Oct was a CRAZZYY month!!!!

Well "they" do say that OCT is a festive month, but I didn't know how festive it actually was, but it was quite exhausting.

It started off with two weeks of exams with a small break in between at the beach, and then my mom arrived and we spent an awesome week together. Did the tourist thing and explored the city because there was lots of festivals and celebrations. Then my mom and I did the International Fair together, which was nice. I was able to explain my culture both in Spanish and in English. After my mom left, I went to the beach again =)

That was quite a weekend, I discovered I didn't like boat rides and the sky was completely grey. It was scary. My friend Kimzey and I made new friends which was nice, but then one guy got into "preacher" mode and that wasn't cool.

That week 19th, I went to the Kings of Leon concert and it was AMAZING, I couldn't find the merchandise section but of course after the concert there was a vendor outside selling unofficial tshirts... I was ahahah I should have known!!!!

Then that weekend we went to Guanjuato which was amazing, I can so picture myself growing old there ... ahhhhhh it had very beautiful colloquial buildings...

The next week I went out for a friends 21st bday party and that was a crazy night, then following thursday night was also a crazy night and I was like mannnn I can't do this two nights in a row...

then it was dia de los muertos but I wanna write that a bit more in detail. gotta run.. =)

Sorry haven't been writing but its been quite hectic!!!

Until next time,

Dani

The Epic 629-B

This was an essay I wrote for on my Introduction to Mexican Culture class. We had to compare culture differences and I decided to do mine about my bus the 629-B, I take it every day to and from school, except the days when its raining...

Public transportation is always an amusing experience for me. Growing up in a rural community I did not have this public service. Throughout high school, I traveled with my mother to her various conferences in the United States and I always had an interesting experience with the public transportation. Going to school in Vancouver, BC, opened my mind to a whole new world of buses, sky trains, and ferries. This amuses because you never know who you are sitting beside, where they come from or where they’re going. You can share fifteen minutes with a person, and they may change your life forever; for example, looking at the book they are reading and realizing you still need to take that creative writing class you’ve always wanted to, or being brave enough to make conversation and meeting a new lifelong friend.

Here in Mexico, the buses amuse me because of the value that they hold. In my early morning trek to school, I firstly have to wait in the freshly polluted air, after just showering and trying to present myself in the best manner possible. Then I never know how to dress, yes it may be cold in the morning, but you never know how hot it is going to be on the bus. After I get on, we travel en route to Tec. On the way we pick up various students, workers and parents with children, who are all starting their day and trying to make their way around the city. First observation, there are two types of bus drivers, the one who thinks, no matter how packed the bus may seem, there is always room for one more. Or the bus driver who thinks the bus is full enough and speeds past all the stops as I see furious passengers left to choke on the exhaustion of the diesel fueled engine. This bus driver will also drive on the opposite side of the road, this is when I close my eyes and say dear God, I know you are looking over me, please let this bus make it on time to the right lane, and at the very last minute the driver swerves back to the right side of the road, avoiding all opposing traffic.

No matter how packed the bus is, no one ever complains. In Vancouver sometimes I take public transportation for granted compared to here where they are very grateful to have transportation to where they need to be going. Even the guy at the very front of the bus, stuck standing on the steps between the door and another passenger, he also happens to have the zipper of the other passenger’s backpack stuck in his nose, and does he say anything? No, this is what truly amazes me.

Another thing, you may think, oh yes a packed bus and an open seat at the front of the bus, “score”. No, the seats in the front are one of the most uncomfortable because they are always blistering hot in the afternoon due to low air circulation or super squished in the mornings. Also the seats in the back of the bus are always the bumpiest and you arrive to your destination feely awake yet nauseous. You may be asking, well where do I sit? And if you are thinking the aisle seat, you’re wrong, when the bus is packed there is constantly someone being thrown into you from the wicked turns and jerky stops. Next thing, when traveling to school in the morning and you wake up to find its pouring down rain, do not take the bus. Yes it is extra amusing, but you arrive to school two hours later than you are supposed to and the bus is super muggy and stuffy from all the windows being closed.

All of these things are what makes my stay in Mexico more enjoyable and unique; I would never trade it for anything, even having my own car here, because really I think that’s a bit more terrifying.

I'm From Canada, Now Teach Me How To Dance..

