Donde vivo

OK I have never used a blog but we'll give this one a whirl.
Let's make it official then: "testing, testing, is this thing on?'

This is the route that I will be taking August 16, then I start my new adventure in Ixtepec on the 18th. Wish me luck.

So I took the plunge and am now living a totally new life, with a new family in a new place with new customs. And all of the newness couldn't be more exciting!

I am staying in a cute and colourful little house with my Madre Mexicana, Marta, and my three hermanas (sisters) Abril, Alejandra and Montse. Though it was a rough fist 2 days, living with them was an excellent decision! Rough only because they do not speak English, but I am stumbling my way though Spanish and using a lot of 'mimica' - sign language. But we get by and get along wonderfully.

I have been introduced to the neighbours, the aunts and uncles and the grandma, and was even invited to a 15 años fiesta this weekend! When a Mexican girl turns 15 it is a grand occasion with formal and traditional dresses, a huge fiesta with more food than you can imagine, plenty of beer to wash it down, live bands, dancing and a chance for the entire family to get together. I was honoured to be invited and had a great time.

This is me and two of my new sisters Abril and Alejandra) at the fiesta.

Here is Marta (the furthest woman) and her sister (the nearest woman) in their traditional dress, watching the festivities. The heat is very tiring and we left at about nine, though I imagine the festivites continued through the night! That's OK, I was very happy to head home, relax in the hammock and giggle and chat with the girls.

And I am starting to get my bearings around the town, though it's not a very big town, so I am not too worried.
There are crazy little buses, blaring Mexican music, that can take me anywhere I need to go, and if it's not too hot, I can walk to many places, though the pace here is a lot slower than a Canadian pace! Everything is a lot different than in Canada, which is good becuase there are not many things that remind me too much of home and make me homesick. Though I love reading emails and messages from everyone back home. And since I have arrived, every night I have had dreams of my friends back home. It's nice, it's almost like being in two places at once!

Well that's all for now, but stay tuned for more from Ixtepec.
Hasta luego mis amigos, Shauna

The Mexican skies opened up as I walked to my bus stop after lunch this week, and wreaked havoc on poor little Ixtepec. (and on poor little me!) I finally got the brilliant idea to cross the road about 5 minutes after the guys in my video, when the water had gotten even higher in the street.
And when I finally had refuge inside of the bus to the University, it was packed to the gills with other soaking bus riders. The windows were fogging up faster than the driver could clean them, and the humidity in the air was almost enough to choke ya.
But I made it through. With the gained wisdom that when I leave for lunch, I should probably close the windows in my office, in case their is ever another surprise rain storm!

I'll hope for sunnier skies next week!

This was a very fun weekend for me.

On Friday night I had the rare chance to hangout with all of the English teachers from both campuses, which is quite a treat (being able to speak English all night!) We started out at a cute little restaurant in Juchitan (pronounced hoo-chi-tan) with live music and cold beer.
And perhaps it was the ample supply of beverages mixed with the fact that there was a television in every corner of the restaurant showing the US open, but it seems that I have fallen in love with a Latvian while in Mexico!
OK maybe it's not love, but never say never... Ernests Gulbin (tennis pro) better watch out if he ever wanders down to Ixtepec, could be dangerous! (Andy will like the fact that I am still being subjected to tennis on tv even though I am well over 2000 miles away from living with him!)
Anyways, I digress, the night with the other teachers ended in a little local dance bar, which hammered home the fact that I should really take some Latin dance lesson while I am here. That may also be a good way to win over a Latvian athlete too - you just never know.

Sunday afternoon I took a short busride to Ojos de Agua, which is a large and winding pool that has been built around a natural, flowing spring buried among the trees. The water is so clean and refreshingly cool, the perfect way to cool off from the heat. Abril, Ale, Paco and I had a great time lounging in the water, racing around from one end to the other, playing a little Frisbee (the luxury item I brought from home) and dodging the teenagers who were constantly chasing each other through the water.

