Puerto Escondido

Saying goodbye to Puerto was so difficult.  I started with Sara after week three, then the doctors and Jessica.

On New Years Eve, Hunter and spent spent the day with Maurice and his family at the lagoon.  It was such a relaxing a beautiful last day! Then, we spent the afternoon with Jeremy, Betty, and Cavi.  They helped us buy our bus tickets and it set in that we were leaving the next day.  We all walked down the street and bought some farewell fireworks and then said our goodbyes.  I miss them so much!

We went to Chila to Tito and Hugo’s house and had dinner with the huge Manzanares-Gil Family.  Almost everyone was there.  Tio was the DJ and everyone danced all night.  Again, more fireworks at midnight and just a ton of fun!  At 3 in the morning we finally had to say goodbye to our friends.  We went home, grabbed our bags, and had to say bye to Marisela too.  It was so hard to leave but we know we’ll be back soon!

What made it worse, we said goodbye to our friends and our city to sit on a bus for 8 hours.  It was the same I rode to Puerto but seemed so much worse.  Hunter complained the entire time.  He had a sunburn, potentially broken ribs from all the soccer, and hadn’t slept.  Our driver was somehow even more agressive than the first driver and I was falling out of my seat the entire 8 hours.  Luckily, when we arrived in Oaxaca we met our friends Chayo and Javier and were able to make ourselves at home at La Villada.

My last week in Puerto I only had clinic 4 days and had no Spanish.  This meant I had extra time to spend with Hunter and our friends.  Hunter made sure we went to the beach everyday.  Since the week between Christmas and New Years is the busiest time of year in Puerto, the language/surf school relocated to Zicatela.  It was nice to see Jeremy and Betty and beach each afternoon and to go for a swim.  Hunter also got some surfing in :)

We also spent a lot of time at the fútbol school.  Hunter got used to the weather and started playing some good fútbol.  He managed to score 4 goals in one game and create a lot of excitement among our friends.  

One day while watching Hunter play fútbol, my friend Hugo started telling me about the liberación de las tortugas.  Hundreds of baby turtles hatch on the beach near the fútbol school and make their way to the ocean.  He decided to take me to watch right then.  It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen!  The beach was magnificent and the sun was setting while we watched these little tortugas smaller than the palm of my hand.  These same tortugas will grow to 2-3 feet in diameter! 

My last week was spent in Puerto Escondido at el centro de salud Colonia Aeropuerto.  I loved being at the clinic because I was able to get a lot of hands on experience.  I removed sutures from cesarean scars and learned to determine the position of a baby in the uterus.  I also saw a lot of interest cases.  I watched the doctora clean/remove diabetic ulcers from feet, met a patient with dengue, and met a patient with leprosy.  The patient with leprosy had stopped treatment, had many legions, and had severe nerve damage.  She came to the clinic because she had badly cut her finger and it had gotten infected.  Leprosy eliminates a patient’s ability to determine the difference between dull and sharp pain and results in many injuries.  

Unfortunately, I was only able to attend the clinic for 3 days because my program came to and end.  It’s sad that my clinical education in Puerto is over and that I’ll be leaving this wonderful community soon. 

Hunter spent Christmas Eve playing in a fútbol game with our friends.  He only played the first half because he’s still getting used to the hot weather and to playing soccer again.  The game was split Chila vs. Puerto.  Hunter played for Chila and they were up at halftime.  Somehow Puerto came back and it ended in a tie.  After the game everyone had a few drinks together at the field and we set off some fireworks at the field.  THen everyone went home to spend Christmas with their families.  Hunter and I went with Mario, Polo, Tio, and their families back to Mario’s house in Puerto.  We had appetizers together and set fireworks off with the kids.  Then we met Marisela at her Mom’s house.  Her entire family was there.  She has 10 brothers and sisters.  They all have children and grandchildren.  The family was very welcoming and at midnight every person at the party hugged every other person and wished them a feliz navidad.  Dinner was served at midnight and was amazing, and, of course, was followed by more fireworks!

Christmas day Jeremy let Hunter and I take his jet ski out in the ocean.  We launched it near their house and then rode all the way across town on the water to la punta where Betty’s family has their restaurant.  Her whole family was there!  We all ate together, laid on the beach and played in the water.  Jeremy took Hunter out on the jet ski and they went tow in surfing.  I don’t think Hunter could have been happier.  At the end of the day, Hunter and rode the jet ski back near the house and had dinner at Betty’s.

It had gotten late and we hadn’t spoken to our families yet so we went to Zicatela to find a phone.  It was great to talk to my family.  I had had a wonderful day at the beach but it hadn’t felt like Christmas.  Talking to my family made me happy but reminded me what I was missing at home.  

After I spoke with me family, we went to a bar to meet Sara, Lena, and Jessica because it was Sara’s last night in Puerto.  It was weird to say goodbye and I realized how quickly I would be going home.  

Overall, it was an amazing Christmas!