Perfect Summer Day

Saturday was an amazing 90 degree summer day:

- I woke up in the morning and went for a run through one of my favorite trails up that climbs the Gresham Butte.

- Got coffee with a roommate for our Diad – a conversation to evaluate and reflect on our relationship this year as a closure activity. It could have been messy, was hard at times, but ended positively with laughter and constructive criticism.

- On our way home, we got veggies and fruit at the Gresham Famers Market. I also got Two Tamales for the price of one because the sweet Latina woman felt bad that they were out of the kind I wanted.

- I Started packing my stuff so that I’m not overwhelmed next weekend, and can savor time with my roommates.

- I finish my 8th secondary application for medical school and turned it in.

- The roommates and I met up with a few other JVs for Gourment Pizza and a seasonal microbrew in Norhtwest Portland

- After dinner I had the most delicious Stumptown Coffee and Cinemon gelato.

- We all wandered to a park and discovered a swing set. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Swings are amazing.

- When we were done hanging out at the park, we headed home for G&T’s and good conversation.

Perfect.

"Dis-O: a JV vacation"

For the national branch of JVC, Disorientation is its own retreat near the end of the year set up as a time for JVs to find closure to their year of service and living in community. For JVC Northwest, we plan our own Disorientations as individual communities. My Community decided to take advantage of this opportunity to do a “Tour of Oregon” savoring time spent with each other and seeing all the things we wanted to see in Oregon and never got a chance to.

In true Gresham style (we’re known for going all out – no short cuts in Gresham), Disorientation included taking two days off of work and driving over 600 miles as we circled the state of Oregon. We left Friday morning heading east through Mount Hood National Forest. We stopped in Bend for an amazing sit-down lunch at the Deschutes Brewery, taking advantage of the local fare on the community dime – the years almost over, and we’ve got money to spare. Then back to the cars to our destination for the night: Crater Lake. I’ve flown over “the big blue dot” before, but Tomas, Sinclair and I couldn’t contain our excitement when we first got a glimpse driving up to the rim road and just started screaming “AAAAAHHHHHH!”

We set up camp for the night, only to discover that this is peak mosquito season. Adequately lathered in repellent and layered in more clothes than the weather warranted, we spent as little time as possible outside the tent, just enough to grill up some hot dogs and brush our teeth.

In the morning we hiked Garfield Peak behind the Crater Lake Lodge to take in the full experience. Standing on a small snowfield at the summit, we could see Mt. Shasta, and The Sisters, and Three Finger Jack…. Beautiful.

After brief stop and the biggest single scoop of ice cream I’ve ever had in my life, we were in Ashland being treated to dinner by Renata’s old family friends. She hadn’t seen them in 15 years, yet they were probably the nicest, most welcoming and accommodating people I had met. The treated us to a gourmet meal and delicious micro brews at the brewery/restaurant they owned then gave us a tour of adorable little Ashland.

We spent the night at my college roommate’s family’s house in Medford nestled between pear orchards and wineries. This set a beautiful stage for some time we’d set aside to reflect on our year together on Sunday morning. In the afternoon we went to the resovoir – the first time I’ve swam in a body of water in over a year – back to Medford for an amazing steak dinner, and finally off to Ashland again to see Shakespear’s Henry the IVth.

Monday morning, after a breakfast of home made oatmeal waffles (Beth, you’re amazing), we packed up our things and headed back to Portland. A brief stop in Eugene for lunch, and to check out the U of O campus where Sinclair will be an AmeriCorps volunteer in August, and we were back home in Gresham.

Gresham knows how to go out in style. We were spoiled, we got tan, we saw beautiful things and spent time with beautiful people. I can only hope to half as hospitable as the families who hosted us.

Disoreitation? A JV vacation? Perhaps both.

The First Farewell

My eyes are still drying. We'll see if I can get through this without crying.

This fourth of July was the last unofficial gathering of JVs. And an epic fourth of July weekend no doubt complete with soccer game, barbecuing, lounging in the yard, penny keg, and rooftop concert followed by the neighbor hood fireworks. The main party was Saturday night with a few goodbyes in the morning as Seattle JVs headed out, but mostly "see you later"'s to those who I'll see when I'm back north.

