Week 5: "It's the party of Bienvenido" "Yeah but for who?"

Tuesday was one of the best days I have had during my stay here.  We made it to school without popping a tire, which would make anyone's day!  We didn't have Mexican Culture, so we got a free pass out of class, I sat with Aurore and Simon's class (they had gym) and talked to all of my friends there.  It was nice to sit outside for an hour and talk to everyone, it deffinitly beat the pants of sitting in the classroom watching everyone take a test.  Then I had French II, we played a game and everyone was laughing the whole time.  After school Mariana was driving us home and as we were leaving the parking lot she took off her sweater and let go of the wheel we started heading towards the right hand side so I grabbed the wheel, then Simon said "AHH You just broke a rule, NO DRIVING"  This is an ongoing joke now in my family.  At 5:30pm I went to a spinning class for an hour-which I LOVED, then I went to an hour of pilates.  After that I showered and went to an hour of Yoga!  As we left the club I got my hand print and number to work (need a pass code and to scan your hand to get into the club).  As I walked in the door I saw a package- it was my camera cord!  I was so happy and I proceeded to add a lot of photos on my facebook!  

I woke up and wished Isaura a happy birthday!  Then when Mariana and I went to pick up Simon, he said that we was sick and he wasn't going to school.  I had gym first hour of the day, and everyone was really tired, so as a joke I told the gym teacher that I was a  lazy girl from the US and I couldn't run, he chuckled then said we had to run 2 laps.  Well Aurora (one of my friends in my class room) and I were the ONLY ones who ran.  In the second lap the gym teacher said "Floja huh?  Pero tu puedes corre!" (You're a lazy person?  But you can run?).  Then we stopped Aurora and I and made the rest of the class run another lap and we just stood there.  When we got home we changed quick and went out to this fancy restaurant for dinner for Isaura.  It was this awesome pizzeria type thing, with the coolest sink I have ever seen!  Then I went to spinning, then ran for 15 mins before pilates, then went to pilates (with a different teacher).  Then I got home and went to sleep.

The next day I wasn't going to school because I had a rotary meeting at 9:30 (of course we didn't get there until 9:50).  Turns out Isaura wasn't going to the breakfast because it was a Rotary meeting, and it was only for Rotary Camelinas (Caro, Simon, Justine, and I).  After the meeting Laura (the chair person) said we should go back to school because it was so late.  So Caro and I went with Gloria (Simon's Grandma) and we met Laura at the Zoo, we just went there to buy tickets for the when we go for the Rotary District Conference.  Then we were invited to go to see the Hotel we were going to be staying at, then to lunch.  Justine turned down the offer and had another lady take her home, so that left Caro, Simon, Gloria, Laura, and I.  We got to see this BEAUTIFUL hotel and we went to the roof, we are renting it out for a night to watch the light show on the Cathedral.  Then we went out to lunch in the centro.  Laura said since it was hot she was getting us a beer, we had one corona (she insisted because it is part of the culture).  It was offically a month that I had been here, and I got to try Chili Relleno-my dad had been telling me about this dish for months.  Well this restaurant had it is Urchepos (MY FAVORITE FOOD HERE) so it was a wonderful lunch.  After I went to Simon's house to wait for my mom- he is currently living with Gloria because Patti (my future host mom and his current host mom) had moved and they weren't ready to host him yet.  So I talked to Gloria, then Luis (grandfather) and Simon.  I found Luis really interesting, he told me he lived in NYC for 4 years and he is a very philosophical person; I enjoyed talking to him!  Then I went to Spinning, then Pilates, then I ran for 30 minutes before going home and going to sleep.  

The next day Simon and I were getting picked up by Gloria at 11:00-of course it turned out to be 12:00 before she got there.  Justine and her mom were with her, Justine didn't go to school.  Then we went to the Immigration office, but we were missing all of these papers.  We ended up running all around the city (5 hours).  We had lunch at this restaurant that is very popular-it is called El Infierno, I am pretty sure everyone can figure out what that means.  The tacos were AWESOME!  After I met Isaura and we went home.  Later on I went to a dinner party thing for Fran's brother (he is going to Canada).  

I hung out for the afternoon and then when Isaura got home she suggested we rent a traditional movie of Mexico.  I can't remember the title- but it was hilarious.  It was a musical type movie- I can't even begin to tell you the plot because it is so complicated, but I really liked it.  Then at 8:30pm I went with Aurore and Luis (one of my friends) to see the lighting of the Cathedral.  It was amazing, there was this introductory video, then all this music and fireworks as they turned on the lights.  It was so pretty and there were tons of people, it was like a mini carnaval, and this happens EVERY Saturday.  I was in awe!  After we got churros (by request of Aurore) and watched an african drum band.  Then we passed through the center where they had a HUGE TV set up and tons of people were watching a football game (Mexico vs Costa Rica).  Then we went to a coffee shop and got come coffee, and it was right next to a bar so we got to experience some real Mexican Futbol culture!   

Sunday was another lazy day, Fran and I went to Starbucks and Subway.  Then we went shopping.

Monday went by pretty slow.  After school Fran and I started to walk to the convenience store to get some more candy for a present for my friend.  (It is his birthday today-his name is Bienvenido).  On our way there Isaura pulled up and asked where we were going, turns out I had misunderstood her when she had told me that she was picking me up after school.  She is going to pick Simon and I up after school every monday now!  We got home later and Isaura jr was home sick, and Regina has a cold.  Then I talked to my dad before going with Isaura and Regina into town.  Regina had a guitar class so Isaura and I bought a gift bag for Bienvenido's present, then we went to a little mall type thing.  She asked if I wanted some coffee and I said sure.  I told her I was going to pay for it because she is always driving me everywhere, she was really grateful and it made me feel a little bit better.  

Today was alright, classes pasted fairly quickly.  Bienvenido really liked his present and the card that I made for him.  He then asked if we wanted to go get tacos with him and all of our friends.  Fran and I went, then Elsa drove us to Starbucks were we met Isaura and then we went home.  

The language is still a challenge but I learn new things everyday and I am slowly improving.  Today my Mexican Law teacher told me that I spoke and understood spanish very well.  He told me he understood everything I wrote on the test we had (the test that I attempted), he said that I was a very smart girl.  I was really happy to hear this, I just wish I could understand everything!  I get frustrated when I don't understand because I want to be on the same level as my class mates and I want to be able to express myself; but it still a little tough.   

And to explain the caption.  Bienvenido is welcome in spanish, so I was trying to explain to Isaura jr that my friend Bienvenido was having a party on Friday.  But she didn't realize I was talking about my friend Bienvenido, and not a welcome party.  She kept asking who the party was for and I would answer Bienvenido, and she would say "Yeah but for WHO?"  We eventually figured it out, we found this quite hilarious.

Miss and Love you all,

Mariah

PS: My parents are sending a package out tomorrow or the next day if you have anything you need to send to me, just let them know!  haha