When did it become February??

Since I last wrote there have been few updates from here. However, this past week was a rough one at the Guarderia. A new student came, on a day when I was teaching Solo (Wednesday). From the second she stepped in the room it became obvious that her assimilation to the classroom was not going to come as easy as the other newbies. She refused to let go of her Grandma's hand and would not say hello to me nor the class. After 15 minutes of the girl throwing a fit and refusing to stay, they left the classroom and came back and left her in the room with the door firmly shut. Needless to say her dislike for our room had not disappeared and she began a huge tantrum involving scream crying and non stop questioning to be let out of the room. She told me several times that I scared her and would not stop crying. I must admit I was really taken aback by the girl's reaction to me, I have never had a kid tell me they were afraid of me or not want to talk to me. So I decided the best thing to do was to leave her alone and let her have her fit and pay attention to the other class. I had already tried introducing her, having the kids say hello, talking about how the first day was scarey and how we all going to be nice to her and make her feel welcome, but she did not want to be there. After about an hour the computer teacher came and to get a break from the crying I let her go. But then she refused to come back, running and hiding in the kitchen closet. After computer she tried climbing out the window and continued the crying. Needless to say it was an exausting day and even the kids admitted to having headaches and being tired of listening to her cry... What was I to do? I left for the day, completely drained and not wanting the new student to return thursday.
However, as I waited out front of the guarderia, I noticed she had not only returned, but was wearing the uniform, a sign that she was planning to stay. On the second day, it was worse. Luckily Ariana was with me. But the girl refused to sit down, tried to climb out the window all day long and proceed to start hitting Ari. Every teacher at the Guarderia was exhausted and not wanting this girl to stay. After my second exhausting day with her, I went home feeling really unhappy about the new addition to the Guarderia and its change in dynamic. But yet, I returned to the Guarderia on friday to find the new student in the middle of her tantrum. However, unfortunately, it took the new girl knocking stuff down of shelves and cutting her arm to make her calm down. She then sat quietly all day, minus the constant questioning of when her mom was going to come and if she could go to recess and take her back pack home. While I still had a little pent up annoyance becuase of the previous two days, I tried to be encouraging and nice to the new girl. By the end of the day, Ariana and I realized that she was most likely staying since she was starting to behave and realize we had to change our attitude. It was now time to accept her as a classmate and give her positive reassurance to make things work.
I must admit, a part of me really did not want this little girl to stay. And while I know she is only 4 years old, I was exhausted and maybe a little hurt by her dislike and supposed fear of me. However, Im here as a missionary. Im here to love the community. To love these kids, even the bad ones. And now, my attitude is changing. I am trying to find my patience with the new student, and remember she is just a little girl, wanting her mom. Yes, she started off really bad in our classroom, but hopefully we will be playing and making new positive memories from here on out. And remembering that the hardest things are usually the things most worth it.

Today, we have off of work because it is a national holiday, and I am taking today to catch up with friends and family and rest in order to come back ready for a good day. I will be teaching alone again tomorrow and I hope that things will go well. This week I begin my trek through several offices and lots of paperwork to get my Visa to be able to stay in Mexico. Im hoping that it will not be as horrible as it was for the girls last year. Wish me luck and let me know if you have any tips.

This is all for now. Love you and thanks for listening.

Back to Work and Dia de Los Reyes Magos (3 Kings Day)

Im back at work and this week is starting out great. I have been catching up with a lot of friends who I haven't talked to in a long time and hope to catch up with more. Last week was the first week back to work and unfortunately very few kids came back to school.

3 kings day, Dia de Los Reyes Magos, was last week and while some were there to share in the holiday many were home playing with their family. The first week back was a really calm one. Our class only had 6 students last week. But Dia de Los Reyes was a lot of fun to share with the kids. The day before, the kids wrote letters to the Reyes saying what presents they wanted (or in our kids cases drew pictures of the toys they wanted). Then the kids tie the letters on to the end of a balloon and send them up in the sky for the Reyes. All the kids were so excited to send the balloons up in the sky and I must admit it was one of the most adorable fantastic things I have been able to watch here in Mexico. After releasing them, all of the kids sat on the ground and watched the balloons until they were so small they couldn't see them anymore. I kept asking kids which balloon is yours and they would go, that green one right there! haha. The kids also got to break the piñatas shaped like Winnie the Pooh and Snow White. These ones even had candy in them! (Sometimes they have fruits and other foods).

