PAVEing a Blog

I never really fully addressed but let me let you in some quirky things in Mexico…

Everyone is wearing, coats, scarves, and gloves right now. Believe it or not, I have been wearing a sweatshirt every day, it is COLD every morn and right now, maybe 65 degree, very chilly. The weather difference is AMAZING, mention the word Mexico and people think HOT right, wrong. The high altitude here is AMAZING, you feel it in your lungs, but when I arrived July 31st, top temp was 80 degrees F! Believe it or not the altitude has been different from what I expected, VERY cool the whole time.

Cars are a hassle here, so much easier to get around in Mexico city without, and not hard at all.

There are some very good vegetarian restaurants as I thought there would not be, and they are VERY delicious!

I have seen danger by others is in how you carry yourself here. Look people in the eye and let others know you are not going to be manhandled, it carries a long way.

Spicy is the norm here, and after awhile, you do get used to it.

No heating units here at all, I am curious to see what winter will bring.

Most taxis are VW’s (tons of them here), and Nissan’s. VW’s are so numerous here, amazing.

There is no right of way for pedestrians here, forget that idea, lol.

Hmmm, I am sure there are more, compadres from Mexico, what am I forgetting?

While I wrapped up my first parent night at ASF, I could not help but sympathize with the conditions back at Seaford, DE. I am amazed and in awe at the things that have occurred since I left for Mexico! I am distressed to see the return of flooding, I believe it occurred back 3 or four years ago after a year of being in Delaware, living down from the school, a rain that never stopped. I went into the basement, and water up to my knees, all things floating! It seems the rains have appeared again. I hope all the students and families are safe, irony seems to be appearing as I feared the worst in heading for Mexico, and am amazed at the events in Delaware! I am hoping my house on Woodland Ferry has managed to maintain electricity, although Woodpecker Road, right below my house had a bridge washed out and roads are closed….:(

Today we try an Argentinian restaurant, meet for the first time as a Literary Magazine Club, and celebrate a co worker’s birthday with ice cream. Overall, the students I have interacted with have been amazing, friendly, and quite funny overall. They carry themselves with a sense of responsibility and it is an honor to be around most that are bilingual at the least, it seems that fact has them realize alot about the world around them.

I took my Spanish test 2 days ago and classes start next week, I am very excited and hope to move fast forward in that department.

It seems I have been accepted to speak at the NCTE Conference in Chicago, Illinois, and look to do so pending my FM3 and Visas coming on, November 17- November 22nd. I will be speaking on Technology resources and hope to being a trunk load of resources back for my students and fellow faculty as a result. It will feel good to be back presenting materials that can assist educators in and out of the classroom, and I hope to develop the Media Specialist role to the hilt!

Look for my next post to be the results of what looks to be a great Argentinian restaurant meal!

Adding green to the apartment was one of the main goals to attending this school sponsored trip to XOCHIMILCO, however, alot more came with the expected trip!    🙂

We left at 9:00 AM from ASF, and as we approached, you could see the change in scenery of larger and larger buildings and more and more nurseries!

Getting off into an empty parking lot, we sauntered off and wow!  Bright colors!  The Italian-like gondolas were amazing!  See for yourself!

Getting on and watching the pole bearing workers push us through the Canals of Xochimilco was the perfect way to enjoy a Saturday, and realize through the glints of sun bouncing off the canal, that Mexico used to be submerged under water, not the land appearing Mexico we see largely now.

Imagine a Wal Mart on water, this is what occurred as we encountered toys, blankets, plants, everything, a virtual store on water as we made out way to, yes!  An original Mariachi group!  They boarded our gondola and their song and spirit portrayed a true Mexico in XOCHIMILCO.

Lest we forget the island of the dolls, or Isla de las Munceas?  Please check out http://weburbanist.com/2010/10/06/mexicos-creepiest-tourist-destination-island-of-the-dolls/, my pictures do not say enough.  But, if you are not aware of the legend, oh my, you need to know the background legend behind these Chucky-like apparitions!

After what seemed liked a lazy-like river experience, (do not forget the festive dancing, drinking, laughing, and overall party and family gondola experience you can have!), we moved to s demonstration of a ritual put on by traditional Mexican culture, called Danza de los Voladores de Papantla

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danza_de_los_Voladores_de_Papantla

It was scary enough watching the “flyers” climb up the pole, but flying upside down to the bottom!  The younger students asked, has there ever been an accident?!  (Makes you wonder…!)