I had a great time, and will certainly return when I have a free Sunday!

Ale, Abril, y Paco

After Ojos de Agua I had a little siesta, ate a lovingly prepared dinner, watched a little Mexican tv and got ready to out into the streets to to experience a festival to honour San Jeronimo, the patron saint of Ixtepec. It was a very interesting experience, this little street fiesta.
The activities started with a a parade going through the streets toward the Town Square. The parade consisted of men carrying these very large puppet-like contraptions above their heads, followed by a few rows of traditionally dressed women whooping with excitement, then a band, and many people dancing and carrying balloons and tall palms. Everyone watching joined in and followed the procession, being supplied the whole time with a homemade drink being poured from planters and coolers in the backs of pickup trucks. The young men seemed to really enjoy this concoction, though I passed on it this go-around.

By the time we got to the square, I imagine that the planters were nearly empty and this is when the excitement really started. People gathered on the edges of the square and waited for the festivities to begin. As I took my place, and got my camera ready, I heard someone yell in the back, Vive San Jeronimo, and wondered what I was in for. I had a hint that whatever it was, would be interesting, because my sisters were starting to look a little nervous, and Paco told me that he used to be scared of this festival when he was young!

This is the square, and the government 'palace' where the events unfold.

Well, next, the puppet like contraptions -Toritos de pepate' - which are equipped with colourful, spinning fireworks -cohetes de colores- are lit and fun starts. They are then taken over by those who have consumed the most of these homemade spirits, and feel brave enough to grab a hold of this exploding puppet and run around the square. But the best part is that not only do they run around the square, putting themselves underneath all of the fireworks, they then run toward and into the crowds, causing mass hysteria and giggling, cowering and fleeing!

Well I had a blast, and by the time the events were over it was 1am, and time to head back home, thank San Geronimo that no-one lost an eye, try to get the sulfur smell out of my clothes and head to bed. I can't ever see this sort of event taking off in WInnipeg, but here, it was a blast and everyone was having a ball!

What a weekend, I wonder what the next will hold?

Well I am starting to feel at home a little more than before. And I'm trying to get over my fear of looking like a tourist and start taking more pictures. There are so many amusing things that I witness everyday, and I will try to capture them in photos more often.

The bus ride is a great place for me to just watch the people and the town. As I wait for the bus at the stop at the university there are often cattle wandering along the highway, begging for their photo to be taken. Sometimes they are being herded by the local ranchers who really could care less that there livestock is in the middle of the road, as long as it keeps moving. Then there is the rancher who has gotten on the bus on multiple occasions with his machete tucked under his arm. It was a little unsettling at first, but here people are concerned first with making a living, and much less with bothering other people. I did manage to snap a picture of him before he got on the bus one morning.

At least he's got the machete in it's homemade cardboard holder.. He is very good about not being frightening about it.
I love the juxtaposition of the internet sign and him... it's an interesting place here.

The rain has kept up for the last few nights, though it brings a cool breeze and is welcomed by all.

The festivities for San Geronimo and for the Mexican Independence Day will continue throughout the month of Septiembre, and I am looking forward to going to fiestas, and dancing, trying new foods, and learning about the traditions. There will be more toritos I am told, as well as real bull fighting in the street! Stay tuned for that video, though I am hoping that I won't be as close to the action for that one.

This is a poster highlighting all of the Festivities in Ixtepec.

My two sisters Ale and Montse, have left for university in Oaxaca. Ale is studying to be a forensic scientist (no lack of work here in Mexico) and Montse, a flight attendant (ditto.) So now it's just me, Marta and Abril in their cute little house. Oh yes, and the dog... who has no name. He is cute, and I like him, but I am careful not to treat dogs down here like the ones we are used to in Canada. They are not to be pet. Though ours is a hundred times nicer than the dogs on the streets! There is one who hangs out by our house who's missing a leg, and another who is missing an eye. They are shady characters those ones, and I walk on the street if they are occupying the sidewalk. (I will try to snap a photo of them too!)

