Guanajuato and Other Goodies

Well kiddos,

 Sorry I didn't post on Sunday, but here I am. Anywho, it's winding down here in the WIM group. In about two weeks we'll be heading back to EEUU. But before I get all emotional on you (I'll save that for a later post), let's take a look into the week that has just passed.

With Parents

So, as you already know, my parents came to visit me. Unfortunately, it was the hardest week (academically speaking) we've had this semester so I didn't get to spend a ton of time with them. 

However, here are a few things we DID do:

We went to Haga Su Taco, the famous taco shop, and happened to run into Hacha y Laura.

They took Ben and me out to lunch for fajitas, glad they got a chance to hang out with him:

My parents were generous enough to throw an ice-cream party on my terrace for the WIM group, including Mary and Gisela. What a great time! My parents (the hosts) along with me and my wolf pack. Above are a few of my pals.

Without Parents

On Thursday night, my parents left. To celebrate, my friends and I went to the premiere of Hunger Games. Party! So worth it for Katniss.
I gave some oatmeal to Gisela on Friday night. She didn't like it and made lots of funny faces. First she added sugar, and then ice cream. Kinda ruins the healthy-ness of oatmeal in my opinion.

We went to Guanajuato this weekend! It was awesome. Guanajuato is a mining town located in a valley. It's not very big, but the streets are very confusing.The hotel we stayed in had a tree sticking out the middle of it, a terraza, and breakfast buffet (yessir).

On Saturday, we went 60 meters down into a mine:

We also went to another church (shocker):

Safe to say Mexico has really changed us...

We went up to the Pipilo, a statue of a strong man that has a great view overlooking the city below. That's where the next two pics are taken.

On Sunday, we went to the market where I bought a bunch of cool things (but I don't want to spoil any surprises). But really, I bought a lot. Not really my thing, but shopping in Mexico is a lot funner (yes, it's a word) for me than shopping in the States. It's almost like every market is it's own swap meet or GoodWill or thrift store, but with higher quality products. 

After the market splurge, I had a good talk with a few female members of the WIM group. I think I'm starting to understand women more, even though I've heard it's a life-long process... I believe it. But really we're getting a lot more comfortable around each other (sometimes too comfy) and there's just a good vibe surrounding the group. Also Mary is pretty cool. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me sharing this with all five of you, but I asked here where the Callejon de Beso (alley of the kiss) was, and she made some off-hand remark about me hinting something. Without further details, safe to say it was a comical situation. What happens in Mexico, I guess.

I'll let you guys go, but see you soon!





P.S. Here are some keepers (the people and the photos).

 

The WIM 2013 group, everyone (missing a few). 

Gisela and me in our house :)

That Day All my Dreams Became Reality

Well hello there loyal listeners! Brad here, once again.

So lately I've been listening to a few good podcasts, one in Spanish and the other in English. But this all stopped when I left my iPod in a hotel in Tequisquiapan... just a sad intro. It gets better.

First, my week, yo

So Sunday night I had the glory of skyping with my RA friends from the Mont. We chatted about everything under the sun, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's good to see people from home, but also it's weird to think I only have three more weeks here! How nuts is that?

Monday night, we had family dinner at Huacal and the girls shared all about their lives. It was bittersweet: first, it was a great feeling to know that we feel close enough to share about struggles and not just talk about the weather. However, it made me realize how little I understand the complex language of women. Oh man, I'm trying my hardest but they really have this ESPN thing going on where they all are on the same page about everything (yes, that was a reference to Mean Girls, maybe I am improving here). 

This week, Cynthia Toms, the new Westmont abroad person, came to visit us. She's super cool and she taught us all about Catholicism (she taught at Notre Dame). I think she was pleasantly surprised at how good the WIM program is :)

I ate 6 tacos for 15 pesos (about $1.25 USD).

Thursday night, we went out dancing. I danced my heart out, mixing it up with a combo of: cumbia, salsa, swing, disco, you name it. Such a great time, but I went to bed at 2 a.m. What has Mexico done to me? Pues, valio la pena. 

