Gloria's beautiful kids and my future Spanish teachers
Martha and Euncia, my roomies
Wonderful Martha and IIf the way I packed is any indicator on what this trip is to be like then we are in for a ride. Who goes to Mexico without a Spanish-English dictionary? Who doesn’t check the weather report, only to be greeted by the rainy season? And who loses two weeks worth of underwear within one day? That would be me! Am I subconsciously sabotaging myself? I even started to question, why am I doing this? Going to a city I know nothing about, speaking a language that constantly dominates me, and using my school vacation just to go back to school? The only answer I have is...I'm crazy!
On Saturday I flew into Mexico City and was greeted by a dear friend and her family who have been living outside of Mexico City for almost a year. Her children are 5 and 2 now, and probably some of the cutest kids alive. I didn't get too much time with the kiddos, but enough to know I will be hiring them as my Spanish teachers in the near future as they are returning to California next month.
We had a chance to go out to dinner, and I was warned to bring something nice. But somehow I managed to stay in my jeans and converse. You can take the tomboy out of the states, but you can't take the tomboy out of me. Dinner was delicious and the drink of the night was Prosecco...I was definitely comforted by the bubbles.
The following day, we had a mini adventure finding the bus station in Toluca, but we eventually made it. I being the typical American, was trying to multi-task and call my contact at the school to let them know I would be late. I was watching my bus, and became confused when they closed the doors and started to pull away. I hung up the phone without an adios and sprinted toward the bus. The bus driver rolled his eyes, but luckily I hopped on. I sat next to a young woman who befriended me and put up with my broken Spanish. She had been visiting her novio in Cancun, and showed me all her keychains she bought. She offered me one, I tried to politely decline--but was unsuccessful. Though I have not been to Cancun, I am now a happy owner of a Cancun key chain, a cute frog. She was also the one who woke me up from my nap to inform me we were in Queretaro--my home for the next two weeks.
Francisco, the taxi driver was friendly, but unfamiliar with the school. He initially took me to the wrong casa, but the gentleman at the house acted like this was a typical occurrence and directed us where to go. When I finally arrived at the school I was greeted by Ana (she speaks fluent English), and my host mom, Senora Martha Alicia Martinez. I'm still not sure what to call her, and was stumbling between the tu informal and tu usted version. I should probably figure that out asap. We left the school with her terrier Pancho in tow, and arrived at her home which is just a block away from the school. She cooked, and I am now eating a lot of carne, we will see how long my stomach can handle it. She has another student (woman in her 40s/50s) who lives in the casaita in the back. She looks American, but is from Spain? Actually, don't quote me...I miss bits and pieces. I do know she spent a year in Santa Fe, so I told her about my 4 year stint there. Unfortunately, she didn't make it this morning to breakfast because she was having some troubles with her stomach. I'm curious to see how she's doing now.
But last night as I was unpacking, I realized something was missing. There were my dresses and shorts which I don't anticipate wearing as I see more clouds than sun. And then I had a couple pair of socks, bras and well...no underwear??? How can this be? That was the one thing I purposely overpacked. When trying to solve this mystery I think they may have fallen out of the pocket while I was at my friend's house in Mexico City. Or somebody is playing a really bad joke on me. At first, I just felt so helpless. But then, all I could do was laugh. And laughing is what I will continue to do, oh and buying some new underwear!
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