Dia de los Flores, Random Updates

Hey everyone.

April 15th was an awesome holiday, Dia de los Flores. As far as I could tell, it is a celebration of the Virgen de Dolores. All over town, people set up altars for her and left offerings, mostly fruit and ice cream. The entire city stays up all night eating, drinking, and partying. Plaza de la Paz is completely converted into a giant tent full of food and flower vendors.

I started off the evening with three fellow study abroaders that I hadn't hung out with much previously. We started really early so the streets weren't to crowded. First we got some food at the giant food tent, got some drinks at Zilch, then headed to a party a friend had invited us to. We continued the festivities there for a few hours, and a learned a few drinking games. (New favorite: Pendejo. A lot like Spoons but more intense, involving tequila and markers.)

From the party the rest of my study abroad friends went to go salsa dancing and I met up with Alexander. We ended up just wandering around for most of the night, with a quick stop at some cantina-like bar where he tried to teach me how to dance (fail). I ended up getting home around 4 in the morning (which is early for Dia de los Flores!)

Since that day I have been nursing a pretty nasty cold, so nothing much to write about April.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Puerto Vallarta until Friday. I'm going by myself, which I'm not going to lie, I am a little nervous about. Not so much about safety issues, just about logistics. The last trip I went on, I was with Lisa, who is the ultimate trip planner. I definitely channeled my inner Lisa when I was planning this, so hopefully everything goes smoothly. Keep your fingers crossed for me :)

Now some pics from Dia de los Flores:

Most of the group from the party

Giant food stand!

Example of one of the hundreds of altars set up around town

Random Thoughts

I've been meaning to post for the past few weeks to let everyone know what I have been up to...I keep having random thoughts pop up that I want to share with everyone but they were never quite enough to justify a post. But it is a hot Friday afternoon and I have nothing to do until later, so here are just a few of those thoughts.

1) Studying abroad can be such an emotional roller coaster, it is exhausting. Some days, this is my favorite place in the world. Spanish rolls of my tongue and I'm never going to leave Mexico. Then the next day, I can have a completely different attitude. I'm so homesick that it physically hurts. I can't focus on what people are saying to me at all. The past few weeks have been mainly low (personal drama, family emergencies, missing birthdays back in Oregon, the cold that WON'T go away)...but I'm starting to get myself out of that rut.

2) I just read an article about how students who have studied abroad tend to do better in school after their experience than before, which was really interesting. First of all, when you go to school in a foreign country, the systems they have in place are completely different. You're going in blind, and have to figure everything out (in your second language...). By the time you get back home, you're so used to having to work five times as hard for something that the familiar is a piece of cake. If you can figure out the way they organize their books at the library in Valenciana (something that still alludes me...), you can pretty much handle anything the university system back home can possibly throw at you.

3) My tastes in food have changed so drastically since I have gotten here. Now I gobble up my papaya with my breakfast in the morning. I looooove micheladas (beer mixed with tomato juice, chile, lime, and some other stuff...also the variations with juice are yummy), salsa verde (the spicier the better), light dinners (washed down with a glass of milk, which I couldn't even drink when I first got here). Just a few examples.

4) Semana Santa. Our spring break is in April (Easter week and the week before). 2 weeks! I am going to the beach. Not sure which one, or with who, but it will happen. My host mom says I should go to Ixtapa. My friends want to take me to Puerto Vallarta or Acapulco. I want to go back to Chiapas and check out Boca del Cielo. Also I have an offer for Puerto Escondido. We shall see what happens. All I need is some quality beach time and I'm good.

Alis volat propriis

The past few weeks have been pretty dramatic. I'm not going to rant or go into details, but I lost someone I thought was a dear friend over something so ridiculous, leaving me with absolutely no women friends here in Guanajuato. For the first time in my life, every single one of my friends is male. This has ups and downs, but I have to say, I reallllllly miss my girls back in Oregon.

Right before coming to Mexico, I participated in a week long conference with Portland State's Center for Women, Politics, and Policy (CWPP). There, I met 20 of the most amazing women I could ever hope to meet. 20 women of all ages lived together, worked together, and partied together for an entire week with absolutely no drama, cliques, or whatever other ridiculous shenanigans women have a bad rap for. It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by such strong, ambitious women, and it is an experience I will never forget.

Since then, I look at most women that I meet through a completely different lens. Naively I automatically assume that I'll get along with everyone as fantastically as I did with my lovely CWPP ladies, and it is always shocking to me when I meet a woman who doesn't have the type of confidence, self respect, and ambition that these women do.

That is about as much of a rant you're going to get from me. Parting words: I miss my girls.

My CWPP ladies and Barbara Roberts, Oregon's first woman governor, June 2010

Time Flies

I have worked at the kindergarten for almost a month now. Even though it can be the most frustrating thing ever, coming in the door on Mondays and Tuesdays always makes up for it. 15 adorable little children run at me screaming "KAHLSEEEEE! TE QUIERO!" (Kelsey, I love you!) definitely makes your day brighter (even if later you end up covered in juice, clay, tears, and snot).

A few random pictures...

My classroom!

Pretty much the only place I have found cheap dark beer. Sketchy basement bar. Free tacos (when you go with Abram).

This I Believe

My very first paper in college was the hardest that I have ever had to write. The assignment was seemingly simple: write a three page essay on what you believe. No other requirements.

