Chaputepec Forest. My best impression of Moctezuma.

Viva la Bandera!

Los Niños Heroes.

Story goes, 6 boys were defending the Castle of Chapultepec and when the Unites States came to take over (because they take over everything) they all died in battle although Santa Anna told them to leave. They were the only ones that stayed to defend the castle before the US made it one of their headquarters. . .

I had a rough week. I missed my sisters and the rest of my family a lot. Jacob and I are both moving on and it's great but I missed my best friend. Looking over this lake and some of Mexico City brought me back to reality instead of thinking about home. How lucky I am to have this opportunity and to remember that I have the strength to move forward and not live in what is going on miles and miles away from me, that I could not ever fix even if I was right down the street from.

Aztec dancing in the forest!

This is one of the original trees that have been in the Forest of Chapultepec, I forget the name of them. Some of them had probably been there since Cortes came, maybe not that long, but they were OLD!

I love flowers. . . that's all.

In the Castle of Chapultepec, this room houses the original constitution of La Republica de Mexico.

Looking over some of Mexico City, Lago de Chapultepec [Lake of Chapultepec]

celebrations- September 16, 2009

Mexican independence day is something I have been looking forward to since I got here. Mexican's are very patriotic and they are proud to be Mexican no matter what the connotation. It is different here than in the north where pretty much everyone wants to live in the states. I deeply admire their love for their country. Gillian, Stephanie and I went to Mexico City to celebrate in the Zocalo. They had a really neat light show on the Palacio Nacional which is a historic building where the leaders meet to make decisions. The president did the cry for independence just like Hidalgo did when he was trying to bring everyone together to fight for independence from Spain. It was very moving. It's weird, I have never been close to see Barack or George Bush, but I saw Felipe Caldaron, the president of Mexico. Pretty awesome stuff.

In the Zocalo with our Pancho Villa mustaches.

These are some of the greatest girls I have EVER met. They are a blessing seriously. We are all from the States. Amy is from Ohio, Stephanie on the other side of me is from Canada, MY BAD, and Gillian on the end is the read head from Scotland/grew up in North Carolina. We all have classes that we teach here and are able to whine about how discouraged we get and toss ideas around for how we can get our kids to be more motivated. Over all, great girls. I feel blessed to have met such great people.

This is Alejandro. Another person with a BIG heart. I met him "drunkily" at a bar and he sobered me up by arguing with me about the US, Cuba, and literature that we had both read about our favorite ideas, Don Quijote, Reinaldo Arenas-Cuban author thrown in jail for expressing liberal ideas and tearing away from the communist party. we walked home as the sun was coming up and he met up with me on the beach the next day and we had the same conversations. He was in Acapulco for a convention because he is a librarian in Chihuaha which is a state in the north of Mexico, next to where my mom is from. During the day he was handing out books to promote literacy, and etc. These are the people/conversations I have been waiting to meet and to have. Someone who makes me look at something different. A side I had never known. I love opening my mind to new ideas and new sides of the fence. We are meeting in November for a protest against the "drug lords" taking over the country in Mexico City. Scary, but can't wait.

Beautiful sunset in Acapulco the first night we were there.

Touching the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

Overall, Acapulco was a great experience. Beautiful beach, AGAIN, not Belize though!

i'm going for it.

Univeristy of Chicago Graduate School

Social Work & Law

application: in progress.

hope.

