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Published: July 24th 2006
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Ashley and Elizabeth
This is my wonderful roomie, Ashley, and me before heading out to tear up the dance floor at Barbazul! Wow...I feel like I have a million things to say! And we'll see how well they come out.... You see, the more I try to speak Spanish, the less I can speak English. The words get all jumbled up in my mouth and then come out in a rather frightening way! So now I can't speak Spanish well, nor can I speak English well. Hmph!
I finished up my first week of classes on Friday! I can hardly believe how fast the week went, although every day felt like one of those long "Mexico days." After class and comida I usually end up in the zócalo or back at the school or somewhere doing something. There never seems to be a dull moment here. I've bonded a lot with my roomie Ashley this week, so it'll make it even more difficult when she heads back to Colorado this weekend. Then I guess I just keep my fingers crossed that I get someone equally enjoyable to laugh with, study with, and use for fun new jewelry!
As I mentioned earlier, I went to watch my friend Carlos play soccer Friday afternoon. It was a pretty good time and I really
liked that it was something much less touristy. But just because the stands weren't stocked full of raging fans certainly didn't mean that there was less passion on the field. It was pretty cool watching a bunch of grown-up men so into the game! I know friend Craig back home is happy that I'm exposing myself to fútbol!
A large group of us went dancing Friday night at a big club called Barbazul. It's supposed to be one of the favorites here in Cuernavaca, especially among the Americans. And I can see why....it provided us all with a fun, hyped-up atmosphere and we danced like crazy until 3am! And once again, that included me! So girls from Lawrence, I suppose you will probably make me put my money where my mouth is when I return in August, now won´t you?! And I suppose I'm up for that!
8am wake-up call came early Saturday morning, but I was hyper from the second I woke up. Why all the excitement?! Well, we were finally heading to the much talked about Las Estacas....a BEAUTIFUL water park located in Tlaltizapan, about 45 min. south of Cuernavaca. It's the place where they filmed
¡Mangos!
Basically Heaven on a stick. Anne's roomie Sonya can appreciate them as much as I can.... scenes for the movie Tarzan!! There's a kilometer long river of natural, crystalline water that originates from this big hole. Ok, that doesn't sound very scientific, but it really all does come from this hole....a spring, perhaps? and the water is so clear and so pretty and SO COLD!!!! There's tons to do there, including sunbathing (it helps if the sun's out), swimming, scuba diving, paddling in a raft, jumping, diving, you name it, you could do it! And, here's something Aaron will appreciate....these awesome zip lines both through and above the tropical trees and then also across the water. So what does Elizabeth decide to do since she´s never ziplined before?! Try the higher of the two (over the water)!! Yeah, sounds daring, but one also must remember that I'm not the most graceful person at times. So there I was, at the top of the platform in a tree, with a woman "helper" next to me and a bunch of guys cheering me on down below. Now this woman kinda explained to me how I should crouch down and let go (remember, this is all in Spanish!) and so I immitate her. I'm crouching, one leg on a
Gurgle, gurgle
This is the hole where the water comes from! tree branch, one on the platform and I muster up all my strength, step off, expecting to slide down...and what happens?!! I lose my grip and my body goes tumbling, awkwardly, into the water about 20 feet below!!!! And, to enhance the experience, I land on my back, lose my breath...and of course, my dignity! Anne said she's never seen a body fall in the position that mine did! I'm happy to have provided her with such a humorous memory for all eternity. After watching the others go, it became clear that the way I'd crouched (by immitating the woman!!! the HELPER!!) was wrong and that I'd put way too much weight on my arms when I stepped off the platform, therefore letting gravity do the rest. Um, yeah. But I got back up there, tried it again, and had a much more successful experience the 2nd and 3rd times!!
It was so relaxing being at Las Estacas. (well, when I wasn't falling from trees!) The sun was only out part of the time, which seemed not so great at first, but it ended up being kinda nice cause I got just enough color on my skin, but didn't burn. And we were able to just lie in the grass, under palm trees, and not get too hot. I topped off my experience with a big jucy mango that a woman cut up and then stuck part of it on a stick!! Mmmmm. :-)
I got up super early this morning before the sun even came up...and left the house when it was dark as well, but this time it was because the power was out. This was the third time the power's gone out since I've been here, but the first time it stayed off for a long period of time. So I got to learn how to put on makeup with only a flashlight!! But I was so happy that I'd at least packed my flashlight in the first place!
My teacher Nadia from last week, Carlos (the driver), Anne, another girl Elanna and I all went to Mexico City today to see the Folklórico Ballet at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. And it was awesome!! The costumes, the dances, the colors...all amazing. It was a pretty long performance and in that time they covered the major events in Mexico's history, as well as subcultures and customs specific to many of the states and regions in México. It's becoming very clear to me now how different Sonora (the state I'll be working in) is from most of the rest of México. It's been wonderful gaining a new perspective of this wonderful country! If I had to sum up México's culture in one word, I would say "rich." Not meaning money, but instead the passion that these people have for life...their history, their families, everything! It can be seen in many activities here, but I think dancing is what exhibits it best!
We spent the afternoon at the Anthropology museum, which was so large and so well done that it was almost easy to feel overwhelmed. I absorbed as much as possible, but considering a good portion of it was in Spanish, it's probably safe to say I may have missed a thing or two.... But regardless, it was a well put together museum. You would've approved, Pops!! :-)
Well, that about sums up the crazy 48 hours I've had!!! The only other thing worthy of mentioning would be that although I'm stepping out of my comfort zone every day in different ways, I was really proud of myself this week when I allowed a stranger to wash AND dry my clothes in a laundromat. Yes, mom and Terie, it's true!!! Big strides for me this week..... ;-)
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Dave T.
non-member comment
Out of comfort zone!
Liz: Am enjoying reading your comments about your experiences in Cuernavaca and environs. Makes me homesick for that place! How neat that you've already met Anne and Paula, the two other students who are preparing for PCUSA mission. I met Paula and her husband, John, when I was at Cuauhnáhuac in December. And I've been aware that Anne was going to be there during this time 'cause, as the new PCUSA regional liaison for México, I'm included on all of the MBF e-mails. How exciting for you to experience all those places...I went to the Museum of Anthropology at least three times and never saw half of it! And I think we climbed Tepozteco (the mountain at Tepoztlán) at least three times. Sue and Jennifer made it to Las Estacas, but I preferred the historic sites. You may be stepping out of your comfort zone, but in the process you're also stepping into a new zone of comfort...with the language, the culture, the history, etc. Que Dios te bendiga. Please say hello to all our friends at Cuauhnáhuac, especially to some of my favorite teachers: Rosana, Gabriela, Nadia, Virginia, Lupita, Osvelia, Erika, Esther, Edith, Rogelio, etc. Nos vemos pronto.