Bichos, Bichos, Go Away...

I didn't realize how much I disliked cockroaches until this year. I mean when we first moved in we saw dead cockroaches, mostly dead, I think there were a few live ones but no biggie. We had the school exterminate and it didn't seem like too big of a deal. Then, sometime at the end of April, I had three cockroaches in three days, and I didn't like it. First, I saw one lying dead in my shower. Not terrible, not pleasant by any means but fine... at least it was dead. The next day during math, my kids all started shouting "cucaracha!" I look over to the window where they are all staring with their eyes filled with equal amounts of disgust and wonder. There he is, just crawling along the windowsill like nothing’s up. Thankfully half of my class was in Spanish at the time so I only had 9 kids freaking out instead of all 18 screaming and running around. I got a cup and piece of paper because I loathe the feeling of squishing bugs with exoskeletons! ew, that crunch is sick. And proceeded to carry it to the office and tell Miss Eren (the one who is in charge of the maintenance staff and general upkeep). She tells me to 'just take it outside and step on it,' all matter of fact. Well, sorry, but no thank you! So she comes along and smashes it with her own foot, with just as much apprehension as I would have had I might add. So, ok, class back to normal in a few minutes and I have only a few hours in this room everyday.... still fine. But then later that night I found ANOTHER! and that was almost it for me. I was doing a load of laundry, gotta have clean towels, right?! I take out the first one to hang on the line to dry and notice a very big cockroach leg with the gross little feeler things on it!?!?! SICK, not ok. so I check inside the machine and ta da! just a cockroach body stuck to the side after the spin cycle, sin piernas. His legs were everywhere but his body, ergo all over my towels! Of course they all have those stick-y things so I had to pick them all off one by one, not cool. …Here ends the first segment of this insect-ified saga.
Around the same time, I woke up one morning with my legs covered in what I assume were mosquito bites. The first day it was kind of bad….then the second day I woke up with even more! They were so chicken pocked I had to wear pants, if not for vanity reasons, for a small attempt at obstructing the scratches. I even took a trip to the school nurse to beg some miracle cream to make the itch go away. I talked to the school and they came in to fumigate so the third night I didn’t add anymore and I slept like a baby with the Benadryl. Side note: It is funny how medicine works here… Most drugs are over the counter, at least in comparison to the States, and everything seems to have a second/unadvertised use. Vicks VapoRub is a sensation here (try saying with a Mexican accent, its better that way). It is the cure-all drug. Its much like the father in the movie Greek Wedding, “Just put some Windex on it.” When I was eating with Victor’s family I showed off my wounds to his aunt who is known to have a head full of great home remedies. Vicks was, of course, the answer to the itching. I didn’t end up getting it, although the cream I did get was recommended by another person and also not listed as an antihistamine (and kind of just seems like a glorified Neosporin, but their slogan is promising, “Que buena medicina!”). Thus the spots faded and there ends part deux.
The third portion of this tale takes place in the kitchen. Twice now this year, in a short amount of time, we have had a pantry infested with ants. I mean, who hasn’t seen some ants in the kitchen before, set out a poison of some sort and badabing-badaboom… But this is like a massive ‘the-ant-hill-has-changed-location’ ant infestation. They weasel their way into all open boxes and bags, even swarming an unopened bag of chips! So it costs us not only the time to clean that out and get it sprayed etc…. it costs us the unusable food they polluted and pilfered for themselves. Annoying.
The last section comes more recently and brings in the new era of detestation. Now I don’t remember exactly why, but I had not had the best of days at school (robably just some frustrations with behavior issues or lack of help…) so when I went to bed I only wanted to sleep and to forget… I was definitely not prepared for the day to get worse. The nightly routine began normally, I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and headed to the bathroom. I sit down on the toilet and think I hear something to my left, I look over and eye level with me not more than 2 feet away there is a cockroach crawling up my shower curtain! Sorry to use the word so many times in this blog, but SICK! I quickly shut the bathroom door and run downstairs to tell everyone what has happened. Like I said, I don’t really want to be the one to squish it. [just so you know… I have twice saved my roommate Emily from cockroaches running through her room. When I have to be the strong one I can, but sometimes I just don’t choose it] I went back up and tried to take care of it myself….because of my weird fear, I instead caught it and flushed it down the toilet. I know, I know, probably more work to catch and flush than to squash, but just let me be :) I go back downstairs for a bit of composure and reassurance, and finally decide its still fine, I’m still fine, I will just ignore my newfound little phobia. I sit on my bed getting ready to turn off the light and thinking ‘isn’t it weird that I heard the cockroach before I saw it. I mean big brown spot on a green shower curtain, how does one miss that?’ when suddenly I hear the noise again. That ticking scraping shuffle of bug feet. At first I think I am just imagining it and really do have full-fledged phobia… but I glance over to my shelves and see the creature crawling all over my backpack and some clothes that I have laying on the floor (not surprised are you mom?! :)) Ok, this is far too close for comfort! He’s creeping all over nearly 3 feet from the foot of my bed where I realize my blanket is hanging off onto the floor! I yell and freak out like the girl that I have now become about bugs. I grew up playing in the country outdoors…aren’t I supposed to be immune yet? I actually just left him wandering while I went downstairs for assistance. Jenna valiantly came up to save the day this time. The creepy thing is that when she came into the room armed with shoe, she couldn’t spot him. Only because I had watched him scuttle over, did I know he was in the corner right next to my headboard this time only 1 foot from my bed but hidden against the black baseboard thing! How many times have I walked in a room and unbeknownst to me there have been live cockroaches? The thought is revolting. I decide there is no way I am sleeping in this room tonite… no way. So I dont. :) The next few nights though, all I picture behind closed eyelids is a cockroach or two scurrying around in the dark, I can’t even put on my shoes or pants without checking them first. Good thing I keep my floor clean as a whistle, right mom!?
[what is with that phrase anyway… when I think whistle I don’t automatically go to ‘wow that’s clean!’ ???]
Not my story to tell but goes along the same lines…. I heard that this weekend one of the other teachers here was at a club and while she was in the bathroom she felt something crawling on her arm (don’t you hate when that happens? Especially when there is really nothing there, or its dark and you’ll never really know. It gives some sort of adrenaline rush, or panic attack whichever way you look at it, and you immediately swat at the spot in question.) Anyway, this night there happened to really be a bug and it wasn’t dark, so she knows… it was a cockroach! EWWWWW! My question is, how long had it been on her, to make its way all the way to her arm? Sick, sick, sick.

