on learning Spanish

Learning Spanish is hard. I knew it would be and it isn't necessarily more difficult than I thought it would be (I was very frustrated in my last Spanish class), but good heavens it is a complex language! It is coming along however. I can conjugate verbs much more easily now, though it isn't an extremely fluid process yet.

Today I got a little bit of a Spanish-high because I got to use my Spanish a fair amount when talking with a taxi driver when Rachel, Andrea, and I were heading back to the Tec. I'm sure it wasn't anything very impressive, but I did get to respond to a statement that he made about Arnold Schwarzenegger and I believe that I was understood. This interaction was interesting because our driver was speaking in his best English and we in our best Spanish. This was beneficial for me in that it allowed me to be able to speak in Spanish because I knew what he was saying, but in a sense wasn't helpful because I didn't get to practice my comprehension skills which are also sorely lacking.

Additionally, I went to the pharmacy today and attempted to get some information but it wasn't that fruitful. We realized as we were leaving that it wasn't because I was asking the question wrong but because what I was asking (how many days before needing my medications should I order them) just didn't make sense to them. In Mexico I guess you just go in and pick up the medication on the same day...and hope they have it in stock.

Some frustrations:

• I know that the best way to learn the language is to be speaking it with Mexicans and not spend so much time with the international students. But my classes are primarily with the international students. And among the Mexican students that I do interact with, I either need to speak English with them (because we are working on a project for which the level of complexity far surpasses my language skills--this applies to anything more intellectual than Dr. Suess at this point) or they talk to me in English automatically. Plus, I really like the international students. :-)
  
• I would really like to meet some Mexicans outside of the bubble of the Tec that I live in, but the level of accessibilty of the city prohibits me from venturing far on my own. I don't know how to solve this problem yet.
  
• I like formulaic learning yet I know that just being exposed to Spanish, even though I don't understand it all, helps me to learn. This is a very mystical and magical osmosis process that I wish I could make sense of.
  
• I feel an enormous sense of guilt when I speak in English, listen to music in English, or read in English now. I don't want to waste a moment of this opportunity that seems to be passing me by, but sometimes I just want to have a real conversation without struggling. I allow myself Thursday nights after class ends at 7pm for guilt-free indulgence in all things in the English-language.

Some observations:

• Spanish is a very literal language that makes so much more sense logically when you think about it. For instance, in English we say, "I am hungry" but the very essence of the phrase "I am" implies something much more substantial than a passing sensation. In Spanish you say, "Tengo hambre" which literally translated means, "I have hunger" which is a much better representation of what is meant to be communicated.
  
• Spanish is also a rather efficient language as far as I can tell at this stage of my understanding. I know that often times we think Spanish is quite a verbose language, using more words than we do in English--and certainly at times this is true. But the verbs are quite amazing, encompassing not only an action but the person doing that action and the moment in time that action is, has, or will take place. For instance, "¿Qué haces?" means "What are you doing?". Additionally, the upside down question marks and exclamation marks are supremely helpful when reading. I don't know how many times reading aloud not realizing that the sentence was actually a question or meant to be read with more feeling that I have completely butchered the meaning.
  
• With this economy of words also comes the necessity for an incredibly large amount of words and complex sentence structures in order to express just what you want. I know that there is some rhyme or reason to this system (aside from those cursed irregular verbs), but this causes me much frustration and agony--and at times, embarrassment (one day in el centro when meaning to tell a woman holding out a cup asking for money on the street that I didn't have any change, I actually told her that she didn't have any change...how very rude of me).
  
• I find it rather amusing that I can say a word incorrectly, but it is still a real word and instead of getting a weird look communicating, "What are you saying?" it is more a look of "Are you sure you know what you are saying?".
  
• I also seem to be getting worse at English, not being able to recall words as quickly as I may normally be able to. I don't know if this is a good thing, indicating that my brain is deep in Spanish-mode, but given my current ability in Spanish I think it simply means that I now speak two languages poorly instead of one.

mas fiestas!

OK, so I don't mean to give the impression that all I do is go to parties in Mexico...but there are a lot of birthdays this month! We have figured out that it coincides quite well with 9 months before the holiday season. :-)

I had quite a busy, and in terms of homwork, a rather unproductive weekend. BUT it was a fantastic weekend and certainly not a waste.


