What a day!

So yesterday was just amazing! First, from the morning till around 5-6pm all of us got paired up and we had to go look for various places around the city, and to some little towns right outside the capital. We had to ask people, and look at maps, and figure out transportation and everything. We had to look for a specific building, and then have some questions to get answers for. Me and the girl I was paired with, Lauren, had to go to a place called Tlachapahuaya. We thought we were looking for a Zapotec temple. However, after we found our way to the colectivo (taxi thing), which took a long time, and got to the city, the driver took us to this catholic church. We were kinda like, is this actually right? Ok, I'm sorry, my computer is about to die and orientation is about to start. To be continued.

Ok, so as a continuation of the post I made yesterday. Me and Lauren went to Tlocachahuaya in search of a Zapotec Temple. When we got there however, the taxi driver dropped us off at a cathedral. We were very confused, and decided to go look for the temple. But then, since we were there anyway, we went inside, kinda looked around, then asked the one and only person there, a man of whose name I forget, if he knew of any Zapotec temple near there. But he didn’t. He told us that the cathedral was supposedly built for the Zapotecs by the Dominicans. (Haha, I’m the Zapotecs were soo appreciative). So, we decided that the cathedral WAS the Zapotec temple we had been looking for. (When we were going over our experiences later that day, our instructor, Jonathon, totally cracked up when he heard about our mistake). So, we asked our man some questions about the place, like when it was constructed, and why it was special. I guess all of the paintings were made out of colors from native plants there. That was kinda cool. Then he said we could go upstairs to where the organ was for 10 pesos ($1), so we did. The stairs were sooo steep and huge. They looked like steps made for a giant. I was basically climbing my way up. We took some pictures, got some more information, then walked around the town, looking for food. The main little market had just closed, so we went down to a little restaurant and got some stuff there. The interesting thing is that when we entered asking for food, the lady was like, I’m sorry, I don’t have any hotdogs or hamburgers for you. I just have eggs, beans, and some meat that you probably won’t like.” Isn’t that sad that she just assumed that we would only like American food? Well, the food was actually delicious. Some eggs and beans, with fresh squeezed orange juice. Yumm.
When we got out of the restaurant, it was perfect timing because right at that point, a man was herding a group of cattle and goats right down the middle of the street. It was so cool! I know that’s their normal way of life, but I couldn’t help but be excited. I had never seen anything like that live before!
So Lauren and I walked and chatted for a bit, then caught a colectivo back to Oaxaca capital. We chilled out a bit at the hostal, then all met up and talked about our experiences. We all have so many good ideas for weekend excursions! Then we went back to the hostal, changed, then went out for the night.
Going out was soo much fun! There were 7 of us girls. We were going to go to one place, but it didn’t open till 11pm. So, we asked some guys if they knew of any other place that was already open, so they took us to this place that was themed as the circus. There were big couches, and lots of mirrors, and it was all in this huge circle. So we chatted, danced, and tried this Mexican beer mix called Michelada (I think?), which had beer, lemon, and chile powder and before we knew it, it was already 1:30am. Since we had to get up relatively early the next day we decided to go home. Oh man, what a good time!
Sunday was the day that we got to meet, and move in with our host families! We had a meeting about it beforehand. We were all really excited, but really nervous as well. We had relatively no idea what to expect. But, at the very least, the welcome they gave when we arrived back at the hostal where they were waiting for us seemed to be a good start. I swear, every one of the host moms had flowers for their student! I just thought that was adorable. And my family seems lovely, although I still only barely know them. There’s my mom and dad, Lourdes and Octavio, and their son and his wife, Jorge Octavio and Leticia. They have a HUGE house, and I’m in a HUGE bedroom with it’s own bathroom, tv, two beds (I only get one, obviously : ) ) and tons of drawers about half of which I can actually fill. In fact, the whole house is just soo big. When I first walked in I was thinking like, this has to be at least two houses, right? But no. I was rather dumb struck. I definitely didn’t think I’d be in a big fancy house down in mexico. And jeez, it seems almost contradictory to what were studying in the program, which is more about indigenous people and social movements, that are being repressed, and therefore are very poor. But then again, the program is responsible for us, so I guess they pretty much had to put us in safe, more well-to-do houses.
So, right when I got there, my host mom and I went over rules, and the basic structure of the day. I have to admit, at least as far as she was telling me ( I have yet to find out), they have a big, healthy breakfast, a pretty big lunch around 3pm, and then a light dinner (merienda), at around 8:30 and 9pm. My host dad has a saying that “we should eat like a queen in the morning, a like princess in the afternoon, and like poor person in the night.” Tonight for example, I had fruit, water, and tea, with the option of a little bit of bread. And seriously, I like that soo much. That’s the way I would like to eat, and according to all the studies, it’s more healthy that way.
So I then took a nap cause I was exhausted, then we had a bit of dinner at around 9ish. Then my host parents went to bed, but I stayed up talking with Jorge and Leticia for another hour or so. And it was hilarious because I tried to use some new slang I had learned. I was explaining about when I discovered that “estar floja” meant lazy. I said that my room at home was a desmadre (disaster) because estaba floja, y no “estaba vaga.” When I said desmadre, they both started laughing and explained that is was more of a slang word used among younger people, but for the older generation, it meant to go out and get drunk or something, and make a mess. Haha, oops. : ) Oh well, we all thought it was hilarious, and I’m glad it happened with them, and not with somebody who might get offended. And now I’m off to bed. Good night all!