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

Mixed Feelings

I am defiantly going through a cycle of feelings. First I was so happy to be here, so excited and naive. Then classes began and I was like RIGHT here for school okay... adapting adapting, adapting...

I love how the bars have dance//reggaeton and a live band PERFECT mix for me!!!

I also love how on friday when it started to pour three of us split a taxi to take home and only cost about $3 cad, an friday night @ the movies how they make caramel popcorn!!! Tasty!!!

But then trying to speak spanish and navigate our way home afterwards can be quite the task.

Saturday, went to a same town called Tlaquepaque, which was a really small nice intimate town. I prolly shouldn't have went because I overestimated the homework that I did have. Saturday went out to a club called Lobby... it was MASSIVE!!!!

Also I am happy that my local Mexican friends do have cars, so convenient! This city is bigger than I thought it would be, and buses are very hard to navigate, because they do not have a map of all the routes, or a timed scheduled.

SOOO after Lobby I was arguing with the taxi driver because he wanted me to pay 80 pesos for a 3 min ride.. I only paid 70 but should have only paid like 50... ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Sunday... HW HW HW HW

Monday- class class class... went to buy makeup supplies for make up class.. only able to buy 5 things due to budget :-( I wanted to get the eyeshadows, next time I guessss... But everyone else was buying it all at once.. ahahah I felt poor... YES... let me repeat that... I FELT POOR IN MEXICO!!!!! but I was like I have to pay rent for this month and I have to pay for AIG insurance and alll of these other girls prolly live with their parents. But it was SOOO nice, my one classmate and her mom drove me home from the makeup place. The mom was soo funny.. pretty sure they were gossiping about our makeup teacher and the other moms.. ahaha it was comical!!!!

Also I live near one of the busiest roundabouts in Guadalajara!!!

Today woke up feeling good, pretty, and happy, left bailes de salon class feeling doubt, and a bit crummy. This dance class is really helping me come out of my shell, by moving my hits, learning dance steps, also by being able to feel sexy, and just have a good time. But today was a bit difficult, we were doing a lot of litfts and what not, and I just did not trust any of those boys to lift my body that high in the air!!!!

But then went for sushi for lunch, that made me feel better!!! IT WAS SOOO GOOD!!!! I was like hummm maybe I'll be having more sushi than tacos lol KIDDING!!! ps no wasabi for sushi here...

Next I will be right in love with Mexico and won't want to leave, then I'll get frustrated again, then I'll have mixed feelings and the cycle will continue to rotate during my stay here in Mexico.. but I would be more surprise if it didn't!!!

All in All it'll be worth it!!!

WOW!!!!!!

Quite the overwhelming week!!!

I have no idea to start... lets go with Monday,,, first day of classes... Spanish Advanced not sooo bad, Literature of latinamerica not so bad, I understood the Professor but not really the other Mexican students... Intro to Mexican Culture, Professora seems pretty laid back , but LOTS of hw and small assignments... I was really interested in joining the back stage staff for the musical, Legally Blonde en Espanol... BUT it shows in three weeks and I'd have to be back on campus from 8-11 at night, like 4 nights a week, and I feel too busy for that already. So I joined the makeup class as a culture class and will try to be back stage staff for the musical Michael Jackson.

So Mon got home around 5pm, checked facebook, emails, then slept from 6-10, ate and went back to bed... very tiring day!!!

Tuesday, get up at 6:30 am for class at 8:30, BUS was PACKED!!!! But, people in Mexico are very honest, so even if they got on the back door, they would pass their pesos to the driver and then we'd pass back their bus ticket. Tuesday, we had a placement test in our spanish class and I know I did horrible, but I understood what I was suppose to do, just forgot how to do it. So I need to review by myself I guessssss

Second class of the day was Sci, Tech & Soc, but other wise known as Finding Business Opportunities, who would have thought... lol I was like hummmm do I really wanna take this class, I'm not really a business student, but it is taught in english and could be a break from my other classes and if it could help when I'm looking for a career or more stable job...

I then spent like 30 mins looking for my Digital Art class, finally I went to the culture office... and apparently it doesn't start until next week.. blah... so I sat with friends and chatted while waiting for Michaela...went home... stayed in.. RELAXEDDD ///TOOK IT EASSSYYY

Wednesday, slept in, went to immigration office. BLAH Of course our visas weren't ready for pick up so of course we have to go back again. But we got to go down some side streets, view the lil markets of various sellers, clothes, toys, makeup, bags, sun glasses, food... Meet up with another friend Kim, then took a bus tour of Guadalajara.

I GOT STUNG BY A BEEEEEEE ... first time in like 5 years!!!! We were sitting on top of the double decker bus and I felt something weird by my bra strap, then the damn thing stung me..

Then we went to eat at this place called Chai, sooo good... and 2 for 1 Margaritas!!! YUMMY!!! Also to make it even better, Mexico & USA were playing "fútbol" against each other. We watched up till intermission then left... On the way home we say the winning goall... for MEXICO.. (of course)... and in our "circle" everybody was celebrating.. made me feel like I was in Mexico......

