Homesick for Guanajuato!

We came home for a visit to California. We arrived on the 3rd of March and leave on the 30th of March. I never imagined that I'd be homesick for Guanajuato. It's so amazing how quickly we've changed. California seems so fast, so loud, so artificial. I find myself missing the things I once hated about Guanajuato. The weather has been fair in California since we've been here. Maybe when I get back to Guanajuato I'll be homesick for California...

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month.  I was blogging whenever I grew annoyed with things in Guanajuato.  I have officially accepted the way of life here and I am quite pleased.  The weather continues to stay beautiful.  We enjoyed a lovely Christmas Eve, Day, and New Years. On December 12th we even had a nice Dia de la Virgin.  Life is comfortable.  Still hate the neighbors dog but things could be worse.  December 16th thru the 24th we enjoyed a pozada every evening. We even hosted our very own posada on the 17th.  Bobbie Rose and I have really enjoyed singing all the songs.  Bobbie Rose managed to learn every single one.  Hopefully she'll be able to retain them.  I am on vacation.  Actually lucky enough to enjoy a paid vacation from Dec 18th to Jan. 12th, pretty cool.  Bobbie Rose is making amazing break throughs.  Her spanish is fairly decent.  My sister on the other hand is not.  I guess she is making her own break throughs  her stomach is stronger.  I will try and blog right after our Tres Reyes Celebrations.  Adios.

Whether the Weather...

Perfect! That's the best way to describe the weather.

The days are so beautiful, picture the best day in Los Angeles.  70 degrees, sunny, cool, and breezy.  That really is the norm here.  It is the one thing I cannot complain about. Here is a normal school day.  Bobbie Rose and I leave the house every morning at about 7:30 a.m. to catch a bus to Empajadoras, we then wait for the Pipila Issiste bus, which arrives at about 7:50.  However, we have to be sure to be there a few minutes early that particular bus doesn't run very often.  We arrive to school at about 8:25.  The school bell should be heard at 8:30, but it's usually heard at about 8:35 a.m.  We really do enjoy our bus ride.  If we were to walk to school it would only be about a 20 minute walk an entire 20 minutes of walking up hills and very steep stairs.  It's a treat to wake up early and get an insiders look to the wakings of Guanajuato.  People are friendlier in the morning, more smiles, parents cheerfully sending their children off to school.  Tons of yummy food stands.  I say they are yummy but truth is I wouldn't dare eat something from a stand before having to leave for work.  On our way home that's a different story Bobbie Rose and I occasionally stop for a bite to eat before coming home.  I'm proud to say she is becoming a braver eater. Lucky girl has yet to get sick from eating street food.  

Guat?

It really is amazing how quickly time goes by.  I just now realized that I hadn't blogged in nearly 2 weeks.  We had our first Halloween away from home. We were looking forward to it, we went out and got candy, pumpkins, and decorations.  Children here have the option of trick or treating on October 31st and/ November 1st.  We had all of 6 costumed children, 3 of them were our neighbors, come seeking treats.  I took Bobbie Rose and our neighbors trick or treating.  The first house we went to was a very generous american handing out american candy.  The evening was looking good.  We continued on our quest for treats, after an hour of walking we were given treats by 3 other homes.  Bobbie Rose received 106 treats in all.  Halloween was different.  The following day was Dia de los Muertos.  There seemed to be more activity during these days than during Cervantino.  There were some very beautiful alters including the one at Bobbie Rose's school.  The children at Colegio Yeccan wrote Calaveras.  The 8th grade children wrote a very sweet Calavera for me.  Recently we celebrated Martinmas which was a beautiful celebration.  We enjoyed a lantern walk, on Friday evening.  This week the children made baked goods and delivered them to a home for the old.  So far I think that might have been the most Waldorfy thing the school has done.  

For Orlando.

Good day fine people.  Our little Italian, Orlando has left us.  We miss him dearly.  We've baptized him Itarlando, hope you like the name Lando.  Orlando did not leave quietly, he left his mark on Guanajuato, literally.  The day before he was scheduled to leave, he was nearly arrested. Why you ask?  Like I mentioned earlier, for leaving his mark on Guanajuato.  After enjoying a 'Spectacular de Ninos' we arrived home pretty late.  Orlando decided he couldn't hold his bladder and chose to empty his bladder on the street between 2 cars.  Police officers spotted little Lando and followed him up our callejon, grabbed him and took him to the scene of the crime.  In times of desperation Orlando suddenly becomes fluent in spanish.  He explains to the police officers that his "amigos en casa. Soy Italiano".  Police officers release pee pee boy, before he has time to bribe them.  Sorry you left Orlando.  I'm sorry you didn't make the stairs you promised us.  I'm sorry you didn't bring up the water before you left like you said you would.  I'm sorry you saved so many stupid plastic bags.  I'm sorry that the girls at OXXO aren't nice to me anymore now that your gone. And I'm sorry your missing Day of the dead.  The Dia de los Muertos preparations are going strong. We will celebrate Dia de los Muertos at school tomorrow.  I will let you all know how that goes.

Pyramids

Don't Forget D.F.

Hi Everyone,

We are still living in Gto.  I believe it has been 2 months, 9 months to go.  We visited Mexico City last week, and none of us were kidnapped, mugged, beaten, or raped.  I absolutely loved D.F.  My momma's cousin let us stay at her house with her two daughters.  Felisha, Bobbie Rose, Orlando and I headed out from the Central de Autobus on Saturday morning.  We left at 9:30 arrived in Leon at 10:30, left for Mexico City at about 11:00 a.m.  We finally arrived in D.F. at approximately 4:30 p.m. it was a long, but very comfy ride.  Nothing like our ride to Cristo Rey. Our new favorite cousin Julia and her boyfriend Julio and our little cousin Sarah picked us up at the Central.  We piled up in the car like a can of sardines, nearly crashed about 376 times.  (Sorry I exaggerated Felisha has told me like 10 million times to stop exaggerating).  We had intended to stay in Mexico City for 2 days.  We stood there 4 days and 3 nights.  When the company and conversation is good you just find it hard to leave, thank you Julia.  We visited the Pyramids, rather the temples, Bellas Artes, Museum of Modern Art, amazing churches, we took a city tour, visited Frida Kahlo's house.  All in all it was a nice trip.  We left D.F. on Tuesday evening arrived in Gto. past midnight.  Orlando was sad to leave he had developed a small crush on Julia.  He may have even accidentally taken something of hers (black Everlast pants) to remember her by.  We arrived home, only to wake up to gross, disgusting maggots that had made there way across our kitchen floor.  We are still eating Lando's yummy food.  I'll post some  pictures.  Enjoy.