MIS CUMPLEAÑOS
Friday was mis cumpleaños and the people here made it very special for me (I almost got to share a birthday with my sobrina, Reagan). Here at the residence hall I had this cheery sign and subsequently received many wishes of "Feliz cumpleaños!" throughout the day.


I was determined to make it to the pharmacy that day to ask some questions about getting prescriptions so I decided to try and be a little bit social and work on my translation in the common area in hopes that I might have the opportunity to have some small conversations. What awaited me at that little table was not quite what I was hoping for. While I was there I ended up helping one of the students, Lalo, with his English homework (which I didn't mind) and then just as he was leaving a woman came in asking if we wanted to participate in something. It looked like a survey to me, but I really had no clue. Lalo asked me if I had received a note about this and not to do it if I hadn't. I hadn't received anything to my knowledge but after Lalo left one of the staff came to wish me a happy birthday and then seemed to indicate that I should do this thing. Still clueless, I consented. It ended up being a drug test. Lots of fun. I made my way through the questionnaire (who is really going to be that honest about the last time they took cocaine?), making sure I understood it all before signing the bottom. I was then ushered into the bathroom where another woman awaited me holding a little cup. Ugh. She waited outside the stall until I finished. Two minutes later: Horray me - all negative! By the time all of that was done I had enough time to try and eat something before heading off to meet my team for one of my classes. Never made it to the pharmacy (don't worry Mom and Dad, I'll get there this week...Diego heped me with my translation).


Later that evening I had somewhat arranged for a group to go out to dinner for my birthday. We had to be ready to go to Teotihuacan by 6:45am the next morning so I was in the mood for something mild. After much confusion because of the lack of organization (I am learning, with much frustration, the difference between Mexican and American organizational ideas), we made it to a restaurant in el centro. We had a great evening and great food (new favorite: chorizo and queso with tortillas). There ended up being about 25 people there to celebrate with me!


After dinner we headed off to a party hosted by Jess, my "birthday twin", vowing to leave no later than midnight. The party had a theme of pirates and other magical creatures (I didn't want to go buy a costume so my excuse was that I am a magical creature and therefore did not need to dress up as one). It was fun to see everyone's costumes. Five of the guys got little boy Buzz Lightyear pijamas. Here is a picture with Thibault, Francois, and Jamie...and an Italian pirate (Buzz Lightyears not pictured: Adrian and Charles). True to our word, Marthese, Susie, and I made it home at about midnight at which time I made a makeshift vase out of a water bottle for all my lovely flowers given to me. For more photos from my birthday, try this link to my Facebook album.


TEOTIHUACAN
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we arrived at the designated meeting place on campus at 6:45am to leave for Teotihuacan. It is about a three hour bus trip from Querétaro and most of the bus zonked out after about 10 minutes.


When we arrived at the pyramid site Léon, my very aggressive tour guide, said that it would be best for me to stay on the bus and go to the second entrance, which was closer to the pyramids. I say aggressive because that man definitely took charge! After he figured out that I am a bit timid, especially in asking for help if I need it, he constantly told me to stop being shy. Then he kept trying to push me to get up in front of the crowds and practically rammed into people's heels all day. In spite of all that, we formed a bond and he gave me a big hug at the end of the day.


Anyhow, back to the pyramids. Anthony, who is an intern with las Programas Internacionales for the semester (and is from Lodi!), was somewhat assigned to me for the day to make sure I could get around and such. Before the trip he was determined to get me to the top of the pyramids but was told later that he wasn't allowed because it would be too unsafe. He, Léon, and I went to the second entrance after the rest of the students got off the bus. Charles also stayed with me instead of going with the others.


Once we arrived, we navigated our way down to the site. The pyramid site is enormous! It was constructed in the shape of a corn plant, with the roots and nuts on one end, the corn cob, and then the flower at the top. This site used to be a thriving city of 250,000 people until the people of Teotihuacan left, because their supply routes and water were being cut off (it is believed that the society was controlled by the priests back in the day), and then later the Aztecs moved in. This is what I gathered from the Spanish explanation at least. Most of what is at the site today is reconstructed, sadly, and the pyramids used to be covered with murals. There are two main pyramids: el Sol and la Luna. The names are misnomers and have nothing to do with the sun and the moon, but just kinda stuck.


