Sunday: Typical Sunday routines of church, going to the other side (of the border) for shopping, dinner, and visiting with Elaine (Uncle Kent's mom). There were a lot more people in church on Sunday because most all the students were back for school to start the next day. We went to the other side and took Elaine to Mexican food in California (I had a grande burrito de pescado) and we did our shopping at Costco and Target. I volunteered to do breakfast the next morning; Elda came and told me I needed to be in their at 5 am. Aunt Lila prayed with me, like she has been, for things to go well with the girls and that friendships would blossom.
Monday: First day of school. I was up at 4:30, later than I wanted to be, and in the kitchen by 5. Because I had breakfast (desayuno) duty, I didn't get to participate in devotionals with the rest of the students in the Chapel, although I could hear the going-ons since the kitchen (cocina) is attached to the Chapel. Elda and I prepared eggs with salsa, refried beans, tortillas, toast, and coffee for the desayuno. I tried my best to understand how she directed me, and luckily she was very patient (I told her that later).
After breakfast I headed back to our dorm. It started out as I was sitting on my bed and the girls got out their English conversational book to ask me preguntas (questions) and get to know me, and I them. I tried my best to ask them questions, in Spanish, too. Up to this point, we hadn't had any conversations. Then the question came up about playing guitar, cause they saw mine. We got it out, and they asked me to toca (play)--so embarrassing since I'm still a beginner, so I played the few chords to the song I knew best once through and then handed the guitar off to Chelita (who plays acoustic on the worship team). She's very humble about her skill. She started out with none other than "Lord I Lift Your Name on High"--a song I grew up on--they sang in Spanish and I sang in English. By this time, 6 out of the 8 girls of our apartment were in our room. Then they had me sing alone. Talk about red in the face! I managed, glory a Dios! After that, the girls had me write the lyrics in English and they tried singing with me in English. I could feel God's presence--it was such a beautiful moment of His, and a prayer answered. The girls were reaching out to be my friend, so much so that they attempted to praise Him in an unfamiliar language for an unfamiliar person. I felt blessed.
Later orientation started for them and for the first time, I sat with the girls, instead of my Aunt (whom I love). Half way through I was called out to watch a baby girl--Grete'--in the nursery (pronounced gwardadia). She was fine and had a seemly pleasant temperament at first, but then the waterworks came... and they didn't stop for an hour. At least she was my only nino (kid). After many positions, tantrums, and booger wipes, she fell asleep on my shoulder and I was eventually able to lay her down.
Lunch (comida) was chicken (no thanks), beans, rice, tortillas, and horchata (but with oats). After lunch, I think I came and napped at my aunt and uncle's for a few hours, then was dinner (don't remember what it's called that we ate, but I didn't eat a lot). When I went back up to the apartment, Elda offered me one of the tamales that her mom made (even though I DETEST tamales, I gratefully ate one since it was kind of her to offer and I didn't want to offend). Pork. I'm vegetarian. Picante (Spicy). My stomach doesn't do spicy. Oh boy. After gagging over the sink when no one was watching, I said thank you, and skedaddled into my Aunt and Uncles office to hide from tamales for the rest of the night. I could already feel my stomach twisting. This won't be good.
While I was in the office, I met two sets of parents of some of the kids I'd be watching and was able to ask any important questions. I followed my Tia back to the house where Uncle Kent made dinner and insisted on me eating a little. They ate the tamales Elda gave them--they didn't like them much, either, and they love tamales--and we had Uncle Kent's delectable LaLa fruit salad, and vegetables. I did the dishes and tip-toed into the apartment after 10 (late to curfew). A day it was.
Tuesday: I was supposed to go to Devotionals with the girls this morning, and those were my intentions, I swear, but I woke up with the biggest stomach ache I've had in a while. I snoozed through both alarms, I snoozed through the girls getting ready; it was going on 5:15 when I was awoken by a Chelita near my nose (that's one of my roommates) looking me square in the eyes. "Buenos dias, Lynda! Nosotros, blah blah blah, Devotionals, blah blah blah, cinco y media blah blah blah" I was still half asleep, but I think what she was telling me was that us four were going to pray (she clasped her hands as if to pray) at 5:30 before Devotionals (which were at 6). I made like I understood, which I kind of did, and headed to the showers with my stuff. There was no way I would be done by 5:30, but I had no way of telling them now. My stomach was just hurting worse, too. I felt sluggish. I can't go to Devotionals feeling like this. "Excuses, excuses" I thought to myself. I really didn't feel good AT ALL, but I didn't want to offend or let down the girls. We were JUST starting to become friends. I finished getting ready and then went to my Aunt's house to sleep and to avoid the awkwardness when the girls came back from breakfast. I was gonna skip eating today because of my stomach anyway. I woke up at 7:35 in time to do nursery in 15 minutes; I headed to the apartment--it was awkward, like I knew it'd be. I could tell the girls were confused of my absence and offended as well. I didn't have the words to say. :( I started organizing the toys in our living room (I have nursery in our apartment in the living room) while the girls were off to class. One baby and one 3-year-old were dropped off. I tried my best to be attentive to both, but it was hard (so glad I'm not a mom yet). Betelli (3-year-old) had to pee and Abril was crying, and Betelli didn't know how to wipe, and I was holding Abril, and ABril cried even more when I put her down, and Betelli, and Abril, and, and...
Wow. This is only two kids, how am I gonna handle it when I have 4 or 5 on Wednesdays?? God, why do you have me here? I can't even understand these kids and their needs? You have the wrong girl. I can't do this! It's easy right now and I can't even do this! Why did you choose me?? :(
Just as I was getting apprehensive, inadequate, and discouraged. First Estair (office secretary), and then the mom's arrived saying something about "classes manana". After the kids were gone and I finished cleaning up, I ran to talk to Aunt Lila and she confirmed (in English) that the first class was postponed for the day because the professor was a no-show. Ah, good. I went back to the house, still feeling terribly sick, where I took another nap; this time, 4 hours. My next kids would be in the nursery at 3:30, so I slept and then listened to Aunt Lila practice her presentation which would be at the same time. I helped her set up in the classroom, then I headed up to the apartment to do the nursery. I was expecting Betelli and Grete', but Grete's 3-year-old sister Naomi also came. So Betelli and Naomi were able to play with eachother while I tried to get Grete' to stop crying (again). To no prevail. My roommates noticed my frustration and gladly took Grete' to get her to sleep (they weren't able to either). I was able to focus more on Naomi and Betelli's needs, from what I could understand. We played everything in the room and had snack (and my roommates also came and helped me communicate and played with them). Naomi was more attitudinal than Betelli--she wouldn't help clean up and would ignore me if I asked her to do something. The parents came and picked them up for dinner at 6ish. Sweet!
Cleaned up and waited by my aunt's classroom until she came out from talking with professor; she didn't until after I had gone in and gotten the keys from her. During the time I waited all I could think of was my inadequacy of being here. Again, why did God send me here? I'm not cut out for this. After 15 minutes of me being in the house, I heard an aggressive knocking on the door--Naomi and her mom. Her mom asked me about the nursery cause she had a night class--I was unaware. No Grete; this time, though, at least. So I took Naomi and went back to the apartment. We played with a few toys and then I asked if she wanted a movie. She finally settled on Barney after sorting through them all, and Chelita kindly helped me set up the VCR. About 5 minutes into the video, and Naomi mumbled words I didn't understand. I took her to the bathroom and she mumbled the words again. "Aqui?" She shook her head no. I took her to Chelita for her to explain; Naomi had apparently said she was sleepy (Chelita taught me the word, but I don't remember). We got the bed set up and out, but I guess Naomi had changed her mind. For the rest of the night Chelita played with her more and I did a little in the living room. And Chelita, Elda, and Naomi were all teaching me Spanish words while we played. For instance, Cheli puched Naomi on the car and I gave the commands (stop, go, turn left, turn right, forward, turn around) all in Spanish. Cheli is being very helpful in teaching me Spanish words, and Elda, too. It's been a long day. And a very yucky day, as far as health goes. I still feel inadequate. I still don't know why God has called me here; I just know He has.
P.s. So far I have really been humbled by being so dumb in their world. Being the foreigner who doesn't speak the language well is quite the flip. I've never felt so stupid in my entire life.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Move-in
Today I moved into the dorms. I was dreading it, but it had to be done. I need to grow up; I need not isolate myself from my fears.
I'm so used to the comfy queen bed all to myself, and my own bathroom--it was nice. And I was just getting acclimated to having a different "immediate family", but now I'm leaving that, too.
Another routine I have to shake off, and it hasn't even been a month!
Hopefully I'll be more optimistic tomorrow.
Anyway, I started out the day right with stretching, walking the BI with Aunt Lila (+ her dog Jack/Zack), yoga, solid breakfast, and carrot juice. Then we picked up Uncle Kent from the Tijuana Airport and went to the Macroplaza for some frozen yogurt.
