I am currently experiencing deja vu, but 100 times better!
Since being back in Guanajuato, things have been pretty similar to how they were last semester at this time:
I have run from office to office trying to figure out how to register for classes
I have hiked to the Bufa
I have a roommate from Argentina
I eat meals with the family
I go to cafes, and plazas, and museums
What makes this semester even better, however, is that I actually understand what's going on! It's so interesting to experience the same process and do the same things, but with the understanding that whatever conversations I have or instructions I receive, I can handle it. It puts a whole new perspective on living in Guanajuato. I'm so proud of how far my language skills have come (although, don't worry, I still make an idiot out of myself quite frequently, I'm sure), and I know that I'll be able to enjoy myself even more this semester because I can be more outgoing instead of worried about myself all the time.
Classes start tomorrow...bring it on Spanish syntax!!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Coming Home
I am back in Guanajuato!
It's been very interesting for me to see how comfortable I've become in Mexico, and specifically Guanajuato; so much so that I now refer to it as "home" without even thinking.
When I was in Belize and Guatemala it was great to see different countries and experience new cultures. But, it was also somewhat exhausting because we had to adjust to everything and figure out what, for those that lived there, was normal and ordinary. It struck me how much work it really was when Shannon and I entered Mexico again in Chiapas. Road signs became familiar, brands and advertisements were things that I was more used to, and I began to hear "no manches" again!! There was definitely a feeling of being back in my comfort zone (who would have thought six months ago that Mexico and the Spanish language would be part of my comfort zone?)!
This morning, we got back to Guanajuato and there was an even stronger feeling of "home-ness." I was walking around downtown and ran into two people I knew who stopped to ask me about vacations, and then, when I was up at school looking at class schedules, I had lots of conversations with classmates and old professors. The feeling of being in a place where you belong and have a life and friends, and you're not merely a tourist, is one of the best in the world.
This does not signify, by any means, that I am done exploring the world. (I think my next two destinations are going to be Alaska and Argentina.) It is, however, nice to be settled back in Guanajuato for one more semester!
It's been very interesting for me to see how comfortable I've become in Mexico, and specifically Guanajuato; so much so that I now refer to it as "home" without even thinking.
When I was in Belize and Guatemala it was great to see different countries and experience new cultures. But, it was also somewhat exhausting because we had to adjust to everything and figure out what, for those that lived there, was normal and ordinary. It struck me how much work it really was when Shannon and I entered Mexico again in Chiapas. Road signs became familiar, brands and advertisements were things that I was more used to, and I began to hear "no manches" again!! There was definitely a feeling of being back in my comfort zone (who would have thought six months ago that Mexico and the Spanish language would be part of my comfort zone?)!
This morning, we got back to Guanajuato and there was an even stronger feeling of "home-ness." I was walking around downtown and ran into two people I knew who stopped to ask me about vacations, and then, when I was up at school looking at class schedules, I had lots of conversations with classmates and old professors. The feeling of being in a place where you belong and have a life and friends, and you're not merely a tourist, is one of the best in the world.
This does not signify, by any means, that I am done exploring the world. (I think my next two destinations are going to be Alaska and Argentina.) It is, however, nice to be settled back in Guanajuato for one more semester!
Friday, January 15, 2010
I can now add two more countries to the list of places I've been: Belize and Guatemala.
It's amazing how neighboring countries can be so entirely different (and sometimes so alike).
Traveling is NOT conducive to blogging, and there is just way too much that's happened...I wouldn't even know where to start.
Classes start relatively soon so I'll be back in Guanajuato in the next couple of days. I'm going to be kind of glad to be back in a place where I have all my stuff in my closet instead of my backpack, and I know for sure that I have a hot shower everyday. But, on the other hand, I'm going to miss traveling around, and seeing so many things, and meeting so many people.
(Evidently I still like lists as well...some things never change!! Hahaha.)
It's amazing how neighboring countries can be so entirely different (and sometimes so alike).
Traveling is NOT conducive to blogging, and there is just way too much that's happened...I wouldn't even know where to start.
