Viva VACATION! Part Two

Here are two more pictures from the Independence celebration. From left to right we have Stephen, Rebecca, Melanie and myself. They are all teachers at the school and they make me laugh really hard. The picture on the right was taken after all the celebrations were over and we were able to catch up with these handsome men. What I think is hilarious is that the guy in the red tie was REALLY excited to take this picture but he looks completely distraught.
















These pictures were taken after we got back to the hotel. Rebecca does this thing called Poi, that she learned in Thailand. It is basically two ropes with fire on the end that you swing around and do tricks with. I only tried without flames...but it looked really cool when she and Stephen did it.

Viva VACATION! Part One

This past Thursday was Mexico's Inpdependence Day so I am in the middle of a 4 day weekend. After school on Wednesday, 3 of my friends and I raced home, packed the car and drove to Parras, Coahuila, a town about 3 hours west of Monterrey. We stopped once on the side of the highway to consult the map, and we had to make sure these goats didn't wander too close to the car. Notice we are in the middle of NOWHERE.



Once we got to Parras, we checked into our hotel suite...3 beds and a sitting area for about $100 USD per night. We then headed to the town square for the "Grito" or the Yell. On the night before Independence Day, September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo stood outside and claimed freedom in all of Mexico, thus starting their war for independence. To commemorate it, people in town centers all over Mexico have a ceremonial grito on the eve on Independence Day. In Parras, someone stood on this balcony:
It then goes something like this:
Man important enough to yell the grito: Viva Mexico
People. VIVA!
Man: Viva el dia de la independencia
People: VIVA!
Man: Viva Miguel Hidalgo
People: VIVA!
Man: Viva Mexico!
People: VIVA!
Man: Viva Mexico!!
People: VIVA!!
Man: VIVA MEXICOOOO!!!!
People: VIVA!!
It was a little longer than that, but you get the idea. There were probably a few thousand people out there, a lot considering the town only has about 45,000 people.
After the grito they started shooting fireworks, only they were shooting them just on the other side of the intersection from us, the huge crowd of people, and they were going straight over our heads. I took this picture with my camera pointing straight up to the sky.What does that mean? You guessed it...cardboard and ash downpour. Remnants of fireworks sent everyone diving for shelter. We got hit a few times by sizzling chunks of cardboard. Here is a big piece that landed right at my feet.
Don't worry...I actually took a TON of pictures. More to come!

FUTBOL!

I finally found something blog-worthy. Last night I went to the Mexico/Colombia soccer game. I couldn't get the top tier of the stadium in the picture, but we were standing even higher than you can see. We actually had to stand the whole time because we had general admission tickets and there were no more seats. It was just as intense as a football game, maybe even more so. The Mexico National Team doesn't always play in Monterrey so it was a big deal that they were there. We left in the 66th minute and the score was 0-0. We left because it was late and we were tired (remember this). I crawled in my bed at midnight to turn around and get up at 6:20. This morning I found out that Mexico scored in the 88th minute and won the game (which lasts for 90 min.). I found this information out from my 5 students that went to the game and stayed THE WHOLE TIME. Nine year olds. This means that after fighting crowds and traffic, they probably got home around 1 and then had to be at school at 7:30. Crazy. Anyway, pictures:

This is during halftime. From left to right, the blow up things are an airplane, a credit card, a loaf of bread, a corona, a powerade, a coke can, more bread, more coke and more corona. They were blown up for about ten minutes, which I thought was a complete waste that someone was getting paid to blow those things up and tear them down again.
These are the friends I went with. And yes, I'm completely self-conscious of my sweat stains so don't hate. Everyone else had them too you just can't see it. Anyway, I'm on the far left (hopefully you didn't need that explained. If you did, don't read my blog). Next is Alex, my American neighbor that has graciously helped me get used to living here. Then we have Rosalyn, one of my coworkers from Michigan. She has become a fast friend and I'm glad to have her around! We ride home from school together every day which has resulted in many small adventures in errand-running. Beside her on the end is her boyfriend Miguel, from Guanajuato. He played soccer in college and was the die-hard fan of the group.

Things worth mentioning

1. Blogging is hard. I don't know how people do it. I have taken almost no pictures since I've been here and every time I sit down to write, I feel like everything I have is not interesting
2. I absolutely love being here. Being forced to speak Spanish on a daily basis has been priceless. Also, a Spanish teacher teaches my kids for almost 2 hours a day so I just get to sit and listen to her.
3. School started yesterday. The kids are beautiful and really bright. They call me "Miss" and "Teacher" but it comes out sounding like "Mees" and "Teechair" because of their awesome accents. I already love them.
4. I'm convinced that the phrase "Rules were meant to be broken" was invented by drivers in Mexico. Stop signs are suggestions. Lane markings are optional...and sometimes whether or not a lane exists is optional too. My left turn signal is broken...but I hardly ever notice it because turn signals may as well be decorative lights for all they're worth here. It is definitely big city driving...if we were friendly drivers like they are in the South, no one would ever get anywhere because we'd be letting people in front of us all the time. So...I cut in front of people on a daily basis. It is survival.
5. Mexican police like to drive around with their lights flashing. You know they're pulling you over when they turn on the siren...and even then...the first thing I was told to do was keep driving anyway.
6. The speedbumps here are mountainous. I drove a Dodge Neon in high school and it was so low that I had to go over most speedbumps at a slight angle and I thought it was completely ghettofabulous. I'm now going over speedbumps at an angle in a Toyota Camry that is not even close to being classified as a low rider. I have to pray about each speedbump..."Lord, please don't let me look back and see my muffler. Amen."
7. My friend and I decided we were going to watch all 6 Rocky movies...the pack of them was on sale at the grocery store for the equiv. of about $14. We're halfway through the third one and I'm completely hooked. They are so much more involved than I ever thought. I was expecting all boxing all the time and was not committed to watching all of them until after I saw the first one.
8. While I am enjoying myself, I do miss things and people familiar. Sweet Kristen Ashton married Kyle this past weekend and I was not there to witness it, which makes me sad. I do know, however, that they are an awesome couple and I'm so excited that they are now husband and wife. Shout out to the new Mr. and Mrs. Scarbro...come visit me.

