The past couple of days in Oaxaca have been incredible. Today I had the pleasure of translating for three diabetics from the town of Cacalote, Oaxaca. Fay, Kylie, Brooke, and I interviewed these patients to get to know a little bit about their experience living with diabetes. We learned that these individuals believe diabetes results from stress, over-eating, and being frightened. It was also interesting to learn about the home remedies they use to treat their diabetes and other illnesses. For instance, the seeds and flowers of the Moringa tree is a home remedy all three individuals used to treat their diabetes. This experience was very informative and helped improve my translating skills.

In the evening, we visited a local women who started a non-profit organization that helps men and women experiencing domestic violence and sexual abuse. This women also has another organization that help reunify family members with relatives who migrated to the United States. This women is truly an inspiration and has done some much for the Oaxaqueño community in Mexico and in the United States.

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Estos últimos días en Oaxaca han sido increíbles. Hoy tuve el placer de traducir por tres diabéticos del pueblo de Cacalote,Oaxaca. Fay, Kylie, Brooke y yo entrevistamos estas persona para aprender un poco más de su experiencia viviendo con la diabetes. Aprendimos que estas personas piensan que la diabetes resulta por el estrés, comer grandes cantidades, and preocupaciones. También fue interesante aprende de los remedios caseros que usan para tratar su diabetes y otras enfermedades. Por ejemplo, las tres personas que entrevistamos usan la semilla y flor del árbol de Moringa para tratar su diabetes. Esta experiencia fue muy informativa y me ayudó mejorar mis habilidades para traducir.

We worked on our educational posters this morning.  We used the AADE7 framework for diabetes self-care, but everyone added their creative flare which was great to see.  We started our diabetes interview with the clients.  Jazmine did an amazing job at interpreting and to understand the nuances of this culture made her a good fit for this project.  Kylie and Brooke helped with the interviews too.  Randy saw some clients for physical therapy needs, Eddie did very well at interpreting, Jacquie, and Lindsey also helped/observed these sessions.

I got some insight from the clients today on how they are living with diabetes, pretty challenging.  This was very educational.  It is also very sad to see the devasting complications of diabetes.  I learned that in Oaxaca, it is a common belief that Moringa (a herb) can be used to treat diabetes either by using the seed to make a tea or eating the flower.  And people do use it.  I got to see what the Moringa tree looks like because Laura has one in her backyard.

The pm was spent learning about domestic violence in this community  from  someone’s personal experience and how advocacy began from this. 

Feliz año nuevo

After a tamale breakfast,  we went to the Roca Blanca beach.  It was very relaxing just watching the ocean, listening to the waves and bonding with the group.  We had cocos, agua limon, and delicious guacamole.  The ocean was so refreshing and the waves manageable as we swam in a protected area.  Some of us got to use surf boards. 

In the pm we went on a home visit in Rio Grande.  Rio Grande is a large town next to Cacalote, population in Rio is around 15, 000. Eddie, Lindsey, Brooke, Randy, and I visited this client. It was an eye opener to see where this client lives and how he faces life’s challenges fearlessly, and the community support for the “orphaned.”  It also made me reflect on social conditions and the impact on health. Why do some have so much and others little to nothing? Is it fair?

This morning began slowly, as we were all somewhat groggy after staying up to celebrate the new year. However, after some coffee and good food, we were awake and ready for the day.

After breakfast, we had free time and took a short car ride to a neighboring beach, Roca Mar. We enjoyed some coconuts and chips & guacamole. While we were there, we met up with a local who is a teacher at the mission base! He had a few surf boards and taught us the basics of surfing, such as padding and balancing on the board (This was my first time ever experiencing anything related to surfing).

I have to say, there is something about sitting on a surf board, get floated up and down, balancing as the waves swirl around that brought me such peace and an overwhelming sense of calmness. I believe these emotions stem from the unity to the earth and the feeling of being deeply connected to power of the ocean. I find that moments like these are incredibly grounding and help quiet my heart & mind so that I may listen more intently to the things that truly matter.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed another meal and loaded into a van going to Rio Grande, a city about 20 minutes from where we are staying. The purpose of this trip was to preform home visits for two people in this city that the clinic provides assistance too. We split into two groups, and I went with Fay, Randy, Anya, Brooke and Eddie. We visited a man named Ernesto and in the hour that we spoke (mostly translated through Eddie) we learned a portion about his story. Ernesto is a double amputee. He lives in poverty inconceivable to many of us back in the states. His bed is made of sticks. He has no fridge. He has no ability to make money. He gets 50 pesos every 2 months from the government. That is less than $25. Every morning, gets himself out of bed with an intricate networking of string and wheels himself in his old, barely functioning wheel chair to the super market. There he asks for money for food, or food itself. Normally, he only gets about 15 pesos, but sometimes, the kind woman down the street will give him tamales. He has a friend who comes every other day to help him, but he revealed his friend has a drinking problem. He told us that he has three daughters, but he has not spoken to them in over 13 years. I could go on, but hopefully you are getting the picture. Every story he told about his life was full of pain, heartache and tragedy. As I looked around at my peers during this conversation I saw his pain reflected in their eyes and we were all filled with deep sadness and desperation. It was hard to know what to say to him, as comments like “things will get better,” or “change will come soon,” were fruitless and most likely untrue, so mostly we just listened. However, despite how little Ernesto had, he offered us the only food he had in his house, bananas. At first we didn’t understand what he was offering, but when we did, I think it is safe to say all of us were somewhat awestruck. Here before us, was a man with nothing, not even the ability to walk, and he is offering to us everything he has. To say that moment was humbling, does not properly do it justice.

