Some photos for you...

Most of these are stolen from other people.. but I was there, I swear! I'm just really bad at taking pictures.


The Churches:
The smallest volcano in North America:

(This is right next to the school where I teach Comput

Cholula, the view:


Lucha Libre:




The flags at UDLAP:

Mexican Independence Day, Mexico City:


The pyramid and Cholula ruins:



The running of the Bulls in Humantla:

(there's a bull in here)

Acapulco:

(It says "My man doesn't need turtle balls")

They got jokes...

So here are some jokes that Mexicans have told me... I kid you not.

1) There are an American, a Mexican, a Russian and a Columbian on a train.
The Columbian snorts some coke and then throws it out the window. Everyone on the train is astonished, but he says "It doesn't matter, we have a lot of it in my country."
Next, the Russian pulls out a bottle of expensive vodka and takes a swig. He then throws the rest out of the window. Again, everyone is shocked, but he says "No, it doesn't matter, we've got a lot of it in my country."
So the American throws the Mexican out the window.

2) What do you call two Mexicans playing basketball?
..... Juan on Juan.

3) Why don't Mexicans cross the border in threes?
...Because it says no trespassing.

OH MY GOSH- AN UPDATE!!!!

Mexico has been amazing thus far. I cannot tell you how much I love it here. I just want to bring you all down to me instead of coming back.
There is such a rich history and every place has its own story to tell. Cholula, the town I live in, is the oldest continually-inhabited city in Mexico. Aka: when others fled or moved cholutecas have always been here, kicking ass and making pyramids.

About the pyramids, they are ALL OVER Mexico. They’re more like bases for ancient temples than perfectly triangular tombs (like the Egyptian pyrimads) and they are BEAUTIFUL. Ours in Cholula is the world’s largest monument. It is overgrown with vegetation and the spanish built a GORGEOUS Catholic church on top so it appears to be a very steep hill. At night, only the church is lit up and it appears to be floating. You can see it from almost all parts of the city. I couldn’t find a photo to do it justice, so I’ll have to take one.

Not only that but in the background of every scene here are mountains, sloping between the clouds. Supposedly counter to that is the fact that my campus has PALM TREES and all kinds of beautiful flower gardens. It is so pretty I appreciate it all the time.

Studying abroad also lets you meet SO many different kinds of people. I have friends from France, Germany, Italy, etc. My best friends here are still American, despite trying really hard to avoid it, but I also have quite a few good friends FROM Mexico, so I am not completely failing.

I am teaching English 4.5 hours a week in a public school here and it has been an irreplaceable experience. I have learned so much and it makes me appreciate all the sacrifices my teachers have made unnoticed for me over the years. My students are amazing! They are so funny. The boys have a running joke where they point at the floor and tell me my nose fell off and I ALWAYS look. They’re too smart for me. The girls all surround me as soon as I walk in, with their arms linked in little groups of three, to ask me questions like “Tienes novio?!” (Do you have a boyfriend?!) They are so cute!

Have no doubt that there are times during class when I want to whoop their butts, but mostly I think they are wonderful. I really hope I do good by them. I am trying really hard to teach as best I can but it is SO hard without formal training and when the kids are starting from scratch! Plus I’ve got my other classes in addition.

I have thought a lot recently about how I could stay here for a year, but I just can’t. I wish that I could, but I’m definitely coming back. I don’t know how, but I will.

More soon to make up for my laziness… expect photos!
- Gillian :)

Humping Dogs and Raptor Attacks

Mexico is so ridiculously cool. … And, yes, the descriptor “ridiculous” was chosen purposefully.

On Monday, I went to see a “Lucha Libre,” which is basically the Mexican equivalent of WWE… WWF…? Whatever. It’s crazy wrestlers wearing masks and extravagantly crafted outfits. There are the “Rudos” (whose cheer is clearly “clap clap clap -- RUDOS! – clap clap clap – RUDOS!”) and, um, the other people… the good guys. I will link you to Giffin’s photos when he puts them up. It was HIGHLY entertaining. Oh, but I was really hungry and resorted to eating a street vendor torta. Since it was highly fried I seem to be fine. Note: Street vendor tortas are REALLY good. Will continue to risk health for pursuit of grease.

