Exhaustion

I’m exhausted.

Program stuff all day- started at 12 and lasted until 6 or so. The Facultud de Antropología and the program offices are really far from my house and from the other students, but I think it will work out ok- I really want to avoid as much English as possible and I’m definitely in a better location in terms of activities.

Took the bus to the program office and was crammed into a room with all the other program participants. Met all the IFSA Butler people and began some orientation stuff today. I think orientation will be the necessary evil of dispersing information to us (how much of it I will retain- no clue). We register for classes tomorrow which is super exciting.

Doña Ligia picked me up at 6 (like kindergarten!) and we went home – her friend Jose drove. Dinner was some quesadillas, and a lot of conversation.

I told her that I liked the Maya stories about Ishtabi, the Uay, etc. (folk tales) and she told me a bunch of stories about the Alux (pronounced : Aluush). They are essentially little gnomes that guard land and houses- people don’t own the land but need to ask permission of el dueño (landlord) to use the area. Also, as it turns out- she loves my hair (rastas en español) and thinks the tattoos are (artes bellisimas) and loves tattoos. I was really nervous about both of these things so that is a bit of a relief.

I haven’t wandered out alone much yet- I need to do this so I can explore a little bit. It’s been hard because the communication has been challenging and I have been very tired.

Speaking of which, I need to wake up between 5:30 and 6:00 tomorrow, so I’m going to cut this short… I love the comments and emails, they are cheering me up- it’s a bit overwhelming and lonely now- but also fun and things couldn’t be going more smoothly.

What I learned today:

There is “la semana de antropología”- basically, anthro week! It happens in the beginning of November and other classes are cancelled. Here are a lot of presentations and exhibits sponsored by students, professors, and visiting anthropologists.

Mérida is the safest city in México according to yesterday’s papers.

I can’t participate in or be anywhere near political protests…uh oh.

UADY costs about $200 a year for students, is very prestigious. Public universities are more prestigious than private ones, and also, cost less.

The healthcare in Merida is amazing and cheap.

Mexico is passing this new b.s. law defining a family as two people who have been married in the church and have at least one kid. You can’t adopt children if you don’t already have one and you can’t receive all the benefits of “una familia” if you don’t meet this description.

Blogs are very self- indulgent.

Blogs are also already labeled with the date.