Just spent 5 days in the Tehuacan - Cuicatlan Reserva with our Sustainable Livelihoods group, meeting various artisan communities and learning about their small businesses and their processes that they've maintained for generations, some date even back to BC (like the pottery people).
We had an absolutely amazing time singing in the van, being treated to pan dulce day and night by the best chef in Mexico Don Antonio, eating the best food we've had yet, shopping til our hearts' content for palm jewelry, and of course the productive part giving a presentation on some general business practices entirely in Spanish.
Here are some fotos:
Saturday, October 30, 2010
As time in Querétaro comes to an end...
I just wanted to share with you what I've been up to in the lovely city of Querétaro, Querétaro, México for the past 3 months.
Everyday, I wake up like this:
And I go to school to learn Español for about 5 hours, where we try our best to converse about topics such as comida, cultura, tradiciones, política, la guerra de narcotrafico, imigración, y anecdotas de vida en los Estados Unidos. Yeah, we've been talking about things I rarely discuss in English and probably all sound like 3 year olds voicing their opinions on the next presidential election or the war in Afghanistan.
Then we have comida. Which usually consists of something incredibly deliciously greasy and fattening or what is most commonly referred to as "Vitamin T" : Tacos, Tamales, Tortillas, Tortas, Tequila (not during school of course), and Tostadas.
After comida, we are enlightened in lectures about health, safety, land ownership in Mexico, the history and political situation in Mexico, and environmental awareness. On our sector days (which just means we don't have Spanish class) we have gone to land fills, recycling collection centers, Indigenous communities, and botanical gardens to learn more in depth about environment and small businesses.
Then I go home to my familia to possibly do a little homework / studying, have cena, and watch "Soy Tu Dueña" .
On the weekends, I generally start my day at my favorite little cafe, Sucre Sale where I have my only Mexican friend besides our teachers and PC staff, Alma. We talk about all sorts of things like her favorite movie, Amelie (which she named her daughter after), interracial dating, and how life in the city is so different than in the communities but she believes that God takes care of everyone. If I come at night, she gives me free bread too.
And then most weekends have been filled with day trips to pyramids, hot springs, wineries and mountains or tours around the city of Queretaro. We have a cultural passport that is supposedly meant to transform us into Mexican citizens in which we have to complete at least 17 activities that include going to cultural events, making Mexican food, and basically taking advantage of everything we can while we're here, so that has made us all get out and explore the city and surroundings.
Everyday, I wake up like this:
And I go to school to learn Español for about 5 hours, where we try our best to converse about topics such as comida, cultura, tradiciones, política, la guerra de narcotrafico, imigración, y anecdotas de vida en los Estados Unidos. Yeah, we've been talking about things I rarely discuss in English and probably all sound like 3 year olds voicing their opinions on the next presidential election or the war in Afghanistan.
Then we have comida. Which usually consists of something incredibly deliciously greasy and fattening or what is most commonly referred to as "Vitamin T" : Tacos, Tamales, Tortillas, Tortas, Tequila (not during school of course), and Tostadas.
After comida, we are enlightened in lectures about health, safety, land ownership in Mexico, the history and political situation in Mexico, and environmental awareness. On our sector days (which just means we don't have Spanish class) we have gone to land fills, recycling collection centers, Indigenous communities, and botanical gardens to learn more in depth about environment and small businesses.
Then I go home to my familia to possibly do a little homework / studying, have cena, and watch "Soy Tu Dueña" .
On the weekends, I generally start my day at my favorite little cafe, Sucre Sale where I have my only Mexican friend besides our teachers and PC staff, Alma. We talk about all sorts of things like her favorite movie, Amelie (which she named her daughter after), interracial dating, and how life in the city is so different than in the communities but she believes that God takes care of everyone. If I come at night, she gives me free bread too.
And then most weekends have been filled with day trips to pyramids, hot springs, wineries and mountains or tours around the city of Queretaro. We have a cultural passport that is supposedly meant to transform us into Mexican citizens in which we have to complete at least 17 activities that include going to cultural events, making Mexican food, and basically taking advantage of everything we can while we're here, so that has made us all get out and explore the city and surroundings.
All in all, I know we are all getting antsy and anxious to be done with training and start our official Peace Corps experience in all of our respective sites, but I really can't complain too much about the past few months, because even though I am fatter and super tired at the end of each day, it has so far been a great start to our time in Mexico.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Is this real life?
Just got back from our future site visit and I feel bit like I'm watching my life just as I watch my dreams while I sleep; disconnected - as if it's too good to be true. We came back to Queretaro yesterday and today spent most the day hearing about everyones' future site visits. Some are excited, some nervous, some scared, some still without real emotion or words to express the many thoughts and feelings streaming through them. I am out of touch. I have already disconnected myself from training life in Queretaro, because in my mind, I just left my home in Hidalgo to visit Queretaro for a little while longer. I don't want to miss out on this last month because my head is somewhere else, so I have to make a conscious effort to be present which is a challenge.
P.S. Please take note of the mail message I've updated. Mail is a pain, so if you are so brave as to send something, please advise...
That being said, let me tell you a little bit about what the next 2 years will look like for me. Lindsay and I will be living in/near the National Park El Chico in the state of Hidalgo only about 30 minutes from the capital city, Pachuca. The park is the oldest "nationally protected area" in Latin America and was named so in 1898. It offers, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, many ziplines, camping, and pretty much any other outdoor activity you can think of.
Our potential projects will include (but not be limited to) helping with a mountain hostel, commercialization of handicrafts, help with greenhouses, trail building, ecotourism in general, and marketing.
Here are some pics:
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| My Homestay for my first month |
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| My Community: Carboneras |
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| Lindsay & me |
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| Our office in the park |
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| My Home in the Mountains |
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| El Parque Nacional El Chico |
MORE PICS HERE: http://picasaweb.google.com/rebeccajoyb/FutureSiteVisit# & OTHERS HERE: http://picasaweb.google.com/rebeccajoyb/TimeInQueretaro# |
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