I signed up for classes today. I went through the necessary steps, and reached the part about my internship. I thought I was going to do mostly volunteer work. The man's name in charge is Hector. He's from Spain(sigh). Love his accent. He told me there was a position left open for someone to teach english as a second language to students in the surrounding schools. They are 4th and 5th graders. The thing is, it is not covered under my exchange. So I would actually have to pay for the class out of my own pocket. They teach me how to teach the material, then they tell me where to go, and I get paid every month. So, it sort of pays for itself. I want the experience badly because it will be give me the means to travel. I am fluent in Spanish and can use it to get away from Mississippi for awhile..finally. I know there are jobs in Spain that you can apply for teaching english as a second language and I'm sure other spanish speaking countries as well. So I feel like this will be a good way for me to get experience and put it on my resume. Even if I have to pay for, teh experience and the things I thought will pay for itself in the end. It is something I truly want to do, and of course a window out. So I went back after I thought about it, and said YES! I start training Monday, start teaching in September. I could not be more excited. Walking back from signing my contract, I looked around and just being there at that moment, knowing I had made a decision that could help change my life forever, made me SO happy. I feel like this is a good step in the right direction.
How has life in Mexico been? Amazing. I feel so badly that I didn't get to grow up in this culture. I guess I did a little with my mom and dad but not fully. The girls that I have met are really nice. I met this Canadian that is pretty adventurous and we already planned a backpacking trip for our week off in October. We are going to ride the chicken buses(haha) through Oaxaca, Chiapas and into Guatemala. Staying in hostels on the way. We have about 9 days out of school. We have already started planning and mapping it out. I could not be more excited. This is something I have really wanted to do.
The food is really amazing of course. I went to wal mart and got my comfort sandwich meat and cereal. I feel I will need it to stay sane. Yesterday we went out to the big city Puebla that is close to our university and got lost. I started getting frustrated and missed home. I know it was just because I was wishing for familiarity in the midst of NOTHING that we were lost in. The street was full of vendors and sidewalks full of people. I twas a bit overwhelming.
Yesterday morning we went to the local aztec pyramid, ha there is a cathedral on top. It was beautiful. You have to climb all of the way to the top of course, which n
ow my butt hurts from doing so. The view above was amazing though. It was breathtaking. At night the cathedral is lit up and you can see it all over the town. It's beautiful. Inside it was very detailed and great artwork that had been there for ages I'm sure. I am so obsessed with indegineous artwork/culture, just everything. We walked around the plaza later and I bought a few things from the vendors there. Overall, it was a good day of exploring. The bus rides were interesting. Figuring them out, and their routes was stressful but I'm sure that I will get the hang of it.
Eric let me know last night that he is for sure coming to visit. He should be here the 25th. He's coming in teh middle fo the week and staying through a weekend, so I will have more free time to hang out. I think we are going to the coast, stay at a hotel on the beach and walk the boardwalk in Veracruz. I am pretty excited, nervous at the same time. We talk every day, pretty much all day and last night stayed up talking until three in the morning. It's a bit childish I guess, but there is never a dull moment. We have so much to talk about. He is the best person to just sit and chat with. I like getting to know him.
I had my first night club experience Wednesday night at ladies night. It was interesting. I felt underdressed and underclassy..if that makes sense. The town I'm in is pretty well off because of the university and most of the kids that come to this campus are pretty well off. They are the more rich I guess in Mexico. So I definitely felt different when I went. It was still fun though.
I just took advantage of the track/gym accomadations that they have here, got all hot and sweaty while the basketball team was in there. hubba, hubba. Surprisingly sports are a big deal and they have a decent football team i hear. That should be interesting.
Great view:
