Blogs from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, North America - page 10

Photos from our tour of downtown Guadalajara... read more

Today we ride the famous Tequila Express train from the FerroMex train station in Guadalajara to the Amatitan valley. Supposedly the birthplace of tequila, the town is home of the Casa Herradura tequila distillery at the Hacienda San Jose del Refugio. The tour is extremely well organized, the assembled group is divided among four packed train cars, all very modern. We are in the red car. As we line up to board we are greeted by a mariachi band, Los Toritos (they actually have songs available for download on napster). Like tequila, mariachi also traces its origins here and is another of Guadalajara's famous exports to the world. The train ride is about 1 hour 45 minutes during which we are serenaded by the mariachi band. The train passes through nice country, filled with farms of ... read more

So last night, I went with 9 other girls from GSU and CEPE to a club called CHESS. I am amazed with the strength of the American dollar here: including 2 cab fares and drinks, I spent a grand total of $6.15 (80 pesos). We heard that the club was rather chic, so we all dressed up in our little black dresses and skirts/heels. When we got there, there were about 100 people lined up to get in. But, since we were the only "gringos" there, we went around to a side door and were let right in. We were handed plastic chips that were supposed to be worth 50 pesos each for drinks. Drinks were in actuality a lot more expensive than 50 pesos, but ridiculously less expensive than in the US. The population here ... read more

Today was the first day of classes at CEPE. I have two grammar classes with two profesores quien son muy seriosos. Trying to speak and listen to Spanish all day long is exhausing. I'm sure it will get easier, but even this Mexican keyboard on the computer is confusing. Everything from purchasing a bottle of water to listening in class takes every ounce of energy in your body. Honestly, I feel like I´ve been here for a week or more... Amber and I stayed up last night talking about the effects of "culture shock". Neither of us expected to be having any symptoms of culture shock, because as Anthropology majors, we´re taught to accept other cultures and to remain "culturally relative". We're not too shocked by the customs and culture of the Mexican people, but it ... read more

This blog will include the following cities. Tequila, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Aguascalientes, and Zacatecas I lived in Guadalajara in a semester abroad program. I was living in the area of Los Arcos and la Minerva. My first night in the city was memorable and was a harsh introduction to the country. I decided to come in a day early and stay at a hostel in the city. I made friends with a few Mexican guys that were hanging out in the hostel they were watching a soccer game and were drinking beer and tequila. One was the friend of the guy that ran the reception the other his brother, the owner (a 'man' of about 20) and his girl friend Flaca. After a few drinks at the hostel we headed out. We went to a nearby bar/salsa ... read more