Hijoles! (Oh My Gosh)

So today was the start of my 5/6 grade year at Terranova....and can I just mention that 9 & 10 year olds possess more energy than I EVER thought humanly possible. Not joking. Those little guys were NUTS! :)

Seriously...at the beginning of the day, I was thinking..."I can't do this. This is NOT what I signed up for. I can't manage this." And then by the end of the day, I was thinking of how I was going to tie them up and beat them...and then by the early evening, I was thinking of disciplinary strategies (notice the healthy progression of thought unfolding here)....and now, I'm writing a letter to the parents to be checked over and signed...and tomorrow, we're getting straight down to business. No more Miss Nice K....hehe. :)

No, really, though. It was extremely chaotic...and I find several reasons that are the culprits:

1. I had NO IDEA what they had done...or what we were going to do because I had no materials or notes from last week in my absence.
2. I had NO IDEA as to the schedule of classes or what happens during electives/recess/etc....now I have a clear copy.
3. There is a freaking small country of children in front of my eyes every morning...30 of them....at VARYING levels...and we're not talking like...some can conjugate verbs and some can't...no, no, no...lemme give you a detailed description:

Tory-speaks three languages....decently proficient in English
Devin & Andrew- both from Houston (of all places)....do'nt speak a lick of Spanish...but have mastered the TAKS test in their respective schools
Siria, Janet, Kari, Katihuscka, Victor, Carlos- CRINGE in fear when I look at them and say something in English becasue they DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH (not even a little bit most of the time)
Chantel, Valeria, Joshua, Roberto, Memo- they get it most of the time becasue they've spent some time in the States (or have possibly lived there for a short period of time)

And the rest...you get it. Some are done in a split second with every activity...and are sitting there yacking away in Spanish...or in the case of Andrew, who gets it, are just spaced out....ADHD....in outer space...somewhere close to Venus...along with Alex, who doesn't understand...but even if he did, he'd still be on a rocketship headed somewhere directly away from the four walls of our lovely little English world.

Not to mention...they're LITTLE KIDS....little kids with LOTS OF ENERGY...lots of NOT wanting to be in the classroom, but instead OUTSIDE....or on a horse, or playing soccer, or watching tv. And it's not like there's space in the room to accommodate ANYTHING other than sitting confined to their noisy little desks...becasue there are nine million of them...all with BACKPACKS...HUGE backpacks...with 3000 notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, markers....for EVERY CLASS. Then there's the infamous boys who throw stuff at eachother....of course...what else is new? Ruben, Alex, and Victor had to stand facing the wall today...and let me tell you how I broke the "no-Spanish" rule and went off in my best "I am your grandmother who is about to beat you with a spoon" voice to explain the directions of facing the wall to them....they got it...did they continue throwing paper airplanes? Yes....

Then there's the trip to the flag ceremony...that was hilarious. We sure did have to practice walking in a straight line with our hands over our mouths a few times before we could actually walk away from the premises. That was great....UNTIL they turned the corner...and RAN to the playground....my steadily yelling after them in Spanish....then we line up for what I later found out was the posting of the Mexican flag and the singing of the national anthem. That was funny...my kids had NO interest....so they're half sitting, half standing...half squatting...hitting eachother on the back....making funny noises. Yeah...those are Miss K's.....wonderful.

Later...after lunch....we're supposed to switch...6th for me....5th for Luis, my counterpart...turns out Luis never came...I had NO IDEA where he was....so I winged it...taught Spanish...that was FUNny. But we made it through. My poor only-English speaking boys....didn't have a clue...but they managed to produce a word or two in Spanish...mission accomplished, no?