The Styrofoam Snowflakes - my band if you aren't familiar - held a Rihanna tribute concert on the Mac House roof on the 3rd. We ended with the a rousing version of "God Bless the USA" for the sake of patriotism, then our adoring fans shouted requests of their favorites from the year - like Beyonce's "If I were a Boy" and City High's "What Would You Do" and a finale of the crowd pleasing Ingrid Michaelson's "You and I' - Sean my band mate leaving me to sing alone in front of everyone before he chimed in at the chorus.

The really tough goodbye came on the night of the 4th. Sean left this morning - the 5th - at 7:30 AM, so in addition to enjoying the fireworks from the Mac House roof last night, it was Sean's last hurrah. Part way through the night he asked me to bring up my guitar. I brought it out and we headed to a corner for our last private jam session. We rocked out to Bruce Springsten's "Atlantic City" for the last time, the rhythm of the strumming and sean's soulful projection of the lyrics creating the music that bonded us in friendship. Then he gathered the group to finish our career in the spirit of the holiday with "God Bless the USA."

When it was time to go home, I waited to be the last to give Sean a hug. "It's been a good year. Go be a doctor." He says to me. "Go be a lawyer. You're great," I replied. "Back at ya." When we got in the car the mix of exhaustion and emotion was too much and I couldn't hold back the tears any more. I sat silently in the back seat as tears poured down my cheeks. Those tears came back as I pulled my guitar out its case this morning to put it away on its stand, and opened my computer to find the tabs of the songs we had performed this weekend.

Sean helped to bring me out of my shell. I never would have gotten up in front of people and performed on my own. He also was my inspiration to play my guitar as much as I have. But he was more than a band mate. He was a fierce friend - loyal and supportive. We had rousing conversations about religion and what a powerful force family is. We had a lot of fun together laughing and playing hard.

Sean had handed me with a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey, his favorite, earlier in the night with the note "Get 'em Snowflake. Thanks for the memories. - Sean 7/2010."

Thanks for the memories, Snowflake.

The end of July is going to be much harder than I thought.

A JV in Mexico City

I guess it really pays to be bilingual.

If you didn't know already, I spent Sunday through Wednesday of this week at a conference in Mexico City. About two weeks ago, the Mexican consulate in Portland invited our clinic to partner with them as a Ventanilla de Salud, or "Health Station." Then then said, "Oh yeah, there's an informational meeting in Mexico City in a week, and we'll pay for someone from your office to go." Our van doc was the only person able to go, and she doesn't speak spanish well enough feel comfortable going alone. Therefore, I, the only other bilingual staff with a valid passport and open schedule, was chosen to go with her! Who'da thunk a non-profit would send their full time volunteer to Mexico??!?! I am one luck JV :)



Secretary of Health - Far Left

The conference was AMAZING! We spent Monday and Tuesday from 9-7 in a conference room in the Secretary of Foreign Affairs building with 60 other participants representing their consulate's Ventanilla, and about 15 government officials or employees of the Institute for Mexican's Abroad. The first day we had presentations from Mexico's Ambasador to the United States, and the Secratary of Health himself about the specific medical needs of the Mexican migrant population and the purpose of the Ventanillas de Salud as way for the Mexican government to care for their citizens abroad. 10% of the entire mexican population are migrants living in other countries. 12 million of those live in the US, 6.6 million of which are undocumented. Because the US federal government does not provide medical coverage for undocumented immigrants, (which the Secretary of Health said is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - yikes!), the Mexican government is providing a way to keep its population healthy. Mexican migrants to the US leave a lifestyle where they eat fresh food, walk a lot, and have the support of friends and family, to go to a place where they eat cheap and bad food (or the US equivalent of what they had in Mexico which has a higher calorie and fat content), they are more sedentary and isolated and therefore have a much higher rate of diabetes, obesity, drug use, hypertension and depression than that of the Mexican and US populations.



