Today was like a dream. At the beginning of the day, not so much. But by the time we get to the end of my day, you will think it was a dream... except it wasn't.
So first I woke up at 7 am... without trying (1st sign of a dream). I think I woke up early because I went to sleep early last night (2nd sign of a dream). Anyway, I forced myself back to sleep and woke up again at a more reasonable hour... 9:30. I had pancakes and mango for breakfast. After breakfast my mamá taught me how to make this delicious rice.
After that my roomie and I were super bored. We were thinking of going to el centro, but we've spent so much time there already. So we decided to make paper puppets of all our roommates. Then Lana (one of the roomies from Arizona) came in and helped us finish. Then we snuck onto the roof and did a show for the other 3 roommies in their window.
Then we went over to the house of some guys in our group to watch the world cup game of U.S. against England. It was a tie game.
The dreamy part of my day comes next. We met with our group to go to this little pueblo for our very last group excursion (5 days left!) When we got here (I say here, because we are here right now... I'm writing from my cell phone) we joined in the parade. It's this tiny little pueblo and we made up about one-fourth of their parade. Some of us just marched behind the band and others held candles or cloth poster things and walked with the people.
It was the weirdest thing ever. Seriously. We walked around waving to the croud (by croud I mean people looking out of their houses/huts). I was like, "why are we in the parade of some random Mexican town?" It was sooooo weird. It was absurd. I don't even know why the people allowed us in it. We just showed up in their town and joined in their parade. We marched around the block and into a church. Then I think I got sprinkled with holy water. Not sure.
Okay, I imagined this would sound better than it does. You kind of have to be here to understand. The point is that it was interesting.
Anyway, next I spent a good 10 minutes watching this group of ants trying to carry a dead tic into their hole. They couldn't fit the tic. He was too big.
And now I'm sitting on a rock writing in my blog. But I'm watching this little kid (maybe 4 years old) throwing some fruit as if it's a baseball. He's got a pretty good arm.
Okay, I just played baseball with the kid... Jesus is his name. He's 3 and is super chubby. He grabbed a plastic coke bottle and was the batter. I was the pitcher. We played for a good 10 minutes. But then I saw my group leaving so I had to go. Sad. He was cute and that was the first time I've played baseball in years.
Lastly, I also saw some monkeys and a goat. The monkeys were tied up next to a little circus tent. They were just lounging around. The goat was eating grass under an RV.
My point is that today was a strange day.
P.S. I'm so ready to come home. And now I'm on the bus going bacl to my Mexican casa. Soon, I will be home home. Los estados unidos home.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Tengo Celos
Okay, so I wrote about the cenotes last Saturday, but I never wrote about the rest of my weekend.
Friday was super fun. The Mexican mom of Kassie and Sarah (2 girls in our group) threw a birthday party for them. And it was like a BIRTHDAY party. It was so cool. There was a fountain, like a chocolate fountain, except it was of chinmoy (sp???) to dip vegetables in. There were also waiters that walked around and asked what you wanted to drink. And there was a dance floor. It was so much fun. They played tons of American songs like YMCA and Ice, Ice Baby and all the Mexicans stared at us U.S. kids and laughed at us. Then the Mexican songs would come on and the Mexicans would get up and dance with partners doing the Salsa all perfectly. Then back to the American songs and we all got up and jumped up and down (the American way of dancing). Yeah, they all thought we were crazy. And we are.
It's so funny. I've been to like 3 or 4 dances since I've been here and it's so interesting to see the way the Mexicans dance compared to us. They are so much better. And they always dance with a partner.
Okay, so then the next day everyone was totally dead since we were dancing all night. But the cenotes were so much fun and we all woke up when we realized how cool they were. That night I went to sleep imagining I would sleep well because I was soooo tired. But I woke up at 3 am to my poor roommate throwing up. And that is right when two of the other girls got home (the 2 from Arizona State University). They had just gotten home from a club and one was drunk. So they came in our room and hung out with my roommie and me. They held back Rebekah's hair as she threw up. We never found out what was wrong, but Rebekah was throwing up for 2 days. She thinks she drank the water in a cenote or something.
Anyway, I am SO happy I didn't get sick from her. I was super scared.
Okay, lastly I just want to say that I miss my family and my boyfriend SOOOOO much!
Chris is out doing fun stuff with his friends in Idaho. And my family is posting all these funny and fun things on facebook about how they all went to see The Karate Kid last night together. I'm jealous. Tengo celos.
Friday was super fun. The Mexican mom of Kassie and Sarah (2 girls in our group) threw a birthday party for them. And it was like a BIRTHDAY party. It was so cool. There was a fountain, like a chocolate fountain, except it was of chinmoy (sp???) to dip vegetables in. There were also waiters that walked around and asked what you wanted to drink. And there was a dance floor. It was so much fun. They played tons of American songs like YMCA and Ice, Ice Baby and all the Mexicans stared at us U.S. kids and laughed at us. Then the Mexican songs would come on and the Mexicans would get up and dance with partners doing the Salsa all perfectly. Then back to the American songs and we all got up and jumped up and down (the American way of dancing). Yeah, they all thought we were crazy. And we are.
It's so funny. I've been to like 3 or 4 dances since I've been here and it's so interesting to see the way the Mexicans dance compared to us. They are so much better. And they always dance with a partner.
Okay, so then the next day everyone was totally dead since we were dancing all night. But the cenotes were so much fun and we all woke up when we realized how cool they were. That night I went to sleep imagining I would sleep well because I was soooo tired. But I woke up at 3 am to my poor roommate throwing up. And that is right when two of the other girls got home (the 2 from Arizona State University). They had just gotten home from a club and one was drunk. So they came in our room and hung out with my roommie and me. They held back Rebekah's hair as she threw up. We never found out what was wrong, but Rebekah was throwing up for 2 days. She thinks she drank the water in a cenote or something.
Anyway, I am SO happy I didn't get sick from her. I was super scared.
Okay, lastly I just want to say that I miss my family and my boyfriend SOOOOO much!
Chris is out doing fun stuff with his friends in Idaho. And my family is posting all these funny and fun things on facebook about how they all went to see The Karate Kid last night together. I'm jealous. Tengo celos.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
My Mamá Mexicana
My mamá mexicana thinks I'm crazy. But she still loves me ha ha. I love her too, she is so funny. She talks and talks and loves to talk. And she loves to see movies and is so happy that us exchange students are here because she needs somebody to go see movies with. She won't take her husband because he doesn't know how to whisper (even though she answered her phone and whispered on it for 5 minutes in the middle of the past 2 movies I've seen with her). Ahh, she's soooo funny and crazy... but a good crazy.
Anyway, back to why she thinks I'm crazy. I asked her about superstitions (black cats, walking under a ladder, spilling the salt, etc.) just because I was curious if it was an American culture thing or if lots of cultures know of those same superstitions. She told me that some people believe them but that it's silly and there's no such thing. Well like 5 minutes later I spilled the salt and I put some over my shoulder. (Out of habit and maybe a little because of OCD). Anyway, she looked at me with a look that said, "what the freak are you doing you psycho face?!?!?!" And then she lectured me about how nothing bad will happen if I spill the salt and about how life depends on our choices and nothing more.
Anyway, back to why she thinks I'm crazy. I asked her about superstitions (black cats, walking under a ladder, spilling the salt, etc.) just because I was curious if it was an American culture thing or if lots of cultures know of those same superstitions. She told me that some people believe them but that it's silly and there's no such thing. Well like 5 minutes later I spilled the salt and I put some over my shoulder. (Out of habit and maybe a little because of OCD). Anyway, she looked at me with a look that said, "what the freak are you doing you psycho face?!?!?!" And then she lectured me about how nothing bad will happen if I spill the salt and about how life depends on our choices and nothing more.
Last Call for Souvenirs!
Guess what tomorrow is??? Other than the 11th if June.
Yes, it is the World Cup! Everyone in Mexico is super excited and truth be told I'm kind of sad because I wanted to spend all day on the beach. But, the game starts at 9 AM so it looks like we will be going to the beach later in the day. Okay, so I will be watching soccer in the morning (a.k.a. reading a book) and the world will stop for a few hours as Mexico cheers for their team.
It's pretty cool that I get to be in Mexico while the world cup happens. It's a big cultural experience. It would be like one of the frenchies being at the Mugar house for the Super Bowl.
Okay, people, I will be home in exactly ONE WEEK from today. If you want A specific souvenir, you better tell me fast. I've shopped enough for the nextt year. I'm so sick of it. So I won't be doing anymore unless I have to :)
Yes, it is the World Cup! Everyone in Mexico is super excited and truth be told I'm kind of sad because I wanted to spend all day on the beach. But, the game starts at 9 AM so it looks like we will be going to the beach later in the day. Okay, so I will be watching soccer in the morning (a.k.a. reading a book) and the world will stop for a few hours as Mexico cheers for their team.
