Tuesday the 22nd. The exchange students and all the kids in their first year at Valladolid had to go on a team building trip to "La Planta". It was about an hour away and all mud! Of course they didn't tell us to bring a change of clothes-but everyone EXCEPT me did anyway! We started off watching tons of environmental movies after the 3rd one we weren't paying much attention. We like to refer to ourselves as Model Exchange students, I wish someone had taken a picture: I had Simon asleep on my right shoulder, Caro and I were talking to my left, Fran was asleep leaning on her hand behind us, and in front were Aurore and Justine speaking french and not watching the movie! What a group we were! After we got split into teams and after much debating Fran changed to my team because I was the only exchange student in that group. The first activity we went to was a ropes course (and if any of you remember 8th grade transition that isn't the easiest thing for me). But I did it-it was extra hard because everything was wood and it had rained so it was extra slippery! After we went on a nature walk then INTO and UP a river! Of course I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and had no change of clothes-smart I know. We went a good mile up the river and then got a waterfall (10ft or so) and I was relived because this meant that we were done, but then the person with us said Oh no we have to rock climb up the waterfall! I couldn't believe it! After we went a little more up the river and got to a "waterslide" (slippery rocks) and hung out there for a while before returning back down the river, BACK DOWN THE WATERFALL (this is without ropes or anything!) and back down the river! We got back and walked a little bit to lunch, my pants were soaked so they kept falling off and I was walking really weird-not to mention the water was freezing so I was super uncomfortable. As I got into the dining hall Caro and Simon start hysterically laughing at the way I am walking. After lunch Simon changed to our group because he didn't want to go to the river. We were heading to a mud pit! I told them I didn't have a change of clothes so I didn't want to participate, luckily I didn't have to because it started to rain. We ran back to the meeting point and everyone got changed, Simon changed then offered his other short to me, and although they were wet they were 20 times better than my jeans. We left a little while later, then Justine, Simon, Caro, Fran, and I went with Mauricio (future host dad, Simon's host dad) and we got Gaspachos and then Mariana drove everyone home. Gaspachos are VERY popular here- it is all these different kinds of fruit chopped up with juice, cheese, and chili! Surprisingly I really liked it-I am becoming more Mexican everyday! I went home took and shower and went to sleep.
I woke up the next day and I didn't have a voice and my head was pounding-so I didn't go to school. Isaura jr stayed home too! I slept for a long time and took some pills for my cold.
The next day I went to school, and when we stopped to get Simon his grandma said he wasn't coming. I sent him a message and asked him what was up-he told me he was REALLY sick he threw up BLOOD! I was freaking out the whole day, turns out he went to the hospital and it was an infection in his throat from trowing up so much! Fran didn't got to school either-she had problems with her stomach. Caro was really late to school-but she just wanted to sleep in! We are quite the bunch! After school I had lunch with the family, then went to spin and right after to Aurore's house, then we went to Ego with her dad for 80's night. It wasn't what I hoped it would be-but it was funny to hear Mexican 80's music. Then we went to my house and slept.
We woke up showered and packed for our trip to Ixtapa! Aurore found out that all of us were going to Ixtapa (my family, Fran with her friend Astrid, and Caro with friends) so she invited herself to Astrid's house too-Astrid's parents changed their plans around so Aurore could go with them, but she didn't have a ride so she asked me if she could ride with us-my parents said it was fine so we went. We left at 1:00 and got to Ixtapa at about 5pm. As we were driving to Ixtapa I had one of those landscape emotion connections, and any of you that have traveled know what I mean. As we got just about 2 hours out of Morelia the lush green mountains (that come one right after the other here) were sprinkled with a new brand of plant-the cylinder cactus. These plants were everywhere, they added a new texture to the mountains of Morelia that I have come to know and love. Paired with a softer looking tree the mountains seemed to pop! And as I literally got on the edge of my seat to get a second look we hit a tunnel and on the other side was a rolling river so beautiful it looked like it was airbrushed in, you know like something you would see in a Mexico promotional magazine (well I happen to be living proof that, that breathtaking view does indeed exist!). And although I was breathing the whole time I did happen to notice that my jaw had dropped just slightly. And as I got a closer look at the mountains I found that they were made of cliffs that were covered iwth lime green vines that climed up the sides and secured themselves on the trunks of the trees. At the base of the mountain was a light grass that looked like seaweed when the wind blew! Absolutely gorgeous and hot! Then Aurore saw the house and proceeded to invite herself to STAY THE WHOLE WEEKEND there! She didn't ask her mom, she didn't ask Astrid (or even talk to Astrid)-it was really strange I couldn't believe it. That night we all went to Senor Frogs and hung out (Caro, Maria, Paty, Santiago, Fran, Astrid, Astrid's cousin, Aurore, and I). Then Aurore's host mom called Astrid's mom and found out Aurore didn't come to the house, and got really angry when she found out what Aurore did. So she called my mom and my mom put Aurore's bags in the car for when they came to pick us up, well Aurore got into the car and went with us anyway! Really strange.
The next day we got right into our bathing suits to go out onto the yacht! (We were staying at a house with friends of the family) Aurore then proceeded to invite herself on the yacht too! So we all piled onto the yacht and headed out into the ocean a little bit then we went to a more private beach. We anchored the boat then jumped in and swam to shore-Regina, Isaura jr, Isaura, Lore (her family owns the house and yacht), and I all jumped right in-but of course Aurore made a big deal about getting in and needed a life jacket too, but after much fuss she finally got in. We spent the day there and returned to the house at 6:00 and had dinner. Then all of the girls headed out to check out the market, it wasn't anything special so we went for homemade icecream! I met up with Caro, Santiago, Maria, and Paty I decided to go with them and I asked Isaura if it was ok and she said of course! Then she asked Aurore if she wanted to go and Aurore said she was tired and just wanted to stay WITH MY FAMILY! I found this really strange then I talked to Isaura later on and she said the same thing. (It's not that I don't like Aurore-she is very nice-but this weekend she was extremely pushy and strange). So then my family left and we headed to Senor Frogs to meet up with Fran and Astrid, Astrid told me she and her mom were mad/upset with Aurore because she didn't talk to them at all! After meeting a girl from Miami, a guy from Newport Beach Rhode Island, and a guy from San Diego we went to a cool restaurant next store-it was like a tree house! After we went to the beach to see all of the town on the water-beautiful but it was impossible to take pictures!
Sunday we went to the "Club House" and lounged around the pool and had lunch before heading back home. We got back and Isaura jr had been making fun of my spanish so Isaura said we should speak English so I could make fun of her. Well it didn't last long and Isaura jr doesn't like to speak English. After that we went to sleep.
Monday at school passed surprisingly quickly! Simon, Caro, and I were laughing the whole day-we still can't figure out why we all were so goofy but it was funny! I had a famous salsa/chili type thing for lunch-it originated in Puebla (the town were Krista Henry went on exchange) it was really tasty! Then I had salsa class and then went to sleep.
I forgot to mention in the marina where their yacht was- had tons of signs up warning everyone about the crocodiles! They have tons in this marina and everyone had to be careful. Regina and I were joking around and I was whistling like a dogs saying "ven, ven, cocodrilos" (come, come crocodiles)!
Mariah
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