Media for the Secretary of Health

Venanillas de Salud are partnerships of the Mexican Government (through the local consulate) with community organizations to provide heath information, education, and referral services to the Mexican migrant population. The "Fiscal Agency" receives money from the Mexican Government (not very much) to have a representative in the consulate, or have a "mobile consulate" that outreaches to rural agricultural communities, and offer these services. They want Ventanillas to offer information on pertinent health problems affecting migrant Mexicans, as well as information on insurance coverage options in the US and in Mexico. Mexico recently instituted "Seguro Público" - public insurance - that is free and covers all mexican citizens. So for an undocumented Mexican migrant in Oregon, for example, since they have no medical coverage options, they can sign up for this Seguro Público and go back to Mexico if they get really sick and be seen by a doctor within a week. Problem is once they go back to Mexico, how will they get back to the states? Hot topics these immigration and health care issues!



So Dr. Jimenez and I networked away for three days strait and discovered that there is no formula to being a Ventanilla. Each Ventanilla looks different and offers different services. The main purpose of the second day was to get feed back from current Ventanillas about standardization: what should be standardized? How? What requirements do they want? There is a lot of flexibility and other organizations were eager to help us develop our Ventanilla.





The Ancient Cathedral of The Virgin Guadalupe and the Modern Cathedral

These kind of opportunities really make me want to be a part of public health. It was encouraging for me to see Dr. Jimenez participate in these conversations. It was also interesting to see that a lot of the Ventanilla Coordinators were doctors trained in Latin America that can't practice in the US. I know that I would be unsatisfied simply doing policy and not being able to actually provide medical care, but I want to run a Ventanilla. When I asked Dr. Jimenez about mixing policy and practice, said she is happy doing what she's doing. She wants to do community health, but if that is what I want, I just need to be prepared for a major pay cut. I am so excited about the Ventanilla program and what it has to offer, so its sad that I probably won't ever see it come to fruition. But Sea Mar, where I'll be an americorps volunteer in Seattle next year, is the Ventanilla in Seattle. So there's hope!



It was a pretty amazing four days. So many of the opportunities I've had through Wallace are shaping what I believe as a person and what I want to do as a doctor. For that I am truly grateful.

Procrastination and El Capullo

So, I'm sitting in our local coffee shop, Cafe Delerium, on the corner of Main and 3rd Street. My plan for today was to go to the farmer's market (check) and then to hold up in this caffeination station and finish up last minute edits on my medical school application.

After about an hour of work - well, half an hour of work and half an hour of facebooking - I decided it was time for a little break. I really wanted to share with you all my new favorite part about working on the van on Wednesdays: El Capullo. If I haven't mentioned it before, Gresham is the little Mexico of the Portland area. The hispanic population is very high, and so is the concentration of mexican restaurants and tiendas within a 5 mile radius of my house. My housemates an I rarely venture into these shops and restaurants- mainly because we can't afford to eat out, but other than that I have no idea why.

So I'm pleased to finally be enjoying the benefits having authentic mexican food at my finger tips. The van staff has made a habit of buying lunch at El Capullo every wednesday. $1 tacos, $1 horchata (drink made of rice milk, sugar and cinnamon), and a huge buffet of free fixins. 1 taco of carnitas, 1 taco al pastor, piled high with cilantro, onion, green salsa, pico de gallo with nopal cactus, marinated chiles, and lime. HEAVEN. I've started bringing home the extra goodies to eat with nachos at home - which Renata appreciates. A little taste of mexico brings her back to her visiting her dad's family in Mexico City.

Though, before I took the time to write about this deliciousness and notice the grumbling in my tummy, I found myself distracted once again. I decided to revamp my blog. Hope you enjoy the new layout. And are inspired to go find some tacos of your own.

Procrastination. Much more satisfying that actual work.

The Great Outdoors

Despite the horrendously rainy and cold spring we've been having, there have been a few shining moments of sun and warmth, and my roommates and I are taking full advantage. For a girl who used to whine at the thought of hiking up a mountain, I've come quite a long way.