Why you may ask? Well lately I haven't felt like I was in Mexico, due to the number of American companies here, also I have wireless internet at home, there are a mulitude of Walmarts, Hummers, BMWs, LV, D&G, .... and the list goes onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

But that afternoon reassured me I was in Mexico... well cause Canada is lame and doesn't celebrate a win of any sport in the streets...

Thurs (today), my professora de espanol suggested that I go into a lower level of Spanish but I told her I already did that grammar, I just need to practice it so I can remember it. Then LIT class was confusing, Professor talked very fast and I was getting distracted, but had to stay focused. Then, most relaxing time of day.. LUNCH!!! Went to third class, saw cute boy.. YES!!! Then went to Makeup class. It sounds very cool and interesting, but all the students are Mexican, so the maestro speaks very fast and its difficult for me to understand the student's questions... also I need to learn the vocabulario of Makeup en Spanish...

All in all, it was overwhelming... but as my roommate says "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it," which is very true. I believe that after this month, I will adapt to the rules of Tec, to the size of Tec, to the fashion and cars of some students, and gain more confidence in my Spanish... All in all... it'll be worth it =)

My Food... Yummy!!!

mmmm Margaritassss

Fresh FRUITTT

Chilling in the Airportt

Waiting for our flighttt

First Week

So much paper work to be completed this week!!! Realized that the taxi's don't always know where they're going... also when I am by myself they will use the meter but lately they've said the meter is broken and so we have to negotiate a price.

I have two roommates from the United States, one from Texas and one from St.Louis. I am enjoying meeting all the new International students. Yet, very happy that we've made some local friends.

On Wed night, my roommate and I took a taxi downtown to meet a friend to go out, we ended up getting in a car and parked right in front of our house.. baaaaahahahaha it was ridiculous!!! Took a 70 pesos taxi downtown, just to return and park right in front of our house, we went to a club right around the corner from our house. It was a fun fun fun night, filled with lots of dancing!!!!

Thurs night we hit up an international student party. Which was also within walking distance of our house. At first there was an overwhelming amount of people I didn't know and felt a tad shy. After a rum and coke, my spanish flowed fluently and I met some new friends =)

Friday morning's hour bus ride to school was dreadful!!! Mexico is NOT the best place to be hung over, due to awkward morning smells, and bumpy, jerky bus rides. My school isn't that far from the house but because of the stopping it takes about an hour, but by taxi it takes about 20 mins. We then went on a school trip to Tequila, where Jose Cuervo was created in the 1700s, the oldest business in MEXICO!!!! ( I think) I went on the Spanish tour, so facts may have been lost in translation.

We got to try a sample of Tequila Blanco, I figured why not, "THEY" do say if your hungover just keep going, well I think "THEY" are wrong!!! It tasted awful!! I wanted to cry...

After the tour of the distillery we got free Margaritas, those were much better!!!

My roommate and I then walked downtown for a bit, very beautiful because the town is in like a valley. But as I was enjoying the surrounding scenery some little brat either shot me with a bb gun or chucked a small rock at me. Either way it STUNG!!!

After an hour bus ride home from Tequila, we had to take another hour bus ride home from school... oooh man... thanks for IPODSSSS

We went out for dinner that night, it was a pretty fancy place, not what I was expecting. Then went out to bar with international students, it was fun but very crowded and didn't really feel like drinking too much. But the music was awesome!! The live band played a mix of songs including Ting Tings, Kings of Leon, and Killers. Drummer boy, not so hot =( but the lead singer was kinda cute =)

*Note To Self* do not get bottle service, when you already have an upset stomach, alcohol will not help!!!!

Sat, we went out to lunch downtown, it was DELICOUS!!!

I thought the draining system at UBC was bad, but here it's worse!!! Saturday night there was a storm, roads were flooded, cars were stuck in the flooded roads, but apparently thats normal, so we still went out.

Went to a bar called Bali Bar with some locals, it was fun, a live band, of course I fell in love with the drummer ahahah... Lots of dancing!!!

I am very excited for this semester!!! Me gusta mi vida!!!

We've Arrived!!!!

HOLA AMIGOSSSS

Raphael and I have arrived safely in the land of the Mexicanssss.... despite missing our connecting flight in Mexico City, due to the fact that we forgot Raphael's passport. The house we are staying in is pretty nice. Walk in and there's a fountain with mountains its pretty neat. My señora's name is Maria and the señor's name is Hector. He is a body builder, with his separate fridge and a massive gym in the back. So Raphael will be able to maintain his vigorous workout schedule.

*Note* for those who don't know, I stole Raphael, yes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle from a good friend of mine. In exchange, I've allowed him to watch over my beautiful Pocahontas. Raphael will journey with me, while Pocahontas will keep my friend company back home.

One thing that I am very disappointed with is the fact that there is a Walmart within walking distance of my house. But then again it is very convenient. I also bought a cell phone today. Went with pay as you go, I feel like I'm in highschool again... can't wait for x-mas to get that iphone....

So far this week has been filled with paperwork, orientations, and paying for various applications. Tiresome, but mandatory.

Hasta Luego

Danger y Raphael