Days 24-28

Day 24

Today, La Preza opened which is the huge dam that has all the water for the city behind it. For the people that tried to see it, Luís didn’t make us have afternoon class in the afternoon. I went with Aileen, Phillip, Eva, Michaela, Sarah, and Naira to Café Tal to do homework and hang out. It was so fun and I had a great time getting to know them better. After that, I was picked up and I ate comida and finished homework. We had dinner and then stayed in that night.

Day 25

We didn’t have an afternoon class so I went with Aileen, Maddie, Sarah, and Hallie to the Mercado Hidalgo after our first class and we went shopping. I wasn’t feeling super great and so I went home as soon as I was done shopping and then they went away but came back later. After eating and homework, I went to Hallie’s house to celebrate her dad’s birthday. There was food and dancing which was super fun. We stayed for a couple of hours and we danced at the party and I even learned some dancing. Hallie’s parents danced and we all danced with our moms. It was fun to see all our families come together to celebrate. Megan’s family was there too and there were a few other people there too from Hallie’s host family’s extended family.

Day 26

Today I went to class and was feeling a little better, so I went to class, and then went with Megan and Sam after drawing class to the store. I was not feeling as good but then we went back to Megan’s house after the store so that she could make food for her family. I did my homework while there and hung out with Megan and Sam. I was picked up around 7:30 and then we went back to the house and ate some dinner.

 Day 27

After the first class, Luis had to take me to the clinic because I have still been not feeling well. After that, I went to the second class of the day and we had more drawing. I went for a little bit with my friends and then back home to eat and rest to try to get my stomach back on track. There was a lunch party with some friends from out of town and I got to meet the other family that was there too. They were SO sweet and very nice.

Day 28

Today I had class and then it was also the last day of drawing class. I went with Sarah to watch her get her hair dyed. We met Naira and Blanca there because Naira was getting her hair dyed too. Blanca was also there, so I was there with them for a while and then went back. Sydney was staying with me because her dad is super sick. We went to a dinner party at Megan’s house  and her mom made Pozole Verde. The dinner party included Naira, Blanca, Luis, plus Hallie’s family, my family, and Sydney. After that, a bunch of us went out and went salsa dancing.

Weekend Excursion #3

Day 22

Today our group left for San Miguel De Allende. We went to the hotel first and then went to the POOL! It was so fun! After that, we went into the city and had free time. The big film festival was going on in the city so there was a live band performing. The singer performed on a huge stage. Then, we went to dinner at an Argentinian restaurant. We had some more free time and it was a fun time to walk around and look and shop and just bond and hang out with the other friends in the group because we don’t have TONS of free time during the week. Back to the hotel after that and I roomed with Hallie this time!

Today was a later start. We all ate breakfast at different times and then went to a beautiful church that had the story of Jesus painted on it and had free time. After free time, we went to another place with Aztec ruins. We took a bus to a location and then had to walk from there to the location of the temple. We left the Aztec ruins, and all went to eat dinner at Pollo Feliz. This is like the closest thing to fast food in México. Then we went back to Guanajuato and arrived around 8:30.

Week #3, Days 17-21

Day 17

Once again, I had class today and since it is a Monday after our weekend excursion, we had reflections with Luis in the same café. It’s fun because we all sit in a small circle and drink smoothies and talk about what we learned and what we thought of the place we had just gone and visited. After class, I went back to eat comida at home and then did a little more homework in my room. I talked with my host sister and Emilio because they were over today for a visit. I had the opportunity to write down more recipes from my mom as well. I’m glad that I am getting the chance to learn more from her every day.

Today was another day of class and homework. I came back after class and ate a ton of delicious soup. After that, my host dad took me to see la casa de la Llorona. My host mom had to go to church but after she joined us. I saw a typical house in Guanajuato from when the houses were first built. I got to meet him, go inside and take a look around. The house was from the 16th century and it was so cool and unlike I had seen before. I saw the school that is part of the University that my host dad started his schooling at to become an engineer. Then, we walked through the Mercado Hidalgo, got some bread at the bread shop and went to meet my host mom at church. We proceeded to walk back to the Jardín through all of the little shops and my host dad came with us and we drove back and ate dinner. After dinner, off to bed. I loved getting to explore Guanajuato by night. It is crazy the number of people that are there after it is dark out. It’s like the city never sleeps; people are everywhere!!

