So, to keep things entertaining and because I've fallen behind, I'm not going to list every moment of my day but I'll do things a little differently.
Foods/Drinks:
-moon pies (just like in America)
-homemade double cheeseburgers and fries (just like in America)
-jugo de jamaica (juice made out of hibiscus)
-jamoncillo (rich candy, some are dark pink and sugary and some are pecan/toffee)
-quesadillas with ham and corn inside (and yall should be proud, I even attempted a little hot sauce on them)
-authentic churros - the real stuff! so good! I won't be able to go back to Taco Bell after this trip.
-chilaquiles - fried pieces of tortillas, tomatoes, seasoning. good breakfast food, kind of like hash browns
-rollos de primavera con lechuga y zanahorias - spring rolls, better than Chinese take out
-jugo de mango (mango juice)
-arroz con leche y pasas - rice pudding dessert with cinnamon on top
-pollo con limon, arroz blanco con maiz (lemon chicken and white rice with corn, because I told Blanca we eat a lot of white rice at home. She's so thoughtful!)
-jugo de horchata - rice water with some kind of pink coloring. very sweet
-gelatina de cereza - cherry jello straight from the box
-there's one more interesting food... I'll put that one at the end...
Embarrassing Things:
-One night, the dog pooped on the floor and I didn't know how to clean it up, so I asked Eli (one of the guys in the house), or tried to at least. I didn't know how to say "poop" or "brown" in Spanish, so I tried "When you use the bathroom and it's not yellow," "it's not liquid," and I even pointed to my rear end but he didn't get it. So I searched "crap" online and the google images were disgusting, but I got my point across. The word is "popo."
-I didn't do my homework one day (it's already the 2nd week of school, time for a break) but made the mistake of saying so before class. I figured hey, I'm speaking in English, it's fine... forgetting that though Olga can't speak English, she understands it perfectly. So, she called on me for answer after answer, none of which I knew.
-I found out the window in the bathroom opens up inside the house. And sound travels.
-Blanca was taking our laundry out of the washer and I asked, "Do you need help?" When she looked at me puzzled, I said again, louder, "Do you need help??" Daisy had to remind me that no, Blanca does not speak English and I should try saying it again, in Spanish this time.
Events & Adventures:
-Acortar Distancias is all figured out. We went 4-6 Tuesday and Wednesday and will start going 4-8 next week. I'm with the 7-10 year old girls and they are all so loving and fun and fast-talking! They are almost in that catty stage, they love to dance, and they love to show off their English (numbers 1-20, mom, dad, car) and ask for new words (moustache, underwear). There's a lot of running around and and I should be in bikini-ready shape by time I get back! The kids speak so quickly that it really tests my Spanish, which is definitely a good thing!!
-There's a woman volunteering at A.D. like us, from Texas, who's working to get a water purification system installed, because bottled water for 100 kids can get pretty expensive.
-We made it on our own 2 days in a row on the bus!! (By the way, it will cost $2 a day for at least 40 days.) Thankfully Daisy remembered which one was our stop the first day... and the 2nd day we took several sketchy "short cuts." This took us through a really sad neighborhood just down the mountain from million-dollar mansions- there were houses without electricity, running water, real roofs (and this area gets tropical storms almost nightly), and had sheets of aluminum paneling for doors. And this is the area near Acortar Distancias, so many of the sweet girls I'm working with probably live there. I really need to be more thankful for what I have, not just here (a washing machine, a roof over my head, hot food), but at home too (a dryer, a car, air conditioning/heating, safe water). I am safe to come and go as I please here and at home, but I would not want to walk there in daylight by myself. I am so blessed to lead the life I do.
-Martha, the program director, is a life saver and helps us with any and everything! Except when men were calling at us on the bus (the usual stream of tacky compliments), she stopped talking and pretended not to know us American girls because we were so embarrassing! Ha ha!
-People here are very honest. Sometimes passengers get on the bus from the back if it's packed, and everyone will pass the money up without stealing it, and pass the ticket to the back. Also, at a street vendor we went to, everyone ordered multiple dishes, grabbed drinks, and gave an honest count of what they got when they paid after they ate, even though the street was chaos and they could have gotten away without doing so. Then again, they will also be too honest and tell you if you have bad acne, if you're fat, or if you're white.
