YES!!! I have my ticket and I am headed to SF to see my brother and his new fiance Masha (John's first time in CA since 2008) and Masha's first time and my first time seeing them in more than a year.
I am taking a week off work- much needed after eight weeks of evaluation of each area of the organization, eight weeks of meetings and eight evaluation documents, and SWOTs. I am totally tired. I have learned so much in the last two months and have really enjoyed Mexico but it's time for fall and sunny CA and I will be leaving mosquitoes, waking up early, and spanish behind for a week.
We have a party planned for John and Masha on Sunday the 2nd and many days in the city and hanging out planned.
Pictures to come!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
DON'T FORGET YOUR EDUCATION and Tequila!
This last week was heavy for me- I had a lot of meeting with the educators and was in the street playing in the recreation/education area from 6-8 half the week. One thing I was reminded of when Elizabeth, my friend from my masters program at Brandeis reminded me of is not to forget my education and get caught up in what is happening and change who I am based on the situation I am in. Lesson number one to always remind myself, and now onto the fun weekend we had when she visited me from Mexico City which is about a seven hour bus ride away.
Friday we went to the water park with 60 kids from CODENI and spent the entire day there from 11-6 swimming (though a lot don't know how to), gonig on the tobagons, racing in the water and playing games. We were super pooped afterwards but still went out for dinner on Chapultepec at a great restaurant called La Nacional.
Then Saturday slept in a little bit and headed to the nearby market for Chilaquiles, beans, and eggs with tortilla for breakfast. I showed her plaza liberacion where we play with our kids at CODENI as a part of out activities and we walked around the center. It is much smaller and more manageable than DF (Mexico City) so I think it was a nice break for her. Then we headed to a district just outside GDL called Zapopan and walked around the market and center and headed home in time for our Bday celebration (her bday was the 18th and mine the 20th). Friends and coworkers came and my roommate Polo and his GF- dedinitely a good time with my good friend called Bohemia (beer!).
Sunday we work up early and Elizabeth Susy and I went to the town of TEQUILA!! How can I live in Mexico and not go to this amazing town. We were there all day and ate, drank and enjoyed ourselves. Pictures speak for themselves!
Friday we went to the water park with 60 kids from CODENI and spent the entire day there from 11-6 swimming (though a lot don't know how to), gonig on the tobagons, racing in the water and playing games. We were super pooped afterwards but still went out for dinner on Chapultepec at a great restaurant called La Nacional.
Then Saturday slept in a little bit and headed to the nearby market for Chilaquiles, beans, and eggs with tortilla for breakfast. I showed her plaza liberacion where we play with our kids at CODENI as a part of out activities and we walked around the center. It is much smaller and more manageable than DF (Mexico City) so I think it was a nice break for her. Then we headed to a district just outside GDL called Zapopan and walked around the market and center and headed home in time for our Bday celebration (her bday was the 18th and mine the 20th). Friends and coworkers came and my roommate Polo and his GF- dedinitely a good time with my good friend called Bohemia (beer!).
Sunday we work up early and Elizabeth Susy and I went to the town of TEQUILA!! How can I live in Mexico and not go to this amazing town. We were there all day and ate, drank and enjoyed ourselves. Pictures speak for themselves!
Bday Celebration!
Last Tuesday was a great 24th celebration of my Bday. Honestly, it sounds weird, but I feel older. I remember when my brother turned all these ages (three years ahead of me) and thinking gosh he is sooo old. But it is funny though that in the last 6 years I have lived in 6 different places. Last year I celebrated with a red party in Boston (thanks to my amazing best friend Kristina who planned it), the year before that I was in Palo Alto celebrating with the fam and close friends, my senior year I had a 21st party at my house and before that in Spain. Now being in Mexico for my 24th- I already have such great people surrounding me that it was just as amazing. I went out to Italian food with about 15 friends and workers and significant others of coworkers then this Saturday had a party at my house where my friend Elizabeth, who is in my program in Boston and living and working in Mexico City, came and celebrated with me.
I feel so happy to have such a good network here and people to celebrate with!!
I feel so happy to have such a good network here and people to celebrate with!!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Celebrating Mexico
Mexico celebrated 201 years on the 16th of September and I celebrated along with her. They call it the "Grito" here. There was a huge festival in the center of town but I ended up going to a house party of the best friend of my good friend Susy. We brought Tequila and celebrated well! Though the celebration really started at work on Thursday when the social worker, Mario, organized a ceviche lunch with clams and muscles- we cooked half the day.
