My classes:
Intensive Spanish 3
Spanish Pronounciation (will probably get canceled since only three people came)
Spanish-English Translation
Written Expression 2
Oral Expression 1
Today was the first day of classes and I was expecting a, ¨Hola, me llamo Señor Gonzalez¨and then they hand out the syllabus and that´s it. That´s far from what happened. In each of the classes I had today we received the syllabus, followed by introductions from everyone and immediately we began working on homework. And all the classes went their full lenghts. Typically, in most of the classes I´ve had, we don´t get homework until the third or fourth session. But I was pretty impressed with the teachers. All of them spoke clearly, loudly, and confidently and made sure everyone understood what was being said. I´m kinda glad classes have started though, because I´m going to rapidly improve my Spanish. It has improved quite a bit in the past week I´ve been in Mexico, but I need some structured learning.
Another good thing about Mexican classes, or at least mine, are the lack of books I need to buy. Only one so far. Plus, in almost all my classes, the professors told us to write down what we want to talk about this semester. I can´t think of any classes I´ve had where that´s happened.
It´s annoying though that the school is so loud. It´s a good-sized building with a plaza in the middle (there´s no roof) but there´s always either traffic or other students talking. Plus, the echoes are pretty bad since the ceilings are so high.
This weekend we have to move :( away from the house with a terrace that overlooks the lakes to a house (though bigger and newer) about 20 minutes from here by foot.
Nos vemos.
31 August 2006
28 August 2006
Cuando estes en México, sé Mexicano
I keep putting off a long, detailed post of my first week in Mexico, but to save you the headache of having to read a lot, I´ll instead give you a picture post because each one is worth 1,000 words. That means that this post´ll be like a novella. (oh, sorry for the italics. I know they´re hard to read, but I have yet to master the Mexican computer)
22 August 2006 * Day 1
This is the airplane I rode. Originally, I had an aisle seat, but before the Chicago to Mexico City flight I asked for a window seat. That way, in case their were any snakes on board (in Mexico it´s called Serpientos a Bordo) it would be easier for me to escape. Plus, no one sat next to me and I saw Inside Man (though I disagree that it´s a good movie to play on an airplane).
When I was flying over Mexico City, the first thing I noticed was the color of the houses. They´re mostly primary colors. I also noticed that there is little buffer space between the airport and the city. My friend Ahmed was to meet me in the airport, but I had never seen nor talked to him (except on the internet). But it was my first time in an international airport, outside of US, and I was n´t sure how immigration or customs or any of that stuff worked. And, of course, I forgot all my Spanish when I arrived. And I wasn´t sur e where Ahmed would be, so I started getting a little worried. But eventually we met and I tried to withdraw money from an ATM. It didn´t work. We took the metro (subway) to his buddy´s apartment within the city. And lemme tell you: Mexico is frigging huge. Imagine Minnesota´s population, multiply by 5 and condense it into a sprawling megalopolis and you get MXC. Above is a cathedral in the Zocalo, Mexico City´s lively, smelly, beating heart. Right now, Mexico is experiencing Florida 2000: a recount is happening (voto por voto, casella por casella) after the conservative (or should I say Wrongpublican?) presidential candidate was suspected of fraud. Look for the photo below.
23 August 2006 * Day 2
This is Ahmed and I in Chapultepec, a massive park in Mexico City. In the background is a castle occupied at different points by Hernán Cortes, presidents and various other important people. Now, the castle is the Naitonal History Museum of Mexico.
Here´s the castle. I paid it $50 to give me this sexy pose.
I told you, Ancient Mexican Artifact: don´t drink the water!
Gringo wannabe.
(above, below) We also hung out with famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. She doesn´t say much anymore, since she´s been dead for about 50 years. But she was an amazing painter and lived a tragic life.
In Chapultepec´s Zoo, even the monkey´s knew I was a Gringo.
Taken from the castle, this is Mexico City´s Paseo de La Reformas. See the yellow things in the middle? Those are tents where people have been camping since at least mid-July to show their support for Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the leftist presidential candidate. Honestly, if Al Gore in 2000 would´ve had a backbone like Obrador´s, our country wouldn´t be as f#cked right now. A winner has yet to be declared but they´re almost dead even.
