"Just Because He's Good" (Title of today's entry in the Our Daily Bread publication)

It's been a little over a week since the last post...Sorry about that, but honestly I got a bit lazy :D. At home in Cincinnati I am always busy, like nonstop ALL THE TIME, even when I'm at home. Here I have a lot of down time and I am appreciating it. I'm sure my host family probably thinks I'm a loner, but I think a semester "off" just relaxing is much deserved after almost 23 years.

But of course God won't let me sit completely still. Last week I mentioned I interviewed for a position to teach English at a conversation center. What do you know, I got the position to teach 3 nights a week! Last Wednesday was my first day and I co-taught with the director Alex. He's really nice! He's probably only a few years older than me and started the company 5 years ago here in Queretaro, I think he's from Queretaro. The company teaches other languages besides English and they try to get native speakers in the languages they teach so that students can hear the language spoken naturally. Last Friday Alex brought in 2 of his friends who were visiting from Australia to sit in on the class so the students can be exposed to a different accent. They had a hard time with that, but it was definitely fun. I lead the entire lesson so that was cool. I've always wanted to teach English as a second language and this is an awesome opportunity to do it in another country. Only down side is that it's across town...well really there just isn't a good way to get there. It's like trying to find a good way to get to College Hill from UC...depending on where you are going in College Hill you have to figure out do you want to take Ronald Reagan West, Hamilton Ave, or Winton Road, hahaha.


Anyway in reflecting on how God is constantly working in my life, keeping me safe, and sane I would like to share a few insights:

The first is that latest module we have been studying in Philosophy is the existence of God. We look at how popular rational thinkers of the last few centuries argue that there is no way a rational person can believe and have faith in God (or any other deity) because there is no proof of His existence and that things about Him just don't add up. On the other hand there are theories that support his existence like miracles and how everything about earth had to be just right for human existence. A few philosophers even said that it would not be a good idea not to believe in God just in case there is a God. If you choose not to believe in Him and it turns out he exists then you are out of luck, so it is smart to just believe in Him. My favorite argument for the existence of God is that trying to have understanding without faith will only get you so far. If you believe you are taken to a whole new level of understanding that knowledge cannot get you to alone.

My second experience ties into philosophy class and that God puts us in different situations and somethings are so coincidental that they have to be orchestrated by a higher being. Last Thursday I went to Vickey's house to hang out with her and take out my braids. On the bus ride home I sat in the front next to a middle aged man. He was a bit shifty in his seat. He puts his head back on the seat and then asks me in Spanish what do I put in my hair to make it smell so good. I told him I didn't understand and asked if I speak Spanish or English. He then repeated his question in English and I laughed and told him just whatever I wash with and put in it daily (I really wasn't trying to go into it and talk about how I use a shea butter based product...but for you natural hair people out there try Shea Moisture products on your hair :D). He said it smells really good! Then he asked me what I'm doing here in Queretaro and then he goes into how he lived in Louisiana and somewhere else in the States for a bit. Low and behold he was a part a first responder crew that went to New Orleans right after Katrina hit. He was there to build railroads so that supplies could get to the area. He told me about how soon after Katrina there was another huge storm that came in and that everyone had to be put up in hotels and that it was a scary experience for him. I was so amazed by experience and I thanked God for letting me hear such an unexpected story.

Thirdly, even more unexpected is that Friday the director of the Master's program I applied to at University of Kentucky emailed me asking me for additional documents that he needs to complete a nomination application on my behalf for a scholarship. I have not even been formally notified by the school that I have been accepted! Then again this is also the man who told his students at the annual conference the department does that he is trying to recruit me, haha...Whether I choose to go to University of Kentucky or not for my Master's I can see that God is trying to give me hope through this whole graduate school process.

Since I have been here I try to read the Our Daily Bread publication my mom sneakily stowed in my luggage. Honestly I always have a hard time keeping up with it. But for some reason just like reading a horoscope the days I do read it it directly corresponds with what I'm going through that day. The day my boyfriend had a music audition I prayed for him then I turned to that day's entry and it was titled "Thank God for Music." Then last Sunday I talked to my friends from back home and one of them I haven't seen or heard his voice in a looooong time and day's entry was titled "Genuine Friends." This past Monday my mom and I were talking and I told her I was so grateful for things in my life and that I know it was God's doing and she was happy that I knew that..Monday's title was "Consider the Source." And the title of today's entry as referenced in the title of today's post is "Just Because He's God." Everyday, whether I read the Our Daily Bread or not, it is important to know that what we go through God is good. In Philosophy we read parts of the Book of Job. In chapter 38 God rhetorically asks Job does he really know of His true powers and how He coordinates the rising and setting of the sun daily and all the great things He does. Even when we are challenged by a situation we should not feel forsaken by God or question Him as Job did when he was pushed to his limits. Yes there are trying times, but indeed we should keep the faith in the One who is beyond our comprehension and all powerful.