We moved into the nurseries that XOCHIMILCO is famous for, no kidding.  Every turn of the head showed THOUSANDS, no exaggeration, of plants and natives to Mexico, and the price, was cheaper than ANY where – it felt like highway robbery!   Plants this size anywhere else would easily be double!   I could not resist and grabbed five Peace Lily, Fiscus Tree, ferns, it was  start!

What I heard and did not believe until I physically saw, were the parakeets and exotic birds for sale, as well as lizards with harnesses and leashes; the argument being as soon as you purchase them these what should be protected and wild animals will be replaced with newer animals, so it seems it is an unending battle, sad!

We rounded out of the market in 45 minutes, passed several ponies and horses available for the ride around the market, and witnessed the other ASF faculty members and their purchases, (turtles with aquariums, plants, blankets, you name it!).

On the way back, the sentiments that this is one place visitors MUST stop is the TRUTH!  🙂  A great opportunity to see another facet of Mexico’s culture!

Whew. It has been awhile since my last post…I can explain…(famous last words). Thursday had me facing the trip of new student orientation. Luckily, someone had dropped out last minute, and Helen Kang asked me to go, little did I know it was the best decision to say yes! 🙂 After school Friday, we boarded buses to travel to Picocanoa, <!–acheck out…http://www.picocanoa.com.mx/. We have three coach buses, basically one for seniors/freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. This allowed us to have an empty seat as teachers, (Thanks Helen!) On board was Dan (FROM SLIPPERY ROCK! I found out there are 8 of us from SRU as they also do an internship here from SRU!) and Chris who was a 10th grade counselor. We were in good company!

I figured 2-3 hours away, right? (LONG LAUGH) ….When I realized this was the bottom tip of Vera Cruz, 7 hours away, I was amazed! 🙂 We left at 3:30, along the way we saw the scenery change to only landscapes you could imagine on a postcard or a film. We stopped around 5:00? at a small rest stop to gather a bite to eat as well drink bathroom, etc. Turns out one of the students left his iphone and cell phone on the counter top, in the store, 😦 and Dan, who was behind the student, grabbed it in time before someone noticed it or had a chance to steal it. This was the plan, play dumb and teach him NOT to leave important things laying around…we’ll see how that goes…;)

On the bus, back on route, love the fact this bus had a dvd player! 🙂 We started to watch X MEN, but it kept freezing, so we watched I am Legend, 127 hours (WHAT A FILM!), ******, and Despicable Me. Why the *****? Okay, well let me explain, as we were watching I am Legend, I explained to Chris, who is from the UK, what an AWESOME and UNBELIEVABLE film 7 Pounds is, perhaps one of the best…what are the chances of this film being with us? Seriously? This was like 2-3 hours BEFORE that film appeared as one of the choices, seriously? it was HERE! I was shocked! AMAZING, so we watched it, it was AWESOME….Weird coincidence but thankful! An hour after we left the rest stop, the student came back inquiring about his iphone and cell phone, and I felt so guilty not saying anything, I played dumb, as did Dan, but eventually he told him and I was amazed such expensive hardware could be left lying around. I know how guilty I felt as I have done the same thing, and realized sometimes it is easy to take for granted the technology we can get our hands on!

It was around 9:00 PM and we were climbing a huge mountain, the fog was so thick we had to pull over at one point, and when we looked down we realized how far UP the mountain we were, below was a dot of a road, and the fog obviously delayed our travel, scenery still enough to take your breath away.

We finally arrived, and the MOST amazing picture, we were driving into an encampment of grass huts, cabins, lighted torches, I swear I was entering the show Survivor, EVERYTHING, I mean EVERYTHING, resembled the show survivor! Were we being kicked off? (Really everyone was starving!)

Here was our arrival location!

We left luggage at the parking lot, walked to a large grass thatched covered area for eating, and began eating. You name the type of Mexican food, and they had everything. From Thursday night late until Sunday afternoon when we left, amazing. Drink, appetizer, even pancakes mixed in, the food was unbelievable, the coffee even better, the workers, counselors, directors, AMAZING.

This was my first injection of all Spanish conversation. I spent so much time paying attention to body language and my surroundings to pick up on bits and pieces of Spanish, as well as those students around me who knew strictly Spanish, it was amazing to be in Mexico, not a native speaker, and have all this around you, I cannot put it into words.

