Update on life here, aka End of the Fall Semester and Goodbyes

1) Post-last weekend: Buying a plane ticket to go home was a good choice and effective solution to my depressed state last weekend. Not only did it mean that I was back to my cheerful positive self, it also meant that that it was easier saying goodbye to some relationships from Intercambio knowing I wouldn’t be alone over the holidays.

2) This week and end of the semester:
This week I officially finished my semester and with better-than-hoped-for results. Those results included excellent grades and a tranquil and non-stressful finish to academic work. However, I still went to school almost every day. One reason is that I have 10 papers to do for Bowling Green next semester in addition to classes: (A reminder that I really am a grad student). Therefore I tried to determine which classes would best correspond to these classes by talking with various professors. I also attempted to start reading for one of the essays. However all that I accomplished was running into Intercambio friends and hanging out with them instead of studying. It was nice to spend some one on one time with several of them before they left.

3) Goodbyes
This weekend was all fiesta y goodbyes for my friends from the Intercambio Exchange program that are only here for a semester. The people I will miss most is my old housemate Andrés; my traveling companions-social group Allan, Javier, and Zulma; and my classmate and very temporary Spain housemate Maria.

Andrés, from Puebla, was my first peer in Hermosillo and was one of the threesome. The threesome included he, myself, and Veronique, because we lived together in the Pitic house and got to know Hermosillo together. Throughout the semester, the three of us routinely got together for lunch despite developing different friend groups. He is someone who is playful and joyful child at heart, a fellow Christian, and a loyal intentional friend.

Andres, Vero y yo (Vero is staying full year)

Allan, Javier, and Zulma were part of the faithful five that went to EVERY exchange group activity that Alberto planned (Alberto and I being the other two of the five). From the Hermosillo trolley bus tour, to Kino, to the Ecological Center, to the baseball game, to the Rio Sonora salty trip, we have had many laughs together and many more memories. I will miss having a group where I feel comfortable and developing friendship of our individual relationships.

(Side story to accompany pictures: During our Rio Sonora trip, we were talking about hand gestures and the differences that occur in various countries and cultures. One of the examples that came up was how to count to four. In France, you start with the thumb as number one, thumb and index as two, and continue adding fingers for the following numbers. So four is made with all fingers up except for the pinky. We had many laughs as I cannot make a four like that. The resulting pictures are of the creative fours the rest of them made.)

Javier, with his double jointed pinky

Zulma imitading Javier

Allan, uhh...are you sure that´s a four?

Alberto (not leaving), successfully demonstrating 4

I return to the primary account of this post and saying goodbye to my favorite Intercambio friends.

The Spanish Maria (with her challenging Cadiz Spain accent) was also one of my housemates in Pitic, although very temporarily. She and I also shared a class together. In some ways we are very alike: she has a million friends and acquaintances on campus, especially in the Lit and Linguistics school. In other ways she is the opposite than me: she is not a perfectionist and knows how to skip, slack and still do decent in her school work. Despite our differences and even though we would only hang out at school, I knew I would always consider her a friend when she listened and encouraged me when I broke down one day at the beginning of the semester. I will miss her smiling face and carefree accepting attitude.

Maria and I

4) Looking forward:
Not that life here is a perfect picture, or even those relationships listed above. They are not the people I am have been the most vulnerable with. However, they are some of the people that I got a chance to go beyond the immediate surface acquaintance stage. I don’t know how long these relationships will continue, but I am thankful for them. I still feel the same as last week (and months) that most relationships here are acquaintances. Most of the time that is ok. However, the good news is that I get to be with my family over Christmas (parents come tonight!), that I get to experience a Christmas in Mexico, that I have had a great 1st semester in all regards, and that I am very glad that I have many more months here to do what I came to do: improve my Spanish, know the people (deepen the relationships I do have and probably make many more acquaintances), and learn much more about Mexico.