Karen’s visit…spending a week with a friend here in Mexico

1) Vacation/Visitors

I had been worried about trying to do school and have a visitor. Attending classes helps me understand the topics more, and I also spend a lot of time studying. However, this week was a great week to have a visitor. First, I ended up having a lighter week of classes the two weeks previously due to several canceled classes. This meant I was able to work ahead on school work. Second, we had Friday off for Day of the Dead. I decided that I could afford to take two days off of classes and do a trip with Karen out of town. As a result of all of the above, it was a week of vacation even with two days of attending classes, and it was absolutely fabulous to not have to worry about school work for one week!

2) Jam-packed:

I don’t think I could repeat this week if I tried in terms of the amount of the amount of varied activities that we did. It was fun to have Karen see so many different parts of life here in addition to see various aspects of Mexico.

So here’s a list of what she/we did:

· Experience the heat of Hermosillo (it’s still hot in comparison to the US, but it’s nothing compared to what it was)

· dinner out with my Intercambio (Exchange student) friends

· church

· lunch out with the women of the family

· stay at my house

· visit my classes and the University

· do a mini-self tour of the town and see the Cathedral (that’s about as touristy as Hermosillo gets)

· go to Hermosillo’s Naranjeros baseball game

· take a trip to La Barranca de Cobre/Copper Canyon

· go to the beach (Maviri Beach near Los Mochis/Topolobampo)

· get Mexican hospitality with staying a family in Los Mochis that are friends of Luz Belia instead of staying in a hotel

· try some good Sonoran and Coastal Mexico food: Carne Asada, Tortillas Gorditas “Fatty” style, the pastry Coyota, fresh fish from the sea, and coconut

· try out all types of transportation (train, bus, plane, taxi, feet)

· interact with the people with her Spanish (she has a similar undergrad degree as I do).

3) Barranca de Cobre/Copper Canyon: One of the places I wanted to make sure I got to see this year was Copper Canyon. It is comparable to the Grand Canyon and it is actually deeper in parts. The canyon is located in Chihuahua state between the city of Chihuahua and Los Mochis ( Sinaloa state)and primarily accessible to visitor’s via train. Although it’s just in the next state over, it took us a seven hour bus ride to get to Los Mochis and another 8 hours on train just to get to a town in the middle of the Canyon/train route. We only spent 24 hours at a town (Posada Barranca)in the Canyon, however it was great to be in the mountains, see another part of the country, learn a little about the Tarahumara Indigenous population that live in the Canyon, and be in the cold!

4) Reflection: Karen did a great job of asking a lot of questions about life here. It helped as she had spent a semester in Honduras. She can relate to living abroad in a Spanish speaking country. This brought up many cultural thoughts and questions.

5) Culture Shock: Due to a variety of factors (including the reflections with Karen), I experienced a lot of culture shock this week. This seemed odd, because I have been here for three months. However, here’s why I think I had culture shock: 1) Karen was my first visitor to Hermosillo. She also got one of the best glimpses into my world since she also knows Spanish. I felt many times that I also suddenly was suddenly looking at my own life from an outside perspective (albeit mine). It was like I was a tourist of my own life. So weird. 2) Due to all the reflection, I became more self-conscious about my adaption here. Where am I in the process of adapting to the people and culture? Do I see it the same as Karen? Have I been so not self-conscious here both in embracing the experience but also been comfortable with various differences that I have been oblivious to some cultural differences that I should be paying closer attention to? What areas do I wish we better? 3) Karen is not only a dear friend, but also someone whose presence reminded me constantly of my life in Denver/US and the friends I left behind. Obviously that causes some grief and stress due to that loss. Furthermore, in being in new places and new situations while traveling, there were new situations that caused us to examine what potential cultural differences were going on and I think I became overly sensitive to trying to avoid miscommunication because of those differences. Today, I feel fine. We’ll see how this week goes. I think parts will be extra hard. However, as I have much to do for school in the next month with 3 big projects due, studying will help keep my mind from over-thinking and get me back into the groove of life here.

6) Final comments…

It was a great week. Tomorrow’s Monday and it’s back to Sola in Sonora. Even though it might be hard, what a lucky woman I am that I get to do all this!

Photos from Copper Canyon/La Barranca de Cobre

Karen and I

The train

Copper Canyon/La Barranca de Cobre

Pic for my dad of a "Bonsai" tree.

