segundo semestre

ON MY TIME AT HOME
I know it has been a while since I have written anything. My roommate, Bridgid, and I still do not have the internet at our apartment, so my time online has been limited. We are still doing battle with Telmex (which pretty much has a monopoly on such services around here and whose owner recently became the richest man in the world) about getting the internet installed, which we ordered almost 4 weeks ago. It is getting very frustrating, but we are determined to have success this week…even if we have to bring our lawyer into it. Anyhow, enough about that.

First a few thoughts on my amazing vacation before going into my time back here in Querétaro. I was blessed with being able to spend five weeks at home without the worry of a job, school, or any such things over December and the first part of January. At first I thought I might try to find a job volunteering at a Spanish-language radio station or someplace, but I enjoyed indulging in time with my family and friends too much. Thank you to all that made those five weeks so incredible and reviving for this second semester in Mexico.

On being an auntie
I had the opportunity to see my little niece, Reagan, almost every single day that I was home. She is such an absolute doll, and I know that I am quite biased, but aren’t we all? For those of you know that know me well, you know that while I like babies, I never seem to connect well with them. That trend continued for a bit with Reagan too, but I think after a couple weeks a couple things happened: 1) she started to recognize me, and 2) I started to loosen up. I think that there is a special thing that happens when you know you are related (at least for me) to someone that you don’t even know yet. It is almost as if I felt a certain entitlement to a relationship and with that came a level of comfort I hadn’t yet experienced. Being an auntie is incredible, so I can’t even imagine what it may be like to be a mother.

ON COMING BACK TO QUERÉTARO
After these five glorious weeks back home, it was very hard to leave. I wasn’t at all excited to come back until I was actually in my apartment finally. In July, when I first came, it was easier to leave home because of the excitement of the unknown, but harder to stay in Querétaro because of that very same reason. In January, it was harder to leave home because I knew how hard it was to be away from family and friends, but easier to come back to Querétaro because I knew what the challenges were and that I had already overcome them for one semester and could do it again. Now that I am here, naturally I miss home, but I am so happy to be back here in my second hometown in Mexico.

I think it has been about four weeks or so that I have been back and it has already been great. The journey back to Querétaro was long, but I was proud that I did it all on my own. It was my first time traveling solo in Mexico.

On Spanish and my classes
One interesting thing upon returning to Mexico was that Spanish, at least in the beginning, seemed so much clearer. Suddenly I could understand what was being said to me (not perfectly, but better). It was magical. It was as if I needed the five week break to soak it all in, let the frustration melt away, and come back a much more relaxed version of myself.

Unfortunately, this only lasted about a week. Then it was back the mental block of realizing just how much farther I have yet to go.

Over the holidays I had studied some of the upcoming themes that I would be studying in my next grammar class (which would be Intermediate 1) in the hopes that I would be able to skip a level of Spanish upon my return. While still in California I was still psyched about advancing, but in my first few days of classes the fear set in that I may not be able to do it. I had an appointment for Tuesday afternoon to take a placement exam and see if my skill level was up to par. I also needed to have a conversation with one of the professors and academic counselors here. In the meantime, I asked the advice of my professor from last semester. He was supportive, but seemed a bit hesitant to tell me to go for it.

I took the exam and it placed me in Advanced 1, which would be skipping two levels…but I was clearly not going to do that. But it did give me a little boost. I spoke with Vanessa, and she too was encouraging but told me to think about pretty much everything I had already been agonizing over for 2 days. The next day I spoke with my professor at the time and she told me, “Go for it.” That’s all I needed to hear. I made it to the last day of Intermediate 2 of the first week and so far so good. I am still rather intimidated in the class, but each day it gets better.

My other classes consist of a Spanish communication skills class, Spanish composition, and an intro to literature class in Spanish. I like them all, except I am at the same time intimidated and bored in my literature class. I’m hoping that at least my boredom will pass once we are done studying poetry.

PRIMER VIAJE
Last weekend we had an extra day because Monday was a holiday (I’m not sure what it was all about, but I had a free day so I was happy). We decided to take advantage of the time and take a trip to the state of Michoacan. Our group consisted of Bridgid, the two Darcys, and I. We rented a car and headed out Friday night. Our goal was to make it to a butterfly sanctuary in the southern part of the state.