This clown thinks he owns the place. (Speaking of clowns, we went to a McDonald´s earlier that day (the prices are higher here than in the US, but they serve jalapeños) and Ahmed says: McDonald´s sucks. I like Burger King the best. Why eat with the clowns when you can eat with the king?). In the photo, notice how they´re little spots? That was from the rain, when all of a sudden it started to downpour when we were at a Starbucks (no, seriously, I´m in Mexico). Right now it´s the rainy season here.
24 August 2006
Our last day in Mexico City, we went to Teotihuacan, site of the world´s third largest pyramaid. We climbed it, but each step is about a foot high and it´s insanely steep. By the time we reached the top we were exhausted, but the view was fantastic. That day, however, I forgot to recharge my camera, so I had a gringo from Tenn. take our photo, and I´m still waiting for another photot a Spaniard took of us at the top of the pyramaid. Notice that many of the photos in this blog are with Ahmed. We have decided that he is my tourist guide / life coach (like an overpriced shrink who takes you places and gives you advice) / pimp (that´s right, I´m a cheap Gringo, and I cost only 50 pesos ). But seriously, if it weren´t for him or people like him, I´d be lost or dead on the Mexico City streets, stray dogs chewing on my rotting corpse, asking themselves, Why are gringos so fatty?
25 August 2006
After a five-hour bus ride from Mexico City and two mediocre movies in Spanish, we finally arrived in Xalapa, the prettiest city I´ve ever seen. It´s said to be cultured, sophisticated, fresh, laid'back, hilly, tropical and styled. It´s true. Above and below are photos of Los Lagos, a pedestrian walkway (think Mill Pond minus the ugliness) taken from Ahmed´s house. That´s right, this is my view, beyotches. But, sadly, we have to move next week because the owner wants to sell the house.
A walkway to the University of Veracruz´library, sans fake/imported flora.
Who says libraries aren´t sexy? MSU, take note.
Downtown Xalapa. Busy, bustling, traffic'laden. Ahh, capitol cities.
22 August 2006 * Day 1
This is the airplane I rode. Originally, I had an aisle seat, but before the Chicago to Mexico City flight I asked for a window seat. That way, in case their were any snakes on board (in Mexico it´s called Serpientos a Bordo) it would be easier for me to escape. Plus, no one sat next to me and I saw Inside Man (though I disagree that it´s a good movie to play on an airplane).
When I was flying over Mexico City, the first thing I noticed was the color of the houses. They´re mostly primary colors. I also noticed that there is little buffer space between the airport and the city. My friend Ahmed was to meet me in the airport, but I had never seen nor talked to him (except on the internet). But it was my first time in an international airport, outside of US, and I was n´t sure how immigration or customs or any of that stuff worked. And, of course, I forgot all my Spanish when I arrived. And I wasn´t sur e where Ahmed would be, so I started getting a little worried. But eventually we met and I tried to withdraw money from an ATM. It didn´t work. We took the metro (subway) to his buddy´s apartment within the city. And lemme tell you: Mexico is frigging huge. Imagine Minnesota´s population, multiply by 5 and condense it into a sprawling megalopolis and you get MXC. Above is a cathedral in the Zocalo, Mexico City´s lively, smelly, beating heart. Right now, Mexico is experiencing Florida 2000: a recount is happening (voto por voto, casella por casella) after the conservative (or should I say Wrongpublican?) presidential candidate was suspected of fraud. Look for the photo below.
23 August 2006 * Day 2
This is Ahmed and I in Chapultepec, a massive park in Mexico City. In the background is a castle occupied at different points by Hernán Cortes, presidents and various other important people. Now, the castle is the Naitonal History Museum of Mexico.
Here´s the castle. I paid it $50 to give me this sexy pose.
I told you, Ancient Mexican Artifact: don´t drink the water!
Gringo wannabe.
(above, below) We also hung out with famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. She doesn´t say much anymore, since she´s been dead for about 50 years. But she was an amazing painter and lived a tragic life.
In Chapultepec´s Zoo, even the monkey´s knew I was a Gringo.
Taken from the castle, this is Mexico City´s Paseo de La Reformas. See the yellow things in the middle? Those are tents where people have been camping since at least mid-July to show their support for Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the leftist presidential candidate. Honestly, if Al Gore in 2000 would´ve had a backbone like Obrador´s, our country wouldn´t be as f#cked right now. A winner has yet to be declared but they´re almost dead even.
