Author Archives: kmr5355

The Return: Reflecting on Mexico

My oh my, how the time flies. I have been home from Mexico for over a month now, which is frightening to realize. I’ve been so busy, yet my study abroad experience feels like it just happened, still.

 

The last few days I was there were CRAZY. Not only did I have oodles of studying to do and essays to write, but I also finally got sick. I’d been pretty lucky to be one of the few people to stay healthy the whole time, but, of course, with my luck, I had a terrible allergic reaction my second-to-last day. Luckily, the university doctor was very helpful and, with a lot of rest, I managed to finish everything in time and get back rolling for the last day.

 

All of my tests, papers, and presentations went well, and before I knew it, it was time for the Farewell Dinner. All of us students came with our families to eat together at a nice restaurant, joined by our lovely coordinators, professors, and administrators from the Ibero. They gave us all certificates and, of course, delicious comida! Our one professor, Roxana, even hired a mariachi band to play! All of the families sang along, and we all got up to dance for a bunch of the songs! It was an amazingly fun time, but it was so sad to say goodbye to everyone. It felt surreal that the trip was really coming to an end, and that soon we’d all be back, doing our separate things, here in the US. And even though I’m in Facebook contact with my family, I miss living with them terribly.

 

It takes 2 hours to get to the Mexico City airport by bus from Puebla, and the earlier group of travelers, including myself, got to depart at 2 AM. Everything was smooth checking my luggage and getting through security, but the rest was a NIGHTMARE. The plane out of Mexico City was delayed about 2 hours which, sadly, was enough time to make me miss my continuing flight out of Chicago. After grumpily passing through customs, I got put on a standby flight to Allentown, which my luggage made, but I was not able to board. Long story short, it then took me 2 failed flights, lots of pointless waiting (on runways and near gates), tons of distraught phone calls to my parents, a night in the creepy, cold Chicago airport, and over 24 hours since I’d left my home in Puebla to FINALLY get home here.

 

Since then, it’s been a blur of Harry Potter premieres, family vacations, and catching up with friends–not to mention getting ready for the Fall semester. I think I’ve been putting off writing this last entry since it means that it really is over, that I really am back. Now, though, I feel like I can really look at the bigger picture of what I encountered.

 

The Mexico I experienced was neither one of pop culture dreams nor of horrific news stories. I wasn’t kidnapped or murdered, and though I did visit a lovely beach, it was far from being the highlight of the program. The true highlights were much more real. The highlights were chatting with my family for an hour after each meal, walking to the tienda down the street where the workers knew my name and taught me the names of all the fruits and vegetables, stopping to play with a friendly dog on the way to the bus stop. They included standing on the edge of a pyramid built hundreds and hundreds of years before, steps too small for us nowadays, and viewing paint strokes on pieces created only decades ago.

 

Mexico is a clash of the past and the present. Ancient temples are found in the middle of bustling cities, and buildings are built over the remains of others. There are literally layers and layers of history, all coexisting together to make the present what it is. And it’s not just in the lay of the land; it’s in the people, as well. Traditions, old, older, oldest, are all woven finely together like a beautiful tapete in a world just blooming with New, as well. Mexico is indeed related to Europe; it was and is still a kind of New Spain, only it’s so much more. Every state, every city, and every tiny pueblo has a different personality. This is a place where poverty and wealth coexist hand in hand, where different cultures have both parted and blended in every imaginable combination. The people know their past, however confused it may be, and are willing to teach it and learn from it in ways that make me question my own historical knowledge of my own country.

 

In my opinion, the Puebla program must be one of the most overlooked Spanish study abroad experiences. If it hadn’t been for a chance presentation and my own curiosity, I may have missed out on the experience of my lifetime. Many of my peers tend to look to other great cultures that are an ocean away when we have something so rich, so touching, and so beautiful right below us. We earned a solid 9 credits over 6 weeks in a summer, and of course our language skills improved, but I feel like we all gained much more than just that. The families, the professors, the university, the places we traveled, the things we saw, the people we met… If there is anything I have learned, it is that there isn’t ONE Mexico. It’s layers; nothing and everything is inherently Mexican. I’ve learned to go beyond stereotypes or expectations of a place and have found so much more than I ever expected.

 

I miss it and all the people who I shared the experience with, but, in the short amount of time I was there, I know that I discovered something that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Here’s to hoping all of your experiences are as great! Adios!