Some interesting happenings:
1) Was asked for directions AGAIN. Must look extremely local. Still had no idea what the guy was saying. Responded “Um… no? Lo siento?”
2) Even though I get piropo-ed every day, I never do at UDLA. So it is therefore a “happening” that I was told “I LOVE YOU!” by random boy on campus. Responded with “Well that was creepy.” He informed me that “I can’t understand of you!”
3) Saw two dogs humping on a roof yesterday… or was it this morning? Just to make that weirder, one was a poodle and one was a lab. Thoughts: a) How did they get on the roof? b) What would a poodle-lab baby look like? c) I think that’s the same poodle that tried to hump my leg the other day. Good for him.

I am walking to Uni every day now. It literally takes me 45 minutes or more to get there, but I HATE hate hate the buses here. They are very unreliable and they move before you get a chance to sit down. Soon I am going to break my nose. Because I walk, I know the town pretty well now. It’s pretty well equipped. I pass a Starbucks, Burger King, McDonalds, Papa Johns and 2 or 3 sex shops on my walk depending on which way I go. Though the last item is slightly undesirable, you’ll be happy to know that the windows are heavily tinted. Hurray for not having to look at the old skeezy customers! (Or have them look at me…)

My host family continues to be awesome. We laugh SO much in this house. Yesterday my dad tried to ask me if he stepped on my foot, but I thought he was asking me to step. So, with a plate of food in my hands, I did a little jig in which I took three exaggerated strides about the kitchen (Caroline: think raptor attack). My host sister almost peed her pants laughing at me.

The triumphs in espanol continue.

Mexico: Where even the iglesias party.

Oh my gosh I am totally IN LOVE with Mexico. It´s so quirky and fantastic!

Having said this, some of the quirks are charming and some not so much. For example, how cute is it there is a celebration every day in at least one church (but probably more) because every chuch has a saint and every day has a saint? And how wonderful is it that there are charming Catholic churches sprinkled regularly throughout the town? ...And how adorable is it that every day it seems like there´s a joint party and gunfire fight going on outside my window because the churches shoot up fireworks and play LOUD music that at times begins at 6 and lasts until 1 in the morning. My instinct is still to hit the floor every time a firework goes up.

It is also charming that there are cute little puppies in the streets and that we have a kitten named Botero (spelling unconfirmed) happily residing our house. However, when the dogs chase me and bark and the cat wakes me up at 5 in the morning by jumping on my face, it might be less than adorable.

Good thing about having a cat though: I learned the verb for purr. Ronronear. (like rrron-rrron-eAR) ... New favorite word. Sorry equipaje.

My host family is AWESOMEEEEEE. We watch movies and read and go out about town! I have 2 sisters, a stay-at-home mom and an ingenero dad! Whoo hoo!

I am served ridiculous amounts of food. Typical breakfasts include fruit, yogurt, granola, cheese and ham quesidillas, toast and jam, coffee, juice and water. Yes. Really. Imagine lunch.

I have to go now because if I print my horario I get a free t-shirt!

Will update more soon! Yay! Love you all!
- G

So I guess I have a lot to update on...



Starting with last last friday (not a few days ago, but before that)...

We had a "parade" with the camp kids... not sure why we decided that parading kids of ages 8-18 down the street to the beach while trying to remain "en FILA!" was a good idea, but c'est la vie... One of my girls (who is a big old dramatic pain in the patooty) decided that she was all of a sudden SUPER SICK from the heat and began to cry. So we evacuated her from the crazy crazy parade of screaming kids and moved her into the air conditioning. She cryed more. We told her she could go back and all of a sudden she was fine and wanted to walk. As soon as we get to the beach this girl has a MAJOR breakdown because she knows the other kids are watching and is flailing about with her head in her hands. I was like "Este es un poco de drama, Yolanda. Todo esta bien... TRANQUILO!" ... oh well, didn't work. I missed the tug of war on the beach. I was depressed.