Tarahumara woman weaving with the basket I bought from her in foreground

Foreigner's Perspective on a Foreigner's Life in a Foreign Country

Karen and I at Naranjero's Baseball game with Beto, the Coyote, mascot

Karen, Andres, and I

Michelle’s Visitor

This past week, I had the opportunity to come to Hermosillo and visit Michelle. “Who am I?” You must be thinking. I am a friend of Michelle’s from Denver. I first got to know Michelle when I moved to Denver just over four years ago. Anyway, I am a middle school math teacher who had a week off and was excited to use my Spanish and get a chance to see Michelle in Mexico. I studied Spanish in college as well as spent a semester in Honduras, so coming to Mexico was something that immediately excited me and what better excuse than to come and visit a friend!

So, why am I writing on her blog? Well, we thought it would be interesting for me to write in her blog as a foreigner’s perspective on a foreigner’s life in foreign country! So, I am going to try and give you some insights and share things that I have appreciated seeing and learning that Michelle might not think of. It has been extremely fun to see her life here and meet the people she comes in contact with every day, so with that, there are three things that I have to share with you.

1. Michelle knows a lot of people here in Hermosillo! Every where we went I was introduced to somebody new. It was crazy to me how many people she knows from class, church, her family, and just random friends! She is well connected! She had people she would just run into, call, or send text messages to. What was even more impressive to me was that most of the people she interacts with are Mexican, not other people from the U.S. She is embracing the culture, people, and way of life here in Mexico. She hasn’t been afraid to make friends, fit in, and be part of life here. It has been so fun to me to come to a country and meet locals and be a part of their everyday life; going to classes, parties, eating dinner, getting rides, and having conversations.
2. Michelle SIEMPRE esta usando su español. Michelle is always using her Spanish! This became apparent when all of her friends would give her a hard time about talking in English with me this week. Seriously, all of her friends asked her if she was going to speak English with me! I realized that I should be extremely thankful that she was willing to take a break from Spanish despite the fact that I was able to speak and understand Spanish. Apparently it is common knowledge here that Michelle won’t speak, write, or listen to things in English, even with other people from the United States! It’s her rule! She is here to learn, study, and practice Spanish, and that is what she is doing, hard core! Very Impressive! (Although she did admit that it was nice to have a break from Spanish this week and not have to think about every word she said.)
3. I have been blown away by Michelle’s courage and confidence. After seeing Michelle’s life here and talking with her about many things, I was constantly blown away by what she is doing. I have thought to myself over and over, wow! Some of the things I had heard about and read on her blog, but they struck me strongly while here. Here are some of those wow moments..

- She came and is here by herself, not knowing anyone! Everyone she knows she has met in the last three months.

- Michelle had to find a place to live all by herself! Yes, look in the newspaper, make phone calls, visit houses, meet strangers, all in Spanish! I speak Spanish and this freaks me out!

- Michelle doesn’t have a network of people who speak English. In fact she doesn’t even know or want to know if people speak English. She is disciplined enough to not use English even when should could!

- Things are different and can be uncomfortable and it doesn’t phase her.

- Michelle is confident. She doesn’t let the fact that she is a gringa in Mexico change who she is or what she does. Yet, people are comfortable with her, accepting, and welcoming

Although, I miss Michelle in Denver, it is great and amazing to see what she is doing here in Mexico. I don't feel as if she is so far away now that I know what an amazing new world she is a part of.

Ocotber 21, 2007

I am taking a week off from this blog. However, I did post on my other blog.
Check again next week.

Lists 1:

My classes:

1. Mexican Literature II...
   My most difficult class, but best homework (reading short novels!)
2. Español II…
   Easiest class /Most success in this class, Class in which the teacher loves me
   
3. Taller de Redacción I / Writing Workshop I…
   Most directly helpful class (since I have to write a text weekly)
4. History of Mexico/US Relations ...
   My favorite class in terms of content.

Things I miss:

1) Colorado in the fall

2) Chocolate, especially dark chocolate

3) Self – sufficient return transportation at night

4) Comprehension, comprehension, comprehension. (In case it hasn’t been obvious from my other emails!)

5) Friends and family

6) The mountains, of course! In general, just having easily accessible spots to be in nature.