This clown thinks he owns the place. (Speaking of clowns, we went to a McDonald´s earlier that day (the prices are higher here than in the US, but they serve jalapeños) and Ahmed says: McDonald´s sucks. I like Burger King the best. Why eat with the clowns when you can eat with the king?). In the photo, notice how they´re little spots? That was from the rain, when all of a sudden it started to downpour when we were at a Starbucks (no, seriously, I´m in Mexico). Right now it´s the rainy season here.
24 August 2006
Our last day in Mexico City, we went to Teotihuacan, site of the world´s third largest pyramaid. We climbed it, but each step is about a foot high and it´s insanely steep. By the time we reached the top we were exhausted, but the view was fantastic. That day, however, I forgot to recharge my camera, so I had a gringo from Tenn. take our photo, and I´m still waiting for another photot a Spaniard took of us at the top of the pyramaid. Notice that many of the photos in this blog are with Ahmed. We have decided that he is my tourist guide / life coach (like an overpriced shrink who takes you places and gives you advice) / pimp (that´s right, I´m a cheap Gringo, and I cost only 50 pesos ). But seriously, if it weren´t for him or people like him, I´d be lost or dead on the Mexico City streets, stray dogs chewing on my rotting corpse, asking themselves, Why are gringos so fatty?
25 August 2006
After a five-hour bus ride from Mexico City and two mediocre movies in Spanish, we finally arrived in Xalapa, the prettiest city I´ve ever seen. It´s said to be cultured, sophisticated, fresh, laid'back, hilly, tropical and styled. It´s true. Above and below are photos of Los Lagos, a pedestrian walkway (think Mill Pond minus the ugliness) taken from Ahmed´s house. That´s right, this is my view, beyotches. But, sadly, we have to move next week because the owner wants to sell the house.
A walkway to the University of Veracruz´library, sans fake/imported flora.
Who says libraries aren´t sexy? MSU, take note.
Downtown Xalapa. Busy, bustling, traffic'laden. Ahh, capitol cities.
23 August 2006
¡Que chaotico, Mexico!
Right now I´m sitting in a tiny internet cafe in Mexico City, the craziest, biggest, and smelliest place I´ve ever been. I don´t know how to describe it, and to write down all the things I´ve encountered in the 20 hours I´ve been here could fill an entire book. Plus, this keyboard is really hard to use, because where you normally find the shift button is a little < and you get all these weird symbols that would take you five minutes to usç çe on aº¿¡ a regular computer.
Here´s a list of things that I notice / like / dislike about the D. F. (later, I´ll make a longer post about my plane ride, my entrance to Mexico, and all that, complete with mind-bogglingly good pictures).
I´ve noticed....
* More PDAs (public displays of affection) Maybe it´s just a bigcity thing, but it seems like more people kiss and hug in public than the US. But even strangers passing on the street say, hola, buenos tardes, so it reflects on Mexico´s hospitality.
* Everyone drives small cars. Think 2 door Geo Metro, and get rid of every SUV and truck...that´s what you have in DF (DF = Distrito Federal, the capitol, aka Mexico City).
I like....
* The mass transit system. Even though traffic is horrendous, taxis and buses are everywhere, and they´re cheap. I took two taxis yesterday with my friend Ahmed, a Mexican student from Xalapa, and they both cost less than 20 pesos, about $2. One of them was a green VW bug, which sounded like a semi. And the subway is great too. It´s blazing fast and doesn´t brake.
Ok i´m gonna go now, there´s nothing i dislike about DF. Just kidding. I´ll post later, I gotta run now.
Here´s a list of things that I notice / like / dislike about the D. F. (later, I´ll make a longer post about my plane ride, my entrance to Mexico, and all that, complete with mind-bogglingly good pictures).
I´ve noticed....
* More PDAs (public displays of affection) Maybe it´s just a bigcity thing, but it seems like more people kiss and hug in public than the US. But even strangers passing on the street say, hola, buenos tardes, so it reflects on Mexico´s hospitality.
* Everyone drives small cars. Think 2 door Geo Metro, and get rid of every SUV and truck...that´s what you have in DF (DF = Distrito Federal, the capitol, aka Mexico City).
I like....
* The mass transit system. Even though traffic is horrendous, taxis and buses are everywhere, and they´re cheap. I took two taxis yesterday with my friend Ahmed, a Mexican student from Xalapa, and they both cost less than 20 pesos, about $2. One of them was a green VW bug, which sounded like a semi. And the subway is great too. It´s blazing fast and doesn´t brake.
Ok i´m gonna go now, there´s nothing i dislike about DF. Just kidding. I´ll post later, I gotta run now.