Another eventful weekend in the grand city of GDL... started off with host brother turning 9, my roommate and I decided to get him some toy cars and walkie talkie watches... and posted signs in the house before we left for school so he'd wake up and see them (if you've forgotten, I leave for school at 7am, mas o menos)

Friday had a great "girl" night with roommate, just chatted away and then went and saw a movie, the Time traveler's wife, it was interesting but not as good as Notebook. As we were getting home, we decided we need to make more Mexican guy friends ahahah deff not girls girls lol

Saturday I went to San Juan De Dios, which is a 3 story "black" market, with fake shoes and clothes, think I might buy some converses or purple adidas or lacoste.. then they have fake hollister and american eagle and abercrombie and fitch clothes, I was like this is hilarious, just throw the bird on the shirt to get it to sell... didn't work for me, I went more in the route of knock off bags... bought an over the shoulder fake Coach bag, like the more small ones for traveling, so far I love it!!!

Came home, picked up roommate and headed for some delicious sushi Mexican Style, which consists of cream cheese in the rolls and instead of wasabi you get jalepeno peppers in soy sauce lol

We then caught a taxi and flew to the Chivas game, woop woop first Mexican Soccer Experience... it was awesome, the stadium was huge, OHHHH and I had bought a pink Chivas shirt at the market for super cheap so excited to rock that at the game...

The tickets were given to us for free from our host mom, so that was awesome, we were sitting high up but could see everything, there was a section only for Chivas fans, you could see them bouncing up and down while doing their chants... next time I wanna sit near them =)

I was imagining what it would be like to go to a Bandits game in a stadium that big & it being filled and be being a reporter... got pretty excited about the idea =D

There wasn't really a half time show, but in order for the players to get to their bench they walked under and inflatable loaf of bread, and all the other advertisements were inflatable it was hilarious...

After the game we went in search of a bar, found one, BUT they only served beer, I was like "WAT" no tequilla, I'm still in Mexico right, lol so we left and came across something even better, an outdoor movie, like local 'indie' films, (not sure what indie means, but I think more 'B' or independant)... anyways this movie was called La Calle, about the youth living on the streets in DF, it was sad...

Sunday we went and enjoyed using our free tickets to this music festival, that was awesome, but I wanted someone to play Como la flor, a Selena song, but later a Mexican friend told me thats not la banda but a different type of music... good to know... good to know...

SO MANY HOT GUYS.... one was dressed all in black, his hat, shirt, and jeans with matching red boots and belt.. ugh loved it.. my roommate is like hum I don't like his matching belt and boots, and I was like thats what I love about him and she replied well your mexican lol YES , why YES I am...

After the cowboy fest, I was craving some MEAT, so went to have steak for dinner, it was delicious!!!!

Then HW....

So quick side note, my roommate and I want to start a list of .. You know your in Mexico when... so our quote for this weekend would be...

You know your in Mexico when the beer comes to you... and you can replace beer with tacos, burritos, blankets, cds,

Because yes I know people bring beer to you at sports game in North America, but they also bring it to you at concerts and they try to sell tacos at the game that they bring to you... its like you can stand in one spot at an event and have everything you want... well except el bano(bathroom), but thats just a given...

DF... aka Mexico City...

Sleeping on buses for 8 hours, mas o menos, is not my favorite task... but when in Mexico... do as the Mexicans do, Verdad?! SI CLARO!!!

Upon arrival in DF, first thought, wow this sounds like New York City, ALWAYS noise. Took a walk down town, saw some pretty amazing things...

-like the multitude of police officer, ps they looked like robo cops,

-I was cleansed by an Aztecan Native, he had a type of grass... kinda like sweet grass and cleansed me and my friends then gave us a rock as a gift...

-the Cathedrals were pretty gorgeous, and breathtaking because of their size, but still not a huge fan of them

-I realized Mexican "Powwows" are "el centro" aka Downtown, always selling things, like food, gifts, crafts, native and modern, people socializing, dancing, native dancers, salsa dancers, marachi bands, caperlia dancers, etc etc etc

then we explored the Aztec temple they found under the city, very very interesting...

*Fun Fact* Did you know Mexico City is built on water and is sinking 1-2 cms in the center a year and 9-10 cms on the outskirts... WOW.... causing the cathedral floor to be crooked, also not having many Sky scraping buildings, the tallest one in Latin America is found in DF, which is 52 stories tall..

then ate some tacos, of course at a restaurant of a friend of the tour guide... "connections" ...

después(after) we drove for about 2 hours to get OUT of the city to a small town where we had some drinks on a boat, really I felt like I was in New Orleans, not Mexico, and I felt like Riverboat Fantasy should have been playing... but it was fun...