-The amount of smoking in the house has increased incredibly and I'm starting to not like it so much. The younger son and his friends smoke "occasionally" but I think it's more like several packs a week. The day we lost to Uruguay (people still celebrated a ton because Mexico's moving on to the next round), he had a group come over and the air was awful to breathe even with the window open.
-This is Mexico's bicentennial anniversary of independence from Spain and 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution... there are new dollar bills (peso bills?) and really cool commercials advertising the "natural beauty" of the country.
-Accomplishment: I'm learning to roll my r's (it's about time!)
-Daisy, my roommate, told Alfredo, the older son, that a classmate of hers tried cow tongue the other day. Of course Alfredo was not surprised, of course he asked if we were full from dinner, and of course Alfredo, Joakin, Blanca, Daisy and I got in the car and headed immediately to a street vendor (yes, you can see where this is going). Near el centro, in an incredibly dark and sketchy neighborhood, is a corner, brightly lit and alive with activity. In the center is a small street vendor that cooks every part of the cow. Alfredo ordered 1 cow tongue taco (tacos de la lengua de vaca) for Daisy and I to share. It came chopped up in little pieces and looked edible, so we braved up, each took a bite... and... it was good. It was really good. Like, we argued over the last bite of taco. So, Alfredo ordered us some more, but this time he made us watch them cut the slabs of tongue and they put hot sauce on it. That taco was not so appetizing, but I can still say I tried and liked cow tongue!!! Sick...
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Q & A (mostly for Jo Ann Moore)
Q: Hey Laura, how do people greet each other there?
A: A lot people greet with a cheek kiss and handshake, "What is your name?", and "Do you have a boyfriend?" If you aren't necessarily meeting the person (man), rather he is just yelling at you from the street, the greeting is more like "Beautiful!" (don't worry I'm not getting cocky about that) or "I love you!"
Q: When do you start your volunteer work? How will you get there?
A: Volunteering starts Monday but it's more of a technical, figure out the bus routes (we will be accompanied the first trip), what will you be doing there kind of day. We have to get 15 hours total a week, for several hours starting at 4 each day.
Q: How do you do laundry?
A: I haven't yet but it costs eight American dollars to do laundry in the house! There's a laundromat nearby so that might be the better option. For once I didn't over-pack and I wish I had brought more clothes, oh well.
Q: What is the time difference?
A: It is 1 hour earlier than East Coast, so... central I think?
Q: Are the sons in the house cute?
A: One is forty and taken. The others are not my type.
Q: Do you have to miss class for the Mexico City trip, or is it planned for all of the international students?
A: The trip is planned by the exchange office like the Guachimontones trip, so a lot of people are going. I think they still hold classes, but we will have cultural homework (what new things did you see? write about it in 200 words or less) rather than missing important lessons.
Q: Have you seen any Latin American drug lords?
A: Unfortunately no (at least not yet, though I hear they're nice guys), but I saw the neighborhood where one of them lives and it's like Beverly Hills (more safe and secure, they can avoid getting shot there, no lie).
Q: Is there a lot of homework?
A: Not yet, but in a couple weeks we will have a some to do for the Transcultural Awareness class.
Q: Are the stereotypes true?
A: Lots of Mexicans ride in the back of trucks, but there aren't many rules of the road so it's not out-of-place like in the US. There are lots of pictures of the Pope and lots of stores that sell pictures of the Pope. There are lots and lots and lots of tortillas... but I don't know that these should necessarily be portrayed as bad stereotypes, they are more like differences in culture.
Q: Is the Spanish class just an hour a day?
A: Mexican Society is from 8-9 everyday for 4 weeks, Spanish is from 9-11 everyday for the whole time (but we will switch levels halfway through), and Transcultural Awareness an hour a week on Skype. I do have to say (and I know this sounds cheesy) that class is not just 2 hours a day, but all day, because when I talk with the family I use what I learned in class to answer/ask questions, that sort of thing.
Please ask if you have any more questions (and rest assured these are not all things people really asked me, I made up the laundry one), and I really do like getting comments from people (hint hint).