 

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Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Classes and Ibero

Well–my experience in Puebla has come to its end!  I can’t believe it! But, before I write my farewell/final post (and about my travel fiascos), I thought I’d write a quick one about my actual STUDY abroad experience. I’d wanted to post this before I came home, but I got sick on my penultimate day, which put me behind work and packing.

 

IMG_4081.JPGAnyhow, our program was a PSU faculty-led one, and we were housed at one of the many universities in Puebla, Iberoamericana de Puebla. It is nowhere near the size of Penn State, but I absolutely loved it!

 

IMG_4079.JPGIt’s a pretty campus with gardens and a pond–and lots and lots of birds!

 

school2.JPGschool3.JPGWe earned 9 credits during our 6 weeks here. 2 classes were Spanish-based with our PSU professors. I took Legends and Myths of Mexico with Roxana, and she alternated teaching Mexican Culture and History with our other professor (who also taught a Conversation course), Monserrat. They are both giant sweethearts, and I enjoyed my classes so much! The workload wasn’t even toooo bad (aside from the crazy last week of essays and exams). Our third class was an Art class that was taught by a professor from Ibero, Hilda. Even though I do not have much artistic talent, her class was fun, too! We had a little exhibition of our works at our last group dinner with all our families!

 

IMG_3892.JPG Hoping to put a video or something together soon and post about the great farewell/ terrible travel fiasco. It’s so weird to be home. I’m loving it, but my thoughts at the moment are still just full of my experience in Mexico.


Location: Puebla, Mexico

Cuetzalan: The Final Countdown

Our final trip together as a group was this weekend (que triste), and even though Cuetzalan is a tiny little town way up in the mountains, we certainly made an adventure out of it. It was beautiful, and it was probably my favorite trip of the entire program.

 

Our first stop, however, was the highlight of all highlights. Since the early years of the Puebla Mexico study abroad program, Penn State has been helping out a growing school in a teeny, tiny rural village called Yohualichan. We were able to give the Escuela Secundaria (essentially a middle school) a nice donation, and our group raised money and bought food, amenities, and sports supplies to bring for the kids. Seeing their smiles when we arrived was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The teachers and caretakers there really do a great job at making education a priority for these kids, who live in rural and indigenous areas. Not all of them even spoke Spanish too well; Nahuatl, the native language, was more common.

xIMG_4122.JPGxIMG_4119.JPG We got to eat a typical lunch (burgers and fries!), play school games with the kids, and we even had a few early matches of US vs. Mexico. The kids were amazing at futbol, so it wasn’t too surprising that we met the same fate as our professional soccer counterparts. We’re hoping we’ll be able to continue helping out the Escuela Secundaria in the future.

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Afterwards, we got to visit the village church and our final archaeological site– Totonac ruins!

 

xIMG_4204.JPGSaturday was essentially a free day, and almost the entire group decided to go extreme and visit the nearby waterfalls and caves (photo thanks to Rhianna and Bill!). We got to swim in freezing waterfall pools, hike up and down mountains (sliding at some points), and clamber way down below the surface. Most of it in the rain. It was scary at some points but all around an incredibly fun day! And, of course, we got back in time to watch some of the actual US vs. Mexico match.

 

 

cascadasrhi1.jpgxIMG_4236.JPGgrutasbill1.jpg On Sunday, the center of the town was filled with people thanks to the weekly market that takes place. There were crafts, food, toys, clothes, shoes–everything! It was a sight to see. We also got to witness a mass in the church which was unlike any church service I’ve been to before. The people there managed to incorporate indigenous rituals into the Catholic system. Afterwards, we also got to see Voladores de Papantla! This time, the tree was a LOT bigger than the one in Cholula, and I got to be a lot closer. It was breathtaking to watch!

 

xIMG_4295.JPGxIMG_4319.JPG I’ve got a few more posts I want to churn out before I head home, but it’s getting down to the wire. I can’t believe I leave in three days. It’s going to be devastating and comforting at the same time. Even saying goodbye to our amazing bus driver, Orlando, got a bit sentimental. He was a complete boss– I would never be able to drive our giant Mextur bus on these crazy roads! It really is the beginning of the end, but Cuetzalan was a perfect finish.


Location: Cuetzalan, Mexico

Mexican After-School Adventures

We obviously have been traveling a lot as a group on weekends, but we’ve also been doing a series of mini-trips to places nearby after classes end!

