Monday, July 23, 2012

Last Day of Class and Flight Home

Hola!
    The last day of class went well. It was still very productive even though it was in the university instead of the clinic. We got to talk to Spanish students who were learning English, and in turn, spoke to us in Spanish. We also watched videos in Spanish about the use of artificial skin for burns and the uses of aspirin. The Spanish spoken in the videos were quite fast, but I could understand some of it. At the end of the day, we all took pictures of the class together and with our Spanish teacher!
      Later Friday night, we went to dinner with our host family at a cute little restaurant called El Gordo Steak. Then my roommates and I went to Tlacquepacque to look around the little shops around the artsy town and a couple of the galleries! I have to say, Tlacquepacque was my favorite place to go because of the art and romantic feel of seeing couples walk around the town. It was a great way to end our trip on our last night there!
     The next morning came and went fast. We went to breakfast with our host family at Applebees! As soon as we arrived back to the house, we had to leave. It was sad leaving our host family, because we bonded. However, we plan to keep in touch, so we will have contact, and be able to practice our Spanish.
      Our flight was slightly delayed because of issues with the bathroom on the plane. We almost missed our connecting flight in Phoenix, but luckily we went through Customs and Security quite quick. We had just arrived as they were going to close the gate to board the plane! It was a good thing we had made it as fast as we did, because it was the last flight of the day in Phoenix because of the sand storms! We safely arrived in Las Vegas! These past two days have been fun with my family and friends. It was funny because when we went out, I almost used Spanish terms instead of English such as saying"Si" when someone asked me a question or "Yo quiero..." when I was ordering a meal. It has been quite relaxing but also taking an adjustment to back to the swing of things at home!
      So, in describing what I thought if this experience in few words, it was very life changing! I learned so much about the culture and people of Mexico! I feel much more empathy to those who come to America and try to learn our language. It isn't easy by any means, and it is easy to misinterpret was is being communicated! I also learned so much about myself!I love to blog about subjects like traveling, and it was fun to blog about this experience! I do plan on taking more classes in Spanish, since I have only scratched the surface of Spanish and know there is still so much to do. It was an amazing experience, and I am so thankful I was able to take this journey! I thank everyone who kept up with me in my blogs, and I will from mow on blog when I travel to a new area for long periods of time! I also thank those who made this whole trip possible! I am forever grateful! Guadalajara will always have a place in heart and memories, which makes me want to travel back, and learn more about Mexico!
     So in finishing this blog, I say "Hasta Luego! Muchos gracias!"
Paula
 A picture of our class on the last day of school!

 The menu of the restaurant we ate at with our host family!
 A band playing in the courtyards of Tlacquepacque. They appear to be a band of young teens, but they still played well! I enjoyed their music!

 A small duet playing string instruments, the violin and cello. They played beautifully, and reminded me of my days in orchestra back home.
    My last meal at Applebees, Chocolate chip pancakes! Very delicious!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

One more class day!!!!

Hola!
    Today was fine as usual. We were suppose to go to the Mobile Clinic; however, issues came up so, we could not go there. Instead we returned to the Integrated Health Clinic where we got to talk to a couple patients today. For our last day, we will spend it at the University where we will talk to students instead to practice our questions since we will not be at a clinic. While traveling to the Integrated Health Clinic, we each took pictures of buildings, walls, and other things that looked very interesting to see. After school, it was another stay-at-home day, which was very nice! I am very excited we will be finishing school tomorrow and be on our way home soon! I am also very sad that we will be leaving our wonderful host families!
As I leave this brief blog, I also leave a few pictures taken of today's adventure! I look forward to what tomorrow brings! Siempre, gracias y hasta manana! (Always, thanks and see you tomorrow!)
Paula
 A picture of different murals on the wall.
 If you look closely, these shadows are actually paintings on a wall.
 
 A sushi place. Thought it was very cute!
 With hugs and kisses (as some of the our group says). It is actually the name of a convenience store, pronounced ox-o.
     A recipe for Mexican hot chocolate. Want to try this when I get home!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Two more days of school!

Hola!
     Clinical went well today. Talked to a couple patients, and also learned many new phrases while we took turns questioning patients. Today was the last day at the Integrated Health Clinic, and we will be moved to the Mobile clinic where there are expected to be even more patients. After clinicals, it was another relaxing day! It is amazing that we have only two days left of school! It seems like yesterday we just arrived in Mexico not able to speak a word of Spanish. Four weeks later,I can carry a conversation as well as understand what someone is saying to me better!  I have a long way to go still to master the language, but I plan to further study Spanish to become more fluent.
     Other than clinicals, it was another relaxing day. It has been nice to stay at our host family's house, but I hope to do one last night of fun before we return home. That's all for tonight! Buenas noches!
Paula

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Three days left!

