My brain.

Didn’t write yesterday, I was only home for about an hour- here is the quick synopsis:

More orientation in the morning, including a review of the trips that we are going to take- the longer trip covers a few places I have already been (Tulum, Cobá!!!, Ek Balam, Muyil) and others that I haven’t. I am debating taking a scuba diving class that is expensive- but I would be internationally certified and could dive at all the sites- not sure what to do…input???

We had a 3 hour break or so- too long! This whole orientation process could have been a lot more condensed than it was. Having said that, the information is good, the people working for the program are great, and they are really well prepared- have their stuff together.

After the break, Spanish class and back home…

I LOVE the walk to and from the bus. I pass through streets that are blocked off from cars, plazas, in front of panederias (bread shops), people sell papers in the streets….it’s great. The shops have clothes, CD’s, everything imaginable for cheap, cheap, cheap. I feel like I’m really getting a glimpse into la vida normal en Merida. On the way back from the bus, I poked around some- stopped to talk to some of the boys at the CD shop- I will go back soon, the music is only 1 or 2 USD for a whole CD- I can improve my Spanish music collection!

At home I sat down with Ligia for awhile, had our evening chat- classes, politics, and art. We might paint together! She loves drawing and painting- how fun!

At night, I went out with one of the guys from the program- went to 3 different bars in el centro- they were too touristy- we couldn’t find any hole in the wall places, and decided we needed to ask the Program Director where to go. Anyways- the first place- there was a singer who we talked to for awhile, told him we were both from New York- and he ended up singing New York, New York to us, we were mortified! Admittedly, it was hysterical though. After, we left and went to another cantina that had karaoke- except we were the only ones there and the music that was being played didn’t match the music on the screen- awesome! The third was more of a restaurant and had more locals in it- we had a beer there and listened to the music- it was nice. Walked Ray back to his bus stop (I actually know my way around downtown some!) and was home by 11:30. El centro was fun but not as authentic as I would have liked- we’ll get there eventually though!

Moving on, today was great.

Orientation, orientation, orientation- it’s just getting old at this point. On the plus side, I’m really hitting it off with some of the girls on the trip- we have plans to travel to Oaxaca and Chiapas later in the semester- very excited! During lunch today I had a near meltdown. I had to ask Jen- one of las chicas- to repeat a sentence three times- and still couldn’t understand it. After making a fuss, “Wait, wait, hol;d on, give me a minute, I can get this”- I realized that she was talking in English, about her sandwich. Oh God- my brain is doing some funny things!!! Anyways, we are going to go out to a salsa club tomorrow night and to the beach on Sunday- I guess it’s what all the locals do so it should be fun! After orientation we had a big dinner with all the program people in the office- it was great and I ate a ton!! Guacamole, tostadas, different salsas, pasta, horchata, jicama, cantaloupe, watermelon, couldn’t have been better. Took the bus back with Ligia in the pouring rain! The streets were so slippery and everyone was trying to hide under tiendas, we got on a taxi/van too- small and packed in like sardines- omg, so very Mexican and so great!

Today, although nothing particularly exciting happened I was very content with everything. I love the city, love, love, love it. Every day is a mixture of ups and downs, and I feel like I am never going to learn Spanish!! Nevertheless, I really am happy and content traveling- I just feel at home when I know I’m not. I love the Maya area and the people- the balance between tradition, modern, yucatacan, and Mexican is just amazing. There is so much diversity and so many influences that blend together to create such a dynamic and stimulating environment- ahh!

I already know it is going to be so hard to leave, I really feel like I might need to take more time to travel and “explore”- it is what I feel content doing. There are definitely ways to travel and work, living on the cheap and immersing yourself in local culture- I’ll have to put a lot of thought into this. I know I will learn a ton about myself while learning about a different culture- not sure what any of it will amount to but hey, life is short. What’s wrong with doing what makes you feel happy and feel like a better person, more self sufficient, cultured, and generally more aware of what’s going on in the world around you- not just what is going on with yourself!