Thanksgiving

What a Thanksgiving week…Everything started on Thursday, actual Thanksgiving. Jeanne’s class put on the cutest play about Ike and Tina Turkey. Ike and Tina were these two kids pet. Ike and Tina overheard the parents saying that they are going to a dinner party for Thanksgiving. They aren’t sure what Thanksgiving is but they are so excited to go (Tina even is contemplating what to wear). The kids find out that their parents are planning on eating Ike and Tina for dinner so they dress the turkeys up like people and put them on a bus to our school in San Jose where there is a farm for them to live (I wanted to yell they would be better off being eaten then going to Mission…decided it wasn’t appropriate). When the parents find out that the turkeys are missing the kids tell them they will make a vegetarian dinner for all their parents’ friends. The food is disgusting, all the guest leave, and then everyone breaks into song with the music teaching singing the Turkey Day Blues. Very cute!

After school on Thanksgiving we went over to my friend Leonor’s house. Her mom is in town visiting and she was making the traditional Spanish dish called paella. It was so good!!! I wrote down specific instructions on how to make it so don’t you worry. It took us a few hours to prepare and make it. It’s this giant pan full of rice, onion, garlic, shrimp, chicken, pork, chorizo, crabs, clams, green beans, peas, and peppers….heaven in your mouth. We ate tons and drank a lot of wine. Boone’s farm and tequila were eventually brought out to. We were at Leonor’s house for about 8hrs. At some point her stuffed E.T. doll was brought out and that provided a lot of attention for us. We went around the table and said what we were thankful for in Spanish. Then Leonor’s mom wanted to know the story about the first Thanksgiving. Kara and I didn’t know the all words in Spanish so we decided to act it out for them (I was an Indian and I went hunting for food…Kara was my dear). We had a great and entertaining time. I ended the night sleeping on her couch while Kara, Leonor, her mom, and our friend Pepe kept drinking.

Yesterday we had our American Thanksgiving. I made a pumpkin pie on Friday night. I made the turkey, stuffing, and gravy yesterday. Kara made a sweet potato casserole. Jeanne made mashed potatoes, and Harry made veggies. Our friends Nora and Francisco came and they brought these yummy lobster and caviar appetizers. Leonor and her mom came and they brought an amazing chocolate cake, wine, and tequila. We were all so stuffed and we have enough leftovers to last us for weeks. Harry taught us this need strategy game using Q-tips and Jeanne learned how to take a proper tequila shot. She drank about half a bottle by the end of the night.

I thought it was funny because when I first moved here they wanted to give me the Patron Saint of Lost Causes since I was 24 and single. Well last night, once everyone tasted my cooking, all the Mexicans said that it’s official, that I could now get married because I could cook…gotta love the dating cultures of Mexico.

Poor Betty

Yesterday was in interesting day (I feel I keep using the word interesting a lot but no other word better describes our days). Well, I was happy yesterday because it meant that I was finally over with teaching Sex ED. That means I won’t have to hear any more questions like this one, “Miss Stateczny, what happens when you make sex and, how do you say, pee comes out?”…that was the exact wording…gotta love my kids… After school, Kara, Jeanne, and I got into the car to go home and at first Betty wouldn’t start. Finally I got her to start but she started bouncing up and down…something was definitely not right. We figured we should drive her to the mechanic right away. SO I put her in reverse and tried to back out of our spot and she died. We moved just enough to block our boss, Michelle, in. We sat there for a few minutes before we got her to start again. We literally drove across town with Betty bouncing up and down and making a weird noise. We were so afraid if we had to stop at any stop light Betty would die on us and that would be really bad because the Mexican drivers are bad at rear ending others…so at every light I had one foot on the break and one on the gas revving it. We got honked at multiple times and got many strange looks due to the shaking issue we were having. We finally got to the mechanic who speaks no English. Luckily, since the shaking was so obvious we really didn’t have to explain our problem. The guy just really shook some things, mumbled something about the air filter and the shaking and noise stopped. It was magic!!! We asked what we owed and he said nothing. So we went and got an 8 pack of beer and brought it back to him…we wanted to show him we were nice, grateful Americans. Afterwards we shopped for Thanksgiving groceries. The Jeanne and I decided to go have a drink and de-stress. We got to talking and she told me about her and Harry’s theory. They have been misplacing things like crazy since they have moved here. Apparently they weren’t like this she said in Minnesota. She told me that her and Harry don’t like to admit they are superstitious but they both really are. Well she then went on to say that they have felt a presence in the house, and that they think it’s a trickster, house elf and that he is the one that keeps hiding all their stuff. She said that in Northern England where Harry is from they have ways of getting rid of them. That they put money out and the elf will take it and leave. Also, you can buy a small set of clothes for them and lay them out and they will take them and go (it’s not that the money and clothes physically leave, it’s more like Day of the Dead where the Gods take the flavor out of the food, they don’t actually eat it). She said since they put the money out they have felt a change…so we will have to see how they are with misplacing things now…