This afternoon, Hoca and Chali helped me transport stuff from the casa to the dormitorio; it was really considerate of them. They pointed-out my area and drawers in the room. Hoca is my bunkmate (I'm on top).
After I completed getting settled, I went with Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila to dinner and shopping. Steamed vegetables and rice at the Chinese food place for dinner, and Sorianna's and a Mexican version of Sam's for shopping.
I am also getting Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila hooked on Jack Johnson, which makes me happy. :)
Uncle Kent got me some Tres Leche, too! It was delicious!
Welp... I'm waiting for a load of laundry to dry and then I'll go sleep--my first night in the dorm.
P.s. Checking out a new (to me) diet; Eat Right For Your Blood Type--for health more than weight loss. I recommend it, if you're interested in achieving a healthy state (there are some fruits and veggies, even, that certain blood types don't handle well).
I'm so used to the comfy queen bed all to myself, and my own bathroom--it was nice. And I was just getting acclimated to having a different "immediate family", but now I'm leaving that, too.
Another routine I have to shake off, and it hasn't even been a month!
Hopefully I'll be more optimistic tomorrow.
Anyway, I started out the day right with stretching, walking the BI with Aunt Lila (+ her dog Jack/Zack), yoga, solid breakfast, and carrot juice. Then we picked up Uncle Kent from the Tijuana Airport and went to the Macroplaza for some frozen yogurt.
This afternoon, Hoca and Chali helped me transport stuff from the casa to the dormitorio; it was really considerate of them. They pointed-out my area and drawers in the room. Hoca is my bunkmate (I'm on top).
After I completed getting settled, I went with Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila to dinner and shopping. Steamed vegetables and rice at the Chinese food place for dinner, and Sorianna's and a Mexican version of Sam's for shopping.
I am also getting Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila hooked on Jack Johnson, which makes me happy. :)
Uncle Kent got me some Tres Leche, too! It was delicious!
Welp... I'm waiting for a load of laundry to dry and then I'll go sleep--my first night in the dorm.
P.s. Checking out a new (to me) diet; Eat Right For Your Blood Type--for health more than weight loss. I recommend it, if you're interested in achieving a healthy state (there are some fruits and veggies, even, that certain blood types don't handle well).
Friday, August 27, 2010
Mi muchos dias en Oaxaca, Mexico
Dia 1
Today I was actually awake before 6--up at 4:30 to get all set for the flight--so all packed and ready I sat outside with my luggage listening to the Tecate morning from our casa steps. Apparently everyone and their neighbor own a rooster in Tecate. The echos that filled there air formed numerous harmonies of Cock-a-doodle-doos.
To the Tijuana airport we went. Much to my surprise (it being a such a highly populated and busy city), it was quite dinky compared to the airports I've flown to & from. We were the only passengers stopped for passport and visa check on the way in (profiling was bound to occur; we were the only white people in the whole airport at the time). I mostly slept on the flight--Aunt Lila woke me up for some Pina bars and Jugo de Naranja (OJ--my favorite!) Flying in broad daylight is so lovely! A new addition to my bucket list--> to dive through a gargantuan cloud. After 3 hours in the air, we hovered over the beautiful Oaxaca city before landing; muy verde! Southern Mexico is, in fact, way prettier than Northern. So lush and green all the way up to the mountain tops--reminded me a lot of Hawaii, Matt and Laur.
We got in our rental car and headed straight to the home of some fellow pastor friends of Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila--a happy Mexican family native to Oaxaca.
On the way to there home, I couldn't help but notice the grass everywhere throughout the city (which I've missed so much) and the American franchises (which I did not expect): Sam's Club, BK, McD's, KFC, Sears. I didn't expect there to be so much development!
The family whose house we visited were lovely people. An elderly couple--the husband previously a pastor before he developed a severe case of Parkinson's, twin daughters in their early thirties--one of which mother's here 3-year-old boy and the other has Epilepsy and is confined to a wheel chair, and their youngest daughter who is married and in her mid-20s. All very welcoming Christian Mexicans.
The mom prepared for us a muy rico (very rich) meal of chicken wrapped in green peppers (made my tummy hurt since I've been a veg-head for a while, but still delectable), rice, raddish and broccoli salad, and cactus (looked and tasted similar to green beans) w/ Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) to drink. I tried to watch and listen to everyone talk, but it was hard to make out most of the conversations since I'm still learning--I've more become a professional day-dreamer than anything... and I used to be such a good listener, too. :P
Some of the family members spoke the few parables (words) in English that they knew, which I appreciated. We said our byes and Hasta Mananas and were then guided by car to the home where we'd be staying--brother of the man with Parkinson's. We met the girl, Delila (pronounced Daleelah) who had been staying there and would be coming back to the BI to study. She and her friend, Veronica, are both indigenous, which isn't uncommon in Oaxaca, however spoke Spanish.
*The culture in Mexico, from what Aunt Lila tells me, is they believe the order of class goes Americans>Mexicans>Indeginous tribes such as Zapotecs and Mistekes>Hauve tribe. All of the 16 or so tribes of Oaxaca each have their own language and learn Spanish as their second language. Also within their tribal language they have different dialects (sometimes unrecognizable to other groups within the same tribe). The different tribes--Aztecs, Zapotecs, Hauves--have battled eachother for centuries (since ancient times), and to this day they have their fair share of land disputes that not even the gov't is willing to get involved in.*
We went to the mini mart to get some coffee, chips, cheese, and nuts for dinner, which we shared with Delila and Veronica--I again tried my best to comprehend the conversations, and what I couldn't, Aunt Lila would thoughtfully translate.
*Breakfast is usually light in Mexican culture: some coffee and a Tamale w/ some fruit. Lunch is the big meal of the day and it varies on what is served. Dinner is much like breakfast: lite, usually some coffee and some pastries or maybe some light Tortas.*
We slept in a room in the house. What a day!
Dia 2
This morning we went back to the same house for breakfast--fruit salad (p.s. papayas rock!), tamales, and some other dish with coffee to drink. A girl named Sandra whose sisters goes to the BI came by and Uncle Kent invited her to join us in our adventures for that day, and she accepted. So, to start off the adventure of a day we went to the Monte Alban (Zapotecan ruins). It was really awesome to see! Occupied between 500 B.C. and 800 A.D. There were a bunch of men walking around the grounds who would try to sell you fake artifacts (claiming authenticity) which was illegal; however, if their facts were corrected, they did deliver us some very interesting info concerning the ruins, which was nice. Sandra and I were really awkward due to the language barrier, but I tried to lighten things up a bit by asking her to do some funny poses with me in front of the ruins.
Next Uncle Kent took us to the Oaxaca City Center where all the markets were--after approximately 45 min. of trying to find a parking spot. We looked around at all the neat cultural objects--I got to try my first Tliuda (kind of like a Quesadilla) and had some Horchata. :d Also had a chance to try the Chapulines (grasshoppers), but I just wasn't ready, so I didn't. Uncle Kent took us to one more stop to see this giant tree--pretty big, but more like a whole bunch of trees naturally grafted and then we went for some ice cream. I had the limon sorbet--lime flavored! :) Everyone else tried the Kiss of Angel--sweet strawberry-like taste. And the prickly pear flavor was called Tuna... yuck! But it tasted like figs... still yuck!
We went back to the family's, bringing pastries for dinner, and I got to try my Mexican Hot Chocolate. Muy delicioso! Me gusta... :)
Dia 3
This morning we left for Southern Oaxaca (4 hour drive); Uncle Kent played his album, of what sounds like a Mexican version of Shane & Shane, the whole way. I have the songs memorized, and I don't even know what they mean completely.
Our first stop was in Tuantapec where we visited with a BI graduate. He served us limonade (limeade), black beans, a baked fish with a tortillas to use as eating utensils. The fish still had all the bones and both the eyes. Quite the... quite the... yeah.
*Here the kitchens are outdoor, esp. their sinks. No dishwashers. And they don't have levers on their toilets, or toilet seats. To flush you use a bucket of water.*
Victor and his wife are in the process of building a new house (which I loved!) and one cool thing they did was make designs around where the lights will go in the ceilings--a popular trend in Mexico, if you choose to put a little more effort into making your house nice.
Another 1.5 hour drive and we were in San Mateo: Oxen-pulled carts, women with ornate dress pieces and baskets on their heads, and eyes that had appeared to have rarely, if at all, seen white folk. A whole new world, as Aladdin and Jasmine would sing.