STORY TIME...

In Mexico they are ALWAYS trying to sell you something, blankets, bread, candy, ceramics... anything and everything... PS its all the same, different city, same thing... anyways, as soon as we got off the bus, of course there were sellers...

"amiga, amiga, by this, by this, this is the best, hand made, hand made" my friend Malin and I came across a guy who had thread bracelets with your name in them, she's like they obviously don't have my name, and I was like yeah they probably don't have Yolanda either, in my mind thinking of more of a "bear/kahonji" name... so when he asked amiga whats your name, I replied Yolanda, he ran off.... I was walking with a "coordinator" of the trip and he comes up yelling, Yolanda, Yolanda, I have a bracelet with your name on it... I of course was flustered and burst out laughing, in actuality I should have bought it... Also the coordinator was like why is he calling you Yolanda ahahahahh..... ps now looking back at it.. Yolanda is a typical Mexican name.... JOKE ON ME!!!!

Also accomplished on this boat ride, I have a friend, who at the beginning I thought he was cute, but then I was like umm what happened with his dressing, it was so nice, and I never hear him talk, does he talk? he must be french since he doesn't talk alot in english... but guess what... I GOT HIM TO TALK... woop woop, the thing I'm best at... getting shy people to talk!!!!

Drove back to Hotel...another 2 hours.... Got ready went out for dinner, because of the rain, not alot of restaurants had lights and of course we pick the Mexican restaurant with no lights, Romantic yes... food good yes... tequila con squirte (sprite) yes...

BUT

after dinner we ran to the bar in the POURING rain that we thought we were meeting the rest of the group at.... but as sooon... and I mean as soon as we got there... they put a sign on the door, clossed due to violations of rules.. DIOS MIO, by this time we are all soaked and turns out the rest of the group is going home because of the rain... lame...

so we find a different bar... have a drink or two then go home... TAXI RIDE HOME... adventurous... yes as always... 4 ppl in back seat, 2 in front passenger and of course our driver was kinda large himself, so it we were all squished, sorry for those at home, but I think our taxi driver was drinking and driving, pretty sure he finished off a beer while all 6 of us were in the car with him... to make things worse the seat belt metal thingy was sticking my in the ass the whole way... left bum cheek to be precise...

....Middle of Night..... woke up with blazing hot skin, fever, earache, muscles were killing me, headache, first thing came to head... ahhh man I'm dehydrated... chugged a bottle of water, went back to bed...

woke up feeling like crap, but HELLO, I'm in Mexico City, Population 24 Million, how could I stay in the hotel all day, of course I had to leave, took some IB profuen, and ventured out...

arrived at the pyramids of the Aztecs... AMAZING... they existed since FOREVER like the 1200s- present!!! which to me is unbelievable.... I didn't climb them tho.. feeling too weak, it was breathtaking enough just looking at them, oh then later on in the day I found out I had diarrhea, which obviously was not helping with the dehydration situation... blah FML...

PS in Mexico a lady sits at the door and either makes you pay to get in and gives you a limited amount of toilet paper, or a lady sits inside handing out toilet paper and paper towels and expects a tip... also a limited amount... embarrassing when you have stomach issues!!!

Went to lunch, deff wasn't enjoyable, BUT I did get to see some traditional dancers, very interesting, but then sat on the bus because my fever got worse, and I was hungry but cudn't eat, so took more medicine, cried a little and fell asleep....

woke up at Frida Kahlo's house... WOW such an intricate house, and I didn't know she was married to Diego Riveria.. also interesting... they had an odd relationship, Firda painted about her pain, sexuality, and motherhood, I enjoyed... ps by this time I was feeling alot better... PSS we were about an hour-hour and half from our hotel and STILL in Mexico City... crazy EH!

We then walked to a market... ugh LOVED IT!!! I finally bought myself a white Mexican cotton top with the floral designs on front.. LOVE IT... then hotel...

For Dinner I was FINALLY feeling better, I was starving and of course no one wanted to go out for dinner because they all had such a large lunch.. JERKS... lol but my awesome roomate came with me =)

I was then stuck between a rock, or what ever that pharse is... because I was really looking forward to going Salsa dancing, but I was supper tired and starting to feel better from being sick, so I did the right thing and stayed in and HEALED!!!!

