Party all Night

During the day Saturday, I had gotten a text from Liliana saying there was a party at her house starting at 6 so we could all see each other and to let her know if we were coming.  I texted her back saying I was going to monster trucks, but that of course I wanted to come and would call after it was over, knowing that Alma wouldn't want to so much, especially if Lenin was going to be there (and why wouldn't he be there).  I figured she could drop me off or someone else could pick me up from somewhere or something.  I didn't worry about it.

Well, after the monster trucks, Shania and I were HUNGRY (neither of us having eaten lunch with Beatriz because we were both too full from breakfast to eat lunch), so we had planned on going to grab something.  I was craving tacos.  We got to the car and Alma drove us to Ocyé's house to pick her up, but her mom had changed her mind and decided she couldn't go out.  (This is why US "kids" don't live at home after 18.)

So we went back toward town.  Shania called one of her honeys who wanted to meet up.  She told him he could take all four of us out to eat if he wanted.  He agreed.  There's a place called La Cantina and Shania asked if I had been.  She loves it and my answer was no, so we told her fella to meet us there.  Then Alma asked me if I wanted to go to Liliana's.  I told her that yes I had wanted to (and Lili had called me toward the end of monster trucks asking where we were and I told her it was still going on), but that at this point I really wanted food.  She said, what if we stopped in for a minute and then used dinner with Shania's friend as the reason to leave.  She was like, "it's time for me to see all them.  Might as well do it now."  I was kind of proud of her.  So we popped in.  I did a little dance with a very drunk Renato.  I'm going to miss him and Lili so much.  Okay, fill in the name with any one of my friends.

After we had been there less than 30 minutes, we were on our way to dinner.  By this time it was midnight.  It was funny to me because the group at Lili's house were not Shania's circle.  They were more my friends than hers!  I have fully and completely arrived.  And cue the tears again.

We got to La Cantina and get seated.  The place was packed, and the waiters took their sweet time.  There was a mariachi band.  After we ordered our drinks (I was parched and it took forever to get my limonada), I heard Alma talking to the waiter behind her menu.  I assumed she was pulling the birthday card.  But then I heard the waiter say, "Laura y Tania?"  Alma shushed him and then correcting him on his Shania pronunciation.

About three minutes later, the band was calling us up to the stage to sing.  Not just calling us, dragging me by the arm.  I made sure Shania came too and then called Alma up there.  We sang a song I didn't know- shocker.

It was funny though.  My face hurt from laughing so much.

We got back to the table and Shania's man had ordered some tacos (at my request), guacamole and queso fundido.  It took longer than forever, but was delish.  He also ordered a bucket of beers and by the end of the night, they were closing at 1:30 and we had to get outta there, so he opened a bottle of Tecate for each of us.  Karina and Alma don't drink anything.  Ever.  I don't like beer.  But we each took our obligatory sips and I snapped a shot.  Shania has other pictures on her camera and when she gets them uploaded to facebook, I'll share them with you.

We left Shania's friend and considered going to Kuvva, the night club where another of her honeys works.  It seemed like a nightmare to me since we were still out close to two and I had to get up at 7 for my flight on Sunday.  Yuk!

We ended up stopping at Vicente's house (Shania's student with whom we had run around the night before with the band guy) for a second to say hello.

After that, we dropped Shania off, but got a call from Johana.  We were in her car because she had needed Alma's Tracker that day for work, so we went to Johana's party to pick her up and trade cars.  We got back to the house close to 3:30 and Alma still had to take Karina home.  I marched straight up to my room and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.  Alma, of course, had all day Sunday to sleep, but told me to wake her up to take me to the airport.  Will the hospitality never end?!

At one point, Karina and I started speaking Spanglish, and it turned so funny.  All four of us girls were talking like that at one point and we were cracking up.  My amigas.  Tan great.

Monster Truck Showdown

After lunch with Beatriz, Shania confirmed with me that Alma would be picking us up at 7:00.  She went to her house to get ready (how do you get ready for monster trucks?) and I did the same.  Ocyé, who works at a radio station, had put Alma up to calling into the radio station during a contest giving away tickets to the event.  Actually, Alma had jumped the gun (or I guess Ocyé) because when she called, they hadn't even announced the contest yet.  Of course, Alma got her way anyway and was the winner of four free tickets.

The show was set to start at 8, but we were advised to leave the house around 7 to fight traffic an then find a seat (general admission more or less).  

Problem: Alma and Karina work at PISI until 6 on Saturdays.  Apparently there was some drama since this was the last Saturday before graduation.  I didn't follow it all because I was focused on being hot.  But they got there at 7:15.  Shania and I had been waiting for about 20 minutes.  Alma of course had to change clothes, but we were out the door by 7:30.

We circled the baseball field about three times and finally settled on a spot not too close.

Alma and Shania were both proper Culichis in their heels.  Karina had on flats, but a tube top, done up hair and complete makeup (it was touched up on the ride over).  I was typical "American style" as Alma likes to call it, in my flip flops.  But I was at least in a dress- still American style, but with a little more oomph than shorts and a tee.

We had to walk around to the complete other side of the field to enter.  We should've known with free tickets we'd be in the bad section, but we didn't realize we were in the bleachers!  We actually kind of thought they might be nice since the radio station had the inside edge.  Yeah right!

As we're looking for any available section for four girls, we see on the tickets that the doors opened at 4.  Can you imagine waiting four hours for a monster truck show?  Give me a break!