A: A lot people greet with a cheek kiss and handshake, "What is your name?", and "Do you have a boyfriend?" If you aren't necessarily meeting the person (man), rather he is just yelling at you from the street, the greeting is more like "Beautiful!" (don't worry I'm not getting cocky about that) or "I love you!"
Q: When do you start your volunteer work? How will you get there?
A: Volunteering starts Monday but it's more of a technical, figure out the bus routes (we will be accompanied the first trip), what will you be doing there kind of day. We have to get 15 hours total a week, for several hours starting at 4 each day.
Q: How do you do laundry?
A: I haven't yet but it costs eight American dollars to do laundry in the house! There's a laundromat nearby so that might be the better option. For once I didn't over-pack and I wish I had brought more clothes, oh well.
Q: What is the time difference?
A: It is 1 hour earlier than East Coast, so... central I think?
Q: Are the sons in the house cute?
A: One is forty and taken. The others are not my type.
Q: Do you have to miss class for the Mexico City trip, or is it planned for all of the international students?
A: The trip is planned by the exchange office like the Guachimontones trip, so a lot of people are going. I think they still hold classes, but we will have cultural homework (what new things did you see? write about it in 200 words or less) rather than missing important lessons.
Q: Have you seen any Latin American drug lords?
A: Unfortunately no (at least not yet, though I hear they're nice guys), but I saw the neighborhood where one of them lives and it's like Beverly Hills (more safe and secure, they can avoid getting shot there, no lie).
Q: Is there a lot of homework?
A: Not yet, but in a couple weeks we will have a some to do for the Transcultural Awareness class.
Q: Are the stereotypes true?
A: Lots of Mexicans ride in the back of trucks, but there aren't many rules of the road so it's not out-of-place like in the US. There are lots of pictures of the Pope and lots of stores that sell pictures of the Pope. There are lots and lots and lots of tortillas... but I don't know that these should necessarily be portrayed as bad stereotypes, they are more like differences in culture.
Q: Is the Spanish class just an hour a day?
A: Mexican Society is from 8-9 everyday for 4 weeks, Spanish is from 9-11 everyday for the whole time (but we will switch levels halfway through), and Transcultural Awareness an hour a week on Skype. I do have to say (and I know this sounds cheesy) that class is not just 2 hours a day, but all day, because when I talk with the family I use what I learned in class to answer/ask questions, that sort of thing.
Please ask if you have any more questions (and rest assured these are not all things people really asked me, I made up the laundry one), and I really do like getting comments from people (hint hint).
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Seis - el primero sábado - y Siete - el primero domingo
Day 6 - the first Saturday - and day 7 - the first Sunday
We got to sleep in this morning! Woke up 15 whole minutes later. Today was supposed to be our Sayula trip but there were some changes to the schedule & some confusion... but we did end up on a bus going somewhere. That somewhere was more of Jalisco: an hacienda & some pyramids.
We rode for an hour and I slept until our huge charter bus started bumping along on the tiny dirt road to the hacienda. Haciendas are like plantations, ranging from 500 to thousands of acres. Because they are so large and are so far from each other, haciendas have their own chapel in them too, which was neat. This was a smaller one (though still large) that used to produce tequila and sugar, but now primarily focuses on horses; they even have an arena for showing them. They also have chickens, many different and strange bugs (but they still have mosquitos... and they bite just as badly here), and a peacock (that makes noises like a dying cat). The whole place was covered in mud too, so that was fun to walk around in in flip-flops :)
Next we went to Guachimontones. It's right outside Teuchitlan and just up a mountain (I'm sure you know where that is). When I first got off the bus I thought, how pathetic, one little pyramid. But nooo, there was an amazing view of Teuchitlan below and its bright blue lake too, and not just one pyramid but 16 and a temple too.
Before I go any further let me describe my UAG tour guide: in her 50s, chin-length gelled red hair, skin-tight mom jeans, and a stylish fanny pack.
Back to the story, mom-jeans told us (she spoke in English the whole day) that Guachimontones means "pile of pumpkins" and it used to be the center of government so they could look down on the Teuchitlan people below. Pre-Hispanic pyramids were built to honor the gods, not to bury the dead, and these were for the god of wind. They would have hours-long ceremonies there where people would lay with their stomachs on upright poles to imitate flying, ouch. They also had a little court or mini-stadium for ball games.