Although Anthony had been told "no" on getting me up the pyramids, this didn't necessarily apply to Charles. ;-) As Anthony was receiving some instructions from Léon, we decided to try it (at least that's the story we were going to stick with if caught)...though with much hesitation on my end because while Charles might have liked the idea of the challenge, I don't think he realized just how tough it would be. We had about half an hour before the rest of the group was to arrive.


Thus we embarked up el Sol, the larger of the two pyramides. Here is a shot from the first level where we stopped to rest. You can see Anthony at the bottom guarding my wheelchair. On the way up, the thinness of the air became apparent and Charles decided that it might be time to stop smoking (unfortunately, that declaration was short-lived). After a few minutes, we started up to the second level with a much more spectacular view! I love this photo looking down from the second level (Mom, you may not want to look at this one), which is about halfway up; if you focus you can get a little disoriented. :-) At this point Anthony gave us the "Stop!" signal and shortly thereafter we saw our group coming. We hurried to start on our way down and made it to the bottom safely where Anthony met us with the wheelchair. Only one of my classmates later asked me about noticing an empty wheelchair when they got there.


The rest of the tour was good, but certainly el Sol was the best part! Here are a few more photos photo 1, photo 2, Brigid, Sarah, y Sarah. Oh yes, and Anthony posing as the obnoxious American tourist.


After Teotihuacan we had lunch at a nearby hotel/restaurant where we were entertained with live music and Native dancers. I always wonder everytime I see performances like this if something within them cringes at doing dances that are to them sacred as a spectacle for tourists as their cameras flash away. There was no explanation of the dances to know that they were sacred, but the woman seemed to be paying homage to the north, east, south, and west before starting. Does poverty drive them to do this? Or are they so far removed from the spiritual aspects of the dance that it is just a cultural ritual? Or could it simply be that they genuinely enjoy sharing that part of their heritage with outsiders? I have no idea, but I didn't take pictures either way.


After lunch we got back on the bus and drove about an hour to the Museo Nacional del Virreinato, which is a museum within an old monastery. Ornate is too bland a word for this place. I have never seen such excessive adornment concentrated in one area. To be honest I was too tired and lost in Spanish to get much out of this place or have much to report back. The museum was our last stop and so we got back onto the busses and headed home. We got back to the Tec a little after 8pm. For more pictures that I didn't post, go to my Facebook album.


Sunday was a fun, but tiring, day...but I am too tired to go into much detail now (plus the photos are still on my camera). Quick summation: church, lunch in el centro, mall with Susie (both of us exhausted), surprise birthday party for Tiffany who turned 19. There was a pink piñata. It was a fun party and Susie and I got back to the Res at about 10pm (muy temprano!).


Now I must be off to bed and try to sleep through this very loud techno music that one of the guys is playing very obnoxiously at 1:30am. Buenas noches! Besos!

Soy una tía!

I am an auntie!!! Reagan Susan Tavares came into this world early this morning at 4:46pm. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 12 oz. and 20.75 inches long. Both mama and baby are doing well. Pictures are below!

I smell peanut butter and I don't know where it is from...

...but now I am eating it from a jar with a spoon. And now I need milk. :::one moment please:::

So I had an AMAZING weekend with a couple more to come! The weeks are good as well but generally the same, full of classes and homework. I start out each Monday excited about starting classes again but by the time I reach Thursday I am pretty deflated, discouraged, and frustrated. This weekend certainly picked me up again!

THURSDAY
Thursday night Marthese, Elke, and I went out to dinner at Doozo Sushi which is really close to the Tec. It was the first time that I had gone outside the Tec "on foot" so to speak and it was quite a challenge. There is no way that I could have done it myself. It's a bit disappointing because that pretty much limits me to the big superstores and el centro. Anyhow, I digress.

When we got there they only had tables that were taller than me so they set us up with some folding chairs to sit in and for our drinks. Without me even noticing, our hostess had set up a wonderful table and chairs behind me just for us. They were so nice and accommodating!

I think I have decided that while I don't have a strong repulsion toward (can you be repulsed toward something?) sushi, I can't say that I like it either. I do, however, love (I'm probably spelling this wrong) etamame. They are soy beans heated and salted still in the pods and they are wonderful. We also had some of the most amazing desserts I have ever had, excepting desserts at the now defunct Gran Finale. We got Pay de Queso (cheesecake with mango and chocolate syrup), mango tempura with chocolate syrup, and fried ice cream sandwiches with a strawberry sauce. All were incredible!

