But this week the novelty sort of wore off, and I was left missing the comforts of home, e.g. hot showers (oh, I don't think I've mentioned we have no hot water in my house?). I realized this week how incredibly uncomfortable are some of my situations here: for example, starting each new week in a different clinic - it's like starting a new job every week, with all new people, all new (unknown) tasks, and all in a freaking different language. I started thinking, that's it, this is too hard, why do I make everything so HARD on myself - the rest of the world comes to Mexico and chills the f-ck out, while I am working my ass off . That's it, I'm booking an early ticket home.
OK, so I thought all that for about an afternoon, and then I got over it, and realized that this is exactly what I signed up for: personal challenge, growth, sticking out a commitment to myself, learning a language, getting out of my comfort zone, and I remain so blessed for this opportunity, and decided to flip my perspective into a list of all the things I appreciate about home, all the things I have to be grateful for, and will look forward to coming back to, in due time.
And I still get to go surfing in the warm Pacific Ocean waters this weekend, so I am just going to shut up now.
Other than that, my week was mostly spent signing up owners to get their dogs vaccinated. The way people treat their dogs here is awful - I literally heard dogs scream this week, a sound I've never heard before, by the way the dogs were handled (in some cases carried upside down by a leg). I was so upset, and all the people around me were laughing. Before I knew it, the words, "Para mi, no es chistoso" came out of my mouth (to me, it's not funny), and everyone stopped laughing. In retrospect, I realize I have no right to judge; the dogs here are raised outside - they don't sleep in the house, and are not used to being handled, so are really freaked out and are not able to be carried the normal way. It's a cultural norm. But it's just so sad - all these dogs that I thought were strays, street dogs, actually have owners. They are just totally neglected.
On our way to one of the pueblitos to vaccinate (think, like, 15 households in the whole village), we had to cross the river of Santa Maria Colotepec (the town I'm working in this week) in our ambulance. They were all so proud of the river, like, wait until you see the river! We got to the river, and I was looking for a bridge, as we continued to drive, not over it, but through it, if that gives you any indication of how impressive this river is (it's like 5 inches deep). Anyway, it was cute how excited they were, and, yes, the river was pretty.
In addition to the dogs, I'm now a pro at all vital signs, including how to measure someone's blood sugar (like, I poked someone and actually drew blood). Yes, I'm being safe, mom. :) Leaving the injections to the pros, however.
I also felt like I was reaching a stagnant point with my Spanish this week, like, I felt like I wasn't getting any better. And then today all the sudden, this afternoon actually, it feels good, like flowing, and I think it just needed to reach a tipping point of saturation or something. And, of course, I need to remember to be easy on myself, and know that being surrounded by Spanish all day long - at work, in my house, on the street, in Spanish class, has to be doing something. Bueno, like the Mexicans say: Tranquila, todo bien.
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