el fin de semana pasada (numero dos)

Well... before I tell you about my fun filled weekend, I must share what happened to me on Thursday night...



This is going to come as a big surprise to many of you, but I forgot my keys in my bedroom and got locked out of the house. (Yes, I even do this in México apparently.) I had come home at 3:00 and ate comida with Rosa, then I went back to the school to write a paper. I returned home at about 6:30, and realized I didn't have my keys... and no one was home. So I hung out in the yard for two hours until Rosa's good friend and neighbor came over and asked me if I wanted to come in her house, since it was starting to get dark. So I went and hung out with her and her 11 year old daughter. It was very nice of them to spend time with me, although they were both having a really hard time understanding me... but they were troopers and were trying to keep the conversation going. After I was there for about 15 minutes, the power went out. (This happens almost every day) So I sat with my new friends for two hours, in front of one small candle and did my best to tell them, in Spanish, about my life and ask them about theirs. Rosa finally came home around 10:30 and I was able to get back in the house. Needless to say, I check multiple times before I leave now to make sure I have my keys...



Friday was a good day, I took my tests, which I did alright on... and turned in my paper, which I did NOT do alright on... but nobody did. I was told that we're not really supposed to do well... you're graded on your improvement over the time you're here, so it's expected that your first paper will have many errors (which mine sure did!) Afterschool I went and hung out at a café near my house. I got some yogurt (everyone here is crazy about the students eating enough yogurt, because it's good for your digestion, especially since we're eating all these new foods... so I'm not going to argue with that. I'm a huge fan of yogurt) and I read an article from the newspaper. This took me about and hour and a half. It was no simple task and I had to look up many of the words in the dictionary, but I did it... and I understood it too! Afterwards, I took a long walk around the neighborhood. There is this area around my house that has cobblestone sidewalks and trees so huge they all come together like a canopy and you can't really see the sky. It is so beautiful! I walked around there and found a plumeria tree (Jennae-- I figured you would be excited about this!) I didn't know that they grew here and was very excited when I first smelled, and then saw this one! (If you haven't seen a plumeria tree, you need to. They are big & beautiful with gorgeous flowers... and they smell amazing!) Afterwards, I went home, studied some spanish, read some Eat Pray Love and called it a night.



Saturday morning I got up super early and went with a group from school to Taxco, a silver mining town about an hour away. It is a beautiful town, with many small houses and shops. ALL of the buildings are white... houses, stores, gas stations... and I never did find out why, but it is very astheticly pleasing. We visited some of the churches and learned some of the city's history. I bought some artwork from a local artist and made friends with a 7 year old boy named Fernando. He hung out with us for a while (probably not so much because he enjoyed our copmpany, but more because he wanted our money... but that's understandable). He would have come back on the bus with us to Cuernavaca if we would have let him! Afterwards, on Saturday night we went to Los Arcos for quesidillas, Coronas and some Salsa dancing! (I've been practicing... )



I decided to go Back to Jardín Borda to hang out in the gardens on Sunday morning. On my way I stopped at a used book sale and bought a book called Si no te gusta el este mundo... ¡Cambialo! (If you don't like this world... Change it!) It was a catchy title. And I'm actually really enjoying the book, all though at times it is incredibly difficult to read, since I have to look up every third word... but hey, It's a start.



In México they don't recycle glass bottles... they refill them. (beer, coke, etc.) This makes me very happy. I am curious to know if we do this anywhere in the U.S. And if we don't... I am curious to know why not? Also, there is a big stone wall by my house that is old, and starting to crumble. Every day while walking too and from school, I have been watching workers slowly tear down this wall, and then use its crumbled pieces to build a brand new wall in it's place. This, too, makes me very happy.



I hope everyone is doing well! Thanks again for reading.

Happy Birthday Diane and Chrissy!

(....and... please make sure someone lets me know when Tanya has her baby... and send lots of pictures!!!)