Anyways....so all I have to say is that I'm seriously gonna need some more caffeine...and maybe some multi-vitamins (a teacher actually suggested that to me today!)....and perhaps a weapon...or four....:)

No, really...now I know...now I know about art class at 1whatever...and that they TAKE their backpacks to the library WITH everything that they need for the period...and that there are certain disciplinary procedures...and that my kids asked ALL WEEK for me to come...and wrote me letters....one even said that it makes him sad that I'm not here for the first week...and happy that I'm here for the second week. :)

So in the midst of emotion, excitement, no plan on my part....and a few other random factors...it was a hectic day. But tomorrow will be better. There is a plan in place...and there is a letter to the parents about our classroom...and about what's happening....and how things will run. And tomorrow there will be strict discipline (or so I say)....and a rigid schedule...and I think they'll get it. I'll get it. It'll be good. I'm really excited about a fun year...just have to get used to all that is new and different...and hearing faculty meetings in Spanish, as well as directions...and where I'm supposed to be and at what time...and the disciplinary history of every one of my rambunctious delights...yeah. I'll get it down. It'll blossom soon. Until then....hijoles!

Keepin' It Real...

This morning was really tough. I was really weak...and feeling really alone....I wrote the following entry on the bus from Guadalajara to Ajijic....which, in reality, turned out to be my going to the complete wrong city...because I was under the impression that we went to Ajijic and stayed in Ajijic...when in fact, no, that is not what happens when you buy an Ajijic ticket...you have to ask to be let off in the "downtown" area....so needless to say, after we'd passed Ajijic....and I finally started to realize that maybe I should check on the amount of time remaining in the trip, I discovered that I was headed in the wrong direction...and had to hike half the country to find a bank to get enough money to buy a NEW bus ticket...and turn around and go back to where I had already come from. The tears flowed freely on the second bus...and I struggled to keep it together...just the thought of all of the change....all of everything...it was a little much for me this morning. The following is that account:

I need this bus to keep drivng and never stop...or for it to turn around instantly and return me to 2428 Isla del Coco. I don't know if I can do this.

My cheeks closely mirror the hillsides dripping left over rain drops....my tear drops spill more freely now, though, than the remnants of precipitation.

I can't even put into intelligible words what's happening inside of my trembling body. It's something like fear...maybe it's terror. It's something like yeah....that. That's exactly what it is.

The best explanation that I have racing in my mind (I think I am now-familiar with the way a szyscophrenic feels....torn in millions of directions and pieces, but none make any sense at all) is that I need to stand in my daddy's closet. I just need to go there...and smell the leather smell that lets me know that it's okay. It lets me know that my heart is safe. It gives me great stability because it is what identifies who I am. My dad-my hero....he was my first boyfriend....he was my superhero...he was my protector...he was the one that fought off the bad guys to make it okay. I need to go there. I need to rest there...if I could just curl up on the floor...not a sound....nothing but the smell...nothing but the safety...nothing but the security. That's what I feel like....as best I can describe with words.

This morning was the last time I rode 214...

Camine....camine...llore. Todo lo es familiar para mi....ya no es. Ya se cambio...otra vez. Como quiero saber y conocer a algo que no se cambia. Hace un poco desede he sentido segura. Pense que era esta cosa u otra...pero luego, se cambio. Y otra vez.....veo lo mismo.

Dance. Cuando el cielo esta oscuro y tira la lluvia....llore....y luego cuando sientes el gozo...baile. Vente....y vivir. Me voy...camino....pero a donde? Algunas veces siento como que yo se quien soy....en los aspectos relativos (en muchas otra no....porque siempre aprendemos quien somos)...pero bueno....como que lo que quiero...como mi trabajo....como mis deseos....como todo eso.....estoy viviendo mis suenos....y luego....algunas otras veces, estoy perdida. No se nada. Siento tan sola....Tengo bastante miedo....siento como que no soy bastante....que me falta mucho.

Mariposa...llego el tiempo a volar....pero como? En donde? Aqui? Alla? Estoy siguiendo el camino correcto? Deje.....que deje?

I find comfort in the sounds of piano from my IPOD. In the circles I've been running, I've covered many miles. I could search forever for what's right before my eyes. Just when I thought I'd found it...it was nothing like I'd planned. When I got my heart around it, it slipped right through my hands. I close my eyes...and see it. In a midnight talk. In a morning kiss. When I'm in your arms that's where it is. That's where it is....When I'm crashing through the madess...not sure who I'm supposed to be....when I'm caught up in the darkness....it's your hand that's leading me. You bring me back to solid ground. You lift me up right here...right now. This song touches my deepest part. I need some arms...I need someone to hold me. My weakness....my neediness overwhelms me at this moment.

