Big Machines

LA MAQUINA! LA MAQUINA!

So... La Via (the street where I live and work) has been taken over by giant machines (máquinas). It's basically like every little kids fantasy to have these giant bulldozers and cranes and stuff outside their school, and it's basically every teacher's worst nightmare because the kids won't listen to a word you say! (and the sheer noise gives us all major headaches...)

The government has started a project of paving La Via and putting in a water system (I think). Let's just say it's a GIANT project. Currently the land between the two schools (kinder and primaria) is a huge hole with lots of machines working on it...not an ideal school environment. Supposedly by the middle of December this project will be done, but that's about 3 months of disaster zone! Also, a lot of houses (including where I live) are going to have to make their houses stick out less into the street so that the street can be the right width ... which means the front of my house is basically going to be torn off and left totally open, then it's up to us (well, my family) to get it fixed. right. good luck.

right now the Via is just a disaster. you can hardly pass through it. people are trying to make their houses so that they aren't torn into. and yeah, it's just a bit crazy right now! and will stay this way for quite some time...should be interesting ...

Teotihuacan

Last weekend I went into Mexico City … My dear friend Merideth was leaving Tuesday for good for good and I wanted to go see her before she left. Although she wasn’t getting in until Sunday early morning I decided to go in Friday to enjoy a relaxing, comfortable, free weekend by myself. It was a delight.

Friday I actually hung out with Sam, who did was the SALTer in my position last year and is now back in Mexico City for the year – it was quite an interesting experience to talk to her, realizing that although I had just met her, she knew more about my life and understood me better than any one else on this planet right now. It was good to talk to her.

Saturday I spent the day totally alone and it was awesome. I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of family and friends and skype which was awesome. Sometimes I forget how much I miss you all until I talk to you. Alas, it was a great day, I got to cook for myself (yay!) and just do whatever I wanted J

Sunday morning Merideth and I left to go on a little adventure. We went to Teotihuacán, an archaeological zone about forty-five minutes northeast of Mexico City (Aztec ruins). According to Lonely Planet, “Teotihuacán was Mexico’s biggest ancient city and the capital of what was probably Mexico’s largest pre-Hispanic empire.” The majority of the city was developed between AD 250 and 600. We had a great time exploring the ruins and climbing two pyramids – Pirámide del Sol y Pirámide de la Luna. While there I wondered aloud how the pyramids in Egypt compared to these pyramids we were climbing. Later, while reading the Lonely Planet I found that the Pyramid of the Sun is the 3^rd largest pyramid in the world (surpassed by one of Egypt’s pyramids). Crazy, for some reason I had this idea in my head that the pyramids in Egypt were like 500 times bigger than I guess they really are!

I also bought an Aztec Calendar which we decided was made out of puma bones. It is awesome, but first the guy had me go up to the Pyramid of the Moon and ask la luna if I should buy it or not. We decided the moon said yes, I should buy it. So of course I did. Afterwards we walked to this great little restaurant and, with live music, ate some rocking enchiladas and fajitas “with too much onion” (that was the English translation they had in the menu and it cracked us up). It was a great little place.

It was a delightful though slightly exhausting day. That evening Sam and Ana Julia came over and we made chocolate banana muffins to celebrate Ana Julia’s birthday. I got up Monday morning at 5:55 to get the early bus back to Cuernavaca in order to be back to La Buena Tierra by 8:30. A little hectic, but definitely worth it to sleep at the office another night, even if I couldn’t get the water heater to work for the life of me!

Such was my weekend. It was awesome. But very sad to say goodbye to Merideth. L Hopefully I will get pictures to write tomorrow about the excitement in La Via and at La Buena Tierra this past week. Take Care!

view from atop Piramide de la Luna

atop Piramide del Sol with my Aztec Calendar (or sun dial as merideth liked to call it)

the piramide del sol that we just climbed up, calendar in hand...treacherous i tell you

yay :) delightful day!

My New Life...

