(no subject)
Hey Friends!
This is just going to be a cultural update-type thing.
So if you come to Mexico, bring toilet paper because a lot of times either there is just no toilet paper holder in the stall, or it´s just empty.
When you walk around town, little children will run up to you asking for a peso or anything. The best thing to do is give them some food…I gave one an apple once. The kids run up and will put a sticker on your clothes, and if you accept it, you pay them a peso or something, but if you don´t want to pay, you´re supposed to give the sticker back.
For me, the hardest thing to see is a person playing an instrument in the street. Oftentimes, the person playing is rather good (hell, I can´t play the accordion!) but he will just stand in the corner and play for hours while his wife or kid will hold out a hat for money. I just can´t help thinking that if he had been born into another life, maybe he´d make it with his musical talent. And also, there´s this little old man who sits on a box and has some kind of twitch. But he tries to play this ancient out-of-tune violin, and the sound of that, plus the twitching he can´t control, tugs at your heart.
At night, around 12 or 1 am, the rows of homeless people settle down for the night. They lay out their blankets and boxes, and huddle together in their families as they fall asleep. It brings tears to your eyes to see the way these people live, compared to our lifestyles sometimes. You just have to count your blessings every day.
I´m taking a translation course which is awesome, and a literature course which has us read a Spanish book each week….pretty fast-paced but great practice for me. The Mexican students are very accepting and encouraging of us (the gringos), so it makes each day pretty fun.
All in all, my time here is opening my eyes to how amazing the USA is in a lot of ways. I´m not saying we´re perfect, but we are the land of opportunity for many people, and I think sometimes I don´t appreciate how good I have it there.
Miss and love you all, and send me an update anytime to let me know how classes and extracurriculars are going!
Besos,
~*Er*~
This is just going to be a cultural update-type thing.
So if you come to Mexico, bring toilet paper because a lot of times either there is just no toilet paper holder in the stall, or it´s just empty.
When you walk around town, little children will run up to you asking for a peso or anything. The best thing to do is give them some food…I gave one an apple once. The kids run up and will put a sticker on your clothes, and if you accept it, you pay them a peso or something, but if you don´t want to pay, you´re supposed to give the sticker back.
For me, the hardest thing to see is a person playing an instrument in the street. Oftentimes, the person playing is rather good (hell, I can´t play the accordion!) but he will just stand in the corner and play for hours while his wife or kid will hold out a hat for money. I just can´t help thinking that if he had been born into another life, maybe he´d make it with his musical talent. And also, there´s this little old man who sits on a box and has some kind of twitch. But he tries to play this ancient out-of-tune violin, and the sound of that, plus the twitching he can´t control, tugs at your heart.
At night, around 12 or 1 am, the rows of homeless people settle down for the night. They lay out their blankets and boxes, and huddle together in their families as they fall asleep. It brings tears to your eyes to see the way these people live, compared to our lifestyles sometimes. You just have to count your blessings every day.
I´m taking a translation course which is awesome, and a literature course which has us read a Spanish book each week….pretty fast-paced but great practice for me. The Mexican students are very accepting and encouraging of us (the gringos), so it makes each day pretty fun.
All in all, my time here is opening my eyes to how amazing the USA is in a lot of ways. I´m not saying we´re perfect, but we are the land of opportunity for many people, and I think sometimes I don´t appreciate how good I have it there.
Miss and love you all, and send me an update anytime to let me know how classes and extracurriculars are going!
Besos,
~*Er*~