Rain....Mosquitos...and New Drivers

So yesterday I taught at 4, after finishing up with my own classes...then waited around to observe my classmate and give him some "constructive" feedback....then had made plans to go out with a friend. He's moving...so we had planned for me to just tag along while he arranged his paperwork and so forth. Great. So we're walking out the door....when I notice that like 4 other teachers are RUNNING outside...so Omar says: "Ah....I can't. I just can't." And I said, "What? You can't what?" He continued, "Leave. I have to stay." "Why? For what?" "They're short a teacher for this conversation class...and I can't bail." "Oh...ok. Well let's go..." So we pair up and teach the class...and finally get to leave around 930. It's too late for him to possibly get anything accomplished...so we decided to just go downtown and hang out...we sat on the bench and talked for a long time....and then agreed to part ways since the rain was beginning...and my buses were few and far between with the growing night....I boarded my bus around 1015...and prepared for the ride home. As we approached my street...I began laughing hysterically on the inside...because not only was the rain beginning downtown...it was GUSHING from the sky at uncontrollable speeds as we neared my drop off.

Not even joking...the streets were mini-floods all around me...and as the rivers washed the bus from side to side...the smoke from the cool water hitting the hot tailpipes fogged up our windows on the outside. Here I am: wearing a plaid pair of dress pants, with a lace-embroidered long-sleeved shirt and blue cami underneath. I've still got on my brown heels (thank goodness I went for the sandal version yesterday)...with my SpongeBob tote (he's been through much with me now!) full of folders, lesson plans, my wallet, the spare deoderant that saved me last round, my entire portfolio, my left-over lunch containers, and my gigantic army-hydrating sized water bottle. It was a lovely sight, I'm sure.

I put my hair in a ponytail....switched my IPOD to off...and deboarded....in an instant, I was consumed by the water that was literally up past my knees. Deciding that a rolled-up version of my pant legs might work better, I reached down to hike them up....something like a khaki over-sized bathing suit extravaganza in the middle of La Cruz del Sur...I can assure you that Houston and Guadalajara share their non-existent water-resistance/drainage capabilities....

What the heck...just make a run for it. I did....it's night....dark...and there are cars all over the place...thankfully the red light was my ally...and I crossed before too much time passed. I crossed both sides of this major highway...and dashed (as much as humanly possible in my now half-up/half-down pant leg concoction...and my eighty pound satchel at my side....the rain packed the bulge for poor SpongeBob. I walk down three streets to get to my own house...and by the time I finally arrived, my underwear (or bikini pants as our course instruction manual labels them...) were the only dry inches of my person..

"It's OK..." I told my family. I just had two baths today. They chuckled and assisted me upstairs to dry off.

I laughed the entire way thinking to myself how much I love getting caught in the rain...it's truly one of my favorite things in life...a simple pleasure that I secretly have a passion for. I didn't even try to run at the end of the journey...just clomped in my sandal-heels and gazed down at my bright pink toenails under the three feet of water that swallowed them up.

Then today...turned in the paper that was due....finished my lesson plan. Taught my class....and prepared tomorrow's items....we have our course final in the morning...so I have plans to study in about ten minutes....after this.

Anyways...so I catch my bus...and as I'm getting off....there is a new driver approaching. The car was JOLTING to and fro...and that's not a sufficient word. It was literally like going and then JERKING to a stop...the poor man in the front seat next to the teen (I'm sure it was his father)...had his head down. I think he was probably popping pills or something...not sure what...just know that the look on his hidden face was one of sincere regret...today was NOT the day for driving lessons...so told his shoulder-posture.

And on and on and on he continued driving down our major highway....stopping...and going....and halting....and onward...and woah!....and then a little more....ay...keep on.....oh no....stop....something like that. On and on.