And now you know…. The rest of the story. No, just kidding, I was going to say Now you know that I am really just a frightened little girl when it comes to bugs. Thanks, Mom. Hahaha just kidding again…. But really ;)

Happy Baby Shower, Xochitl!

After Spring Break we had just two short weeks of school and another 5 day break to look forward to. The first full week of school went by pretty well, I think we all recovered from no longer being able to do as we wished but actually having to work. The second Monday rolls around and I arrive at school in our 'happy day of the student' spirit week theme for the day: pijamas. Ironically appropriate as I found out we would not be having school! Swine flu break out was scaring everyone and schools across the nation were canceling. And the rumor was that the Swine Flu Break would last until May 6 [this day being April 27]. When that date got closer we found out that the real return date would be May 11, two full weeks off for swine flu. We had a two week break, went back to school for 5 days and got two more. It was awesome. :) Anyway, during that time was the pre-planned 5 day break...

It was really touch and go on the decision to continue on the already paid for, 5 day/4 night, all inclusive resort trip to Acapulco. On one hand we wanted to get out of Torreon, everything being closed and everyone wearing masks that we were told didn't really help unless you were the infected saving it from others. But the other hand told us that travel on airplanes was one of the most dangerous due to the recycled air, I heard that one sneeze of infected air and by landing everyone would be carrying it. Plus we had to stop in the heart of the action Mexico City, DF. After asking around to people we felt would have the right answer we decided there wasn't really much risk involved after all and went ahead on our long weekend getaway.
Tye, Stephanie, and I packed only the most comfortable shorts Ts and swim suits and were off! Our hotel was pretty nice, the last on that stretch of beach, right at the water, complete with umbrellas to lay under. Each day was pretty much the same rundown. We slept in late, woke up for some breakfast, got ready for beach/pool, laid out on the chairs reading and getting served, every once in awhile rising to walk the beach, then clean up and supper, followed by card games on the patio for the rest of the night. It was another perfectly lazy vacation and I loved it. The beach was fun to walk down, we got in some goofy pictures, collected a bunch of ocean glass, I got stung by a bee, we got henna tattoos - Stephanie and I matching but opposite twins while Tye became Vin Diesel: XXX. The food wasn't spectacular and we joked about every [terrible] dessert being prison food, but there was still plenty of fun to be had. Turns out it was the best time to leave as well because the pool malls and the theater in Torreon closed! So if you have to be stuck somewhere.... make a resort in Acapulco!
[and I'm still a month behind in updating! I'll keep going, don't quit looking. Three weeks left and I'm out!?]