Then the next day, the actual Dia de los Reyes Magos. Only a few kids showed up. But It was a fun day. The kids recieved presents at the Guarderia (donated)and we were able to part the Rosca. La Rosca is a type of bread that is a big circle and that his little baby Jesus toys inside of it. Each person has to cut off the piece and if they find the Baby in the piece that they cut or showing in the next one, they have to make tamales and bring them in on February 2nd (I think?). Well, guess who got the baby in here piece of Rosca at the Guarderia? If you said, Me, then you are correct. haha. They said Im supposed to make Tamales by hand, I said, okay, so who's going to come to my house and show me how to make these?? At first it seemed like a silly tradition but after cutting three Roscas, the second in our house with our english class, and the third in Josue's house with his family. I realized how much fun it is. All of the traditions here revolve around getting together with your family and friends. This tradition and the finding of the baby, just gives everyone another reason to get together and celebrate and of course EAT!

The week was filled with lots of celebrating, but unfortunately very few kids... It was a nice easy week back from our 2 weeks off. And it reminded me how much I enjoy working there and getting to play with the kids and talk and get to know the teachers that work there.

The last week there was a lot more kids and now we are back to 12 kids. 3 kids have not returned from break and are suspected to never return..sad they were very enjoyable ones.

Lisa and Jess are having their parents in town this week. I must admit, I'm pretty jealous and while Im happy they get to see their family it really makes me miss mine. I can't stop thinking about how I would like to go home and visit at some point this year... Im hoping to make that happen. Maybe for my birthday... Im hoping to get some pictures of lisa's for Dia de los Reyes. But for now here is an old overdue, update.

Love you all and miss you. Remember to keep me updated!

Navidad season

AS it goes in the US as well, December has flown by. Christmas came and went and I hardly had time to recognize the holiday in order to miss all of you. Now that I have my vacation time off work (woo! 2 Weeks!) It has given me the time to think of all that I missed at Christmas.

December like November, was hard on me health-wise. It seemed just when I started to get better something else hit me. From Stomach flu, to bad colds to even a kidney infection! I just can't seem to stay healthy. I'm eating healthier than I've ever probably eaten before. Taking VItamins and getting more rest than I'd like to admit. Hopefully it will all pass. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good health from now on.

Dec. at the Guraderia: THe kids got to go on a field trip to a forest to learn about the environment and Lisa and I found out about it the day before. THe kids had fun but most of the time Lisa and I spent keeping the kids under control and watching them. Then one day some highschoolers came and handed out presents to all the kids at the Guarderia. This would have been an okay thing but right after the students left, all of the presents were recolected and kept until Jan 6th when they will be passed out on three kings day "Reyes Magos." It didn't seem very fair to hand out presents to the kids and then take them away for another month. But Santa did come to visit the kids on the last day before break. The kids seemed really excited. Most of them were able to say what present they wanted for Christmas. They also recieved bags of candy from Snata. It was simple but I think the kids really enjoyed the day. I wish I had knew S.C was coming though so I would have brought my Camera! boo. We were all supposed to come the following Monday to see the kids sing and perform for their Parents but when Lisa and I arrived no kids were there. It had been cancelled and pushed back because No kids showed up. Bummer. But we had a nice meal and celbration with SOr. MAria Luisa and all the teachers.

My Christmas was really nice. It was simple but it was fun. Wile I love the Parish and everyone tries to inlude us as family, I knew spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day thee would have made me sad and missing Christmas with my family. Lucky for me Josue had invited me for Christmas Eve with his family. It was a lot of fun. We arrived at his aunt' s house after one turn around to get something left at the house (nice to know my family isn't the only one who forgets things). THen by 9ish most of the family shoed up. WE went half of us outisde and half inside to sing Posada. Posada is a tradition of call and response singing re-enactiong Mary and Joseph seeking Shelter the night Jesus was born. Then at the end the doors are opened and the peole are allowed in the house. It is a cute tradition that I enjoyed. Another different tradition was the rocking of baby jesus statues from each family members house. 4 of us held out a blanket and slowly rocked the blanket back and forth with the baby jesus statues inside and everyone sang songs. Then the family read the gospel together and prayed and we went to eat. After a very untraditional, but delicious christmas dinner, we had a big group toast. Everyone went around the room and had their turn to talk and give thanks for the dinner and to god for everything they had. It was a nice way of allowing everyone to share and be a part of the night. Then as always, the night ended with a little exciting salsa dancing!
Christmas day we spent in the parish helping serve a dinner to the community. Unfortunately not as many showed up as we would have liked but it was nice to do something for the community on Christmas. Then we spent time at the house opening our presents for one another. My favorite present was from Caro, who I share a bedroom with. She gave me a dream catcher. I had woken her up the week before talking 2 different nights while I was sleeping. Ha. It was a funny present.

Ok, well that is my update for now. I will try to write more about New Years this weekend. Happy New Year EVERYONE! I love you and Miss you dearly.

p.s. 2010 creeeeepy.

Just when you start to feel sorry for yourself....