Day 19

After class, Megan and I went to go get a manicure. Our manicure was only $5 USD. That is insane. The work that they did was also really good, and my nails looked really good when it was all over and done with. After that, I went back with Megan to her house and we did some homework and ate. I was picked up later, and went to go do some errands that my mom needed to do at the mall in another part of Guanajuato. From what I understand, the city of Guanajuato is divided into two, and it is separated. I live in one part and the shopping area is in another.

Day 20

I can’t believe I have already been here for 20 days. I am now more than half way done with my trip, and it’s definitely going by too quickly for me. Today after class, I immediately came home because my friends and I were planning on going salsa dancing after dinner later that night. Megan, Sam, Sam’s boyfriend, Hallie, Pau, and I all went together and were supposed to meet the other group of people coming along there. We went to tons of places and then ended at Grill. Aileen joined us later that night and we got back at 1:30AM! Today was also officially the first day of Span 302, so we finished our Spanish course with Blanca.

Day 21

Today, I went to Span 302 and then had the last class of ceramics with Ernesto. Megan, Sydney and I left and went to Megan’s parents’ birthday party. They had so many people there!!! We met the sweetest little girl there and Sydney and I played with her for a little while. Then we left to go to the Baile Folklórico performance. It was unlike anything I have ever seen. The costumes were outstanding; so colorful and detailed. The show was also 2.5 hours long, which is a very long time. I loved it so much! After, a group of us went out to Karaoke. We sang and ate fries and had drinks! Pau, Hallie and I only stayed for a little while and then headed back home. It was still a super fun time, and I LOVE karaoke.

Weekend Excursion #2

Day 15

Traveled to Querétaro today. When we got there, we ate at a 5 star restaurant for lunch! Then we went to look around and explore because we had three hours of free time. Querétaro is a beautiful city. The building are all super colorful and there are interesting doors and windows leading to houses, churches, restaurants, and shops. After that, we went to the hotel and stayed there for a little while to rest and relax. I was rooming with Megan this time and we then headed with our group out to a fun dinner at a restaurant. Our table was small because we had to have two tables so Megan, Phillip, Luis, Blanca and I all sat together.

Day 16

I forgot to mention that yesterday we went to a museum about history of the region. We went to a winery! It was called La Finca Sala Vive de Freixenet. We took a tour. We also got to ride the UVA Bús! So fun! Wineries are a great place to take pictures. After our tour of the winery, we went to Tequisquiapan for dinner. It was such a cute place, I wish we would have had more time to explore around there. We ate in a restaurant and had the briefest time to look in a couple of shops. We went back to Guanajuato after that and my parents picked me up when we arrived back from the weekend away.

Days 10-14

Day 10

Well, it is the start of week 2. Time is flying by, and I don’t know what to think. Speaking Spanish is getting much easier for me and I’m definitely starting to get the hang of it. It is weird because now when I go to say something it will just come out in Spanish instead of having to think of it in English and then translate it into Spanish. Another great breakfast made by my host mom and then off to class with my host dad. Lots of homework assignments but then for the Span 332 class we met Luis in a cafe to talk about our experience in Mexico City. I did homework later after class and then went back home and ate. I then did some more homework and then later than night ate some more. I also had time to play a game with my host nephew and we had a party for my youngest one month old nephew. We ate Sopes and we all played Lotería. I had the chance to finally meet all of my host siblings as well because they all came to celebrate. My host siblings are all older and have their own families and lives and do not live at home, so I was so excited when I got to meet my host siblings.

Today I went to class and also took a tour of the Museo de Tesoros where our class is located every day. They are the so nice to let us have class in their museum daily. They give us coffee and tea and cookies too! After all of our classes for the day, Sydney, Megan and I all went to Café Tal to do homework. I went to Megan’s house for dinner and then her family took us to Cristo Rey. It was so cool. It is this HUGE statue of Jesus that sits on top of a mountain (kind of like the one in Rio). We stopped along the way in many small mining towns and then when we came back we stopped to eat street food. Megan and I did not participate but we watched Megan’s host family eat it. I got back around 10pm and I plated Lotería. Then I had to practice my presentation on Narcotraffico for class the next day and after went to bed.