Hola,
     Clinical was productive for the most part. We reviewed some questions, and even got to talk to some patients! I found out some awesome news today! One is I found out I passed all my classes! I was very proud because I was a little nervous if I could learn Spanish in the amount of time that we did. The other news is I retook the placement exam we had on our first day of school, and my scores were much higher than when I previously took the test! I am very proud of myself as well as rest of the group because we all obtained higher scores the second time around! We retook it to evaluate if this program is beneficial so it would be available in the future for other nurses needing to learn Spanish! Other than that, it was another relaxing day. We have three days of school left, and I patiently wait until the day I go back home!
    As always, gracias y hasta luego!
Paula

Monday, July 16, 2012

The Beginning of the Last Week!

Hola!
      The last week of school has begun and we are in a new clinical site! We have a translator/teacher to help us advance our understanding and learn new questions of the Spanish language! His name is Abraham, and he taught us new questions to ask patients as well as reviewed old material to make sure we understood the concepts. We did not get to talk to any patients, but it was a day well spent on learning. He also gave us more insight into Mexico such as personal perceptions and experiences of the culture. Overall, it was still a productive day! Tomorrow, we are possibly going to another clinical site to apply our newly learned questions.
    Today has so far been a little relaxing since it seems we are always on the go. It has been nice! After I blog, I will be heading to my books to study my questions! There are no pictures today, but we will see what tomorrow brings! Gracias y adios!
Paula

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Our Last (Amazing) Weekend!

Hola!
     So, we had another fun weekend! While it is our last one here, we got to help a roommate celebrate her birthday! There is so much to tell, that I am just going to condense this weekend in one paragraph and show a lot pics instead! So, Friday was the last day our our hospitals we were assigned, because we had a slow in flow of patients. So we're being moved to a clinic, similar to University Medical Center urgent care in Las Vegas because they are suppose to have more patients. We will also have a teacher dedicated to us specifically to help us with phrases and to correctly put a sentence together. On Saturday, we returned to El Centro (Central Guadalajara) one last time to get tickets for a ballet show on Sunday at 6:00pm for my roommate Michelle's birthday. We also got to see free entertainment (one of which we were part of). That night, we had an early celebration for Michelle's birthday by having pastel (cake) with hot chocolate since our adviser Pam was leaving on Sunday. On Sunday, we all slept in and got some R and R. We said goodbye to Pam, and later went to ballet show. It was very interesting to me because I have never been to a ballet performance in Las Vegas, and I loved most of the classical music that accompanied most of the dancers! Afterwards, we went to a beautiful restaurant with an American Indian style called Santo Coyote. It reminded me so much of home, specifically Mt. Charleston.
    While this only explains half of the fun we had this weekend, the pictures will tell more! Tomorrow we begin our last week of this course! It excites me as well as saddens me because there are so many people I have meet here that I loved being with! I will enjoy this last week to the fullest, and make sure to have a blast!! Here are pictures, and as always, Gracias!
Paula

 Our last day at Ramon Giraby! With Dr. Lopez and the (helpful)  interns.
 A shot of Minerva, goddess of War and protector of Guadalajara.
 A couple pictures of a dance that seems to be a folk dance.


 A dance recital! I truly loved how the dresses twirled!

 A woman dressed in ancient looking garb.
 Michele became a star when the clown next her pulled her into the act. Later Pam, then myself were also pulled in.
 This clown had given us balloons as gifts!
 A biography of Jose Orozco and his works in the Governor's Palace.
 Another picture in the Governor's Palace.
 On our way to the Congress area of the Governor's Palace.
 The names and dates of important history for Mexico and Guadalajara.
 Another famous art piece by Jose Orozco.
 Celebrating Michele's birthday party in these next few pictures!


 The next few pictures are of the theater where we saw the opera. It so beautiful, it reminded of a scene from Phantom of the Opera!

 The ticket.
 The theater and seating!


 These next few pictures are of the recitals that we saw. They were very beautiful as well! These were some of my favorite ones!






 These last few pictures are of the restaurant where we ate for Michele's birthday! It is called Santo Coyote.
 This man was hand-making our chip dip.
 The Menu.
 The chips with the newly made dip.
 My meal, Queso 3 Soapa (3 Cheese Soup).
 A young woman came by for Michele to present her with a cake, candle, and necklace. With the candle, each person around the table holds it with their right hand and close to their to make a wish for the person on their birthday!

 Michelle blowing out her candles!
 The birthday girl and I.
 My house mother's daughter, Kitty with me.
 A beautiful picture I just had to take.
 A pretty background with totem poles.
 More wall paintings.
 Some American Indian decor.
 A whole room was painted with American Indians. There are also more in the pictures below.


 Myself with a cross.
It appears to be a wax sculpture. 
 An American Indian Tribal hat.
 A painting with a background of the American West!
In front of the sign to Santo Coyote.