 

We went to Cacaxtla, which is an awesome archaeological site. The main area we visited used to be a palace! We also met a nice herd of cows on our way out…

 

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IMG_3862.JPGThat same day, we visited Tlaxcala (wow– some of the names of places here can be exhausting to learn/ pronounce), which was a cute little town nearby. We got to go to the Municipal Building there, which is practically covered in a beautiful mural depicting the history of the town and, essentially, Mexico. The Tlaxcalans were a tribe that allied itself with Cortes and the conquistadors during the 1500s and Spanish invasion.

 

We also went to Cholula (a place my family had already taken me) to see the Cholulan pyramid and church built on top. I didn’t mind hiking around a second time; the view was just as beautiful this time around. Plus, we also got to visit a small museum nearby.

 

Another day, we went to visit el Museo Amparo right here in downtown Puebla. Unfortunately, it cost quite a few pesos to be allowed to take pictures, so I have no proof, but the Mayan Exhibit in particular was incredible! The amount of detail that went into carvings is so impressive to see. The pieces were just beautiful. Overall, I’ve loved seeing the sites and works of the different civilizations. To think about the huge spans of time that they held power here, and all the amazing things they managed to accomplish with such limited technologies, just astounds me.

 

IMG_4084.JPGIMG_4093.JPGOur final after-school trip was to a fabrica (“factory”) of Talavera, an intricately painted and glazed style of pottery. It’s origins are in Puebla, and the craftsmanship is all by hand!


Location: Cacaxtla, Mexico

Es Cultura!

That saying above (translated: It’s culture!) has pretty much been our group’s mantra the entire time we’ve been here. Even though Mexico is right below the U.S., there are so many differences. It’s been really interesting to learn and adjust to them, so prepare for a long entry!

 

Transportation. Let’s just say that all Mexican drivers are city drivers at their worst. It’s pretty much lanes/ turn signals optional, with no visible speed limits. My Mexican mother is a pretty safe driver, but some taxi rides have been terrifying. The public buses are really convenient and cheap, but there are no schedules, so you just have to hope a bus with your route on it passes soon. Believe it or not, I miiight just miss the Blue Loop a little. They tend to not come to complete stops when it’s time to get off, so you just have to hop and hope for the best. We’ve been successful so far and pretty much have the routine down!

 

traffic.JPG Food. It is GOOD. I have tried so many new foods– REAL (delicious, amazing) Mexican foods (far from Taco Bell style). The mealtimes are fairly different, though, and it took a little while to adjust. Breakfast (desayuno) is pretty much the same, with the sole exception being that, in place of my typical granola bar, my mom here feeds me to the point of immobility. But that goes for every meal; Imy stomach has expanded significantly since my arrival. The next meal isn’t until around 3 or so, and it’s “comida”–the main meal. It’s pretty much to Mexicans what dinner is to us; my father and brother come home from work, my sister’s home from school, and we all eat my mom’s delicious cooking together. The last meal is sort-of-dinner, or “cena,” and with my family it consistently consists of sandwiches or quesadillas and maybe some fruit or sweet bread. Cena is usually around 9 or 10, and it’s the time of “platicando,” or chatting.

 

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Other things about food that I love here: every kind of “pan dulce,” or sweet bread/ pastries, has its own name. There are also tons of delicious fresh fruits, and a home-made hot salsa or peppers are placed out with almost every meal. They also adore salt here, but normal pepper cannot be found. Oh- and, as my father said, [translated] “Coca-Cola is the drink of the gods.” They LOVE it here, and, when it comes straight out of a cold glass bottle, who are we to disagree?

 

cocacoladom.jpg Interacting with people. It’s been hard to switch between Ud. and tu forms of addressing people (the first being formal and the other informal). When you meet people, it’s with a handshake and kiss on the cheek. I will not, however, miss “propinos,” which are essentially call-outs to (mostly) women and very common here; since we’re noticeably from the US, our group has received a fair share of these. Bartering and negotiating is also the norm here; from markets, where it’s expected, even to taxi cabs, it’s an art I haven’t yet mastered.

 

Other little things. Many people keep dogs on their roofs to keep watch for robbers. The public computer keyboards are set up completely different–it took me like 10 minutes to figure out how to access the “@” sign. Public bathrooms here can be a nuisance; there is a 50% chance that you will either have to pay a few pesos or there won’t be available toiler paper (or both). Museums and historic sites can sometimes have as much security as airports, but to enter and see what they have to offer is almost always worth it.