It was nice to have a quiet dinner with the girls too. Afterward we walked to an apartment shared by Jamie from Australia, Adrian from Ireland, and Francois from France. On the way over we were met by Thibault from Belgium. The apartment situation is pretty hilarious since Jamie and Adrian both have rather heavy accents and Francois has limited English and so none of them can communicate with each other very well and spend most of their time just trying to understand what they are trying to say.

We spent a little bit of time hanging out and then all crunched into a couple of cars to head to a party hosted by the host family of two international students celebrating their daughter's return from a long trip to Europe. Jamie's friend had a car so she drove as many as we could cram into her car. She and Jamie were in front with Charles, myself, and Elke in the back and Marthese laying across all of us. It's a good thing she is very petite but it took a bit of acrobatics for her to get out of the car.
The party was fun and the home of the family is beautiful and enormous with a lovely plaza in the center and the house surrounding it. I love the homes in Mexico. The family wanted to go to bed at about 2am. This is where Adrian and I tried to take a few photos, but I'm not so very good with the self-portraits when people are to the left of me apparently. But I just couldn't resist trying to get some photos of a drunk Irishman simply because it is so cliché!

FRIDAY
Friday ended up being a pretty useless day where I didn't accomplish much. BUT, Rebekah (she spells it correctly, just like me) called that evening to see if I wanted to hang out at her host family's home since they were out of town. She, Sarah (another international student), and I spent the night visiting and playing Mexican Train Dominos. It was a really nice evening, but it turns out that Sarah is far superior at dominos than we are, even though she was sick.

SATURDAY
Saturday was unexpected. I was able to chat with my parents for a while online which is always good! Afterward I met a friend, Rachel, and we went to Soriana to do some shopping. Soriana is literally right behind the Tec but there is one significant hurdle (a curb too large for me) to me getting there on my own. I think I will ask the guards for help in the future if I need to go on my own (much better than paying 30 pesos for a taxi).

There we came across Elke and Jenny (I also saw the international student from Japan who I have never spoken to, but I just learned that he doesn't speak much English so perhaps that is why). Jenny invited us to go to a barbacoa (BBQ) that some of her Mexican friends were having. Elke and I decided to go and it ended up being a fantastic night! Her friends were all really nice and it was just a good time talking and eating. I had my first torta and it is hands-down the best thing I have eaten since being here. Here is a photo of Jenny digging into hers. The entire evening was in Spanish which was really great for me. I understood more than I could participate in the conversation, but that's how it goes. The evening ended with lots of dancing and music! The couple in the middle of the photo are dancing champs and were fun to watch. They gave Jenny and Elke a few lessons too.

SUNDAY
On Sunday I was finally able to go to a local church. Rachel, Bri, and I went to la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Querétaro and it was wonderful! It was in a small, unassuming building on a street on the outskirts of el centro and there were probably about 50 people at the service. The people were so warm and welcoming and I felt at home immediately, in spite of the fact that there is a massive language barrier. I brought my English Bible in the hopes that it would help me to understand the sermon better, which it did. One of the gentlemen at the church also lent us his Spanish Bible to follow along in. The message was on Matthew 7:24-29 about being doers and not just hearers of Christ's teachings. Pretty much the only part that I caught was that Jesus never meant for us just to just hear His message, but to also live it. The pastor was pleased to give us his copy of the sermon when Rachel asked so we could read it.

Everyone was so happy to have us there. Before the sermon they actually gave the microphone to Bri (knowng she was the most fluent in Spanish) to introduce ourselves to the congregation. My favorite part, by far, was the Canto de Bienvenida. We weren't sure what they were singing at first and then a man sitting nearby showed us where to find the song in the program. Suddenly, as we were singing this beautiful song, the congregation starts to move and everyone greeted and welcomed those around them with a warm handshake, smile, and "bienvenida." I loved it!!! The lyrics to the song are below. I was going to translate them for you as best I could but it is getting late and I kinda want to go to bed. :-) Perhaps next week I will get it done. For now, consider it a challenge.

