The way to Mexico - Health Care in Mexico

After many weeks of my mother freaking out, a goodbye to my amazing, gorgeous girlfriend and a twelve hour plane ride I had almost reached Mexico. I had landed at LAX (the Los Angles International airport). The 12 hour Joseph flavoured man sandwich reminded me of the advice given to me by Rob the AIM overseas guy about online check-in which allows you to pick your own seats ensuring you don’t get stuck between two pleasant but large middle aged males. Being rather new to the whole international travelling thing I knew this wouldn’t be my only error in judgment. I now had an 11 hour wait until my Mexico flight.

I filled in my time by listening to the peoples different accents, buying chocolate bars that I’d heard about on movies like butterfingers, thingamajig and whatchamacallit (they are mostly peanut buttery) and offending the lady who worked at Starbucks by trying to use a 50 dollar ‘bill’ to pay for my venti sized café latte. I was going to take a photo for the blog but I was bitter from the experience and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Starbucks in Australia anyway. So I took a photo of an American police car instead.

Police car, the shotgun in the front seat makes it all the more intimidating

Soon enough I had boarded the plane to Mexico, I had no idea how long the journey took as I slept the whole way. It was nearly midnight and I awoke to different world where people would assume I could speak Spanish. Little did they know I was a lazy Australian who only knew the words I learnt from Dora. Despite not having the ability to communicate properly, everyone I met was very accommodating and luckily, most people I encountered spoke English. Not too soon after a few awkward conversations, I arrived at the airport hotel for some much needed rest or so I thought. As I had just slept for who knows how many hours, I had trouble getting to sleep until about 4 am then proceeded to sleep until 1 30pm. It was now time to taxi my way to my host families place.

A Mexican equivalent

My host family is made up of one grandfather (Renae), one grandmother (Mather), their daughter (Claudia, pronounced Cloudia), and her son (Andres) and some other children who I am yet to meet. All who of which were instantly very welcoming and accommodating. There is a Mexican saying “mi casa es su casa” which I am fairly sure translates to “my home is your home.” My host family really means it.  It’s hardly been 24 hours and I couldn’t have been treated better, tasting and enjoying the different meals and having the best bruschetta I’ve tasted. I know this is not a Mexican dish but it was amazing. My host family regularly has international students stay and there is currently a German exchange student (Lena) staying with them as well, which makes me feel so much more worldly.

The stairwell up to my room, I thought this was pretty cool.

All in all I’m already enjoying experience and I am excited to start my program. And next blog post I promise to take more photos other than police cars and stairs.

~Joseph McGrath

Joseph McGrath is completing the Public Health in Mexico Program. Joseph is in his second year of a Bachelor of Nursing at University of Newcastle.

Last week in Mexico - Intensive Spanish

The Gang (from right to left): Cass - Human Dustbin, Martin - they call him Él Crappo, Mel - The Muso, Brooke - Queen B, Hannah - Michael Jackson's adorable love child, Evette - Xena Warrior Princess, Bec- SingStar, Callie - ¡DANZA KUDURO!

It´s a few days after the course has finished and one by one, almost everyone has gone home. Today Mel is leaving and then it will just be Brooke and I, then on Friday she goes and it will just be me...and my hubby who has come to volunteer/travel with me for 2 months.

I can honestly say that I have never known a group of people to get on so well in such a short space of time and with so many different personalities involved. We worked hard but we played hard. We created memories that will last a lifetime and have already arranged a post-course catch up for Easter - I´m just hoping I can get there as I will only have been back in Australia for 2-3 days by then!

The last week was typically crazy, everyone did really well with their exams and we celebrated Aussie-style, dancing up a riot in our favourite club Black (poor Evette whacked her head on a speaker trying to dance on a chair, she has a battle-scar to remember Mexico by). We all ate far too much food because we were trying to get in as much as possible before leaving and there was some crazed buying at the markets, plus some just wandered around the Zocalo checking out the energy for one last time. I managed to dance to some Zumba in the main square as part of the city´s health drive - FUN!

There have been lots of laughs and a few tears at the airport, but we know this is not ´Adios´, merely ´Hasta Luego´.