We headed to the boy’s side of the camp a little walk, and found while the women’s cabins were thatched, the boys were huge canopy tents, canvas-like with bamboo supported poles, with the bathroom completely open on the top and the rest enclosed, it was, WOW. Plants I had never seen before growing everywhere, plants growing from and hanging down in the showers, it was a mini paradise.

Aside from the MONSTER spider, larger than any spider I ever saw, Wait until you see the picture I post, all was awesome! We managed to get the spider into my backpack and I slid him outside safely. It managed to fall on my face briefly, not a great moment, but it was the question, “Are you afraid of spiders” Dan asked me that freaked me out at first, lol…..

The morning we went right to it, we were green team, pitted against yellow, orange, and blue. We received bandannas to represent out teams and broke into our respective groups. Our first day would be team games to work together, green versus yellow team, orange and blue heading for the river to white water raft. we needed to use 5 people to slide a tire up over a telephone pole, then back on without touching We were enclosed in a square of rope, an had to get everyone out the first, we had to walk with huge plank-like boards in a relay, others type exercises helped us realize we needed to work together as a team. Imagine coming from Mexico City, no humidity, about 80 degrees tops Fahrenheit, and arriving in Picocanoa, total humidity, similar to Delaware, at least 90 degrees. You can imagine how it felt after these difficult and challenging exercises. It was rewarding to meet our teams, and work and compete alongside each other, but we were all soaked to the bone!

We received a break, changed, showered (one of many that day!) and headed back for lunch. I could go on for HOURS about the food, but alas, imagine the best home cooked and original spread of Mexican food available, and you would have a slight % of what it was like!

Onto some late afternoon opportunities at the pool, the pool, ohmygosh, well, look at the link above and you can see how resort-like everything was, amazing! We were scheduled for ziplining in the evening. I couldn’t believe my ears, seriously? ZIPLINING! SCared to death but wanted to do it for so long! YEAH!

We rode in a bus to the site, walked a bit to the first platform, and COWABUNGA! Holy high up we were! I did this as a practice run in D.C. with my cousins, but never imagined the real thing with trees and clouds and the mist right in front of us, almost as high as some of the smaller mountains, gulp! Elizabeth, one of the students in my green(Verde, I got to know that word very well from chanting it all weekend!) group had never done this and was petrified, ( I was too I just showed it better!), and she was very afraid of heights, but had the guts to be up there and try it! 🙂 I was the last one, hooked on, and was so nervous I kept pulling the break. But by the third platform, I realized, RELAX (is that possible that high up?!) and I let go of the break and began to really see what it was like to zoom through the tree. The Next to last platform was a little freaky, we are in one of the highest trees, I mean the highest!, and had to climb a wooden ladder up to another tree platform….I have to admit I was shaky and sweaty scared, but the experience was unbelievable. The guides with the equipment spoke straight Spanish, but somehow, I knew what they were saying, indicating, I was so nervous it just took me a while…

On the way back, we were waving to everyone we passed. Imagine the buses in Delaware that are school buses, but have the tops cut off to store the watermelons. This was similar to the bus we had, it had to roof and seats, but sat up high where the driver was sitting below where the passengers sat. A small ladder on each side, about 4-5 on each side, where we climbed up and got into seats that held about 5 across. We were all happy that we did the experience and enjoyed each other on such a phenomenal day!

The evening brought on of course, more good food. Being the first real full night, lots of energy! We played a cool game of capture the flag, several of them! Also, if you still were up for more, we had the chance to take a late walk (from 11:30 PM – 1:30 PM). I backed out of that as I was afraid I would not be able to get up the next morn for the RIVER RAFTING! 🙂 SO I packed it in and headed to bed.

Next morn, I was raring to go rafting! Ate breakfast, ran over to get the helmet and life preserver. Cool thing was we practiced being tipped in the raft in the pool, then practiced being hauled in the raft. (Not that any of us were going to tip over, right?) We readied ourselves, switched raft partners a few times, and I noticed how large these waves were compared to the waves we experienced in Ohiopyle, they were so small compared to this, lol…