Here is a picture of the house where we live.

I love the bright green paint and the planters! Inside the floor in the living room is red, they have a deep green hammock, and my bedroom is purple. It suits three girls just fine. Marta is a colourful woman, herself. She loves to paint ceramics and even teaches a class. There are ceramic figurines all over the house. And many of them are of women in traditional Mexican dresses. I am sure that I will try my hand at ceramic painting at some point. I also have plans to learn how to make a hammock! There is even the opportunity to pick up some cross stitching!! I can continue my granny lifestyle down here (even without a sewing machine.)

I will try to act my age this weekend though and collect some more stories to share. Mexican Independence Day means that we will have a four-day weekend and though I have no idea what the plans are, I am sure they will be fun!

(I am getting reports that Winnipeg took a sharp turn towards autumn very recently, so from now on I will try to keep my complaints about the hot weather to a minimum.) That's all for now, but check again next week for more!

Viva Mexico and viva long weekends!!!
September 16 was El Día de la Independencia de México, and because of that I had Monday and Tuesday off of work! (Though because technically only the Tuesday is the national holiday, we have to make up the day we missed on Monday, by coming into work this coming Saturday! oh well, an extra long weekend, makes up for an extra short one I guess.)

There was a lot to occupy my time in these last four days. First there was another trip to the Ojos de Agua swimming hole. That place is great, and I predict that I am going to become a regular there.
While we were sitting on the banks, my family pointed out the 'extranjero' in the water. (There was another white person there and it was causing quite a stir amoung the girls in the family.) Apparently, having white skin makes you a degree more attractive than anyone else they are used to, no matter what you really look like. Seems goofy, but I like it, as I suppose I am also awarded that extra degree by those rules!
After being coaxed by the girls, we went back into the water and swam over to see what the scoop was with the foreigner. It turns out that he is Norweigen, and on an exchange trip to México. His name is Tur and he lives and attends school in, where else... Ixtepec! We chatted for a while and my younger sister fell instantly in love. sheesh!

I am sure that we will run into Tur again, and he said that it was nice to talk with someone who spoke English too. To be continued I guess...

Indeed!

Then later that night, Paco and I headed to a a local parking lot? where a stage, and loud speakers had been set up and there was a 'disco' featuring four DJ's on the turntables. It was totally not my style, but there was a beer stand, so I gave it a whirl.
I am sorry that there are no pics of this, it was pretty funny to see. It was literally a parking lot with a stage, a beer stand, and people manning the gates. Once the DJ's took the stage, the dancing begun, but it was something else. They love old dance and electonic music here. The kind that was big maybe 7 or 8 years ago in Winnipeg. It boggles my mind how it can be popular, but alas it is! Before we left (early) I made a quick trip to the washroom, only to discover that there was no water at all, not in the faucets, and also not in the toilets! And it looked like it had been that way a while! And there were many people going in and out of there using the facilities! GROSS!! I had to tell Paco, and he said, that yeah, the people who owned the place liekly hadn't paid the bills, and the water was cut off. Lovely!
-note to self- no beer next time!

This weekend was not all fun and games though, as I was in a bit of a mood 'malhumorada' on Monday evening. Learning the language has been a rewarding challenge so far, and I can see massive imrovements in this last four weeks, but sometimes it is difficult to interact with people the way that I am used to.
I was explaining to Marta, that in my brain, I have the stories and knowledge of an adult, but I can only express myself using very limited vocabulary. It is like being stuck in the body of a toddler who can't speak to adults! And because I cannot communicate complex ideas, I am also treated like a simpleton by other people at times. It's something that I can usually take in stride, but there was one day this weekend, that it really took it's toll.
But I made sure that I didn't let it carry over into the next day, and at least Marta knows some of my frustrations.

Now, the next day was El Dia de la Independencia de México, and there was a lot to distract me.
First was the parade through the street in the morning. Marta, Ale, Abril, Montse, Paco and I headed to the main street to catch the view.