Well, after we had paced the bleachers about four times, we realized why they opened so early.

At this point, Shania and I were just ready to sit.  Anywhere.  Alma, on the other hand, was ready to upgrade.  She was on the lookout for someone we could give a tip to that would let us into the outfield non-bleachers section.  Shania said, "I am so embarrassed right now."  It was funny because it basically reminded me of me in my US life.  But after a year with Alma, I'll be just as "embarrassing" as Mom!

Anyway, she and Karina went to talk to a guy who was shaking his head yes.  Then they pointed to Shania and me and he shook his head like, "Oh, girl..."  And we went running over.  I knew what was next.  As I was walking up, Alma is in the middle of her "she came all the way from the US for this" spiel.  He then started quizzing me in English: "Say something.  What state?  What's the capitol?  Oh, country music huh."  Then he let us slide.   And then he got Alma's number.  I was cracking up.

Up we went to our new seats.

Thankfully we hadn't gotten there at 4 because the show didn't start until 9.

This was the view from our seats.  They were decent for the event.  It would've been nice to have been behind home plate in the numbered seats, but the cheapest tickets (even the bleachers) were rumored to be 200 pesos.  No way dude.

These are the seats where we should've been sitting.  They're lower with a wall in front and as far from the action as you can get...
As you can imagine, with an hour wait time from arrival to show time, we had a photography session.  It was mostly with Shania's camera.  Karina cracked me up when we took three pictures in a row and I blinked.  She said, "Laura.  I'm going to be your teacher.  You can't smile with all your might.  It makes you close your eyes.  You have to smile right in between you really, really want to, and you're not at all happy about taking a picture."  We practiced all night long.

(Shania, Alma, Karina, me)

After a while, it seemed I caught on.  However, in general, I have been much better in Mexico about keeping my eyes open and giving a genuine smile in pictures than I am in the States.  It probably has to do with the sheer volume of pictures Mexicans take.  (Alma, me, Karina, Shania)
Here you can see some of the action.  It was disappointing when one of the "races" seemed completely fixed.  There was a 76 year old driver, so that was cool.  And most of the drivers were Americans with the exception of one.  And there was a female, who was allowed to win.

At the end of the race, around 10:15, they were doing the final show of the trucks.  Each truck got to do laps alone for a vote.  Each one broke down!  One had some sort of oil leak.  Another lost a tire.  The next got all off balance and the driver couldn't get out the door.  At that point, Alma shouted, "I want my money back!"  We all lost it.

We had also had a very funny moment when the announcer called "Unnamed and Untamed."  Unfortunately the announcer was Mexican and we were four English teachers.  He said, "Oon-AHM-edd and oon-TAIM-ed."  We quoted him all night.  

It was a fun free night.  I had no complaints.  I had a blast with the girls.  As usual.  Cue the tears.

Lunch...or not.

I took the Nuevo Culiacán bus downtown and talked to Panamá.  It wasn't super hot nor was it a super long distance, but I was sweaty by the time I got there.  I went in and they were already seated with beverages.  I was still stuffed from my too much tamal and Shania had just eaten breakfast at noon, so Beatriz was the only one to eat.  We talked about ways to improve the program, funny experiences, etc.  It was a great lunch.  I really hope I get to see Beatriz again before I leave. 

After lunch (at 6:30), I made my way back to the house to wait on Alma to pick me up for.... Monster Trucks.  

Don't judge.

Breakfast en la Primavera...sin fotos

So Sandra called me at 9:15 to make sure I was up and to inform me she was on her way.  I was ridiculously tired, but put on a happy face (and a cute dress and makeup) and got ready to go eat with her family.  She has a daughter my age.  Cristal taught in Inglés en Primaria with Shania years ago.  She's about my age and went to breakfast with us when Ashley was here.  There's another sister, but she couldn't come.  And then Jesús is 15 and doesn't talk much.  Her husband is Jorge I think.  He doesn't chat away (Sandra plays that role well), but when he does talk, it counts.  He was funny.

So they pick me up and ask me where I want to go for breakfast.  I have no preference and no plans, so I say whatever.  She asks me if I've eaten at La Primavera, and the answer is no.  Off we go.  I remember from many conversations that La Primavera is the part of town where the narcos live.  It's for the wealthiest of the wealthy.

But I figure if I'm with them, I'm good.

We get there, and it's a huge property.  It's owned by the Coppels who are a family from Culiacán that have a national department store.  Diana actually played at the Coppel daughter's wedding.  Don't ask me why their last name is Coppel because I don't know.

Cristal works in accounting for Coppel and they have some offices in this area.  There's a lake and there are lots of houses.  We made our way to the club at the back of the property.  The houses were your average Brentwood home.  Read: nice nice nice for Culiacán.  We went in and found a table on the back porch, overlooking the infinity pool and the lake.  There were several boys riding their bikes.  A few others were fishing.  Another boy was chasing his dog whose leash had escaped his hand.

We ordered a pitcher of orange juice and coffee.  I was thinking it was taking forever and then realized they were squeezing the oranges.  Sandra pointed out the "tamal cake" which isn't a really accurate desription.  She knows how I love tamales.  I ended up ordering that with chilorio, a sweet meat.  She got it with rajas which is sometimes green beans and sometimes pepper-like things (still green).  Everyone else kept looking over the menu.  The waiter just stood there waiting patiently as everyone looked and commented, having a hard time deciding.  I was picturing a waiter in the US sighing and asking if we needed a few more minutes and then running off to another table.  Sandra also ordered a fruit plate for us to all share.