As an omen, the third or fourth rapid, I saw the rapid coming, towering over us, bloop, over and all I could see was river water, I went under, went under, and grab! Felt the raft rope, and hung on, was pulled in. 🙂 Yeah! However, the fourth/fifth rapid got me again, and this time, I felt for the rope, no rope, felt the raft above me under the water, felt shoes in the raft above me, but the rapids carrying me, under, I went under, over, around a few times, maybe 5?!, finally, after swallowing half the water it seemed, the kayaker guide was right on me, I grabbed the rope on the front of his kayak, and held on. I was head above water again, but, whew, knew I was going to go through a another rapid hanging onto his kayak, wow. I was just glad to be above water. I was ferried over via kayak to the nearest raft, hauled in, so weak, I fell backwards again, lol, then hauled in again. I looked back and saw two others in our raft had also fallen out. Elizabeth, the brave zipliner, had disappeared from view for several minutes and I am sure was more panicked than I was! I was trying to regain my breath from injesting so much water! I never thought there would be repercussions later from that water…:) FORESHADOWING! lol…We finished the rest of the raft trip through the rapids perfectly, the scenery was beautiful and we calmed down from out scares….:)

The ride back was awesome as the students broke into all kinds of songs, and we were all glad to be on dry land, but despite the near scares, it was an incredible experience and we realized the “professionality” of our guides kept us together! They were awesome!

Lunch was GREAT, we then moved to rock climbing! Watching some of the smallest students performs climbs I never knew they were capable of was AWESOME! We cheered each other on and throughout all these days the counselor assigned to our team kept thinking up new cheers, including cheering VERDE, Tsunami, and may others! We also participated in many name games that helped us know all of our team members perfectly, including a late night game of charades which was awesome. For the first time I knew all 14-15 students names in one day thanks to the cool games we did! 🙂 The night was early though, we had flashlight hide and seek, where one one team had to go and find all the other members, we did alright! We had a rough couple of point days the first day, but overall, we did well and really came together as a group. The night ended with a bonfire where the classes reflected on their experiences there, and I felt the need to pitch in and told them what a great class they were as sophomores and told them what a fall down it would be once they returned home, it was important they kept in their hearts the feelings they had at camp. The pool party, dancing, traditional people thrown into the pool was awesome and although events waned into 1:00 at last, it was unbelievable to be a part of it.

Coming home was so fast, we woke up, had a GREAT breakfast, packed on the buses, (yellow team won overall the competition…:( but we still had a BLAST! We zoomed on the way home, and returned much faster without the fog, and the return into Roma hit us hard as we realized how much of an experience we all had. The rain pouring gave us each a challenge to hold what we learned and experience in our hearts long after the camp.

That night, Sunday the river hit me in other ways I did not expect. Sickness from ever corner, I will not go into details, hit me long into the morning. I found myself taking my first day off, and I could barely get out of bed. Somehow that day passed, and here is Tuesday and I am able to eat and drink again….:) The river had it’s revenge, but what I took back from this experiences was the comraderie and chance of knowing a truly GREAT group of students….:)

Rain here is incredible, I mean Incredible. Alot of it! As I was walking to the metro, from the metro, little things stuck out. As I was ascending the “Montezuma Stairs”, I saw literally rain currents coming down the steps as if this was a huge human fountain!

Then, on coming home, since I live on the top of the building, which is part o the roof, the amount of rain you see in a heavy downpour is amazing, crazy even! 🙂 Overall, I like it but it is much more unusual than the humidity and scorching days that drive you to the beach 🙂 in Delaware!

I was lucky enough to find there was a spot open for the Orientation camp at Vera Cruz this weekend and was asked to go to help. I think this will be an opportunity to meet the students and get to know them a little better aka ASF. My supervisor also mentioned this a definite to go to, so heeding that, sure, this will be fun! Leaving Thursday, and returning Sunday evening a weekend of hiking, water rafting, as well as ziplining will sure to bond alot of the new students together in a great experience!

I checked out two books on Monday, and when I opened the one, on the history of the Aztec, there were 8 metro passes inside. Unbelievable. A gift from the Aztecs? LOL, or just compensation for taking the “long bus” trip ride to Santa Fe? lol…My supervisor Elaine bought me lunch as she felt responsible for me getting lost, I will owe her several lunches thanks to her generosity of donations to get me started here at ASF! (Pajamas, silverware, you name it!)

I applied for the JEA grant for ASF, which allows the school to receive around 3500.00 to maintain an online newspaper representing the school, but also a new initiative, getting students from around the world as contributing authors! I am excited about the possibilities of this!

