Good news and bad news.
Good news: My director/professor took me to the store (several actually, including the Costco of Cuernavaca!) last night so I could purchase a new meter. After my mom FedEx-ed a replacement to Mexico City, FedEx of Mexico City called to say that the newly established Health Consular requires permits for anything that touches a human body (even baby bottles) to be shipped from outside the country. After several phone calls on my behalf by my mom and my professor to FedEx, a nurse at the Embassy, 2 local stores, a local Dr., I called my doctor's office in Seattle and asked the Rx to be faxed here and sent home so I could hopefully, maybe at some point be reimbursed for having to pay upfront. I now hate FedEx for misleading us and drawing out the misery of this process. I have also had a first-hand experience of how ridiculous is the bureaucracy of Mexican govt. and policy. This is all part of the experience of solidarity...at least that is what I tell myself. The important thing is: I have a meter! And I know where I can buy more supplies as I need them. Plus, I was able to spend some time getting to know my director as she drove us all over Cuernavaca, both of us deliriously tired. I feel relieved today.
Bad news: Despite the relief, my body now hurts. I woke up with a sore throat and all day have been increasingly "icky" feeling, tired, and now have what my dad refers to as a "snot-nose-cold." Well great. I hope I can sleep well tonight so I can kick it before our rural homestay.
We learned about our rural homestay today. I didn't know there were scorpions in Mexico. I am excited to see what "rural" Mexico is really like though, despite the intimidation of rusticness. I am having to face that my life is incredibly fortuitous and easy ways other people will never know. However, I also know that my life is more difficult in ways that my host family in Ixtlilco will never know. In the end, life gives all of us challenges. I also tried to find a day-bag at El Mercado today and I think I got a sunburn. I didn't find a bag, but I did find an ATM. I also drank my first Diet Coke in Mexico. I don't know why that matters, but I guess I found it kind of ironic. We had a great speaker tonight from a non-profit organization come in and tell us about "la crisis" in Mexico. It's not singular for there are many. It is also not isolated in Mexico, but is global. It will not be solved by an isolated effort, but must be approached globally.
I can't believe how long my days are here. I am so tired. All the time. Tired. Honestly, I kind of hope that the rest of this program is not quite so FULL. I don't even have time to do the homework they've assigned us, more or less write this blog or to people that I am missing like crazy at home or in other places of the world. And that frusterates me greatly. Maybe tomorrow I will feel better. Right now, I am going to go unload the dishwasher upstairs. It's my weekly chore.
29 January 2009