Poor dad. Poor kid...today might be the last day he's ever allowed to fire up the engine of the beat up old black Chevy....with smoke spilling out over all of Mexico....if the clutch doesn't go, I'm pretty sure dad's had quite enough....

Ay...and HELLO MOSQUITOS....they are NOT my favorite creatures, yet they savor my gringa blood...I don't get it. Theyre awful. I think it's the rain...but I'm pretty sure the story stops here because there are about 237 of them around my body at this very moment....so good night to all. I'm off to study minus the mosquitos!

Lazy Days...

Some days you just really have this burning passion to write and convey thoughts....others, not so much. I've been in the "others" category lately. But today, there is a slight itch....so I'll oblige.

We're winding down with our TEFL course....I've got two more observed classes to teach...one unobserved. And then we'll take our final exam this week...and have a few extra days of class....and get our certificates! Yeah! This week was crazy. On Friday, for example, I was in class at 8....and then didn't leave from work (IMAC) until almost 9. What a day. But what a great experience. How I love teaching the students and learning so much. It's awesome.

Other than that...I've been doing a little traveling...with my family here. They're so much fun. They are seriously hilarious. :) My "sisters" Mayela and Mete....they are so funny....they're always cracking jokes and laughing. Yesterday, in the back of the van, with Raul (the older gentleman that I live with) driving...we were cracking up....it's like driving with your grandmother in New York City (no offense, Granny...I have full confidence that you are a superb driver in NYC....Raul has some years on you, though). We came to a halting stop every four seconds becasue there was a car eighty feet (here it's meters....man! is that hard to get used to....meters and kilos instead of feet and pounds....good thing I'm not signing up to be a math teacher.) in front of us. And then at one point, we were stretched out across like four lanes of traffic....people all over the place yelling at us and honking the horn...with my family consistently yelling back and using hilarious Spanish profanity combinations. I was dying....it was so funny. Then Mete was demonstrating her multi-lingual skills. hehe....so if you can only imagine us "speaking" Italian...with lots of made up words mixed in with words like Pizza and Spaghetti (with her cute Mexican accent)....or French....or English. Yeah...itw as hilarious. It feels so great to have such a stable and fun family to be in the midst of. It's so cool to watch them relate to one another....and see how much they love each other. It's phenomenal. And I've somehow been adopted into the mix of it. I can't explain with words what that feels like...to be in the middle of my life completing changing...but somehow having such an amazing group of surroundings. Yeah....as much as I'm looking forward to starting at Terranova, I'm sad to leave Guadalajara and all that I have here.

Today's just sort of laid back...nothing going on. I was thinking of heading downtown later today. I'm really wanting to see some Mariachi action. I have to see if my friend can go with me. I'm not keen on venturing out solo yet....but maybe. We'll see. Other than that, I'm gonna head to the park that's about 10 feet from my house....read a little....put away my laundry. That's definitely one of the most amazing aspects of Mexican living....not many people here have a dryer....so all of the clothing is hung out on the roof to dry...and you can only imagine how savory it smells afterwards....the freshness of the sun....it's awesome. I love it. I always love taking mine down and wafting it in the direction of my nose before cramming it in the drawer.

Yeah....so that's the story. I'm hearing about this hurricane. I think I'll look up some news on that before I go down from the roof. Thanks for the heads-up. I don't ever watch tv...so I never know what's happening. I'm gonna have to start. :) Have a happy Sunday.

Pics....2

Alright...these guys....of the house I live in. There's one of my room...and the terrace. There's one of my friend Omar with his nephew. His name's Christian, but we call him Pollo (chicken)...he's the cutest thing in the world! Ummmm...what else did I put here...things in Guadalajara! :)

Finally...a picture show!

This is a classroom in IMAC...the language academy where we are teaching. All of the classes are this small or smaller...with nothing but desks, a white board, and walls.



The above is a picture of the lakeside in Chapala (it's where I'll be moving in two weeks). I'll be teaching in a school in Ajijic...about 10 minutes down the road from here.