Memorial day weekend, for the first time in probably 10 years, I strapped on an over 50 pound back pack, and headed out onto the trail for a backpacking and camping weekend. I gotta say I felt pretty bad ass finally putting my "travel backpack" to it's intended use. Something about caring around your own food and shelter on your back and walking into the wilderness with a group of people is liberating. It was a fairly easy hike - we had quite the mix of experienced and first time backpackers. Hiked about four miles in to the camp site *Gretchen and I found and convinced our group to hike 15 more minutes for our pristine location*, set up our tents, scoured the land for fire wood (not hard, there's a beetle infestation that is killing all the trees), and chowed down on dried fruit, trail mix, and fire-roasted hot dogs. The second day, Garrett and Tomás headed onward past where the trail was not really hike-able any more due to downed trees. They camped a second night at Badger Lake. The girls and I hiked until we were having to climb over downed trees every 15 feet. It made for a nice 9 mile hike on day 2 before the drive home. I had at one moment considered going on with the boys to camp a second night, but that 9 mile hike told me I am not quite in the backpacking shape I'd like to be in. None the less - communing with nature and sleeping in a tent for the first time in a LONG time was pretty great :)





Then the next weekend, we were lucky enough to have another beautiful saturday and went on a hike to Ramona Falls with our support couple Jim and Mary Anne Buck. Both in their 60's and recently retired, Jim is quite the athlete and mountian man, and Mary Anne has joined a hiking group since her retirement from St. Henry's Parish 6 months ago. They picked us up in the morning, we drove out to Mt. Hood National Forest and went on one of the most beautiful hikes I have been on in a long time. We wandered through what seemed to me the garden of eden entranced by the babbling brook and the silence of the deep forest. Not to mention the incredible view of Mt. Hood. Jim an Mary Anne provided a nutritious lunch when we got to the falls, then we were invited over for an evening of Venison Stew, Rhubarb Pie, and great conversation. Amazing.






I can't get enough! I want to hike every weekend!

Spirituality Night: I am from...

*So for last weeks spirituality night, Justin had us all write "I am from..." poems. Basically drawing on people, places, things and experiences that have shaped you and made you who you are. They are super free form, kind of stream of consciousness. I wrote two: one very random, and the other a little more thoughtful. Just thought I'd share!

I am From…
I am from water
From summers at the pool and swim team races
From a liquid back yard and sunburns after laying out on the dock too long

I am from nerf gun fights, trying to be one of the boys
I am from a cruel older brother that turned into a best friend
I am from Peppakakka and Potatas Corve
I am from five acres of the best trees to climb, the freshest mountain air and Karen the goat lady
I am from “don’t call me pony, I’m just a little horse,” fried chicken and the Honda Trail ‘90
I am from “don’t talk about your feelings” and “tell me more than you wanted to know”
I am from Lamb Chop and Reading Rainbow
I am from don’t eat that and however you say “fat girl” in Japanese
I am from hips broken at the age of 13 and guns pointed at your daughter
I am from West Lake Sammamish Parkway and angry neighbors
I am from Shawn Moore and nettle bushes

From rats buried in the back yard to cats we thought had 6 toes but turns out we just couldn’t count
From Doug Firs, Rhododendrons, Japanese Maples and Eagles Nests
From the ancient music that has coursed through the veins of humans and fed their souls since the beginning of time
I am from the secret – the quiet place, hungry I come for I know you satisfy, Forgiven because He was forsaken

From tears shed on snowy mountain slopes
From dress-up clothes and Barbie dolls in the drawers beneath my bunk bed
From Scientists and Journalists
From Faith and Reason

From a love that has filled me and inspired me to take joy in this world and do what I can to help others experience the love and joy we all deserve



I am from Water

I am from the water that falls from the sky
That quenches the thirst of the evergreens and ferns
That runs down the steep Seattle streets

I am from the water that courses through the veins of the Northwest
That melts from the glaciers
That fills the Columbia and cuts through the walls of the Gorge

I am from water that stands still
Only moved by my arms and my feet as I race to the edge of the pool
Or by the propeller of the boat and the fin on my wakeboard

I am from the living water that restores my soul
From Be Though My Vision and Lift Thine Eyes
From the stillness, He is there

I am from the water that falls in drops from my eyes
To remember flannel shirts, puffy vests and trucker hats
For tan skin, gold chains, and cigar smoke

I am from the water from the faucet, that once fell from the sky, ran through the river, collected in the reservoir, and filled the pipes that emptied into my glass only to enter my body, fill my cells, and give me life.