its impossible to get on the internet... what??
Well its been a long time coming folks, but I finally managed to find a little span to time to do a quick update. Mexico and i have finally bonded and I more or less feel comfortable in my summer home. I´ve gotten a few grades in and I am doing excellently in my conversation and grammar class. No idea about my culture class because we just sorta sit there and listen to this man lecture for an hour and at teh very end of the two months we have a paper do. Riiiiiight.
Anyways, I really think my spanish is improving. People have asked me if I am from Brazil or Cuba several times. Haha. When it comes to people on teh street that I am bartering with or cab drivers, its ok to lie. They will try to charge you alot if they think you are from America or if they think you are rich. Oh well I am hip to your little game people, you will NOT get me!!! At any rate, its been ok. I want to buy some earrings and some bracelets, so I need to brace myself for a hard day of bargaining one of these weekends.
This past weekend was exciting because my group and I took a trip to Puerto Vallarta, which is kinda like Cancun only ALOT less touristy. It was so beautiful and we all needed the break from school and volunteering. We stayed at a really nice hotel that had two pools plus a jacuzzi. It was right on the beach too. We got free buffet for each meal and also unlimited drinks until 10 pm each night we were there. That was a hot mess. Anyways, the clubs were pretty cool. Friday night went to a bar called Mogambe that was really chill, followed by an overly packed club called Hilo. I feel like i lost ten pounds in sweat that night. It was ridiculous, clearly we were above the fire code. Saturday my friend Sylvia and I went into town early to do some shopping. Some three hours later we were dying of sweat so we returned to our hotel. I wanted a nap, but she want to go back out in to the sun to lay out. Go figure. Anyways, that night we went to a club called Zoo. That was actually alot of fun because it was a good mix of Mexicans and tourists and it wasn´t to crowded. I had so many shots. Bad tequila, bad bad tequila. Bad Jessie, bad bad Jessie. But I kept it calm, nothing too out of control. Ya´ll know how I can be.
This week has been very hectic, but I have enjoyed being at the hospital more this week. Everyone there thinks I am a med student from the US. Its kinda of nice actually. It gives me hope for the future. I get to do preliminary exam things like weight babies and take height and temperature and help fill out forms. I am quite busy and as always I use my spanish lot. The docters are all wonderful with the patients and really nice to me. Its just hot because there is no AC and sometimes the fan isn´t on. But what doesn´t kill you makes you stronger is what they say. Ok off to class for me... until next time!!!!
first week in a foreign country.... check
Well i´ve made it through my first week in another country. Yaaaayyyyy!!!!!!!! Why is that our theme for whenever we do any little thing with sucess here.
Anyways, this weekend was a trip. Friday a big group of us went to a club called Bali Bar. The most random part of the night were the two waiters who twirled fire and went around pouring tequila directly into girl's mouths. Why did I end up smoking two cigarettes. Ugh i´m going to get cancer of the mouth... like seriously. And the sad part is I wasn´t even drunk. I was too busy trying to keep two members of the group out of trouble. They say remain nameless to protect the not so innocent. Anyways, I met another guy named Carlos and he was cool. But did he really think I was going to let him drive me home. Hahahahahaha. Keep dreaming Carlos, keep right on dreaming.
Saturday night, myself and my two host sisters went to the mall. Sylvia, Maddie, and I then proceeded to get lost. We got on the wrong bus to go back. Why did we end up in the Mexican ghetto. It was so oh so not cute. But we remained calm. While Sylvia was talking to a local to determine exactly where we were, Maddie and I were trying to call our host mom. Then this fool rolls up outta nowhere and trys to talk to us. He was so high i´m surprised his feet were still on the group. Desperation and weed are not cute people. I learned a new word in spanish, but i cannot repeat it here. Anyways I was about to go off, but then a cab came and we got in it. Sylvia held it down though cause she cussed him out in spanish from inside the car. Go girl, get it!
Sunday was pretty chill. We slept in and when I say slept in I mean we got home the night before at 11 and didn´t wake up until after 11 on sunday. Ridiculous. We went to a little street market and i bought some sunglasses and two cds for under 100 pesos which is like 10 bucks. Pretty good. Then that afternoon we went to mass with our host mom and generally just hung around the house.
Today was the first day of class, but nothing much happened since it was just introductory. We are planning a trip to the beach so i´m excited about that. Also excited about the bday, but i shall not be doing those 21 shots. Hahahaha... i don´t know these people and they don´t know me.
Greetings to all from Guadalajara, Mexico!!!!! I finally have computer access after two long grueling days of going without. How people do it i´ll never know. Anyways the first two days were a bit rough. I was maddeningly homesick and fantasized about the program being cancelled and being sent back home. But now things are better. My host family is great. They are all really nice and are going out the way to make me feel welcome. Hilda is my host mom, Solchil is her daughter, Lucia is Solchil´s daughter, and Lala is the grandma. It is deathly hot here and its almost more than I can stand. The crazy part is that they say its the hottest its been in like 50 years or so.
Anyways, though, I had orientation at the University today. I think i´m going to really like it here. The campus is HUGE.. in fact, it might be bigger than UNC. I´m so serious. Its private too. Lots of trees and places to sit. I have three classes and then I go to my volunteer site. That all starts next week though. I´m excited. I think that boredom increased my homesickness. So with something to do and look forward too each day, I feel much more prepared to face the day. Also there are two more girls coming to live with me this week, so that´ll be nice. I hope I can keep this journal updated. Whether written or internet i´ll definately want a record to look back on.
My group and I are going out to tonight to explore the city and see what is to be found. So thats exciting. i have to figure out the bus schedule. But theres always a taxi if push comes to shove. Do you realize the rate between the US dollar and the Mexican peso is like 1 to 11? Really its just ridiculous. Anyways i´m hot and hungry so i´m peacing out!!!