We went down to Teuchitlan for lunch. Blanca had packed ham sandwiches for Daisy and I because the only food there is at sketchy little Mexican kiosks that can make you sick... but after my sandwich and after Chenoa & Anna didn't throw up after a bite of their food, I decided to risk it and get a taco. I told myself before this trip that I wanted to risk it once, and that was my one and only experience at a sketchy little Mexican food kiosk: Chenoa and I were fine but Anna got pretty sick that night (and no, the ham sandwich did not make Daisy sick either). The university did a really good job arranging this trip, so hopefully DF (Mexico/ Mexico City/ the capital) will be good next week.
When we got home, Alfredo the Elder told us about a safe, reliable bus to the beach (not Puerto Vallarta, it's only bars not for swimming, but one close by it that's much quieter, prettier, and swim-friendly) that leaves at early in the morning, we could spend all day there on the beach, and then catch a late night bus back. We have 3 weekends on this trip with no excursions, so that's probably what the 4 of us will do sometime (I hope!).
This was such an American weekend. Saturday night after our trip, Daisy & I visited Chenoa & Anna at their apartment, which is a little bigger than ours but a little farther from school. We watched The Hangover and ate chips & dip. Sunday morning, Daisy & I got Starbucks (because Blanca doesn't cook on Sundays and it was Father's Day so the family was off doing stuff) and went to church with an American missionary family here, the Roys. They have a little church that meets in a Holiday Inn meeting room. There aren't many families there but I really liked the service. It was contemporary and all in Spanish, but I understood the songs (based on hymns and other songs I've heard in English) and the gist of the sermon. Afterwards the family took us to El Pollo Pepe, which is almost a KFC (I had chips & guacamole, really good chicken in tortillas, mashed potatoes, and pasta salad). The one new thing I tried was rice water, which is popular here. Then we drove to the top of a mountain where we could see all of Guadalajara, it stretches out so far! It was so strange though to drive past polished multi-million dollar mansions, then while returning into the city seeing homeless people and graffiti and trash.
Daisy & I got home around 4 and hung out for a bit, then at 7 we headed to Applebee's with Chenoa and Anna... where we got burgers and fries and the English-speaking waiter had to help me. I hardly spoke any Spanish this weekend (though I did listen to some) which was annoying because that's what I came here to work on, but I did get to see some historic and cultural things Saturday morning.
We got to sleep in this morning! Woke up 15 whole minutes later. Today was supposed to be our Sayula trip but there were some changes to the schedule & some confusion... but we did end up on a bus going somewhere. That somewhere was more of Jalisco: an hacienda & some pyramids.
We rode for an hour and I slept until our huge charter bus started bumping along on the tiny dirt road to the hacienda. Haciendas are like plantations, ranging from 500 to thousands of acres. Because they are so large and are so far from each other, haciendas have their own chapel in them too, which was neat. This was a smaller one (though still large) that used to produce tequila and sugar, but now primarily focuses on horses; they even have an arena for showing them. They also have chickens, many different and strange bugs (but they still have mosquitos... and they bite just as badly here), and a peacock (that makes noises like a dying cat). The whole place was covered in mud too, so that was fun to walk around in in flip-flops :)
Next we went to Guachimontones. It's right outside Teuchitlan and just up a mountain (I'm sure you know where that is). When I first got off the bus I thought, how pathetic, one little pyramid. But nooo, there was an amazing view of Teuchitlan below and its bright blue lake too, and not just one pyramid but 16 and a temple too.
Before I go any further let me describe my UAG tour guide: in her 50s, chin-length gelled red hair, skin-tight mom jeans, and a stylish fanny pack.
Back to the story, mom-jeans told us (she spoke in English the whole day) that Guachimontones means "pile of pumpkins" and it used to be the center of government so they could look down on the Teuchitlan people below. Pre-Hispanic pyramids were built to honor the gods, not to bury the dead, and these were for the god of wind. They would have hours-long ceremonies there where people would lay with their stomachs on upright poles to imitate flying, ouch. They also had a little court or mini-stadium for ball games.
