Mexico City

Mexico City is HUGE! I really didn't understand just how big this city is until I went for a visit. It is one of the world's largest cities. Bigger than New York. Bigger than London. Bigger than Madrid. It is enormous!

This is Casey and I at the top of Torre Latinamericano, a really tall building with a great view of the city. Casey is a new friend who is now teaching in Mexico City. I was able to hang out with her and a few of her friends for the weekend.

The Cathedral in the Zocalo downtown.

Diego Rivera murlas in the Palacio Nacional.

The art museum.

The famous Mayan calendar stone in the Museum of Anthropology.

UFOs in Mexico

Look! It's a UFO! Today I went with my host family to Atlixco, a nearby town that is famous for it's plant nurserys and...UFO sightings? Who would have thought- UFOs in Mexico! I thought this picture was appropriate for April Fool's Day. You can decide for yourself if it is real or not!

Centro Escolar Morelos

Twice a week I teach English classes to third and fourth graders at Centro Escolar Morelos. I am not sure how much English they are actually learning, but they are fun! Every Monday there is a ceremony at the school (in the picture above) where the kids sing the national anthem and present the flag.

This is one of my fourth grade classes. There are about 40 kids in each class, and it can get a little crazy sometimes.

Learning food vocabulary...

Mexicans don't smile much for pictures...I just don't get it. These are two of the girls in one of my classes.

And some of the boys...aren't they cute?

More pictures from Liz's visit...

It's Liz! In Mexico!! My really amazing friend Liz came to visit me here in Puebla for her Spring Break! Although nothing went quite as planned, we had fun hanging out and catching up on life. It is impossible to sum up our entire week in one blog, but these are some of the highlights...

Finding really fresh (and cheap) food in the market...

Shoe shopping...so many choices!

Chocolate, churros, and fried platanos...yum!

"Look, a CD release party!" Yeah, she's a Belmont student alright.

Bathrooms with really short stall doors...

Really old churches and shady guys who offered to give us tours through the tunnels beneath the church (don't worry, we didn't accept the offer).

Diego Rivera murals in El Palacio de Hernan Cortes.

"Como se dice 'I broke the toilet' in espanol?" That's me trying to fix the toilet at our hostel in Cuernavaca.

Being interviewed for TV...we're still not exactly sure what they asked.

Exploring the archeological ruins in Xochicalco (yeah, I still can't pronounce that one).

Cheering for the Aztecas at an UDLA basketball game! Unfortunately, we lost.

...and eating corn on a stick with mayonaise, cheese, and chilli pepper (also known as elote)

Liz, thanks for making me laugh, for introducing me to chocolate espanola, and for letting me share a little of Mexico with you. I loved it all! And you are definately one of my coolest friends!

Liz is coming!!

My really cool friend Liz is coming to visit me! She will be here in exactly 7 hours, and 44 minutes! I am super excited!

More Carnaval Celebrations

On Sunday I went with my host family to the small town of Acuamanala for more of the Carnaval festivities. Some friends invited us to come to their house to eat and share in the celebration. This is a picture of their two sons (Oscar and Fernando) who were participating in the dances, and Karen.

Here is the Carnaval Queen!

More fun costumes...

Aren't these little guys cute? The whole town participates in the celebration, even the little ones.
This is one of the masks that the dancers wear. It is made from wood, and very realistic looking! The costumes are very elaborate, and most of them are made by hand.

After some of the carnaval celebrations, Oscar and Fernando changed into their cowboy boots and took Karen and I horseback riding!

I love this picture!

Fernando teaching me how to ride the horse. He even let me wear the cowboy hat!

I think I want to move out west now!

Dr. Julseth's Visit

Dr. Julseth was here in Puebla last night, and he joined my family and I for dinner at Camino Real, a beautiful hotel and restaurant in an old convent. In the center of the table is an original piece of Talavara pottery, handmade right here in Puebla. Dr. Julseth had been attending a conference in a nearby city over the past few days and was able to stop by for a visit before returning to the US. It was fun introducing him to my family and sharing a little bit about my experiences here.