The food came and it was nothing short of diving.  I mean, I love tamales, but these seemed extra creamy and sweet and perfect.  It also came with a little tortilla cup of beans.  Also yummy.  We talked about school and my travels and family and such.  It was a great meal and good time.

After breakfast, she asked me what I had to do that day.  Did I need to get back?  The last time she took me to breakfast (with Ashley in February), we were going to Altata with Marisela and Carlos and Mabel was pressuring us to get back early early.  I told her I had no plans and we could walk around the lake.  It was an overcast day, so I had my hair down and wasn't even sweating!

We got to just past the pool when a guard asked us if we had a lot there.  We said no and she informed us that we could only walk the width of the pool and that pictures were prohibited.  Big bummer.  We walked what we could.  Sandra said that the location required a lot of privacy since the home were American-style (no fences, bars on windows or locked gates).  I was thinking it was due to the illegal activity that brought revenue to those families.  I kept my thoughts to myself.

We walked to the car and all piled in to head back to Culiacán (it was the outskirts).  Sandra told her husband to stop at the Chata store so we could get some tamales.  She wanted me to take some with me to Guanajuato so the family from my school could enjoy them.  I was picturing 5-8 tamales.  Ha!  We went in, and she ordered a packet that included 4 each of elote (corn), piña, queso, and something whose name I don't remember, but it's a corn tamal with a spinach like filling.  Then she got 5 pork ones.  It seems there was another tamal order, but maybe not.  I of course couldn't pack 21 tamales or more in my suitcase, so I left some for Alma and Mamá.  (And me for when I get back!)  Then, there was another promotion going on for packages of beans, chilorio and this barbecue type meat.  She got that for me to take back to the US.  It's all packaged and doesn't expire until 2010.  It doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened.  I don't know that it'll make the cut due to weight, but we'll see!  SHe also wanted to buy me some soups, but I had to stop the madness.  I just can't get over her kindness.  Buying me a few tamales because she knows I like them is one thing.  Buying over 20 for a family she doesn't even know and will never meet is quite another.  I love this woman.  

She asked me if I had a cooler bag to transport them and if not we could stop at Sam's.  I lied and said yes because I knew they would last until Guanajuato.

She dropped me off at home and I almost teared up.  I guess I didn't have tears left.  In the car on the way from Chata to the house, she asked me if I had enjoyed Culiacán and I responded with an emphatic yes.  I explained how I had cried just the day before while chatting with Mom thinking about going back.  Mom and I were talking about some of the little things I was doing to get ready for my life back in the States (buying makeup of all things), and that had made me realize that I was leaving soon and Alma even sooner and I was just a wreck.  Well, as I was explaining that to Sandra, up came the tears again!

I gave her the goodbye kiss and made my way to the refrigerator and then up to my room.  Shania and I had plans for lunch with Beatriz later that afternoon, but I didn't have details.  I told her I was back from breakfast and to let me know the time and place.  4:00 at the Panamá Revolución.  Done.

Another Friday

I could really get used to this whole living-in-Mexico-but-not-working-but-making-money thing!  I slept in on Friday and then did laundry and such to get ready for my upcoming trip to Guanajuato.  A family from Lockeland has been there since June 6 attending language school.  Since we were in the same country, they invited me to come visit and stay with them (for free!).  I have wanted to see Guanajuato, so it was perfect!  I had bought my ticket after arriving back from Mazatlán for Sunday morning June 28 through Saturday morning, July 4.  I would fly cheaply from Culiacán to Guadalajara on Sunday and then take a bus to Guanajuato.  Originally I had hoped to tie in a visit to San Miguel Allende to see Lee Gentry, but she ended up having to leave last week before I could get there.  On my way back to Culiacán, I would stay two nights in Guadalajara to see the town while I was there.

Anyway, that was the reason for the packing.

That afternoon, I worked out and waited to hear what the plans were.  At the pool party on Wednesday, Shania had suggested we go to The Proposal.  I was pumped about it.  I got a text from Shania on Friday afternoon asking if we were going still.  I told her I wanted to go but we'd have to wait and hear from Alma since neither of us had a car. 

I heard from Alma later in the evening saying she couldn't go out because she had a baby shower with her mom and then was going to do some work for PISI (the Saturday English classes for kids) before getting into bed early.  I was bummed, but put on some comfy clothes and popped in Bride Wars.  It made me laugh.  In the middle of it, I got another text from Shania saying she was going to a party at 11, did I want to go (it was ten)?  I said sure.  I didn't know with whom, where or for how long, but this year has been the year of yeses in a very different way from being a "yes-person" in the US.

I got dressed and went downstairs, where Alma was working.  She shortly went to bed and off I went with Shania, who had borrowed her brother's car.  We were on our way to a bar when we got a call from Shania's friend Vicente, the one we were meeting.  He said they had to leave the bar.  We got all confused and met them at the Burger King parking lot.  Vicente was Shania's English student in high school several years back.  A friend of his was in town to play in the banda (that music that I don't love) at Salón 53.  They had to leave because it was time to go to the party.  We rode with them to the party and the four of us basically sat in the car for two hours until 1am when the band went on.  In hindsight, we should've gone in to hear them.  Apparently they're pretty famous.  Shania says internationally, though I don't buy that.  But we didn't want to crash a private party in Culiacán that could afford to bus this internationally famous band in.  It was probably a narco party.