There´s lots of love within this group and I can´t wait to see them all again x



Callie Barrett is participating in our January 2012 Intensive Spanish program at La Salle University, Mexico. Callie is about to enter into her 4th year of a Bachelor of Arts (double degree in Spanish and English) at Flinders University.

Not a goodbye, but a see you later Mexico!

I’m currently sitting in Los Angeles International Airport, waiting for my flight tonight back to Melbourne, Australia. It marks the end of the Public Healthcare in Mexico program for the January students. It is bittersweet; going home to see family & friends that I have dearly missed, however leaving a group of people whose lives changed with me. Whenever I used to hear “Oh it changed my life!” I doubt I ever understood this term, given I had never had the experience. However, now it is a term I use with the realization that my life really HAS changed.. for the better!

The Public Healthcare in Mexico Program has given me knowledge that I’ll be forever grateful for. Firstly, the people in Mexico who make all this happen!

Margo: We often referred to Margo as our “Mexican God-Mother”. She looked out for us, made dreams come true & always kept us safe!

Tegan Monttinen receiving here Public Healthcare in Mexico diploma with Margo!

Ana Cristina (a.k.a AC!): What can I say, AC is a legend! Our group really took to AC from the start, her kindness, warm-heart & non-judgemental character really makes you feel relaxed & comfortable. Her lectures are brilliant & there is never a dull moment with AC. We were also fortunate enough to meet her husband, Louis. Both are absolute joys & many tears were shed saying goodbye!

Myself with Ana Cristina:

Willie & Alnaldo: Willie took us on many site visits & made incredibly funny jokes! He can make the dullest moments funny! Alnaldo, without him the cultural visits would not have been the same! The amount of knowledge & intelligence that this man holds is incredible, a true genius!

Alnaldo giving us a piece of history!

With every fibre within me, I am so grateful to have been able to have been able to have travelled to Mexico & experienced the culture, the knowledge, lifestyle & healthcare. I’ll never forget the people who were apart of this with me.

The January 2012 Public Healthcare in Mexico group at the top of the Pyramid of the Sun!

See you Mexico!

Kahlia Hickey is participating in our January 2012 Public Health in Mexico Program at La Salle University, Mexico. Kahlia is going into her 2nd year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Victoria University.

Final Week in Mexico City!

A stunning sunset in Puebla

It is now my final week in Mexico City. I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye. I have spent the last few days trying to fight off a Mexican cold and flu virus along with some of the other students. I've been missing my fiancé like crazy and it is not a good time to be sick, with the pressure of Spanish exams and a presentation and report to write. Even writing this blog feels like a massive effort! (I had planned to write another one a little sooner than this)

Sickness and homesickness aside, I've had some fantastic times. After a trip to Xochimilco on the 21st of January, the Spanish group decided this would be a great place to celebrate a delayed Australia day. I loved Xochimilco! Cruising down the rivers in brightly coloured boats while being serenaded by Mariachi’s, waving to passersby in their boats. We also visited the nearby Dolores museum, which has many of the original works of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, along with stunning gardens.

Our Aussie flag flying proudly from our boat in Xochimilco

Week 3 was mostly focused on getting through Spanish homework and our first exam, which to my surprise my results were better than expected. I did have a chance to visit an orphanage in my own time with Callie, who is planning to volunteer at an orphanage in Mexico City with her husband for a month. We arrived just as a group of volunteers from the Radisson Hotel arrived to deliver toys and piñatas to the children. We had a great time just watching these beautiful children, each take their turn on the Piñata´s. Some of them smaller than the stick they were using to hit the piñata!

Last Friday afternoon we celebrated Australia Day in Xochimilco, complete with Australian flags and 'Land Down Under' blasting from the speakers while we danced around the boat. A couple of our Mexican friends were brave enough to join us and I have to say it has to be my top Australia day to date. We also celebrated Hannah’s Birthday on the 24^th! Happy Birthday Hannah, it was a great week of celebrations all round!

