How are everyone's New Year's Resolutions going?!? Have you
already forgotten what they were?? Personally, I am not in the habit of making
resolutions, I don't know why but I never have been. However, if this year my
resolution had been to not update my blog....I'd say I am doing pretty
well so far ;)
The
beginning of 2016 has meant I have had to face the reality that my Peace Corps
service is quickly coming to a close. I will be heading home the first
week of May. It is hard to believe two years have already passed.
So much has happened in these 2 years I am often surprised it doesn't
feel like I have been in Mexico for 5 years....instead, 2 years feels just like
a blip in time. I have found myself trying to fit in as much Mexican
culture and events as I can over the past few months....I have reverted back to
Peace Corps' famous advice for volunteers regarding community
integration....Just say yes. So anytime anyone asks me to go somewhere or
do something....I am saying yes these days (well not anytime...but the vast
majority of the time). It can get exhausting, but it is also a lot
fun....and has led to me eating an exorbitant amount of tacos of late...
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| At Las Peñas, a local park with my parents. Here they are overlooking Guzmán and the Nevado. |
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| Dad with his leche caliente....they both loved it! |
My house has also become a popular gathering place for
my friends and me. This is because most of them live with family, as is
normal here, and because I live alone...and in an apartment with plenty of
space...it provides a perfect location for them to come over and hangout
without having to worry about disturbing their family. I have become an
expert impromptu organizer of gatherings (as usually it is decided they will
come over 5 minutes before they actually do) so I am always stocked up with
plates, napkins, and homemade cookies....I am also very efficient at cleaning
up after these things these days!
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| Birthday celebration at my house |
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| Just a selfie while out and about |
Perhaps one of the most
dramatic occurrences for me over the past month can be attributed to my cat
Luna. A few weeks back she slipped out of the house at night (usually I
only let her out during the day but this night she escaped) and when she
returned the following morning she was limping and in pain. She did not
eat, drink, or move the entire day....or if she did move she cried out
in pain. After a day of observation, it became evident to me she would need to be checked out by the
vet.
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| Luna hiding in the corner when she was injured |
The next morning I took
her to the vet and after some X-rays it was discovered my cat had fractured her
femur. I was quite surprised the damage was so serious as I don't think I
have ever known a cat to break a leg, they are usually pretty agile creatures.
The vet also said it was very rare to have this kind of injury in a cat.
It occurs more commonly in dogs. He said given the type of injury
he was certain someone had kicked her and this is what caused the injury.
It is sad to think people would kick a cat, and with such force, but that
is what happened. He said she needed surgery, so I left her there and
later that day she was operated on. All went well and I took her home a
few days after with instructions on how to give her her antibiotics.
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| Before and after surgery. Photo on the left shows the break. Photo on the right shows leg post-surgery, with two pins in the leg |
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| Resting 2 days post-op |
However, a
few days later she appeared to be sick and in pain again and stopped eating so
I took her in again and they determined the meds were not working and was
starting to get an infection. So they said the best thing to do would be
to leave her there for a few days where they could give her injections and
monitor her. So after 4-5 more days at the vet she was once again better and
came home. Since then, she was been recuperating at home, spending most
of her time in a cage so she is forced to rest the leg, but now I am starting
to let her out more and more and she starting to walk, run, and jump around
again. It has been quite a saga and I still cant believe at times that
she actually broke her femur, but I am happy to say she is improving with each
day!
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| 3 weeks post-op...I have a happy cat again! |
Soccer continues for me as well. I play on two
teams these days. I play with the Spartans on Sundays on a normal soccer
field with 11 players and then I play a version of soccer called Rapi-gol in another
league. This is essentially indoor soccer but the field is small and you
field 6 players from your team at a time. The pace of play is very fast (rapi
is short for rápido which means fast in Spanish). It is a completely
different style of soccer and it took me a few games to get the hang of it, but
I really love it now. The games take place during the week, but quite
late. For example, tonight I have a game at 10:30pm! When I mention
the late game times to my sister she often comments on how different the
culture is here....at least regarding time. Mexicans definitely stay up
later than Americans!
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| After a soccer match |
As for a little work
update...things are closing down for me. I have been giving some talks
about biodiversity in local schools along with a few of my coworkers.
However, My main focus right now is getting all of my reports finished
that I need to write in order to close out my service as a Peace Corps
Volunteer....super exciting times at the office :)
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| Giving a talk to some 4th graders |
Back in February PCM-16 (the group of volunteers that
I arrived in country with) had our last training in Querétaro. This
training focuses on telling us what we need to do to close out our service, how
to prepare for readjustment back to the United States, and is also just a time
to catch up and enjoy being together one last time as a group. Peace
Corps service is tough and I would not have been able to make it through some
of the more challenging times without the support of my fellow volunteers...I
am grateful to each and every one of my PCM-16 cohorts!!!
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| Peace Corp México, Group-16 |
I think that sums up most of the key things going on
with me right now. I will continue to post blogs up until my
departure....that's the plan anyway!
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| Sunset over a soccer pitch. We play most of our games on this field. |