Classes start relatively soon so I'll be back in Guanajuato in the next couple of days. I'm going to be kind of glad to be back in a place where I have all my stuff in my closet instead of my backpack, and I know for sure that I have a hot shower everyday. But, on the other hand, I'm going to miss traveling around, and seeing so many things, and meeting so many people.
(Evidently I still like lists as well...some things never change!! Hahaha.)
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
It is January 1st and I have a tan lines from both my bikini and my Chacos. Awesome.
On another note, I'm really excited for 2010. I know that everybody is kind of obligated to say that every time we enter a new year, but for real I'm excited. Why? Because 2010 should have looked something like this: begin student teaching in the next couple of days, graduate college, find a job in North Carolina, and begin my ¨real life¨as a teacher. Instead, I will spend six and half more months in Mexico, a country and people and language that I have fallen in love with, I will go back to UNCG to be a student for another year, and I'm sure the year will be filled with laughing, teaching, and learning. It's nice how things don't always turn out as planned...life is more interesting that way.
On another note, I'm really excited for 2010. I know that everybody is kind of obligated to say that every time we enter a new year, but for real I'm excited. Why? Because 2010 should have looked something like this: begin student teaching in the next couple of days, graduate college, find a job in North Carolina, and begin my ¨real life¨as a teacher. Instead, I will spend six and half more months in Mexico, a country and people and language that I have fallen in love with, I will go back to UNCG to be a student for another year, and I'm sure the year will be filled with laughing, teaching, and learning. It's nice how things don't always turn out as planned...life is more interesting that way.
Monday, December 28, 2009
An Adventure I Didn't Really Want to Have
So, the coolest thing about traveling is having adventures. Already I've met so many interesting people, seen so many different aspects of Mexican culture and scenery, learned tons of new Spanish words, and, of course, made an idiot out of myself a couple of times...(what else is new)
I have, however, had one adventure that wasn't so much fun: getting robbed. I think this is the first time I've ever been robbed. It happened on the bus from Palenque to Mérida. We traveled 8 hours overnight, and, of course, I slept the whole way. I had put my purse in my bookbag, but, at some point, one of the other passengers must have taken it without me hearing everything. I lost my wallet with every single identification I have, my cell phones, my toothbrush and toothpaste, AND my camera. I think I'm most upset about the loss of my camera because there were some AWESOME pictures.
Actually, I was surprisingly calm when I found out that it was gone. I left a description of my bag with the bus company and the number of one of my friends. I do, however, still have my passport, visa, and bank cards...so things could have been worse.
This is not something that could have happened in whatever situation in whatever country. It's just bad luck that it's all more complicated because I'm in Mexico and traveling. I do, however, have some great family and friends who are helping me with everything from sending me new stuff to letting me send texts to the US from their phones...not cheap. And I do hope that the thief at least spent something worthwhile with the money in my wallet and that he has some good laughs looking through my photos (because I would if I still had my camera).
This means that I'll have fewer photos of this trip than I hoped, which in turn means that you'll have to invite me out for coffee or lunch or something when I get back so I can relate all the rest of my adventures to you in person!!
I have, however, had one adventure that wasn't so much fun: getting robbed. I think this is the first time I've ever been robbed. It happened on the bus from Palenque to Mérida. We traveled 8 hours overnight, and, of course, I slept the whole way. I had put my purse in my bookbag, but, at some point, one of the other passengers must have taken it without me hearing everything. I lost my wallet with every single identification I have, my cell phones, my toothbrush and toothpaste, AND my camera. I think I'm most upset about the loss of my camera because there were some AWESOME pictures.
Actually, I was surprisingly calm when I found out that it was gone. I left a description of my bag with the bus company and the number of one of my friends. I do, however, still have my passport, visa, and bank cards...so things could have been worse.
This is not something that could have happened in whatever situation in whatever country. It's just bad luck that it's all more complicated because I'm in Mexico and traveling. I do, however, have some great family and friends who are helping me with everything from sending me new stuff to letting me send texts to the US from their phones...not cheap. And I do hope that the thief at least spent something worthwhile with the money in my wallet and that he has some good laughs looking through my photos (because I would if I still had my camera).
