Beware

I have no idea why I feel so angry but I feel so angry. Last night I went with Moni and Zazil to the movies to see XMEN3 and then we ate dinner at Chili's. I slept over at Moni's, ate eggs and cereal this morning, Rosy picked me up. All was going good until I tried doing something beneficial. I took the bus down to the church where I'm painting a Sunday school classroom. Tonight I have plans with some friends to go out, so I was lugging around my lunch, my speakers and iPod (for when I'm painting), my clothes for later tonight, and a litre and a half of water. As I get to the bus stop, the bus I need is just pulling away. If I ran I could have caught it but I though meh, there'll be another. Not. Fifteen minutes later another one finally comes. But whatever, still have time and I'm on my way. The seats in the bus were the ones that gross me out... they're the "luxury soft seats" that are itchy and look hard to clean. Really the plastic ones are great I don't know why they needed to upgrade. So I get to the church an hour later and what do you know, someone locked the door to the room I need to paint! Well that's just perfect.

So, back to the bus stop, where I ran out of credit on my bus card so I had to pay double (which is only equal to like $1 but still just another thing to add to the day) and what do you know! the exact same bus comes again. The one with the soft dandruffy seats! And that doesn't usually happen... I mean yah it was still on the same route, but there's more than one bus doing that route. But whatever, I mean who knows how long I'll have to wait for the next one. The bus drops me off, but it's still about a ten-minute walk to the house. Any other day I'm fine with walking but I really just wanted to pass out on the side of the road in the shade for a bit. As I'm waiting at a glorieta (let's just say I'm waiting at a red light), a car pulls up beside me and the guy driving stares from my head down to my feet slowly, and says something like "que onda, guera". It means like "what's up, blondie". These creeps are everywhere and because I live in an area with a lot of houses being built, there are a heck of a lot of construction workers. Usually I do pretty good to ignore them but today I swear I was feeling so.... ticked off, that I almost said something to him. Instead I just gave him the hardest glare I could manage.... who knows if it actually had an effect on him.

I continue walking, almost at the house. There's an older guy that I think has something to do with the construction work, but is always really nice to me. He's usually sweeping the streets when I walk by and is always like "pasale, amiga!". Today I stopped and talked with him a bit before offering him my lunch. I had packed it expecting to be at the church until I went out later tonight, but seeing as I would be returning home I didn't need it. He asked me what it was and I told him rice, mole, and fish. He said thanks anyways but he doesn't really like fish. Kind of embarassed I said I would see him later. I hope I didn't offend him... I'm assuming that if he was really hungry it wouldn't have made a difference what he didn't like.

Then I get home and tell friend who has told me since the day she met me, that I can go to church with her whenever I want. And I told her that tomorrow for the first time I think we'll be here in Leon so I can go! And she was like are you sure Dianna, I just don't want to get there and you not be at home (it happened once before). I told her no I'm positive I'll be here.... but let me ask again to make sure. I asked an apparently we're going to Guanajuato, which is great it's just I hate telling her I can go and then find out I can't. I don't know why she still considers me her friend.

El Cerro Gordo

Target spotted!

Finally the place I see everyday from below is on the same ground level as me!

I love Leon, Gto!

Sentimientos en Español?

Wow, nada más me falta un poco menos que tres meses aqui en León, Gto. Qué triste! Hoy regresé de la éltima junta con las intercambistas en Pátzcuaro, Michóacan. Todavía no puedo creerlo que al lo mejor nunca voy a volver a verlos de nuevo. Ok jajaja perdon mi español sera interestante (as per usual!). Ni modo...... ahorita me di cuenta que no te dije nada de LA RUTA MAYA. Pero un otro dia ok jaja tengo flojera!

Tengo muchos sentimientos que no puedo comprender. En un lado, estoy lista regresarme a Canadá a empezar la universidad, a ver mi familia y mis amigos, etc. Quiero ir a mi acampamiento y quiero comer cabbage rolls y nadar en la pisina. Quiero un Navidad con nieve y abrigos, y manejar en mi camioneta con la música fuerte. Tengo ganas dormir en mi cama con mi ventana abierta; extraño los chickadeedeedees (un pajarito). En comparison con mi casa, León no tiene nada de estrellas. Quiero ver el cielo en la noche- tan claro que sientes que las estrellas van a caer. Amo mi jardin. Ahora siempre me voy a apreciar el pasto, grueso y verde. Y no manches hay tanto espacio! puedo correr, jugar con mi hermanito, disfrutar una fogata con mis amigas. No mi di cuenta hasta este año, pero es chido tener un jadin grande. Un espacio con pasto, viento, y estrellas.

