Linda's in Oaxaca, Mexico!: Thanksgiving and other shenanigans

Hola to whoever still reads this thing ... =) Lately, I've really been slacking with updating this thing...partially because I have like 3 essays to write before Friday...and partially due to pure laziness... lol.

It's so crazy how this weekend is my LAST weekend here in Oahaca (my key is broken..so the h will have to do since it's how you would phonetically pronounce it anyways..)!!!! O__O This following week is week 11...my LAST week here!!! By this time the following week, I would be home...perhaps hanging out with my best friend...or perhaps still sleeping in my bed :) I'm really really happy to go home!! Especially after reading all the facebook statuses about shopping, holiday lights, holiday cookies, etc etc. Don't get me wrong though, I'm definitely sad that I'm leaving this wonderful place that has taken me in for 2 and a half months, but, listening to holiday songs, and just the fact that Christmas is almost here makes it a bit less sad for me. I'm going to miss all the friends I've made here, but I know we will keep in touch...I hope.

This program was great. I've learned so much and have grown so much. I've learned more about medicine and have made sure that this is definitely what I want to do. Despite the amount of readings and essays, the essays were interesting in that it has opened my eyes to what public health is. Also, I've learned so much about the Hispanic culture that surely, when I go back to LA, I won't look at them the same way. I'm glad I was able to because one of the reasons for me coming on this trip was to be able to learn more Spanish as well as other things so that I could help the Latino population in the states.

Personally, I've grown a lot. This program was challenging for me in that I was thrown into a group of so many people with so many different personalities and backgrounds. In a way, I had to find myself among these people. Also, the fact that I was in a country with a whole different culture and lifestyle made it hard in the beginning to get used to. BUT, I feel like at the end of it all, I've grown a lot. It was a good self-identity kinda thing...I'm more confident and assertive. :)

HOKAY. This was not the post to analyze this trip...we'll save more for later.

Let me just start off with Thanksgiving!!! It was definitely a memorable day. I was planning on going to the Thanksgiving banquet thing with everyone else, but, I didn't really feel like going. So after studying at Cuiles, due to lack of sleep, I had a huge headache and couldn't study anymore. I decided to go and shop at Fashion District for scarves and then spent almost $50usd on 5 scarves...but, they were nice scarves!! WAY better than the cheap scarvesz from Forever 21 that I bought before! There, I saw Judy and John! Then, we met up with Trieu and Andy and decided to eat sushi. I felt like getting ramen...but was thoroughly disappointed at how small and disgusting the ramen was. It was literally, a handful of noodles smaller than my palm (my handsz are tiny too), with half an egg and 2 shrimps. UGH. I was so sad watching my friends eat their delicious sushi :( BUT, despite the nasty food, I had a great time. Then, afterwards, we went to the famous Dona Domi's for torta. It was my FIRST time eating at this place! 2 of our other friends met up with us and we went. Dona Domi's only opens at 10pm ...so we went to eat AFTER dinner. Such fatties we are.

Dona Domi's tortas are delicious! The bread is toasted perfectly and the meat is pretty tender. It's incredible how a small, little old lady cooks and does everything herself. We had such a good time chatting and everyone talked about their drunkest moments...although, I really didn't have any ;P.

Overall, it was a memorable Thanksgiving....the rest of the time afterward has just been full of essay writing. I plan to finish latest Tuesday so I can shop and play Wednesday-Friday :)

Can't believe it's all ending so fast! :( BUT IM GOING HOME SOON so YAY!