The Final Countdown

This week officially began my last full week at CIMMYT. On July 29th, I'll be on a plane headed back to the States and then to Iowa, ending a two-month life-changing experience. This week was filled with goodbyes, thank-yous, and final experiences. 

Seven of My Favorite Experiences.

Throughout my time in Mexico, I’ve had the privilege to experience so many things, but in this final week, I want to share my top seven. Now I won’t take the time to go into detail about each one; I’ll let you ponder why. Just because these experiences are the ones I decided to show doesn’t mean others weren’t just as fun.

Racing to put on Safety Gear, Textcozingo, Insect collection w/ Sylvanus & Vica, Blue Maize Ice Cream, My Spotlight Session, Exploration with Sylvia, and Making Tortillas in the Lab

My Seven Favorite Experiences

Six Hours of Sleep.

One thing I haven’t talked a lot about that’s been consistent throughout this trip is the lack of sleep I’ve been getting. I lived in the country, basically my whole life. Generally, at night it is quiet, except when we wean calves. So I’ve had a hard time adjusting to the constant noise. Whether from the laundry machine, planes flying overhead, or just the hustle and bustle of Texcoco. It makes it hard to sleep. It has been one of the things that has made this experience more difficult. However, nearing the end, I’m glad that I didn’t let this lack of sleep hold me back. I was always up on time with a smile on my face. I am ready for bed at home, though.

Five-Star Blue Maize Quesadillas.

Now I’ve been making myself try new food through this entire trip. It was really hard for me to do because I’m a picky eater. However, my favorite food that I’ve had this entire trip has been blue maize quesadillas. The cheese is so so good, the onions are grilled to perfection, the meat is juicy and not greasy, and don’t get me started on the avocado. I’ve eaten things on a quesadilla here that I would not normally eat at home. Things like peppers (not chilis; I can NOT handle the heat), mushrooms, tomatoes, and so on and so forth. Although I’ve eaten so much good food, but quesadillas take the cake. 5/5 Stars.

Blue Maize Quesadillas

Four Days Left.

When this blog is posted, I’ll have four days left here in Mexico. I plan to enjoy them. I’m going to go to the hot springs with Sylvia, get coffee with friends, and get slightly annoyed at the people who didn’t read the laundry room rules and didn’t clear out their lint from the dryer while I do my laundry for the last time. Four days, ninety-six hours to make the most of.

Three Days in the Lab.

I spent the majority of this week in the Lab (Monday, Thursday, & Friday). On Monday, I measured the protein content of 350 groundnut samples, and there are still 300 left to do. In processing those samples, I’ve learned how to determine if there is a sufficient amount and how to troubleshoot simple errors with the machine.

On Thursday and Friday, I was helping to analyze the color of groundnut samples. However, once I finished THREE HUNDRED, I began to help mill the sample into flour. It was so dusty and really aggravated my allergies. But I had a great time in the Lab with everyone!

Working in the Lab Throughout the Week

Two Great Friends.

Both Sylvia and Joshua have been such great friends during my time in Mexico. They have been willing to go explore with me, laugh with me, and even laugh at me when necessary. I’m beyond grateful for both of them, and I will miss them quite a bit when I return home. Without them, I wouldn’t have seen many places in Mexico or enjoyed day-to-day activities as much. I’m thankful that I was able to make two great friends throughout my stay.

Joshua and Sylvia