Sin embargo, no sabes cuanto yo amo Mexico. Me encanta las calles porque no importa que hora son, siempre vas a encontrar vide ahi. Los ninos que nunca se cansa de jugar y reír- la gente siempre amable con sonriesas de oro. No quiero decir que los canadienses son frios, pero nos muestra amor y amistad con otras maneras. Aquí la gente es muy carinosa y usan los acciones más que palabras (según yo). Allá en Canada, sería extraño saludar todos amigos tuyos con un besito. Pero a mi me gusta mucho este aspecto de la cultura, y creo que va a estara dificil acostumbrarme a la cultura norteamericana despúes que un año en México. Siento que hago algunas cosas como los Mexicanos hacen.. o sea su cultura ha tenido un efecto en mi vida, y como vivirla. Estoy feliz por eso, porque me doy cuenta que es mejor (digo, esta vida mas carinosa). Pero cuando regreso a Canadá, no quiero perder lo que yo he aprendido aqui. Quiero ser Mexicana porque tienan una corazon abierto. Creo que no soy tan abierta como una mexicana, pero tal ves mejor decir que soy diferente que era hace nueve meses.

If being a tourist means one who is consantly spinning his head in awe of his surroundings, I guess I will always be a foreigner.

Hippies and Gazpachos

Last day in Morélia, Michóacan. Verdict is it's a really beautiful city... a bit smaller than León with a Guanajuato zip. I'm trying to remember exactly all that we've done these last three and a half days. From Thursday to Saturday my friend (oringinally from Hungary, living in Morélia) came to León, and then on Saturday afternoon we came by bus to arrive where we are now.

In León it was kind of fun, because suddenly I didn't feel like such a foreigner. For the first time I was introducing my Mexican home to someone who was "new". Also we went to places that I had always meant to go, but had never been. For example we ventured into La Zona Piel. I don't know why I had never gone before..... it's super close to my first house. In fact the bus stop closest to my home was right across from this area of town. It consists of about a dozen streets filled to their rooves with leather (and it's a safe to say that half of it is shoes). Really I've never seen so many places that sell shoes before I came to Mexico. I dont know what I'll do when I get back to Tbay where everyone wears ALDO and whatever they can scrounge in PAYLESS.

Hmm what else did we do... we went to la deportiva on Saturday to do my social service, which is basketball with the Special Olympics. On Thursday (sorry I know I'm jumping) right when Korinna arrived, we went to Guanajuato for the day. We ate with my host dads family (the guacamole was really tasty), and then went with my Mexican cousin to a girls' orphanage. They're super cute and I'm hoping to stay there for the month of June to volunteer there as well as do a couple other things. We went for a drink with a couple other exchange students that live in Guanajuato and then for tacos. On Friday we did a lot of walking. This was the day we went to La Zona Piel and also to a restuarant called LOS PRESIDENTES. We ate a heck of a lot considering we weren't that hungry to begin: nachos and salsa, tuna salad, a fish filet and a piece of chocolate cake. It was the special of the day and only 70 pesos, which is pretty darn cheap for a meal like that. Later we walked to the centre where we sat, drank water and watched the Mexican life. There were some teenagers setting down mats for break dancing, a blind couple singing in the shade, and hippies walking towards us. Their leader wanted to know wouldn't we like to dance to his music? I swear, you get asked the randomest questions when on an exchange. I don't know why, but we said "no". 1)No sé como bailar 2)No bailamos en Canadá y 3. Tengo pena. Ok so those were my reasons. But being a hippy and all he was a friendly guy, and I don't know why I had to listen to my head (?) and to say no.

On Saturday we were contemplating whether or not to stay in León for another night or if we should hit the road. The fireworks in Morelia broke the tie, and after eating a large and delicious cup of mango and watermelon, we took the bus to Michóacan. They have heeps of plazas (outside areas for hanging around) with a number of monuments and old churches, enough to fill your memory card. It was here I discovered my loveeeee for papas with a salsa called Valentina. Here the potato chips are thick and look like they might be homemade. They're not quite as crunchy and get perfectly soggy in the salsa. They have a museum of dulces here. I don't think we have a word for dulces in english, but the closest would be sweets. The ones that go over well here contain milk and sugar. Super yummy, hoping I can bring some back to Canada. We went on a tour in this museum and the next day Korinna and I went to el mercado de dulces. Very yum, and a lot cheaper. Now that I've consumed enough sugar for a month, I'm considering starting a lent trend tomorrow. Theme? No unnecesary sugar (chocolate, ice cream, mexican sweets etc).

One morning we went for tacos for breakie. They were really really good. I have to say I wasn't sure how I felt about eating them in the AM, but it turns out it doesn't make a difference what time of the day. Morning, day and night they are amazing. Today we did a bit of shopping because we are lacking beach clothes, and we leave for la Ruta Maya in less than a week. I found a couple of great shirts in a store similar to Global Experience and Korinna found shorts for a good deal. We ate gazpachos which is like a fruit salad with melon, mango, watermelon, pineapple, hicama, cucumber and orange juice with chile, lime and salt. Then we met some of her classmates at a print screening store. They're making shirts for one of their classes. A bit more than half-way through, I left to walk around a bit. I didn't get too far before I found a park with a fountain, trees and benches. I sat on the rim of the stone fountain and enjoyed not hearing anything but the water falling behind me. Even though there were a lot of couples at the park, there were even more singles, sitting by themselves listening to their own thoughts. I started to take pictures discreetly of an old man, who was playing and feeding the birds that loitered at his feet. I couldn't tell if he was chewing or talking to his feathered friends, but his lips were moving. Watching the old man throw seeds at the pigeons, I wished I had danced with the hippies.