Things I am thankful for…

1. My Chaco sandals

2. Internet (Even though I do a great job of checking, sending emails is a different story.)

3. My scholarship…not having to worry about money.

4. Cell phone

5. My backpack with its Nalgene pockets to hold water bottles!

6. A good place to live.

7. Not having to cook or clean. I am utterly spoiled in this area.

Pet peeves…

1. English television and music

2. People trying to talk to me in English

3. Some of the fatalism I have encountered here (both positive and negative)

This week (October 8-14, 2007): Highlights and low points

Highlight #1: Going to the Hermosillo’s baseball team’s, The Naranjeros, opening game. (Baseball is pretty big here in Hermosillo, probably due to the proximity to the border and the US influence). It was fun to see participate in this cultural event, compare it the US, and just enjoy the social event of going to a game along and drinking a few Tecate (beer made in Sonora). To top off the night, the Naranjeros won!

Highlight #2: Thursday was one of those days that I was reminded why I wanted to study abroad, why I am in graduate school, and how lucky I am to live out this desire. It wasn’t anything earth shaking, just several conversations with professors, but I felt blessed none the less.

Highlight #3: Saw two Burrowing Owls when walking home from school at 9:00 p.m.

Low point: I had a class Saturday and Sunday to learn Movie Maker (also next weekend). The reason for learning Movie Maker is that I need to use it for my final project for my History course. However, the focus this weekend of the class was more advanced than I need to know. As a result, I was frustrated and upset to the point of tears, both yesterday and today. I ended up leaving early today as a result, but the good news is that I know that the both the professor of the Movie Maker class as well as my History class will be understanding.

Left to right: Leti and Ceci (students who work in the Exchange office), myself, and Marisol (primary Unison contact who has arranged many many details and has made it an easy adjustment for me)

At the opening game of the Naranjeros

View of Hermosillo from the Top of the "Cerro of the Campana", see Pictures of Hermosillo post last week. The bigger building in the center is the main cathedral.

October 7 Postings

This week I added several pictures to several old posts (of family, Kino beach, time with Jon, Manchitas the dog during the Hurricane). I also added two new posts, one explaining more about the Grito (Mexico's Independence Celebration) and a post with Hermosillo pics. Enjoy!

Pic of me at the Ecological Center (aka the zoo!)

Went with fellow exchange students

A picture a long time in coming...The Threesome!

(Andres, myself and

Veronique, aka Vero)

Edgar, my "brother," celebrated his 16th birthday this week!

Hermosillo pictures

View of landscape from zoo (See the giraffe?)

Hermosillo's cathedral

El Cerro de la Campana (Hermosillo's main "foothill"/hill mountain)

Dusk

The Grito de la Independencia (The Independence Shout)

*Although Mexican Independence Day was a few weeks ago, I didn't really explain it. So here it is!

The date is September 1810. It’s 5:00 in the morning and you are tired. However, the toll of the bell announces that right now a town meeting for the city of Dolores is being held in the cathedral. You arrive late, and although you don’t know what the meeting is about, you realize that it is something important seeing the excited agitated faces of your neighbors and hearing the strong charismatic voice of the Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. You listen: he is talking about the injustice of the foreign occupation of New Spain (Mexico). Soon, you share the rage of the other parishioners and their desire to change the situation. When the Father shouts “Viva the Virgin of Guadalupe” (Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!), you applaud in agreement. Upon hearing “Viva the homeland!” you recognize for the first time that the land where you live and the laws that govern it belong to you and your neighbors, your fellow countrymen, and not to a foreign country. When the Father Hidalgo invites the townsmen to reconvene at eleven o clock this night armed and ready to fight, you accept with “Viva the Virgin of Guadalupe! Viva the homeland!” Yes, you will join him, and although you are a mere farmhand, you will arrive with your machete and your courage to combat this injustice in order to gain your country’s independence.