All of the school aged kids, don their school uniforms and march through the streets. And the school bands are all out strutting their stuff.

Next is the Mexican Military. This is likely the only time I will be able to snap photos of these guys. When I see them on the streets I try to have as little to do with them as possible, in fact, I stay away from anyone with a weapon down here!

These young men are in the Servicio Militar Nacional. It is the one year of cumpulsory service (completed on the weekends) that is necessary to obtain a Mexican passport. I like this picture because of the on-lookers in the background. Obviously not enrolled in the SMN.

And what is a parade to celebrate Mexico's idenpendent identity without horses and sombreros?!

Wrapping up the show was this adorable little muchacho on horseback with the Mexican flag.

After the the parade, we headed back for a little siesta, some traditional food, and then got ready for the Rodeo!!
Yep that's right! I was pumped!
They had a rodeo ring set up in the street near the Ixtepec Palace, and though they had barriers surrounding it, forcing people to pay for entry, a co-worker of mine lives nearby with a balcony that had a bit of a view!

This is the view of the ring.

But we had an even better view of the band that was playing throughout the festivities. Which was awesome! Totally up my ally and just about enough to make me forget all about my troubles and bad mood the previous day. And because we were on a balcony above the rest of the crowd, not only did we have a good view of them, but they of us! (And this is where my white skin advantage kicked in.)
The tuba player noticed me first (yep, there's a tuba in the band!), then the rest of the horn section and the percusion... By the end of the night I was telling Paco that they were my 'quince novios nuevos' -fifteen new boyfriends. The trumpet player was especially adorable - as I played one myself in grade 8 I am a little biased - and when I blew him a kiss, he jumped up, caught it and tucked it in his vest. Oh yeah, and did I mention that they were all wearing white jeans, white jean vests, and no shirt underneath!!! It was totally awesome. And they all danced around while they played. I will try to find a video somewhere!

Quieres Ser Mi Amante? = You Want To Be My Love? ...sure, what the heck!

Well that's all for this weekend, as I say I have to work this upcoming Saturday, so the next blog entry won't be nearly as ull, but I will find someway to spice it up!

Take care!!! 'Ten cuidado'

So, I think that the timing of this trip worked out perfectly.
I got to be in Winnipeg during July and the first part of August, which was perfectly spent in the sun at Bird's Hill Park, playing Frisbee in the park on Mayfair, walking downtown during all of the festivals, and spending time with friends before I had to leave.

And now I am learning that this month is hopping in my new home, and the perfect time to be here and start learning about life in Mexico. September is spilling over with traditional festivals in Ixtepec. It is the month of San Geronimo, the month of Mexican Independence, and of hospitality, traditional customs and culture, family and friends it seems.

This Friday there was another calinda (walking through the streets at night in an organic, unplanned parade, meeting other walkers at every corner. And as the crowds in the street grew, more bands joined in, more toritos (those crazy firework contraptions) and more dancing fools. As we left the house we were at to join the calinda, everyone was handed a plastic drink box with a string (the kind used to send koolaid to kindergarten with) though I assure you, these ones were not filled with koolaid! There were also gerry cans and 2 litre bottles in tow, so that when people on the streets approached you with an empty cup you could offer them some of you festive spirit! I tried to take some photos, but between the movement and the lights, they weren't turning out. You'll just have to use your imaginiation...

The next day was my first vela (pronounced bela.) I went with Paco and some of his friends, and was fortunate to arrive early enough at the house to witness the women getting ready for the festivities. They were in their traditional dresses enaguas and just putting the flowers in their hair. It was beautiful and I just had to stare, I couldn't help it! I love that they embrace the traditions so much. All of the women were in the traditional dress, no matter thier age or personality; thier sense of pride and identity is striking.

Two of the women who were at the Vela with me.

Once everyone was ready we headed off to the hall, and as I walked in I realized that it was going to be very likely that I was the only one without an enagua dress. No matter though, there was so much to look at and the people are so welcoming that I quickly forgot about that. Minutes after we found where we were sitting, the Raina (Queen of Ixtepec) opened the ceremonies with dancing and a short speech.