Chendo and Martin, getting into the Australia day spirit!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

The final weekend of the program was spent in Puebla, a stunning town about 125km from Mexico City. On the way to Puebla we stopped at Cholula to visit the pyramid there. Had I not known it was a pyramid, I would have thought it was just a big hill with a church on the top. Unfortunately I was too sick to make the most of my time there and spent quite a lot of time in the hotel (it was a very nice hotel though!). I did have a chance to see some of the town, which is full of churches. One church we visited had a wedding ceremony going on in the chapel. The sunset from my hotel room was absolutely stunning!

The Cathedral on top of the Pyramid in Cholula

Australia day fever in Mexico

What a week this has been, I almost don't know where to start...

The workload has been pretty heavy and some people are really struggling with the ongoing effects of altitude sickness, Monctezumas Revenge, or just too much chilli (but it tastes so good).

We have all had an exam this week and the pressure was definitely felt, plus I think we're all getting a little 'Museum Fatigue'...and if we hear about the Presidents AGAIN, there may be another Mexican revolution! But despite those things, spirits remain very high and we have all fallen even more in love with this crazy, noisy, fascinating city. There really are no words to adequately describe the chaos.

Highlights for me this week have been, going to an orphanage run by local nuns and watching the teeny children whacking the living daylights out of a pinata with a massive stick! They were incredibly cute and I have requested to do a month of volunteer work there after the course finishes.

On Tuesday we went to see Mexican wrestling - what a scream! No photos allowed unfortunately, but it is a must-see. Absolutely ridiculous and over the top, it is hard to get past grown men slapping each other! But so much fun.

We went to the Ballet Folklorico on Wednesday and I LOVED it. The different styles of dance coupled with beautiful costumes and frankly bizarre stories were an absolute crack-up. The show is in the beautiful Palacio de Bellas Artes - Palace of Fine Arts - and it has a stunning glass curtain, made by Tiffany no less.

It was also the beautiful Hannah's birthday this week - she turned 20, and we had cake to celebrate.




Australia Day was on Thursday but we were revising for exams on the Friday, plus we had a full day of uni, so we decided to celebrate on Friday by heading back to Xochimilco and hiring a boat, some loud speakers and taking plenty of cerveza and tequila to share with our Mexican friends. Plus, Mel made a Pavlova! We decorated the boat appropriately and I will never forget the sight, or sound, of my new Mexican family singing Land Downunder and dancing around the boat, cheered on by passing Mexicans on their boats. It was easily the best Australia Day I've ever had.

This weekend we went to Puebla, a gorgeous town a couple of hours out of Mexico City. It was nice to breath cleaner air, plus the vibe of the town was very chilled and a lot of fun. We visited what remains of the largest pyramid in the world, bought teeny tiny coke bottles, gate-crashed a wedding, found an Australian shop, and heard some incredible live music - good times.


Just one week left and we are starting to feel sad about leaving our new friends but are going to make the most of it. Lots of exams, presentations and more fun to follow!

Week 2: Spanish classes, ancient Pyramids and meeting Leon Trovsky´s grandson!…among many other adventures!

Week 2: Spanish classes, ancient Pyramids and meeting Leon Trovsky´s grandson!…among many other adventures! 

Rebecca Honey blogs from Mexico City on the Intensive Spanish in Mexico program 

 

A panarama view of the beautiful town of Taxco

It’s the end of my 2nd week in Mexico; time is starting to pass more quickly. Last Friday we travelled to the beautiful town of Taxco. I would love to spend more time there; a day trip is far too short! Taxco is amazing, everything from the hilltop colonial Spanish houses, cobblestone streets and VW Beetle taxis racing up the steep narrow streets barely managing to pass each other. 

The Spanish and Health Students at the National Palace

On Saturday we spent the day exploring the heart of Mexico City, visiting the National Palace and admiring the Murals of Diego Rivera, Cathedrals and ancient ruins from the prehispanic times. Of course a Saturday night in Mexico is not complete without tequila, mescal and dancing the Salsa! After only a few classes I only knew a few steps but had a go anyway! Sunday was spent visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids. Teotihuacan was once the largest city in Latin America in the first half of the first millennium AD, and the larger Sun pyramid is the third largest pyramid in the world! After the Pyramids we visited the Shrine of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. The place was crowded as a Sunday service was starting and it poured with rain! However, that didn’t stop the ambiance and warmth of the place shining through. 