Round 2: Oaxaca

Finally, sorry about the delay, no excuse but laziness?! ...

So I arrive early in the morning from Las Vegas/LAX in Oaxaca by myself, take a taxi with a kind gentlemen to the centro area so as to make it cheaper. He was interesting, an art dealer who is on his way to meet 'the best artist since picasso.' whatever that means. he seemed enthusiastic though which is all that matters, and loved to talk about my teaching as well because his 12 yr old daughter is aspiring. Hostal Paulina took me in even at the early hour of 630am and thankfully had my room open. I promptly dropped my crap on the floor and took a 3 hr nap. It sucks to travel all night long especially with changes in transport because what little sleep you can get is always interrupted. I woke up and hung out in the zocalo, or town center. A fine place to be solo... plenty of people to watch and restaurants in which to dine. Erin arrived a few hours later and by the time we fell asleep the other Aaron had also joined. Oaxaca, Oaxaca is a pretty city, it reminds me a bit of Spain with its smaller streets and little plazas. Its at least more like Spain than Torreon, thats for certain :) Even though I have visited before, it was fun to see again and to do some shopping. The summer of 2005 brought me here after a stay in Mexico City. I liked recognizing small things as being the same or remembering where we ate what. The area seems to be best known for its paintings and crafts along with textiles. I ended up buying 2 wrap-around striped skirts that were sold everywhere, and a birthday present for my sister (I'm not telling, but I hope you like it!) I even had to pick up a new book, found a cool english bookstore and bought a chicana book to enjoy in the right atmosphere. After a few days of enjoying the chillaxing there, we made plans to get ourselves to Puerto Escondido, spring break requires a beach. We decided on a 'suburban' which would be one of the cheapest and fastest routes...... not always the best decision, at least comfort wise. It ended up being a very old very raggedy 15 passenger van with the luggage tied to the top, and the roads as only one would expect them to be from looking at the topography of the state - very, very windy. I had the unfortunate experience of sitting in row two behind the driver, a three person row that has room on one side so people can still squeeze into the row behind. That space meant that on alllllll of these curves I was either thrown against Aaron sitting to my left, or the foot of empty nothingness to my right before the van door. Impossible to sleep with this predicament, or risk sliding off my seat and slamming my head into the van on some unsuspecting corner. Although, how could a corner come unexpected in this trip, I dont think there was ever a stretch of more than 30 straight feet. And of course, the driver was trying to get to the destination as fast as possible and probably having done the trip hundreds of times felt comfortable to take these corners at high speeds as well as passing on the very same blind corners. Best to sleep.

Once in Pto we sweat off 10 lbs instantly. haha, no, but really. it was so humid there! unbelievable! Our hostel was very hippie... upon arrival, the manager (from WA) didn't know what day it was, and when he didn't have the correct change for our cash, told us he would just stock the fridge with extra beer instead. Ok?! It was cute though, I liked it a lot. The room was big complete with porch and hammock. The water pipes only provide one temp, Cold, but even for me that was perfectly fine. There was a bbq station and a small pool with a bridge and everything. While hanging in the pool you could also watch the big screen tv. every time we were there no matter what time of day, a movie was playing. often a new movie that meant only one thing- piracy :) But it showed the feel of the city, everyone goes as short time tourists and realizes that hanging on the beach and partying all night is the life and they stay longer. Erin and I had a different idea of vacation. I wanted as much skin damage as possible (as safe as possible of course!) and nothing more than a good book and a beach umbrella. All taken care of! We rented umbrellas and the chairs came with. Unfortunately in the uber high humidity the plasticy-leathery cushions only caused/held all the sweat your body would produce. 15 mins laying in the sun you had to flip the cushion?!?! ew! So much of the hours passed on the beach were simply hanging in the shade and reading (not even close to the same amount of body fluid loss there). All three of us had books and after devouring a large chunk would take a break to the water, come back, do the same. Even broke it up once and got ourselves some foot massages! From the most interesting lady... from New Zealand, and can read your entire being based on your feet. She said she new I was a dancer and that my feet were very sturdy and flexible... thanks.
Near our hostal we visited a Domino Pizza, and not the american kind! We ordered the Oaxacan which was sounded really strange but was so delicious! Refried beans, jalapeños, cheese, , and ketchup! So good we had it twice.
For awhile I had a little scare with my plane tickets being cancelled, but other than that it was a wonderfully stress free beach vacation. We took the overnight 'luxury' bus back to Oaxaca in order to actually obtain a little bit of sleep. Though the trip was a little longer it was roomier and took a less curvy route. It even entertained us with some old William Hurt movie based on a true story about a kid who was terminally ill but desperately wanted to catch a blue morpho butterfly. bad things happened and it looked like they were in trouble, but then miracles happened and the kid walked! back to camp to get help. Came home cancer free?! Ha, we couldn't really believe it captured our attention so well.... Back in Oaxaca we patroned the same hostal though not as much luck as I had the first time. our room wasn't ready for us and it was still as early, thankfully they let us into a dorm and let us sleep on those beds! So one more day of shopping and hanging out and then another early morning of travel back to home sweet home Torreon. ha.
back to school.... back to school.... to prove to my dad that I'm not a fool... :)