As we walked through the gates of the church grounds, around 5:30, we interrupted a bunch of those women with the dress pieces chanting in worship together. Two young girls ran up to greet us, followed by their mother. "Dios!" they said (at the time I didn't know that that was how they greeted one another in the town... I was too stunned by the culture to think clearly and pay attention to greetings and introductions). We crossed the street and through a fence and into the yard of the girls and mother who were with us still. Food ready to eat. Shrimp soup (shrimp is a popular food item in San Mateo since it's so close to the ocean--many of the men are shrimpermen for a living) and Totopos. The little girls and their brother who was already seated could not take their curious eyes off of me. Before we began to eat, both of the girls whispered to their mother and scurried into the house to change from there skirts into pants (which I was also wearing). At dinner I listened and smiled and broke open my shrimp to clean it as much as possible (the family members ate everything but the tail). The pastor of the church, and the father of the children and the husband to the wife, obviously, was getting water from their well and Uncle Kent called me over to try--he first had the 7-year-old girl demonstrate (first try, a winner). I got it on my second try. :)
Anyway, after dinner the girl asked me how to say all the body parts and other words in English and asked me to write them down in their spiral. By the end of the night we were holding hands and playing hopscotch and soccer in their sand yard.
Oh, and the girls took me to watch people out on the street, and some drunk guy walked by and just looked at me so I said "Hola!" The girls busted up laughing--2 reasons: #1 you don't talk to the borrachos (drunks)! #2 in San Mateo they greet eachother by saying "Dios", which is a very much abbreviated version of "God bless you" (Dios le Bendiga). So for the next half hour, the girls guided me around having me greet people while they enjoyed a good laugh. "Stupid Americans..."
The girls also took me to go the toilets which are located at the church--the toilets don't have levers, like in Tuhantapec, so here they have 50 gallon drums of water that you take out as you need with a bucket and pour the bucket of water into the toilet to flush. Showers should be interesting in the morning. I get to sleep in a fold-out burlap cot. It seems rather comfy.
Dia 4
For breakfast we walked across the street to the family's house again. The wife, Elizabeth, made some really tasty eggs with shrimp in them (of course), black beans, and totopos &/or tortillas to use to eat with. Oh, and hot chow which is a blended corn drink served hot with no additives. After breakfast I napped until the shower was vacant.
My first shower in San Mateo--oh boy! So what you do is get the bucket and fill a 20ish gallon bowl/tub with water, and with that you use the little bowl to bathe. The first cold bowl of water catches you off-guard, but the rest of the bath feel great! It was like how my mommy use to bathe me in the tub, except I was standing and I had to pour the water on me myself. Too bad. My hair smelt delicious from my and Aunt Lila's kid's watermelon shampoo! :)
The men, apparently, had a work day at the church, so there were about 25 of them outside in the courtyard trimming the trees. I played with Getsi (pronounced Hetzi--the 7-year-old) and Balynn (a little 3-year-old who goes to the church). We looked through make-up magazines commenting on what we gusta'd and I quickly learned how to say "look" in Spanish because with every page flip there was and excited "Mira!"
Balynn's mom--who I thought already didn't like me because I had greeted her last night kind of jokingly, since the girls were laughing, and because yo no comprendo Spanish--asked me to help her pass out the lunch to the men. Bowls of blended corn and water (not as fine as hot chow) and they drink the solution out of the bowls--no spoons. There was also shrimp (of course) and Panila (something similar to molasses). After lunch, I did the dishes for Balynn's mom, to maybe win her approval, and it worked. She was very grateful.
I got my camera and let Getsi and Balynn take pictures, and Balynn's dad brought us ice cream bars. Then I went to take another nap and tried my best to tell Getsi that, but when I woke up for dinner she asked me where I'd been cause she'd been waiting for me. Oops. Aunt Lila has been sick all day and sleeping to hopefully recover, so she didn't eat dinner, which was chicken with noodles (spaghetti-like). After dinner, Aunt Lila and I did dishes for Elizabeth, and I played with Eli (5 years old) and Getsi (7 years old) for a little bit; Gerson (the twin of Eli) is still a little shy around me, but he is a boy. Later tonight we headed into Salina Cruz to go school shopping for the kids (Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila bought all there stuff for them--what great people!) They have a Mexican store owned by Walmart called Bodega Aurrera, which I thought was funny. Later we stopped at a Taqueria where I got to eat another Tlayuda (this one was HUGE--as wide as two of my heads) and some more Jamaica drink--and Cats and Dogs 2 was playing (pirate) in Spanish.
On the way home, crammed in the car, one of the tires popped in a pothole on the freeway. Oh dear. We've had lots of random troubles with this rental car--we rarely make it over speed bumps without hitting the muffler, and there are a lot of speed bumps here! So anyway, I prayed that God would bring Uncle Kent peace even though we were pulled off on the right lane of the freeway trying to change the tire. 30 seconds later, the cops pulled up to assist him. Then I prayed that we would be done in less than 5 minutes so that we could get home sooner--the tire was changed and we were on our way 5 minutes later. What an awesome God, eh?
The kids fell asleep on our laps on the way back home, and I let Getsi lay on my lap while they were trying to get the car up the slant into the church, cause she initially got out of the car and slept on a boulder. Haha Tired girl. It feels like this day was more like 3, but it wasn't.
Dia 5
Today we got up at 5:30 to go to a church in Tuhantapec where Uncle Kent would be preaching. We stopped at a nice restaurant for breakfast--I got to eat CORNFLAKES CEREAL with fresh bananas in it!!! Oh how I've missed junky American food! We went to the church--in Mexico, no matter how big, you have to greet everyone in the church while they walk in and then again during a song ("Dios le Bendiga")--a few of the worship songs were in Zapotecan, so then I REALLY didn't understand, and Uncle Kent, in his sermon, called out the Zapotecs of Tuhantapec to serve God by witnessing to everyone--even the borrachos, even the Hauve (their enemies). I was surprised by all I was able to follow in his sermon. I'm progressing! Yea! Then the pastor and his brother, Hector, (who was kinda creepy and kept telling me my name was bonita) took us to get chicken (the lady took an entire plucked chicken and just chop, chop, chop, put it in a bag) and drinks and macaroni salad for lunch, which we ate in this property of fields where the pastor was going to build a rehab center.
After that we went to a market in Tuhantapec where we got coconut totopos to snack on and regular totopos, and I got some horchata, of course. Aunt Lila also got a mango that she ate really weird. When we got back to San Mateo, Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila went to nap before the next church service that evening there in San Mateo where Uncle Kent would be preaching, and I decided to go to play with the girls. Elizabeth, such a nice gal, fed me grapes and apples while I visited. Then Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila woke up and we drove down the road to the other church where Uncle Kent would be delivering the same sermon. The church building was just a little hut of bamboo kind of twigs. Uncle Kent delivered the same sermon to the Hauve's as he had the Zapotecs, and while he preached kids were talking a lot, and then it started pouring rain--HARD--and then the church started flooding. Crazy distracting and kinda funny, but Uncle Kent just kept going--what a guy! Oh my gosh, and CRAZY amounts of mosquitoes! We were getting bit every five seconds! SO many bites! Gahh!
After that, we came back here to the church where the family of Elizabeth, Getsi, Eli, Pastor Camilo, and Gerson and Elizabeth's sisters family came in our room to watch a Christian movie called Behind the Sun. It was all in Spanish, but still easy enough for me to follow. Before the movie, the two little girls played with my hair and did it up cute. After the movie we ate shrimp and drank coffee that Elizabeth and her sister prepared. Even the kids drink caffeinated coffee (oh and this was the night before there first day of school--10pm at this point); I guess it's no big deal in Mexico. I remember sneaking to get coffee in church at that age! :) Aunt Lila and I stayed up talking since the caffeine was still in our system.
Dia 6
Today it rained all day. I slept a lot cause I didn't feel too good. We had breakfast over at the fam's and it was the first day of school for the kids. They were all cute in their little uniforms; Camilo biked Getsi to school after breakfast and then Elizabeth later walked the twins to school. Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila had many visitors from the village throughout the day.
Later the kids came in and we played memory and built casitas (little houses) out of scrap wood. Uncle Kent saw an Iguana on the roof, but I missed it. After dinner we watched a missionary movie called "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" (they put on the English subtitles for me on this one) and as soon as the movie started, it reminded me of my best friend Jessica cause their have been signs these past couple of months that God wants her to go to China and be a missionary--and that's what this movie is all about; a lady who knows she is called to be a missionary in China, even thought it is at a threatening state, and she does what it takes to get there and do what God has called her to. I fell asleep 1/3 of the way through--it's 3 hours long--but was woken up for coffee and quesillo tortas. It was even later than the movie night before, and again, the kids drank caffeinated coffee. Wowzers.
Dia 7
Today was the last day of San Mateo. We had breakfast one last time with Camilo, Elizabeth, and the kids, but Getsi was already off to school, so I didn't get to say goodbye. :( But I said goodbye to Gerson & Eli with big bear hugs and we took pictures. I got ready, packed up my belongings, and we loaded up in the little Tzuru. We also had to take 3 other people with us 3 all the way up to Oaxaca in a 5 person car that was very small. Luggaga, bags, people. There was not enough room. So we ended up CRAMMING in, and cramming in the luggage, too, and just drove to Salina Cruz (30 min) where we sent Hugo on a bus with his luggage. Ahh, much better! Abigail, Marbella, and I were in the back, each with our own seat. :) Abigail and Marbella spoke in Hauve the whole ride (that's their first language), so I just listed to my MP3 for the 6.5 hour trip (cause it was raining). And their were a TON of rock falls and mud slides along the way, so Uncle Kent had to really be aware. When we arrived back in Oaxaca city I had to pee like I've never had before, but 3 problems: #1 we still had to pick Hugo up from the bus station, #2 we were stuck in traffic, and #3 once we were able to go to the Sorianna's grocery store, we still had to find parking. I prayed... A LOT. And I made it to the bathroom just in time. Haha Gracias a Dios! (Thanks to God!)