The date is September 15, 2007, Mexico’s National Independence Day. You are in the plaza in front of the main cathedral. Although it is dark, the world is alive in anticipation, like a child waiting to open their first present Christmas Eve. Banners of red, white, and green (the flag’s colors) hang from the plaza bandstand floating in the breeze and the cathedral is bathed in yellow light in the background. The notes of trumpets joyfully reach your ear. You are surrounded by hundreds of people, snow cones, heat, and sweat. The air is filled with anticipation. Finally, the moment arrives. It is eleven ‘o clock and the president begins the speech. He proclaims, “Viva Father Hidalgo! Viva the heroes of our independence! Viva the Virgin of Guadalupe!” and you respond, “Viva! Viva! Viva!” He shouts “Viva Mexico!” and everyone shouts back in agreement and in unison, “Viva Mexico!” With this final shout, the plaza bursts forth in celebration: released white doves fly upward into the sky, confetti of the flags colors rain down on the crowd, and fireworks light up the night resounding against the cathedral’s walls. And in all of this, you witness the citizens’ hearts and minds gratefully honoring their heroes, who almost 200 years earlier, fought for their independence.

September 29, 2007 Part 1: Good news!

The awesome news of this week is that I got to drop a class! All along, I have been anxious about my course load. I had asked about my credit requirement for at the beginning of the semester, since the credits are calculated differently here. I kept all my classes as I would be a little under if I were to drop a class. However, going to Mazatlán two weeks ago made me realize how stressed I have been and how little time I had for anything else. So, I re-evaluated the situation. Upon realizing how many strategies and adjustments I have made regarding my classes and the homework, I decided that it would be better to have the heavier course load next semester when I’ll know what to expect and have a stronger level of Spanish. I wrote my Bowling Green advisor a very lengthy email explaining the situation and requesting his permission to drop a class. He responded saying he needed to know the numbers of hours I spend in class, in addition to my number of credits. Based on the number of hours I was spending in class, he responded my saying that I could and should drop a class! Needless to say, I am thrilled!

(I know I will continue to put many, many hours of work, but I also believe this change will help me be able to narrow my focus giving me more success in the classes I do have. Above all else, I can study much more calmly.)

September 29, 2007 Part 2: Advice if you’re sick….

This past week, I have been sick with a sore throat and a good deep cough. Autumn has started to here, and with the change of seasons, the fall cold /flu has come. Many classmates have been ill, as well as most of my host family. So, it was no surprise that, with my lowered immune system due to stress, I got sick. However, I have learned some things about the autumn cold season here in Hermosillo. First of all, it is common knowledge as well as common medical advice from doctors, that you shouldn’t eat or drink cold foods when you are sick. At first, this seemed very strange. However, in the US we are conscious about the external temperature of our bodies. For example, in the winter, we make sure the outside of our bodies warm by dressing appropriately and how that can play into our health. So, I guess there is some truth in not eating cold foods, especially considering that with the tea in my body I am extra warm. However, the weird part here is that during the day we still have temperatures in the mid 90s and so when I am told not to have cold food/drink, my immediate response is “That’s crazy!” The second thing I’ve noticed is that everyone says, “It’s because of the weather change and your body coming in and out of the air conditioning*.” I took this to mean that the reason I got sick was the drastic change between the two. However, I thought it was much worse in August when it was 110 degrees temps outside. In an attempt not to be too critical, I thought I should maybe ask about why people said “Be careful of the air conditioning!” in the “fall” and not the summer. Based on my conversation with Luz Belia, it’s not the cause, but a trigger for the virus, which makes sense to me. However, I still have to make sure I don’t roll my eyes when I hear… “It’s because of the change”. Ahhh, the things you learn when you sick!

*Air conditioning tends to be very, very cold here (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit) based on that they are charged based on time instead of energy used.

Overdue post

It´s been two weeks since I entered a post, so here´s a very quick one. Sorry if it´s a little scatter brained.

Highlights:
1) Still love living with my family. They are amazing and it continues to be a great place for me.

2) Took a break and went to Mazatlan to see brother Jon and sister in law Toni. They were spending a week doing medical missions, and I got to hang out with them over the weekend. It was great to be with family and take a break. Furthermore, I got to play in the ocean!

My brother the doctor in action!

Jon, Antonia (his translator), and Toni

3) Mexican Independence Day, September 15: In Mazatlán, we went the the Grito, or the shout. Every Independence Day in every town, there is a shout at the end of the day in the plaza in front of the cathedral, when everyone shouts "Viva Mexico" or Long live Mexico. In Mazatlan, accompanying the shout, were fireworks, confetti, lots and lots of people, a program, etc. It was a really neat cultural experience and I´m really glad I got to experience it (plus with Jon and Toni!)