I visited the school that I'm going to begin teaching at next week. The school was nicer than I thought it would be, but so much help is needed. For example, they have a room dedicated to computers, with about 30 of them in there but no one in the school knows how to teach the kids to use them. How is this possible? Also, the teachers that teach regular subjects are supposed to add English classes into their curriculum because the children need it to get into universities but the school system doesn't have the money to pay anyone to teach the kids, wether it is foreigners or people from Mexico. The class difference is so evident here. Either you are stuck inside of UDLAP walls where I am with stupid shit kids walking around with their Louis Vuitton or Fendi purses or you don't even have books. Not one kid in my class has a book. The notebook paper that they do have...is donated and they write on the back of the pages that are not already written on.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO REACHING ANY KIND OF UNITED STATES SCHOOl LEVEL? I mean...Canada is almost a duplicate of the US economy wise and they are bouncing back faster than the States are. Here is Mexico not reaping shit from the US. I get so FUCKING FRUSTRATED. As soon as I walked through the door, the kids started coming up to me and asking me if I was their new English teacher and if I could tell them their name in English. They started to tell me the words they already knew, gave me hugs and kisses. They were so EAGER to see me, and to know they were going to learn. The director told me that English has to be their future if they want to get into a university of have a job in the tourist industry which is the sure thing that makes the most money. So that is the future of Mexico...someone to serve Americans with too much fucking money in a fancy hotel or restaurant?

I just get...so mad. I have so many friends that live inside of their little bubble. I wish they would put maybe a fourth of the energy they do into shopping, watching american idol, or living inside of their Ole Miss bubble to see everything around them.

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

literature.

I am constantly in the library. . . constantly.

So--apparently the reason that I didn't hear from Eric all weekend was because he crashed his moped and had to go to the hospital. Prayers please? He worries me sometimes. He told me had a few "scratches" but when I skyped with him last night I got a glimpse of them and they are BRUISES with HUGE bandages. . . . he has to go to the hospital and get his bandages changed every 24 hours.

I suppose I have to get back to work now, even though I do not want to. Literature classes in Spanish are really kicking my BUTT!

LOVES.

teotihuacan pyramids.

I may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with ancient civilizations. I just think they are so interesting. I love learning everything about them and it is definitely one of the reasons I came to this part of Mexico, rich in Aztec culture. I admire all indigenous culture and their struggles to maintain their lifestyle. Indigenous rights are a big deal in this part of Mexico because they are the more poverty stricken class. You see them in the streets selling their crafts and the kids and you feel sympathy. I feel sympathy because their culture is not valued and their way of life. It makes me sad that traditional culture is getting replaced with Starbucks and Macdonald's here. The radio is filled with The Killers and Lady Gaga. WHY?!?!

First walking in.

My friends Stephanie and I, at the top of the Sun Pyramid. I am so lucky to have met her. She and I teach together at the local schools, and she has a great heart. She has also has a hunger for adventure!

After climing the Piramide de la Luna.

After climbing the Piramide del Sol--I felt like a conqueror, it was REALLY high and I almost passed out, well not really but it felt like I was.

I got some new shoes, woo!

In front of the Sun Pyramid.

Getting ready to climb..sorry these are out of order, I'm not good at technology.

I haven't talked to Eric since Friday, he starts volunteering tonight...well his Monday, our Sunday night. Maybe he will get to an internet cafe today. :(

8 days.

The most memorable 8 days thus far since being here. Eric flew in Tuesday, he got to meet my roommates and my friends here. We got to know each other better and I hated seeing him go this past Wednesday. I have never met someone more interesting, ambitious, caring, and hard working. He will be in Thailand working at the refugee camps for about six months. I got to talk to him last night for the first time since he left and he said he found a place to stay in a family's guest house. They were looking for volunteers to work at a school in town in exchange for a place to live and he agreed. He went without a plan and is already set for volunteering on Monday, place to stay, and taking Thai and Burmese classes. So he was really excited.

Boo Thailand. We are meeting sometime around the New Year hopefully, in the Phillipines? We will see.

trying mole poblano for the first time.

getting ready for independence day in the Zocalo, Mexico City.

look at those BLUE eyes, <3

We found a hotel with a rooftop, the second time we ever hung out was downtown Memphis watching the sun set over the Mississippi, so it's kind of our thing.

eating lunch by the fountain downtown mexico city.

former photographer, HAS to have the perfect shot.

Diego Rivera Mural....my love.

Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Original, 1531

garden behind the basilica, beautiful.

Basilica garden.

After climbing for a better view of the Basilica de la Virgen De Guadalupe, amazing.

Chiles en Nogada, traditional dish in Puebla.

He's scared of heights.

Cholula behind us, at the top of the pyramid.