We headed back to the first house we stayed in (the Parkinson pastor's brother's house) and ate dinner (bread, pastries, tortas, coffee) as a big group. What a day!
Dia 8
Today, everyone but Uncle Kent went home. In the morning we ate a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, tortillas, and guac. Then I went with Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila to a Pastor friends home where they talked and we were served ANOTHER breakfast (note: it's highly offensive to say, "Oh, sorry we already ate" and not eat what they serve): chicken and chili tamales, cantaloupe, and coffee. Oh, too much food. We went back, got everyone and this time divided into two cars and stopped by the market really quick to pick up quesillo, totopos, and I tried CHAPULINES! Mmm, yummy grasshoppers! They taste like dried tomatoes; I bought a bag of 'em. :) The flight was good, but to be home was great! I loved the trip to Oaxaca and seeing the contrast between northern and southern Mexico, and it was also so great to progress in my Spanish! :) Confidence increase, cultural exposure.
Today I was actually awake before 6--up at 4:30 to get all set for the flight--so all packed and ready I sat outside with my luggage listening to the Tecate morning from our casa steps. Apparently everyone and their neighbor own a rooster in Tecate. The echos that filled there air formed numerous harmonies of Cock-a-doodle-doos.
To the Tijuana airport we went. Much to my surprise (it being a such a highly populated and busy city), it was quite dinky compared to the airports I've flown to & from. We were the only passengers stopped for passport and visa check on the way in (profiling was bound to occur; we were the only white people in the whole airport at the time). I mostly slept on the flight--Aunt Lila woke me up for some Pina bars and Jugo de Naranja (OJ--my favorite!) Flying in broad daylight is so lovely! A new addition to my bucket list--> to dive through a gargantuan cloud. After 3 hours in the air, we hovered over the beautiful Oaxaca city before landing; muy verde! Southern Mexico is, in fact, way prettier than Northern. So lush and green all the way up to the mountain tops--reminded me a lot of Hawaii, Matt and Laur.
We got in our rental car and headed straight to the home of some fellow pastor friends of Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila--a happy Mexican family native to Oaxaca.
On the way to there home, I couldn't help but notice the grass everywhere throughout the city (which I've missed so much) and the American franchises (which I did not expect): Sam's Club, BK, McD's, KFC, Sears. I didn't expect there to be so much development!
The family whose house we visited were lovely people. An elderly couple--the husband previously a pastor before he developed a severe case of Parkinson's, twin daughters in their early thirties--one of which mother's here 3-year-old boy and the other has Epilepsy and is confined to a wheel chair, and their youngest daughter who is married and in her mid-20s. All very welcoming Christian Mexicans.
The mom prepared for us a muy rico (very rich) meal of chicken wrapped in green peppers (made my tummy hurt since I've been a veg-head for a while, but still delectable), rice, raddish and broccoli salad, and cactus (looked and tasted similar to green beans) w/ Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) to drink. I tried to watch and listen to everyone talk, but it was hard to make out most of the conversations since I'm still learning--I've more become a professional day-dreamer than anything... and I used to be such a good listener, too. :P
Some of the family members spoke the few parables (words) in English that they knew, which I appreciated. We said our byes and Hasta Mananas and were then guided by car to the home where we'd be staying--brother of the man with Parkinson's. We met the girl, Delila (pronounced Daleelah) who had been staying there and would be coming back to the BI to study. She and her friend, Veronica, are both indigenous, which isn't uncommon in Oaxaca, however spoke Spanish.
*The culture in Mexico, from what Aunt Lila tells me, is they believe the order of class goes Americans>Mexicans>Indeginous tribes such as Zapotecs and Mistekes>Hauve tribe. All of the 16 or so tribes of Oaxaca each have their own language and learn Spanish as their second language. Also within their tribal language they have different dialects (sometimes unrecognizable to other groups within the same tribe). The different tribes--Aztecs, Zapotecs, Hauves--have battled eachother for centuries (since ancient times), and to this day they have their fair share of land disputes that not even the gov't is willing to get involved in.*
We went to the mini mart to get some coffee, chips, cheese, and nuts for dinner, which we shared with Delila and Veronica--I again tried my best to comprehend the conversations, and what I couldn't, Aunt Lila would thoughtfully translate.
*Breakfast is usually light in Mexican culture: some coffee and a Tamale w/ some fruit. Lunch is the big meal of the day and it varies on what is served. Dinner is much like breakfast: lite, usually some coffee and some pastries or maybe some light Tortas.*
We slept in a room in the house. What a day!
Dia 2
This morning we went back to the same house for breakfast--fruit salad (p.s. papayas rock!), tamales, and some other dish with coffee to drink. A girl named Sandra whose sisters goes to the BI came by and Uncle Kent invited her to join us in our adventures for that day, and she accepted. So, to start off the adventure of a day we went to the Monte Alban (Zapotecan ruins). It was really awesome to see! Occupied between 500 B.C. and 800 A.D. There were a bunch of men walking around the grounds who would try to sell you fake artifacts (claiming authenticity) which was illegal; however, if their facts were corrected, they did deliver us some very interesting info concerning the ruins, which was nice. Sandra and I were really awkward due to the language barrier, but I tried to lighten things up a bit by asking her to do some funny poses with me in front of the ruins.
Next Uncle Kent took us to the Oaxaca City Center where all the markets were--after approximately 45 min. of trying to find a parking spot. We looked around at all the neat cultural objects--I got to try my first Tliuda (kind of like a Quesadilla) and had some Horchata. :d Also had a chance to try the Chapulines (grasshoppers), but I just wasn't ready, so I didn't. Uncle Kent took us to one more stop to see this giant tree--pretty big, but more like a whole bunch of trees naturally grafted and then we went for some ice cream. I had the limon sorbet--lime flavored! :) Everyone else tried the Kiss of Angel--sweet strawberry-like taste. And the prickly pear flavor was called Tuna... yuck! But it tasted like figs... still yuck!
We went back to the family's, bringing pastries for dinner, and I got to try my Mexican Hot Chocolate. Muy delicioso! Me gusta... :)
Dia 3
This morning we left for Southern Oaxaca (4 hour drive); Uncle Kent played his album, of what sounds like a Mexican version of Shane & Shane, the whole way. I have the songs memorized, and I don't even know what they mean completely.
Our first stop was in Tuantapec where we visited with a BI graduate. He served us limonade (limeade), black beans, a baked fish with a tortillas to use as eating utensils. The fish still had all the bones and both the eyes. Quite the... quite the... yeah.
*Here the kitchens are outdoor, esp. their sinks. No dishwashers. And they don't have levers on their toilets, or toilet seats. To flush you use a bucket of water.*
Victor and his wife are in the process of building a new house (which I loved!) and one cool thing they did was make designs around where the lights will go in the ceilings--a popular trend in Mexico, if you choose to put a little more effort into making your house nice.
Another 1.5 hour drive and we were in San Mateo: Oxen-pulled carts, women with ornate dress pieces and baskets on their heads, and eyes that had appeared to have rarely, if at all, seen white folk. A whole new world, as Aladdin and Jasmine would sing.
As we walked through the gates of the church grounds, around 5:30, we interrupted a bunch of those women with the dress pieces chanting in worship together. Two young girls ran up to greet us, followed by their mother. "Dios!" they said (at the time I didn't know that that was how they greeted one another in the town... I was too stunned by the culture to think clearly and pay attention to greetings and introductions). We crossed the street and through a fence and into the yard of the girls and mother who were with us still. Food ready to eat. Shrimp soup (shrimp is a popular food item in San Mateo since it's so close to the ocean--many of the men are shrimpermen for a living) and Totopos. The little girls and their brother who was already seated could not take their curious eyes off of me. Before we began to eat, both of the girls whispered to their mother and scurried into the house to change from there skirts into pants (which I was also wearing). At dinner I listened and smiled and broke open my shrimp to clean it as much as possible (the family members ate everything but the tail). The pastor of the church, and the father of the children and the husband to the wife, obviously, was getting water from their well and Uncle Kent called me over to try--he first had the 7-year-old girl demonstrate (first try, a winner). I got it on my second try. :)
Anyway, after dinner the girl asked me how to say all the body parts and other words in English and asked me to write them down in their spiral. By the end of the night we were holding hands and playing hopscotch and soccer in their sand yard.