It's pretty cool that I get to be in Mexico while the world cup happens. It's a big cultural experience. It would be like one of the frenchies being at the Mugar house for the Super Bowl.
Okay, people, I will be home in exactly ONE WEEK from today. If you want A specific souvenir, you better tell me fast. I've shopped enough for the nextt year. I'm so sick of it. So I won't be doing anymore unless I have to :)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Los Tres Cenotes
This past weekend my group went to three cenotes. Oh my gosh, they were amazing! And they didn't have annoying, tiny, creepy fish swimming too close for comfort.
First we got on these little buggy things ("trucks" they called them, with their nice little accents). The trucks fit 5 people each, plus the driver and they were homemade. Not sure how sturdy they were, but I'm still alive! A skinny horse pulled each truck attatched to the mini tracks.
When we got to each cenote the horses stopped. Each cenote was in a cave. The water is perfectly blue and clear and it's the perfect temperature to cool you down in the Yucatán heat. When we got to the 1st one we had to climb some ghetto stairs to get into the cave. But it was worth it.
But then when we got to the 2nd cenote, I was thinking that the first cenote's stairs weren't ghetto at all. For the 2nd ones you had to sit on a step and make your body flat just to get inside the cave.
Then we got to the 3rd cenote/cave and I was thinking "where is it?" I didn't see any holes in the ground or stairs or any sign of anything but dirt. But then we walked over to this hole in the ground that was about 3 feet across. The bottom of the hole was black. Black as in I saw no sign of water and no sign that the hole even had a bottom. Leading into the blackness was a homemade ladder with some nails holding it to the side of the hole. "Ummmmm, we're going down there?" I asked. What the heck! I'm in Mexico! Holy crap, it was scary.
Anyway, when I got to the bottom I couldn't see anything so I just felt around till I found the water. Finally my eyes adjusted and I'm glad I went. It was so beautiful!
When we got back to the place where our bus was waiting for us we all got on the bus to go home. As we were driving out of this little pueblo, I noticed one of the kids in our group, running next to the bus waving his arms. Ha ha ha! We almost left without him.
First we got on these little buggy things ("trucks" they called them, with their nice little accents). The trucks fit 5 people each, plus the driver and they were homemade. Not sure how sturdy they were, but I'm still alive! A skinny horse pulled each truck attatched to the mini tracks.
When we got to each cenote the horses stopped. Each cenote was in a cave. The water is perfectly blue and clear and it's the perfect temperature to cool you down in the Yucatán heat. When we got to the 1st one we had to climb some ghetto stairs to get into the cave. But it was worth it.
But then when we got to the 2nd cenote, I was thinking that the first cenote's stairs weren't ghetto at all. For the 2nd ones you had to sit on a step and make your body flat just to get inside the cave.
Then we got to the 3rd cenote/cave and I was thinking "where is it?" I didn't see any holes in the ground or stairs or any sign of anything but dirt. But then we walked over to this hole in the ground that was about 3 feet across. The bottom of the hole was black. Black as in I saw no sign of water and no sign that the hole even had a bottom. Leading into the blackness was a homemade ladder with some nails holding it to the side of the hole. "Ummmmm, we're going down there?" I asked. What the heck! I'm in Mexico! Holy crap, it was scary.
Anyway, when I got to the bottom I couldn't see anything so I just felt around till I found the water. Finally my eyes adjusted and I'm glad I went. It was so beautiful!
When we got back to the place where our bus was waiting for us we all got on the bus to go home. As we were driving out of this little pueblo, I noticed one of the kids in our group, running next to the bus waving his arms. Ha ha ha! We almost left without him.
Monday, June 7, 2010
I`m Mexican
I was in el centro doing some shopping and this lady who worked at the store asked me what pueblo (small Mexican town) I was from. I was like, "Ummm, I`m live in the United States... California." Then we started talking about what I was doing here in Merida and I told her I was going to school and then she asked me what pueblo my parents were from. And I told her they are from California too. And she was like, "Oh, you`re not Mexican?" Haha, it was awesome!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Worst Bathroom Experience of My Life
¡Hola! There is exactly 2 more weeks left for me in Mexico. It's so bitter sweet. I miss my family and am excited to come home, but I love Mexico and need to learn more español. But, since it is what it is. I am happy to be coming home.