This is a picture of a street...all of the houses are built either up on the hilltop like this...or down on the other side...and flatter.



This is the little restaurant that we eat in everyday for lunch. We pay $2 for our choice of meat, rice, beans, soup, and drink. There's even soup if you want it....the people are awesome! We've all become friends. The guys in the picture are Fernando and Brett. They're my classmates. Fernando is from MExico and Brett's from Arkansas.



This is the school in Guadalajara where I am currently teaching....it's my practice teaching part of the course. The students are from all levels...and we teach one hour per day.

24...

So I was thinking...I wish my life were a story like the ever-popular (and missed in my heart) 24....or a hilarious version of the movie "The Truman Show." Because, really, these last 24 hours could truly make a hit tv show or movie series in two seconds flat. Here goes:

Okay....so I was told that there was an old friend of my family's who had a house in Ajijic. She invited me to come over this weekend and stay, but I tried calling her for a period of five hours and got a busy message every time. I tried calling her cell phone numerous times, but could not discover the dialing code (I still don't have a clue how to dial a cell in the states). Anyways....so I missed my chance this weekend, but was thinking about the number I had tried and a card I had been given from a lawyer in Ajijic...the problem was not the phone line...it was the number the lady had given me. Turns out, they were backwards. I tried. Wah lah. She's there until Tuesday. Come over. Life's good.

Ok...so I tell her that I'll be leaving from GDL around 4 and get there around 5 more than likely. I discover, however, upon arrival to school, that I was mistaken with my class time. Instead, I taught an hour later. Turns out, I ended up not leaving school until nearly 6p.m. No sweat. I hailed a taxi (this having accomplished after RUNNING through the streets to the busiest street so that I could guarantee a cab). I slung my right hand in the air....successful! Okay...so I commenced conversation with the driver. I ask him to please take me to "La Central Vieja" (it's the old bus station in GDL...only neighboring pueblos receive service from there now...all of the other cities around the country receive service from La Central de Camiones). We're conversing. He drops me off. "Cuidese, mija" (take care...)...and I run to the opposite patio to purchase my "boleto" (ticket). Turns out...I'm exactly 4 minutes late....and missed the bus. Not to worry. Another one heads out in thirty minutes. I lose the high heels, drop them in my flourescent orange Sponge Bob tote (compliments of my sister)...amidst my lesson plans, manual, resume, powder, deoderant, and extra classroom materials- in total, that crazy bag has to weigh 30 pounds.

Finally, I get on my bus #124. The ride is about an hour....I tried to sleep, but kept getting knocked in the head by people passing by with their bags. So I gave up on trying. We pulled in to the bus station in Chapala...and I asked the viejo (older gentlman) next to me "Disculpa...Usted conoce a esta ciudad" (excuse me, are you familiar with this city)...."Si, he vivido aqui por toda mi vida" (yes, I've lived here all of my life). "Entonces, sabe en donde esta un restaurante se llama Salvador" (ok! then, do you know where is a restaurant called Salvador). He told me he did...and that he would take me because it was really far. Sweet. We walk down the street to his van. We talk. We get there.

He drops me off...and I stare at the six restaurants that face me. Not one says "Salvador." I approach the first suited gentleman I see...he must have been the owner or a higher-up. I asked him if the name of the restaurant was Salvador...and his return look let me know that I was sadly mistaken. He had no idea what I was talking about, but assured me he'd return with an answer. I followed him to the outskirts of the kitchen, where I watch a cook yelling at a server for taking a short order rather than selling something on the menu. Later, he comes back. "Esta en Ajijic?" (is it in Ajijic). I told him I didn't know, but that it very well could be. He told me that he thought that it was and that I should go there. The problem: Ajijic is about 10 minutes from where I was...he even told me that it would be a short run and laughed. He called a cab for me. I left....again.