So with that I pray for the best for the readers of today's post. I love you ALL (yes those who I know and do not know).


Pictures from this weekend:

 

The three pictures above are from the school musical on Monday "Las Ranas," which means the frogs. I went with my friend Rachael (from England). It was neat because the students used all of the area around the pool and there was some synchronized swimming as well. 

The pictures above are of Blanca and me making something called Panocha. It is not a traditional Mexican food, but something that her family makes as a tradition. It is wheat flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and cinnamon kneaded together. Once all mixed together we rolled pieces into balls of dough. Instead of using a rolling pan to flatten them she uses a cool press thingy. You place the dough between plastic for easy clean up then press the lever toward away from you. That makes perfect tortilla sized pieces of dough. After that brown both sides of the dough on the stove just like you would to heat up tortillas. Wait for the cooked panocha to cool and enjoy with tea, coffee or spread jam, honey, whatever you like on it. Blanca spread peanut butter on hers. The dough is not very sweet so it does not interfere with whatever you decide to put on it.

 

There are hipsters in Queretaro!

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.

Inquisitive stares to walking like a...Teotihuacan?

OK this post will really be mostly pictures!

Thursday my friend Vickey braided my hair into a faux hawk. I got plenty of stares that night and Friday. Walking around campus nobody stared. Friday I had Vickey braid the loose ends. When I left her house Friday night a man walking in front of me looked back at me. He looked back a few times. As I passed him he continued to stare. I'm not really sure when it became polite to literally stare at someone while they are looking at you watching them be rude. Once at the bus stop a girl my age walked by with her boyfriend and she said, "Que padre!" Literally it means "what dad," but it is slang for "how cool!" I appreciated her comment even though she did not say it directly to me. Friday morning I even received honks and waves among the blatant stares. That was probably the first time I felt different. Yes, in high school I wore crazy outfits that I thought were creative and cutting edge, but nobody ever stared at me. This is the first time I did not feel comfortable in my skin. Even before my hair was braided people here stare me down as if I cannot see them. Friday when I got home I talked to Blanca (in Spanish) about the stares. She said people are curious and have not been exposed to such a thing. I know that...but that didn't stop me from exclaiming "really" out loud to the guy who kept turning around to stare.

 

Thursday's hair do

      Friday's hair do

Friday night's dinner. A traditional Mexican dish called Pozole (Pa-zo-lay). It is the consistency of chili except instead of beans large kernels of a specific type of white corn are used. It is usually made with pork but Blanca used chicken. On top you add lettuce, onions, freshly squeezed lime juice (my favorite), freshly crushed oregano, and radishes (I just put a few on the side).

CORRECTION: Initially I called these borrador. That was a mistake on my part. Borrador means eraser :D. The dish is called Benuelos.

Saturday the international students headed to Teotihuacan where the pyramids are (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotihuacan). Many students said they did not recognize me at first and that they like my hair. Granted I did have my contacts in so that is a decent transformation. Anyway, the trip to Teotihuacan was great! It was very hot yesterday too.I was pretty amazed by the complexity of the structures and the belief systems and rituals of the people at that time. They were very in tune with the sky - the water cycle, constellations. The pyramids were made to reach the sky. The structures on the ground were a reflection of what the people saw in the sky. I began to think about the pyramids in Egypt and how vastly different the materials are of each civilization and how you go inside the Egyptian pyramids and you have to climb the outside of the Teotihuacan pyramids. Then I got to thinking about how blessed I am to have experiences with the Egyptian and Teotihuacan pyramids that I can reflect on the differences between them. God has truly blessed me with great opportunities in life that many are not fortunate to have.

Adriana and I on the bus headed for Teotihuacan early Saturday morning with our breakfast in our laps

They provided us with breakfast which included a huge juice box, shaved carrots and a lime (of course packets of chili and salt were included for that), a puffed rice bar that was lightly sweetened with molasses, raisins, and nuts, then there was a sandwich with beans, cheese, and ham. They weren't tryin to play!

The tour started with a show of a ritual. Men climb up the pole and position themselves on mere rods of wood and tie ropes to their waists. The man in the middle plays a song while the men spin and gradually descend. There are 13 rotations.

What you see to the left when you first walk onto the park grounds.

I think this is the Temple of Quetzacoatl

My tour guide Aldo holding a solid piece of obsidian. Obsidian is found all around that area and is very plentiful. Many of the wares/souvenirs are made out of obsidian.