Last weekend on Friday we went to a city called Izamal. Almost all the buildings there are yellow. Weird, huh? Well anyway, I was grumpy for the first hour or so there because I had the worst bathroom experience of my life. The only thing that would have been worse is if I had to throw up or go diarrhea. Anyway, so I went to the bathroom... well, before that I paid 3 pesos to use it. And I had to grab some toilet paper that was sitting on a dirty table outside the bathroom (I probably have an STD now). Then I walked into the bathroom and then ran back out when I saw a ginormous cockroach just chillin' in the middle of the floor. I didn't want to use the bathroom anymore but I couldn't get my money back and the guy I asked to kill the bug said no. Rude. So my roommate helped me get past the bug. Finally I got to the toilets, where there were no seats. I don't mean toilet seat covers, I mean seats. The toilets were man toilets. So I squatted and peed, not wanting to touch my booty to the cold, dirty non-seat. Next was the washing of my hands. I was excited to wash my hands... but what do I find? Bar soap. Dirty, nasty bar soap that at least 100 nasty hands have touched. And so the grumpiness began.
Thankfully I have an awesome roommate, Alyssa, who cheered me up and we had tons of fun.
Okay, back to where we were before the bathroom. In a little town called Izamal. In the middle of this town is this big nunnery... you know? A place where nuns live. It's been there since like the 1500s or something crazy like that. After that we went to some more Mayan ruins. These ones were tiny, and right smack dab in the middle of a town.
The next day we went to a hacienda that has a living museum. We got to look at this really old Spanish house and see the machines they used in the early 1900s to make fiber/string out of these cactus plants that grow in the area. I also found out that a Jamaica flower is actually a hibiscus flower. I drink Jamaica juice all the time here, so I've been drinking hibiscus flower juice for the past 5 weeks.
Then, after the hacienda we got on these carts and donkeys pulled us to this cave where there was a cenote (natural pool) inside of the cave. Holy crap! It was so beautiful. Yes, I swam in this one because the fish didn't come close to us. The water was clear with just a hole in the roof for light. There were bats all over the ceiling and it was an awesome experience.
Last weekend on Friday we went to a city called Izamal. Almost all the buildings there are yellow. Weird, huh? Well anyway, I was grumpy for the first hour or so there because I had the worst bathroom experience of my life. The only thing that would have been worse is if I had to throw up or go diarrhea. Anyway, so I went to the bathroom... well, before that I paid 3 pesos to use it. And I had to grab some toilet paper that was sitting on a dirty table outside the bathroom (I probably have an STD now). Then I walked into the bathroom and then ran back out when I saw a ginormous cockroach just chillin' in the middle of the floor. I didn't want to use the bathroom anymore but I couldn't get my money back and the guy I asked to kill the bug said no. Rude. So my roommate helped me get past the bug. Finally I got to the toilets, where there were no seats. I don't mean toilet seat covers, I mean seats. The toilets were man toilets. So I squatted and peed, not wanting to touch my booty to the cold, dirty non-seat. Next was the washing of my hands. I was excited to wash my hands... but what do I find? Bar soap. Dirty, nasty bar soap that at least 100 nasty hands have touched. And so the grumpiness began.
Thankfully I have an awesome roommate, Alyssa, who cheered me up and we had tons of fun.
Okay, back to where we were before the bathroom. In a little town called Izamal. In the middle of this town is this big nunnery... you know? A place where nuns live. It's been there since like the 1500s or something crazy like that. After that we went to some more Mayan ruins. These ones were tiny, and right smack dab in the middle of a town.
The next day we went to a hacienda that has a living museum. We got to look at this really old Spanish house and see the machines they used in the early 1900s to make fiber/string out of these cactus plants that grow in the area. I also found out that a Jamaica flower is actually a hibiscus flower. I drink Jamaica juice all the time here, so I've been drinking hibiscus flower juice for the past 5 weeks.
Then, after the hacienda we got on these carts and donkeys pulled us to this cave where there was a cenote (natural pool) inside of the cave. Holy crap! It was so beautiful. Yes, I swam in this one because the fish didn't come close to us. The water was clear with just a hole in the roof for light. There were bats all over the ceiling and it was an awesome experience.
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