The old science teacher at our school apparently was horrible. So much of the equipment doesn’t work and I’m sure it’s because she never watched the kids with it. Out of all my microscopes, only one works. Out of all my scales, only one works. So today when I was taking out the glass thermometers I really shouldn’t have been surprised that one was broken and leaking everywhere. This past teacher put a broken thermometer back into the case with all the thermometers…so guess who got Mercury on her hands. I was so mad and frightened since mercury can be deadly even if it only touches your skin. In the states we usually order thermometers that aren’t made with pure Mercury but with a Mercury mixture of some sort. This mixture, if you wash it off fast enough, is not as toxic. So I was panicking, because I was thinking this is MX and this is a Mexican thermometer, who knows what it has in it…there seems to be no health regulations in this country when it comes to anything. So I had to go have my principal call the Mexican company that produces these thermometers to find out what type of mercury was in it. They assured me that it’s safe but if I mysteriously get very ill in the next few weeks…this is probably why…

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We are celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday. I cannot wait. We are having a big group of about 14 people. The only Americans will be just us 4. The rest of them are our new friends and their families. We are giving them their first traditional American Thanksgiving. I am preparing the turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Kara is making sweet potatoes. Harry and Jeanne are making veggies, mashed potatoes, and cranberries. My friend Leoner and her mom are bringing wine and a carrot cake. Erika, her best friend from MX city, and her son are bringing pasta salad, salad, bread and wine. Nora and her husband Francisco (plus their 2 kids) are bring appetizers and wine. Nora says her husband has been putting a lot of thought into appetizers. That he wants it to just be perfect for his first Thanksgiving. Tomorrow instead, Leoner and her mom invited us for dinner. Leoner’s mom lives in MX city but is from Spain. She is making us Paella a traditional Spanish dish. Last night I went and had martinis with her and her mom and they invited us over to make the food with them. So her mom is going to teach us how to make this dish. I’m so excited, it sounds so good.

Oh they finally put our pictures on the schools website the week before we leave…
http://www.elcolegiomission.com/maestros/profesores.html

Welcome to the Hotel California...

Today was an amazing day… I went on a day trip with my friend Leoner, her mom (who is visiting from MX city), and our other friend Pepe. We traveled to the Pacific coast. We first went to Todos Los Santos. Todos Los Santos is a tiny town and it is famous for 2 things. The Tropic of Cancer runs through it and Hotel California (from the Eagles song) is located there. We then went to Cerritos which is a small little isolated beach. You really are driving on the highway in the mountains and there is a tiny sign that says Cerritos. You drive about 2miles on a sand road with millions of holes in it. You see nothing but sand dunes and cacti. Then all of a sudden there is an opening where there is a little beach hut and it sits right in the middle of the beach. All around the hut (which is the restaurant/bar) are tables and lawn chairs. They had a jazz singer with a keyboard singing. It was just unreal. It was so relaxing. We sat at a table and had drinks. I had a nice mahi-mahi fillet with roasted veggies. We went swimming. We were going to go crowded but the waves were humongous and there were lots of professional surfers…I was not about to fight for waves with them. So we just swam. One point when I was getting out of the water I heard “Holly, Holly!” I was thinking, who else has the name Holly in Mexico. Well it ended up being the 3 girls I tutor. They were all there and they all came running with their ruffled swimsuits at me. They all gave me hugs and kisses and then I went and played with them in the water. It was so much fun. Towards the end of the day we all went for a walk down the beach and watched the sunset. This was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Since you are looking right onto the Pacific there is nothing obstructing the view. Also, it’s nice seeing how the sun changes the waters color as it sinks into it. It was amazing. I wish my camera could have captured what it really looked like.