I only am now feeling I am starting to get a grasp on covering bills in the U.S. and here at the same time. I will feel much more at ease once I get the mailing thing down, finding the post office, actually buying stamps and sending things off, and seeing I am on a pattern of paying items as they need paid using the internet and such. Alot has been accomplished in so little of a time, but overall, thanks to the help of family and friends in the U.S, as well as new friends here, this has all been possible.

Another amazing fact I found out on Wednesday, there was a tremor in Delaware as well as a threat of a hurricane in Seaford, wow. I am hoping all will be safe but am amazed at the whole time I was there, nothing of the sort occurred! Wouldn’t MEXICO be the likely place for a hurricane rather than Delaware?!

Things that occur are often beyond explanation, no doubt…:)

Monday August 22, 2011

Just like Wierd Al, I thought, okay, it’s a Monday, it’s pouring rain, instead of climbing the Aztec-like stairs to ABC Hospital – I will make sure I try the ABC bus today. See bus, says ABC on it, I ask, “ABC Observato?” “Si” Awesome…a few minutes into the ride, I see Observatio boulevard disappearing in the rearview window…what the &#(*&#@(#&????? I ask to stop and I will walk back the way I needed to SHOW UP FOR WORK, a shake of the head indicating this is not possible. HELLO skyscrapers, Santa Fe, and BEYOND Observatio! 🙂 I exit the bus at the ABC Hospital in Santa FE – and I tell the driver what I needed, he snickered a bit (okay, well, it would be funny if I did not need to be at WORK!) – find a taxi and get across I need to return to OBSERVATORIO ABC after talking with someone on the phone in English. We are on our way! 🙂

I see this is going to cost more than 5o pesos, awesome, 3o pesos in possession, we pull in front of the AFS, I run in after saying “Un Memento por favor”, and guess what?! ATMS is down! 🙂 YEAH! I get back to the cab, ask to go around the corner to ABS Hospital, find the ATM, get money, ask the driver to go back to ASF – on the phone again to explain I just need to go back to where we just came from, :), I get there, pay 100 pesos giving the driver 30 pesos tip, he needed and deserved it and I needed a stiff drink) and ta da! I get to work at 8:30, all in a day’s work, woo hooo! 🙂

The rest of the day was a breeze, lol, afterwards Elaine (my boss) was kind enough to take us to Costo’s on her card to get items for the Vera Cruz trip this weekend, and I needed to pick up a dress shirt. On the way back. picked up a pot and dirt at the local market, get home, and I am out alseep! lol…

Now what did I take away from this? I am walking up the Montezuma stairs no matter what, because I know my luck! – second, the people here, when you are in distress think nothing of helping you, period. Amazing.

Overall, despite a unplanned and undesignated day, many lessons learned in one day! 🙂

I cannot wait until the rest of this week unfolds! 🙂

Meeting at Delirio’s was awesome. We had a group of 7 in a small corner, and the brunch tradition begins! YEAH! IT WAS A BLAST! Delirio’s was excellent. So I am lucky to have help start the Friday out restaurant experience with colleagues, and Elaine started Sunday’s time to explore, what a great group of people!

I left early to take pictures of Centro Mexico, please see my facebook page to check out these shots, 13 albums worth! A great day with alot of pictures making up for my not having one!

I was bummed to have shelled out 500 pesos for a 2006 Olympus fe, but, wow, impressed with what it turned out, so not bummed anymore, lol.

Music on the street tonight, LOUD, it is 11:09, I am going to check what it is, lol. Very nice and relaxing day with friends!

Revisit of Pad Thai – August – 10, 2012 – See description I found below:

http://goodfoodmexicocity.blogspot.mx/2009/06/thai-spice-authentic-flavors-from.html

