Day 78: HALLOWEEN!!!

Today, in Discovery, we had four teachers, which made for a fun, party day. For Halloween, all the teachers dressed up as Angry Birds. Honestly, I've only played the game like twice and I'm not a huge fan; however, it was pretty fun to see the kids go nuts over our shirts. Just wait till you see the completed look...

 Before we got ready for the rest of the day, we took a trip to this crazy market. All the stores had either bread, those chocolate skull things, or those candles. And flowers. Lots of flowers. It was pretty cool and the samples of bread were really good. They also have these balls that taste like toasted or baked coconut that taste SUPER good. Which is bad, cause now I'll want to buy them more often. 

I honestly love how they paint on the walls. It's not grafitti, it's more like advertising. It's normal. And awesome. Mostly awesome. 

Then arriving back at the school, I noticed this puny, little, sprinkler. Of course I had to jump through it. Wouldn't you? Me and Sophia also got bread from the nearby Panaderia. It's awesome. Yeah, I think I've talked about this place before. Today they had some Dia de los Muertes bread and so I got a little person. He looks like he's dancing. And reminds me of a certain store in Portland that sells things kinda like this in pink boxes...

 Then we got ready... 

And then kids started coming...

For my activity, I taught all the kids the thriller dance. I danced to thriller for four hours today. It was so fun though. And then at the very end, our Elementary classes performed it for everyone. They did so good and I'm so proud of them for dancing in front of a crowd and doing so well!

More pics to be posted on facebook. 

After that, I'll have more. Tomorrow, we're off to Taxco and Cuernavaca for the four day weekend. Time for another Vacay! 

But anyways. I love Halloween Like CRAZY!

Day 77: Day Before Halloween!

OK. 
I was really excited about my costume today. Like you don't even know. Miss Cassie also got into the spirit of dressing up and played her part as "Tigress" from Kung Fu Panda very well. 

I couldn't find safety goggles, so I had to settle for glasses. I did, however, have all the kids address me as "Dr. Horrible". We even watched some of the video in my Elementary 2 class and learned the "Laundry Day" song. I was quite happy. 

We made ghosts float using our heads. Quite literally. Static electricity, hair, tissue paper, and balloons make for good ghost floating material. My favorite part? The hairstyles. Too cute. 

To start, that tool I'm using in the beginning of the pumpkin carving pictures - its a pen. I took apart a pen that didn't work and used it as a carving tool. Worked pretty well if I do say so myself. I made a Calavera (skull) in honor of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Leslie impressed me by making her very first pumpkin. It's a cyclops ghost by a tomb. The tombstone is in spanish - D.E.P. is the same as R.I.P. She did a good job and we had some good laughs. Yay, sister bonding time! She even spoke english the whole time! Go Leslie.

And that was my day before Halloween. My favorite part of Halloween is the pumpkin carving, which I'm so glad I got to do. :) LOVE PUMPKIN CARVING LIKE CRAZY! I also love Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog like crazy too. 

Day 76a: Lunes en la manana....

It's Monday Morning. We all know what that means. That beginning of the day that doesn't always go perfectly, but we get through it anyways. The beginning of the day where it's best to explicitly look for the good things in the midst of the Monday Blues.


Here are some things that have made my Monday Morning a little better.

1. I'm a pokemon trainer today. In honor the holiday, this week is officially:
HALLOWEEN WEEK
I shall be dressing up as something different for the next three days (since we don't have school Thursday or Friday).
Today I am a pokemon trainer. GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL!

2. The kids in Discovery joined me in my pokemon quest as we made the first step by making pokeballs. They're so stinkin' cute when they behave.

3. This video. Dying laughing.

4. I brought my Pikachu to school. So essentially, I had a pillow in school. BEST IDEA EVER.

5. An email from my mom and a missionary. :) Yay.

It's not even over. ;) More fun things planned today. Don't worry, there will be pictures. Lots of pictures.

Day 75: Big Green Tractor

Saturday Sum Up - I stayed in bed all day until about 4 and then we went to a birthday party. There I learned to dance Banda and Cumbia (tradicional dances). They're actually really fun to do. And I also did karaoke. I sang "Feelin' Good" - Micheal Buble. And found out that I can sing that song pretty well. So I sang, danced, laughed, and ate cake. :) Good Saturday night. 