Let's talk about PePe for a second. When you get a chance just go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Z5RGEcWz0 and listen. If you don't think that's annoying, move here. My kids run around singing "Peeepe, Peeepe, PEPE PEPE PEEPe!" all day. All day.



Good songs on the other hand include:

Aventura- All Up To You

Daddy Yankee- Que Tengo Que Hacer



I do kareoke on Mondays, so I'll keep you updated.



On Tuesday me and my kids went on a field trip to Laguna Gre Gre... which is really the ocean... But it was BEAUTIFUL. The water was BLUE. Not blue-green, not brown, not clear, BLUE. The bluest water I've ever seen. We also went in a cave and I attempted to teach some of my kids to swim... I failed. :(



Wednesday was my last day with the kids before they went to their "internships" (working at hotels, etc for two weeks). I MISS THEM during the day while they are away. I basically just help out where it's needed but I really love my kids. Which I told them upon their return in really bad spanish. Since there are way too many ways to say "I love you" in espanol, I think I said I was IN love with them. And they laughed... Oh well, it's all the same.

I have more to say, but it will have to come at a later time. I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

First Week of CAMP!!!

Yay!!!!!!!!!! This week was AWESOME. I am in LOVE with my kids! They are just so smart and sweet. Personal space bubbles are WAY smaller here and the kids are super affectionate as a result.

Every day we eat breakfast at the hotel and get to camp by 8 am, where the kids have usually been waiting since 7. We get our groups at 8:30 to take them to their first class. Classes in the adolescent camp where I work are math, english, reading/writing, futbol para la vida (aka Grassroots Soccer which is kind of like sex ed), health, and for our kids pre-internship class.

We eat lunch at 12:30 and are out at 3 every day but Tuesday and Thursday, when I help teach an ESL class for the local volunteers until 4:30. After this I usually go to a student's house.

Visiting the students is a GREAT experience. They have very little by US standards but are so happy and proud. They make sure you are well fed. Usually I buy the meat and drink and they cook up a fantastic meal. It's a system of hospitality and sharing here and it's a LOT less individualistic than in the states.

I'm going to Church with a volunteer named Pepito today. It doesn't start until 7:30, but he likes to go at 5:30 to pray. Isn't that awesome?! I'm really excited.

Weird sighting of the day: On the way out of the hotel we stopped in shock to watch a man dancing with a rooster. He was picking it up and throwing it by the wing and pulling it in figure eights around his legs. We can only assume it was somehow related to cock fighting.

That's all for now. I love you guys!!!

Que lo que?!

So I am very sorry for not updating. Computers are very hard to come by.

Basically I am busy all the time. We have orentation in the day time and go out at night. Between there it's all I can do to take a nap and eat. On Sunday hurt my knee really bad by jumping into the pool with my leg straight. How stupid of me.

On Monday we had an awful torturous scavenger hunt in the heat with my knee brace. How fun. But I did meet Manny and Stephanie which made it all better.

Tuesday I stayed out until midnight with Lindsey, who graduated from UNC this past year, just telling life stories.

Wednesday we went out to the bars for the first time.

Thursday it was "ladies night" at voy voy (bar) which suposedly meant free drinks but really just meant huge crowds.

Friday I decided to be an idiot and slice my finger open with my swiss army knife, burn my legs like crazy, hurt my knee again and cut my leg after scraping my burn down the step I slipped on. It was awesome. I was basically crying. Not to mention I am covered in mosquito bites.

I'm teaching my first class tomorrow. Since we're the internship group we're doing resume and interview skills. I have two other Americans in my group (one is a certified teacher and one barely speaks spanish) and one is a Dominican by the name of Gabriel.

