Colors

Today a few of us walked around the neighborhood. One of my favorite things about Mexico is that every house is so unique, inside and out. Each one has the most incredible details and color! These are a few of my favorites!

Climbing Mountains

When in the midst of an adventure, one loses the concern for time. Days blend together in a beautiful swirl of colors, music, and fragrance. As our senses bloom with the sweet aroma of adventure, we begin to understand that the dusty road along the way is just as satisfying to the soul as the triumphant entry into the actual destination. I've found that when we become too fixed on the end,that we can miss out on the beauty of the journey, even though the road is long and dangerous, with many trials and tribulations.

Yesterday I climbed a mountain from base to peak in Tepotzlan, Mexico. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. There were thousands of steps of ancient rock through the jungle to the very top cliffs. Every time it seemed we were close, the next corner would unveil yet another long trek to climb.

But around every corner something new would also peak through the trees. A white butterfly as big as a magnolia blossom, a tree with roots twisting every which way, quietly ascending year upon year in quiet splendor, a breathtaking view of a cave, secretly tucked away in the mountain, or a laugh between friends that coaxed the birds into song.

In climbing mountains, there is suffering, laboring, and moments where it seems easier to give up, but it is in those moments that we must look around and see the glory. The road is hard, but it is beautiful. And when we finally reach the top of the mountain, we celebrate in joyful triumph, the end being so sweetly satisfying because of the perseverance and hardships that it took to make it there. Then all that remains is to rest in the moment, letting it carry you away as you melt into that pure peace.

And when you are standing on top of the world, firmly on that mountain, nothing can take away the truth you know of victory. Nothing can take back the moment when you first looked out on the horizon and saw freedom. It is yours to treasure forever.

Behoove is a word. In english? Yes. WHAT?

There are some things you learn in a classroom...but that little room has limitations. True learning happens when you experience something...not just hear about it, but actually live it out.

So I shall impart to you some things I have learned in Cuernavaca from justing being, just living, just experiencing...

1. What it means to be a girl in Mexico
- Fathers are protective. Boys do NOT talk to girls in front of the fathers unless the boy is asking the Father for permission to talk to the girl AFTER being grilled by the Father beforehand. (Some girls in our group experienced this the first day. Their padre got SO MAD.)
- You will be kissed. In the culture, greeting everybody, stranger/family, old/young, ugly (jk...NOBODY is ugly....except a Mexican Hairless dog...looks like a chinese crested only bigger)
But you greet everyone with one kiss on the left cheek.
- If every seat is taken on the bus and you get on, YOU WILL get a seat. Men are EXPECTED to give up their seat on buses, at full dinner tables, on park benches, etc.

2. What I have taken for granted in America
- AIR CONDITIONING.
- Public trashcans on the streets. It seems minor, but when you have the need to throw something away when you are out and about, it is very frustrating.
- Flushing toilet paper.... They use trashcans for that here instead because the pipes are too small. It's .....different......

On that note I apologize in advance if this is gross but it's something to know for your travels.
Google Moctezuma's Revenge.
If you know what it is, I will only say this: It is not a matter of who it will happen to, but a matter of when it will happen.




Moving on......


3. The word NO

In english when one uses the word no, it simply means no. In this culture, it means "Try Harder." It's almost considered rude to not question the "no" several times. It implies sincerity.
For example:

When eating comida, the senora comes and asks if we want more. We say no. She says, ok, what do you want? We say no thankyou. She says how about some more potatoes? We say no thats ok. Chicken? No. Beans? No. How about fruit? No thank you. Are you sure? Yes. Here. I'll get you some more tortillas. No thank you we're full. (and it goes on for a bit until you are walking away from the table while she is still questioning you.) This is only an exagerration. Our madre is actually very good at knowing when we have had enough. Others...not so much ha

So those are some tidbits from the week.
Also, I climbed up a mountain today. A LEGIT mountain.
It was VERY high up. Ouch.
But SO worth the loooooooong climb :)

My Not-So-Typical Days in Cuernavaca

School Schedule

6:30am We gracefully awaken. It's not hot yet, so we are happy :)

7:07am Mama Irene comes upstairs and says that breakfast is ready

7:10am We enjoy a spanish breakfast. We have had pancakes, omeletes with potatoes, french toast, and cereal (FRUIT LOOPS!!!!!!) and other days quesadillas with fruit and JUGO DE NARANJA. You guys think our orange juice is good? The stuff we drink is freshly squeezed every morning and absolutely wonderful!

7:45am We start walking to the school. It's a good 15 minute walk. On the way, we are surrounded by a wave of kindergartners running to their schools. For my current/future special ed teachers....there is a little boy who has down syndrome and is SUPER CUTE that we always pass by. This morning he said Hola, Como estas? to me and it was precious.