very unpredicted

So this has been an interesting week at school. Kara, Jeanne, and I all quit our jobs. We are working till December 5. Kara and I are going to stay in San Jose through December and just enjoy ourselves. Then we will move back to the states and figure out what I should do with myself…AAAHHHHHHH…this is going to be stressful

After quitting this Monday I have already felt a lift of my shoulders and I am enjoying myself even more.

So this has been a fun weekend so far. Friday night started off by me and Jeanne attending a dance recital. My 3 girls that I tutor had a dance recital and it was so cute. Then yesterday Kara and I went with my friends to Cabo to an Irish Pub (not sure how many there are in MX). We sat outside and drank beer…it was so much fun. It overlooks the marina and it was a beautiful night.

Tomorrow my parents come for the day and I cannot wait!!!

Gucci

I tutor a family of 3 girls. This is there new puppy, Gucci. And yes, she is pink...

good and bad

so good....the weather has finally changed here. It's beautiful. There is no more humidity and it feels good to be outside now all day long. I love it!

so bad...so when i started the school year i warned the animal lady that i had a tendency to kill class pets when i was left in charge of them, i told her about the horrible fate of my hermit crab i had in the states...she didnt believe me. We have been in school for 3months and 3 of the 5 turtles in my classroom have died. Its so sad because the family that donated them to the school has a 1rst grader. She like to come everyday and to check on the turtles. The little baby turtle was hers...Well about 3 weeks ago she asked me how long a turtle could hold its breath because there was one under the water and it was sleeping....i went over and looked, it was dead...i told her they could sleep for a long time (didnt want to have the death talk with her)...then a week later, the girl told me the baby turtle was missing. I told her that animal lady must have taken it to the pond for a swim (i had no clue where the turtle was)...it had died and my cleaning lady disposed of it come to find out. The 1rst grader came by again last week and where the turtle was...i said that the turtle was still on vacation and that another one had joined it. She was like i guess they are having a lot of fun at the pond...about broke my heart but i just couldnt tell her...i feel im going to have to go buy some turtles soon at the rate they are dropping...

marriage proposal

So Kara and I had an interesting weekend. Friday we went over to our favorite spanish teacher's house, Nora. We all drank and ate "Super Pollo". Super Pollo is Mexico's version of Golden Chick and its amazing. First off let me just say they deliver the food to your house by motorcycle. You order by the full chicken. So you get a whole chicken, fries (that are the same as golden chicks, a pasta, homemade tortillas, salsa, and salad all for 130 pesos ($13). It is enough food for 3 people easily. Its soooo good. You can make tacos out of all of it. Then one of our friends Erika brought her Taro cards (sp?) and she told fortunes. I didn't have mine read but I was sad to find out that Kara wasn't going to come into a lot of money and buy me a beach condo to live in...