Consequence of Swine Flu

So, just to let you all know... (sorry this is coming pre 'the end of my spring break' post)
Swine Flu is out there. Its here, in Mexico, and yes, so am I. But supposedly there are no cases found in my state of Coahuila (maybe the drug lords scared it away). The president did decide to shut down alllllll schools in the country in hopes of preventing the numbers of infected/fatalities from mushrooming any more than they already have. This means I am not in school until May 6 as of now. Its like a really long snow day, or another spring break immediately after the first, just not as filled with joy.... It was to be a long weekend this week already and two other teachers and I did book a trip to a resort in Acapulco.... yet to be decided whether we can go or not, having to fly through DF first... I'll keep you updated. Stay healthy

Easter Break Pics link

So far I have only loaded from Phoenix but I will update it later. Maybe tomorrow I will finish ...the rest of the story. (as the late Paul Harvey would say)
here's the link, check it back once the mexico portion of the week is up here!

http://picasaweb.google.com/millerbreanna/SemanaSanta09#

Semana Santa - Week 1: PHX and Vegas, Baby!

The saga begins in Torreon. After school on Friday the 3rd, I frantically finished packing desperately hoping there was nothing I forgot. Victor and I then get picked up by his aunt and taken to Gomez Palacio, the neighboring town in which said aunt lives. We get all of her things together and do our best to squeeze the three of us and our belongings into one of the ever so small taxis here to the bus station. The luxury first class bus then drives us through northern Mexico to the safest city I know, Juarez. [If you are not so familiar with Mexican politics and goings-on, this is actually probably the most dangerous city. Recently acquiring something like 5,000 troops to try to quell the drug war. It is said that last year there were three times more murders there than in the most murderous city in the US. Almost entirely our fault though as the US is the largest consumer of Mexican heroine, cocaine, and methamphetamines, while at the same time being the largest supplier of weapons for them. I digress...]
A fairly uneventful, yet roomy, 10 hr ride later, we arrive at the border town. Victor's parents had driven there, and a cousin and her children also met us there to join in on the fun. So now we are - Victors parents, Tía Lily, cousin Bere, her children little Victor and Angela, Victor, and I. Eight in a four door F-150 (I believe), only slightly crowded, 5 in the back, 3 in the front. First meal back in the US, McDonalds breakfast, of course?!
After dozing on and off for the better part of the day, I was feeling lazy and just wanted to relax. Actually, come to think of it, that's pretty much how I felt all week! It was good to be in a comfortable home, complete with such pleasures as carpet, dryer, HDTV :), and food and entertainment that I am used to. All of this comfort of the US but still so much Spanish around! Victors family doesn't really ever speak English, his brother and sister of course use it almost all the time, while his parents know it but only use it with gringos, and his aunt and cousin don't really know it at all. Plus, South Phoenix has every other billboard in Spanish and the radio stations in Spanglish. It was fun! Especially to play with the kids, we laughed a lot. Victor only calls me Blue, so his whole family does as well; sometimes I was Azul, and sometimes Blue amongst the rest of the Spanish words in their sentence. I showed off some of my face tricks (if you know me, you know the ones) which were a big hit with the kids. From then on I couldn't be seen without hearing "Hazlo" meaning, do it! They're so cute!
Things we did: GoKart racing. which I apparently suck at ... at least I didn't crash ;) Going out to eat: In N Out which is only in AZ and CA, some really good pizza joints because they are lacking in Torreon, and Jamba Juice which I was excited about! Watching movies - two in theater and a few rentals. I am pretty behind in my pop culture trivia! Visit to the Cardinals Stadium. or Heaven as Victor calls it. Shopping! found some excellent deals got a few things, fun had by all.
On Friday the whole family (minus sister, plus me and plus brothers guest) packed up into two vehicles and headed for Vegas! There was a large stretch of stop and go traffic around Hoover Dam, and Cesar got pulled over for speeding, but otherwise uneventful drive. We were of course playing the 50 state game, looking for all the license plates (again, if you know me, this is a given). In the end we had 41 throughout the week, including both AK and HI! Once in Las Vegas and all settled into our hotel room, we hit up Circus Circus for their cheaper tables for the guys. True to Vegas form, we stayed out til all hours of the night. Slept in pretty late and then got ourselves tickets for the Deuce! We visited a few different hotels, rode on the NY, NY rollercoaster and got some gelato at the Venetian, which I was surprised was a pretty re-creation, complete with street performers and people getting married and serenaded in gondolas. Then unfortunately, even though 24 hours in Vegas almost seemed like enough :), it was time for me to head to the airport to catch my flight to my next spring break adventure.
From LAS to LAX to OAO.... to be continued.

