So, I've been neglecting my blogging duties a little bit (okay maybe a lot) but I've just been having such a good time I haven't had a chance to sit down and write about it. But it's a lazy, rainy, Saturday afternoon, so here I am.
Work has been crazy and I'm a little bit tired but my new motto is that I can sleep in the US. I don't have that much time left here and I'm planning to make the most of it!
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| Andy and I at the park at DIF |
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| Caro, Rach, and I with our niñas! |
Things at DIF are a little crazy as usual, but not in a bad way. Last Friday, one of the kids in the daycare downstairs had a birthday party, so all of the kids at Casa Camasc (the area where I work) got to go! These kids are not allowed to ever leave the building and the only time they go outside is two or three times a week to the park within the DIF complex. Basically, they don't get to go to birthday parties very often. You might think that as a result they went crazy on Friday--stuffing candy in their faces and misbehaving. So not the case. Most of them sat at the table with these wide eyes taking everything in. Compared to the daycare kids who were running around and bickering, the Casa Camasc kids were little angels. They aren't used to things like parties, cake, and prizes, so they didn't know how to react. I was happy that they got to go to a party, but it broke my heart too. Every kid deserves to have those little things in life.
Today is Aurely's quince, meaning she's turning 15. It's a really big deal in Mexican culture and most kids have huge parties, sort of similar to a Sweet Sixteen. DIF is having a party for her on Monday but today Rachel and I stopped by with some cake and a few little gifts. She was really happy, but I also think today is a sad day for her because she's spending her birthday in such a depressing place.
Anyway, I've been in a great mood since coming back from San Cris. I've just been feeling really content and enjoying every moment. It's super cheesy, but it's true. Anyway, I'm shaking things up this week on the blog.
Last weekend Rachel, Julia, Raquel, Daniel and I spent Sunday doing a guided tour of one of the coffee fincas outside Tapachula. We did an adventure tour so we ziplined, swam in a river, and at the end had a delicious meal complete with freshly made coffee!
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| Me, Julia, and Raquel on the way up the mountain! |
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| Sweet candid in the jungle--thanks Rach! |
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| Sweaty after ziplining--well worth it |
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| Swimming in the river |
Here's some of the stuff I've done in the past two weeks:
- Went to an "anthro" which is basically a nightclub. Almost had my eardrums blown out.
- Ate buffalo wings at this US army-themed bar that is a chain across Mexico
- Perfected the typical Mexican hand gesture that means "Si"
- Tried to learn all of the words to "Mi Niña Bonita" my new favorite song (it's by Chino y Nacho, youtube it)
- Watched the sunrise over a volcano and ate tacos at 7 AM
- Ziplined over a river
- Rode two hours up a mountain in this crazy truck thing to see a coffee plantation
- Learned that Tapachula has some special type of hotdog bun that is apparently much better than any American hotdog bun (it tasted the same to me...)
- Almost got attacked by a bat (twice!)
- Had my first Mexican chocolate milk--"Chocomilk"
- Crashed a prom and danced to the "YMCA"
- Swam at the base of a waterfall
- Watched Mexico beat the US in a soccer game
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| Good morning Tapachula! |
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| Post-prom crashing in the mariachi park |
I only have two weeks left here in Tapachula and then I'm not sure if I'm heading home or will get a chance to do some traveling, but man, time is flying by. I feel like my time here is running out but I'm trying not to think about it!