Saturday, Kara and I woke up incredibly early so we decided to hit happy hour at our favorite roof top bar...happy hour starts at 9am here...We love it at Shooters, the waiters know what we want to drink before we order. After a few drinks I noticed a man at the table next to ours staring....hard core staring at me. Once I noticed him he finally asked if we lived here. I said yes and he told his buddy who was sitting with him, "I told you so". He then went on to say that he saw my keys so he figured. After some small talk he said he was buying me a tequila shot. I refused but he insisted. I learned that we take tequila shots wrong in Texas. Apparently you suck on the lime first, then take the tequila, and then lick the salt off you hand. And he was right, it is much easier to take this way. So good tip, lime first, salt at the end...not viceversa... After the shot he proceeded to tell me that I was beautiful and that he is divorced with 2 kids so he can marry me. We think, oh, he's being funny....no, no, no...he isn't. He really means it. I left to go to the bathroom and when I was on my way back to my chair he came running. He was upset that he didn't meet me by the bathrooms, he wanted us to talk in private but unfortunately for him his timing was off...I'm glad i pee fast... But he then went on to say that I really should consider marrying him, that it was love at first sight for him. That he is very spiritual and he could tell that I had a great soul. He asked if I ever pictured coming to MX and finding the love of my life...I said no... After all this I sneaked past him and got back to Kara. I told her that he tried to meet me at the bathrooms and she apologised. Apparently his friend was distracting her on her purpose so the guy could come find me...So luckily, some of our other friends showed up and the guy left me alone. But right as they were leaving he came over to say goodbye and that it was lovely meeting me. The kicker of it all though is that when he shook my hand he passed his number to me. As soon as they left and I showed everyone at our table we all could not stop laughing hysterically...he really did think he had a chance... Kara was like, I'm glad I didnt tell him im ordained (off that website), he probably would have asked me to marry yall right then...

Saturday night Kara and I went to our first mexican party, or i guess i should say college house mexican party. There was a dj, some guy played the guitar and sang, there was a keg and alcohol, and the theme was fake hair so everyone had on wigs....We said our blonde hair counted...it was fun, pretty much the same as an american college house party. Sunday all we did was eat, sleep, read, and watch tv...it was wonderful

Dia de los Muertos

Every grade had to make an altar to honor a certain Aztec God. Our 9th grade altar was the god of death...the story behind our god is that it would cut the skins off their people and wear them...little gruesome...all the little kid grades got gods of the ocean and fire...we got death...There had to be food on the altar for the god so it can eat. In order to explain why the food doesn’t disappear (like Santa's Xmas cookies) they say the gods just suck the flavor out of it.... There has to be a sand path in front of the altar outlined with flowers acting as a path for the gods to follow so they can find their way. There was one altar for all the dead animals on our farm...this was the only non-god altar.

On the night of the big altar demonstration, my 9th graders put on a play on about the Gods and the creation of the 5th sun. The play starts off with two main gods who are about to give birth to the 4 new gods of the Earth. It was so funny because one of the main gods was my smallest girl and how they acted out giving birth was she was standing and the 4 boys just crawled through her legs to symbolize birth. IT was cute because all are pretty small except one. And when he climbed through she stepped farther apart but he still pushed her legs even farther apart when he crawled through because he couldn’t fit...it was pretty cute. Then the 4 new gods fight and in the end the 4 new gods decide to sacrifice themselves in order for the birth of the 5th sun which represents life in peace with nature....at least i think this is what the play was about...my Spanish is only so good

Happy Halloween

Friday was Halloween and our school became a Halloween carnival. The 3rd graders put on Charlie Brown, The Great Pumpkin. We had a Halloween costume contest and then there were games for the kids to play. Kara and I helped with the Haunted House. It was a lot of fun. I was bee for the day. Friday night we went downtown to our favorite roof top bar and had drinks and watched the kids go from business to business asking for candy and money...they aren't picky. Saturday, Kara and I woke up at the crack of dawn and we had a typical american picnic at the beach. We stopped and got fresh rolls from the bakery and stuffed them with meat and cheese and we bought Doritos...it was heaven. We had a few beers and snorkeled and swam for a few hours. We had a stalker for the day. This older man in his 40s wearing his speedo kept falling us around. We went to one end of the cove to swim and he followed us. We then went to the other end to get away and he followed us again...this went on for awhile. It was so gross. He would stand like a proud peacock (no pun attended) and pose....when we he could tell we weren't interested he decided to turn his back to us and tried to make us look at his butt.... unless you are Michael Phelps you do not have any right to wear a Speedo. Finally, he gave up on getting our attention. He did leave though the time as us. We got out of their a lot faster though then him. He was busy drying off by his car, trying one last time to won our attention...we pulled out of there so fast, he never had a shot