The Grito...See posting on October 7th

4) Went to Kino Saturday with some of the other exchange students. Bahía de Kino (Kino Bay) is the nearest beach to Hermosillo and I´m glad I got the opportunity to go.

Kino Bay Beach

Vero, my French friend, who speaks like a Mexican!

Hard parts:
I feel like I spend all my time studying. I have implemented various strategies and still I struggle. I am also hoping to drop a class if I get the ok. However, that won´t change the amount I study, but it will hopefully give me more time to dedicate to the classes I do have.
The hard part in this is that despite the amount I study there is no much I don´t achieve and I feel like I achieve a basic level of understanding and completion of the work. Furthermore, I also don´t feel like I have time to play, make friends, dive into the culture, relax and just chill, or even respond to people´s emails or write to friends. Taking a break and going to Mazatlan made me realize how much I needed a break, but it´s still hard to make it happen. I know that all this is part of the process, but I´m tired and sick (change of seasons and stress), and I´d like to feel a little more balanced.

A Place to Live (Finally!)

The family, Luz Belia with the Edgar in front (his birthday) Cristian in the back left and Flor back right.
From left to right: Marta (Cristian's girlfriend),Rosalba (her twin sister), and Valeria (house student)


Listen to the sounds of my house as I write. Every once and awhile I can hear Luz Belia, the head of the house, talk with her brother and sister-in-law in the kitchen downstairs. Her twenty year old daughter Flor’s voice comes though louder though as she and her friends are hanging out in the room below mine. Maria Elena, an eight year old niece, talks to herself as she plays on the stairs. In the street below, dogs bark and occasional cars pass by. I am sure that the TV is on as well as twenty-four year son Cristian is a movie fanatic. However in my room, there is only the whirl of the fan and the tap dance of the keys on the computer. I have a room to myself in this house full of people, and if the AC was turned on upstairs, I wouldn’t hear anything. Well, almost. Manchitas, (“Spotty”) the dog, when she is outside of the patio, barks at every living creature that passes by. However, I think she’s down stairs.
I arrived here a week ago Sunday, and it has proved to be the perfect place for me. One reason is that I am living with a family. The family consists of Luz Belia and her three children: Edgar 15, Flor 20ish, and Cristian 24. (Her husband died a little over a year ago of cancer.) Her nephew Antonio, also known as “Chaco,” also lives in the house as he is not from Hermosillo, but is studying at the University here. (A linguistic note: Here in Hermosillo, the “ch” is pronounced “sh” is nickname is really “Shasho”. Not so great Spanish from a purist standpoint, but very helpful in determining someone’s origin in Mexico.) Anyway, the family has been extremely welcoming both in regards to the house and their activities. I have already been to an uncle’s birthday party and met several other relatives. Not only do I get to get plugged into their family network, I also have a social network of University students. Not only are Cristian, Flor , Chaco, and myself studying, there are two other girls living here, Valeria and Ilse, but Cristian’s girlfriend Marta and her twin sister often frequent the house. So despite the fact that I feel “old” as I am hanging out with people in their early twenties, there is almost always something going on, so that is really nice. However, I also get my own space! I offered to pay a little extra to have a room to myself. At times I feel a little guilty as the house is quite full, but not guilty enough to change it as I really appreciate having a quiet place to study or retreat when I need it. The final reason the house is perfect is that Luz Belia is a practicing Catholic who also attends an Evangelical church which also has some Pentecostal beliefs as well! As a fellow Christian, I feel blessed to live with a common faith from whom I can be challenged with the differences as well. Furthermore, Valeria, one of the other girls who lives here, is also a Christian.
Regarding the actual house building, the house is not large, but not too small either. There is a downstairs with a kitchen and living room with a little corner for the computer by the stairs as well as a bathroom. Adjacent to the kitchen is a little store (groceries and snacks) that Luz Belia runs and owns. Upstairs, are the four bedrooms as well as two bathrooms. The house amenities are fabulous! We have air conditioning and wireless internet in the house! In summary, it is a very nice place to live and I am pleased.

