I can't think........

Today is my last day in Oaxaca......

I refuse to put a happy or sad face on that statement.

Love you all! Excited to see you!

Kabobs on the BBQ, 2Baked Potatoes and........wait.....What is that?

I decided about a month ago that I wanted to cook "la comida" one day for my family. And I wanted to do it on a Saturday cause that's when elderly Tia Lupita and Marta and her husband Chuchin come over. Thus....after much planning I decided on today, my last Saturday. And I decided to make BBQ chicken kabobs with twice baked potatoes and veggies. For dessert, at the request of Homerito....fudge. Thus the day began....

• "Oh gosh I have to go SHOPPING!"
• "Sweet!!!! WAY more easy!" (in response to the 4 dusty jars of BBQ sauce my host mom brought out from students....goood thing I didn't bring that....although I wonder what they did with my jam?)
• "What do you mean there's no car?" (In response to the fact the car broke down and I had to walk 12 blocks to the grocery store and back with 5 bags of veggies and cream and heavy stuff)

But later on things got better. I cooked it ALL by myself...Patty had to leave this morning. I'm so proud. Here are some photos to prove that I actually did it. After some debate I decided to also include the mistake phottos.......

I cooked the kabobs on a REAL (albeit ghetto) grill. Charcoal and all. Take THAT Dad.

The final layout. My host fam said I needed proof lol. Then after tasting it they loved it and said I was ready to be married. Hahaha. I said first I need to learn to cook a meal in less than 4 hours. 6 hours if you include the shopping.

Then dessert.....WHAT ISSSSS THAT?????? I know. It looks like dog poop. But everyone still ate it. Maybe just to be nice lol. But I swear it tasted delicious! And fudge is hard to make right? Especially when I had to hammer Carlos V candy bars instead of finding chocolate chips. Hahaha.

Plus....it's like glue!!!!! Never falls!

TLAYUDA!!!!

I did not inform you my friends, but last Sunday in the market of Alabastos I sat down for lunch and had the MOST AMAZING MEAL EVER!!!! I think (think being the key word) that Tlayudas may be my favorite Oaxacan dish. They are distinctive to Oaxaca and can also be known as Oaxacan Pizza. It consists of a super huge toasted homemade tortilla, spread with beans and lettuce and tomato and avocado. Normally people put on a slab of meat as well ( like in the picture below) , but I opted out of that. Sometimes people fold them to eat. Sometimes they break off pieces. Basically they are a mound of gooey and crunchy and deliciousy deliciousness!!!!! I plan to eat as many as I can before I leave (=

PS....I used um....like 10 napkins while eating this. whahaha.

YAYARGHHHWHEWWWW

Yes. I don't know what that means either. (my title that is)

What I do know is that I have 9 days left in Mexico.

I will see my family and boyfriend in 10 days and hopefully my friends soon after.

I am SO excited to see my family and Nate and friends and have Christmas at home and smell the Christmas tree and play my piano and sleep in my bed.

I am leaving my host family. Whom I love so so much. And although I know I'm coming back, I don't know when.

I am leaving beautiful Oaxaca.

I am REALLY nervous about my flight being messed up because of weather and Christmas or whatever happened last time.

I am going to FREEZE to DEATH.

Basically....I'm in denial. I don't know what to think. I am overwhelmed. I don't know what to do. So I'm sitting here. Having just finished my journal for my internship this week. I'm going to climb the stairs to the observatory where the Galegetza (spelled that wrong) to see the sunset this afternoon. And I don't know what to think. Agh.

Much love. Via Facebook I heard it;s snowing. Sorry. But I hope that stops!

PHOTO UPDATE

Here are some pictures from this past week......

Physiology

INTRODUCTION TO COURSE:

This week, the third week of my internship, is different than the others. There is a group here from Seattle, WA...woot woot! They're a construction team from Medical Teams Int. (which funds Manos de Vida) who've come to build 18 concrete floors in homes in Yagay. I am young. They are less young. Thus....I have been shoveling a TON of gravel for the past two days. 4 floors yesterday, 6 today, 4 tomorrow, and 4 thursday. I've also been spending ALL my time with the team and Manos de Vida....aka I don't have a social life this week. BUT....I've been having a lot of fun. They are really neat people. The team leader has been to Oax 16 times on work trips and is friends with Sharon and Jerry Benson...my preschool teachers! There are two couples (all 4 work for Microsoft) with sons my age. AND....the third couple is Mike Holmgren and his wife, Cathy. If you don't recognize the name (I didn't whoops)....Mike Holmgren is the former SEAHAWKS coach. He's a really nice guy. 6 foot 5! Brady.....I'm going to get you his autograph......whahahaha.

COURSE:

"MUSCLES USED WHEN SHOVELING GRAVEL 6 HOURS PER DAY"

• Shoulders....aka Nate I need a massage!
• Arms....aka those things that are shaking as I try to press these computer keys.
• Legs....aka covered in bruises from bracing the shovel to make up for my lack of upper body strength.
• Core....aka abs and back from who the heck knows!
• Blisters....aka those aren't really muscles.
• AND FACE ....AKA.....SMILING

Smiling after seeing the completed floors and the people, who are all helping as well, cry because they are so thankful. Just for the chance to improve the hygiene of their homes and the health of their children. For the food baskets we shopped for yesterday for each family as well. For something that someone has done for then....one of the first things that someone has done for them. Smiling after their generosity....giving oranges or Coke (agh coke and mexico!) to us. Shaking hands and answering questions for the group.

I don't know. It's just wonderful (=

(even though my body does ache like no other)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Today I went with my friend Erin to el Mercado de Abastos (the big market) to do some Christmas shopping. (it was a success hehehe) Here are the highlights:

• I know I've been here for like 4 months, but I haven't had my first TLAYUDA until today. Oh my golly gee heaven on earth. NOT an exaggeration. Giant toasted tortilla with beans, lechuga, quesillo, avocado y tomate. And folded. Meat is also an option. It was just.....ahhhhh. Follwed my nieve (ice) flavored as rosepetals. Which is strangely delicious (=.
• I bartered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be proud!!!!!!!!!!!!
• On the way back we walked through the Zocolo. Weirdest mix of sensations: a) it's 85 degrees and we're sweating.
• b) we stop to get raspas which are basically like snow cones c) there is a giant tree-ish gold sequiened Christmas tree structure in the square accompanied by a giant blow-up Santa
• d) the plants have all been taken out and replaced with poinsettas. there's even a tower of them in the center! thousands of red poinsettas!

That was a bullet mess lol. Anyway, I have a secret about this week that I can't tell you yet but will soon..... whahaha.

I love you guys. I'm so excited to see everyone again.