I remember how much I struggled to write that paper. I must have restarted it at least ten times. Right before starting my freshman year, my life had changed so much that I wasn't quite sure what it was I believed in anymore. In the end, that is what I wrote about.

Earlier today I was cleaning some old files off of my computer and I stumbled upon that essay. After reading it, two things struck me. 1) It is amazing how much I have evolved as a writer in three short years (some parts were definitely cringe-worthy) and 2) it is amazing how that essay still rings true for me today.

2 quotes:

"I believe in embracing the changes life throws your way. Though things may look difficult at first, there is something to be learned in every challenge thrown at you, no matter how menial it may originally seem. In every challenge, from a missed bus to a difficult class, a bad day to a family tragedy, there is an opportunity to come out knowing more about yourself and what you believe."

This especially applies to my life today, living in a foreign country and speaking in a second language. Absolutely every part of every day is a challenge. Nothing is easy, and the smallest victories are relished as if they were monumental. And, just as my 17-year-old self claimed, I have come out of each challenge a stronger person.

"I believe that five, ten, and thirty years from now, my core beliefs will have morphed and evolved, and will only vaguely represent those I feel strongly about currently."

Again, my 17-year-old self could not have been more right. When I wrote this essay 3 years ago, I was majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science. I wanted to go on to change the world, and live in as many different parts of it as I could. And while some of that mentality still remains, it has also been altered. I joined MUN and learned that while politics are interesting, it isn't what I want to do with my life. I worked at a school and discovered a passion for teaching. I moved to Mexico and discovered that I'm absolutely in love with Oregon and would be perfectly happy living there. The list goes on. And all of those changes happened in three short years. I can't even imagine how different things will be five, ten, and thirty years down the line.

Anyways, enough with the self reflection (for now...I have a few more especially reflective posts in mind). It is Saturday night, off to hit the town :)

Perfect Day

Between working at the kindergarten, being a somewhat good student, and actually having a social life, the past week absolutely flew by.

Nothing important to note between Valentine's Day and today.

At the kindergarten, for some reason the teacher decided to have a two hour long meeting with the school director in the middle of the school day, leaving me alone with 15 rowdy Spanish speaking children (and by the way, she didn't mention this at all to me. I was clueless until another teacher came out and told me that recess for my class was over and I had to get them ready for lunch). I was surprised at how well they behaved at first, but after lunch that all went down the drain. Books were being thrown across the classroom, children were locking other children in closets, and I was trying my best to hold it all together. It was madness. And even though those kids gave me hell, I STILL love them to death.

After class, the teacher I work with, Anabel, invited me to her house for lunch. She is such a sweet lady who is so excited that I am there to help her. (Sidenote- I almost didn't end up with this class because when we were introduced to the teacher I thought she was mean, but I liked the kids. So I chose to be with this class and I am so glad!). She introduced me to her 14 year old daughter and her husband (who works for the Supreme Court of Guanajuato). I thought I was just having lunch with them, but they kept me the whole day. We went and got ice cream, went on a walk, talked a lot about education, had dinner, and then they drove me home. They are all so incredibly sweet, and made me feel really at home. I have a feeling this will be a repeat occurrence.

I WAS planning on doing my ridiculous reading for my class Wednesday morning when I got home from Anabel's, but then a group of my friends invited me to go out. Originally I was only going to stay an hour...but time flies when you are having fun. Now it is almost 1am and I have a ton of reading to do before my class tomorrow.Yet here I am, updating my blog. Oh well, I can be an irresponsible student every now and then, right?

Also, camping is a possibility this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I Discovered the Purpose of Valentine's Day!

That is right...I finally understand what Valentine's Day is good for. But first, I will tell you about my day. And then you will understand.

I volunteer at a school that has kids from ages 3 to 5. I'm working with the oldest kids. Our classroom has maybe 15 and one teacher. You can tell she is so overwhelmed by how energetic these kids are, so I'm really excited to be able to help her out a little bit. For the first few classes I'm mainly just observing, and eventually I will be giving English classes.

Today was my first day working at the kindergarten. It was possibly the hardest day I have had in Mexico so far. Adults don't come running up to you in tears because someone stuck out their tongue at them. They don't lock themselves in the bathroom because they didn't get the same amount of candy in from the piñata as their best friend, and they don't poke and prod at you. That being said, I'm totally used to little kids from babysitting and working at Buckman. But dealing with little kids in English and then in my second language is a completely different story. When the kids come running up to me bawling, I have absolutely no idea what they are saying. Or if I do, I have no idea what to say back.

BUT, today was nice and easy thanks to good old Valentine's Day, also known in Mexico as the Day of Love and Friendship. Patricio stuck out his tongue at you? Patricio, we don't do that on the Day of Love and Friendship! Now hug and make up. Oh, Evelin, we don't throw our lunches at our friends on the Day of Love and Friendship. Now hug and make up.

Seriously, this whole Day of Love and Friendship thing is quite possibly the best thing ever. Not a single fight drug out for more than a few seconds, because no one wanted to be a bad friend during the Day of Love and Friendship. It was so adorable to see all the little kids immediately think about how their actions affected others, and want to say sorry and hug right away.

So, I have come to the conclusion that Valentine's Day was really invented by schoolteachers who needed a break.