Hey all! The end is finally here. At 5:30 AM this morning we will be picked up from our homestays and driven to the airport for our 8 AM flight. Most of us are leaving in the morning, and two of the Mexican students plan to stay longer in the country with family. There is so much more I want to blog about, but I felt it best to get out my thoughts tonight (2:30 AM haha) while I pack.

This was such an amazing opportunity. Everyday there was something new to learn about, something exciting to explore - if only it could be a longer trip! The students who I shared this experience with are wonderful, as is Professor Guarnaccia, the SURCO staff, those at the Arrazola clinic, and the people I've met all throughout Oaxaca. I can't begin to describe what this trip has meant to me, and I am so grateful for all the support throughout the application process. Being in Oaxaca and working among the population, learning about the culture, and exploring medical anthropology have all given me more skills and knowledge to pursue international medicine.

Oaxaca has so much to offer, and I hope that one day I can come back. Despite the struggle, I enjoyed the hikes, and despite the early mornings, I loved being at the clinic. The excursions were beautiful, the classes enlightening, and if I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

So, if you have doubts about studying abroad, I'd say, take the leap. Some things can't be learned in class, as I'm sure most of you know. I will put up the rest of the photos (many more!) in the following weeks once I get back. Thank you Greg Spear for the opportunity to blog about my experience, and thank you Dr. G and my fellow Oaxaca crew for making this trip one of the best I've ever had.

Monte Alban! What can I say about this gorgeous Zapotec archeological site. It is simply breathtaking, and photos do not do it justice. The hike up was worth it (although they do have a road you can drive up instead), and we had a guide to show us around. Built by the Zapotec people, Monte Alban is a series of pyramids and sites built for the higher ups, who would use their vantage point from the mountains to see any incoming enemies, or simply to observe the people.

Some of the pyramids were closed off.

My Arrazola homestay dad's dog decided to hike up with us.

Who could forget about all the dogs!

Signs all around the site provided information in three different languages: Spanish, Zapotec, and English

The man who "discovered" Monte Alban.

Some handicap accessibility at the site.

Our guide showed us this type of material still found at Monte Alban - unfortunately I don't remember what it's called but it's like thin colored glass.

Simply stunning. I wish a photo could convey how beautiful it was up there.

Our tour guide explained that if there were small rocks between the larger stones of a pyramid, then it had been restored to keep it from deteriorating.

After reaching the top of the mountain, you still have to walk further.

Near the museum there's this amazing sculpted "map" of Monte Alban, depicting all the pyramids at the site.

Check out the beautiful architecture.

One of the several pyramids.

Panoramic view from the mountain!

The mountain is what we have to hike up - here we go!

Despite the wear and tear of nature, these pyramids continue to hold up - a testament to Zaptotec engineering.

As our guide showed us around Monte Alban, there were several licensed vendors selling little statues and masks. This is just one of several we saw.

Along many stones were engravings/reliefs, though most had to be moved out of their original spot to preserve them. This one, as our guide explained, seems to represent a swimmer.

You use to be able to go into the pyramids, but because of littering, graffiti, and other destructive behavior, visitors are now banned from going inside.

More engravings, a lot which seem to denote dancing.

Several slabs out of original placing - unfortunately, this makes it harder to determine what the engravings represent.

Childbirth?

Zapotec writing.

Digestive system - perhaps these were ways of recording ailments?

Another breathtaking shot.

Although Monte Alban does not have its own water source, life manages to grow.

Once again another sign with the three languages offered.

An area where it is believed that the residents of Monte Alban held athletic events.

As we head up, the town gets smaller...

These little guys were everywhere during the hike.

Our guide showing us how stones provided natural dyes.

A fountain!

One of our two-day excursions led us to Arrazola, where I work in the clinic. Famous for wooden carvings called alebrijes, Arrazola is right next to the mountains. We spent our Saturday learning about how alebrijes are made, and then helped clean up litter and plant trees. In my next post I will go into our hike up the mountains to see Monte Alban, the famous archeological site located near Arrazola.

The home I stayed at had a lot of dogs, and in Arrazola you're bound to spot strays.

The wood to make alebrijes comes from the copal tree, which we helped plant later in the day. First you use a machete to chop the amount of wood needed for what you want to carve.

Next, the bark is sliced off.

The carvers, primarily men, will sketch out what they want to create before carving. As you can see, the coyote above is the final product, which will then be painted, a task usually done by women and children.

As we headed to a local restaurant for dinner, there was a parade going on. Check out the giant people!

And a puppy!

After weaving, we headed over to a store that sold mezcal, a local alcohol. Here, we learned about the process:

You start with the heart of the maguey plant.

There are different types of it - here are two examples they had at the distillery.

A bunch of them are cooked...

...then crushed by a horse pulled wheel.

Next, you place the crushed plant into a vat...

...where it is allowed to ferment.

You collect the alcohol here.

And ta-dah!

There were many flavors and sizes to choose from, and a lot of the other students bought them as gifts.

There are even some with worms in them!

We also went to see a baseball game. This was my first game, and lucky for me it was free for women! The guys in black are part of the home team, the Guerreros.

At the start, the stadium was mostly empty, but started to fill up as it got later.

Cheerleaders? Definitely not the type in the US, but nonetheless there to rile up the fans.

And who could forget the mascot!