Sunday, I was the most energetic person of the group... funny how the tables had turned lol

we travelled around the city, and I saw the most famous statute of Mexico, the one that is in all the movies and errr thing... then after multiple complications we finally ended up at the museum of anthropology, we were only able to visit 3 rooms out of 23... WOW... but I did enjoy every one of the 3 that we did visit!!!

Then we waited forever in line for the Castle... another WOW... ps my new guy friend who I got talking, kept teasing me cause I kept saying wow to the architecture of the Mayan pyramids and of the Castle...

*Pauline Johnson would have loved to visit this castle!!!

Finally ate "lunch" at about 7 pm, when we were supposed to eat at 2 pm, hum, must be that Mexican time.. alot worse then Indian time...

I thought I was ordering chicken soup, but I got a soupe, which is a type of taco that I didn't know about, still delicious tho....

Then I passed out for the 7 hour bus ride home... arrived in GDL about 230am, woke up at 630 am for class...

another interesting story...

woke up at 630am to pouring rain... ugh... I was like this is too relaxing I don't wanna get out of bed, I just wanna stay in bed all day, and I know the roads are going to be flooded and I'm going to get soaked UGH... but I got up, took a taxi, then we got a flat tire... DIOS MIO.. then the next taxi that was waiting for us.. just took off just as I was about 3 feet away.... JERK... but maybe it was a good thing because the taxi that did pick us up, drove on the sidewalks and 4 x 4 it in the mini diches lol LOVED IT... and he drove us right into the school parking lot, usually they drop us off at the gated entrance...

I also asked my teacher if I got a "falta" which is an absence, and your only allowed so many per semester, and she replied, let me ask my boss, later in the day she wrote us an email saying, on rainy days I will take into consideration the rain, BUT if this is a constant thing then its a falta, also if you see its raining in the morning, leave earlier, take a different route, or other type of transportation... GREAT... everything I did do today and still arrived 15 mins late...

RIDICULOUS!!! there are only 2 roads leading to my school, both which are always packed in the morning, buses are slow so when I am running late I take a taxi, but when it gets a flat tire its not really my fault... also I usually leave my house at 7 am, how much earlier does she want me to leave????

well.... I'll let you know how it goes.... until then...

Nos Vemos..

Dani & Raphael

No Worries

If I forget his name, then don't worry... its either Jesus, Jorge/Jose, Eric, or Hector lol

I love how patriotic the city is, especially with the soccer games... I am watching one right now, Mexico against Honduras.. woop woop I hope we win...

There was something else I was going to write and of course NOW I forget.. but when I do remember... I'll be sure to post it...

No Manches...

Okay,

quick storytime, sorry I haven't been keeping this up...

Went to Puerto Vallarta, it was amazing!!! Despite having no sun at the beach it was a good weekend. Had a great time with friends, and talked to store owners. This Mexican was like YEAH I KNOW MOHAWKS.... I was like what??? He's like yeah from Quebec, they're really rich, they were just here for a month... WOW small world.. and made me feel good =)

I was like well I'm a student and we don't have casinos so I'm not rich lol

Saturday night there, I had my own lil rockstar for the night... lol it was fun, dancing the night away till 5, then expecting 24 hours snacks, but NOPE, so went to OXXO for an hour an a half talking and munching out... GOOD TIMES!!!!

Things have been good, school is always school, but making more friends in classes, going out to some cool places.. LOVING THE LIVE MUSIC!!!

Before going to salsa dancing last night we went to this place called Scratch and had a jazz band playing... I loved the quirky bass player, glasses like andy warhol and awesome smile!! this old man of like 70 asked if I could take him home to Vancouver and I was like umm NO lol gotta be straight up HONEST...

People have fears of spiders, snakes etc, I have a fear of dancing Salsa... I have no clue what it is about it, but there is something that always stops me... But I will get there!!! I will overcome this fear!!!

Chao for now...

Vive Mexico

Maquillaje Maquillaje Maquillaje

Hopefully all this makeup I am buying for my makeup class can cover up my real emotions. I feel a bit jipped.

But I am accepting what Guadalajara has become, the developments, the changes, trying to accept it all.

The students are really nice at TEC, I meet a girl who is going on exchange to UBC in Jan, so hopefully we'll hang out this semester and continue to hang out at UBC... =)

Also met a girl in my makeup class who speaks very good english, YES a translator!!!!

Yes, classes will remain to be overwhelming, but I talked to some of my teachers and it will be a challenge but I am not alone. They are there to help, despite all the rules and restrictions, yes they are there for help.

Now I just gotta figure out how to unlock my locker... hummm