So last week was not too eventful. I finally picked up a pilates class. I asked last Monday to join and the instructor told me that Wednesday's class would be the fitness test. I say oh ok. I really did not want to take it because I will not be using the class for credit. Anywho I show up Wednesday morning at the track. We do the sit up and push up test. When I reported my numbers all the girls said, "wow!" I told them I used to work out...We all stretched then hit the track for the Cooper's test. I was not aware of this part of the test. The Cooper's test consists of running 6 laps! I am a retired track and field athlete who has not worked out in over a year and whose knees still crack when they bend or pop with a tinge of pain when going up the stairs (I'm old I know). Anyway the instructor says, "tres, dos, uno, sale!" My first thought was ugh...By lap 3 everyone started walking except for one girl who ran the whole thing. I just kept telling myself I can do this, I can finish...Ok please finish!...Let's just say I did make it in one piece. It was a little difficult to breath for me because Queretaro is at a higher altitude than I am used to. Even climbing the stairs to the bridge on my walk to the bus is a slight challenge.
So basically after the fitness test I was super tired, but wait..there's more. Salsa class is on Wednesdays also. As if 6 laps, a sprint, push ups, sit ups, and a sit and reach test at 10am weren't enough I had to catch up on Salsa steps and combinations and dance for 1.5 hours straight. I survived. I'm really glad I made it to Salsa because I like to dance. I picked up the steps very quickly too and they seem a bit advanced for basic Salsa.
Thursday night Itziar picked me up then we got Alma and we headed to Maria y su bici restaurant. To my surprise we joined Eli and her boyfriend Pedro who grew up in Columbus, OH and went to UC for a semester. I also haven't seen Eli (who is also someone I know from DC) since I've been in Queretaro. Later on Oscar and a girl named Carol joined us. I met Carol from DC as well, but I did not see her often.
Saturday Blanca and Jorge threw a little get together for their friends. We set up tables and chairs in their patio area. There was also a white screen set up so that Jorge could project his presentation of pictures and videos from their winter trip to China to visit their oldest son and his family. Their friends were really nice and funny. They were cackling, telling jokes, and playing a game similar to Taboo as if they were back in their 30s! We sang happy birthday and ate cake for Blanca's 66th birthday. The cake was really good. Someone asked where it was bought and ironically whoever bought it answered "Sam's Club." I laughed a little inside because Sam's cakes in the U.S. are really good too, lol.
As everyone began to leave the house I got a call from Sergio inviting me to the movies. I asked if Vickey could tag along. After a long voyage to the movie theater we were late and so was Ivette and her friends. We ended up at the movie theater across from Centro de Comercial Galerias (the mall I think is better than Kenwood Mall). I was told were seeing a movie with Antonio Banderas...That is not what we saw. Instead we saw the movie Tree of Life with Brad Pitt...WARNING: Do not go see that movie. It has won awards and all and I'm not really sure what for, but just take my word for it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! OK enough of that. After the movie Sergio took Vickey home because she's not sure on the rules for her host family about staying out late. Sergio and I joined Ivette and her friends for tacos. I had a gringa for the first time. It is not in reference to an American, but it's just the name of the taco, lol. We decide to hit up a mini art exhibition/party. There were a few prints displayed. They were pretty cool and made you think. One of them said: "Life is what happens when you're texting." The party was interesting to say the least. I felt like I was back in Clifton hanging out on Ludlow watching the hipsters . Apparently there is a hug hispter crew in Queretaro. Ivette said most of them were there lol. She told me I dress like a hipster but I told her I am not one. Hipsters are know for their "eclectic" looks of boots/sneakers, cut of jeans, scarves, vintagey clothing, and kind of a laissez faire attitude.
Yesterday I just lounged around the house all day doing absolutely nothing and I loved it! It started raining later in the evening and continued to this morning so today was kinda gloomy and really cold. I heard today was a beautiful day in Cinci. I would like to say our bad weather here will never be as bad as the winter days in the Midwest so I shouldn't really complain. Sunday I also got the chance to talk to two of my good friends on Skype. It was really cool because we are all in different countries. One friend is completing an MBA program at Grenoble in France, the other is in prestigious fellowship program that puts them on the track for being hired with the company they work for, and then I'm in Mexico. I had a little moment because I thought that was really cool and that I know people doing awesome things at the age of 22/23.
Right before I started writing this post I received information for an English teaching opportunity! I am really excited because I wanted to get information about a place close by the house, but now I know this other place is actually in need and contacted our international student facebook group so that is promising. I have a meeting tomorrow to get more details, so I will do an update tomorrow evening about what the position entails. One thing I know it will keep me busy.