21 August 2006
Counting down the hours
For eight months, saying "Tomorrow I'm leaving for Mexico" seemed like an unattainable statement...except until now. I'm feeling nervous (my to-do list taunts me as I have lots to do yet) but also excited. I can't really explain it, but I'll try to describe it: a) the feeling you get after drinking 3 cups of strong coffee plus b) the feeling you got as a kid right before Christmas (specifically, the presents-opening part; you were excited that you'd get toys but also a little on edge because little brother Billy might get a better present, and yours might not be what you asked for).
Everyone tells me to pack light. It's amazingly hard though. I'm going for 10 months and I'm not sure if I should bring a windbreaker or a hoodie, two pairs of jeans or three. If we had feathers and/or fur it'd be so much easier. All's we would need is a comb and a tweezers to pick out the bugs.
I don't know what else to write now. I just know that today and tomorrow are going to be some of the two biggest days of my life and that I'll have a whole lot more to blog about than I do right now.
Everyone tells me to pack light. It's amazingly hard though. I'm going for 10 months and I'm not sure if I should bring a windbreaker or a hoodie, two pairs of jeans or three. If we had feathers and/or fur it'd be so much easier. All's we would need is a comb and a tweezers to pick out the bugs.
I don't know what else to write now. I just know that today and tomorrow are going to be some of the two biggest days of my life and that I'll have a whole lot more to blog about than I do right now.
11 August 2006
10 Days
This is what "The Rough Guide to Mexico" (2001, 5th ed.; pg. 529) has to say about Jalapa:
"Although it's a slower route, a number of buses go from Mexico City ot Veracruz via JALAPA (or Xalapa, as locals and bus companies frequently spell it). The state capital, Jalapa is remarkably attractive despite its relative modernity and traffic-laden streets, and is set in countryside of sometimes breathtaking beauty. The city sprawls across a tumbling hillside below the volcanic peak of the Cofre de Perote (4282 m), and enjoys a richness of of vegetation almost the equal of Fortin's (with which it allso shares a warm, damp climate). In addition to these natural advantages, Jalapa has been promoted by its civic leaders as a cultural centre, and frequent music festivals, or other events, amy well add to your stay. Home of te University of Veracruz, it's a lively place, enjoyable even if you do nothing more than hang out and watch life pass by."
***
And although the recent foiled terror plot to blow up British airlines to American cities boosted security a few notches, I'm not anymore scared than I was. It looks like I won't be able to bring any food or drinks on the plane, but I'll just gorge beforehand. And the new rules don't say I can't bring my snakes on the plane.*
*Note to FBI/CIA/other anti-terrorist organizations: I actually have no intentions of bringing snakes on a plane. I just added that comment in for a bit of dark humor as well as to remind everyone that this blogger anxiously awaits another opportunity to see Sam Jackson kick some *@#$%!!!@*&%& snake ass!
"Although it's a slower route, a number of buses go from Mexico City ot Veracruz via JALAPA (or Xalapa, as locals and bus companies frequently spell it). The state capital, Jalapa is remarkably attractive despite its relative modernity and traffic-laden streets, and is set in countryside of sometimes breathtaking beauty. The city sprawls across a tumbling hillside below the volcanic peak of the Cofre de Perote (4282 m), and enjoys a richness of of vegetation almost the equal of Fortin's (with which it allso shares a warm, damp climate). In addition to these natural advantages, Jalapa has been promoted by its civic leaders as a cultural centre, and frequent music festivals, or other events, amy well add to your stay. Home of te University of Veracruz, it's a lively place, enjoyable even if you do nothing more than hang out and watch life pass by."
***
And although the recent foiled terror plot to blow up British airlines to American cities boosted security a few notches, I'm not anymore scared than I was. It looks like I won't be able to bring any food or drinks on the plane, but I'll just gorge beforehand. And the new rules don't say I can't bring my snakes on the plane.*
*Note to FBI/CIA/other anti-terrorist organizations: I actually have no intentions of bringing snakes on a plane. I just added that comment in for a bit of dark humor as well as to remind everyone that this blogger anxiously awaits another opportunity to see Sam Jackson kick some *@#$%!!!@*&%& snake ass!
06 August 2006
Bronson + Xalapa = Bralapa
A long time in ago, in a galaxy far, far away....
