James here:
So my powercord to my laptop has been melting slowly since we got here, and finally crumbled into melted junk yesterday...problem is, two weeks ago I emailed George Fox IT department, since my laptop is insured, and they said they´d send it me here. So Saturday I emailed again, and then when the powercord finally went kapoot yesterday I emailed again. No response. So Em called the same guy who said he´d send it to me two weeks before...and he basically said he forgot and didn´t know when he would be able to send it. When she politely asked a few questions about when that be, he hung up on her. She then called back and got HIS boss, Greg Smith. Greg´s son is the very same Dylan that lived with us in August ´07 and basically screwed us over, so Greg was happy to oblige us, and he didn´t hang up on Emilee.
Only thing is, my laptop is now basically worthless until the powercord gets here sometime this weekend. Oh well, but Skype and emailing is a bit difficult until then, and we´ll be in Oaxaca until Sunday night leaving on Thursday morning, so we´ll be a bit out of touch again.
Well, later!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Mexican Independence!
Hey all, James here:
First and foremost, please keep my grandpa Wolfer in your prayers...last Thursday morning around 10am he fell off a 14 foot ladder when he was home alone and hit his face on a rung of the ladder and broke a lot of facial bones. His wife found him that afternoon where he went to the hospital, and then was lifeflighted to Portland where he has been in and out of consciousness. He has had a heart condition for the last 30 years and they are afraid that since he is in his 70s that his body may not be able to keep up with all the trauma. Please keep him and the rest of our family in your prayers.
We just got back from Puebla, where we saw the historic site of the Battle on the 5th of May (el cinco de Mayo) the one and only battle Mexico EVER won. It was when the french invaded Mexico and the Mexican Army actually defeated the french...until the second battle. But still, it was cool seeing where it happened.
Today is El Dia Libre (day of freedom) as tomorrow is Independence Day. Tonight we will be having BBQ's and drinking a beer or two as today is the day without consequences...even people who never drink toss a beer or two back today to celebrate when they declared Independence from Spain...VIVA MEXICO!!! Tomorrow we have no school to celebrate Mexican Independence, so we'll probably go to the Zocalo (downtown square) and celebrate. This will be an interesting 15th and 16th of September because right now there is a nationwide teacher's strike, and all the Public School teachers are sitting in the town square here and every major city, and no one knows if they will leave and go home to their families tonight and tomorrow to celebrate, or since its historically a day to fight unjust government actions, they might stick it out and REALLY stick it to the government...I believe in their cause, as the government here is really corrupt (not unlike our own, but even more so) and the teachers got shafted by some government decisions. Anyway, I'm going to go celebrate but VIVA MEXICO!
First and foremost, please keep my grandpa Wolfer in your prayers...last Thursday morning around 10am he fell off a 14 foot ladder when he was home alone and hit his face on a rung of the ladder and broke a lot of facial bones. His wife found him that afternoon where he went to the hospital, and then was lifeflighted to Portland where he has been in and out of consciousness. He has had a heart condition for the last 30 years and they are afraid that since he is in his 70s that his body may not be able to keep up with all the trauma. Please keep him and the rest of our family in your prayers.
We just got back from Puebla, where we saw the historic site of the Battle on the 5th of May (el cinco de Mayo) the one and only battle Mexico EVER won. It was when the french invaded Mexico and the Mexican Army actually defeated the french...until the second battle. But still, it was cool seeing where it happened.
Today is El Dia Libre (day of freedom) as tomorrow is Independence Day. Tonight we will be having BBQ's and drinking a beer or two as today is the day without consequences...even people who never drink toss a beer or two back today to celebrate when they declared Independence from Spain...VIVA MEXICO!!! Tomorrow we have no school to celebrate Mexican Independence, so we'll probably go to the Zocalo (downtown square) and celebrate. This will be an interesting 15th and 16th of September because right now there is a nationwide teacher's strike, and all the Public School teachers are sitting in the town square here and every major city, and no one knows if they will leave and go home to their families tonight and tomorrow to celebrate, or since its historically a day to fight unjust government actions, they might stick it out and REALLY stick it to the government...I believe in their cause, as the government here is really corrupt (not unlike our own, but even more so) and the teachers got shafted by some government decisions. Anyway, I'm going to go celebrate but VIVA MEXICO!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Catch up!!!
Hey Friends and Fam!
Just wanted to give you an update! I feel like there is a lot to say….so if this is a little long hang with me. I am happy to report that I am mostly feeling 100% now. This trip is taking lots of adjustment on many different levels; adjustment to culture, food, climate, altitude, and being away from Family. One of the hardest things to get used to since coming to Mexico has been the food and just overall not feeling too hot! Since I got ill the first week most of the food that our host mom serves has not been looking too good to me after having an upset tummy. CULTURAL DIFFERENCE….. in the states people generally eat clear broth like in soup……. In Mexico people eat lime flavored Jello, tomato based soup and boiled apples with honey So not a happy thing for my already upset tummy! Because of this experience I fear that I have become a very picky eater or as I would say here “Soy Melindrosa”.
