Fact: I have encountered many Mexican families that don't even set up their own Christmas Tree, but it is looked at as the job of the maid that works for them!
When I left you off I was just hanging out, well the next day yielded the same results, until my whole family went to a near by house, which is bigger than the one I live in (if you can picture it!). After Isaura, Carla, Caro, and I went to the movies. Caro spent the night at my house. The next day consisted of organizing the goodbye party for Fran. Hopefully everyone remembers one of my good friends, Fran from Brasil, well the story is still quite fuzzy but there were lots of mishaps with her family, so eventually Rotary in Brasil had enough and decided Fran needed to go home. The following day consisted of buying tons of decorations for Fran's party, then later we went to a friends house where we set up for the party. Fran showed up with a friend and we spent the night dancing, sharing stories and jokes, then I showed the video I made for Fran (which was quite good, not to toot my own horn). The next day Caro, Aurore, Astrid, and I took a taxi to the airport and said goodbye to Fran. She gave me a stuffed animal of hers that she said her mom gave to her a long time ago and she wanted me to have it. Of course we shared some tears, but now Fran is much happier in Brasil because she doesn't have to fight about her house.
The next day consisted of exercise, then I went to Caro's we set up the Christmas Tree with her maid, then we went to Kike's house and looked at his AMAZING scrapbook of his year exchange in Oklahoma! The following day I sent a package to my family with lots of goodies from Morelia. Then we went to a Rotary Meeting, they turned down my request to go to Chiapas and I was extremely upset. Isaura was too but we had to respect that they are trying to protect us. The next day we got to see Mama Mia a Ballet/Musical. It was different, because no one sang and the only danced a little bit of Ballet to ABBA songs, if you can picture it. However it was cool to see the Mexican interpretation of Mama Mia, which involved a lot more Catholic rituals. After a couple of friends invited Caro and I to their house where we hung out discussing school and college.
Sunday was the normal repertoire, but everyone joined in for a game of "Basta". Which for those of you who know what it is, is quite dificult. So just imagine playing it in spanish! But it turned out being really fun! Then Regina and I watched Toy Story 2 in Spanglish; you can change the languages on the TV- I think we enjoy this a little too much.
Monday Caro and I went shopping (as much as we can here-which is close to nothing). After we met Kike and we went to Mari Mar's (one of my friends) house to wish her a happy birthday! After Caro and Kike came to my house. We watched some dance videos, and just hung out.
The next morning all of the exchange students from Morelia (minus Aurore) went to see the Monarch Butterflies that migrate near to Morelia all the way from Canada. We had to endure quite the hike up a mountain, but it was worth it!! They COVERED the trees and when the sun came out they all left there temporary home on the limbs of the tree to stretch their wings while it was warm enough. After we went to Tlalpujahua, a near by town that is famous for making blown glass ornaments.
The next day Caro, Rox, and I filmed some little videos that I am putting together for my school's news program. After we met up with some friends and hung out for a little while. The next day my whole family went to my host Aunt Lupita's house for my Host Grandma's birthday. I really enjoy the family gatherings because all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are really nice and we get along really well. My two youngest cousins Mateo and Julia (their mom is Lupita) got a bunny rabbit. Mateo is three so he is still grasping the idea that the bunny is fragile. He would run around with it and even try to sit on it- So I told him he needed to be more careful with it. He said "Oh I know my mom told me not to throw it" I laughed and said "ok" then he proceeded to run with it again, so I said "Mateo you're not being careful" and he replied "No, my mom told me not to throw the rabbit; this isn't throwing it!" then ran off. Then I caught him poking its eyes and I said "Mateo what are you doing?!" and he said "His eyes are really red!" then poked them again- the rabbit is Albino! Besides Mateo beating up his poor rabbit the afternoon was really fun! The next day I cooked myself breakfast and took a book and read outside! That was quite the adventure, it is december and I can go outside comfortably in a t-shirt! Then I changed and took a walking path to the workout club, it was SO beautiful, there were cliffs covered with plants- it was just breathtaking. It's amazing how I can still manage to find things here that take my breath away! After I worked out I went home and got ready for a friend's party. Favio picked me up at 12 because we were going to travel the next day.
I was up and ready by 8am, and we were off. We drove two hours to get to a little town, then we rented horses. I know you are asking your self why? Well the answer- The World's Youngest Volcano! We had to ride the horse 3 hours to get to the volcano, and my horse had a temper. He bucked a little bit, and had to be in front of all the other horses, which if it meant it full out running (I got quite the experience)! When we arrived we looked up at the Volcano and realized that we had to climb it!! Of course there was 2 feet of Volcanic ash and hardened volcanic rock on the path- nothing was easy. After literally and hour climbing up we made it to the top exhausted but the view was worth it. Then Regina, Favio, and I climbed to the very top and had to ski down 3 feet of volcanic ash! Then we got back on our horses and rode to what was once a town, but after the volcano erupted the lava took over everything with the exception of part of a church! Then we went back home.
The next day we went to Guadalajara because my family was getting their visas. When we got there we visited the center then the shopping mall. We enjoyed a huge lunch! It started with bread and all types of sauces, then empanadas, then parts of a throat of a cow (I think they said it was glands), then I had Fetichini Alfredo. We shopped a little bit before heading to the hotel. The next day we went out to breakfast and my family got their visas. Then we headed back home. I went to Caro's house and the whole family went to Rox's friend's house for a very yummy American/German meal.
This week's title was courtesy of Favio my host dad