Authentic Asian food is hard to find in Mexico. There seems to be a new “fusion” joint opening every day– a little of this and a little of that add up to a big nothing. Worse, I have seen the word “Thai” bandied about as a euphemism for the word Asian. A “Thai” style salad at one place had a yogurt dressing! (dairy products are almost non-existent in South east Asia). Another bogus Condesa joint offers Thai dishes featuring soy sauce – anybody who has been to Thailand knows that soy sauce is minimally used there, and only in dishes of Chinese origin.
But something’s different at an unpretentious restaurant called Pad Thai. Bangkok born and trained chef Suphanee Somthaisong (familiarly, and more easily known as Bo) presides over her kitchen. All the dishes on her small menu are authentic Thai recipes carefully prepared using the proper ingredients. The chef, who is married to an American businessman stationed in Mexico, first worked at another Asian restaurant here before opening her own. “My goal is to show Mexico what real Thai cooking can be, using fresh local, as well as the correct imported ingredients”, the chef told me. Although she can find almost everything she needs here, several herbs have to be imported in their dry versions. The chef has plans to grow her own herbs: “I would like to buy some land and grow kaffir lime, galangal, lemongrass and other things that really should be fresh – this would be ideal”. But meanwhile, the food here is as good as it gets. I’ve traveled extensively in Thailand and can report that the chef has achieved her goal. Start with a couple of satays, succulent skewered chicken served with a mildly spicy peanut sauce. Fresh spring rolls, a soft rice crepe containing rice noodles, lettuce, mint, basil and shrimp are light and nicely complimented by their sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Moving on there are two classic soups to choose from: Tom Yum Goong, the spicy/tart shrimp soup in a clear broth, and Tom Kha Gai, made with coconut milk and chicken. Both are perfumed with lemongrass and galangal, a ginger-like root that has its own peculiar flavor and is essential in many Thai soups and curries. The quality of the pad thai (which means, simply, Thai noodles) is a test for any Thai restaurant and here it is correct – the balance of sweet, tart, spicy and salty are synced to perfection.
But best of all are the coconut curries, green and red. I haven’t tasted Thai curries as good since my last trip to Bangkok; subtle and fresh, they are prepared carefully and knowledgeably – no canned paste here.
Order steamed jasmine rice and lemongrass tea, the house specialty and you won’t be disappointed. One caveat: I recommend you request a little more chili if you really want authentic Thai food – ironically, as we are in Mexico, land of chili, the dishes tend to be toned down to accomodate foreign palettes. The chef, who wisely keeps her menu limited, has a much larger repertoire of dishes and will gladly prepare them for large groups. One of my favorite salads, made with shredded green papaya, is not on the menu – the main ingredient is hard to find here in the city. But it, along with such Thai standards as larb (chopped meat salad), and whole fish with lemongrass can be special ordered. Décor is minimal/modern and prices are reasonable – a full meal will be around $150 per person. There is no liquor license as of yet so BYOB. Staff is friendly, but obviously new at the game and so can be a little frazzled when the going gets rough.
Pad Thai is a welcome addition to the restaurant scene and will make aficionados of the real thing happy.

(This is the initial visit to Pad Thai we made on 2011)

FRIDAY! WHEW! it is here! So what plans did we have at our disposal for Friday! Thai FOOD! YEAH! Thanks to a top from Elaine, we headed to Pad Thai, and were not disappointed YUM! Pad Thai located at

Sonora no. 49, near Durango
Tel. 5256-4518
Open daily 1-10 or 11PM

WAS DELICIOUS! Soups, salads, original dishes ranging from 80 pesos to 130, the servings are delicious. Quaint and not a large space, maybe seating 30 max, it is a good idea to cal ahead. The rice is to die for, as well as the rice desserts! A total of 11 people made the night awesome and fun. The food choice was delicious and varied. Also, ask about the fish sauce they have for sale that is rare to find and adds that Thai taste to dishes. Try this link:
http://goodfoodmexicocity.blogspot.com/2009/06/thai-spice-authentic-flavors-from.html

After a long dinner, a few of us headed to a small cantina called La Clandestina (try here: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/now-drinking-beyond-tequila-in-mexico-city/)

thanks to the guiding of our colleague! Awesome! The name portrays the lack of signage, and you can let rip/roar there too. Do not forget the electric shock game that we actually participated in. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ6aBbtSJ_c&feature=share

(Might reorder some of my nonsense inside. 🙂 On the way home, we ate at a late mini taco stand, delicious and HOT! As I ate the I said, “Mother of GOD HOT!” and the customer beside me stated laughing at my comment, “This is real mexican food!” Both travels this evening added to a super Mexican Friday, and as soon as I can figure out how to add pictures to my pages in this blog page, (hint, anyone?) then we will.

Interesting discoveries, introduced to a Blue Healer canine, never came across them before! Awesome pets, wow. I loved her at first sight! It was great that we could have her come into the cantina with us, very cool.