But aside from that James and I are making some amazing friends with the other people that came here with us from Fox as well as with the people that we are meeting here at the school. Everyday we try to speak in Spanish together (Spanglish for me) Sometimes it can get super Chistoso (Funny)….. like today I was trying to say that I needed to pay (Pagar) someone and instead I accidently said that I need to hit them. OOPS!
This last weekend was super fun….. Friday we spent the afternoon playing around in the pool ….. I am happy to report that I have yet to get a sun burn ( knock on wood), but one of the other girls on the trip Erin got seriously Crispy! That night we went to our favorite taco stand and then watched the Office! Sabado we had an excursion to D.F or Mexico City which was amazing. We got to go to the “templo Mejor” (Sp?), the main cathedral, the national palace and the Museum of anthropology! At the national palace there were paintings done by Diego Rivera which were amazing!!! A little scary though, One of the girls in our group blacked out during our tour there, we are thinking it was probably due to altitude, low blood sugar, and low iron ( as she forgot to take that supplement that morning) Still a little scary one minute she was ok the next her face was ash with white lips. Thankfully, we were able to go to China town in Mexico City where we were able to get some broccoli beef… lots of iron! I am glad to report that she felt better the rest of the day, but we still have two excursions left in Mexico City so if you could keep this person in your prayers that she would not get sick again that would be much appreciated.
All of the places that we went to I got to visit on Jr. Abroad and it was so amazing to be able to share these experiences with James. The Museum was constructed in honor of the 1968 Olympic Games that were held in Mexico City. The layout is such that there are different rooms for the different regions of Mexico and the people group that live there. My personal favorite were the Maya….. they had such a beautiful culture …..human sacrifice aside… but hey at least they were quick about it. The Maya would cut off the head of the human being sacrificed whereas the Aztecs would cut out the heart.
One of the things that I love the most about being here is learning so much about the pre-Hispanic cultures of the Maya, Olmecas and Aztecs. Crazy thing is that there is a theory that the Aztecs could have possibly originated from Utah and that the leader had a vision that he was supposed to lead his people to the land where they saw the eagle eating he snake which is how they came to Mexico. There have been several huge thunder storms here… the first being the loudest as it was right overhead. James and I both commented that it is no wonder the ancient civilizations thought that thunder and lightening where different Gods. The storm was so powerful, more so than anything I have ever witnessed in Oregon or California. The thunder shook the entire house and it was so load it hurt to not have a pillow over your head. The lightening was amazing light up the entire sky. (Note to self unplug and turn off all electronics during such storms. James and I blew out the ceiling light in our room…oops!
That’s about all for now…. But there will be more to come! Love you all lots!!!
Just wanted to give you an update! I feel like there is a lot to say….so if this is a little long hang with me. I am happy to report that I am mostly feeling 100% now. This trip is taking lots of adjustment on many different levels; adjustment to culture, food, climate, altitude, and being away from Family. One of the hardest things to get used to since coming to Mexico has been the food and just overall not feeling too hot! Since I got ill the first week most of the food that our host mom serves has not been looking too good to me after having an upset tummy. CULTURAL DIFFERENCE….. in the states people generally eat clear broth like in soup……. In Mexico people eat lime flavored Jello, tomato based soup and boiled apples with honey So not a happy thing for my already upset tummy! Because of this experience I fear that I have become a very picky eater or as I would say here “Soy Melindrosa”.
But aside from that James and I are making some amazing friends with the other people that came here with us from Fox as well as with the people that we are meeting here at the school. Everyday we try to speak in Spanish together (Spanglish for me) Sometimes it can get super Chistoso (Funny)….. like today I was trying to say that I needed to pay (Pagar) someone and instead I accidently said that I need to hit them. OOPS!
This last weekend was super fun….. Friday we spent the afternoon playing around in the pool ….. I am happy to report that I have yet to get a sun burn ( knock on wood), but one of the other girls on the trip Erin got seriously Crispy! That night we went to our favorite taco stand and then watched the Office! Sabado we had an excursion to D.F or Mexico City which was amazing. We got to go to the “templo Mejor” (Sp?), the main cathedral, the national palace and the Museum of anthropology! At the national palace there were paintings done by Diego Rivera which were amazing!!! A little scary though, One of the girls in our group blacked out during our tour there, we are thinking it was probably due to altitude, low blood sugar, and low iron ( as she forgot to take that supplement that morning) Still a little scary one minute she was ok the next her face was ash with white lips. Thankfully, we were able to go to China town in Mexico City where we were able to get some broccoli beef… lots of iron! I am glad to report that she felt better the rest of the day, but we still have two excursions left in Mexico City so if you could keep this person in your prayers that she would not get sick again that would be much appreciated.