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Henriette Part 2

It's Thursday evening, and I sit here in the house safe and sound. The weather has been very anti-climatic. Yesterday, the University canceled afternoon classes. It started raining around 4:00, and so I had the privilege of reading a novel (for class) with the sound of soft rain and a cup of coffee. Around 6:00 p.m., they announced that classes were canceled for the following day in all of Hermosillo, although the University's web page stated that it was only for the morning. The tropical storm was scheduled to arrive in Hermosillo around 11:00 p.m. with winds from anywhere from 20 mph to 40 mph. However, when I went to bed at 11:30, it wasn't even raining. When I woke up, there was no evidence of any storm, nor of any additional rain. Today was a day of no, yes, no, yes, no for classes. In the end, we didn't have any classes, mainly because more rain was predicted and there was already water in the streets. In conclusion, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Henriette ended up causing less damage here in Hermosillo than the 45 minute storm we had on Tuesday. Not to say there wasn’t destruction in other areas, as Henriette caused damage to the costal towns of Guaymas , Kino, Los Cabos, and others. However, here in Hermosillo, all is quiet.

Hurricane Henriette (1)

So, I thought I´d avoid Hurricane Season by living in Hermosillo with the Baha to protect us. Hah! Not so. Hurricane Henriette is in the Sea of Cortez right now heading northward. Thankfully we are approximately 60 miles inland from Bahia Kino, so we won´t get the hurricane as it´s a category 1. (Yesterday I freaked out thinking that the Hurricane was a category 5, so obviously today I feel better knowing it´s a 1. Hurricane Felix is a 5 so somehow I got that confused.) Anyway, we should get a good tropical storm out of the deal. That means lots and lots of rain in a city that doesn´t handle rain very well as it usually never gets rain. So we´ll see what it looks like this afternoon and tomorrow. You can tract the storm on http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ however it´s doesn´t tell you where Hermosillo is. If you find a different site that has a major island (Shark Island or something like that), Hermosillo is directly east. Updates later.

Hard

I think the hard part has finally come. The first three weeks went fairly smoothly. Granted, I had my ups and downs. Overall, though, it went much better than expected and I felt pretty good about how the adjustment was going. However, the end of week #3 and definitely #4 (last week) were not so good. So, here are the hard parts of the last week and a half.
Friday the 24th, I came to a new realization about my frustration of my lack of comprehension. I realized that I work hard to understand 24/7. This not only includes school(listening to lectures, class discussions, homework texts), but also fun/down time (hanging out in groups of 3+ people and having conversations) or going to church). So, unless I am emailing or calling home and talking in English, I don´t get much of a break.
On Monday and Tuesday, I freaked out about housing. I thought that housing was taken care of, but an unexpected detail came up, and I ended up re-stressing, re-researching, and re-thinking my plan. At the end of it all, everything ended up working out and the bumps along the way helped direct me to a living situation about which I am really excited. (More details later about my famiy with whom I am living and their house.)
On Wednesday night, I got sick. I think it was something I ate as I ended up having diarrhea and vomiting. However, I think that my stress level and possibly the higher heat (low/ mid 40s) made me more susceptible or worsened the situation.
On Thursday, I ended up crying to a professor about my concerns with the homework (specifically about a homework assignment I had been stressing about the previous two days). He was very understanding and informed me that in reality I had much more time to complete the assignment, which made me feel less anxious.
However, I continue to be concerned about homework in general. I feel like I could spend all my extra time doing it, still not understand very well, and have limited time for friends and no time for exploring the city, state, and country.
Headaches have been too frequent. I think they are a culmination of stress, the heat (although during the day I don´t think it is affecting me), and all the change.
I realized how bad the week had been only when Veronique told me that she had been worried about me during the week.
So, that´s how life is going. I am trying to take one day at a time. (Yesterday I only cried once and it was in the morning, so the rest of the day actually went really well.) I am hoping that now that I have moved, I can get into a good schedule and get more accomplished during the day. I am considering rearranging a class to give me a larger studying block of time. I am more conscious about the amount of sleep I´m getting, and considering getting back into my regular exercise routine. However, everything comes with its advantage and disadvantage and so I´m weighing things out and a good balance is what I´m trying to find.
So, for now, it´s still hard. However, that´s part of the process.