Oh, and the girls took me to watch people out on the street, and some drunk guy walked by and just looked at me so I said "Hola!" The girls busted up laughing--2 reasons: #1 you don't talk to the borrachos (drunks)! #2 in San Mateo they greet eachother by saying "Dios", which is a very much abbreviated version of "God bless you" (Dios le Bendiga). So for the next half hour, the girls guided me around having me greet people while they enjoyed a good laugh. "Stupid Americans..."
The girls also took me to go the toilets which are located at the church--the toilets don't have levers, like in Tuhantapec, so here they have 50 gallon drums of water that you take out as you need with a bucket and pour the bucket of water into the toilet to flush. Showers should be interesting in the morning. I get to sleep in a fold-out burlap cot. It seems rather comfy.
Dia 4
For breakfast we walked across the street to the family's house again. The wife, Elizabeth, made some really tasty eggs with shrimp in them (of course), black beans, and totopos &/or tortillas to use to eat with. Oh, and hot chow which is a blended corn drink served hot with no additives. After breakfast I napped until the shower was vacant.
My first shower in San Mateo--oh boy! So what you do is get the bucket and fill a 20ish gallon bowl/tub with water, and with that you use the little bowl to bathe. The first cold bowl of water catches you off-guard, but the rest of the bath feel great! It was like how my mommy use to bathe me in the tub, except I was standing and I had to pour the water on me myself. Too bad. My hair smelt delicious from my and Aunt Lila's kid's watermelon shampoo! :)
The men, apparently, had a work day at the church, so there were about 25 of them outside in the courtyard trimming the trees. I played with Getsi (pronounced Hetzi--the 7-year-old) and Balynn (a little 3-year-old who goes to the church). We looked through make-up magazines commenting on what we gusta'd and I quickly learned how to say "look" in Spanish because with every page flip there was and excited "Mira!"
Balynn's mom--who I thought already didn't like me because I had greeted her last night kind of jokingly, since the girls were laughing, and because yo no comprendo Spanish--asked me to help her pass out the lunch to the men. Bowls of blended corn and water (not as fine as hot chow) and they drink the solution out of the bowls--no spoons. There was also shrimp (of course) and Panila (something similar to molasses). After lunch, I did the dishes for Balynn's mom, to maybe win her approval, and it worked. She was very grateful.
I got my camera and let Getsi and Balynn take pictures, and Balynn's dad brought us ice cream bars. Then I went to take another nap and tried my best to tell Getsi that, but when I woke up for dinner she asked me where I'd been cause she'd been waiting for me. Oops. Aunt Lila has been sick all day and sleeping to hopefully recover, so she didn't eat dinner, which was chicken with noodles (spaghetti-like). After dinner, Aunt Lila and I did dishes for Elizabeth, and I played with Eli (5 years old) and Getsi (7 years old) for a little bit; Gerson (the twin of Eli) is still a little shy around me, but he is a boy. Later tonight we headed into Salina Cruz to go school shopping for the kids (Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila bought all there stuff for them--what great people!) They have a Mexican store owned by Walmart called Bodega Aurrera, which I thought was funny. Later we stopped at a Taqueria where I got to eat another Tlayuda (this one was HUGE--as wide as two of my heads) and some more Jamaica drink--and Cats and Dogs 2 was playing (pirate) in Spanish.
On the way home, crammed in the car, one of the tires popped in a pothole on the freeway. Oh dear. We've had lots of random troubles with this rental car--we rarely make it over speed bumps without hitting the muffler, and there are a lot of speed bumps here! So anyway, I prayed that God would bring Uncle Kent peace even though we were pulled off on the right lane of the freeway trying to change the tire. 30 seconds later, the cops pulled up to assist him. Then I prayed that we would be done in less than 5 minutes so that we could get home sooner--the tire was changed and we were on our way 5 minutes later. What an awesome God, eh?
The kids fell asleep on our laps on the way back home, and I let Getsi lay on my lap while they were trying to get the car up the slant into the church, cause she initially got out of the car and slept on a boulder. Haha Tired girl. It feels like this day was more like 3, but it wasn't.
Dia 5
Today we got up at 5:30 to go to a church in Tuhantapec where Uncle Kent would be preaching. We stopped at a nice restaurant for breakfast--I got to eat CORNFLAKES CEREAL with fresh bananas in it!!! Oh how I've missed junky American food! We went to the church--in Mexico, no matter how big, you have to greet everyone in the church while they walk in and then again during a song ("Dios le Bendiga")--a few of the worship songs were in Zapotecan, so then I REALLY didn't understand, and Uncle Kent, in his sermon, called out the Zapotecs of Tuhantapec to serve God by witnessing to everyone--even the borrachos, even the Hauve (their enemies). I was surprised by all I was able to follow in his sermon. I'm progressing! Yea! Then the pastor and his brother, Hector, (who was kinda creepy and kept telling me my name was bonita) took us to get chicken (the lady took an entire plucked chicken and just chop, chop, chop, put it in a bag) and drinks and macaroni salad for lunch, which we ate in this property of fields where the pastor was going to build a rehab center.
After that we went to a market in Tuhantapec where we got coconut totopos to snack on and regular totopos, and I got some horchata, of course. Aunt Lila also got a mango that she ate really weird. When we got back to San Mateo, Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila went to nap before the next church service that evening there in San Mateo where Uncle Kent would be preaching, and I decided to go to play with the girls. Elizabeth, such a nice gal, fed me grapes and apples while I visited. Then Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila woke up and we drove down the road to the other church where Uncle Kent would be delivering the same sermon. The church building was just a little hut of bamboo kind of twigs. Uncle Kent delivered the same sermon to the Hauve's as he had the Zapotecs, and while he preached kids were talking a lot, and then it started pouring rain--HARD--and then the church started flooding. Crazy distracting and kinda funny, but Uncle Kent just kept going--what a guy! Oh my gosh, and CRAZY amounts of mosquitoes! We were getting bit every five seconds! SO many bites! Gahh!
After that, we came back here to the church where the family of Elizabeth, Getsi, Eli, Pastor Camilo, and Gerson and Elizabeth's sisters family came in our room to watch a Christian movie called Behind the Sun. It was all in Spanish, but still easy enough for me to follow. Before the movie, the two little girls played with my hair and did it up cute. After the movie we ate shrimp and drank coffee that Elizabeth and her sister prepared. Even the kids drink caffeinated coffee (oh and this was the night before there first day of school--10pm at this point); I guess it's no big deal in Mexico. I remember sneaking to get coffee in church at that age! :) Aunt Lila and I stayed up talking since the caffeine was still in our system.
Dia 6
Today it rained all day. I slept a lot cause I didn't feel too good. We had breakfast over at the fam's and it was the first day of school for the kids. They were all cute in their little uniforms; Camilo biked Getsi to school after breakfast and then Elizabeth later walked the twins to school. Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila had many visitors from the village throughout the day.
Later the kids came in and we played memory and built casitas (little houses) out of scrap wood. Uncle Kent saw an Iguana on the roof, but I missed it. After dinner we watched a missionary movie called "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" (they put on the English subtitles for me on this one) and as soon as the movie started, it reminded me of my best friend Jessica cause their have been signs these past couple of months that God wants her to go to China and be a missionary--and that's what this movie is all about; a lady who knows she is called to be a missionary in China, even thought it is at a threatening state, and she does what it takes to get there and do what God has called her to. I fell asleep 1/3 of the way through--it's 3 hours long--but was woken up for coffee and quesillo tortas. It was even later than the movie night before, and again, the kids drank caffeinated coffee. Wowzers.
Dia 7
Today was the last day of San Mateo. We had breakfast one last time with Camilo, Elizabeth, and the kids, but Getsi was already off to school, so I didn't get to say goodbye. :( But I said goodbye to Gerson & Eli with big bear hugs and we took pictures. I got ready, packed up my belongings, and we loaded up in the little Tzuru. We also had to take 3 other people with us 3 all the way up to Oaxaca in a 5 person car that was very small. Luggaga, bags, people. There was not enough room. So we ended up CRAMMING in, and cramming in the luggage, too, and just drove to Salina Cruz (30 min) where we sent Hugo on a bus with his luggage. Ahh, much better! Abigail, Marbella, and I were in the back, each with our own seat. :) Abigail and Marbella spoke in Hauve the whole ride (that's their first language), so I just listed to my MP3 for the 6.5 hour trip (cause it was raining). And their were a TON of rock falls and mud slides along the way, so Uncle Kent had to really be aware. When we arrived back in Oaxaca city I had to pee like I've never had before, but 3 problems: #1 we still had to pick Hugo up from the bus station, #2 we were stuck in traffic, and #3 once we were able to go to the Sorianna's grocery store, we still had to find parking. I prayed... A LOT. And I made it to the bathroom just in time. Haha Gracias a Dios! (Thanks to God!)
We headed back to the first house we stayed in (the Parkinson pastor's brother's house) and ate dinner (bread, pastries, tortas, coffee) as a big group. What a day!