Easter celebration

On the Friday before break, the whole school celebrated Easter. For the week prior, we painted all the egg shells the students brought, this turned out to be over 200! My assistant also made the cutest little easter baskets for them to each bring home 2 of the eggs along with some candy. The day of the party, we brought all the kids to a room in Primary to watch some of Pixar's shorts in order to kill some time for some of the teachers to hide the eggs around the preschool area, in the gardens, the playground, etc. As we walked them back over, there was a mad rush of kids scrounging to get as many eggs as they possibly could. It was so cute. And the tradition here is that the egg shells are found and then smashed over the heads of whomever crosses your path. The secondary kids got to put flour into their shells so theirs was a messier fight. It was quite funny to watch though. And of course the kids thought it was hilarious to get a teacher but being 3'+ taller than them we had to crouch down for them which takes away from the element of surprise but was still a good time. Then once that settled down a bit, Miss Charo got on the loud speaker and said that the Easter bunny was spotted in the sandbox! so all the kids mob over to that area, the opposite side we teachers know the bunny is coming from and clearly visible so it was kind of funny they all still ran over to check. then she said oh no, maybe she's in Miss Irma's room and so on until finally the bunny showed herself from the office door and the kids finally spotted her and then the whole mass bolted over to greet her. I can't imagine having been in that bunny suit seeing over a hundred little people rushing at me?! But the kids loved it. Then there was also cake served, funfetti, my favorite! among many others. Why not hop them up on sugars before sending them back to class for the last hour of the day?! Oh yeah, thats a great idea, let's also chuck candy into the crowd so they can get some more! So after all this excitement, they were sent back to the classroom and I was expected to do what with them?! haha, we played with toys after we got the room all back in order.
Here are the pics of the event:

our Easter Baskets

three of my boys, and my assistant, I mean the Easter Bunny :)

chaos

200+!!!

Pamper Yourself and Take a Vaca (or 2)

I cannot believe it is already March 31. Tomorrow is April and that means that I only have 3 more months here in Mexico! It's gone by so quickly, but I am getting really close to the point where I am ready to get back. My behavior problem children are exhausting daily, our school does weird things a lot administration wise, and ... I miss shopping. It may sound weird but I was even talking to my assistant about it and she said she never goes clothes shopping in Mexico, most everyone here goes to TX for their shopping needs. I apparently didn't pack many things for warm weather, and I guess by warm I mean hot. Already, it has hit 100º, in MARCH! so I can only guess what has yet to come.Two weekends ago, four of us girls decided to take a weekend trip to Parras, only a short 3 hr bus ride away. It is home to the very first winery in the Americas, founded in 1597 and still churning out some good wines and brandys. We got to tour the place and taste test a few wines. It would be much prettier in May or so when the vines that cover every pathway are covered with leaves and bunches of grapes. We even bought a bottle of wine to share later. Our hotel was a cute little place with a tiny pool out back (not really workable, slightly dingy and very small and cold), but also in this courtyard were picnic tables and hammocks. Very peaceful and much needed recoup vacation. The town even has 3 estanques, or reservoirs that hold some of the springs they have there. The water was a fun part of the city, some of the streets have a little creek running right next to it, as in under peoples driveways. So no need to buy fountains for the water noises there, just crack open the window! We swam and laid out a bit at one estanque [surprisingly big, about 3 meters deep and I don't know how wide but quite, I wouldn't have swam to the other side] before we had to unfortunately head back for school.