Hermosillo Hospitality

One of the most striking things to me so far has been the hospitality this city has given me. From the beginning, the University´s Education Exchange program has demonstrated a extemely warm welcome. From picking me up from the airport to having a place to live until I find my own place (up to a month!), they have made the transition easy.
Next, I encountered the helpfulness of the locals. As we learn our way around the city, people are always willing to give us directions or help us get to our next spot. (I was initially worried about asking for help as that meant I didn´t know my way around and would feel vulnerable. However, in requesting their help, I have always felt safe and in truth, am probably more safe for asking.)
Then, there is Hermosillo´s hospitality at the University. Every professor, when I have approached them about extra help or to explain the concerns I have with my comprehension, has made me feel at ease with their understanding and willingness to work with me. Furthermore, the students have also demonstrated kindness and helpfulness, be it rides home, copying lecture notes, brining previous course material to catch me up to speed, etc.
The students once again demostrated this past Thursday. When my classmates in Mexican Lit. III found out it was my birthday via Veronique, they all gave me their congratulations. After class, I was talking with two of them while waiting for Veronique. They lameneted the fact that they didn´t bring me a cake. So instead, they suggested going out for dinner to celebrate. So six of them, along with my house mates, and the professor ended up having dinner and drinks at a great local restaurant. One of them, Marta, gave me two books (which is a great gift as it is practical for class, appropriate for my enjoyment of reading, and extra special in the fact that most of our school reading is photocopies of books). They were all students I didn´t know very well and aren´t the ones I have connected with in class. However, despite that, they took me out to dinner and celebrated with me. What a beautiful gift!
As I have reflected on the town´s generousity and hospitality, I have been reminded of how I fail often in this area. Sure, some of you might disagree. However, that´s because you are friends and family and I tend to do a slightly better job because of our relationship. Even so, I have often still respond or act out of self interests or selfishness. With stangers or even people I know, but am not close friends with, I am much worse. I often ignore them or keep the interactions at arm´s length, protecting myself. Here, I am a stranger and yet I have been treated with open arms. I am humbled both as an individual, but also as a representive of the US. They surely have given me a lesson in hospitality. I hope some of it rubs off on me.

Classes-Week #1

The following is a what I wrote for one of my classes here about the first day of classes (translated into English of course!)
Today, Monday, August 13, was my first day of class here at the University of Sonora (UNISON). As it´s been 5 years since I graduated from Calvin College and 6 since I actually took a class, I was feeling both excited and a little bit nervous about the reality of studying again. My first class was Mexican Literature III (20th century) from 10:00-11:00. Veronique, my house mate, is also taking this class and so that helped me to not feel so alone in this adventure. However, my feelings changed as the class progressed and I soon was in shock. I didn´t understand hardly anything. I don´t have very much literature background in regards to classes and furthermore I haven´t taken the prerequisites to this class, so both my vocabulary and background knowledge were severly lacking. I though, What am I doing? and Should I even be in this class? The second class was better. It was Composition Workshop I, an hour class for incoming freshmen. As a result, many students arrived late to class and then received a mini-lecture about the importance of arriving on time and their assistance. I was humored by this and quite relieved that I have pasted that stage. Español II was next. The teacher is quite the dramatic, energetic, animated woman. Upon entereing, many students proceded to give her the warm welcome with hugs and kisses. Then in class, she commented that over the break she had missed them.....yesterday. I certainly have a variety of professors! My final class is History of the US/Mexican Relations at 7:00-9:00. I enjoyed the class and I felt better about what I understood (perhaps because I had more back ground history and perhaps because I had better expectations of what I´d understand). Anyway, I enjoyed the class. Thankfully, we got out at 8:00 since it was an introduction. So thus ended my first day of classes. Tomorrow I get to start it all over again.

Follow up: One week later, Monday, August 20, 2007
I know have been to a full week of classes. Overall it went well. However, there was definitely less homework than I´ll have normally. It has had its ups and downs of course. I understand much less than what I´ve expected so that´s the hardest part. It also means that even if I work super hard, I´m not going to get the success I´m used to receiving with more hours of work. I know that part of it results from the adjusting to being in classes (and in Spanish), but there are days, like today, that I doubt that and just think that I´m in over my head. However, professors have been very understanding and helpful and students are welcoming and helfpul as well. The other challenging part is my schedule. I have classes scattered through out the day and so that makes for a long day, but also means I don´t ever get a large block of time. Furthermore, I am still looking for housing so that takes up time as well. Anyway, as you can tell, today, I´m stressed and more anxious, but last week overall did go better than I expected.

Not so Sola after all...