She had a beautiful dress and more gold jewelry than any of the other women there.

You couldn't imagine more friends and family, more finely dressed people, or more food in one place. There were two bands playing throughout the night to make sure that the dance floor was always full.

I was on the dance floor myself a couple of times, but also made sure to take some pictures and to get my fair share of homemade delights and some cold Coronitas.

Here is some of what the family I was with was offering their guests. The tortoise eggs were interesting, but with a little lime juice and salt, they tasted less like the illegal contraband embyo-like substance that they are, and more like something that could pass as food (but only in Mexico!) Every family there brought coolers, pots, boxes and bags full of food to share with their sections. Trust me, no one went hungry!

It was a very late night, but every hour was worth it!
And it doesn't stop there.
There is a calinda on Sept 22, another vela Sept 23, calinda Sept 24, vela Sept 25, calinda Sept 26, vela Sept 27, calinda Sept 28, and another vela on Sept 29! Then this month will be nearly over, and the people of Ixtepec will finally need to sleep I guess!

I will head to the vela on the 27th with a traditional dress borrowed from my family and will send you more details from that one!

But until then, it's back to work for me, and not much partying... well not too much, anyways...

Friday - Calinda
Saturday - Vela
Sunday - Calinda
Monday - please just let me veg!

Just trying to rehydrate and and catch up on my beauty sleep, because I spent all of my energy and my beauty this weekend and need to replenish the supplies now.

On Friday Abril and I went to the Calinda, though the streets and ended up near the centre of town to watch more flaming toritos. When we reached the destination there was a massive bamboo structure erected in the centre, and it didn't take long for the fuse to be light and the fun to begin. Well, it was fun for me anyways, though Abril is very frightened of the toritos... maybe she knows something I don't... but I was having a blast! I am limited for space with my pics here, but you will can see them when I get home, though they don't really do justice to the excitement of being here.
They are quite insane when it comes to fireworks and firecrackers, and they are always going off, any hour of any night. Most of the time they are more noise than anything to see, but they seem to entertain the boys in the town. And I have not seen any burned buildings or heard of an arson problem here in Ixtepec, and perhaps it's because the fire bugs and dare devils have an outlet where they can be daring and macho, and get it out of their systems... not sure, just a theory.

After the Calinda we headed to check out the midway, set up at the end of town. Kind of like the one at the Red River Ex, but with only the games, and carnies, but no rides. I am not sure that I would trust a Mexican version of the Zipper (my Red River Ex favourite)- though at the same time I am not sure that I should trust the Selkirk version either. No matter though, all of the fun involves keeping your feet on the ground in this midway. I met up with a few of the University students that I know from the campus and we played some foozeball and chatted a little. (Two of the students were very eager to show me that they were quite competent in English, and we could joke a little bit, which is a nice change!) We didn't stay too long because we had to head back home and sleep in preparation for the next very late night.

Saturday was the Vela that Marta, Abril and I had been looking forward to for the last little while because we all got to go together, and also because this was the Vela when I had an enagua to wear. When Marta brought it home from the grandmother's house, I was very excited and knew that I would have a great time, and really feel at home for this one. Plus she had brought me a hairpiece, the same as all the women wear and flowers to adorn it.

I was so happy with having the chance to dress up, and become one of the Meños (someone from Ixtepec)! Plus check out the gold! All of the women wear massive amounts of gold to the Velas, and they made no exception for me! Apparently I, too, have status! Who knew?

Here is Marta, and her friend, the woman who invited us and prepared much of the food that we ate throughout the night. (Marta is on the left, and she was having a blast dancing with us, and quickly taught me how to dance with an enagua)

This is Kevin, one of the other English teachers at my campus, and Liz, the woman who works in the computer lab at the University. They are both really great, and I was able to meet up with them for a little bit at the Vela.