This means that I'll have fewer photos of this trip than I hoped, which in turn means that you'll have to invite me out for coffee or lunch or something when I get back so I can relate all the rest of my adventures to you in person!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Just a quick update about my Christmas eve:
Lisa, Laura, and I were on a two day tour in the south of Chiapas, near the Guatemalan border, to visit two archeological sites of Mayan ruins and explore the Mexican jungle. The night before Christmas eve we stayed in an indigenous community that has been partially altered to include campgrounds. Yesterday, the 24th, we hiked over 5 hours in the jungle with an indigenous guide who showed us all the different native plants and how they're used for medicine, construction, etc. In the middle of this hike we spent a while swimming in a river (in the jungle in December!!) which was amazing...much better than any man-made pool. After all the excitement, I took a nap in a hut full of hammocks.
Hiking, swimming, hammocks...I'm pretty sure life doesn't get much better :)
Lisa, Laura, and I were on a two day tour in the south of Chiapas, near the Guatemalan border, to visit two archeological sites of Mayan ruins and explore the Mexican jungle. The night before Christmas eve we stayed in an indigenous community that has been partially altered to include campgrounds. Yesterday, the 24th, we hiked over 5 hours in the jungle with an indigenous guide who showed us all the different native plants and how they're used for medicine, construction, etc. In the middle of this hike we spent a while swimming in a river (in the jungle in December!!) which was amazing...much better than any man-made pool. After all the excitement, I took a nap in a hut full of hammocks.
Hiking, swimming, hammocks...I'm pretty sure life doesn't get much better :)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Highlights from Puebla, Veracruz, and Villahermosa
Puebla:
-walking around the beautiful downtown area
-moving all of our stuff from one hostel to one right across the street
-trying tons of typical food of the area including cemitas, una pasita, y tacos árabes
-eating TWO crickets (this is absolutely for real...pictures to come)
-seeing tiles on every single building
-visitng the university where I would have studied had I not gone to Guanajuato
-getting to spend time with some great people :)
Veracruz:
-spending the first night there looking for Lisa's contact lens...which we never found
-hanging out with Pablo and his family
-not traveling in a single bus or taxi while in Veracruz (thanks Pablo)
-swimming in the beach for about 2 seconds before getting yelled at by the lifeguards
Villahermosa:
We arrived in Villahermosa at 6 in the morning when nothing was open, so we sat in Starbucks. We walked around the city for a little while and then left at 3pm. So, not much to report for those 9 hours...
Now, we are in Palenque Chiapas which is by far my favorite city so far on this trip. We're in the middle of the jungle and today went to explore the Mayan ruins which are so impressive. We're staying in a little hut that's part of campground and we're going to spend tomorrow night in an indigenous village in the jungle. Needless to say, it's AWESOME. We're going to spend Christmas in Palenque as well since we like it here so much. And then, on to Mérida...
Merry Christmas!!
-walking around the beautiful downtown area
-moving all of our stuff from one hostel to one right across the street
-trying tons of typical food of the area including cemitas, una pasita, y tacos árabes
-eating TWO crickets (this is absolutely for real...pictures to come)
-seeing tiles on every single building
-visitng the university where I would have studied had I not gone to Guanajuato
-getting to spend time with some great people :)
Veracruz:
-spending the first night there looking for Lisa's contact lens...which we never found
-hanging out with Pablo and his family
-not traveling in a single bus or taxi while in Veracruz (thanks Pablo)
-swimming in the beach for about 2 seconds before getting yelled at by the lifeguards
Villahermosa:
We arrived in Villahermosa at 6 in the morning when nothing was open, so we sat in Starbucks. We walked around the city for a little while and then left at 3pm. So, not much to report for those 9 hours...
Now, we are in Palenque Chiapas which is by far my favorite city so far on this trip. We're in the middle of the jungle and today went to explore the Mayan ruins which are so impressive. We're staying in a little hut that's part of campground and we're going to spend tomorrow night in an indigenous village in the jungle. Needless to say, it's AWESOME. We're going to spend Christmas in Palenque as well since we like it here so much. And then, on to Mérida...
Merry Christmas!!
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