Let's talk about that for a ratito (second). Gabby and I hung out on Wednesday and danced a lot and he became OBSESSED with me. He follows me like no other and asked me to be his girlfriend the day I met him. He's a super nice guy and if I did infact want a Dominican boyfriend it would be legit... however I definitely do not. So after avoiding him a ton and him not exactly getting the memo I had to "break up" with him last night. He told me "Es que estoy enamorado de ti" ("It's just that I'm in love with you"). I was like "...lo siento..." Then he asked me if I wanted to meet his parents. Lord.

In other news, I eat A TON here. I keep wondering where my money is going... yeah I'm eating it. I get gelato every day. It's SO good! I need to stop though. I'm known for being a little fatty now. Perfect.

I'm living with two girls called Yanelka and Lisalotte. They are super funny and nice, but they only speak spanish, which is EXCELLENT! I'm practicing a lot. I hung out with them all day today. I am also learning some cultural things such as the fact that they don't care about walking around naked at all (Rachel, you know how much I like that) and they leave there panties EVERYWHERE.

I will skype you if I ever figure it out.

MISS YOU ALL!!!!!!!

P.S.- The time is wrong on these and I'm not sure why... it's 2:30...

Iglesia de Jesucristo y los santos de los ultimos dias

I woke up at 7:15 this morning and did not get back until 2. Between those hours it was an adventure!

We left at 8 on a "gua gua" (the word for bus... although it was more like a van) towards the city of the church. There were an average of 20 people crammed into the little vehicle and the "cobrador" who was in charge stood in the doorway holding on for most of the ride there and back. All kinds were on the gua gua from a gentleman who played his guitar for us to a woman with a crying baby to some interesting old men with an affection for young gringas. My cheeks were asleep by the end of the 45 minute ride, but it was an experience.

Church in spanish was hard to understand. I've never stayed for the full 3 hours at the LDS church at home, so having my first full church experience here was a little confusing. The feeling of church doesn't need to be translated though and I always love it there.

Tonight we are having dinner here at the hotel and right now I am sitting next to the kitchen where the food is being prepared... yum! The tables are decorated with candles and fern leaves. It's very pretty.

I've been taking pictures, but I probably won't be able to put them up until I get to Mexico. I love you all!!! :) :) :)

Bienvenidos a la Repulica Dominicana!

First of all, this is the most beautiful place in the world.

...Second of all, it is also the hottest.

We flew in over a beautiful blue-green ocean and sandy beaches. You could make out horses on them from the plane. Everyone clapped as we touched ground and my only thought was "I'm going to love it here."

... Then I stepped into the heat.

To be continued! I'm going on a tour of the town!!! :)

... Okay aaaand I'm back.

My second realization after the intense heat was this: I am clearly meant to be Mormon. I've been going to the LDS church in Chapel Hill and now I'm living with a group of girls from BYU! It's a sign! I'm going to church (in spanish!!!) with them tomorrow and I'm super excited.

Everyone here on the program is three things: super nice, super smart, and super fun. I couldn't have asked for a better group and I can already tell we'll get close by the end of the trip. I'll probably cry.

In other news Dominican kids are SO CUTE. So if I come back with one, don't worry, I didn't make it, I stole it.

Anyway, there's not much to report on quite yet... People are still ariving so we spent the day on the beach and I got super-duper burnt on my shoulders (Don't worry mom, I used after-sun AND advil!) We met a couple of nice shirtless Dominican boys and I had some broken conversation with them as I was getting knocked over by the crazy waves. We're being super cautious thought, don't worry.

We start orientation on Monday! I'll update again then! Miss you already!

"Every day here is like the new best day of my life" -Sarah

Twelve.

Days.

I'm mostly posting to check that my blog is functional before I go. I'm getting really nervous and excited... but mostly nervous. It's still very unreal! I haven't even started packing!

Wish me luck! :)