All of the places that we went to I got to visit on Jr. Abroad and it was so amazing to be able to share these experiences with James. The Museum was constructed in honor of the 1968 Olympic Games that were held in Mexico City. The layout is such that there are different rooms for the different regions of Mexico and the people group that live there. My personal favorite were the Maya….. they had such a beautiful culture …..human sacrifice aside… but hey at least they were quick about it. The Maya would cut off the head of the human being sacrificed whereas the Aztecs would cut out the heart.
One of the things that I love the most about being here is learning so much about the pre-Hispanic cultures of the Maya, Olmecas and Aztecs. Crazy thing is that there is a theory that the Aztecs could have possibly originated from Utah and that the leader had a vision that he was supposed to lead his people to the land where they saw the eagle eating he snake which is how they came to Mexico. There have been several huge thunder storms here… the first being the loudest as it was right overhead. James and I both commented that it is no wonder the ancient civilizations thought that thunder and lightening where different Gods. The storm was so powerful, more so than anything I have ever witnessed in Oregon or California. The thunder shook the entire house and it was so load it hurt to not have a pillow over your head. The lightening was amazing light up the entire sky. (Note to self unplug and turn off all electronics during such storms. James and I blew out the ceiling light in our room…oops!
That’s about all for now…. But there will be more to come! Love you all lots!!!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Skype...
Hey all...we signed up for a Skype account...its an internet phone. Our number is (503)925-5092...its a Sherwood, Oregon number to call, but we can access it from Mexico. We have a voicemail on it, so you can leave messages for us. If we are online though, the call will go through and we can talk!
We are doing well, better each day. I'm loving this whole not working thing. Also, I almost never have to do dishes! For those of you who lived with us or me before, you know how much I hate to do those on a daily basis!
We are trying to follow the election here, but its difficult at times. Did you know we just attacked Pakistan? They are NOT happy with us. Just a small example of stuff I hear and read here. But I feel so disconnected at times with all that's going on, but gracias a Dios that I have internet...
I'm working on getting absentee ballots for Em and I...more later!
James
Friday, September 5, 2008
Tacos de Pastor...
Hola todos! Estamos aqui en Mexico todavia, estudiando, relajando, y nos diviertiendo. Emilee esta apriendo mucho y puede hablar casi en frases completos. Ayer fuimos a un restaurante y comimos tacos al pastores. La comida del sur es muy diferente que la comida del norte. Hay mas pollo que bisteck ("carne asada" es lo que dice en el norte). Estamos en una area que estaba controlada por los aztecas antes del llegado de Cortes. En las clases de cultura hablamos mucho sobre las conquistas de los Aztecas, Mayas, y los Quechuas (Inca). Tengo la opinion que los conquistadores eran cabrones (perdoname)...ellos hacian muchas cosas malas a los indigenas que todavia tienen efectos muy profundidos hoy en dia...
Manana vamos a visitar D.F. (la ciudad de Mexico, que esta en el Distrito Federal) y vamos a visitar muchas lugares famosas y pienso que vamos a divertiernos muchos...
Buenos, es todo que escribo hoy.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Second week of school!
Hello, James here. We have started our second week of school. Emilee is basically over being sick. She got bitten by some mosquitos on her eyelids...needless to say she was uncomfortable for a couple days. But she's doing better now, and we have been having fun going out with the group. The only thing that sucks for me is that in our group AND the other group that just got here there aren't any guys. There is one other guy here, but he is leaving in another week so my guy time has seriously suffered. Kyle, if you are reading this, you need to come down here and bring some good 'ole American beer cuz Corona just ain't doin it for me...;-) But anyway, other than that we are having a good time. I think we are just about fully adjusted to the higher altitude and time change.
Emilee is such a trooper. The day after she was sick she went with the group on an excursion we had to this town next to a mountain that has a small pyramid on the top. Rather than stay at the bottom and shop, she opted to climb the fricken mountain with the group. An hour and a half later of almost vertical "stairs" (really just well placed large rocks) we were at the top of the mountain. The pyramid was less than spectacular, but there were some funny monkey-type creatures at the top except for that if you tried to eat any food they just jumped you to try and steal the food...the view from the top of the mountain made the climb worth it. You could see for miles and my pictures could in no way do it justice, but I'll post them anyway. Well, class is going to start soon so I'm gonna go, but enjoy the monkey/pyramid/view pictures...
-James
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