I got home around 1:30 and was not excited about getting up early on Saturday.  I was excited, however, about breakfast with Sandra and her family, my reason for getting up early.

Thursday

So Thursday, there was a tourism event at 10 that Alma wanted to go to to support Johana.  I, as any good vaga, was down for whatever.  My only problem was that I needed to get my grade cards that Alma had printed for me (all 200) stamped at the English office (would take at least 30 minutes, plus 15 in bus to get there) and also get them to my school before it closed at whatever hour they decided.  Thursday was actually a testing day, so I figured they might dismiss at 11.  I was crossing my fingers no.

So I got up at 8, was at the office by 9, and had all stamped by 9:45.  I just waited there for Alma to pick me up.  When she picked me up, she surprised me because she had come from work, not home.  Since she works until 7 at night, she doesn't go in to her morning jobs until 10 usually.  Well, she had gone in at 9 on Thursday and told me they had so much work to do that she was going to give me the car to go to the event.  She drove me to it so I could see where it was.  I could tell parking was going to be a problem.  Diana and Karina were going to be there, so I wouldn't be alone.  I dropped her off at Centro de Idiomas and she told me to come back at 1.  If I wanted to go to the mall or do whatever, to do it and just come back for her when I was finished.

I decided then that I should go straight to my school to guarantee they would be there.  Check.  The kids were at recreo and screamed when they saw me, begging me to teach them.  None of the teachers were there.  Teachers from other schools were administering the test.  I left the grade cards and made my way back to the other side of town.  I circled the building about 15 times and there was no parking, so I left.  I decided to go on the search for a raspado.  I found it.  I realized at home for about an hour and then went to pick up Alma.

The afternoon consisted of computer stuff, laundry, and yoga.  After yoga, Alma and I were going to go hear Diana one more time before I go (since I'll be traveling this week and next week she'll be getting ready to leave).  We went to a place called Las Ventanas where Diana plays every Thursday night.  Also on Thursday nights, about 50 motorcyclists gather in the park in front of las Ventanas and get served there.  It was a funny site to see.  I meant to get a picture of them, but it left me as we were leaving.

Diana was funny because I had asked if she'd be singing Michael Jackson songs and she said they didn't know any, but that by the end of the weekend, they would have put some together.  Then, she didn't have any of the five songs I requested.  I was willing to deal, not too disappointed, but I think she was pretty let down that she couldn't sing anything from my list.

Below, you see Alma and me with Manuel, Diana's boyfriend.  I took some pictures with my camera, but have yet to upload them to my computer.  This picture is one from the internet that was taken by a business.

Andas de vaga

Vaga is a word used here for free-spirit or traveler.  I'm always called vaga because I'm always off to some new place.  But you can be vaga even in your own city.  For example, when I got back from Mazatlán on Tuesday afternoon, I unpacked and napped for about 30 minutes before yoga.  After yoga, I was picked up to go see Transformers 2.  That- the constant moving and never being at home- is vaga.  The movie was pretty good.  Oddly enough, I had really enjoyed the first one.  This one seemed funnier.  The action was a bit too action packed for my taste, but it was good.

Wednesday I was too tired from the weekend of vacation!  But really, I had gotten up at 6 on Tuesday to go with dad to the airport and hadn't been able to sleep after that.  Not even on my bus ride home.  So Wednesday I slept the day away.  Shania had texted me on Wednesday night asking me if I wanted to go to a birthday party at a pool with her on Thursday at 1.  Since I had slept until 1:15, I texted her saying I had gotten up with a headache and would have liked to have gone, but slept until then.  I should've known 1 was not 1.  She texted me back saying she was still going at 2:30 if I wanted to go.  I did.

I texted her saying yes and she said to be ready at 2:45.  You see how quickly time changes!  At 3, she was yelling my name form the sidewalk and down I went.  Manuel was our driver (Shania is car-less until she buys one in August) and we made our way to a wholesale club to meet up with another car and Alma.  I hadn't realized she was going.  Of course, she works at 4 in the afternoon, so she couldn't stay long.  It was very overcast and surprisingly cool for Culiacán (A noted difference from when I had arrived on the bus from Mazatlán.  It's amazing how a week away makes you forget the awful suffocating heat of Culiacán.  I noticed it as I began to get get off the bus!), so I didn't swim.  The pool was nothing to write home about and no one was swimming besides kids anyway.  I prefer sun and sweat before I swim.  While we waited for the sun and heat, they fired up the grill and we had an incredible carne asada.  It was delicious!  Oh how I will miss the food!  Quesadillas, tacos, and cake.  All washed down with a coca light.  You'll hear no complaints from this girl.  At 7, we were still there as Alma was heading back to town from work.  She texted to see if she should come and I said yes.  Her English Office friends were going to go see State and Play (?) at 8:30.  Did I want to go?  Of course!  I actually had seen the signs for it at the theater when we saw Transformers 2, and had wanted to see it.  So I was excited.

The whole birthday party came to a close at 8 and off we went to the movies, "American style," as Alma said before she realized that could be offensive.  Good thing I'm not sensitive.  I was in shorts and a plain shirt, flip flops and no makeup.  That is American style.  Culichi style would be heels, jeans, and flashy top, full makeup and a serious 'do.

We laughed about that.