ES POR SU AMOR (Canto de Bienvenida)
Es por su amor que estamos aquí,
reunidos hoy, para cantarle,
para adorarle en comunión.
Tu con nosotros si puedes
cantar con gratitud, dame tu mano,
sé bienvenido, alaba a Dios.
CORO: // Dame tu mano, se
bienvenido, que puedes encontrar
gozo, paz y amistad //
Muy diferentes, sí, pero su amor
nos unirá, somos la iglesia el
Cuerpo de Cristo que El llamó,
Que Dios te guarde es
nuestra oración y volverte a ver.
Dame tu mano, sé bienvenido
alaba a Dios
CORO

I love the Church and the fact that I can be so welcomed by people who in every other respect are perfect strangers but that I can also call mis hermanos y hermanas (my brothers and sisters) because of our shared faith in the God of the Universe. I can't wait to go back next week!

Well, that's it for now! More to come after this Saturday's excursion to the pyramids in Teotihuacan I am sure. Love and miss you all!

a show with everything but Yule Brenner

This post doesn't really have any rhyme or reason but simply contains things that have no other place (thus the strange title which no one but my Uncle Joey will probably get, but that's what makes us cool).

• In the first shopping excursion with my parents I bought orange juice--or what I thought was orange juice. It seems that what I actually have is orange-flavored soy milk or something. Lesson learned: don't just pay attention to the orange on the box but also look for the word jugo.
  
• I still don't know what the loud booms I hear every night or sometimes in the afternoon are. There must be a lot of fireworks here. :-)
  
• I really like the one-kiss-on-the-cheek greeting.
  
• Tuna is better with jalepenos in it (my own invention).
  
• I love my Spanish/English dictionary.
  
• Pablo, my adorable RA, broke his ankle this weekend playing soccer. I can now hear him rolling up and down the hall in an office chair because he doesn't like his crutches. I'm still working on getting a photo.
  
• The water pressure in my shower changes at least twice every morning and I sometimes have to turn it off entirely because it goes so high that the drain can't keep up.
  
• My hair dryer has decided to stop working.
  
• I haven't gotten sick once!

classes

CLASSES
I am now in my second week of classes and I love them! I have four classes: Basic Spanish 2, Communication Skills 1, Social Development in Mexico, and Mexican Culture. The last two are in English and with Mexican students which allows me to get to know some actual Mexican students! Imagine that.

I love my Spanish professor, Nivardo! He is really young (has to be in his 20s), fun, energetic, and says "Super bien!" a lot. This class is so unlike my previous Spanish class where I was terrified to be called on. There are only 9 students in the class and Nivardo creates a really non-intimidating environment for us. Too bad I am still so timid and frustrated outside of class!

The Social Development in Mexico class is my most challenging one so far. We are studying the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015. The class has been split into four teams and each assigned two of the eight goals to focus on for this first part of the semester. My team presents on Thursday (ack! public speaking!) but it should be fine. I have four guys (Mauricio, Alejandro, Jorge, y Carlos) on my team and they are all really great. I am excited to be challenged in a way I don't feel I was at Stan State for the most part (for any former professors reading, this is not a blanket statement :-).

The professor is a little interesting though and I am still trying to figure him out. He likes to have a lot of class discussion, which would lead me to believe that he likes the input of his students. But at the end, I get the impression that he wants to make sure we take his opinion as the most valid when I haven't heard much other than anecdotal evidence from him thus far. Makes me want to speak up in class a little less. He also draws a very clear line between the Mexican students and the international students in an effort to find only dissimilarities between our cultures and no similarities. I don't know that this is a bad thing, but it will take some more time for me to figure out how he ticks.

My Mexican Culture class should be really interesting, though I am not quite sure what to expect yet. It seems like it will be very interactive, but also with that distinct line between Mexican and international students. This environment seems to me to be a little more about learning from one another however. I think we are going to be taking some field trips and watching films during class which I am really excited about!

Communication Skills thus far is not terribly interesting and I don't feel like I am learning a whole lot yet, but my professor is nice and fun so I enjoy the class.

It doesn't look like my Batik class is going to work out. It started today and is on the second floor of the gym which doesn't have an elevator. A couple of friends asked the professor about how I might be able to participate and all I received was a text message that said, "She said there's no elevator." I'll ask for more details on Thursday. In the meantime, sorry Desiree and Aunt Cheryl--no Batik projects!