Dia 8
Today, everyone but Uncle Kent went home. In the morning we ate a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, tortillas, and guac. Then I went with Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila to a Pastor friends home where they talked and we were served ANOTHER breakfast (note: it's highly offensive to say, "Oh, sorry we already ate" and not eat what they serve): chicken and chili tamales, cantaloupe, and coffee. Oh, too much food. We went back, got everyone and this time divided into two cars and stopped by the market really quick to pick up quesillo, totopos, and I tried CHAPULINES! Mmm, yummy grasshoppers! They taste like dried tomatoes; I bought a bag of 'em. :) The flight was good, but to be home was great! I loved the trip to Oaxaca and seeing the contrast between northern and southern Mexico, and it was also so great to progress in my Spanish! :) Confidence increase, cultural exposure.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pre-Oaxaca
So these past couple have days have been pretty low-key; hence the lack of posts. I have been grasping the language a little better (working on my verbs and their conjugation now) and adapting to the culture and surrounding more. This morning we went to Tijuana for Rigo's ophthalmologist appointment, Berto's scavenge for glasses to accommodate his eyes, and to get some printing completed.
*Rigo's story: He is blind in one eye, I think, from birth (it's all shriveled up), and the retina in his other eye has slowly detached (and recently sped up in detachment causing him to go legally blind in the "good" eye) through his life. Rigo is a student here at the BI and is called to pastor over a church, however, blindness would definitely limit his abilities. So, by the work of God, Rigo's wife's boss offered to pay for a surgery where specialists would reattach his retina, however, pressure built up so greatly in his eye during recovery that he is completely blind now in the "good" eye and they are having trouble getting the swelling down so the specialists can better reevaluate. God's already provided the healing for Rigo--in both eyes!--there just needs to be faith. Pray for him; have faith that God will even bring that shriveled one up to par.*
It's an interesting place, Tijuana. The government/factories build neighborhoods where all the houses are identical and stacked right up next to eachother. People can buy them for cheap and live in them in exchange for working for the factories or through qualification with the government. These houses in Tijuana, though, are like Utopian communities within a Dystopian society, it looks like--rather chilling. We also went to the mall in Tijuana--it's got to be the most immaculate place in all of Mexico. They washed the sidewalks with a floor machine! It was all-outdoors (like the Folsom Outlets); pretty neat! When we came home, I napped for a few hours, made a vegetarian torta (Mexican sandwich), and was on hold with HP Tech support (out-sourced, go figure) for a hour. The activities within this day have been quite diverse. :)
Tomorrow I leave for Oaxaca for a week, where I may or may not have to put my vegetarian habits aside for the time being. I'm thinking I'll want to try the chapulines (toasted and seasoned grasshoppers) just to say I did--might even eat them with honey so I have an odd association with my homeslice, John the Baptist. :P I am definitely going to want to try their quesillo (their acclaimed cheese) and their hot chocolate (also noted for).
Well, I'll be back with my stories! Toodleoo!
*Rigo's story: He is blind in one eye, I think, from birth (it's all shriveled up), and the retina in his other eye has slowly detached (and recently sped up in detachment causing him to go legally blind in the "good" eye) through his life. Rigo is a student here at the BI and is called to pastor over a church, however, blindness would definitely limit his abilities. So, by the work of God, Rigo's wife's boss offered to pay for a surgery where specialists would reattach his retina, however, pressure built up so greatly in his eye during recovery that he is completely blind now in the "good" eye and they are having trouble getting the swelling down so the specialists can better reevaluate. God's already provided the healing for Rigo--in both eyes!--there just needs to be faith. Pray for him; have faith that God will even bring that shriveled one up to par.*
It's an interesting place, Tijuana. The government/factories build neighborhoods where all the houses are identical and stacked right up next to eachother. People can buy them for cheap and live in them in exchange for working for the factories or through qualification with the government. These houses in Tijuana, though, are like Utopian communities within a Dystopian society, it looks like--rather chilling. We also went to the mall in Tijuana--it's got to be the most immaculate place in all of Mexico. They washed the sidewalks with a floor machine! It was all-outdoors (like the Folsom Outlets); pretty neat! When we came home, I napped for a few hours, made a vegetarian torta (Mexican sandwich), and was on hold with HP Tech support (out-sourced, go figure) for a hour. The activities within this day have been quite diverse. :)
Tomorrow I leave for Oaxaca for a week, where I may or may not have to put my vegetarian habits aside for the time being. I'm thinking I'll want to try the chapulines (toasted and seasoned grasshoppers) just to say I did--might even eat them with honey so I have an odd association with my homeslice, John the Baptist. :P I am definitely going to want to try their quesillo (their acclaimed cheese) and their hot chocolate (also noted for).
Well, I'll be back with my stories! Toodleoo!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Mas Bloggery
This morning when I officially woke up, it was 7:20 (before 7:30), and my door was open. So one of two things may have occurred: my aunt read my previous blog or I opened it while sleepwalking. I am not swayed to either possibility.
Okay, so Tia Lila and I went to the Tecate Mission International HQ today where she introduced me to the Director's secretary, Willa. Super sweet older gal--grandma status but with that control/organization side (Choleric). Anyway, she gave me this packet to fill out in order to officiate my being here at the BI; I looked it over a little tonight and I think I'm getting more and more bitter about defining God and defining religion. Why don't we just listen for God's voice and do what he tells us? Why do we have to categorize everything and have so many regulations? Anyway, so I filled-out half the packet tonight--I need to pray about the rest before I complete it.
After that we went to the PT for Aunt Lila (she's been going due to speculated nerve pinching in her arm) and then we went to Target (both in Grossmont area, mind you, not in Mexico) where we picked up a few things including 2 in 1 Kid's shampoo--we smelt all the bottles and picked the yummiest--Watermelon--for our trip to Oaxaca. I also picked up some Naked Juice: Protein + a Green Machine.
*I hope I have some fellow Naked people (and by that, I definitely mean fans of the smoothie drink Naked Juice--I truly hope that you have some clothes on while you read my blogs...) because I think it's a ingenious idea for a commercial drink! I had Uncle Kent + Aunt Lila try some tonight; Aunt Lila said she'd prefer to close her eyes while she drinks it (it's baby-poo green in color) and Uncle Kent said he'd rather stick to his "rubbery nastiness".*
**The story of "rubbery nastiness": two nights ago when we went to an Oriental restaurant they suggested and I opted to try the Calamari (mind you, this was my first time intentionally eating Calamari). I was relieved that it wasn't as gross as I expected, however, it did still snap back like rubber for a few bites. Anyway, Tio Kent asked how I liked it and I told him how I was expecting it to taste more like "rubbery nastiness"--he liked the phrase and it's kinda stuck.**
On the way home we stopped at the CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship), I think, HQ; the organization that Aunt Lila works through. Basically, it trains volunteers on how to start Christian clubs for kids with provided curriculum. Anyway, we walked in to find two of the sweetest ladies I've ever met--Aunt Lila introduced them as Gwen and Julie. Gwen had a sweet little voice like Carol Channing which made her even more pleasurable to be with, and a compassionate demeanor. I was greeted by these pleasant strangers with hugs and seedless red grapes. They talked about the going-ons with CEF and inquired of the BI and we stopped and all prayed at least 3 times about different things we were talking about. Such a Godly, wholesome time with some very lovely ladies.
Once back home at the BI, I took a long 3 hour nap. A gentleman and close friend of Aunt Lila and Uncle Kent named Mark came with a truck full of donations for the mission. Tio, Tia, Mark, Berto, Hernan, and I just stood around his truck talking about randomness and teaching Hernan and Berto a few English words. By the end, Hernan was calling Berto a "mischievous clown". Hernan and I also have an unofficial race to see who can learn eachother's language first.
Tonight for dinner, Tio made some yummy squash cakes and vegetable-something-tastey with beans and tomato. Delish. And while Tio and I washed dishes, he serenaded me with Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles. Good stuff.
I also pulled out the guitar and practiced a little in my room; haven't played in a while. I'm hoping to get good enough to jam with the others and maybe we could write worship songs together. That'd be cool.
Okay, so Tia Lila and I went to the Tecate Mission International HQ today where she introduced me to the Director's secretary, Willa. Super sweet older gal--grandma status but with that control/organization side (Choleric). Anyway, she gave me this packet to fill out in order to officiate my being here at the BI; I looked it over a little tonight and I think I'm getting more and more bitter about defining God and defining religion. Why don't we just listen for God's voice and do what he tells us? Why do we have to categorize everything and have so many regulations? Anyway, so I filled-out half the packet tonight--I need to pray about the rest before I complete it.
After that we went to the PT for Aunt Lila (she's been going due to speculated nerve pinching in her arm) and then we went to Target (both in Grossmont area, mind you, not in Mexico) where we picked up a few things including 2 in 1 Kid's shampoo--we smelt all the bottles and picked the yummiest--Watermelon--for our trip to Oaxaca. I also picked up some Naked Juice: Protein + a Green Machine.