Also on Thursday, MY PARENTS ARRIVED! I know, I'm super spoiled having them and Jonny before. It's a family affair in Queretaro, baby!

On Saturday morning, we woke up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. to GO IN A HOT AIR BALLOON! Literally so fun (as opposed to metaphorically fun)! I normally have fears of heights, but it was one of the coolest things I've ever done. Just witness a bit of the action!:

The sunrise over the Mexican plains. 

The calm before the storm...

The best flight of my short life.

Told you they are here!

Oh oh oh, last night I went to my parents' hotel room and took a jacuzzi bath. Haven't done that since 'Nam and it felt like a slice of heaven. And we watched college football, just the right combination. 

This morning, we went to Betel and my parents met a lot of my Mexican friends and loved it! Just a great week in general.

P.S. All photo cred to Laura, Kara, y Maria loca :)

P.P.S. For those that take time to read about my life, I grant you this as a token of my appreciation:

Vamos a Oaxaca (land flowing with shopping and buffets)

 Oaxaca

On Thursday, we packed up and went for Oaxaca. Fortunately, this time, I woke up earlier and brought money. A good start!

As you may (or may not) know, we went down there during the time of Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos (more on that later). The first night there, we saw a procession of people dressed up in all kinds of costumes. Then we ate pizza.  Lots of pizza.

The next day, we went to Monte Alban. I don't know much of its history (something about the Zapotecas a few years ago), but boy is it beautiful. GoogleImage it or just stay tuned:

Three words, five syllables: Y.M.C.A.

 A guy I met in the Monte Alban museum, gotta love the beard.

Then we went to Hierve el Agua (translated Boil Water, but it sounds better in Spanish). It's a petrified waterfall with natural pools. Felt good to feel at home again with the sun and water.

 Well that's pretty neat.

It's a LOT bigger in real life, I swear.

Ay carumba, she's a beaut.

During the trip, we went to four talleres (workshops kinda). First, Mezcal (an alcoholic beverage), then tapetes (fancy rugs) and other hand-made fabrics, then barro negro (hand-made pottery) and lastly calavera (the plates with white and blue, also made by hand). I would like to tell you what I bought, but I don't wanna ruin a perfectly good surprise. It was really fascinating to see people at their work and the amount of time and precision it took to do it.

 (right) Tapete man







(below) Barro negro, all hand-made

Also during the trip, we went to three Buffets! Talk about heaven for a hungry 20 year-old lad such as I. I went crazy, eating 8 plates at one of the buffets. I tried chapulines (crickets), conejo (bunny) and pato (duck). Lots of new experiences.

Speaking of new experiences, I watched my second ever salida del sol, or "sunrise" in layman's terms. On a nature-deprived semester such as this, it was a great reminder of the power and beauty God displays through nature.

I sure do love la naturaleza. That's the city of Oaxaca, folks. 

On a deep note, we went to a Panteon to see how Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead. We talked with a few families there, and it was more than interesting. Here's a pic (Pablo Lopez y su esposa):

 In Mexico, talking about death is not taboo. It's celebrated as a way to remember the one who passed. It amazed me that the people were remembering their loved ones but took the time to happily tell us more about their beliefs and Dia de Los Muertos in general. I think we could find a balance between celebrating death and refusing to talk about it, because the truth is that it's gonna happen to all of us (last time I checked, it's batting 1.000). I could write a full essay about this (actually just wrote a 3.5-pager, due Friday), but those are the thoughts I'll leave you with.

to Halloween or not to Halloween? don't ask these angsty 20 year-olds (Erin and Besty)

Side Note

Three things I lost on the trip:

1) My camera (hardly worth anything, but thanks Kara and Emily for the photos)

2) My Chevy hat (lots of good memories, skin cancer to follow)

3) A small comb for my beard (only 15 pesos, but it said Oaxaca on it so I'm a bit bummed)

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P.S.

Just a treat for those that actually take the time to read (or skim) my whole blog. Job well done! 

The three men of WIM 2013, and a very big wooden hand.