One year in Mexico

This day last year I arrived in Puebla from Vancouver Canada. So I thought I would list some of my favorite things.

1. Listening to all the different jingles and calls of venders up and down the streets.
2. Waking to a jingle and the call "El Gas!" (natural gas isn't piped to all homes).
3. Hearing the trash truck coming so you remember to take it out.
4. Hearing people profusely compliment things
5. Not being allowed to turn down seconds in order not to offend the cook.
6. Being asked, as I accept seconds, if I like what I am eating.
7. Knowing that if #6 occurs #4 is expected.
8. Eating authentic Mexican food everyday. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
9. Tacos, cemitas, gorditas, conchas, tortes, and other foods (see 13)
10. Finding dishes stored in the ovens, because no one bakes.
11. Eating a variety of wienies and sandwich meats, because they are loved here.
12. Meeting people in the main plaza just to sit and chat for hours.
13. Seeing every other person of all ages eating ice-cream cones in public places. (main plaza, malls, parades, shopping centers.
14. Buying Balloons from vendors in the main plaza.
15. Seeing about 3 different couples all with the balloon that says, "Our love is unique"
16. Listening to all the sappy love songs on the radio or people playing in the plaza, restaurant, or buses.
17. Watching the clowns and others in the main plaza or at main intersection.
18. Guarding my coke from random bees who want to drink it.
19. Knowing I will never get a sun burn because all of my Mexican friends keep me out of the sun.
20. Walking on crowded, but shaded side of the sidewalk, when no one is walking on the sunny side of the street.
21. Watching people wash sidewalks and patios with a broom and soapy water.
22. Being among people who aren't afraid to walk or take public transportation.
23. Talking about how crazy the buses drive and comparing routes with Mexicans to know which have the craziest drivers.
24. Noticing children's shoes hung for good luck in vehicles including buses.
25. Being able to identify different buses because there are no two remotely alike.
26. Not being allowed to return home by bus or taxi if the Mexican I visit has a car.
27. Seeing an abundance of VW Bugs
28. Seeing horses pull plows, cement ditches, and other older farming techniques.
29. Jogging on the 3K track at the park a couple of blocks from my house.
30. Carrying an umbrella in rainy season because you know it will begin raining at 5pm.

Passing the day with mi amiga.

Pasé el día con una buena amiga (a la derecha). Nos conocimos en el zócalo por su hermana (quien también es una buena amiga). La conocí como mi tutora, pero luego luego empezamos a ser amigas.

I spent the day with a good friend. Her sister (who is also a good friend of mine) introduced us at this spot in the main city plaza. She was my tutor but very quickly became my friend.

Porque nos conocimos en el zócalo, pasamos un rato allá. A veces la ciudad tiene tipos diferente de arte en el zócalo. Hoy, hubo tazas grandes.

Because we met there, we decided to spend some time in the plaza. It isn't uncommon for the city to display different forms of art in there. Today there were large coffee cups.

No es del tema, pero me encanta que se venden globos así en el zócalo. En EU se venden en las tiendas. Que aburrido ¿no?

So I got slightly distracted by the balloons. I was once explaining to a Mexican friend that I loved that they sell balloons like this, at which point I was asked where I buy balloons in the states. :)

El cubo ocupo la misma cantidad de espacio que hay en la taza.

The cube takes up the same amount of space that is in the mug.

La taza para pedir un deseo.

The mug to make a wish. It has different wish suggestions on it.

Hay un espacio blanco por tu deseo.

Then there is a blank spot for your wish.

De lejos, perece que hayan hoyos.

This is a visual effects mug. From far away it looks like it has holes in it.

Mi favorita!!!

Luego, teníamos ganas para tomar algo y fuimos a Chido One, una cafetería en el centro que me encanta. Fuimos a este lugar el día que nos conocimos también.

So after looking at so many mugs we decided to go to a nearby cafe that I love a lot named Chido One. It is a hip little place with amazing iced chai. Oddly we also went here the day we met.

Estudiando con las mujeres/ Studying with the girls

This is part of the group I spent my Tuesday mornings with.

Estas son parte del grupo con quien yo pasaba las mañanas de los martes.

With this group I slowly learned how to pray out loud in another language. Let's just say the Spirit was working double for me at this time (Rom 8:26).

Con este grupo aprendí lentemente como orar en voz alta en otro idioma. Durante este tiempo el Espíritu Santo tenía mucho trabajo (Rom 8.26).

Also, I would get to sing in Spanish.

También, contaba en español.

No matter what language it takes place in, this will always be a beautiful sight to me.

De cualquier idioma se ocurre, esta vista va a ser hermosa para mi.

And that's how we became friends.

Y así empezamos a ser amigas.

This group also quilts and do crafts together.

También las mujeres colchan y hacen muchas cosas bonitas juntos.

Mi Familia Mexicana

For the first four months in Puebla, I lived with a family selected by my language school. Here they are treating me to a birthday meal.

Por mis primeros meses de vivir en Puebla, vivía con una familia del instituto de español. Me llevaron a una cena para celebrar mi cumpleaños.Every morning the mom would make me breakfast and in the afternoons I would sometimes sit with the girls at the table as we did our homework. They would help me with my Spanish homework and I would help them with their English homework.

Cada mañana la mamá nos preparaba algo y desayunábamos juntos. A veces, en las tardes, me sentaba con las chavas para hacer nuestras tareas. Me ayudaban con mi tarea de español y les ayudaba con su tarea de ingles.

Sundays were the best. We would each go to our separate churches and then return to eat with the family. This might seem somewhat normal to most Americans, but with the Mexican culture it became an event. The meal itself generally lasted three to four hours and included appetizers, starters, the main course, and then something sweet with coffee or tea. My head would spin as everyone spoke quickly and there were never less than three conversations taking place at the same time, but this is how all families are, and it made me feel at home. Honestly I didn't understand anything on Sundays until about the fifth or sixth month of language. Now I can follow the majority of what is going on and participate in the conversations. The picture below shows why I was sometimes confused about what was being said.

Los domingos eran los mejores. Íbamos a las iglesias diferentes y regresábamos para comer juntos. Para comer con la familia los domingos no es tan diferente que la cultura estadounidense, pero una comida en la cultura mexicana siempre es un evento. Dura por horas y hay muchísima comida. Me costaba trabajo para entender porque todos hablaban bien rapidísimo y había tres o más conversaciones en el mismo tiempo, pero así son todas las familias y me sentía como estaba en casa. Verdaderamente no entendí nada de las conversaciones de domingos hasta el quinto o sexto mes aquí. Ahora, puedo entender la mayoría y participar. En esta foto, es obvio porque me costaba tanto trabajo para entender la conversación.

Here are the ladies of the family minus one. This past Sunday was my last time to eat with the family before I leave for Chile.

Estas son las damas de la familia excepto por una. El domingo pasado fue mi última vez para comer con mi familia antes de salir a Chile.
Even after I didn't live with them, they continued to invite me over and include me in different events. Here we are Christmas Eve playing games at three in the morning.

Cuando no vivía con la familia, todavía continuaban invitándome y incluyéndome en eventos importantes. Aquí estamos jugando después de cenar la noche buena.




So as you can see, it was a great opportunity and experience to get to know this family. They play a huge part in my experience here in Mexico and are part of why I love it here so much.

Así tenía una buena familia mexicana y fue una buena oportunidad y experiencia para conocerla. Ellos son un gran razón que me gusta México tanto.