 

IMG_2690.JPG And the weather! It can get very cool in the mornings/ evenings (especially after rain), but it is pretty toasty most of the time. I’ve been loving it! However, almost all locals wear jeans and/or sweaters; we’ve even seen people running in sweatshirts, which seems crazy to me. We definitely stick out as foreigners in our shorts and t-shirts. I keep adding, but lastly, I love how close my family is here. When they’re not at work or school they’re essentially together. Whether we sit and chat for hours at mealtimes, play games (like dominoes below), or watch television, it’s just the norm to spend time together. All members of my host family- mom, dad, sister, and brother- are so witty, funny, and wonderful. I’m going to miss them so much when I leave next week!

 

IMG_3350.JPGAll in all, there are lots of things I’m looking forward to when I head back home, but there are so many things I’m going to miss about here. I feel like I’m finally just getting really used to it all, and it’s about time to go…


Location: Puebla, Mexico

Viaje a Veracruz!

This past weekend was technically our second and final “free” weekend, but all 13 of us students decided to take a trip to the nearest beach state, Veracruz! One of the program coordinators hooked us up with a nice hotel at decent rates, so it was as easy as a bus ride to get there.

 

To be honest, most of the weekend was spent just relaxing on the various beaches, but that was just fine. After having to wake up early and follow semi-strict schedules, it was relaxing to just take our time, not having to be anywhere in particular. It felt good to know that, at this point, we can survive independently on our own here.

 

IMG_3912.JPGThe water was absolutely lovely; you could walk right in without having to even do a toe test. We invested in a volleyball, which was a great decision, and we had a lot of fun playing on the beach! There may have even been sandcastles involved… Oh, and for a mere 40 pesos per person, we got to go out on a crazy fun Banana Boat! There also was a really awesome aquarium nearby, and Sunday, I woke up early with my friend, Jess, to see the sunrise (totally worth it). It was a blast.

 

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IMG_3966.JPGThe only major problem was sunburn. All of us got QUITE crispy, even in spite of re-applying sunscreen throughout the day, and the communal bottles of aloe ran low rather fast…

 

Now, we’re back at home base aka Puebla again, and we’ve entered our last full week of classes (which really isn’t a full week since we never have classes on Friday). I can’t believe there’s only a week and a half left! I feel like I mention the time flying every entry I write, but it is just cruising along too fast. I’m going to miss being here so much; the places, the people, the culture. But we have one last weekend traveling together to enjoy, and, of course, a bit of work/ final projects to get through. Here’s to making it all last!


Location: Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico

Mexico City Sojourn

From last Wednesday until Sunday, our group took a nice little sojourn to Mexico City, or, as they call it around here, “D.F.” or just plain “Mexico.” To me, D.F. was kind of like a New York mixed with Washington D.C. It had all the important government buildings and all the masses of people, buildings, and boroughs. Of course, it also had amazing archaeological sites and other places that you only would be able to find in Mexico.

 

Our first stop was at Teotihuacan, a place that was built and deserted long before the Aztecs found it and claimed it to be a city left behind by the gods. Though the original creators are unknown, the sheer grandeur of their constructions still remains. The Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon in particular are incredible. The hike up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun was a challenge but very much worthwhile (as you can see in a photo from a classmate, Kristina, of some of us girls with one of our awesome professors, Roxana).

 

ateotihuacankristina.jpgaxIMG_3569.JPGThe Anthropology Museum is world-renowned, and we got to see so many awesome artifacts, including the original Aztec calendar (La Piedra del Sol) and giant Olmec heads. Nearby to the Museum is the Castle of Chapultepec, where French monarchs lived before the Revolution. Right downtown, however, is another museum and archaeological site. The Templo Mayor can be found smack in the middle of the modern buildings and roads.

 

axIMG_3492.JPGaxIMG_3619.JPGaxIMG_3712.JPGIf there was one thing Mexico City had an abundance of, it was art galleries. We got to see works of artists like Diego Rivera (La Catrina, anyone??) and Frida Kahlo and visit galleries like the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the home of Dolores Olmeda (where peacocks and hairless dogs almost outnumbered the incredible works she had collected).

axIMG_3733.JPGWe also got to visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a very important site for many here since Mexico is primarily Catholic. We got to take a boat ride down the canals of Xochimilco (which you can see in the pic from Rhianna), which have existed for centuries, and do some seriously awesome shopping in Coyoacan.