The pathway with the vines over head, just barely budding


This is the lovely bottle opener we borrowed
from the lady across the street.
Doesn't everyone own a deer hoof bottle opener?

I just really liked this picture.
The estanque, I think this pic
doesn't quite show its size.
but it was lovely!

Just today I decided to get myself a manicure. They are so cheap here, as most things are - massages, pedicures, laser hair removal, etc. Thankfully Friday brings Spring Break as well. I am sooo stoked for 2 weeks without school! [this week also brings 2 paydays! the 15th falls on break so we get paid early] It was quite ironic that I am IN Mexico and couldn't decide what I should do for Spring Break. The biggest group is going to Mexico City, but I already stayed there for 3 weeks or so during college, so it felt a little 'been there done that.' Most other people have family coming down to meet them. I took up an offer to go to Phoenix to one of the fellow teachers houses for the first week. I have never been, and its no hotel cost, on top of being able to go shopping :) For the second week I am going to meet two teachers in Oaxaca, a southern state in Mexico. We plan to go beach hopping, maybe surf a bit?! catch some rays, whateve. Hopefully its a rejuvenating good time!

The Birds

It has been mentioned more than once that we are living in a house that feels as if it could be in the famed Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Birds. Upon entering our tree filled courtyard, you can not help but notice all the bird feathers and droppings littering the floor. Even, on occasion, a dead bird or two. I suppose it is not completely correct to put together this movie connection because we have yet to have a bird attack, but nonetheless they are there, they are abundant, they are annoying, and they are relentless. I can even [very unfortunately] tell time by these birds. Every morning, between the hours of 6 and 7 am, the birds gather in full force. This gathering always takes place in the lovely tree selection in our courtyard...of course. They chat it up, nonstop and without concern for those who are yet in slumber, until approximately 7:30am when they all decide to change their locale. With a sudden gust of wind being forced down from their spry little wings, I can hear their departure. Again [almost as unfortunate] their new location just so happens to be the other lovely selection of trees that are those in our school just up the block. So there they are, waiting for us when we arrive.
This daily occurrence would not be quite as annoying if it only happened when I was already awake, though undoubtedly, I would still take notice. Therefore, on school days, it isn't as bothersome since that is about the time I have to wake up, it only means that sometimes I get out of bed in a state of annoyance. On weekends, however, this is a very dreadful racket that lasts about an hour, while I am trying to get in some much needed sleep-in time. .... At least, they're persistent. ?!?