LA FIN DE SEMANA (THE WEEKEND)
My weekend starts Friday since I don't have classes at all that day. Last Friday one of the student organizations, AMI (Alumnos Mexicanos y Internacionales), held a Bienvenida lunch for us. It was very nice and the food was muy delicioso! They also had some mariachis come in and play for us. I got to sit next to Nick from Pennsylvania and John from CSU Channel Islands. Nick was telling me about his host family and that their home might actually work for me to live there. They have requested not to host girl students because they have had a problem with them bringing their boyfriends to the house and such, but I don't think they would have to worry about that with me. He said that I could come over sometime so I can meet them, so maybe that is an opportunity for next semester. At the end of the event I was assigned a big brother, Luis (not the one with the amazing hair), for the semester. I'm not sure yet what this means, but he sent me a text yesterday to see how my weekend was.

Later that evening I went to a surprise birthday party that one of the international students (Angela) was planning for one of our other members (Darcy). It was a fun night but Darcy didn't end up arriving until about 40 minutes after she was expected which just meant that we all gathered in the foyer of the home it was hosted in several times in anxious anticipation. She was very surprised and happy.

Quote of the night came during the taxi ride home and was said by Rebekah (not this one) in all seriousness: "Elton John is gay?" It doesn't even need a story it is so good!

I had a lazy day on Saturday and aside from doing (or pretending to do) some studying I went to Soriana, which is the Mexican version of Wal-Mart more or less, and got some groceries.

By Sunday morning I was having quite the pity party and feeling rather lonely but it ended up being a great day! Susie, from Montreal, and I went to el centro and had a long, leisurly lunch and got to know each other a bit. Then we just walked around the different plazas observing people. El centro on Sundays is wonderful, full of people just sitting enjoying each other's company or watching the others around them, listening to live music, or dancing. There is no rushing, no clock watching but only people taking a moment to enjoy being alive. That evening Susie and I attempted to watch the meteor shower outside the dorms. After an hour we had seen one meteor, two shirtless guys through open windows on the lower levels of the residence hall, and gotten several mosquito bites. We decided to call it a night.

My big praise from this weekend was finding people that are somewhat of kindred spirits, not craving the drunken party scene. One of my greatest struggles here has been feeling completely out of place in this youth culture (and I don't know that it is specific to Mexican youth). Sometimes I think that I was just born older than my counterparts. And in some warped form of logic, a part of me felt that in coming here to Mexico the lonliness that follows me around would finally be justified, and through justification would seem less. But it isn't less; it's just different. But each time it seems that it is going to swollow me up, God sends a new friend or two or three and the lonliness is gone. Huge praises! :-)

the first week

So I am all set in my sweet digs here at the Tec de Monterrey. I am so happy to be here and I am not even sure why since what I'm doing isn't anything terribly fabulous or exciting. Below is a video to give you a tour of my room here in the dorms con los hombres (with the boys).

I thought I would try to give a brief idea of what I've done since I got here a week ago, though as I discovered as I was talking with my mom earlier this evening, I think I am getting my days a bit mixed up.

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2007

My parents and I finally arrive in Queretaro after about 24 hours of travel. It was an arduous journey. We started in Sacramento and from there went to Los Angeles, Monterrey, México City, and finally Querétaro. Each flight was delayed between 20 minutes and 2 hours but with our long layovers that wasn't much of a problem. While the México City airport was probably the most confounding, the LAX international terminal was absolute insanity...even at midnight!

We were picked up at the airport and stopped at the Tec only long enough to drop off all my gear and pack up an overnight bag for me. Then we were taken to Casa Cayala where my parents were staying while here. For any future visitors, I highly recommend this hotel. It is very nice, costs about $100 US dollars per night, and is only a short walk from my campus. All other hotels are in el centro which is about a 10-15 minute cab ride from the Tec.

SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2007

On Sunday we focused on getting my dorm room all set up, which my parents did with great efficiency. Once we unpacked we headed off to Wal-Mart (for all my liberal friends, I'm sorry--it was the only place recommended by those we spoke to here and since we didn't know the town, we went with it) to get a few essentials. As you can tell by the video, that included a lot of water!