The cab driver caught wind that I was interested in buying a car, so he spent his ten minutes with me very wisely trying to convince me that I need his 98 Oldsmobile. He gave me his card and told me how much. I got out at the restaurant. I was retrieved by a friend of the friend of the family. Turns out...it was so late that the whole house-looking arrangement couldn't happen because the lady that I was supposed to meet with went to a funeral. The other lady (from Texas) does not, in fact, have a house or any property in Mexico at this point. So I was given a mini-tour and then taken to Luz's house. In all this time, though....the last bus had left for Guadalajara...and I had just arrived....so I would have to stay because there was no way to reach the city until morning.

If I could tell you in words about the splendor of that house...wow. It was nothing short of magnificient. It IS what you think of when you think of high-class resort living in Mexico. It overlooks the lake and the mountains because it is on the opposing side. It has windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling...probably twenty feet at minimum. The flowers that encase it are colors like I have never seen. The pool is lit up and flanked by the matching jacuzzi...complete with outdoor bar b que tools. As well, the linens that I slept on probably cost more than my college education (scholarships or no). My breath was literally taken away as I stood gazing out over the beauty before my eyes.

We had dinner...and I commenced with talking to Luz. She's from Ajijic...has lived there her entire life. She's forty and has two precious children. Manuel was the only one home...and we became fast friends. We played several games of cards and sipped coffee together outside. All of his three years' worth of learning his numbers were displayed to me...and he even counted for me in Engish!

After being informed that my journey was virtually useless in that I wouldn't be able to meet with Yoly...nor would I be able to view any apartments that night, a warm shower was the redeeming hope. I took in every fiber of the beauty of the mansion I was enjoying....I curled up under the beautiful blankets...and tried sleeping. I was unsuccessful, partially due to the pounding rain, thunder, and lightning that accompanies us every night of the current rainy season here in Mexico. The shutters were flying open and closed with the pressure of the wind...that had before been cool and calm.

I woke up at 445 to be at the bus stop a little after 5. I was off. Luz and I talked, said goodbye, and decided that we would see eachother as soon as I returned in a couple weeks. I slept in the fetal position on the cushioned seat of the luxury traveler....and arrived to be greeting by the bustle of the working class on their way to their jobs. The bus station was full of hustle...and vendors were everywhere with their breakfast goods and coffee. I asked several people before settling on which bus to take to my house. I decided...and headed out. It was difficult to gauge my location, in that I had never ridden that particular line around the city...abetted by the lingering darkness. The city had not awoken.

I finally grasped my bearings...and sat securely in my knowledge of my surroundings (I was even a little proud of myself for my growing bus-traveling capabilities)....that was UNTIL I got on the streets closest to my neighborhood. I saw the OXXO convenience store, the key-making booth (llaves), and the small bar that gave my street away. I was, sure, though, that waiting until the next biggest intersection (Cruz del Sur) would contribute to a lesser walk....so I waited. As we neared the intersection, however, the bus driver made a sudden left....eeek! We were supposed to go right....in the direction of my house and then following to the Centro. Not so much. I sped to the front and asked the driver to please let me out. He did...but I had a 40 minute hike to my house from that point. It was hilarious. I could only imagine what I must look like...in yesterday's clothes, with yesterday's hair-do....thankfully my friend had lent me his flip flops a few days before...I slipped them on my feet...chewed a piece of gum to cover yesterday's breath....and sincerely felt thankful for the deoderant that I had remaining in the bottle in my bag. On I hiked. I took in every inch of scenery as I hustled...every once in awhile I laughed at the picture of myself in my mind. If only others knew...if only people could watch. I really did feel like I was in some crazy movie plot. I decided that the assistance of my nearly-dead IPOD might lend to my silly fantasy. So I blasted Whitney Houston's techno version of "I wanna dance with somebody"....got in some Jars of Clay...some Amos Lee....some "Purple Rain"....and a few others....

Reached Isla del Coco....ran upstairs. 7:47....I had ten minutes to get changed, re-organized, and outta the house. Thank goodness the air had been so incredibly crisp and energizing. I think I was running off of an hour of sleep. I rushed out of the door only to return for today's class materials...as I had forgotten them on my bed...but what are sixty-three extra steps....hehe. I chuckled at the humor of it all once again.