Ricky and Me

Mamma and Baby

Sunday was good. I got to go to church, then I got to hang with mi familia and their amigos all day. Which, it's been a while so I'm glad. We went to this fair where I was delighted to find tractors and cows. :) I hadn't realized how much I missed seeing these on a daily basis whenever I drove home. But I do. I really do. Country life is the life for me.

It was funny seeing mi familia all facinated about the cows, like they'd never seen them before. Then it hit me, they probably haven't! Tehuacan is far from a country town... or even area. It's a serious city. Poor little Camila was scared of the cows... and the goats and chickens. Pretty much all the animals. 

After the animals, we went to this party at a restaurant in the park. Here I had a traditional dish from Tehuacan called "Mole de Caderas" which is different depending on what restaurant you go to, but mine was more of a soup. 

Look at those bones. It was pretty good, just a little spicy. I've learned that when I ask if something is spicy and they say "No, no pica." It really means it's kinda spicy. When they say "Si, es pica." It means don't touch it with your tounge or it will catch on fire. So everything is perpetually spicy. I should just stop asking. Dessert was really good. Calabaza Dulce (sweet pumpkin). It tastes like pumkin pie that's been soaked in a cinnomon sauce it's whole life. 












And that drink... I'm still not sure what it is. I only had one sip, convinced that my parents and their friends are only trying to make me drink alcohol. It's some sort of fruity cream drink. That's all I can deduce. 

Dinner and a show! Five points to Gryffindor if you can name the song. 

Then after the meal, I helped ricky make a pumpkin. It was actually his homework project. I was happy to bring some true halloween culture to them. Although the pumpkin selection is less than desireable, we made it work and I think it turned out just fine. 






Definatly a good weekend. :) Love Life Like Crazy!

Day 68: Happy Halfway Day

So today was a little strange. 

It started out as a normal day. Went to teach in the morning and the kids were relatively good today. Filled out some forms. Watched some Bones. Then, in a sudden craving for pastries, went to a nearby Panaderia for some pan (bread) with the other teachers. 

I get some cookies, sourdough roll, and a sugar coated roll (all for 5 pesos! YAY) and then the cashier says:

"You like cake?"

Me (a little confused): Yes? 

"Ok."

And he reaches down and gives us a cake. It's not huge but it's big enough that it will satisfy all seven of us. He just hands it to me. Like didn't charge us at all! 

"What?"

"Yeah, You taste, and tell me if it is good, or if it is better than good."

This guy totally made our day. 

So as I'm walking back to the school, holding this cake, wondering what we have to celebrate on this day. Then it occurred to me. Happy Halfway Point. We've been here for about two months and are leaving in about two months. 

So we ate cake to celebrate!!! And it was so delicious, I forgot to take a picture. Oh well. 

After being thoroughly satisfied with this surprise, I began reflecting on all my favorite moments while being here in Tehuacan. There have been quite a few actually but here are some of my favorites.

1. Puerto Escondido. Need I say more? This guera's heart belongs to the sea. Always has and always will.

2. Getting a package from home! My mom rocks. Kinda love her like crazy. 

3. Oaxaca Temple trip. Even when everything is in spanish, the spirit you feel is universal. 

4. Being sung to in English by my host family and their family friends. Once you've been in a place for so long that doesn't speak english, you appreciate anything you get. 

5. Sister bonding while watching movies in spanish. As well as host family bonding while spending time together, me learning the language, and they learning how they think typical Americans act. 

6. Making movies with my Elementary Kids. They're really creative, funny, and adorable. I need to invest in my brother's help to complete the movie. *Note to self: Talk to Logan*

7. Skyping my family. Logan being a dork, Mom laughing, and shade trying to figure out where in the world my voice is coming from. 

8. Discovering that Netflix in Mexico is a bazillion times better than in the States. Go figure. 

9. Discovering a whole new world outside of my small little towns. Realizing that I am so privileged to do so when so many people will only know what they've always known their entire lives. Honestly, I've learned so much culture and gained a whole new appreciation for small things like language and peanut butter. But then again, I've always loved peanut butter. 

10. It's not over yet. I'm only halfway done and it's exciting to think that adventure still lies around the corner! I guess it always will for me though. I am always in search of an adventure. 

Just another love like crazy day. In Mexico. Life is good. :)