Sunday planning on trying out Delirios on Sunday near Alvaro Obregon, Monterrey 116 (corner Alvaro Obregón),
Sunday Brunch, all you can eat! 180 pesos
Colonia Roma
Tel. 5584 0870
Open Tuesday-Saturday 9AM-9PM, Sunday until 7; closed Monday http://goodfoodmexicocity.blogspot.com/2010/02/delightful-delicious-delirio.html#uds-search-results

Next Friday, August 27th, will be Italian, Lombardi’s!
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=67414

(Thanks Naomi!) the following week September 02, a vegetarian restaurant,

Pan Comido Vegetariano
Tonala – there isn’t a street number, but if there were, it would be 91 or 93
Between Alvaro Obregon and Chihuahua
Col. Roma Norte
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 10am to 9pm; Sun-Mon 10am to 5pm
Telephone: 4398 4366

Metrobus: Alvaro Obregon Metro: Insurgentes (pink line)

(Thanks Tracy and Elisa!) and the week after? We will need to start to schedule out the ideas we have been given, looks like we will fill until October!

I am going to cook my own dinner this evening, and I think I am starting to get the reality of the phrase, Buenos noches!

You might want to sit down for this one, every so often I am able to rip off a story that no one would believe, and would put them into stitches, today is your lucky day. Never say I never bared the embarrassing moments of my life…

First day of school, YES! 🙂 Early, out the door, all started somewhat great! Except the night of sleep, for some reason, I have woken up with bites, insect bites all over! I realized last night where it came from. mosquitos, yuck. I woke up in the night hearing the buzzing, I thought I was dreaming at first, literally hearing the buzzing in my bedroom and hearing them whiz past my head, but this had not occurred the first few days of being in the apt, but even though I thought I was dreaming, I walked out of the bedroom, into the living room, buzzing gone, into bedroom, buzzing back. LOUD, and when I covered myself up completely with the sheets, even my head, I could hear the buzzing outside of the covers waiting for me. Turn light on, no trace of ’em anywhere? I thought I was going MAD! (Sounds like the telltale heart here), but I somehow managed to get out without any majorly new bites, contemplating how I was going to rid these buggers so I could get a good night’s rest Wednesday night.

Experiencing this, again, has reenacted a two day week wrapped in one, but has made me ever more tired……can you believe it? As I look back, I laugh at the blood I had on my pants in leaving the day today, but realized I navigated alot of events in a short time! The blood came out in the wash, and I was able to reflect on the merry go round known as …

Another day in Mexico….:) Geez, the blood made me look tough on the metro…..

The one cool thing. despite the bite-a-rama Tuesday night, was I was able to find NPR in Mexico City and tune in, loud and clear. This reminded me of being in Delaware since I was able to get it on the eastern shore, so I left out the door in an awesome mood despite the obvious…

Early in, checked in movies from the previous day that had been returned, caught up with things all way before the day started for the first day! 🙂 8:00 orientation for the whole upper school, very nervous, but walked over with Afra, the new technology teacher and we just the students in – they were from everywhere! Funny to see students brought to school by drivers, with security cars in front and behind them as well, a full red carpet entrance! What a difference! Orientation begun, I found out I was to help hand out 10th grade schedules, moved over to the table, readied the schedules, intros began… Believe it or not, this was the best part of my day, lol….oh yes, wait and see….

As the students sensed the end of the speech, a rush, as someone said “like the running of the bulls” occurred and our table was completely submerged in students, all speaking in accents and voices at the same time, somehow we managed to get all but 6 their schedules, I hurried out and hung out on the blacktop monitoring the clumps of students during brunch time. Bell ring, corralling students into the school as they have 5 minutes to their 1a class, (they experience all classes today and this is a block schedule)…I make my way into the library and begin catching up. This is the part you will want to remember for a long time….:)…

I make my way up to the top floor of the library, shelving the DVD’s and I notice there is a security metal strip hanging out a little too far of the DVD case, I try to slide it back in, so it is hidden, moving it moving it, (these are made of metal remember), ding! “What? Where is all this blood coming from? What the heck? Gabby! (Our awesome reference librarian), Do you have an extra kleenex?!” Blood is everywhere, knowing I sliced into my finger, and it of course being the fleshy part, lots of scenery for a horror film going….I make my way downstairs quickly explaining to Elaine on my way out, trying to hide my bloody hand, I will take care of this at the nurse…:) I did a good job of hiding the results of my hand, and as soon as I enter, we clean it, yep, looks like stitches…:( I am not happy of course but you know when you have a cut, and you know it is deeper than you thought…I knew. Period. I knew the nurse was right, if I kept a band aid on it,it would keep bleeding, opening up, etc so yep.