On Monday we began our Spanish classes. I'm in Una Basico, which is the lowest level, along with 3 others in the Spanish program. The classes are very 'Intensive', I’m learning a lot but we are taking in so much that it’s difficult to remember it all once the lesson is over for the day. I still find myself frustrated that I can't communicate enough and being with Australians most of the time makes it difficult to find people to practice with. I must say though, I couldn’t ask for a better group of people!

In the heart of Cuidad de Mexico

On Wednesday we visited the lovely district of Coyoacán, home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Casa Azul ‘the blue house’ is where Frida and Diego lived and was transformed into a museum after Frida died. I´m intrigued by the life of Frida Kahlo and extreme honesty and transparency in her art. Just a few blocks down the road is the Leon Trotsky Museum. Leon Trotsky spent his final years in Coyoacan before Lenin finally caught up with him and a visit to is home (now the museum) brought more than expected. A documentary was being filmed about Trotsky’s life and his grandson was there, we were able to meet him and take photos with him. That was definitely a highlight of the week! 

The Sun Pyramid in Teotihuacan

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's house in Coyoacán

Rebecca Honey is participating in our January 2012 Intensive Spanish program at La Salle University, Mexico. Rebecca is about to enter into her 4th year of a Bachelor Social Work degree at the University of Newcastle.

Health in Mexico article

Edith Cowan University (Perth) have written the following article about their student, Antoinette Hays, and her experience on the AIM Overseas 'Health Care in Mexico' program.

http://www.ecu.edu.au/news/latest-news/2012/01/mexican-adventures

Mexico City changes lives! - Public Health in Mexico Blog with Kahlia Hickey

Hola!

Well ALOT has happened since my last update! Firstly we visited BRIMEX Community Health Centre, which is a connection of the private ABC Hospital. The hospital had many different units, including high-quality cancer services & bariatric services.

We then visited Coyoacan, here we went to the Frida Kahlo Museum, it was an amazing place to visit!






From here, we made our way to the home of Leon Trotsky. While there we viewed some amazing photographs & personal items owned by himself & his wife. As we made our way out to the garden area, we saw a film crew. This film crew were 60minutes, filming a segment on Leon Trotsky’s grandson! He was there! This was pretty amazing to meet someone who lived in the home & witnessed a lot of events!








The next day, we made a visit to the largest HIV/AIDS Clinic in Latin America! The visit was a huge eye-opener and we were introduced to some amazing people making real progresses in the world of sexual health. We also viewed some extremely advanced material!




January 20th was a day that changed a lot of lives. We visited a Public Hospital, here we viewed nutrition, psychology & emergency. We were fortunate enough to make our way into surgery to witness a C-Section! It was one of the most surreal experiences!




Yesterday we went to Xochimilco! We visited Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera’s connected homes..



We then went to Dolores Olmedo Museum..




Then came the floating gardens!!



Bring on the next 12days!





Kahlia Hickey is participating in our January 2012 Public Health in Mexico Program at La Salle University, Mexico. Kahlia is going into her 2nd year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Victoria University.

Week 2: Teotihuacan and a little more! - Spanish in Mexico Blog by Callie Barrett

View from Temple of Moon


What a week the first week was! The highlight for me was the visit to Teotihuacan and climbing the Temple of the Moon. Many people have seen images of this incredible place, which was initially built by the Olmecs and then 400 years later was re-discovered by the Aztecs (see Arnoldo, I was listening ha). Although the ruins are filled with people, you are still filled with a sense of the might and power this sacred place once wielded. It is very mysterious, with the enormous Temples of the Sun, Moon and the Basilica perfectly aligned to reflect the 3 stars that make up Orion's belt, this is the same alignment of the 3 major pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. The steps are steep, but it's not only the climb that takes your breath away once you reach the top of the pyramids. I can only strongly recommend to everyone to visit this place if you get the chance.

After Teotihuacan, we visited the Basilica De Guadalupe. The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is the most important religious image in Mexico. The Basilica was filled with thousands of Mexican people making pilgrimage from all over the country and despite the rain, the sense of hope and love that filled the building was incredible. All in all it was quite moving and humbling to be in the presence of such faith.