februaryshmebruary

A whole month later and not much to report, can I point out that February is a short month though?! :)
I feel like there has become a pretty regular routine and not too many exciting/new things happened this last month that are really noteworthy. A basic day in the life of Breanna: I get up M-F around 6:30, try to get ready by 7:30 in order to get to school on time. Walk that short block to the school, go through the crazy ness of a day with my children, mostly referring to the large amount of misbehavior, and leave the school by 2:30. I get in an afternoon meal, third meal as we call it, maybe take a nap, maybe mess around on my computer maybe watch a movie, get in a fourth meal, and usually get to bed around 10:30. Weekends are more up in the air, but mostly consist of the same goings on as well - get together with friends, pretend we don't have school to think about and have some laughs.
I will highlight some things that have happened outside of the usual grind, in no particular order....
SuperBowl XLIII
It doesn't matter if I am in Mexico, I still got my Superbowl party. A bunch of our Torreon friends came over to the guys house (my neighbors) to watch the game. The thing that made it interesting was that Victor, one of the teachers here, is from AZ and the biggest superfan I have ever met. We got ready for the party by buying two cases of beer in the neighboring town [as Torreon is dry on Sundays and everyday after 9pm, so just a short drive to the nearest town....] the people that came to the house also brought two cases of beer so now there are approximately 96 bottles of beer in this house, not including the few 6-packs that were brought in by others. Too bad I don't like beer, huh!? The game itself was really good, close and unpredictable... The Cardinals did well, but not well enough for Victor. I have never seen anyone so upset about a professional team losing.... but besides that, it was fun to have the game on even if it was Spanish commentators and no super Superbowl commercials. And no school the next day!!! We had a 'puente' as they are called so we got to just chill for a three day weekend.
Santos
I finally made my first professional soccer game. I never took the opportunity while I was in Spain so I guess its about time! Victor, Erin, Cara and I got our only slightly more expensive scalped tickets to the big game a day ahead just to make sure we'd get it. It was a Santos vs Chivas game which is one of the more popular Mexico teams. Don't tell, I own a Chivas bag, because I of course went to cheer the Santos! :) Our sun tickets were quite the entertainment. The stadium itself is interesting, its small, only one level, and all the seats are cement stairs, so not marked just free for all first come kind of service, unless you pay bigger money of course. Our seats were very near the section that everyone knows you sit there if you are going to be crazy! It is a very large section that they don't even have to show up early to know they will get it, because like I said, you just know. Throughout the game I would find myself watching their section instead of the field. People would climb the fence, put off smoke bombs, play their many band instruments; their section was in constant noise and motion. It was a good game to watch and we kicked their butts!
Cerveceria
A group of about 15 of us got together and got our Colegio Ingles tour of the Corona factory. [I just thought it was funny that we put our school down as our name for the group:)] So we set off with our helmets and protective goggles, and our really nice tour guide. We got to taste test the raw barley as it was being emptied from one of the semi trucks... we got to sit in the chairs at the computers that did all the adding, mixing, creating... and then we got to taste the product before any bottle processing was done, as in uncapped straight from the vat freshest beer ever. Again, too bad I don't like beer! But it was fun to learn about the process and see it done, possibly even more fun since we half of us dressed up like them for Halloween :) Most interesting thing I remember was that yeast is probably the most important part. You add that at the end and let it create all the fizz through metabolizing and also excrete all the alcohol! without yeast, I don't know what it would be, nasty yellow water?! It was fun to walk past all the bottling things too. Too see the cans without the tops yet being filled at something ridiculous like 1400 cans per minute, and the bottles a bit slower but still really fast nonetheless. ( I don't remember the real number so don't quote me) And to see the six packs being made with the plastic rings put around them and then cased up.... interesting to watch for a tour but thinking about the people who we saw working.... I don't know how they can stand it day after day such monotony. At the end of the tour we regrouped in a cafeteria type room where they gave us the standard Mexico snack food: chips and hot sauce, along with a fridge full of a few different kinds of beer and soda. And All of that for free!!
Casa Sonrisa
Tom started a volunteer program every Saturday at a local orphanage so we can go help out those kids to learn English. We can go and teach different ages of kids and just hang out with them, give 'em some love. Its a pretty cool thing, especially since our school is so much the opposite. We get to see something 'real' for a change I feel. The kids are mostly really into it too, excited to take the opportunity.


That's all I can think of for big changes/happenings... It has been a pretty wonderful average of 90º most days, makes me wonder why people take MN, never been big on cold... Going to the pool and getting tan in February?! That's awesome. We have been having a bunch of grill outs too it seems. One day a few of the maintenance guys came over and cooked up some delicious costillitas... mexican ribs, though definitely not the same cut you think of when you hear ribs, their are much different, but no less delicious. And this is the kind of meat you rip off the bone, insert into tortilla and dress as you desire - lime and carmelized onions for me. Other times, we just grill bacon wrapped hot dogs :)
Otherwise, its been pretty standard. My kids are still giving me grief, one in particular. He had to recently spend the day with the principal, which I guess in another setting would probably have been called ISS (in school suspension). He didn't do anything, not one word written, I dont even think his pencil hit the paper all day, and on top of that he messes with everyone else to distract the whole class and cause me to stop teaching to try to get him under control. So I tell Miss Charo this and she says tomorrow with me. Is it a bad thing that I had a lot of fun finding all the work he could do that he has missed or refused to do to keep him busy in her office?! It was a really good day too which should prove to the school that he is too much to handle, and its not just me being a poor behavior management person... no one can handle him, not even his mother. At home life is also interesting... my roommate Emily put it best: we are living in a situation with the physical closeness of being a family but without the unconditional love of a family, so that causes stress/tensions/arguments/etc. I think we also all just want a break, most everyone says they are finding it harder to get up in the morning. It makes me wonder ... and wish I knew what I wanted to do with my life...