On Friday, I stayed over for a staycation at Susy's house along with three of her five brtohers who live with her and her parents and Carlos, who is my age and a veterinarian, made pancakes (aka hotcakes) and eggs and fruit. It is nice to see some liberal gentleman in my generation who cook. Then, Susy's two other brothers Ramon and Ismael (26 and 21) and she and I ended up going to Jocotepe where lake Chapala is just outside GDL. We went for some really good burritas and drinks called Vampiro- its quite the process.
Then we ended up going to the University of Guadalajara Leones Negros soccer game. The real team of GDL is Las Chivas but soccer of all levels is appreciated here.
On Saturday, Susy and I wanted to go to the beach, but with each of us without a car, we decided to take the busy to Teuchtitlan which is an hour outside the city to hike up to an archeological site with a beautiful view of the town and a lake. Then we had amazing shrimp and fish (which I do eat being a vegetarian but I don't like the fact I have to see its eyes and spine) and of course some leones, the cheap beer here.
After making com quesadillas, Carlos came home from work on Sat. (people generally work here on Saturdays) and he brought home a little white puppy- given its my birthday soon I was hoping, but knew it wasn't for me as we are not that close yet. Every so often her brings home a dog the clinic cannot accomodate for the weekend so that was exciting playing with a two months old little mexican puppy. Temping to get one of my own....We watch a crucial Mexican movie called Infierno about the violence and drug wars going on in the north of the country- exaggerated, but Susy swears it true. I have my own opinions about what is happening but I am also continually learning.
Then Sunday, we went to Colomos to ride horses. Its a park inside the city and Ismael, his GF and Susy and I went. She wanted to get on my horse since she knows I know how to ride but she ended up having a lazy skinny horse anyways so had nothing to worry about. I got to trot and cantor a little bit which was fun. But when I go to the beach in mexico I want to really ride horses....
Then we went shopping in Zapopan, a district outside GDL and had a nieve de gafarra or something which was amazing ice cream and did a little shopping for shoes and whatnot.
SUCH A FUN WEEKEND. I feel like an expert with buses and now know so many more foods and places after three days of traveling around. Love it! Here are pics to prove it all:
On Friday, I stayed over for a staycation at Susy's house along with three of her five brtohers who live with her and her parents and Carlos, who is my age and a veterinarian, made pancakes (aka hotcakes) and eggs and fruit. It is nice to see some liberal gentleman in my generation who cook. Then, Susy's two other brothers Ramon and Ismael (26 and 21) and she and I ended up going to Jocotepe where lake Chapala is just outside GDL. We went for some really good burritas and drinks called Vampiro- its quite the process.
Then we ended up going to the University of Guadalajara Leones Negros soccer game. The real team of GDL is Las Chivas but soccer of all levels is appreciated here.
On Saturday, Susy and I wanted to go to the beach, but with each of us without a car, we decided to take the busy to Teuchtitlan which is an hour outside the city to hike up to an archeological site with a beautiful view of the town and a lake. Then we had amazing shrimp and fish (which I do eat being a vegetarian but I don't like the fact I have to see its eyes and spine) and of course some leones, the cheap beer here.
After making com quesadillas, Carlos came home from work on Sat. (people generally work here on Saturdays) and he brought home a little white puppy- given its my birthday soon I was hoping, but knew it wasn't for me as we are not that close yet. Every so often her brings home a dog the clinic cannot accomodate for the weekend so that was exciting playing with a two months old little mexican puppy. Temping to get one of my own....We watch a crucial Mexican movie called Infierno about the violence and drug wars going on in the north of the country- exaggerated, but Susy swears it true. I have my own opinions about what is happening but I am also continually learning.
Then Sunday, we went to Colomos to ride horses. Its a park inside the city and Ismael, his GF and Susy and I went. She wanted to get on my horse since she knows I know how to ride but she ended up having a lazy skinny horse anyways so had nothing to worry about. I got to trot and cantor a little bit which was fun. But when I go to the beach in mexico I want to really ride horses....
Then we went shopping in Zapopan, a district outside GDL and had a nieve de gafarra or something which was amazing ice cream and did a little shopping for shoes and whatnot.
SUCH A FUN WEEKEND. I feel like an expert with buses and now know so many more foods and places after three days of traveling around. Love it! Here are pics to prove it all:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)