American/British Hospital here I come, I trudge back over the the library in defeat letting Elaine know I am the first casualty of ASF School by security tab in the library and have to get stitches, (I don’t want to know her thoughts at that time because I could see mine…:) ) The nurse knows I am a lowly ignorant of Spanish as of yet and goes to the hospital with me, we check in, the receptionist is awesome, the school nurse is able to catch up on the latest since it has been awhile, :), go in and the doctor is truly great despite the circumstances. You know the worst part, right? You have to numb the finger, and to do that, well, there is going to be a needle involved here, I am not going to imagine that part, but imagine going down a slide on a razor blade, yeah, it felt like that for about 30 seconds, then my finger just felt like a blob of something, lol. The doctor was great, only three stitches! I walked back with the nurse with the white wrapping and holding my finger up, knowing, it would be a matter of time before the thumping set in.

Continue the day, looking Einstein ready to say something brilliant with my thumb up the air, :), monitored lunch, witnessed a student dropping water from the second floor balcony trying to bomb someone and managed to give that, “Want me to hurt you with a library security tape dude?!”, he ran.

Worked through the day, stepped out for lunch to grab a hamburgesa and hot dog with good old chilis, onions, the works….it seemed fitting and deserving…:)

Worked in the fiction room, putting texts in order, organizing details to help a teacher with The Holocaust, my finger reminding me of the antics earlier more and more…Bell! Last bell! Worked until four, used my finger as a signal to get me home, (it seemed like it was like a weathervane or something…:) , got home, grabbed my clothes, ran to the laundromat up two streets, and forced myself to figure it out whether I knew spanish or not….

They still appeared open, I motioned to the machines, the lady started the machines, even thought there were slots for the machines, apparently I did not try to make any of my coins as she interrupted me and shook her finger side to side meaning no. She stated something to the younger manager as she took clothes out of the washer that seemed to be there awhile, which seemed to be the topic of her conversation. The younger manager smiled, I did too imagining the wrangling the older proprietor was saying….my turn of novelty would come next! 🙂 She started the machines for me, I added the soap, put my crate on the machines, and took off back to the apartment. On coming back, someone’s car was not starting, he was attempting to push the car, I slid behind and helped him push it to the corner, Gracias, I said it back…got to the apartment, and typed in to SpanishDict how to say “How much for two loads of clothing” and also “I can dry these at my house” – one is “Me puede secar en casa” and the other is Cuanto por dos cargas de ropa?” – I will let you figure it out because darnit, I had to! – I made it back to the launrdomat, it looked closed, I am thinking, “You have GOT to be kidding me!”, They still had an opening, I slid in, retrieved my clothes, asked How much it was for two loads of clothes, (I must have done it perfectly because she instantly responded, “Sesenta”, I tried to ask, “Manana”, and pointed to the clock, (wanting to know time they were open tomorrow), I am still not sure on the response on that one, but I could tell from the look on their faces I was the entertaining one now…:) Agj, Gracias!, I head back to the apartment,
…hang the clothes up on the line, make my way, after after checking email quick, to the market Mark the awesome connected masseuse to everything in the area to a market that sold pots. I figured out during the day, the clippings of plants, in WATER must have attracted mosquitos last night! Ah ha! I speed walked 10 blocks to this indoor market, and after some careful looking, found a vendor with pots, looked arond, found 5 plastic trays and one earthen ware style pot. Heading around the corner, asking the man selling flowers if they have any dirt handy….no go, e states manana! I know I cannot cope with another night of mosquitos and the dirt has to be! I head out on some random streets, make it to a couple in the middle street gardens , not being beneath me to scoop down and filling a pot full of dirt to take home, see a couple other parks remaining, run into a colleague of ASF! Found a part of the garden further down, much softer! I looked both ways, down, scoop, scoop scoop, done! In this fashion I obtained a tote full of dirt, and made my way as fast as possible back to the apartment!

Rooted the plants, dumped the water, ( no mosquitos!) and filled in with my newly acquired dirt…as I sat here laughing at the whirlwind day, lightning starts, rain and my door buzzer goes off ( it has never worked since I moved in!) and all of a sudden, it comes on but does not turn off! I head back down in the rain, flip the bell button in attempt to listen for a short, nada. I come back up, ready to cut/splice the wires, however, I moved it and it goes off! Silence, at the house, whew, it comes wonderfully!
A day like this should be in the record books…:) or not….:)

Harry