We went down to Teuchitlan for lunch. Blanca had packed ham sandwiches for Daisy and I because the only food there is at sketchy little Mexican kiosks that can make you sick... but after my sandwich and after Chenoa & Anna didn't throw up after a bite of their food, I decided to risk it and get a taco. I told myself before this trip that I wanted to risk it once, and that was my one and only experience at a sketchy little Mexican food kiosk: Chenoa and I were fine but Anna got pretty sick that night (and no, the ham sandwich did not make Daisy sick either). The university did a really good job arranging this trip, so hopefully DF (Mexico/ Mexico City/ the capital) will be good next week.
When we got home, Alfredo the Elder told us about a safe, reliable bus to the beach (not Puerto Vallarta, it's only bars not for swimming, but one close by it that's much quieter, prettier, and swim-friendly) that leaves at early in the morning, we could spend all day there on the beach, and then catch a late night bus back. We have 3 weekends on this trip with no excursions, so that's probably what the 4 of us will do sometime (I hope!).
This was such an American weekend. Saturday night after our trip, Daisy & I visited Chenoa & Anna at their apartment, which is a little bigger than ours but a little farther from school. We watched The Hangover and ate chips & dip. Sunday morning, Daisy & I got Starbucks (because Blanca doesn't cook on Sundays and it was Father's Day so the family was off doing stuff) and went to church with an American missionary family here, the Roys. They have a little church that meets in a Holiday Inn meeting room. There aren't many families there but I really liked the service. It was contemporary and all in Spanish, but I understood the songs (based on hymns and other songs I've heard in English) and the gist of the sermon. Afterwards the family took us to El Pollo Pepe, which is almost a KFC (I had chips & guacamole, really good chicken in tortillas, mashed potatoes, and pasta salad). The one new thing I tried was rice water, which is popular here. Then we drove to the top of a mountain where we could see all of Guadalajara, it stretches out so far! It was so strange though to drive past polished multi-million dollar mansions, then while returning into the city seeing homeless people and graffiti and trash.
Daisy & I got home around 4 and hung out for a bit, then at 7 we headed to Applebee's with Chenoa and Anna... where we got burgers and fries and the English-speaking waiter had to help me. I hardly spoke any Spanish this weekend (though I did listen to some) which was annoying because that's what I came here to work on, but I did get to see some historic and cultural things Saturday morning.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Day 5? It feels like a month!
So as far as my previous Charlotte post went... I have to say sorry to all my friends back home because I have a new best friend and her name is Pepto Bismol. Enough said.
Moving on. We had pancakes for breakfast. How do you say that in Spanish, you ask? Hot cakes. It's right on the box.
As we were leaving for school, Alfredo said to wait and he would drive us. I thought that it was just a nice random gesture until we got outside and there was torrential downpour: we've officially moved into rainy season. Not only that, but I wore jeans and a sweater all day and I rarely got hot, so it's cooling down from earlier in the week. How am I going to get savage and tan if I have to cover up so much??
Laura Moreno's class, Olga's class, then we went to Martha, program director's office to sign up for/ pay for the Mexico City trip (also called just México or DF for distrito federal, like our DC). We also made our official decision for our volunteer locations: all four of us will be going to Acortar Distancias, the first place we visited, and Chenoa and Anna will be visiting Los Pinos a few times. We also get free t-shirts, the real reason to help disadvantaged people out (just kidding).
Daisy and I walked back home and I have to say, los piropos, the compliments, are picking up. Men in passenger seats rubberneck and yell things, or one guy blew kisses out his window (the lazy eye made it even more flattering).
At home we had vegetable soup, enchiladas with lettuce and tomato, guava juice (it was okay) and chongos zamoranos. It's a cold dessert, I can't tell exactly what it is made of but there's some bread like thing and some caramel in it. I have to say it was not my favorite and I think Blanca could tell, because we were only a couple bites in when she gave us a talk about telling her which foods we do and don't like so she won't repeat them. Also, she says everything is "good for digestion." Unlike America, where the best meals "stop you up" (fried chicken, Thanksgiving, other heavy meals) the goal here is to keep things moving... sorry, this is turning out to be a disgusting entry.