Got to my bus stop...just in time to witness a fender-bender. A truck hit a car. The lady was pissed....and I'm not exaggerating. She was so angry. The guy was just trying to get to work...not happy...but not outlandishly angry like the lady...yikes. Anyways...so I see my bus, and not really knowing what to do....I leap out into the middle of the street and flail my arm like crazy. Bus pulls over. I get to school.

The day thereafter commenced like normal. All was well. It just amazed me, as I was sitting there with the sun beaming in on my freckled cheeks....man! I love this. From being lost...to missing out on the whole purpose of my day's journey...to forgetting my daily school needs....yeah. It's still somehow perfect. It's crazy. I laughed all the way to school....and turned on Whitney's dance sensation again.....what a day. Wish you could've been there.

Jobs!

So today was one of the best days of my life in Mexico thus far. I had had an offer for a job, but couldn't accept until I was able to physically set foot on the campus to know about the situation and feel that peace....I boarded a bus this morning to take me to Chapala (it's about an hour tip on bus....only 30-40 minutes in car). I got to the station, where the English department director and her husband picked me up.

It was fantastical to walk through the streets and see this amazing little village. It's everything I want in living here. The school is phenomenal. It's under the finishing touches of construction before classes begin next Monday. I'll be teaching 5/6 grades. Instituta Terranova is its name. The school is Christian, bilingual, and private. A nice combination of traits. I'll have the younger group in hte mornings...and then they'll go to their Spanish instructor. We'll partner with both grades in this manner to teach our students in a truly bilingual atmosphere.

The joy and excitement I have can barely be contained. I'm so ready to dive into my teachers' book and just go- tomorrow. I can't, though, as I have to finish up my cert course...I'll actually miss the first week of classes becasue of this ....and for that, the English director (same woman that picked me up) is going to take my class for that week...and then I'll step in. I'm so ready...so excited. It's breathtaking...truly.

SOOOOO....I'm off....it's exciting.

The man on the bike.

Once again seated on the roof terrace. I was startled by this strange honking/beeping sort of noise....I peered over the ledge of the plastic-covered ledge to see a little old man riding a bike down the middle of the street. He was vending his wares: I would guess ice cream or juice.

Hmmm....what of note happened today. Not much. I went to school really early. Got my paper done for tomorrow. Attended classes. We laugh at our inability to process English and Spanish at the rarest moments. :) As well, I taught after school at IMAC. It went really well. I taught about using might with a caution phrase before. So something like: DON'T STAND THERE! You might get run over by the bus.

I chose to put hand-made flashcards on the floor that had pictures of potential pitfalls (a bus with people running in front, a HOT! sign with a burned hand, a baby floating face-down in a pool, a man falling down stairs, etc)....with the key caution phrases on other hand-made flashcards. They said: WATCH OUT! CAUTION! CAREFUL! DON'T! OH NO! So the idea was for the students to work with their partner on creating short dialogues with these prompts. My ever so precious Enrique formed a conversation with Mary: "Watch out! Don't run (rooooon). The (dee) bus crash hit!" It was so much fun. They had a great time making up stories about "What he might do...." I gave them pictures of random men I had retrieved from the internet. They had to give the man a name. Tell where he MIGHT go...what he MIGHT do there...what time he MIGHT leave...and when he MIGHT return.

Nestor and his partner named their man Sylvester Stalone. He was going to model. He would leave at two days. And he would return in two years. He might sing while he was there. :)

Yeah. School was good.

Afterwards, I hung out with a teacher that teaches at the same school. He's from Guadalajara...and we talked a lot about teaching and the sort. Afterwards, rode the bus home...the ever-eventful bus. I saw, for the first time, the bus driver get extremely angry....I'm not sure who the men were, but two men boarded the bus (not uniformed or anything) and demanded to see all of our tickets. I assume they are some kind of officials....anyways...they were taking their sweet time to board and the bus driver was cussing at them and pounding his fist on the steering wheel. Ah, the amazingly-exciting bus route! :)

Tomorrow, I'm actually off after 315...so I'll be meeting a Luis' (my boss from Texas) brother to hang out around the city. It should be fun since I've not gotten to really look around yet. He's a native so I'll get some good touring time. :) Off to finish my paper for Friday now, though...have a great night!