That movie was also good.  I liked it because the plot was similar to those of the books I'd read at the beach.  It had felt so good to read, read, read for pleasure.  Most of my reading happens on my computer these days, which not only hurts my eyes, but limits my material.  

We got home from the movies around 1.  Unfortunately, I had a full day ahead of me on Thursday.

My Job

I apparently forgot to fill you all in on here.  If you follow me on facebook, you might have seen my status change.  The Spanish program at Lockeland is saved for at least another year!  And I figure for many years to come.  But we'll cross those bridges when we get there.  For now, Megan and I are both safe.

Vámonos pa' Mazatlán part 2

This is the song, if you'll recall from a previous entry, that Lenin would always sing when we were trying to figure out our next plan.  And I would always say, "Vámonos," as if we had nothing else to do than go to Mazatlán in the middle of the night!

Dad was set to arrive Thursday night at 7:45.  I decided to get a day of sun out of it, so I planned on leaving my house around 1.  That should get me to the hotel by 3:00 check in time, or at least by 4.

About three minutes after I had called Fran (whom I hadn't called since Mom was here in March!), Alma's mom got home, knocked on my door, and asked if I was ready to go.  She was going to take me.  I told her I had called a cab and there was no need for her to take time out of her day.  She was not having it of course and told me to call Fran back quickly.

I did.  He was annoyed.  Oh well.

As we were leaving, one of Mamá Alma's sisters called her because her dad has been really sick lately.  He's been sick for years, but it's looking like the end.  Tía Gaby called saying that the doctor had arrived at the house.  So we stopped in our way.  He's really sick and it made me sad for them.

I got to the bus station with my two suitcases, backpack and purse.  Mamá asked me how long I was staying, but I informed her that I was sending as much stuff back with dad in an empty suitcase as possible.

I got a ticket quickly and my bus let within 15 minutes.  I got to the bus station around 4 and there were two Engligh teachers from Mazatlán there to pick me up.  Ana Luisa had told me they wanted to help as much as possible since they wouldn't be able to meet dad.  

They took me to my hotel and told me that a teacher named Ana would be there at 7 to pick me up to go to the airport (a 250 peso taxi ride).  Again, how helpful and willing are my friends/colleagues?!

As we pulled up, I was sorely disappointed.  This hotel, Hotel Emporio, is my home away from home.  Away from home.  I like it so much, that's where Ashley and I stayed in Mexico City.  The hotel in Mazatlán is simple, but impressive.  However...

They were doing construction.  Are you kidding me?!  When you walked up the steps, instead of seeing palm trees, two pools and the ocean, you saw plywood walls and men working.  The front had been torn down and they were replacing the sign.  Ay, no.  On top of that, it wasn't sunny.  It was sprinkling!

I unpacked my stuff, after being recognized by the bellboy, and sucked it up.  I ventured out into the rain for a smoothie that I'd been craving for days leading up to my trip.

At 7, Ana showed up with another teacher and we drove the 35 minutes to the airport.  While the screen said dad's flight was on time, it arrived about 20 minutes late.  Later we found out that this was because of the federal soldiers at the airport during one of his stopovers.  

The teachers dropped us off and wished us luck with the weather.  We got some of dad's stuff unloaded and headed up to northern Mazatlán to La Costa Marinera for dinner.  It was 10:00.

After that, all we wanted was sleep!

On Friday, we woke up to rain, clouds, and wind.  Ugh.  We read and did computer things until about 11:30 when it was apparent it wasn't going to let up enough for us to walk to the smoothie place.  I was crushed.  We battled the rain and wind to get to the hotel restaurant buffet.  Because the hotel is right on the beach, and because there are big french doors to the restaurant, it was super windy and the food labels went flying.  The power went out about three times.  At one point, I thought, "When is the point where I stop living the Mexican adventure and start making sure we survive this thing?"

We went back up to the room and I checked out the weather online.  Bad news.  Tropical Depression.  In effect until 8pm Saturday.  Yeah right.

However, around 1 on Friday, it ceased to be a storm.  It wasn't sunny per se, but it was plenty warm and there were enough UV rays to justify being by the pool.

We spent the five days like one should in Mazatlán: eating, tanning, sleeping, repeating.  It was awesome.  I used SPF 30 for the first two days and 6 the last three, and I'm tanner than I've been in a long time.  For the first time maybe ever, my legs and arms match!  My legs hardly ever get as tan as my arms.  Probably because I spend so much time in the pool.  Since it was overcast several days, I was able to be out of the pool.

I read 4 books and did a tiny bit of GRE study.

Everything went perfectly.  The weather after the first three hours of that storm was perfect.  The pool was not too crowded aside from one day.  The food was incredible.

The only real regret I have is from the last night.  I had eaten a big lunch and still wasn't hungry for dinner when we left at 8:30.  But I was content eating just tres leches cake.  However, we got to the restaurant and it was closed.  It was almost a 30 minute drive to get there and then back.  By the time we arrived at La Costa Marinera, it had been a 200 peso taxi ride!

Dad had better shopping luck than I did.  But his standards were a little lower (t-shirts).  I saved my shopping until Tuesday morning after he had left at 7am, and apparently the store where I was going to buy my mirror among other possibilities, was closed on Tuesdays or its owners were on vacation.  If I lived in Mazatlán, I would never go on vacation!

As I said, it was a perfect trip.  The only bad thing was that it had to come to an end...