Side note: I need to mention here that they have the cutest dog. Unfortunately, until I arrived, Joakin was the only one who ever gave her any attention or love. She has multiple names, including Motita and Doña, but it doesn't really matter what you call her, as long as you say things to her in Spanish she responds (come here, go away, jump on my lap, get down, pretty much anything but sit or stay).
So we were sitting at the table, no plans for the afternoon, and Blanca said "Everyone keeps telling you, go to el centro, but no one has taken you." El centro is (obviously) the center of the city. This is the most antique part of town and probably the most famous. We were very excited to go. So, Daisy asked her, "Got plans for today?"
Our adventure began before we even got there. The bus ride was the most insane roller coaster I have ever been on, kind of like the Harry Potter movie when the bus shrinks and stops and is out of control, only this bus drive had no magical powers. We came within 1 or 2 inches of a car once, right beside my window. The bus driver got it into 5th gear (on small side streets with stoplights and pedestrians) and we hit pot holes so hard that we literally flew into the air, probably 4, 5, 6 inches up! Our poor tailbones!
Don't worry, we survived the ride. El centro is beautiful. They have a market with homemade goods and streets of store-bought goods: we went into one store where Blanca haggled for individual Ziploc bags. There were many buildings with a lot of history, including one particularly beautiful cathedral, several old government buildings, and a clock in one of the squares with a gunshot hole in it from Pancho Villa himself. While we were out and about, we found out that Blanca has another son, Alex. There are more and more family members we keep hearing about, how many kids does this woman have?
We were there for 3 hours if not a little more, walking walking walking. We came back, Daisy and I collapsed in our room for a few minutes, and then Joakin's girlfriend came over and then Anna and Chenoa, so Blanca (poor woman, probably exhausted) fixed enchiladas (with that really good onion-cheese topping) and guava juice for us again, like lunch. The four of us hung out for a little bit then the other 2 headed home and we went to bed.
Moving on. We had pancakes for breakfast. How do you say that in Spanish, you ask? Hot cakes. It's right on the box.
As we were leaving for school, Alfredo said to wait and he would drive us. I thought that it was just a nice random gesture until we got outside and there was torrential downpour: we've officially moved into rainy season. Not only that, but I wore jeans and a sweater all day and I rarely got hot, so it's cooling down from earlier in the week. How am I going to get savage and tan if I have to cover up so much??
Laura Moreno's class, Olga's class, then we went to Martha, program director's office to sign up for/ pay for the Mexico City trip (also called just México or DF for distrito federal, like our DC). We also made our official decision for our volunteer locations: all four of us will be going to Acortar Distancias, the first place we visited, and Chenoa and Anna will be visiting Los Pinos a few times. We also get free t-shirts, the real reason to help disadvantaged people out (just kidding).
Daisy and I walked back home and I have to say, los piropos, the compliments, are picking up. Men in passenger seats rubberneck and yell things, or one guy blew kisses out his window (the lazy eye made it even more flattering).
At home we had vegetable soup, enchiladas with lettuce and tomato, guava juice (it was okay) and chongos zamoranos. It's a cold dessert, I can't tell exactly what it is made of but there's some bread like thing and some caramel in it. I have to say it was not my favorite and I think Blanca could tell, because we were only a couple bites in when she gave us a talk about telling her which foods we do and don't like so she won't repeat them. Also, she says everything is "good for digestion." Unlike America, where the best meals "stop you up" (fried chicken, Thanksgiving, other heavy meals) the goal here is to keep things moving... sorry, this is turning out to be a disgusting entry.
Side note: I need to mention here that they have the cutest dog. Unfortunately, until I arrived, Joakin was the only one who ever gave her any attention or love. She has multiple names, including Motita and Doña, but it doesn't really matter what you call her, as long as you say things to her in Spanish she responds (come here, go away, jump on my lap, get down, pretty much anything but sit or stay).
So we were sitting at the table, no plans for the afternoon, and Blanca said "Everyone keeps telling you, go to el centro, but no one has taken you." El centro is (obviously) the center of the city. This is the most antique part of town and probably the most famous. We were very excited to go. So, Daisy asked her, "Got plans for today?"