*I hope I have some fellow Naked people (and by that, I definitely mean fans of the smoothie drink Naked Juice--I truly hope that you have some clothes on while you read my blogs...) because I think it's a ingenious idea for a commercial drink! I had Uncle Kent + Aunt Lila try some tonight; Aunt Lila said she'd prefer to close her eyes while she drinks it (it's baby-poo green in color) and Uncle Kent said he'd rather stick to his "rubbery nastiness".*
**The story of "rubbery nastiness": two nights ago when we went to an Oriental restaurant they suggested and I opted to try the Calamari (mind you, this was my first time intentionally eating Calamari). I was relieved that it wasn't as gross as I expected, however, it did still snap back like rubber for a few bites. Anyway, Tio Kent asked how I liked it and I told him how I was expecting it to taste more like "rubbery nastiness"--he liked the phrase and it's kinda stuck.**
On the way home we stopped at the CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship), I think, HQ; the organization that Aunt Lila works through. Basically, it trains volunteers on how to start Christian clubs for kids with provided curriculum. Anyway, we walked in to find two of the sweetest ladies I've ever met--Aunt Lila introduced them as Gwen and Julie. Gwen had a sweet little voice like Carol Channing which made her even more pleasurable to be with, and a compassionate demeanor. I was greeted by these pleasant strangers with hugs and seedless red grapes. They talked about the going-ons with CEF and inquired of the BI and we stopped and all prayed at least 3 times about different things we were talking about. Such a Godly, wholesome time with some very lovely ladies.
Once back home at the BI, I took a long 3 hour nap. A gentleman and close friend of Aunt Lila and Uncle Kent named Mark came with a truck full of donations for the mission. Tio, Tia, Mark, Berto, Hernan, and I just stood around his truck talking about randomness and teaching Hernan and Berto a few English words. By the end, Hernan was calling Berto a "mischievous clown". Hernan and I also have an unofficial race to see who can learn eachother's language first.
Tonight for dinner, Tio made some yummy squash cakes and vegetable-something-tastey with beans and tomato. Delish. And while Tio and I washed dishes, he serenaded me with Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles. Good stuff.
I also pulled out the guitar and practiced a little in my room; haven't played in a while. I'm hoping to get good enough to jam with the others and maybe we could write worship songs together. That'd be cool.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
El Tecate
I'm here. I've been here, I mean, for roughly 6 days. 4.5 of those days I have been without me family. It was hard to not jump in the car with them when they took off Sunday afternoon. I've never gone on a vacation with them and then not gone home with them before. I'm growing up.
So, Sunday night I went shopping with the Tia and the Tio and we went to an Oriental buffet (I was gonna say it was Chinese, but I'm not 100%).
*And it was decided that I would stay in their house until the dorm was better prepared and the bunkbeds were made, but I decided on staying in this room until we get back from Oaxaca.*
Anyway, back to my recollecting:
When we got back to the house I took my belongings from the dorm my family had stayed in and brought them into my temp. bedroom. While I was doing so, Uncle Kent brought a family into the room and introduced them as the family we had been praying for whose dad had been kidnapped and they needed a place to stay (hide) for the night. Wowzers. Okay. So I hurriedly finished hauling stuff over, giving the family a few Lo siento's for my coming in and out and leaving them with a final Buenos noches. Then I slept.
I awoke to a shut door. Something I prefer not to have in the morning, but completely appreciate the courtesy and thoughtfulness. I prefer an open door because I am an influenced morning person; if I can hear other people awake, I'll get up and start my day typically, otherwise I'll sleep in until I stop having good dreams--and unlike most, I prefer the former. I slept on my shoulder funny so it was in great pain, my abdomen ached in two different ways, and I was nauseated with a headache--all that to say, I was under attack.
*It's not a coincidence that on my first day without my family and on (what I would call) my first official day in this new adventure with God, that I would feel all kinds of ill--it's a discouraging thing. And discouragement is a perfect tool for a certain Devil to use to get a certain Lynda off track and unfocused on God's task at hand. With the right dose of discouragement everyday, Lynda would give up. Luckily, Aunt Lila recognized the D-word and prayed over me, and by accepting those words, in Jesus name, I was healed. I had others praying for me as well (erm... Jess... Jake), and things were back to 100% by the end of the day.*
Back to my story:
So Aunt Lila prayed over me. I think I just tinkered around the house until we left to run some errands... no wait, maybe that was Tuesday. I don't remember now...
Uh, okay, so Monday is a blur. Tuesday... was it Tuesday...? Yeah, it must've been Tuesday that we went to run errands and do some doctors appointments. Gah. I dunno. So let's skip Monday and Tuesday.
Wednesday, that was yesterday. Now it was either... Aaah! I know! Okay, so Monday we ran the errands: Doctors, doctors, Target, Albertsons. Tuesday I cleaned out the entire fridge and freezer--bunny trail time!
*So I have this thing--when people say something like "Oh, I need to sweep" or "Golly, the fridge is so dirty" I feel like they're saying that I need to do it for them. I don't know why it is. So then I feel obligated and keep thinking about it until I get it done when they're not around. Strange, huh? If you know why that is or anything, hit me up!*
Okay, so I swept and fridge-cleaned and we ate a yummy Mexican dinner. Oh and we have this routine (I think it's a routine) where Uncle Kent cooks and Aunt Lila and I clean up because Uncle Kent is a REALLY good cook (I'm always impressed... I haven't not-liked anything that he has made up) and Aunt Lila and I don't really care what we do. So yeah.
Wednesday. Wednesday, again, door closed when I woke up, and unlike Monday where I woke up at 6:30 anyway, but just kept napping all morning (mostly cause of the illness), I sleep-in until 8ish, which I do not like at all! And these people(Aunt Lila and Uncle Kent)--I only call them that because I think they are insane for getting up this early--wake up at like 5 o'clock every morning! I wish I could do that, I honestly do; but for some reason I have this really lazy teenage body that LOVES to sleep. Oh to be middle-age! Early to rise, early to bed. I'm not joking, I really can't wait until I can easily get up before 7:30.
SO yeah, Tuesday I cleaned the windows (used the good ole Taylors' (Pat Taylor, that is) method of hosing the windows off from the outside to git-r-done and I swept (lot's of sweeping since Shelbs sheds a lot cause of old age. Oh, and Shelby is definitely a dog, by the way. ;)
In the evening we went to that family's house and got their animals. I got teary-eyed while I was alone with one of the dogs by the truck petting it. It was COVERED in tics--well over a hundred. Kind of small dog, too. Skinny. And I was just thinking how spoiled my pets are at home; safe with Frontline cause my family can afford it. And then I was thinking how spoiled I am; I'm not running for my life with my family because my dad was kidnapped. Why was a born white and not brown? Why was I born comfortable instead of in poverty? Why was I born in a land of opportunities instead of a land that lacks?
So. This morning, door closed :), I woke up after 8. I tried to wash those tic dogs, but to no prevail--they didn't like baths, apparently--shocking. Oh, and I didn't mention the kitty! The family had a kitten that we went and got. Holy Toledo! I just remembered we were delayed a day on getting the kitty, so my days of events are totally off. Que sera, sera. So anyway, the kitty and Cat (Tia Lila y Tio Kent's gata) play and wrestle and fight a lot. Kitty sleeps in the bathroom at night, though, for precaution. I mopped today (and finally realized that my mom was right all along, I DO take forever to do things and go really slow) and it took me like 4+ hours. Yeah! Something crazy! And I only mopped the kitchen and dining room. We had church tonight and I did nursery after worship with Aunt Lila. I got to meet one of the little girls I'll be watching once the school year starts.
So yeah. Oh and one of the days... Tuesday, probably, I did online traffic school for 3 straight hours. Nice!
I've met a lot of people, but don't remember names very well. There are three students here that speak or are learning English that I've met. A majority of the students here are from the state of Oaxaca, so Spanish is there second language, too--Oave is their first. Our chickens are getting eaten by neighborhood dogs, so Aunt Lila is training her prized pooch (a big ole Rottie, Jack), so that soon they will be able to let him off his chain so that he may guard the entire perimeter of the Institute. And my Aunt and Uncle are super easy-going and way funnier than I remember--like tonight we were all whistling "Yellow Submarine". Yep, yep.
This has been quite the day (or 4) in the life of Lynda Sue, if I do say so myself. I'll have to post daily or something so it's not quite as crammed and boring.
I love and miss everyone from good ole Placer County (I think I used the phrase "good ole" 3 times in my blog). And I still love and miss everyone else throughout the U.S. that I've been loving & missing.
Love you mom. :)
So, Sunday night I went shopping with the Tia and the Tio and we went to an Oriental buffet (I was gonna say it was Chinese, but I'm not 100%).