Shampoo and Conditioner

Both bottles are empty.  I have some travel bottles I've saved from various visits to the Hotel Emporio (their stuff smells SO GOOD), so I won't have to buy big new bottles as I'm getting ready to go home, but it does make me all more aware of how close the end is.  I just can't believe it.

I started becoming aware of my departure about two months ago.  Right after spring break and having traveled with my Mexican friends, with Ashley and having visited KY for a brief stint.  I knew my time was precious.  I also knew I had less time left than I had had from the time I arrives through Christmas.

It's been an amazing year.  When I think about receiving my congratulations letter, I remember the strange feeling I felt.  I was so excited.  And then disappointed.  I wasn't going to Peru.  I had been telling people for months that I hoped to be in Peru the next school year.  Mexico.  Mexico's so close.  Mexico's so.... Mexico.

I remember seeing Culiacán and having never heard of it.  I googled it, like anyone would.  I got a cute little cartoon map.  Thank goodness I didn't probe any more than that; if I had seen all the drama that was going on back last May, I'm not sure I would've gone through with it.  Well, I would've wanted to, but I doubt Mom would've let me.  

I could not have landed in a better place with a better group of mentors, friends, and experiences.  The Fulbright name carries a bit of weight, which I find funny since it seemed to easy to obtain.  That said, I came into this expecting a professional experience.  I expected great growth and an exchange of ideas.  I hardly got that.  I did get a new mindset on public school.  

More importantly, I got the experience of a lifetime.  I have some friends that I will never forget (and that I will likely visit annually- or more often if I can afford it).  I have found out a ton about myself.  I have taken risks and absolutely seized every possible moment.  It's helped me realize how I want to live my "normal" life back home.  The way I lived it before, but to a smaller degree.  I want to jump out of a plane, metaphorically speaking, since I've already done that!  I want to live every day as if it's an adventure.  As if I must make it count.

And watch me.  I will.

I've spent the last month or so being really really sad about coming back.  I don't want to live in Mexico.  I couldn't live in Culiacán forever due to the heat alone.  Also due to the fact that I haven't found a church.  The pay is not good here (there are zero benefits for English teachers), and the role of the woman (like lots of other things I've experienced in the schools) seems to be about 30 years behind.  I might be a bit too independent for this country!  That said, I've spent the last month trying to stop the clock.  Trying to keep the page from changing on the calendar.  Trying to keep the adventure going.  However, in the last week or so, I've started thinking in the future again.  Where I'll go when I get back.  Things I need to buy (cell phone, makeup, etc) to get my life back together.  Who all I need to see and what I want to do in my classroom (wherever that may be!).  I've started making my list of all the things I'll want to eat and see and do when I come back to Culiacán to visit (I told you it's all about food).  

I've come to the realization that I'll never be 100% content in Nashville.  Anywhere in the US for that matter.  Part of me will always be a wee bit Mexican.  Part of me will always wish I was here (or planning for a trip here).  Another part of me will be looking to the next trip, the next adventure, the next country.

But there's a very important third part of me that I hope to channel often.  The part that is looking at this moment (whenever "this" is- every present moment) as the adventure.  Taking it in.  Reflecting on it.  Enjoying it.  Being in it and experiencing all it has to give.

Florentinas

About two months ago, there was nothing sweet in the house that suited me, but it was too hot and I wasn't in the mood to walk to the Oxxo.  I found some cookies that would never tempt me in the states.  They are the kind that are right up Jack's alley.  They're a sandwich cookie with a fruit filling.  Almost jelly-like.  The sandwich part of the cookie, though, is high quality.

I didn't dislike these cookies.  I would never choose them over chocolate, but I didn't eat just one that day.

When I was coming back from the gym this week, I stopped at the Oxxo for a cold water and saw these cookies again.  Only this time, it wasn't strawberry filling.  It was caramel.

I have found my new Mexican Achilles heel.  Wow!  Since I'll be charged $10 US for every pound over 50 in my suitcases from here to Cozumel, I will not be bringing any of these treasures back.  However, if they sell them in Cozumel, I'll pick up as many as I can (I'll pay a flat fee for the second suitcase) to share with those I love once I'm back (but ask quickly because they'll go fast!).

My mind

...is going nuts right about now.  

About a month ago, Megan let me know that the Spanish program at Lockeland was in danger.  A presentation team from Lockeland had a meeting with our new superintendent (or at least representatives) and our principal was advised to advocate our program through this presentation.  Everyone involved was overwhelmingly impressed with how well it had gone.  We still have no answers.  We weren't even on the displaced teachers list until last week.  There's a hiring freeze so that displaced teachers can be placed first.  

Every day it seems there's some new option or thought.

I'm already going to be taking the GRE when I get back as well as the Oral Proficiency Test and the Writing Proficiency Exam for Spanish with the potential of another masters program starting summer 2010.  I also am going to take three PRAXIS exams to get elementary certified so I can go to an International Schools job fair in February.  There, I could sign a two year contract in one of about 30 different countries.  I also would like to get certified to teach elementary for a chance at the Spanish Immersion school in Nashville.  That's always been on the back burner in my mind.  My coordinator has told me that she's passed my name off to a local high school.  It's two years old and not far from my house.  I loved student teaching in a high school, so I'm sure I could get back into it.

I was born to be a teacher.  My five years of teaching (including this pretend year of teaching) have only reaffirmed that.  There's nothing else I should do with my life.  No way.  No how.  

