Happy Anniversary Mexico, we've been together for a whole month! It's hard to believe that just a month ago I was frantically packing and trying to imagine what my life south of the border would be like. I have to say, there's seldom a dull moment. In just 4 weeks I've explored Mexico City (DF), climbed 2 pyramids, traveled to Acapulco (and saw Rebecca Richardson there, no big deal), visited Cuernavaca, moved into a house, planned a semester's worth of lesson plans, and made friends! Oh, and I most recently enjoyed some tequila as a true Mexican so I think it's safe to say that I'm off to a great start.
Where to begin? Since I last sent out an email my classes have gotten off the ground. I am teaching 3 conversation workshops, which are very informal and attendance is voluntary for the students. Essentially, I leave an article in the copier, the students make a copy and (hopefully) read it before coming to class and then we have an hour to discuss the topic. It's a great set up because there is very little pressure on the students and they have the opportunity to simply practice their English and share their ideas in a comfortable, relaxed setting. I also have 3 cultural workshops, each with a corny title, that require no preparation for the students. The workshops are called Frenemies (discussing US-Mexican related issues), Insider's Guide (discussing American slang, customs and traditions), and Everyday English (practicing English in different situations and contexts). In addition to my workshops, I also have 2 Coffee Hours per week when I sit on the patio in front of our faculty's cafeteria and hang out with students who simply want to practice their English. I also TA for 2 English classes and in one of them the students are creating their own magazines and the teacher is absolutely incredible, so I've been doing some side projects with her. Other than that, I have office hours when students can come to ask questions, get homework help, English corrections, just chat, etc.
What I am loving most about this job is the fact that I am here to basically help out these students in any way that I can and the students are GREAT. They're mostly between 18-23 years old (although there are a few middle aged outliers) and they're either studying to be English teachers or translators. Since we're in the Faculty of Languages which holds the English and French departments, the students are also studying French and I'll soon be sharing my office with 2 French teaching assistants...I'm thinking that maybe I can freshen up my French while I'm at it. But like I said, the students really make my work fun. They are all so enthusiastic, smart, opinionated and SO friendly. After talking to one girl for literally 20 minutes, she invited me to her hometown for a weekend. Another girl in my conversation group had me over to her house for la comida (the big meal in the afternoon) last Sunday and I was over there for 6 hours, during which time her family basically adopted me, told me I was always welcome in their home, and when it came time for me to leave (which I had to initiate, otherwise I think I'd still be there chatting with her grandfather) Fati's mother, father, grandmother, sister and two cousins all piled in the minivan to bring me home. I've been going out for lunch on Fridays with this girl Carolina who loves to chat about boy drama and last Thursday a group of girls brought me to a huge concert downtown.
At home, the guy that I'm renting from (Alex) has also been so incredibly helpful and friendly. When I was sick with what I'm pretty sure was swine flu (no worries, I'm 100 percent better now) he made me tea and his mom's cure-all recipe of apples and pears, and the past two weekends he's brought me out on Saturday night. Which brings me to this past weekend when my fellow Fulbrighter Alexis came to visit and on Saturday night Alex and his friend Lelo drove us into DF (Mexico City), picked up our other fellow Fulbrighter Cammie, and we all went to the very chic Santa Fe to go out for dinner and drinks (tequila!) at an Irish pub. It was such a fun night and as soon as the live band started playing Bon Jovi we immediately got up and started a dance party in this pub that was not equipped with a dance floor. By the time we left there was a group of people still dancing, so I can say that night was a win.
Other than that, I've been getting to know this city and its surroundings, swimming through the streets during rain storms, and sticking out like a giant gringa. At one point a fellow faculty member was asking me about my typical breakfast, and began to reason that since I'm so big I must need a LOT of food in the morning. I'm hoping that was a "lost in translation" kind of moment, well, at least that's what I'm telling myself. The machisimo here is very real, but luckily since this is a smaller city it isn't too bad. I mostly have to deal with being honked and yelled at by random people, the police and public buses.
AND THE FOOD. All I can say is yum. Everything is fresh, delicious and nothing like the Mexican food we have at home. Want to know how good it is? Let's just say that the fact that I'm now eating all types of meat- yes, steak, pork, you name it- is a testament to the true deliciousness that is Mexican food.
I realize I'm now using my blog as a place to drop novel-length stories, but I promise to start writing more frequently with hopefully shorter entries.
I miss and love you all!! If you can't tell I'm LOVING México and there is of course an open invitation for visits!