Our adventure began before we even got there. The bus ride was the most insane roller coaster I have ever been on, kind of like the Harry Potter movie when the bus shrinks and stops and is out of control, only this bus drive had no magical powers. We came within 1 or 2 inches of a car once, right beside my window. The bus driver got it into 5th gear (on small side streets with stoplights and pedestrians) and we hit pot holes so hard that we literally flew into the air, probably 4, 5, 6 inches up! Our poor tailbones!
Don't worry, we survived the ride. El centro is beautiful. They have a market with homemade goods and streets of store-bought goods: we went into one store where Blanca haggled for individual Ziploc bags. There were many buildings with a lot of history, including one particularly beautiful cathedral, several old government buildings, and a clock in one of the squares with a gunshot hole in it from Pancho Villa himself. While we were out and about, we found out that Blanca has another son, Alex. There are more and more family members we keep hearing about, how many kids does this woman have?
We were there for 3 hours if not a little more, walking walking walking. We came back, Daisy and I collapsed in our room for a few minutes, and then Joakin's girlfriend came over and then Anna and Chenoa, so Blanca (poor woman, probably exhausted) fixed enchiladas (with that really good onion-cheese topping) and guava juice for us again, like lunch. The four of us hung out for a little bit then the other 2 headed home and we went to bed.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Day 4
1. I need to start going to bed earlier.
2. I need to nap during the day.
For breakfast we had ham sandwiches like the first night and banana shakes. The banana shake was really good. It was weird having sandwiches for breakfast, but they have desayuno y almuerzo together here, so it's like breakfast and lunch together, dinner at 3, and snack at 10... I guess that makes sense.
We went to Laura Moreno's class and learned about the Mayans and Aztecs. She speaks in Spanish but puts her powerpoints in English, which is good for clarification but more difficult to adjust back and forth.
Then Spanish with Olga. Pleasant lady, but she always has a too-serious look on her face and I get nervous answering questions.
After classes, I went with Daisy so she could get postcards. (Side note: we also stopped by Martha's office and apparently we are going to the town of Sayula this Saturday and Mexico City for 3 days next week!) Martha gave us directions to the post office to get stamps and we headed off. We weren't sure where it was once we got to the area she said it was in, so we asked 2 more people for directions. Then we crossed the street and asked more. Then we crossed another street and asked more. Eventually, after talking to seven people within one city block, we made it!
Here are a few things I've noticed:
-the dress is NOT conservative like they told us before the trip
-the ladies like tight pants and tightly pulled back hair and a lot of people wear jeans and t-shirts to work
-I've seen 1 turn signal used in 4 days here
-they paint the bottom half of trees white to keep the bugs off
We ate la comida around 3 - sopa de pasta codito, carne de rez, tortillas, jugo de papaya y ate de guayaba. This translates to elbow macaroni in tomato sauce, beef and potatoes, tortillas, papaya juice (not great, but better with lime in it), and a 4x6 rubber sheet of guava... yum?
As we were eating, we noticed that for the FIRST time since we arrived, regardless of time, it was quiet on the street.... then suddenly yelling and cheering... the game was on! We turned the TV on and we heard screams everywhere, Mexico scored! The announcer yelled "GOOOOOAAALLLL!" (The stereotypes are true.) One more goal and Mexico beat France for the first time in a long time, 2-0. There were splashes - in the courtyard outside, grown men fully clothed and wearing Mexican jerseys were jumping and pushing each other into the pool. Cars filled the streets and we heard honking for over two hours as people celebrated. On TV they showed people all over Mexico going crazy... and we didn't even win the world cup! This is definitely going to be a fun place to watch the tournament.
Finally, Blanca DOES have a husband! He is a sports writer so he locked himself in the bedroom during the game for no interruptions. He's a twitchy man, but very friendly. Also named Alfredo.
Daisy and I did nothing all afternoon, it was good to be bored for once because I don't think we'll get the chance for the next 7 weeks! Saturday is a day trip to Sayula (a pueblo with haciendas and pyramids), next week we have a trip to Mexico City Thursday through Saturday, and the next Friday a day trip to Tequila.