There is a small museum that breaks up the outside tour. Here is one side of the city layout. The pyramid closest to the railing is the pyramid of the sun and the furthest one away is the pyramid of the moon. There is another half to this map/layout! It is thought that 200,000 people inhabited the area.

It is a bit hard to see, but these are excavated men (left) and women (right). The people sacrificed and practiced cannibalism for their rituals. The men that are sacrificed have necklaces on and the women are adorned with earrings. I thought that was interesting.

The pyramid above is the pyramid of the sun. It took a serious climb up the aged stairs, but I made it all the way to the top. What a view! I did a little crappy 360 video as well. In my defense it was very crowded up there.

View of the pyramid of the moon as we walk down the Street of the Dead

At the hotel for lunch. You walk through a nice lobby of smiling attendants and see this beautiful patio and pool area with pretty green grass. It literally was like seeing an oasis in the desert.

We had a buffet style lunch. On my plate I have thin cuts of chicken, rice, chicken with potatoes and carrots, broiled pork, veggie salad - green peppers, onion, cactus, then there was a cold taco that was topped with lettuce and crumbled cheese which was really good. For dessert there was a rice pudding garnished with strawberries (fresas) and starfruit and I got cake that had something like ambrosia between the layers.

The Mariachi band playing and the singer waved for my picture, lol

Above is a picture and video of traditional dancing and drumming

Hoy es mala onda!!!!

The title of today's post says "today is not cool!!!!" Today literally was a series of unfortunate events. I'm not sure what stars aligned or if I was supposed to learn a lesson today and what for, but it was one thing after another.

Before I get into sharing the few strange events of the day I would like to take the time for a few shout outs.

To my family: I would like to thank my mom and dad for always having faith in me and telling me to have faith in myself. They support everything I do whether it be summer camps where I go caving in Kentucky, to changing majors from engineering to international affairs, to deciding "hey it's a good time to study abroad in Mexico." Whatever it is they are there. To my extended family I thank you for all of your prayers and support throughout the years and specifically for my trip to Mexico. I greatly appreciate all that you do for me.


To my friends, family friends, and previous co-workers: Today a co-worker from my most recent internship with Cooperative for Education skyped me and said they enjoy reading the blog and learning more about me. It is awesome to know there are all kinds of people following this blog - friends, family, work mates. My family friends have supported me just as much as my family has and I am thankful for that. To my friends, thank you for following and I hope my experiences will inspire you to travel and/or study abroad at some point in your lives.

Now for the unfortunate events:

1. Today I did not have class until 1pm so I lounged around and took my time getting ready. I arrived at the bus stop right before 12pm, probably not enough time before class, but hey I should be fine right? After waiting a little bit I think to myself "hmm, I bet the bus will pass me today," random thought I know. Sure enough the bus passed me and another lady waiting with me because it was on the opposite side of the road and would have had to pass 2 lanes of traffic...As a bus driver wouldn't you ride near the curb lane to pick up passengers? Oh wait that is common sense. The other lady and I had a brief conversation in Spanish, which was more like her talking and me responding in few words as possible... The next bus stops for us and we hop on..a little down the road the bus driver passes a woman waiting by herself then passes another woman waiting by herself. Ironically he was riding in the curb lane and still did not stop for them, but he did stop at a stop past them that had a lot of people waiting at it. We round the corner and ride up to one of these sort of shady check points that men wait at all day to time stamp each bus driver's route. Who pays these people? One guy I see everyday mans the check point in a deserted street and his huge black SUV is parked behind him with the decal "Hecho en Mexico" diagonally plastered on his hood...I tell you. Oh and earlier on in the bus ride I realized the driver is the same guy who ripped me off on my first bus ride with Blanca. Seriously what are the odds?!

2. I have an agreement with the Salsa class teacher that I will show up every Wednesday for class because I cannot make the Tuesday part of the class due to my Philosophy course. A girl in my Spanish class told me Salsa starts at 4:30, but everything else I've seen says 4:00. I decide to wait in the gym near the classroom a little before 4. Nobody came around 4 so I waited for 4:30. Still no one...I run upstairs to check the cultural course board. The proper classroom is 9001 and I was waiting at 9101!!! Ugh! I run all the way from the top down to the bottom floor almost killing myself because I tripped going down the stairs. I find the classroom and see that they already started...I decided not to walk in because the class already started, the door was at the front of the class, and after all of my confusion I'm not sure if the class is at 4 or 4:30 and at this point it was 4:35...So basically I'm a chicken!!! After all of that I walk out the building with my head hung low and feeling down because I was so excited for Salsa today.