Each year in October and November, millions upon millions of monarch butterflies fly down from Canada and the US and stop in Michoacan for the winter. There are several sanctuaries dedicated to protecting them until they leave for their journey back north in March.

We left around 10:30 at night because Bridgid’s guide book said it would take about 10 hours to drive there and we knew we would get lost. And indeed we got lost in every city that we went through. However, we still got there in less than 6 hours. We didn’t think it would be a problem finding a hotel once we go there, but we were wrong. Angangueo is a small town that thrives off the tourism from the butterflies. Everyone was asleep so after searching for a while, we decided to find a place to park and just sleep in the car. Fortunately we had brought blankets and pillows. We “slept” for about 3 hours and woke up in a chilly car with fogged-up windows.

After trying a couple of places that were either booked or inaccessible, we found a small little hotel with a charming owner. She loved to talk to us, check in on us, and when we didn’t have power in the morning and asked her for a candle, she came in a told us a little parable about a father that asked his two sons to fill a room with only 10 centavos. The first son said it was impossible and gave up, but the second son thought for a while and then went and bought some candles and placed them up high in the room so as to fill it completely with light. She was a total diva who wore a fur hat and had a picture of herself when younger hanging up in the room we rented. If only we had gotten a picture of her!

We encountered a few guys to guide us to the sanctuary later that morning. It was about a half hour bumpy drive up into the mountains, in which Bridgid and Darcy had to ride in the back of the truck. Before going up to the butterflies we had something to eat and I had the best quesadillas I had ever had, made with crunchy blue tortillas and Oaxaca cheese (I believe).

Then we were on our way. It quickly became clear that I wouldn’t be able to take my wheelchair in, so a couple of the girls had someone bring a horse down for me. A few people helped me on and we started up the first hill. I was terrified and felt very unsteady. The man guiding me stopped and waited for the girls. While we waited he told me that it was going to get worse and that it is very dangerous to go down the hills on a horse. Therefore, the girls brought my chair to me because I couldn’t even make it down that hill. I was so thankful to get off that horse, but very disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to see the butterflies.

The girls went on ahead without me and came back in about an hour and a half I think. In the meantime I sat in a small field and watched some children chase the butterflies that were there, spoke with a man that had worked there for decades, watched as quite a few butterflies came to drink from the little nearby stream, and practically fell asleep sitting up.

Initially the girls were going to downplay how amazing the butterflies were, but eventually told me that it was one of the most incredible things they had ever seen. They hiked quite a way and finally came to a small grove of about 4 or 5 trees where all the butterflies resided. They were piled on the trees, weighing down the branches with their masses, and when the sun hit them, they fluttered about until a cloud covered the sun again. They said that it looked like the grove was golden.

We had a relaxed night on the town after resting and cleaning up in the hotel and were on the road again by about 9am the next morning. We headed for the northern part of the state to a place called Los Azufres, a beautiful area with hundreds of natural hot springs sprinkled throughout. We found a sweet little place to stay that reminded us of the camp from Dirty Dancing, with little buildings for lodging, a restaurant on site, and a small farm. On our way there we had found a place with a mud pit, a natural hot pool, and natural steam rooms. Thus, we all changed into our bathing suits and headed out again. The girls went and rubbed mud all over them while I watched and then went to soak in the hot pool…again while I watched. It all smelled of sulfur. Then one of the Darcys and I went and tried out the ladies steam room. We tried it at first for about 2 minutes and then went in for probably another 7 or 8 minutes. It was quite an interesting feeling being in this dark, naturally hot cave and then emerging into a nice cool cave, only separated by a tarp. It was rather refreshing.

After we had had our fill of the sulfur amenities we went to a nearby lake, which we determined we weren’t permitted to swim in, and soaked in the built-in pools right next to the lake. Afterward we cleaned up and found what appeared to be a brand new restaurant where I had some very yummy fish, served with head, fins, and all.

That was pretty much our trip. We had a restful morning before heading home and made it back by early afternoon to Querétaro. For more pictures, go here.

Anyhow, I think this has been long enough! I love and miss you all and hope you are all well!