For dinner we had quesadillas with onions and tomatoes, and chocolate milk (with sugar added to it, it was really rich). Alfredo the Younger came home during dinner and he sat with Daisy, Blanca and me while we ate.... then the strangest conversation came up. Blanca, in her recipe drawer, has an ad stuck in there with a scantily clad woman. There is a restaurant nearby that has exotic dancers. Not just any restaurant... a breakfast place. Eggs, bacon, and a side of strippers? The best part about this conversation (besides the fact that Blanca has kept this ad for a while, goes to this restaurant with other 60-year-old lady friends, and apparently lies to her husband and says that she's going to the grocery store), is that Daisy and I didn't know the word for stripper so Blanca (60-something housewife) and Alfredo (40-something optometrist) had to ACT OUT what pole dancing is.
I think that is a good note to end on :)
2. I need to nap during the day.
For breakfast we had ham sandwiches like the first night and banana shakes. The banana shake was really good. It was weird having sandwiches for breakfast, but they have desayuno y almuerzo together here, so it's like breakfast and lunch together, dinner at 3, and snack at 10... I guess that makes sense.
We went to Laura Moreno's class and learned about the Mayans and Aztecs. She speaks in Spanish but puts her powerpoints in English, which is good for clarification but more difficult to adjust back and forth.
Then Spanish with Olga. Pleasant lady, but she always has a too-serious look on her face and I get nervous answering questions.
After classes, I went with Daisy so she could get postcards. (Side note: we also stopped by Martha's office and apparently we are going to the town of Sayula this Saturday and Mexico City for 3 days next week!) Martha gave us directions to the post office to get stamps and we headed off. We weren't sure where it was once we got to the area she said it was in, so we asked 2 more people for directions. Then we crossed the street and asked more. Then we crossed another street and asked more. Eventually, after talking to seven people within one city block, we made it!
Here are a few things I've noticed:
-the dress is NOT conservative like they told us before the trip
-the ladies like tight pants and tightly pulled back hair and a lot of people wear jeans and t-shirts to work
-I've seen 1 turn signal used in 4 days here
-they paint the bottom half of trees white to keep the bugs off
We ate la comida around 3 - sopa de pasta codito, carne de rez, tortillas, jugo de papaya y ate de guayaba. This translates to elbow macaroni in tomato sauce, beef and potatoes, tortillas, papaya juice (not great, but better with lime in it), and a 4x6 rubber sheet of guava... yum?
As we were eating, we noticed that for the FIRST time since we arrived, regardless of time, it was quiet on the street.... then suddenly yelling and cheering... the game was on! We turned the TV on and we heard screams everywhere, Mexico scored! The announcer yelled "GOOOOOAAALLLL!" (The stereotypes are true.) One more goal and Mexico beat France for the first time in a long time, 2-0. There were splashes - in the courtyard outside, grown men fully clothed and wearing Mexican jerseys were jumping and pushing each other into the pool. Cars filled the streets and we heard honking for over two hours as people celebrated. On TV they showed people all over Mexico going crazy... and we didn't even win the world cup! This is definitely going to be a fun place to watch the tournament.
Finally, Blanca DOES have a husband! He is a sports writer so he locked himself in the bedroom during the game for no interruptions. He's a twitchy man, but very friendly. Also named Alfredo.
Daisy and I did nothing all afternoon, it was good to be bored for once because I don't think we'll get the chance for the next 7 weeks! Saturday is a day trip to Sayula (a pueblo with haciendas and pyramids), next week we have a trip to Mexico City Thursday through Saturday, and the next Friday a day trip to Tequila.
For dinner we had quesadillas with onions and tomatoes, and chocolate milk (with sugar added to it, it was really rich). Alfredo the Younger came home during dinner and he sat with Daisy, Blanca and me while we ate.... then the strangest conversation came up. Blanca, in her recipe drawer, has an ad stuck in there with a scantily clad woman. There is a restaurant nearby that has exotic dancers. Not just any restaurant... a breakfast place. Eggs, bacon, and a side of strippers? The best part about this conversation (besides the fact that Blanca has kept this ad for a while, goes to this restaurant with other 60-year-old lady friends, and apparently lies to her husband and says that she's going to the grocery store), is that Daisy and I didn't know the word for stripper so Blanca (60-something housewife) and Alfredo (40-something optometrist) had to ACT OUT what pole dancing is.
I think that is a good note to end on :)
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