 

aboatrhi.jpgAnd, although I have no proof since photos were severely limited, our group was fortunate enough to be Penn State’s first to visit Los Pinos, the Mexican equivalent to the White House. It’s apparently really tough to get access, and we didn’t get to enter very many buildings, but we did get to see the current Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, in a meeting as we walked by! It was an exciting honor to tour the premises.

 

Mexico City may have very much been, overall, a city-city, but there was so much to do and see. I can’t say that I liked it more than home-sweet-Puebla, but even just within such a confined area of the country, the diverse amounts of activities and culture is incredible to take in. For now we’re back in Puebla, but this weekend we’ll be traveling again, sort of independently, to Veracruz. Time is just flying by! It’s hard when we’re so busy to stop and take everything in, but it’s been a blast so far. I just hope these last 2.5 weeks last!


Location: Mexico City, Mexico

A Very Poblano Weekend

This past weekend was the one “free” weekend out of the trip where we wouldn’t be traveling as a group. That being said, we still manage to pack it with lots of exciting things here in/around Puebla! This was good, because I needed a lot of diversions to take my mind off of Friday’s mini ash-eruption of nearby volcano Popocatepetl. (It hasn’t had a major eruption in years, and I feel safe at this distance, but I have an irrational loathing/fear of volcanoes–how super.)

 

AfricamD2.jpgThankfully, one of the best and biggest zoos/safari parks in all of Mexico is only 25 minutes away from where we live in Puebla. We’re really starting to get a hang of the public bus system, which is really convenient–only 6 pesos one way! A bunch of us decided to go by bus to check Africam out, and it was one of the best decisions ever!

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Most of the park is set up like a safari that you drive through either in your own car or on safari tour buses, meaning that the animals have practically free reign of a large part of land. I really liked that, since I feel like seeing animals cooped up in cages can get a bit depressing.

 

After the safari, there was a whole other portion to the park, with more traditional zoo enclosures for the smaller kinds of animals. We got to do awesome things like feed Wallabies and fly high above the park, crossing bridges and cruising along ziplines in harnesses. It was amazing! (Major photo credits/thanks to Jess, Rihanna, and Dominique, by the way.)

 

xIMG_3261.JPGAfricam2.jpgAfricamD4.jpgxIMG_3302.JPGIn a more traditional culture exploration this weekend, my family also took me to Cholula, a town 15 minutes away that is famous for the number of churches it has (not 365 as sometimes advertised, but around 70 or 80). Its most famous church, however, sits on top of the largest-based pyramid in the Americas that once was dedicated to the god, Quetzocoatl. My host dad and sister hiked up to the top with me, and the view was incredible!

 

xIMG_3300.JPGWe also got to see a ritual performance by the Voladores de Papantla. Essentially, a group of guys climbs up a tall pole with ropes in tow which are then wound around the top. Following a few minutes of preparation, the men swing down in circles, the ropes tied around their feet as they rotate around. It was terrifying but exciting to see.

 

 

xIMG_3324.JPGI’m not going to lie; I’m kind of bummed out that this is the last weekend I’ll get to spend in Puebla itself. From downtown and the neighborhood to places like Cholula or Africam that are right next door, I feel like I really could spend the entire 6 weeks just in this city and not get bored. I’m glad at how this weekend turned out, however, and it’s hard to not be excited about our trip to Mexico City this coming Wednesday!!!


Location: Cholula, Mexico

Oh Hey There, Oaxaca; Or, How I Ate a Cricket

So this past weekend, we traveled as a group to the State/City of Oaxaca (that’s Oh-Hah-Kuh to help you guys out). Let me just say: it was incredible.

 

Oaxaca1Oaxaca2We visited archaeological sites, like Monte Alban and Mitla, where the Zapotec tribes thrived way back in the day. I may just be a total nerd, but to walk through places where entire civilizations once reigned was just an amazing experience. Seeing the amazing buildings they constructed, the carvings, and just the views was lovely

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Oaxaca3El Arbol del Tule was another of our stops. It is a tree that is over 2000 years old, which is breathtaking to try to imagine. Its trunk is gnarled, and you can find images of all kinds across the 119-foot diameter (which is wider even than the sequoias).