That said, I think I could be happy teaching anything, anywhere.  We'll see what shapes up!  I just hope my next adventure is one where I will be able to use my talents for the betterment of my students.  And I hope it's an experience that causes me to grow in ways I haven't so far.

2 more days!

I went to school on Monday knowing I only had two teaching days left.  Only we dismissed at 11 so we could have tostadas and cake for the principal's birthday.  Oh, Mexico.  Way to send me out in a typical fashion!

What a waste of a day.  Ni modo.

Oh, Sunday.  After such a late night, I assumed I would sleep late late Sunday.  Guess again.  I was awake around 8:30 and up for the day by 9.  Yuck!  I got a text from Quinantzin at ten saying "Wake up everyone!  Let's go to the beach!"  I texted her back saying I'd been up for hours and was game.  Apparently no one else was.  Alma slept all day and Mayra had some sort of commitment.  Iván had to work.  Not sure who all else got the text.

Quinantzin told me to plan for 1.  I was ready long before of course.  At 1:30, she said Elvira (Alma's and her boss) would be at my house in about 20.  I waited in my air conditioned room.  Still no peep from Alma.

When Elvira picked me up, she had her 7 year old son with her.  I didn't even know she had children!  We drove to Quinantzin's house and within that ten minute time frame, I knew I would be super annoyed with the kid.  

Elvira has a two door car and Quinantzin has super long legs, so I sat in the back.  The air conditioner on full blast did not reach back that far and by the time we got to Altata (an hour later), I was drenched.  I was also super annoyed.  I kept thinking how much more patience I would have had with Turner.  

We stopped at an Oxxo to hydrate about three minutes before the pool.  You can't take anything into the club since they have a restaurant there.  So we literally chugged.

We got there and it was PACKED.  This is the same pool/beach I went to with Mabel and Marisela at the beginning of my time here.  However, back then it was practically empty.  I think it was a Saturday.  Sunday is Mexico's version of Saturday I think.  There was barely even a place to sit down! 

Jorge Abel went to swim and we sat to order lunch.  Our poor waiter was over worked and not very good.  I got ceviche and a fresada which should've been somewhat like a strawberry smoothie.  Instead it was strawberry Quick and ice.  Bleh.  The food was decent, but the wait was long.  And it was miserably hot.  We got in the pool around 4.

Quinantzin, me, Elvira

The water was pretty warm, which doesn't do a lot for cooling you off.  We left around 7 and I got to my house around 8:30.  On the ride back, still just as hot, Jorge Abel fell asleep with his head on my lap.  Making me hotter of course.  Oh well.

It was a fine day, but would've been better spent taking a nap I think.

Feliz Cumpleaños, Iván!

At 8:00, I started getting ready.  I knew it would take me less than an hour to get ready, but sometimes it's so hot, if I get ready and rush out the door, I'm sweaty before I get downstairs.  So I allotted myself some cool down minutes.

I was waiting downstairs watching tv, waiting to hear them pull up.  At 9:20, I hear Liliana yell, "Low-RAH!"  Off I went.  I had my bottle of pinot grigio to fight off the heat, and my wine glass.  Wine from a plastic cup just doesn't do it for me.  "¡Qué fresona!  Con tu botella y vaso!" was Renato's welcoming phrase...  Fresa is the word for strawberry, but in slang it's along the lines of valley girl/snob.  I think in this instance, high maintenance would work.  "How high maintenance!  With your bottle and glass!"  It was hilarious.  They were just excited I would be drinking since it's a rare sight.

We drove and stopped at the Tacate stand to pick up beer for them.  The conversation was mostly about the weather.  It has just been an insufferable week or two here in Culiacán.  Liliana said that it had been 109 that day and that on their way to pick me up, they had seen that it was 96.  It was 9 pm!  I'm literally living in hell!  The good news is, everything else is wonderful.  It hasn't even been two weeks since I told Mom I thought I could survive in a tropical climate.  As long as it was cold when I came home for Christmas, I could get used to this- the predictability of it all.  Nope.  I stand corrected.  Misery.  

We got to Iván's and it was just family (cousins, nephews, siblings, parents) and La Foca.  That means seal.  His real name is Rene, but because of the way he dances, everyone calls him La Foca.  We chatted and waited for others to get there.  Diana and her boyfriend Manuel were there next.  Diana is Roicío's sister, both Ana Luisa's daughters.  The girls that were there at the time got a picture with the birthday boy.  Those who are not my friends are girlfriends of Iván's family.

Iván is obviously the male.  To the left is Liliana and Diana.  To the right is Rocío and then me.  

Rocío, Laura, Diana.  Mom Ana Luisa came running for the picture.  The one with the four of us was blurry, so we'll have to get together again!

My ride for the evening, and couple #1.  Liliana and Renato.  Things I'll miss about them- 

Lili: her voice (she's the one I impersonate pretty well), her insistence on chit-chatting and invading your space (a sure sign that I've arrived since it doesn't bother me), the fact that she can drink more Tecate Light than any of our guy friends, the way she's always sooo excited to see me.  Renato: his jokes, his dancing, the look he gives (it's kinda like, "Come on!"), his insistence on making me participate in whatever conversation.

Couple #2. Rocío and Iván.  Things I'll miss-

Rocío: the way she dances (it's hilarious and she always has to be moving if she hears music), her sincerity and innocence, her boycraziness over Iván still (they've been together 6 years).  Iván: his seriousness, the occasional break into dance, his wit.