We then decided to take a stroll around the campus and explore. It is a beautiful campus and very high tech. Each table on campus has a portal to be able to plug your computer in and get online. Most of what I need to access is very centrally located as well, unlike Stan State where I have to schlep my books from one end of campus to the other.

MONDAY, JULY 31, 2007

Monday was the last day my parents were in town as their flight back home left Queretaro at a terrible hour (6:20am...sorry guys). Since I was all settled in my dorm at the Tec we decided to go to el centro and walk around and find some yummy food. Downtown Queretaro is quite stunning and has several amazing plazas. I didn't take any photos out this day, but here are some photos from when I visited in May with Hector and Larry.

Once done in el centro we headed back to Casa Cayala and had some dessert. Later that night they walked me back to my dorm for my first night there and to say a very sad goodbye.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2007
Tuesday was the first day of orientation for all of the international students in the Programas Internacionales (PI). We were introduced to the staff, some students, our lawyer in charge of our immigration paperwork, and the campus. I must say that after that first day of orientation (all done in Spanish) I felt extremely far behind and discouraged with my language skills, especially when most of the other students were having full conversations in Spanish and many of them already knowing 2 or 3 other languages!

The other international students have come from all over the world and from places I wasn't expecting. The countries I can recall off the top of my brain at the moment are: Japan, France, Germany, Austrailia, England, Ireland, Spain, Chile, Belgium, Canada, and Ecuador. I am having a fantasatic time getting to know them before we start classes next week!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2007
On Wednesday morning the students that work with the PI program took us on a tour of the campus and played a few silly games with us. The one in the picture involved a large cucumber and dish soap.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2007
I didn't have any scheduled events on Thursday so I just hung out either on campus or in my room. I did, however, have two very minor successes that day. First success: I went to the bookstore and asked for help in finding the books for my classes. I successfully understood the woman when she told me that my professors would tell me on the first day of class which books I would need. This was apparently communicated during the orientation but I didn't pick up on it that day. Second success: I ventured off campus on my own to pick up the photos that we had taken the day before for our immigration papers. Yes, I know they aren't fabulous but I am trying to find value in the small things so I don't get too discouraged at my inability to communicate yet.

That night I went to a house party with many of the other international students at the home of Marcos, a local Tec student. It was a fairly fun night, but not really my type of scene. The music was too loud to talk very easily with anyone. At about midnight they ran out of drinks (I remained sober) and headed off to a club. I decided to head back to the residence hall and Charles, a very wonderful Austrailian, accompanied me back in the cab so I wasn't alone. I ended up being very happy he came since our driver got a little lost taking us back and Charles was able to direct him. His righteous indignation at the driver charging 15 pesos extra for the "service" of putting my wheelchair together was a little endearing too. But I figured that the driver probably needs that money more than I did, so I handed it over.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2007
Friday ended up being a tad confusing. We were told that there was to be a feria de servicios all day during which we could sign up for extra curricular activities and get our ID cards. They said to arrive early because things fill up quickly. Many arrived by 9am so we could be the first in line only to find out when we tried to enter that it didn't actually start until 1pm. For me this wasn't much of a tragedy since I live on campus and hadn't stayed out as late as the others, but some that lived farther away were trapped on campus with not much to do for about 4 hours.

Once la feria started, we headed over and were herded into the basement of the Salón de Congresos and tried to figure out the madness. I came out with only one class that worked with my schedule. It is called Batik, which I had never heard of, but apparently involves wax and dying material. We'll see how it goes. I was hoping to be able to do some sort of painting, but this should be fun.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2007
Today I was lazy and slept until after 11am and was shortly thereafter visited by a friend wanting to use my computer. Later in the afternoon, a few of us went out to lunch in el centro and I had a yummy something that I can't remember what it is called anymore! But if you come, we can go there and get it. In the photo from left to right are Susie from Canada by way of France, Rachel from Missouri, and Molly from California.

Well, that's about it! I just had my "bed check" for the evening so I can get in my jammies now. I think Pablo, my RA, was a little embarrassed to come in my room last night and find me in my PJs. Actually, I didn't realize he was knocking on my door so he came in. Perhaps that is why Fernando came tonight. :-) This curfew thing will be very interesting.

If you made it this far, congratulations! I'm sorry to have been so long-winded!