 

 

We also visited a whole bunch of little “f�bricas,” or factories, but they were NOTHING like what the word “factory” conjures. They were mostly family-run businesses, where traditions of how to craft the particular good have been past down generation after generation. We visited f�bricas for Alebrijes, small and intricate wooden animal sculptures that are crafted by hand only using three tools; Barro Negro, black clay that has a very particular process; Tajetes, the carpets and textile crafts dyed and loomed naturally; and Mezcal, which is a cousin to tequila but distilled very differently (and pungently).

 

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Oaxaca7Oaxaca8Downtown Oaxaca, Zocalo, was filled with market (where I bought WAY too much), vendors, restaurants, and mariachis. Nearby was Centro Cultural Santo Domingo, a convent-turned-museum, which was beautiful inside and out. The streets themselves were just filled with colors!Oaxaca9

 

 

 

 

 

The comida, or food, of Oaxaca is very distinct, as well. It’s known for things like a distinct flavor of mole (not very appetizing) and chocolate (no complaints here)! Oh, and of course, it’s famous for chapulines aka crickets. And, yes, I did indeed try one. Gross, I know, but, honestly, the mole tasted a lot worse to me. I told myself when I signed up for this program that I’d try new things. I may not have known that one of those things would be a cricket, per say, but where else in the world would I have the opportunity again? I don’t think I’ll be tasting any more, but I’m glad I at least tried.

 

Oaxaca10Now we are back and in Puebla, already beginning our first full week of classes. It’s good to be “home,” but Oaxaca was certainly a place I’ll remember for the rest of my time here and the rest of my life!


Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

Welcome to Mexico!

Thumbnail image for puebla1Wow. So, my first weekend+ has come and gone in Puebla, and I feel like I’ve been here forever! Thursday’s travels went smoothly, but to get from Bethlehem to Puebla seemed to take ages. At this point, I don’t even know where to begin, so I’m just going to roll with a quick overview of a few of the most notable/ my favorite things so far.

 

Thumbnail image for puebla2The city itself. Yeah. I’m a bit of a history nerd, so, while I don’t know too much about the history of Puebla yet (and my Spanish and memory capacity aren’t too grand either), I absolutely LOVE the buildings. The old, the new, the colors, the styles. This city reminds me aesthetically of Spain, but it has a whole different feel to it. I love it. This is not the palm-lined, beachy Mexico of the movies or tourist trade; it’s not the violent, gritty Mexico that the news so loves. It’s just a real place with real personality.

 

Thumbnail image for puebla3My family/ house. I feel so spoiled here. I’ve got my own room, a bathroom to myself, and there’s Wi-Fi! I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with them, and this weekend they took me to see a lot of the sights of Puebla! My Mom is so doting and caring; she’s constantly trying to feed me delicious food, which can be a catch-22 because the more I eat, the fuller I feel, and therefore the less I can eat. My Dad is very funny. He’s always trying to sneak English into the conversation so he can practice, too, and I love listening to him talk about the history of Mexico. My brother and sister are both great; they’re both very witty but also both very friendly and patient. Oh- and Benny the Chihuahua? Adorable!

 

Thumbnail image for IMG_2527.JPGpuebla6I also enjoy (sort of) the fact that I am terrible at conversing in Spanish but it’s okay! Most of the time I just sit and listen to my family as they talk to one another, and I feel like I have a general idea of what’s going on. But then, of course, they’ll ask me something, and I’ll sit there like a complete idiot, trying to stammer out something- anything- that makes sense. I have the vocabulary of a four-year-old right now, but I feel like things are starting to register a lot more quickly even after just 4 days. I’m sure it will improve, but I wish it would improve faster.

 

puebla5We had Orientation at La Universidad Iberoamericana de Puebla today; it’s a lovely campus! A LOT smaller than Penn State, but it has plenty of lovely places to relax or study and lots to offer. I’ll be sure to take some photos and talk about it more soon; even though we had homework tonight, classes officially start tomorrow. I keep forgetting that I actually have to do work, but I’m sure with my lineup of classes, it will be interesting to keep up with!

 

Nos vemos! (PS: Photos, in order, are of: a street in downtown Puebla, The Cathedral of Puebla, another church– the name escapes mem sorry– next to the hotel we stayed at (and whose roof I was on), a view of Puebla from the highest point in the city, a Mejica dance in a park, a market close to the Bario de Artistas downtown)   


Location: Puebla, Mexico