I was informed by my mother that it was time to write another blog entry. Sorry for the delay. Here goes...

l've been here for two weeks and a 2 days now. I can't quite tell if time is moving slowly or quickly. I've been spending a lot of time walking around San Miguel, tripping or almost tripping, going to markets, carnicerias and tortillerias and of course cooking in my kitchen. In case any of you were wondering my blender is working and thank god! since i got the blender cooking has been much more exciting as i've been able make all sorts of sauces, like salsa verde, tinga, ranchero sauce, etc. I'm planning to make mole soon. My co-worker swears by her moms recipe and has agreed to have me over to teach me how to make it. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. I've also got a tasty recipe for a really quick guacamole from Lila, the lady that I'm renting from. I've made it several times already. Here's what you need: 3 small tomatillos, 2-5 serrano chiles depending on how hot want it, 1/2 and onion, cilantro, 1 avocado, lime juice, about 1/4 cup of water and salt and pepper to taste. Throw it all in a blender and there you have it. Quick and delicious. I've been putting extra lime juice in so that it keeps a little longer. Roasted garlic is also a good addition. Try it. You'll like it.

As for CASA things are definitely getting busier. I met with the debora, the director of the midwifery school and she wants me to help the students with their practicums. In order to graduate each student has to have talked with a certain number of patients regarding topics such as contraceptive options, nutrition, breast cancer, etc. It wasn't quite clear to me what exactly she wanted me to do with the students until later on in the week when i met with debora again as well as a group of students. From what the midwifery students told me they don't feel particularly confortable discussing these topics. To be quite honest, I was very suprised by this. As future midwives a very important compenent of their jobs is going to be counseling people on these very topics. But I'm excited to work with and get to know the students. So it appears that what I will be doing is helping them to become more comfortable providing health education to patients, reviewing the material and then helping to organize the actual practicums. I feel pretty good about this project, because I actually have some skills in this area. I'm also working on the news bulletin that goes out to doners, translating and will be working on some other projects related to the midwifery school.

I've definitely had some ups and downs since arriving. For the most part I think I'm adjusting well, but some days I'm sick of spending all my time alone. Its been nice to have so much free time to wander around, cook, read and write letters. But sometimes its tiresome to not be able to come home and talk to someone about my day or cook for someone besides myself. And as much as I like CASA as an organization its been it has been a frustrating process to figure out what my role as in intern in. Fortunately, I'm starting to meet some people and I'm feeling like I have a more defined job at CASA. I knew before I came here that the transition would be somewhat difficult, and part of why I wanted to do this whole trip in the first place was to challenge myself to do this trip on my own. So I'm trying to take it day by day. One thing is for sure is that the weather is much more pleasant that that cold wintery mess in Chicago. The last few days I've been wearing skirts and tank tops. Okay I think that's it for now. More later....

Arrival

I have arrived...finally! Its still hard to believe, but here I am. The first few days I couch surfed with a sassy 75 year old lady named Joyce. She's traveled and lived all over the world, but has been in San Miguel de Allende for the last 10 years. She welcomed me into her home with a beer in hand and directed me to the only food vendor on her street that was still open when I arrived. They were serving hamburgers with bacon and fries. It wasn't exactly what I expected my first meal in Mexico to be, but it was definitely tasty. The next few days I wandered around the city looking for apartments to rent. Fortunately I was able to find a small, cheap apartment fairly quickly. It has a tiny kitchen, living room area and bedroom. The apartment is just what I need and is close to where I'll be working. I'm exicted to cook, but its been sort of a stuggle as I have limited kitchen supplies. Its also a little more time consuming because all my fruits and vegetables have to be soaked and cleaned before i can eat them.

I decided today that I needed to buy a blender. Without a blender I wouldn't be able to make sauces or refried beans. I figured that if I planned to attempt to prepare any sort of Mexican food these are two things that I would need to be able to make. I was directed to Bodega Aurera, which was described to me as a poor man's Walmart, to find a cheap blender. When I was buying the blender I noticed the cashier's name tag said Walmart. Its sort of disheartening that Walmart is also taking over Mexico, but I suppose its not a surprise. It was raining as I walked home with my new blender in hand. As I was making my way down a a busy street the bottom of the box gave out and my new blender went flying into a big muddy puddle. Its currently drying off it my kitchen. Its pretty cheap so I hope that it still works. But enough about blenders...

I started working at CASA on monday. I'm not sure exactly what projects I'll be working on as I'm still in the process of familiarizing myself with all of the different programs. I've met with the Director of the School of Midwifery and it looks like I'll be doing some work with her, but nothing has been finalized yet. I have been told by past interns that I need to be very proactive about deciding what I want to do. I'm trying to be, but its hard as I don't really know what I could do that would be of use to CASA currently and after I leave. I'm considering proposing doing some sort of photo project and I definitly want to see some babies be born. But we'll see...

If you are interested in checking out CASA's website here's the link: http://www.casa.org.mx/programs.html

The above picture was taken in 2004 in front of La Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City. That's my friend Karen and I standing awkwardly with our arms linked and big smiles plastered on our faces. What can I say, we were excited to be there. This picture was taken on our last day in Mexico and I distinctly remember that feeling of dread and melancholy that always settles in when you know that your trip is coming to an end. I promised myself that I would go back. Honestly, I thought it would have happened sooner, but life got complicated and I needed to do other things for a while. But Mexico has always been in the back of my mind. A couple of years ago I finally got to the point where it actually seemed feasible to start planning a long trip. So I saved my money, applied to an internship, moved home, gave my notice at work and bought myself a one way ticket.

And here I am now -my last night before my flight to Mexico. Goodbye family & friends! Goodbye cold wintery Chicago! See you when I see you.