From the rooftop...

Looking out to my right is a mountain...beneath it are buildings of all colors, most distinctly: yellow, turquoise, brown, and beige. The lights in the windows of the houses and buildings create a frame for the towering structure they embellish. The brick-covered street huddles under the children running ...the cars rumbling past....but none seem to disrupt the utter peacefulness of the rooftop sanctuary. Somewhere off in the distance is a precious little park....and to the other side is the entire commercial market of Guadalajara...it's amazing to behold. I saw, specifically, this morning from the bus windows, the Soy milk production place (leche de soya)...as well, the cereal manufacturers...along with their huge bundles of grain. As well, I saw the auto location for the buses in need of repare. I was dazzled by the hustle and bustle of the workers in the early morning....moving their carts to and fro....crossing the street with their loads....avoiding the wrecklessness of the bus drivers that carried business-men and women, children, and other individuals to their places of drop-off (bajar).

I can't tell you with words how I felt on the bus this afternoon....I boarded, only to stand amongst many others who were leaving from their workplaces and summer school locations. I stood in front of a man, next to a young woman with a particularly cute baby girl, beside an elderly gentleman who played with a kindergartner in front of me. I listened as a mother scolded (reganar) her daughter...no quieres saber lo que va a pasar cuando nos bajamos...she warned (you don't want to know what's going to happen when we get off this bus!). She stuck her lip out, and took off her backpack to put away her book...obviously those had been her instructions BEFORE boarding the bus (camion). She had just begun when the bus driver pulled away from the previously red light...the girl fell backwards. My arms caught her. I rested her against my body until she finished placing the book in her pack. Her mother smiled, thanked me....and told me she'd let me know when it was time to get off, as they were traveling to the same street that I was. It was nothing....but this culture, this people, this place...it's so precious to me. Every part of it. It was a typical afternoon....but standing there, with both arms raised, holding on for dear life to the silver rail...made my day.

Yeah....made my day. I took down my laundry this evening when i arrived home. It smells fresh....just like fabric softener....hopefully next time, I'll get to hang my clothes outside in the sun to dry. Last night wasn't a good opportunity for that because of the threat of rain...but next time...the smell is enrapturing. Sort of like this little terrace. All I need is a serenata (serrenade) from a mariachi or four. :)

Movin´around....

So I´ve moved...I´m now living in this amazing house with a terrace right outside my door....it´s fantastic. The house belongs to my boyfriend´s sister´s friend´s mother in law....I just go with cousin when trying to explain it to people since it´s got such a long prefix. :) And the best part of all: living there for free. Yeah. Amazing, no?

Anyways...this blog thing is sort of sporadic in that I can´t find much time to be on the internet for pleasure. I´m here to do some research every now and again, but mostly I´m doing work related stuff, teaching, and in class. But I´ll try. :)

I went to San Luis Potosi this weekend to visit my boyfriend and his family. We went to the fair (feria) and hung out all around his hometown. I love that place. It´s so peaceful..and life with his family is non-stop hilarious. His parents are precious. They´re so kind and possess so much joy...beyond words really. The hospitality of this culture amazes me every minute.

The bus ride was fairly short (especially in comparison to the ones I took from Texas!), about 4.5 hours...and the buses were nicer than planes...for real! There were movies, huge seats with lots of leg room...a great way to travel if you´re thinking of visiting Mexico.

Other than that, it was nice to just go and relax for a few days.

As for jobs, I´ve got a few more interviews in progress. There are several schools that I´m looking at; the trouble is deciding exactly which one to choose. I´ll know more this week about which job I´m going to accept. There are lots of choices here.

Anyways...nothing great and exciting to report as of today...but there will be more news later, I´m sure. Hope your week is going well thus far.