This is Cynthya, one of the Vela Queens, who I had met a few weeks ago in the bathroom at the disco. She was very beautiful and very friendly, so we chatted for a bit and she introduced me to a few of her friends. One of her friends is apparently a very good dancer, and I let him know that I may be in the market for a dance teacher... stay tuned for more details on that front in future entries!

But even without lessons, I was able to cut a rug with Paco, who is an excellent dancer. Though the gold jewelry flailing around was a little concerning, but I managed to keep everything intact. Perhaps I can bug Paco later for a few lessons from him too! Lookout Winnipeg, you won't be able to stop me from dancing when I get back! Might have to bring a couple of partners who know what they are doing though!

Needless to say the Vela was a great experience, and reminded me a lot of local Winnipeg socials. Though here there is live music from two bands, I never heard 'Brown Eyed Girl' or 'Summer of Sixty Nine', or had kulbabsa and pickles. However, the beer was supplied (a nice touch) and it was outdoors which kept things cooled off. Of course there was the guy who had had a few too many and was packing up food to take home with him, between the periods when he would temporarily pass out. I had to tease Abril that he was her novio (boyfriend) and she played along.

And it was a good thing that we had slept in the day before because Marta, Abril and I didn't roll back into the house until 6:00 am. And we had even left early! Others didn't leave until 8:00! Marta told me that a few years ago when Ale and Montse were in high school, they got home from the vela just in time to slip into their school uniforms and get on the school bus! Not sure I could do that, but hey if it's just once a year, I guess the people around here can make some sacrifices. And I imagine that all of the teachers would have been to the Vela as well, and likely not planned much in the way of lessons for the following day. (It was probably a social studies kind of day - one where you do little else than colour maps... ah, good old social studies!)

Anyways, Sunday was another Calinda in the streets, this time with buses arriving from nearby Tuxtepec filled young men in white cowboy hats, and young women in their regional dresses, carrying pineapples over their shoulders. Very beautiful and very friendly. They also brough bands with them, and when combined with the bands that were already in the centre, it became quite the party. There was dancing everywhere! And the men would go into the crowd, put their hat on the head of a young woman, then she would come to the front and dance with him for a while. I was close enough to enjoy and get a sense of their excitement, but not so close that I had no escape route in case there was a white hat headed my way.

I met up with some more University students and chatted with a couple of the folks from Tuxtapec... in Spanish!! I was even offered shots of the spirits they had brought to share with the people of Ixtepec. The students for a kick out of watching me burn my esophagus on those, but hey, when in Ixtepec right? At around midnight the walking through the streets began, with the bands and the toritos, and we joined the procession. At one corner there was a señora throwing regional handkerchiefs from her balcony, and inciting much excitement in the young men trying to catch them below. One of my students, managed to get one and gave it to me to tie around my neck! That was really cool, and will come in very handy, as most people carry handkerchiefs when the weather gets very hot.

The Calinda finally stopped at another bamboo structure, the toritos were lit, and the pyromaniac-style fun began all over again. This time, the structure when lit, read San Geronimo, a nice touch. It was a good thing that Abril was not with me this time around because the action got pretty close. Some of the young men running around with the flaming firework contraptions could predict when it was about to fizzle out, and would get one last thrill out of their torito by throwing it into the audience and watching everyone scream and run away. Unless, of course, there were someone brazen in the crowd who would throw it back, sending even more sparks flying. Pretty insane, but I managed to leave unscathed. I guess there's always next time to lose an eye and teach everyone a lesson on fireworks safety!

Anyways, after all of that I headed home to catch some sleep, and I think that is what I will do tonight... and tomorrow. September's been fun, but now classes will start in October and I will need to make sure that I am rested, so that I can be at my best, and have all of my brain cells awake to remember the 45 new names of the faces that will be looking at me for the next six months. I am pretty excited about starting and will let you know how that goes.

Stay tuned for more pics, and keep sending me your emails, I love hearing what's going on at home!

Until next week, take care, ten cuidado!
Shauna