Couple #3.  Diana and Manuel.  Things I'll miss- Diana: her laugh, her singing voice, her entertainment (she sings at various different places each weeks), her no nonsense, singing karaoke with her.  Manuel: I don't really know him that well, but he paid me a HUGE compliment on my Spanish at my birthday party.

Couple #4. Karla and Chapo.  Things I'll miss- Karla: her laugh, her willingness to share her honest opinion even if it may not be what you want to hear at the time.  Chapo: "Papá!" something he says all the time that makes me laugh, the way he talks (it took a LONG time for me to understand him- and he always throws in a bunch of English making it that much harder!), his ADD-style twitch.

Not a couple, but the only ones left with no picture!  Topete.  Things I'll miss: "Mujer," the way he awkwardly walks away mumbling to himself, his music taste, his dancing, his look (more like "you're an idiot"), his humor.

Renato, Liliana, Topete and me.

Right before this picture, Topete had said, "Woman, this is a picture of all couples.  Get back here."  You can see the remains of laughter on our faces.  You'll also notice I did not do what was demanded of me.  (He didn't say please.)

Around 1, Liliana told me we would be leaving soon.  Renato had a baseball game (to play in) on Sunday morning at 9.  I wasn't ready to go just yet, but I figured someone else would take me.  About that time, Marisol and Pirru showed up, so we stuck around to talk to them a bit.  Then Renato got a call from Lenin saying he was on his way.  Since Lenin owed Renato money, we decided to stay until he got there.  Being the Tecate representative, he brought a fresh stash of beer with him.

We stayed until 3.  It was fun.  We danced, sang, and had a good time.  I felt guilty for having fun with Alma's friends without her there.  However, she's at a place right now where she doesn't want to spend time with them.  She had basically dumped Johana, Ocyé, and Karina because Lenin didn't like them, so she's making up for lost time.  In her defense, they seem to be the ones who most openly care about her.  They're the ones who call, check in, come over, and invite.  I enjoy hanging out with them.  But I also want to spend time with the other friends I've made while here before it's time to go!

This is the group shot right before we left.  The only one missing is Foca.  Back row: Topete, Cristian (Lenin's cousin- he taught me to dance banda at a wedding), Renato, Pirru, Iván, Manuel.  2nd row: Karla, Chapo, Liliana, Marisol, Rocío.  Front: Lenin, me, Diana.

Around 3, we left and they dropped me off.  We talked about how sad we would all be when I left.  I told Renato that I wanted to see him play sometime before I left.  He plays every Sunday.  Surely I can make it to a game.

Saturday

I mean, I must've been super-tired.  I slept until 1:30!  I got up a couple of times, but I was sleeping hard until 1!  I love when that happens because it is so out of character for me.

Saturday was another day of almost plans.  Hernán (the former custodian) was getting married, and while I had hoped to see the wedding in the church (I still hadn't seen one), I wanted to hang out with my friends after.  Alma had said a friend of hers had offered to take us to the dunes to jeepear.  Basically drive around in jeeps I think.  It was also Iván(Rocío's boyfriend)'s birthday party.  

Around 3, Alma called to let me know that the jeeping was cancelled.  She had had to teach both sessions at PISI instead of do administration since some teachers had not shown.  At that point, I texted Sandra to see if she could pick me up for the wedding.  I never heard back from her.  I figure I'll be invited to many Culiacán weddings (Renato and Lili, Iván and Rocío, Karla and Chapo, Alma and Whoever, Iván and whoever), so I'll get to see a wedding someday.  Surely I'll make it to one...

Rocío and I had been chatting on facebook and she told me that Iván's party would be at 9 at his house.  He lives way out and I had no hopes of bussing it.  I texted Mayrita to see if she was planning on going.  Nope.  She had to babysit.  I texted Alma, assuming she wouldn't want to go with the great possibility of Lenin's presence.  I was right.  I was about to give up and go dancing with her and the other three girls, but I wasn't feeling it and really wanted to hang out with my Manzanillo friends.  So I texted Liliana.  To the rescue!  She told me to be ready at 9:30 because Renato is punctual.  I responded with "No problem; I am too," instead of, "You're talking to a gringa here; I'll be ready!"

I went about my Saturday things and got ready.

Ay Shania....

Full of sushi and ice cream cake, I got dropped off by Maribel with just enough time to shower and throw some things in a bag.  But I didn't even know what to throw in a bag.  As I've explained before, going to the beach with Mexicans is not like going to the beach with me...

When I hadn't heard form cell-phone-less Shania and hadn't heard from her, I hunted her down through her sister at home.  She was with Vicky, whose number I had.  Turns out the party got cancelled.  I wonder when she planned on telling me!

Oh, Mexico.  How quickly she reinserted herself into her culture!

So I took matters into my own hands and searched around for plans.  But it took too long and the possible movie night folded.  So Alma and I went with the girls (Johana, Karina and Ocyé) to a café called marimba.  I got a mango granizado which is like an icee (not like a raspado) with fresh mango.  They had them in Spain and I looooved them.  This one was a little too liquid for my taste.  Oh, well.

We spent the next three hours talking boys, break ups, and PISI (the Saturday Centro de Idiomas for kids).  By midnight, my head was dropping!  My eyelids were drooping!  I was not having fun...  Not to mention it was so hot outside that we sat inside.  I'm never one to complain about cold air conditioning, but three hours in it with a frozen beverage is a bit much....