The family:

I live with Doña Juana and her family … and I have not quite yet figured out what that means. I still don’t know who belongs to who and who lives where and who is just visiting when and all that jazz…it’s a bit of a headache to try to figure out. But I’m learning bit by bit. Lately there have been about 13 people sleeping here every night. I know Doña Juana has 3 sons, but I don’t think any of them permanently live here. Two of her daughter in-laws do, and their children. Others, including two of her sons, are in and out all of the time. Generally speaking, the people I see on a regular basis are Doña Juana, her daughter-in-law Gaby, and four of her grandchildren ranging in age from (I’m guessing) 2 to 15. But in the evenings tons of people come over and start whipping up a feast about when I’m going to bed.

The House:

Has taken some adjustment to get used to, and I can’t say I’m even close to totally adjusted yet. My ideas of comfort and cleanliness will definitely be stretched this year. Luckily things are already improving … there is now light in the bathroom where there didn’t used to be, and they are “fixing” the bathroom (I’m not quite sure what that will all entail). Ah well. I am definitely struggling with noise levels that seem to take over this house at about 9 pm when I am usually heading towards bed. But my ipod is being good to me and I think I might be able to hack it. Things are a bit cramped here as there are only two bedrooms besides mine and 13 of us sleep here. I know I should be used to it from where I lived this last year, but I am already missing the concept of walking around barefoot in my home. And with the cold water showers that freeze me to death I think I will be training my hair not to be washed every day!

Food:

1. My host family tells me I don’t eat anything.
2. my host family doesn’t eat fruits or vegetables.

2a. I told them those are my favorite foods, and since then I’ve seen a few … we’ll see if that continues…

3. we eat a lot of eggs. and hot dogs. a lot. I might become concerned for my cholesterol. Although I do love eggs.
4. I eat breakfast at the school, which is nice because it usually consists of cereal or oatmeal with banana and milk – which feels like a good balanced meal!
5. I’ve been trying to really not eat dinner. I’m never hungry and they all eat a huge meal at about 10:30 every night. So I usually just have some bread and warm milk with coffee/chocolate in the evening. I am content this way but would prefer some fruit too!
6. Lizy (the director) bought me fruit to keep at the school so I can be sure to at least have some every day there.

My Room:

I do have my own room. I have managed to pretty much make it my own, which of course means putting lots of pictures and quotes on the wall. Cynthia – thanks for the sticky tack – I’ve used it tons - Although I have my own room, that does not mean I have privacy…there is a “window” into the living room that is covered by a white/see through piece of fabric which allows tons of light and tons of sound from the TV that’s right on the other side of it to enter my room. Also, the door doesn’t shut so I have to prop stuff up against it, and there is a large gap next to the door frame through which a small child could fit. I do exaggerate, BUT it’s true that my privacy is being stretched. The first day here I was like there is no way these things can stay this way, but I think I’ve gotten used to them by now….

Here are some pictures of my room:

La Buena Tierra (my school):

1. the kids are adorable.
2. I brush a lot of teeth, wipe a lot of bums, and wash a lot of hands.
3. I am already reminded of why I studied SECONDARY education, but I think I will enjoy this year because the kids are seriously so cute.
4. and they pee their pants a lot. awesome.
5. I don’t really know what I’m going to be doing yet. A lot of just helping out. maybe teaching some English. Lots of translating for the sponsorship program (letters between the kids and their donors). we’ll see what else…

La Temporada de Lluvia:

Right now is the rainy season (through November I think), which has a lot of implications for me:

1. the air is very moist
2. my towels never dry (and are nice and musty smelling)
3. the Via (the “street” I live on) turns into a rushing river fairly often
4. I get a delightful serenade to sleep to due to the tin roof above my head and the rain
5. I feel gross and wet a lot. But have learned the hard way to take my umbrella with me everywhere

The City:

1. I’m starting to enjoy this city.
2. I found “my place” … it’s about a 10 minute walk from my house, it’s a coffee shop, they have great coffee, really nice staff, and wireless internet. I think I will find myself there, a lot. Whether to read, hang out, or use the internet. But I love it.
3. luckily I live on one of the hugest streets in the city which makes use of public transportation much simpler for me.
4. however, I also tend to just walk everywhere, if it’s less than an hour away. And I learned the hard way that tennis shoes are best for such endeavors
5. I have yet to really embrace/explore the zócalo and see what’s up down there.
6. I found a great, huge park. Although walking there involves a near death experience walking on the highway, I’ll probs head there often.
7. after lots and lots of searching and asking, I found a place I can watch football. And a friend to watch it with. I am pumped.

