The Feared Alacran Finally Bites...

One of the things I´ve feared all my life. A creature no bigger than a quarter. Feared by all Mexican, this animal stands amongst the likes of the niño de la tierra causing terror through out the mexican community. The scorpion! It bit the youngest member of our household. Innocent, Bobbie Rose was asked by her cruel, heartless mother to fold her clothes and put it away. Minutes into her work, she says rather calmly, "Ouch! Something cut me." Then her somewhat calm demeanor starts to change. It really hurts her now, and she is doing a little jumping number. I didn´t suspect that it was a scorpion. The night before I had just killed one that was on Bobbie Rose´s bed. I like all good mexicans, have been taught all my life that one sting from a scorpion and your DEAD! Maybe our parents and grandparents reason that if fear these animals we will do our best to stay away from them. I had just happened to ask our neighbor if there was any real danger should one of us be biten by a scorpion. Our neighbor replied that we should just wash the area of the bite and place a clove of garlic on the bite. Well as Bobbie Rose starts to jump up and down I thought, "What if it was a scorpion?" I lift the last shirt she was folding and what do I see, a scorpion, a fairly big scorpion. Bobbie Rose she´s her attacker and she freaks out. Now she´s not only jumping but now she is screaming, "Help, I´ve been bit by a scorpion, I´ve been bit by a scorpion. I want my grandpa." In my calmest motherly voice I say, "It´s no big deal let´s wash it and put some garlic on it." The cold water helps with the pain, and now Bobbie Rose is fairly calm. I turn around and look at my dear sister and she looks more frightened than Bobbie Rose. However, she too is trying to stay calm. My sister insists that I take Bobbie Rose, who is perfectly fine, her finger isn´t swollen or red to the pharmacy. We walk into the pharmacy the lady there says, "She looks fine, I don´t think she needs anything. Have her drink plenty of milk". Felisha thinks that if we buy some ointment it will make Bobbie Rose feel better, hmmm I think the idea of buying ointment will make Felisha feel better so I do. Now both girls feel better. TodayBobbie Rose is a bright young girl who not only survived the scorpion attack but she is now bragging about the scorpion bite she received.

¿Guana Come Visit?

We´ve made it to our first marker. One month, wow! In the beginning... no it´s not what you think. When we first arrived time seemed to go on forever, day after day. Today as I write I am shocked to see that we have been here an entire month. I must admit we were really starting to get annoyed with the dear ol´ Guantajuanteco´s (if that´s what the call themselves) let me be one of the few people who´ll tell you this. They can be a really rude breed. We walk into a store my dear little sister, my sweet well behaved daughter, and cheerful spanish speaking me, and we are greeted rudely, rather we are not greeted at all. They will then go on to pretend, that they don´t understand what I am saying. Finally we´ll work up the nerve to ask for the smallest bit of assistance, and what do we get? I´ll tell you, we get this look of total annoyance. Here is an example of the people at their best. My adorable sister Felisha spots an old man walking with a handmade wooden bookshelf, she does believe it´s a beautiful work of craftsmanship. After some haggling, they finally agree upon a price and my sister walks to me carrying a three tier bookshelf with the cutest, proudest smile. We see this as a win win situation. We have helped out this older gentleman, relieved him of this weight and we are the proud owners of our first piece of furniture. Well wouldn´t you know it, the people of Guanajuato did not rejoice in our happiness, instead everyone (stress on everyone) turned around and gave us dirty looks. We got on the bus ( we were asked to sit at the back of the bus, hmmm sound familiar?) Without fail everyone turned and looked at us in disgust. What did we do wrong? I guess I´ll never know. Just when we thought we were doomed to live in negativity and major attitude. Things take a turn. Am quite sure you´re all familiar with a day called, El 16 de Septiembre. Felisha, Bobbie Rose, and I felt that we should be better than the people here, and find joy in their celebrations. We head out for the infamous "GRITO". It is about 9 p.m, it´s pouring rain, but we are troopers. We get as far as the bottom of our callejon, we have walked for less than 3 minutes and already we are soaking wet. Now I won´t name names but someone thought that if we dressed appropriately for the weather we´d look silly, and too touristy. Our jeans are soaked up to our knees, all our layers have been penetrated and we are soaked and not to mention we look absolutely ridiculous. In less than 3 minutes we are drenched. We almost continued, but the genius of the group, again I won´t name names says to her sister and her own daughter, " We should really go back up and change while we still have a chance". The two agree and then all 3 girls go up and change into some warmer clothes. The rain never really let up, we look as touristy as touristy can be. On the bus people already seem a bit friendlier, they smile at our silly, wet appearance. We arrive to Alhondiga, we buy funky hats, sombreros, and what we thought were horns. We head off for a late dinner, we have pozole not just any pozole but green pozole in the spirit of the holiday. We enjoy a slow dinner and at 10:50 find a nice spot to view the GRITO. Well wouldn´t you know it the people have all decided to put away their ugly, and show joy and laughter. I could not that the people out on the streets were the same people I had to endure every other day. The people out on the streets were funny, happy, and capable of laughter. They we not even the least bit annoyed when Bobbie Rose went to blow her horn, and instead blew white foam all over everyone. Her mother however was quite annoyed because she sprayed her straight in the face, nose, mouth, and eyes completely covered. We found a taxi and called it a night. Now In all honesty I can elaborate on most of this points. I think the best thing to do is let the pictures speak for themselves. I am not sure how soon I can post the pictures, we are waiting for our Internet provider to show up. Whether or not he ever shows up, only time will tell.

Yes, Felisha is still sick! Gross!

Week 3, where did the time go?  Bobbie Rose and I fell into the routine of things and time just seemed to fly.  Felisha, for those of you who are wondering is sick, nearly as often as she's not.  I don't know what that means, except that she can't stomach the food as well as Bobbie Rose and I have been able to.  Not that I'm judging her. Bobbie Rose and I went to a birthday party here in our Callejon. It was a nice event, Bobbie Rose played Polis y Ratas, a cops and robbers type game. We had crepes on Saturday, we took Jesus a.k.a. Cocho, our favorite neighbor with us.  He had crepes with Nutella and  strawberries, he hasn't stopped bragging to his siblings and cousins about how great the food was.  We also visited the local mall this weekend, and a movie theatre and we went to Mega, a huge supermarket. Those things won't be an everyday occurrence but there was a nice sense of familiarity. The house we are moving into is ready, so that will be next weeks major task.  I will keep you posted.  There aren't as many stairs going into the other house but there are still stairs.  I will ask Bobbie Rose to count them.  We'll keep you posted.  We love and miss you all.

Weak Two

Week 2 in a Nutshell

Hola que tal amigos?  We have been in Gto. for two weeks.  It feels like we've been here forever. Our first week of school/work went very well.  Bobbie Rose had her mother as her 4th grade teacher.  It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it.  Another great piece of news, we found an amazing cook.  She cooks for us Monday - Saturday.  We have found a house in Paseo de la Olla.  It's a little distance from the center of town, but it is one of the few places you'll find with trees, a park, and a library.  We won't make the move for a few more weeks.  Ahh.. I nearly forgot.  Since we arrived neither, Bobbie Rose, Felisha, or myself have been sick.  Sick, with the typical ailment that ails travelers.  Well Felisha got a bit cocky and started to eat whatever she wanted whenever she wanted, as a result she has been sick for the past 3 days, technically 4.  With that said and done I think I have summarized our 2nd week here Gto.