Ernesto’s story is one I still have to process and ponder as it continues to leave a deep mark on my heart, so potentially more to come.

Leaving this encounter, Eddie, Brooke and I discussed our unrest about what we had seen. Each of us experiencing different emotions and having different thoughts, but all of us feeling deeply moved by what we had seen.

The truth is, I find myself haunted by the question of “what can we do, what can I do,” and I have no idea how to answer that. I hope one day, I can get closer to a solution.

The evening concluded with a wonderful dinner and fellowship. I have mentioned it before, but these moments together, talking about what we have seen, discussing our personal stories and histories and wrestling with these deep questions— it is such treasured and irreplaceable time.

So happy to start off the new year in such a beautiful place with wonderful people. We spent some time in the clinic yesterday organizing medications and helping with home visits for local Oaxaceños. We also got to entertain the children from the orphanage, and they fed us a wonderful dinner. We rang in the new year at midnight local time. I am taking some beautiful photos to commemorate the experience. Today we spent time on the beach and visited a local restaurant where we were served raw coconuts to drink and some yummy local seafood. Now we are off to Rio Grande to dispense some supplies to local families. Ciao!!!

Well, it is safe to say these last few days have been quite unique. Our travel started around 9pm on the 29th, and after a myriad of delays, poor weather conditions and missed connections, we finally made it to the mission base around 7:30pm on the 30th. Although this experience was not ideal, good company and Spanish speaking friends (especially in the Mexico City airport) made all the difference.

Once we made it to the mission base, we were greeted with amazing hospitality, delicious food and refreshments and beautiful accommodations. After dinner we played a few games of “go fish” and then all turned into our rooms for a restful night of sleep. The following day, we spent time in the clinic, did home visits and enjoyed a meal and a game of soccer with the children in orphanage.

We welcomed in the new year with swimming in the ocean and a bone fire while watching the sunset on the beach. I have to say, out of all the places I have traveled and oceans I have swam in, this place is one of the most incredible. The ocean was perfectly cool and provided welcomed relief from the heat and humidity. The waves offered many laughs and smiles as we body surfed, floated and a few times were pummeled by their heights.

I find myself feeling so grateful to be surrounded by a group of open, and thoughtful fellow students. Between card games like “golf” and candid conversations, I feel as though memories we are making on this trip will stay with us in the many years to come.

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This was the first new year’s I have spent without my family. I can’t deny that I was feeling homesick, but I wouldn’t have asked for a better group to start off the new year with. After the bonfire and playing some card games we had such an intimate and personal discussion that I feel brought us all closer together. Being disconnected from my phone has definitely made me appreciate everyone in my group and the beautiful city a lot more. This trip has undoubtedly exceeded my expectation and I can’t wait to see what Oaxaca has in-store for us today.

Had a great first full day here at the mission. It started out with helping separate medications at the clinic and then eating a delicious breakfast at 10:35! Then we got to do home visits and that was an experience like no other. I was able to apply my critical thinking skills and in the end we taught a lady and her daughter pursed lip breathing to help them both breathe better. Once we got back we went to the orphanage and they made us lunch that was so incredibly good! We got to play soccer and red light green light with them after we ate which was so fun. Around 5:30 we went to the beach and swam in the water and played some frisbee while the sun was setting, then once it was dark we had a bonfire with hotdogs and s’mores! We all stayed up till midnight here to celebrate the new year which we are all very excited about!

We dipped in the ocean then had a bonfire on the beach. Thanks to Laura and the Chano family for making this happen….Got an opportunity to bond with the group. Ismel, a local (and friend of Laura) joined us. Ismel who is a teacher works in a school in the village which is 8 hours away from Cacolote. Access to the village is not good due to lack of public transportation.

We have a lot to be grateful in 2018 and now look forward to 2019.

Chano and Vladimir got us to Roca Blanca Missions in Cacolote where Randy, Anya and I hooked up the gang. Laura Nelson who runs the clinic, was out doing home visits with the students. We had a nice lunch at La Casa Hogar, the orphanage that houses 8 kids.