Okay so there’s a random quick (or long, sorries) overview of things right now. I continue to adjust and get used to life here in the Via, learning my way in Cuernavaca, and figuring out what “work” is like at Buena Tierra. I’m learning to like it more and more every day. The tone of my journal entries has gotten progressively more optimistic and happy this past week and a half…and hopefully that will continue! Keep the emails coming…they truly brighten my life. I apologize if I don’t always write back right away, but I will get there eventually I promise! Until next time …

September 16, 2009

after several days of internet complications and my brothers wonderful help, i can finally put this up. i wrote this on the 16th ...

As of yesterday I’ve been living in Mexico for one entire month. CRAZY! One on hand it feels like I’ve been here forever, and on the other hand it feels like I just got here. I’m already 10/11ths of the way done with this adventure…kind of weird, since it’s just getting started! Hopefully in the next few days I’ll put up a blog about my first impressions of life here in the Via and “work” at Buena Tierra. But in the meantime, I write today because today is special here in the great country of Mexico… Today is Mexico’s Independence Day…therefore, no school! Although today is technically the holiday, all the celebrating happens on the 15^th, yesterday. At 11 pm on September 15 is the grand “grito” (yell) – where the president comes out in the National Palace and yells “VIVA ________________ !!! ” (fill in the blank: la revolucion, los heroes, libertad, México, etc...he says about 10 things) and everyone yells back “VIVA!!!” after every thing. check it out here, if you care to:



I had considered going down to the Zócalo here in Cuernavaca for the celebrations of last evening, but due to rain, dislike of huge crowds, and still a bit of fear of public transportation at night, I decided I’d rather just stay and hang out with my family here. (I think it was a good choice.) We just hung out, cooked a bunch, talked, and watch the crazy events in D.F. on TV. I actually stayed up until almost midnight, which is crazy late for me here! Today is then considered a day of rest when a lot of things are closed and people can recuperate from the happenings of last night. It was nice to have the opportunity to sleep in today, although I sadly woke up at the same time I always do … 7:30 … oh well, at least I got to lay in bed then for awhile and didn’t actually have to get up! Anyways, so yesterday at school we had a big fiesta for Independence Day. The kids of the kinder dressed up like the “pueblo” … the townspeople, and the kids of the primaria dressed up like the revolutionaries. They were absolutely adorable. It was awesome. I also have been dubbed official photographer of Buena Tierra, so I took tons of pictures of the event. So we paraded down the Via a bit, then four “famous” people gave speeches (students dressed up as revolutionaries), and the students sang the national anthem. Then they danced for awhile and ate typical Mexican sweets. It was a grand time. After school someone invited all the teachers to eat posole, which is like a classic Mexican soup made with corn and chicken and such. It was super tasty. A couple teachers and I went down to the Zócalo in the afternoon then to check out the scene and it was crazy busy with tons of people and shops and such. It was good to see but I’m glad I didn’t go back at night because it would have been crazy overwhelming…

Here are a few pictures of the days events (I think I’m going to put more up on facebook so you can check those out as well if you’d like):

the littlest ones excited to leave for the fiesta

dancing in the street

singing the national anthem

First Week in Cuernavaca - Language Study

So, last Wednesday I came here to Cuernavaca. Marion and Merideth came with me which was quite a delight. The city is not quite what I expected – after hearing from thousands of people how beautiful and great the city is I definitely had a different picture in my head than what the reality is. I’m in no way saying it’s a bad place – it’s just not what I expected. It’s like a miniature Mexico City (granted I have seen like 1% of it so far so I can’t really say much of anything about it yet…)

For the past week I have been attending Universal, a language school (http://www.universal-spanish.com/), and living with a host family through Universal. I had anticipated this week as being a week to get to know the city a bit before I moved in with my host family for the year and started my work at Buena Tierra. However, it did not quite turn out that way. Instead of exploring, I spent the majority of my time sitting in my house and running to the bathroom about every 20 minutes. Awesome. I never felt good enough to go explore because I never knew when I would need a bathroom again! Oh, the joys of my stomach adjusting to another country…Oh well, the good news is I will be here for a year so I’ll have plenty of time to explore.