Here are some pictures from the end of my road trip. Meredith and I stopped off at LSU where they actually have a real tiger that lives outside the stadium in its own glassed-in area. This is LSU's stadium, and the next picture is me punching their mascot statue in the face. The next time you go to see the statue of Big Mike at LSU, he'll have a dent in his face thanks to me.
I also went to Austin (by myself after I dropped Merry at the airport) which was tons of fun, so fun that I forgot to take any pictures, except for one of the Longhorns stadium.
The next few pictures are the view from my roof. Sadly, we found out yesterday that it is supposed to be a private patio for the guy that lives at the top so we're not really allowed up there. However, there are other patios to choose from so all is not lost, that one just has the best view. Enjoy!

Its growing on me...

I think I'm gonna like it here. I've gathered my bearings a little bit. I can now drive to the school, some friends' houses (other new teachers), the grocery store, and Wal-Mart. The grocery store is a Texas chain called H.E.B. and you name it, they most likely have it. I feel completely spoiled because I'm not going without anything. I have all of my familiar groceries, a place to run, a Starbucks I can walk to, and people to hang out with. I'm feeling settled into my apt. and its almost clean which means I can almost take pictures of it.

I have to say my first weekend was fairly busy. My next door neighbor (who is American) invited me to go with him to a birthday party. His friend's nephew was turning 9 and they were having a bbq about 45 minutes outside the city. We went and spent the entire afternoon with at least 25 family members at this bbq. It was a little overwhelming to be talking in Spanish the whole time, but it was good practice. I mostly just sat and listened but nobody seemed to mind that I was quiet. I enjoyed watching their family interact too. I'm hoping to see them all again one day.

Okay, off to bed. I'll tell you all about the driving soon. I'm developing some bad habits.

iEstoy aqui!

Before I launch into things...here are a few things you should know:
1. My caller id doesn't work down here. If you call and I don't answer, leave a message so I'll know who it is. Speaking of which, I had 2 missed calls yesterday and one sweet text that I have no clue who it was from. Claim them!
2. Texts are more expensive to send so, resist the use of those fingers and just call or email or skype instead :) (Don't worry, whoever sent that text yesterday is off the hook. I won't charge you...yet)

After 1800 miles of driving, I am finally in Monterrey. On Friday morning we got up and drove across the border. The school had brought enough people where one person rode in each car so a sweet teacher named Dani rode with me. She grew up west of Monterrey but has lived there for at least 10 years. She told me lots about the city and preset my radio stations for me (I was a lot more excited about that than I thought I'd be).

We arrived around 2 and sat at the school and had lunch until a little after 3. Then I drove to my apartment which I love. Its still a work in progress but hopefully I'll have some pictures soon. Its a one room apartment and it has everything I need and even some things I don't (i.e. a coffeepot. I still don't know how to use those things). There is a pool that I haven't gotten to take advantage of yet, but I will. My absolute favorite thing about the apartment is the view from the roof. There are lots of seating areas up there and they all have some of the most breath-taking views I've ever seen. This is one of them. It is called "Cerro de la Silla" or in English they call it "The Saddle" I didn't take this picture but this is similar to what I can see from the roof. Looking another way I can see Chipinque, another mountain that I'm hoping to go visit soon. I found this picture online too. I live much closer than wherever this picture was taken, but it gives you the idea.

There are tons of great restaurants within walking distance, also a grocery store, a Starbucks (and other coffee shops), and a large park that runs down the middle of the major avenue a few blocks up. It is always full of runners, so hopefully I'll be one of them soon.
Also, here's a tidbit a lot of people have told me...San Pedro Garza Garcia (where I live) is the richest county in Latin America...thus the Ferrari dealership and Louis Vuitton store down the street. There is also an Apple Store somewhere, so I've heard.

I'm going to church today and don't plan on understanding much, but I'm excited to go. My head is full and processing a lot, but I'm having fun at the same time. I drove to school by myself yesterday and didn't get stuck in a wrong lane...I did a victory dance in my car when I got there. Driving is going to be a constant adventure.

Sorry this is so all over the place! To be honest, this is very similar to all of my thought processes as of late...a huge jumble. I'll have to elaborate on some of this stuff later.