i can’t believe that it is already my last day in oaxaca. these past two weeks have flown by INCREDIBLY quickly. it really doesn’t take long to adjust and feel like where you are is your home… it took me about a week. i feel like i adapted to life here, and i will miss it.
reflection time…
things i will miss dearly from my time in oaxaca, mexico:
quesillo (oaxacan cheese)… the weather (it’s dry and somewhat cool here for summer… i usually wear pants), delicious food waiting for me, magically ready at mealtime… kinder hazelnut chocolate bars… men who can move and dance incredibly well… daily use of spanish… goofing around with the family… salsa dancing… the adventure of exploring a new city… the funny (and mysteriously usually unoccupied) staff members at my internship at COESIDA… the beautiful catholic cathedrals… art being sold in the streets… the sweet feeling of being close to and comforted by JESUS in a quiet, knowing way being alone so far from home…
things i won’t miss toooo much:
trying to remember to throw the toilet paper in the wastebasket… actually, there never being any toilet paper… walking a half hour to get anywhere… cat calling (actually i don’t know, i might prefer it here since a lot of the time i don’t understand it)… bad coffee… smelly feet… carrying an umbrella every single time i leave the house… getting lost every two seconds… the uneasy feeling of watching the bank account dwindle when you’re not working… every time you eat something new, waiting in suspense to see if your body is going to hate you for it…
what i am excited to come home to:
summer in milwaukee!… our thursday night community… my garden (it’s still there, right betsy?)… my ridiculous roommates… my house… my BIKES… my boyfriend and his voluminous head of hair… my family… the lake… beans and barley… wisconsin birthday celebration 
) … my beautiful church community at brew city… hitide.lotide preparations… the warehouse… my mac… good espresso… soy milk…
i really am not ready to leave here. i feel like there are many areas and aspects of oaxaca that only over the past few days have i begun to notice and explore. tonight i am going to the opening of a community center in a poor village that was just built by a ministry here… but i only met my friend here with his church a few days ago. two weeks is not enough time to make connections and really get an idea for a city. in any case, my comfort is that there are many things i am very excited to return home to, mainly all of the beautiful aspects of the people and activities of summer in milwaukee. i love it at home.
so, with that i pack my bags (a little more of a tight fit than when i came), and start daydreaming about the next adventure.
¡nos vemos, oaxaca!
con amor,
kate