Today I was walking to the dollar store and thinking about how I have no friends here. And its starting to get to me. I don't have any friends to just call up when I want something to do.... I have my roomates and I have Josue, and lets face it, you can't talk girl talk with your boyfriend. If I don't take a nap in the afternoons after work, then I am literally sitting around searching for things to do. I unfortunately don't know my way around this humongous city and can't get myself out of santa fe without the help of someone and the one and only coffee shop in our neighborhood is NEVER OPEN (literally I have attempted going like 5 times and its always closed). Believe it or not cleaning tends to take up much of my time here because it turns out there is always some part of our house that is dirty. (I know Katie and Mary must totally hate me right now or you don't believe me, but really Im pretty clean here. weird.) Anyway, after sitting for 2 hours wondering if Josue was actually going to come over and debating starting my second book in the last week... I decided it was time to go run some errands.

I got to the dollar store and was walking around when I was tapped on the leg by one of the girls that goes to the Guarderia. As she looked up and smiled at me with her teary eyes and runny nose, I instantly remembered being told that her mom works at that dollar store. I asked her where her mom was and she pointed a couple aisles over to where she was stacking shelves. I remembered that she didn't show up that day and she nodded in confirmation that she was sick. As she lingered around me not talking as I was in line, I remembered her story. That she was living with a single mom who just moved into the city from the country, and how her and her mom just moved out of a family members house where the little girl was abused and neglected by being locked in her room all day long and not being let out to eat or use the washroom. She barely talks and has trouble controlling her bladder frequently. Apparently when she is not in school she sits and plays in the aisles of the dollar store where her mom works. Just as I was feeling sorry for myself not having any friends, I was reminded of how unfortunate this world really is. I was reminded why I am here and that my problems are nothing compared to the ones that many suffer.

Many people in my neighborhood have been without water from anywhere from 3 weeks to over 2 months. They were not notified before the water went out and had to protest in the streets and stop traffic in order to be told why the water was not on. -Apparently a water pipe is being fixed.- For some with money, this is an inconvience, but in my neighborhood it is rare that people have extra money to spend on a necessity of life. I can't help but think how something like that would never happen without a huge fuss in the U.S. and how if it did happen it probably wouldn't be off for more than a day or two. Although who knows, it may be happening in underprivleged neighborhoods there too and being kept quiet.
Another thing that has been bothering me is the education system. I cannot claim that I am well educated about the Mexican education system. I support everything that the Guarderia does and think it is a great school. However, many of the public high schools, just as many inner city high schools in the U.S., are failing to give the students and opportunity to succeed. A huge strike was held by high school teachers that has lasted a good period of time, (maybe a month or two?), and I just found out that after the teachers were given what they wanted they still did not return to school. What they are doing, I am not sure. And students have been out of school for months, just waiting to go back, whenever the school officials feel like having that happen.

These are the types of injustices that constantly wake me up. Make me call for change. Not only in Mexico but in the United States too. These are the types of stories that show me how lucky I was to have a good family and great opportunities, and to fight for everyone to have them too.

Anyway, here are my thoughts for the day that I thought I would share. Still searching for my place in all of this.

All my Love.

Live Turkeys, lots of Salsa and adorable smelly kids

So, thanksgiving in Mexico. well what can I say, it was different. The roomies invited nearly the whole parish, so it ended up being super packed. Im not sure I would have made it through the day if I hadn't stayed home from work because I was fighting a horrible cold. We spent most of the week preparing for it and all day cleaning..but that seems natural for T-Day. Apparently you have to be very careful when you say that you want a fresh not frozen turkey because again, like last year father bought two live turkeys which were slaughtered the day before thanksgiving. I didn't even see them but somehow I had no desire to eat them after they were cooked... What can I say friends, Ignorance is bliss... The dinner was pretty standard, except of course there was the salsa, and tequila included. very enjoyable... It was a decent time, but I must admit I was wishing I could see my family and friends. After it passed and I heard what everyone did, I have been wishing I could be home for christmas just for a smidge of time..but I knew before going into this that I would not be coming home. So Im not super sad but I have a feeling Christmas will have a few tears.

Again, im fighting a cold..but I suppose that is pretty standard these days. The kids are all pretty sick with colds. Not surprising considering they still don't cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze... but they are learning that slowly. Also, we've had a small chicken pox outbreak... Sadly my favorite little amigo Paco has unfortuantely not been in school for weeks... Id be lying if I didn't say I seriously missed him. He's the one always crawling on me and hugging me. Ari and I joke about him being my son. Speaking of kids, btw, I had a dream a week or so ago that I had an foster home for kids and my entire class was living there. One kid in particular, Alexis, I wanted to adopt as my child... haha. that was kinda the extent of it. but, I think my whole motherly instincts are starting to kick in... or something. Although still not looking to having any children yet... Today was a good day, although had another poop in the pants incident, that definitely helps to not want kids for the next 5 years or so.