*And it was decided that I would stay in their house until the dorm was better prepared and the bunkbeds were made, but I decided on staying in this room until we get back from Oaxaca.*
Anyway, back to my recollecting:
When we got back to the house I took my belongings from the dorm my family had stayed in and brought them into my temp. bedroom. While I was doing so, Uncle Kent brought a family into the room and introduced them as the family we had been praying for whose dad had been kidnapped and they needed a place to stay (hide) for the night. Wowzers. Okay. So I hurriedly finished hauling stuff over, giving the family a few Lo siento's for my coming in and out and leaving them with a final Buenos noches. Then I slept.
I awoke to a shut door. Something I prefer not to have in the morning, but completely appreciate the courtesy and thoughtfulness. I prefer an open door because I am an influenced morning person; if I can hear other people awake, I'll get up and start my day typically, otherwise I'll sleep in until I stop having good dreams--and unlike most, I prefer the former. I slept on my shoulder funny so it was in great pain, my abdomen ached in two different ways, and I was nauseated with a headache--all that to say, I was under attack.
*It's not a coincidence that on my first day without my family and on (what I would call) my first official day in this new adventure with God, that I would feel all kinds of ill--it's a discouraging thing. And discouragement is a perfect tool for a certain Devil to use to get a certain Lynda off track and unfocused on God's task at hand. With the right dose of discouragement everyday, Lynda would give up. Luckily, Aunt Lila recognized the D-word and prayed over me, and by accepting those words, in Jesus name, I was healed. I had others praying for me as well (erm... Jess... Jake), and things were back to 100% by the end of the day.*
Back to my story:
So Aunt Lila prayed over me. I think I just tinkered around the house until we left to run some errands... no wait, maybe that was Tuesday. I don't remember now...
Uh, okay, so Monday is a blur. Tuesday... was it Tuesday...? Yeah, it must've been Tuesday that we went to run errands and do some doctors appointments. Gah. I dunno. So let's skip Monday and Tuesday.
Wednesday, that was yesterday. Now it was either... Aaah! I know! Okay, so Monday we ran the errands: Doctors, doctors, Target, Albertsons. Tuesday I cleaned out the entire fridge and freezer--bunny trail time!
*So I have this thing--when people say something like "Oh, I need to sweep" or "Golly, the fridge is so dirty" I feel like they're saying that I need to do it for them. I don't know why it is. So then I feel obligated and keep thinking about it until I get it done when they're not around. Strange, huh? If you know why that is or anything, hit me up!*
Okay, so I swept and fridge-cleaned and we ate a yummy Mexican dinner. Oh and we have this routine (I think it's a routine) where Uncle Kent cooks and Aunt Lila and I clean up because Uncle Kent is a REALLY good cook (I'm always impressed... I haven't not-liked anything that he has made up) and Aunt Lila and I don't really care what we do. So yeah.
Wednesday. Wednesday, again, door closed when I woke up, and unlike Monday where I woke up at 6:30 anyway, but just kept napping all morning (mostly cause of the illness), I sleep-in until 8ish, which I do not like at all! And these people(Aunt Lila and Uncle Kent)--I only call them that because I think they are insane for getting up this early--wake up at like 5 o'clock every morning! I wish I could do that, I honestly do; but for some reason I have this really lazy teenage body that LOVES to sleep. Oh to be middle-age! Early to rise, early to bed. I'm not joking, I really can't wait until I can easily get up before 7:30.
SO yeah, Tuesday I cleaned the windows (used the good ole Taylors' (Pat Taylor, that is) method of hosing the windows off from the outside to git-r-done and I swept (lot's of sweeping since Shelbs sheds a lot cause of old age. Oh, and Shelby is definitely a dog, by the way. ;)
In the evening we went to that family's house and got their animals. I got teary-eyed while I was alone with one of the dogs by the truck petting it. It was COVERED in tics--well over a hundred. Kind of small dog, too. Skinny. And I was just thinking how spoiled my pets are at home; safe with Frontline cause my family can afford it. And then I was thinking how spoiled I am; I'm not running for my life with my family because my dad was kidnapped. Why was a born white and not brown? Why was I born comfortable instead of in poverty? Why was I born in a land of opportunities instead of a land that lacks?
So. This morning, door closed :), I woke up after 8. I tried to wash those tic dogs, but to no prevail--they didn't like baths, apparently--shocking. Oh, and I didn't mention the kitty! The family had a kitten that we went and got. Holy Toledo! I just remembered we were delayed a day on getting the kitty, so my days of events are totally off. Que sera, sera. So anyway, the kitty and Cat (Tia Lila y Tio Kent's gata) play and wrestle and fight a lot. Kitty sleeps in the bathroom at night, though, for precaution. I mopped today (and finally realized that my mom was right all along, I DO take forever to do things and go really slow) and it took me like 4+ hours. Yeah! Something crazy! And I only mopped the kitchen and dining room. We had church tonight and I did nursery after worship with Aunt Lila. I got to meet one of the little girls I'll be watching once the school year starts.
So yeah. Oh and one of the days... Tuesday, probably, I did online traffic school for 3 straight hours. Nice!
I've met a lot of people, but don't remember names very well. There are three students here that speak or are learning English that I've met. A majority of the students here are from the state of Oaxaca, so Spanish is there second language, too--Oave is their first. Our chickens are getting eaten by neighborhood dogs, so Aunt Lila is training her prized pooch (a big ole Rottie, Jack), so that soon they will be able to let him off his chain so that he may guard the entire perimeter of the Institute. And my Aunt and Uncle are super easy-going and way funnier than I remember--like tonight we were all whistling "Yellow Submarine". Yep, yep.
This has been quite the day (or 4) in the life of Lynda Sue, if I do say so myself. I'll have to post daily or something so it's not quite as crammed and boring.
I love and miss everyone from good ole Placer County (I think I used the phrase "good ole" 3 times in my blog). And I still love and miss everyone else throughout the U.S. that I've been loving & missing.
Love you mom. :)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
San Diego for Starters
So I know I was only intending on blogging once weekly, but I think this week might be a few more. The anticipation and anxiety are getting to that uncontainable point.
We drove down from Sac today--drive was a lot shorter than it had seemed when I was younger (not complaining ;])--and are staying at a favorite family vaca spot, San Diego, for two nights. It's quite comforting to start this journey with a familiar destination before an unfamiliar, accompanied by a known language before an unknown.
I finished the book Captivating, by John & Stasi Eldredge, on the way here--I strongly recommend it, ladies (+ maybe gentlemen)--and what better way to be introduced by God into this new mission (pun not originally intended) than to be reassured by Him of my worth, purpose, and how much He's in love with me. Wow! Talk about a doubt damper!
I mean, honestly, when people ask me, "So, like, how are you feeling about the whole 'going to Mexico for a year' thing? Are you excited? Nervous?" in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "I'm scared turdless, is how I'm feeling!"
It's like jumping off a cliff--and I would know, I did it two weeks ago! You have doubts, second thoughts the whole climb up the rock; at any point you can turn back, but you don't. You've reached the peak and the edge, take a gulp, and then you leap. Oh, but that leap! In that leap you can only have faith. There is nothing you can do to save your own life--you are a 100% in God's hands. That's the rush I'm getting this week--that leap of faith; I love it. I love that we can serve such a trustworthy, compassionate God. That even in our most vulnerable states, He is there make sure we make it all the way down to the water great--and find joy along the way! How great is our God!
Tonight I enjoyed a well-needed Boardwalk stroll with my folks followed by delectable fish tacos--the rolling waves and sandy beaches are always a plus. ;)
We drove down from Sac today--drive was a lot shorter than it had seemed when I was younger (not complaining ;])--and are staying at a favorite family vaca spot, San Diego, for two nights. It's quite comforting to start this journey with a familiar destination before an unfamiliar, accompanied by a known language before an unknown.
I finished the book Captivating, by John & Stasi Eldredge, on the way here--I strongly recommend it, ladies (+ maybe gentlemen)--and what better way to be introduced by God into this new mission (pun not originally intended) than to be reassured by Him of my worth, purpose, and how much He's in love with me. Wow! Talk about a doubt damper!
I mean, honestly, when people ask me, "So, like, how are you feeling about the whole 'going to Mexico for a year' thing? Are you excited? Nervous?" in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "I'm scared turdless, is how I'm feeling!"
It's like jumping off a cliff--and I would know, I did it two weeks ago! You have doubts, second thoughts the whole climb up the rock; at any point you can turn back, but you don't. You've reached the peak and the edge, take a gulp, and then you leap. Oh, but that leap! In that leap you can only have faith. There is nothing you can do to save your own life--you are a 100% in God's hands. That's the rush I'm getting this week--that leap of faith; I love it. I love that we can serve such a trustworthy, compassionate God. That even in our most vulnerable states, He is there make sure we make it all the way down to the water great--and find joy along the way! How great is our God!
Tonight I enjoyed a well-needed Boardwalk stroll with my folks followed by delectable fish tacos--the rolling waves and sandy beaches are always a plus. ;)
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