Guanajuato, Gto

Not long after stepping out the door of our house in Guanajuato, it crossed my mind that other than the general direction, I didn't know much about where I was going. I knew where I wanted to go, and I knew I would know I was there when I got there (whew, breathe) but before that, there were several wild guesses that needed to be taken on my part. But as I merged into the general stream of locals, I could feel I was getting closer to the heart of the city. The smell of elote and tortas gave away its position, leaving me no other option but to follow it. To follow my nose that is.

Walking the streets of downtown Guanajuato, Gto leaves me with a bitter-sweet feeling. I don't know where to begin in describing its beauty, so I'll skip ahead to what disturbs me. I've been in this town several times during daylight hours, and even though it is... well, daylight! there are so many people crowding the narrow streets that one hardly notices the beggars. But at night it's different. I guess what I didn't notice, what surprised me to realize is that these people stay on their piece of sidewalk in the day, as well as the entire night. Thinking about it, I don't know where else they would go, but it's a sad truth that not many people allow themselves to think much about. There's one mother I often notice in the daytime with three young kids. On this Saturday night, just as I finished my Starbucks and was walking home just past 23:30, thinking about sleeping, tomorrow, what we would eat for breakfast etc., there they were. The mother with her three children, two who were still awake and the other who learned how to sleep in a sitting position, holding her plastic cup. Sad isn't deep enough of a word to use, when saying that these kids really don't have much of a chance in the world. It doesn't really matter what their potential is because they were born poor and most likely will die poor after living a life similar to that of their mother. I know it sounds pessimistic, but isn't it the truth?

Coming from what I consider to be an average-city (although maybe a bit smaller) in North America, it's not so easy for me to appreciate a place with poverty such as in Guanajuato. Just about everywhere I look I see and am reminded of Homelessness. Covering their faces, they beg twenty-two hours a day to do less than survive. And I guess I feel guilty because to them I'm another Rich Gringa. And I feel that there's not much I can do about that.

Sorry, I'll try to give a more cheery update lickity-split.

La Nochebuena

I guess it's no longer Christmas Eve (as the title might say), as it is 4:06 on Christmas morning in this moment. Just wanted to record somethings I did today. First of all I woke up to a powerless house, and it stayed that way until about 6:00 tonight. I didn't do anything in the morning... like actually nothing. Ok well actually we helped Ceci set the table for dinner, which was at our house later tonight. Papa Ernesto asked that Michael keep an eye open for the people who were supposed to come around to fix the power, so I was in the same place on the couch when Mama Ceci and Regina left (hair apt), as when they came back. And that was like two or three hours later, although I can't say for sure because none of the clocks were working. In that time I ate a two chocolates and talked with Michael about the good old days when there was snow for Christmas. Mama Ceci came back just as the electricians arrived. They arrived with a flash of electricty. We don't know exactly what happened, but there was a big bang and a flash of neon blue that apprently Michael saw. Then Papa Ernesto came and everyone went for sushi, and later hand-churned ice cream. When we got home I called Heather and my family, who were in Auntie Cath's house for Christmas Eve. It was really nice talking with them. And I phoned Grandma yesterday which was also really good. It's nice to hear familiar voices.

Then I showered and got ready for church. There was a service near our house that started at 9:00... I don't think I've gone to the same church more than twice with my family, and the guy at this service was interesting. He was a bit older and talked a lot. But it was nice because he seemed to know a lot of history and a lot about the bible.

When we got home there was already one family in our living room waiting for us. The atmosphere was very Christmasy with the bowls of nuts and the lights from the tree. Ernesto's side came, some friends of the family and then Tio Rey and Tia Lici. We did some readings with the nacimiento (Nativity scene) and then at midnight we took turns rocking baby Jesus. It's a tradition here to celebrate Jesus' birth at 12:00 by singing and two people rocking the cloth he is laying in. Hmm not sure if I explained that very well. The two youngest people start by each taking two corners and swinging him while everyone else sings. All of the youth end up having a turn in the end, and then baby Jesus is added to the Nativity scene. A bigger version of the baby is passed around and everyone kisses his forehead. After that we did the cousin gift exchange. Cousin Ceci had me, and I had Regina. I got a purple braclet and a silver necklace (crazy, I know).

At 1:30am we started eating dinner, which was a soup, fish, beef and apple salad. For dessert I ate tapioca. We finished around 3:30, and then we sat around the table and talked. Some of the kids went to the back property to watch a movie. Lea, Paulina and I ended up going upstairs to watch TV slash sleep. And yah... thats where I am now at 5:00!