3. Luckily Alma text me during my Salsa confusion letting me know she will meet me at my house so we can go pick up my gift for my host family that I had framed down the street. I head to the bus stop and I wait an unusually long time. Once on the bus I kind of zone out on the ride home. I see the aqueduct/los arcos which is near my house. I get prepared to get off. I press the button and walk to the front of the bus to make sure I get off at the right place....and we pass my stop! Why America (in a Bernie Mack voice, R.I.P.)?! I told him a qui/here and he tells me no, I will let you down out there (there=a whole block away). He dropped me off right in front of Alma's job. I call her hoping she is still at work. She already left work, but told me to stay there and she was coming for me. Thank goodness!

4. Alma and I pick up the frame and go to Soriana, which is the equivalent to Kroger until I saw I lady getting her hair colored in the middle of one of the large aisles in a Wella station. Anyway, we get back to the car and I open her trunk to get my book bag out and the trunk door falls down and hits my shoulder...Again, why?!

After a weird day it was nice to come home to a meal and conversation with Blanca. I told her about my woes using my terrible Spanish and we laughed. But better than that I am in the comfort of my own room safe from the craziness of today's world and hopefully from my crazy brain activity or lack there of I guess...*sigh* I crack myself up.

This is the frame I had made for 3 prints from a local Cincinnati artist, Joanne Honschopp. I chose views that exemplify Cincinnati - Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, downtown skyline, and the fountain in Fountain Square. Luckily, the pictures were a good choice because my host family collects magnets and ceramic plates from their travels. This should be a nice addition to the other artwork on their walls...I just gave it to them and they love it! Blanca said she has to think of a special spot on the wall for it.

Rachael's Goodbye and San Miguel

What a weekend! I know the last post was super long (sorry). I will try to keep this one brief. It'll be a bunch of pics really.

**I forgot to mention that during orientation I met Brett who is the UC student here in Queretaro. We were both looking at the extra curricular courses board and he said hey and we found out we are the 2 students from UC (he's originally from northern Kentucky). He told me was enrolled in Intermediate Spanish and next thing I know in the middle of last week he switched to Basic Spanish because he didn't remember anything he took a couple years ago. Small world I suppose.

After being told she was going to leave, Friday night Adriana and I went out to the centro with Rachael so she could buy souvenirs for her family and friends in preparation for her trip back home Saturday. We headed out to the centro for the evening of shopping the vendor stands. To end our long night of walking half way to the centro then taking a taxi and trekking all around downtown we indulged in a new frozen yogurt place before going home.

 

Of course mine is at the bottom with  mango, strawberry, and granola!

Adriana, Rachael, and Me! Yes they are tiny because I'm not that tall.

 

Traditional dancing in Plaza de Armas in the centro

 Saturday Adriana and I headed to San Miguel de Allende with my old roomie Itziar and some of her acquaintances. The drive from Queretaro is maybe and hour/hour and a half...didn't really pay attention to the time, but I know the way (a.k.a. follow the signs) :D. Saturday evening we ate at the rooftop lounge/bar/restaurant at a new, super swanky hotel called the Rosewood. Later that night the other girls went out to dance but Adriana and I stayed behind. We ventured to the biggest Starbucks I have ever seen! We split a bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jam. Sunday morning we ate breakfast, witnessed some religious ceremony that involved deafening sounds and some dancing, then we bought churros from a bakery owned by an old actress whose name I did not get, but she was there chatting it up with customers.

 Entrance of hotel

 Adriana and my room

courtyard
I also saw a large poinsetta tree/bush. I'm not sure if it is native to Mexico but it flourishes here both in the ground and in potted plant form.

 

Rooftop restaurant and the view from it

 

Me walking in town/delicious chocolate filled churro/church in the town center

Church Saturday/Church during the day where the parade ended. The set up is for fireworks.

 

Festival for a saint

Later Sunday evening Jorge and Blanca invited me out to the movies! We attended the 6pm showing of Sherlock Holmes 2 at a theater close to the house...It was in English with Spanish subtitles! After dinner I asked Jorge if they always go see movies in English. He replied that they usually do because the translated Spanish versions can get a bit annoying with the different voices/dubbing, but at the theaters you have the choice between going to the English or Spanish show so I thought that was interesting...Oh and the movie was $50pesos ~ $3.75USD! Can't argue with that.

Today after school I talked to Blanca in about 90% Spanish! We had lunch together and sat in the kitchen after that just talking. I struggled and she corrected me, but we agreed that my Spanish is awesome and that I've only been here 2 weeks and I've progressed rapidly. I'm really excited about that because it gives me hope for continuing with the language after I leave Mexico. She asked if I have someone to practice with when I go home and I said no, but I will do my best to continue practicing Spanish in graduate school and formally learning Arabic.

Oh this week starts extra curricular courses. I have Spanish and Salsa! Guitar class went well today despite the fact the man didn't speak a lick of English. So now I know the Spanish words for parts of the guitar. Oy!