.

Wondering around town

Circus rides/games along one of the streets

 Saturday I went to a museum in town. It is next to a cathedral, Santa Domingo, and used to be a convent. There are a lot of ex-convents in town that have been renovated.

The first place we went to in the museum was a huge library. It contained books from the 1400s.

HUGE library

 This is a copy of an old map. The indigenous people in the area drew it to show the land boundary lines. Several years back a group of people were having an argument with the government about land rights. The indigenous people brought out this ancient map to prove that the land was theirs. The government let them keep their land, but they took the map and put it into a museum across town.

One of the many elaborate ceilings

There are a lot of artifacts from the Aztec, Mixtec, and Zapotecs.

Botanical garden that is part of the ex-convent

 If ear plugs are becoming more popular now, does that mean culture is reversing?

How they panned for gold/silver

 After the indigenous artifacts came the history of the conquest. 

Spears used by conquistadors

A depiction of the conquest

The Spanish demanded tributes from the indigenous people. This included gold, cotton, nuts, and several other goods.

I would hate to be the horse bearing the rider wearing these spears

Mexican depiction of the Last Dinner

Benito Juarez is a pretty big individual here if I have not already mentioned. This was his presidential desk.  

One part of the museum is dedicated to the Mexican revolutions. There is a huge poster of some of the revolutionaries. I like to believe Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapato are in this picture if not, please let me live in blissful ignorance.

The uniform of Perifero Diaz

Today there was a big bike race and part of the course was I could watch from my house. They had a huge police escort. The car in front looked like it was having WAY too much fun. Like 60mph over the speed limit too much fun.

Enthusiastic spectators

There were two bikers well ahead of this group. The little girl had soo much fun watching. Her mom kept trying to get her to leave but the the girl would have none of that.

Big group of bikers. 

I have also taken up biking myself. 

At my host family's house in the country.