Rata, Rata Flaca ♪

Saturday I went to my first Banda concert! basically Mexican country. It was fun [at least until the last hour or so when it was too cold for comfort (ha, I guess it would have been a major heat wave in MN)] I didn't really go in with many expectations as usual, but it wasn't what I imagined. First of all, Victor, his cousin, and I enter and are separated into segregated lines - girls to the right, boys to the left. I think for a split second that was weird but continue on and pass off my ticket and get my purse searched. Just like many other stadiums or arenas so nothing too out of the ordinary, wouldn't want some girl sneakin in a bomb or anything... Then I look over to the mens line and there are 10 or so cops dressed in full uniform lined up near the wall. We see these guys around dressed in their solid navy blue uniforms and packing some major heat, pretty imtimidating fellows. between the wall and them are all the men who enter, now with their hands on the wall, legs spread, and bodies being groped. That took me by surprise. I mean I know the drug/gang stuff is a pretty big deal here in La Laguna but still... Anyway, quickly forgotten. Let me set the mood: EVERY man there is wearing the boots and hats characteristic to Durango (only a slight exaggeration I promise). This means boots are made of materials such as alligator, ostrich, etc, and the toe is pointy as ever! The joke is that they are good for killing cockroaches in corners. Really though, think pointy...ok now add 3-4 more inches in length to your mental picture and there you have it. The cowboy hats are also worn very high, an inch or so above the ear. Its a distinct look they have. Many were even in full out suits, one especially fine young gentlemen decided to get his name embroidered on the back and the pant leg of his... very classy. Another part of the scene I want you to imagine: I am the lone, and I mean one and only, white person in attendance. Also neither Victor nor I went in proper attire to be sure. Victor was sporting a zipup hoodie and his grandpas while I have on an apparently conservative outfit with Chucks. Most girls there were in belly baring tanks (despite the obvious cold spell) and heels. The things we do for beauty... So, there were a couple of different bands playing different stages of obviously different calibers, the 'not quite so popular' to the 'we hail from Chicago' popular. I of course didn't really know any of the songs but that didn't stop me from dancing :) Its hard to explain how they do it, you would have to see it I think. Some of the guys were leading like crazy, throwing the women all around with their feet hardly even touching the floor! Which, by the way, soon became a mess of Tecate beer cans. Garbage cans dont matter, when you finish just drop it on the ground, better yet, why dont you throw it with some force on the ground?! In short, banda was fun.... you should try it some time

Back in Business

Christmas break was a very good / much needed break. I didn't realize how good it would be to be home for awhile, catch up with family and friends in person, and get out of Torreon. Travelling around would have been fun of course, dont get me wrong, but having the people around me was great [and in the end cheaper than all the hotels food and travel it would have been. Thanks for the room and board Padres :) ] Plus I got to be one of the first to see my little cousin Sammy's new baby girl! soo cute.
Now school is back in session (since the 7th really), and I'm back in the usual grind. It was good to come back to a three day week, ease into things. Someone had the bad idea that we should bring a toy from Christmas on that Friday though... good in theory, and maybe could be carried out better at a different school or with different kids... not my little hellions though - that caused so many issues.
I feel like my kids are somehow, miraculously(!? bad choice of word?!) worse than before break. We just had parent-teacher conferences last week... interesting tidbit on that: every single female students parent mentioned one girl's name: Queen Bee. 'Something needs to be done about her, my child is afraid of making her mad' She is feared! Thankfully the parents were very understanding and said they will run into many people like her in life but I should just watch out for it, believe me I have been. She can get any girl to do any dirty work she asks. "put this in my bag, hang up my jacket, dont play with her or I won't be your friend" that kind of thing. AND she's 5. Excellent. When she is gone from school it is seriously a 360º difference with the other girls, they play freely and talk more often! So imagine - I have 6 girls and that is the drama between them, now add in 12 boys where at least 3 are demons (said most affectionately of course) and they can cause a domino effect on many others. Makes for an interesting class to be sure.
Today I am very excited because we changed assistants, apparently they do this semesterally so nows the time. The new assistant I have knows more english and is much more outgoing. With my last assistant, the both of us being fairly shy/introverted didn't make for such a good team. Anyways, even after only today with my new helper, I can see a difference. She is also quite helpful with behavior management and thinks up projects to do on her own. Hopefully my students will start to miraculously shape up. Its getting exhausting