Day 12

Today was another usual day. Class and then homework. Today is DANCE DAY! During the first class of the day with Blanca, I had to give my presentation on Narcotraffico with Hallie. Our dance instructors were Primo and Mariana and it was so much fun! We learned the traditional dances which I really enjoyed and then after class I did more homework. While my parents were going to church, I went to Megan’s house and they bought us ice cream from a cart (too good). We went to got o the center, which is like a mall but it has a huge grocery store in it and a food court. We all ate Chinese food and then I had some stuff I had to do when I got back to my house. A pretty normal day but so fortunate that Megan’s family was always so welcoming to have me tag along and do activities with them!

Day 13

Another day of breakfast but I am continually amazed by the options for breakfast. You can have eggs, quesadillas, enchiladas, eggs, cereal, fruit, etc. the list goes on! Then went to class and to this super fun restaurant after class. The food is delicious there. Today we had another dance class and learned more steps in the dance that we’ve been learning. It was so fun. Then a group of us went to do homework and when I got back to my house, I had THE BEST MOLE! Rosy makes the best food ever! It was so delicious. After comida, I went to do more homework and then ate dinner and played Lotería with Rosy and Víctor.

There was a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in Washington today which was shocking to wake up to. The earthquake was close to my house which is pretty scary! I had class in the morning and then after that we had our last class with Primo and Mariana. Our entire class was so sad that dance week is coming to an end. After dance class, Megan, Hallie and I all met our moms in the Jardín and they brought us sandwiches for lunch. Then we went with them to do all of the fun events with the wives of the engineers. All of these women have come from all over Mexico to go to the engineering convention that was happening in Guanajuato. We followed a group of singers/band through the street and sang/danced along. We also walked around and took pics of their group. Then we all went to dinner at a restaurant in La Plaza de La Paz and we had enchiladas (sin queso of course) and they had a mariachi band (Megan’s favorite)!! After the long day of walking, we went back home and I had to pack because our next weekend adventure was starting tomorrow. We were going to Querétaro tomorrow.

Weekend Excursion #1

Day 8

Today we went to many places after a very yummy breakfast at the hotel. We went to the Palacio Nacional and took a tour and saw tons of murals of Diego Rivera. Then, we went to an exhibit of Frida Kahlo in the city center. It was a coincidence that the exhibit was there. It was actually only there because it was her birthday. After that, we went to the Palacio de Bellas Artes and saw more of Diego Rivera’s paintings. At the Palacio Nacional, the paintings and murals have never had to had been restored. They were made to live out in the open, and because of that, are still in their original condition. We went to the UNAM, which was the first university in all of the Americas. It was very cool and now I want to go there! We also toured La Casa Azul which is where Frida Khalo lived.

We had some more delicious food (a common theme you will see), and I ate so much!! I guess I must be starting to feel better haha. It was a buffet style taco bar, but they literally give you so much food! Chips and guac, tacos, the taco bar, and soup. After that, we all went back to the hotel and then I went to the lobby to do my homework with Sarah, Michaela, Aileen, and Megan. It was fun and we hung out while doing our work. Nothing bonds you better than some good old-fashioned homework! Off to bed now in our fancy hotel, seriously this is the fanciest hotel I have ever stayed in!

Day 9

Last day in Mexico City and I am very sad to leave. Another great hotel breakfast and then we headed out to go to La Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe and it was GEORGOUS! One of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen! It was definitely a popular destination by the tourists, as people were lined up to get in the door. One thing I forgot to mention earlier were the incredible tour guides we’ve had during our time in Mexico City. They are so kind and genuinely want to be our friends and get to know us. They also know so much about everything in Mexico. I owe all of what I learned in Mexico City to them!

We then went to Teotihuacán and it was breathtaking. Out of this world beautiful. It is a place full of these ancient Aztec temples, most of which you can climb. We got to climb many of them, and the view from the top was unlike anything I had ever done before. At the top, there was a full view of all the rest of them. We unfortunately did not get to climb the tallest pyramid because there was a 2hr line to start to climb the pyramid, which takes about an hour in itself to get to the top. Instead, we played a game. When standing on a smaller pyramid, 3 people walk to different parts of an open field. We then move to have the caller talk at a normal volume and the people in the open field follow his commands. All of these people were at various distances away and could hear and do the commands!

After we left the pyramids, we went to eat at a buffet of food from the region. Again, it was delicious. After dinner, we went to the little open space at the hotel we were eating at and played soccer with our tour guides. It was a fun, causal game of soccer sin zapatos (without shoes) in the grass. We had to say goodbye to our tour guides which was super sad. I will miss them all so much! Our trip back was a 6 hour bus ride, and we got back at 11pm. My parents picked me up and we went back home