Virgin of Guadalupe


This week, so far we have started our Spanish classes and today we're off to Coyoacan to see the Frida Kahlo Museum...update to follow :)



Aussie pride on top of the Temple of the Sun





Callie Barrett is participating in our January 2012 Intensive Spanish program at La Salle University, Mexico. Callie is about to enter into her 4th year of a Bachelor of Arts (double degree in Spanish and English) at Flinders University.

Hospital visits, art appreciation and a visit to the Aztec ruins: just another day in Mexico! - Public Health in Mexico Blog with Kahlia Hickey

Hola!

It’s been a few days since i’ve posted a blog, & since then we have done ALOT!

On Friday 13^th of January we had the opportunity to visit Casa Para Ancianos Arturo Mundet, an Elderly Healthcare Centre which is made up of high-care, low-care & daily visits for consultations, as well as Physiotherapy. The visit was an amazing experience, we had the pleasure of joining in with some of the residents for their exercise routine with the physio team.

Below: Getting ready to get our exercise on!

It’s incredibly important for us to acknowledge just how incredible these residents are. The vast majority of the residents has more flexibility then most of us students! For example, 2 residents were over the age of 100yrs old!

From Left: 100yr old resident, Nikki Callander, 101yr old resident, Tegan Monttinen & Kahlia Hickey (Bottom)

All in all, the visit was fantastic! The next day we went along with the Spanish group to Historic Downtown, which included National Palace/Diego Rivera murals, a cathedral & found Aztec temples. To get downtown we took a double decker bus! On occasions you would have to duck to avoid a whack in the face from a branch!

From Left: Tegan Monttinen, Emma Bailey, Kahlia Hickey & Nikki Callander

When we arrived at the National Palace, I think it’s fair to say we were all in awe of the beautiful site! We made our inside to the palace (after many security stops) & viewed the amazing work, that are the murals illustrated by Diego Rivera (or commonly known as Frida Kahlo’s husband)

Below: The National Palace

Below: Diego Rivera mural (one of many!)

Our wonderful & brilliant history guide, Arnaldo, gave us insight & much history into every mural Diego painted & the reasoning behind each. Every painting is not only a work of true art, but also a significant piece of knowledge, history & political action. We then visited a cathedral which was packed! The cathedral is across from the palace & is a common gathering site for Mexicans to come together in prayer & hope.

Below: The cathedral

By this point in the day, we all began to hear our tummies rumbling & made the decision to head to lunch! Lunch was at The Holiday Inn on top of a building!

Below: The view from lunch

From here, we headed to found Aztec temples where we viewed the ruins & the findings.

Below: The ruins & temples

This completed the end of our journey, so a few of us decided to head to Mexico City’s Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Was great fun, got caught in the rain, but was worth it!

Below: Ripley’s!

The next day was a big one! The Aztec Pyramids & Basilica of Guadelupe! We arrived at a little shop which sold Mexican merchandise. We had a lecture from a gentlemen who knew a lot of history about the pyramids & general Mexican culture. We were then offered 2 shots of Tequila before the climb!

Below: Nikki Callandar & Alonso taking their shots!

We then began the climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun!

Below: Pyramid of the Sun & Healthcare Jan Group

Below: From the top!

The climb was tough & steep, though rewarding & beautiful! We then made our made to the Basilica of Guadelupe, we were unfortunate enough to get caught in the rain, though this added excitement & a different scenery! Notice that the church is leaning heavily, this is due to non-solid ground; engineers have been working for years to stop the building from leaning however it continues to lean.

Below: Basilica of Guadelupe

Today we visited ABC Hospital, a private hospital that is quite new & still expanding! We viewed many clinics, including BRIMEX, the Cancer Centre & were lucky enough to sit-in on some post-op consultations with plastic surgeons. We also received a lecture on obesity.

Looking forward to updating everything in the next few days!!

Adios!!

Kahlia Hickey is participating in our January 2012 Public Health in Mexico Program at La Salle University, Mexico. Kahlia is going into her 2nd year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Victoria University.