8:00am...ish School starts.
We have grammer class from 8 until 10 with our professor, Cesar. He is HILLARIOUS. We have 3 people in our class.....which is great...except you can't hide....which is not so fun, but you get to pinpoint your problems.... the many grammer problems that everybody has, but generally ignores.... We did pronouns for 2 hours and then por/para (two different words meaning for) for another hour and we got 78 sentences to practice it. It's intense, but it is SO worth it. I discovered how much I didn't know, but also how much I DO know and how much I have learned in just 5 days.

After grammer we have a break and then conversation class. It's an hour of just speaking the language and listening to Cesar's funny stories. Our class is 70% comedy sketch, and 30% .... other? ha but we have the best conversations!

Then after a short break we have either a workshop or a lecture to go to.

2:20pm - We walk 15 minutes back home and have COMIDA!!!!!!!
Comida is our equivalent of dinner. It is the main meal of the day and SOOOO yummy. Our Mama spends all morning cooking. We have had REAL enchiladas, chiles rellenos, tostadas, spaghetti (spanish style of course), different kinds of chicken, fresh veggies, rice, rice, and more rice, and salsa that's basically straight up jalepenos. We spend about an hour or two eating and talking with the family. It's always good conversation, and then after a short siesta (and its HOT by now...no A/C. We are very spoiled in America), we head back to the school.

At 4:30 we have either a dance class and afterwards a conversation hour with the students studying english, or a spanish movie.

Then we either go out to the Plaza for fun, over to someone's house to swim and study, or home to our families. They don't really have supper here. Cenar is a light supper or snack around 8. Tonight I had a banana and a tortilla!

On Saturdays we have excursions and this weekend we are going to Tepoztlan I do believe (climbing a mountain and seeing some pyramids)

We have something incredible planned every Saturday and optional ones every sunday.


And then if there is time... we sleep.

I am having so much fun here! I'll put up more pictures as soon as I can!

Consider Yourself Llamar'd.

Hola!

The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind. I am staying in Cuernavaca, which is about 35 miles south of Mexico City. It is in the mountains and is absolutely gorgeous! The first thing I noticed about Mexico is that everything is colorful! Walls, cars, houses, street signs...todos. There is spanish tile everywhere, and flowers and fruit trees of every color line the streets. Wherever you go it feels like everybody is celebrating!

Our house is about 10 minutes walking distance from our school,
Cuauhanahuac Instituto (If it sounds like you have marshmallows in your mouth and you get the first and last "c" then you're probably saying it right!)

We are staying with a 60 year old retired elementary school teacher "Mama" Irene. She is absolutely wonderful and very hospitable. She refuses to let me help her with ANYTHING but it's such a blessing to be treated so well! I also have a roommate, Mary Lucy, and it's been so good getting to know her!

Today we had our orientation and exams......placement exams that is, and oral interviews. It was a HUGE written test, but the interview was fairly informal, they just want to know where we are.

Now upon going into the interview I do believe the professora and I spent a good 5 minutes trying to pronounce my name in Spanish. I am very seriously considering changing it to something comprhensible because they only really pronounce one letter in my entire name. So Heidi.....sounds like....... eeithey... If you have any suggestions let me know! haha

The school itself is beautiful and the professors are very helpful. They've created an atmosphere of learning that makes me so excited to learn!

Later on we saw a few of eachothers host families and then toured a bit of the Plaza. (main part of the city)

We saw the Palacio de Cortez....he actually did live there and there is a museum! Lots of swords...ha and a really beautiful cathedral.

Then we walked around the black market (SKETCH) and THEN IT STARTED TO RAIN.
We got on the bus and headed back...but our host home is about 15 minutes from the bus stop. So while we had the cover of some trees, our group decided to wait....unfortunately we picked the wrong spot to wait because part of the street was flooding and, no joke, a bus came by and threw a tidal wave of water on us. It was HILLARIOUS but that water was nasty. Then it happened again.

After a glorious shower we had cena (dinner) with la Senora. She made us PANCAKES! It felt like home :)

and now it is time for bed because classes start muy temprano (a las 8)

Buenas noches

DOS!

I leave the country in 2 days and I wanted to be able to share my adventures, thoughts, and everything that God teaches me this summer!

Learning this amazing language has been such a beautiful gift from the Lord. Spanish is more than a major or classes, and much more than just words.

Awhile ago, I heard God whisper, "I have given you the keys. Unlock the doors." Three days later I had the means and opportunity to study abroad in two different countries to learn Spanish. God has given me tiny glimpses of his plans for me, little assurances that He is in control and that I can rest and trust in the life He has given me to live.

I am truly delighted to bask in every single moment, and taste what God has prepared. This summer is just a few pages of HIS story for me, and I happily share it and invite you along for the journey!