Thats kinda all I have for today. I just wanted to throw a little love out in blog world. This week wasn't super interesting. But let it be noted- I miss you all, and I wish I could visit and party with you all for the holidays.

Todo mi Amor.

I am alive.

So, I am officially a slacker at this blogging situation. I said over a week ago that I was going to post about Dia de los Muertos but unfortunately everytime I am on the computer something more pressing takes my attention and I feel the need to do that first. Basically this post is to say, I am alive and well.. Fighting a cold per usual.

Oh! Also, I had my first friend in town this weekend. Okay, so she wasn't technically here to visit me, but Maggie, a fellow social work major from Loyola came to Mexico in order to give a presentation and I was able to meet up with her and go out one night! It was really nice to have my Mexican life and my Chicago life connect and finally seem real to one another. It was also nice to catch up on people and Loyola social work life. What a great fun visit!

Lisa and I are starting a conversational English class in order to help some people in the community with actually being able to speak in English. I am a little nervous but we will see how it goes. Tomorrow will be the first class and hopefully just start out with the basics and getting to know each other. Who knows, it might end up being like most things where people say they will come and just don't show up...

Funny story of the day: my co-teacher Ariana got married last week and the kids have caught on to her calling her husband esposo. So today the kids decided to ask me if I was married. And why not? And then one boy Alexis starts telling me that I should marry his dad... Then it irrupted with multiple kids arguing that I should marry their dads. (Not only is this mildly uncomfortable because I have never met their fathers, but also because many of the kids have variations of divorced, separated, cohabitating or married parents...) None the less, it was funny. I can't lie, some of the kids are so cute I wouldn't mind having them as a step child.... Not that I'm planning on marrying a Mexican man with a kid. ha.

Ok, this is all I have for today. Its starting to get pretty cold here at night. I need to go home and put on another layer. You should be expecting a Dia de los muertos post soon.

I love you and miss you.

Halloween and Dia de Muertos

So, the long awaited Dia de los Muertos explanation... thanks for your patience.

Our Church's offerring:

Well just a quick mention of Halloween. We decided to share our holiday with Santa Fe and throw a halloween party. Although I must admit, after seeing Dia de Los Muertos, we are seriously lacking on our holiday traditions. We did manage to find pumpkins to have for carving but Im pretty positive these pumpkins were not made for carving because we literally had to use a piece of wood to beat the knife into the tough pumpkin. Either way I think everyone had fun with this project. I made some dirt pudding and we had lots of drinks and dessert and it turned into a fun night. Lots of people wore costumes and it was a fun night.




As for Dia De los Muertos... Well I am now a huge fan of this holiday. I must admit prior to living here I found the skeletons and skulls a little morbid and freaky, however after experiencing my first Dia de los Muertos in Mexico I know realize what a wonderful holiday it is. Immediately upon realizing its arrival I was intrigued by the idea of the holiday. Mexicans put out an offering of different things so that on November 2nd when their deceased family members return to earth to visit them they can once again enjoy the food and things they enjoyed in life. The 1st is the day the deceased children come back to visit and the 2nd is the day adults come. Jess mentioned that they had put out an offerring in the chapel last year and I decided that I wanted to put out an offering for my mom. Actually not really until the day before did I really decide I was going to do it but I think it turned out well. This is what it entailed:




1. a glass of water


2. Salt- signifying the spice of life and enjoying life.


3. Candles- to honor your deads memory.



4. Flowers.


5. Dia de los Muertos bread- which is a certain kind of bread only sold around this holiday that is round covered in sugar and sort of looks like it has an octopus on top...


6. Any special kinds of food or dishes that this family member liked. Sometimes people will put out their favorite kind of beer or drink as well. (yes I wanted to put Diet Dr. Pepper but they don't have it here in Mexico...it was there in my mind).


7. Many people place chocolate, sugar or paper machey (no clue how to spell that) skulls in order to remember those living and left behind.


8. Papel Picado- paper cut-out decoration... not sure why we include this but its cute.






Anyway, many people go to the cemetary and decorate the graves with tons of flowers and candles and have parties to celebrate the days. Thanks to the influence of the US many kids and some adults dress up in costumes to celebrate the day as well. Lisa, Caro, Josue and I all went to this college UNAM and were able to see their offerrings made by student groups. They had bands playing and theater skits and it was a lot of fun...minus the cold. brrr..



Ok well Im not sure if I left anything out or even if I got everything right. but these were the important parts of the day. It really is great way to honor your dead and feel happy about your passed away loved ones coming to visit you on earth again. I spent a good amount of time gluing flowers to this little arch and decorating my offerring for my mom, it felt nice to put all my love and effort into something for her again. And I felt very happy to take time to remember her living and what she loved in life. This holiday brought me a lot of joy and I may even consider doing it again when I return to the US.

In Memory of My Mom, Jess's Grandparents & Lisa's Grandpa

All my Love.