Or, actually, eight months ago and 80 miles from here, I decided that I'd study in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. But the study abroad decision came to life long before that...I don't exactly know the moment when the mental mathematic formula computed itself { (a [study] + b [abroad] + c [me] + d [$!] + e [the derivative of a steaming pile of breakfast sausage] = far away from home) }, but it's been sort of percolating for a long time....I knew I wanted to study abroad, at least since last last (05) spring, and that I would study in a Latin American country (since summer 2005) and that I would study in South America (a few months during fall 2005). I really knew for sure, however, that I would study in Xalapa, Mexico during fall finals week. I was planning to go through La Crosse University's exchange program but the more I researched, the more i realized it would be so, so much cheaper to do it solo.
Benefits:
*It's cheaper (by...hmm...at least $4,000)
* I should also mention that I could've gone through MSU's exchange program to Guadalajara or Guanajuato at a meager cost of ~$5,500 (MSU's tuition) plus an additional ~ $4,000 (for living expenses and more tuition). See, MSU's exchange programs charge you MSU tution plus tuition at the Mexican school you attend...so you're paying that $5,500 for nothing. Supposedly, it makes up for the money they lost if you hadn't gone to their school. I'm not bashing MSU; it's a pretty good school, but charging students who want to study abroad an extra 5 grand of tuition isn't a bargain.
* I won't be going with any MSU students (that I know of).
* No MSU professors will be teaching me there (unlike MSU's study abroad program, where MSU professors teach you abroad. Again, I'm not bashing MSU, nor it's professors; nearly every one I've had has been excellent. But the best thing about studying abroad is (like I know, I haven't even left yet) that you're independent of every norm you've known and grown accustomed to and thrusted into an unpredictable situation that takes you by surprise. Classmates and familiar professors excluded.
I've done almost all the planning, research and paperwork myself. Of course, it's a lot more work, but a lot less costly. I chose which school to attend. I convinced the department chair to approve my classes and to grant me permission to choose my own program. I got the passport and visa myself. I worked 60-hour weeks and 17-hour days this summer. I saved and scrounged. I found my own room and board rather than having the school do it. But all this work and preparation -- no matter how stressful or how impatient it got -- was half the fun. Maybe I'm going in the wrong direction, maybe I'm doing all the wrong things...
But what could go wrong?
Or, actually, eight months ago and 80 miles from here, I decided that I'd study in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. But the study abroad decision came to life long before that...I don't exactly know the moment when the mental mathematic formula computed itself { (a [study] + b [abroad] + c [me] + d [$!] + e [the derivative of a steaming pile of breakfast sausage] = far away from home) }, but it's been sort of percolating for a long time....I knew I wanted to study abroad, at least since last last (05) spring, and that I would study in a Latin American country (since summer 2005) and that I would study in South America (a few months during fall 2005). I really knew for sure, however, that I would study in Xalapa, Mexico during fall finals week. I was planning to go through La Crosse University's exchange program but the more I researched, the more i realized it would be so, so much cheaper to do it solo.
Benefits:
*It's cheaper (by...hmm...at least $4,000)
* I should also mention that I could've gone through MSU's exchange program to Guadalajara or Guanajuato at a meager cost of ~$5,500 (MSU's tuition) plus an additional ~ $4,000 (for living expenses and more tuition). See, MSU's exchange programs charge you MSU tution plus tuition at the Mexican school you attend...so you're paying that $5,500 for nothing. Supposedly, it makes up for the money they lost if you hadn't gone to their school. I'm not bashing MSU; it's a pretty good school, but charging students who want to study abroad an extra 5 grand of tuition isn't a bargain.
* I won't be going with any MSU students (that I know of).
* No MSU professors will be teaching me there (unlike MSU's study abroad program, where MSU professors teach you abroad. Again, I'm not bashing MSU, nor it's professors; nearly every one I've had has been excellent. But the best thing about studying abroad is (like I know, I haven't even left yet) that you're independent of every norm you've known and grown accustomed to and thrusted into an unpredictable situation that takes you by surprise. Classmates and familiar professors excluded.
I've done almost all the planning, research and paperwork myself. Of course, it's a lot more work, but a lot less costly. I chose which school to attend. I convinced the department chair to approve my classes and to grant me permission to choose my own program. I got the passport and visa myself. I worked 60-hour weeks and 17-hour days this summer. I saved and scrounged. I found my own room and board rather than having the school do it. But all this work and preparation -- no matter how stressful or how impatient it got -- was half the fun. Maybe I'm going in the wrong direction, maybe I'm doing all the wrong things...
But what could go wrong?
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