So I’ve been living with a delightful family that lives about a 4 minute walk away from Universal. They have been totally great and Sara, my host mother, has definitely taken care of me while I’ve been sick. I had been warned by fellow MCCers that everyone would have a different idea of some herbal/natural remedy if I were to ever get sick – and the minute I told Sara I was intenstinally not well she asked me if I wanted her to make me a tea that, although it didn’t taste very good, would fix my stomach. I figured what the heck – but no. I know I exaggerate but I kid you not – that tea was the NASTIEST thing I have ever tasted in my entire life. She made me like ¾ of a mug and I only drank about half of what she gave me and it took me like an hour to down as much as I did…it was plain awful. Anyways, she was trying to help and has been super helpful while I haven’t been feeling the best.

Language school has been good, but a challenge. I have had one-on-one class for 3 hours every day (will be 5 days total). We have pretty much focused everything on grammar and the structures that I don’t know. While I feel good about being exposed to all of it – I also feel like I am getting 3 months worth of information crammed in my head in one week … and it’s been frustrating at times. I don’t know if I put too much pressure on myself to know everything there is to know in Spanish or what, but I have gotten fairly upset with myself at times when I don’t get something. But it’s okay – I still feel pretty good about where I’m at and know that I will learn tons more in the next 11 months than I did this past week.

Happy HAPPY note – with all my time spent in my house I have managed to learn quite a bit on my new toy – my guitar. I’m uber pumped. I thought I would never been able to read tabs – but I totally learned and can play an awesome song (or at least struggle through it) – Sarah Mclachlan’s (beatle´s) “Blackbird.” If anyone has any suggestions of good material/books/songs for learning how to play guitar – please let me know! Or if anyone can teach me how the heck to play bar chords … I don’t think my hands were created for those … Bob, I’m still waiting for you to get yourself down here to Mexico to teach me everything J

The Future: Wednesday I move in with my new host family and Thursday I start work at Buena Tierra – lots of transitions coming up…should be interesting.

I guess that’s all for now. Sorry there aren’t any pictures to show…I didn’t exactly do/see a whole lot this week to take pictures of…

Take care and keep in touch!

PICTURES!

hello to all.

i just wanted to say that pretty much every picture that has been taken by myself or my compañeros from my arrival to mexico until now are on facebook. i know i have put up a few on this blog each time i have written, but there are definitely lots more! if you go to my facebook page and click on pictures of me there will come up a couple of albums with pictures of me that marcos has put up. if you click on that album name in the bottom right corner you can look at all the pictures that we have taken! sorry i haven't been all on top of it to put up the pictures myself, but i probably will from now on now that i'll be by myself and won't have marcus to put them up for me :) that's all for now! take care.

Week in San Cristobal

This past weekend we had an MCC-Mexico retreat in San Cristobal de Las Casas (further south). 4 of us had the delight to go a few days early and do a little “sightseeing” if you will. So last Wednesday kiara, marcos, ana julia, and I flew to San Cristobal. This city ROCKS. Seriously, you should all probably go. Me encantó! It is somewhat touristy and I saw a whole lot of white people there, a lot of Europeans, etc. but it was still awesome. So as not to write a novel, I will resort to list format of some of the highlights of the past week in San Cristobal:

1. I had the experience of DRIVING through clouds as we drove from the airport to San Cristobal … that was interesting. Perhaps this wasn’t a highlight – more of a freaky experience.
2. an AWESOME market – full of great “gifts” – jewelry, scarves, bags, wall hangings, etc. etc. spent a lot of time there and maybe bought a bunch of things …
3. kinoki – this awesome coffee shop-esque place … went there several times … ate crepes with nutella and fresas, and rented our own little room to watch movies in
4. zapatistas – all over san cristobal there are paintings/books/anything you can think of with people with black masks showing only their eyes (zapatistas) in 1994 there was an uprising of these people trying to stop government from oppressing the indigenous Mexican communities. Anyways, again I find myself absolutely fascinated with the history of this country and am inspired to research/read/etc. It was very interesting to ask different people about the zapatistas – for instance our taxi driver one day told us his perspective that was TOTALLY anti-zapatistas and said they wanted nothing more than to fight and kill people (we started talking about this after we passed a giant military base that was placed there in response to the zapatistas) … our van driver another day came in and sat down and talked to us because he is a zapatista and gave us a totally different perspective on it. Crazy how perspective changes an entire story … anyway it was totally fascinating learning about this and I’m definitely going to be spending more time on that! (p.s. I never realized what a history loser I am until getting to mexico … )
5. mcc mexico – I finally got to meet everyone! It’s interesting, however, to be suddenly a part of a bigger group that has such history together and I’m a newbe. But they’re all great people and it was really nice to meet them all towards the beginning of my time here and hear their stories and learn what their work is, etc.
6. pyramids – Thursday the four of us took a 2 and a half hour taxi ride to get to climb a pyramid of ancient Mayan ruins. It was awesome. Although utterly exhausting and SOOOO hot (I was the wise one who wore jeans). It was great – check out the pictures. it was so crazy high up and there was such a beautiful view of the terrain and mountains surrounding it. Though perhaps it was one of the more dangerous things ive done recently and my knees screamed at me for a few days afterwards …
7. lancha – Friday was a much more relaxing day – the four of us went about 45 minutes away from san cristobal to this river that runs through the area where we took a boat for about 2 hours. Again, words can’t really describe how incredible it was – check out the pictures. the river was between HUGE cliffs/canyons that were crazy high and the river was crazy deep as well. We also got to see monkeys and crocodiles and lots of great birds on our little trip. It was lots of fun and a nice relaxing alternative to the adventures of the day before.
8. workshop – the Mesa Directiva just completed a 5 year evaluation of MCC Mexico. They told us about their findings and their suggestions, which was interesting but included a lot of thinking in Spanish about big ideas which made my head hurt. kind of a lot. They also led us in a “game”/activity that was incredibly interesting and revealing about how groups and teams work … lots of feelings/thoughts about this but this now is not the time or place for that.
9. amber – the area has TONS of amber and shops just EVERYWHERE. I bought a ring. I love it. I wanted to buy everything …

So, the future:

1. Wednesday we are taking the trek to Cuernavaca (the reps, marcos, Meredith, and I)
2. I will be left behind when they all return … yikes!
3. I will be in language school for one week. Living with a different host family for that week.
4. language school will be one on one for me – awesome. Hopefully I’ll have lots of chances in the afternoons for outings/getting to know the city.
5. after that week I will move in with Dona Juana (my host family for the year)
6. when I will start work at Buena Tierra is still a little unknown, perhaps next Thursday, or perhaps the next Monday … things are still being decided.

My thoughts:

1. the week in san cristobal was AWESOME. I totally want to go back.
2. I’m excited to finally be getting to cuernavaca and especially for language school.
3. I know it’s going to be hard to leave mexico city. It’s been awesome hanging out with kiara, marcos, and meredith all the time. i’m really really going to miss them
4. I wish I had been home to experience the joy of dad’s birthday! I bet it was awesome.

That’s all for now I suppose. Sorry again for writing so much.

Next blog will be from the great city of Cuernavaca !!!

here´s some pics from the week:

the streets of san cristobal

the huge ruins we climbed

ready to go!

the view from the tippy-top

ready to head out on the boat!

also, for the record, check out the first sentence of this article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8229204.stm

i am LIVING in mexico city right now and of course i had to be out of town to miss out on this !!! i am seriously uber bummed ...