The good news I´m not as alone as I anticipated. The Unison (University of Sonora) has a student exchange program and there are approximately 20 of us. Two of them are staying in the same house as I am. Veronique comes from France and will be here for a year. She is also studying in the Literature program (I am as well, officially, but with my liberal arts background, I am diversifying my classes and have classes with 3 different "schools" or programs here.) We will have one class together this semester so that will be great, especially since her Spanish kicks butt (really, she speaks like a native). Andrès is here for a semester and is from Puebla, a town relatively close to Mexico City and if the battke site of Cinco de Mayo. It´s been nice to be with them as we are all have similar needs right now (exploring the city and area, learning the streets and public transportation, no friends, etc.) They are both exceptional people and just good folks so that´s very comfortable and comforting for me. I am the eldest of the group, though as they are both 21. So, obviously been pleased to have them as companions that are becoming my friends. Regarding the rest of the group, most are from Mexico, but not from Hermosillo. Most of the students (of the 20/25 thousand) are from Hermosillo or Sonora There are also two other students from the US (one from the Midwest and the other from Arizona). There is also another girl from Spain (and maybe 1 or 2 more coming as well). All the foreign exchange students that have arrived met this past Wednesday as part of our orientation. I am the eldest of the group (I think), but at least I have mom´s young looks! (Thanks Mom!) I´m also the least fluent of the four non-native speakers. A little intimidating. At least, it´s good for my Spanish, even if I feel like I don´t qualify to be here. Anyway, the group will reconvene in a few weeks to have some typical Sonoran/ Hermosillan food. And, if we´re lucky, the exchange office, is going to try to organize two trips during the semester so we might even get to travel! Not so sola after all, no?

Sun-ora

So, it´s hot here! I knew it would be as I had checked the forecast earlier this summer and they had days of 105-115 F. The good news is that it rained last week and so it´s been cooler this week only staying in the upper 90s. However, I don´t know exactly the temperature as it´s Celsius here. Still... Thankfully my temporary housing has AC so that helps. The strange thing here is that everyone wears pants (especially jeans which aren´t very light)...men, women, and even kids. I´ve been watching and I´ve only noticed a few men and women wearing shorts (or skirts for that matter). It´s a little more common to see children wearing shorts, but it´s not the norm. I´ve been wearing shorts and skirts since I came. I wasn´t completely conscious of it right away, the last two days I´ve noticed that I´m very much the exception. I decided to ask Marisol, one of the exchange program staff. She said that people wear shorts to protect their legs from getting burned. When I mentioned that it´s been cool, she said that´s another reason. My mom suggested that it might be also that people work in AC, which might also be true, but there are also a lot of people who don´t work in AC. Anyway, I decided to try wearing light-weight jeans today and I think I´ll switch back to shorts tomorrow. Maybe on Monday for the first day of class, I´ll try capris (mainly because there will be AC in the classrooms.)
Yeah for sunscreen!

I´ve arrived!

Apropriate view, don´t you think?

Hi all...I´ve arrived (on Sunday the 5th). The last week was a rollarcoaster. I really enjoyed being in WY with my family, but since I had no more details to wrap up, I also had a lot of time to worry about the huge adventure I´ve undertaken. So needless to say, I was quite anxious. The day of the flight I was calm in the morning and calm until I got to Phoenix. Then I had to leave security, go to another terminal, get a ticket since it was another airline, and go back through security, and try to grab a bite to eat, all in an hour and a half. Thankfully, the flight was slightly delayed! I arrived in Hermosillo, only to find that my luggage didn’t come. Juan, a university staff who was picking me up, thankfully was still waiting for me an hour after I went to report the lost luggage. After we went to Walmart (who know!) to buy some basic supplies like a toothbrush, I was dropped off to a big, nice, but empty house and had 5 hours to kill by myself. Again, just felt fearful and lonely, but went and bought a phone card and ate dinner. Yesterday, Monday, I met Andrés who is another student who is staying at the house. He waited and accompanied me during the day as we took a tour of the University, went and bought myself a cell phone. So it was nice to have someone to be there, who at least is in a similar situation and doesn't know anyone, but also knows the culture and language better than I when I have a question about how things work. Today is another day of finding things to do. The university said to wait on looking for housing until the other students come, so we have a day of no activities planned. Gives me time to blog! Sorry about all the details!

I definitely might have overpacked. Three suitcases and a bike!