Illness, Excursions, and College in Mexico

Center of Querétaro

Unfortunately I have been pretty sick since last week going back and forth between some sort of cold/flu-like illness that's been going around the TEC and some stomach problems since I'm not used to the environment/food here.  This caused me to feel very tired and I didn't help that I wasn't sleeping very well, so all I've been doing with my spare time is resting.

Today I'm feeling pretty good.  My host mom Lulú, has been very kind and helpful for making me feel better. She said getting sick was very normal, especially coming from an area of extreme cold, to the desert with extreme heat and cold in the same day, it's also very dry compared to home.  She said it will take time for my stomach to adjust, but that's ok because they have pepto bismol here!

Antique buildings, and antique Church
Center of Querétaro

Luckily I had a few days while being sick that I felt ok, so I was able to see some sites.

Del Centro or "The Center" is the historic downtown neighborhood and business that has a lot of the old buildings and roads (lots of cobblestone!)  It has a lot of old school charm, warmth, and lots of bright colors.

Last weekend I was able to take an excursion to a place called Peña de Bernal which is about 45 minutes away from Querétaro.  It is one of the largest monoliths (of single stone or rock) in the world.  My goal was to climb to the top, unfortunately gravity and the extreme changes in altitude were against me.  At home, Mt Pleaseant is about 750ft/228m above sea level and FLAT, and Peña de Bernal is 7,087ft/2160m--at it's base.  At it's peak, 8,235 ft/2510m.  Some of the girls and myself had every intention of making it to the top, but it was brutal and hot--and we were under a time limit due to other things on the itinerary.  We made it about half of the way, which was a lot since there was no specific path and it was very rocky.  A few of the guys and girls made it to the top (I applaud them).  One thing I've learned from my big sister,Alicia, who has worked in several national parks for about 6-8 years, has told me never to push yourself and if you need a break then take one.  When hiking it's best to take your time or you run the risk of altitude sickness and exhaustion.

View from halfway

Examples of spices and ingredients

Sugar Skulls and Deer

While in Bernal we also got to visit a "Dulce" or Sweets Shop.  They showed us how they made candy in the early 1900's and compared to the modern version of today.

School started last week and has actually been pretty good.  Text books seem to be done a little bit differently, either 1. you're required to buy one (not sure from where?), 2. your professor give you a book that you print out, or 3. your professor just doesn't use a book and gives hand out or has online readings.  I have mixed feeling about it, mostly because none of my classes have actual books which is nice because it is free and we're not paying insane amounts of money for books.  However I keep all of my textbooks for my both my majors for references and I don't get any for this semester.  One of my classes is a more "hands-on" class about Mexican culture, so next week we'll be going to the art museum in the Center which I am very excited about.

Some cultural differences I have noticed, I was completely unaware that in Mexico when greeting someone you do the "air kiss" on the cheek kind of like in Spain or France.  A friend told me before I came to Mexico (though I forgot), but she also said it doesn't mean they're hitting on you; it's a form of politness.  Even one of my professors did this with me, but I think it was more of a "welcome to Mexico" since I told him I was from the U.S. 

Personal space here is smaller.  In the US most people seem comfortable with about 1.5-2.5 feet of distance when talking to other people.  Here in Mexico it's about a foot.  It's not a problem, I'm just not used to it.

So that's about it for now, I'm going to probably go take a nap since I am still a little sick.

After spending a few days here...

... I can already tell I'm going to love it here!
I had a rocky start mostly because my plane rides were rough, and the layovers were rough as well.

On Wednesday I met my host family, who are very very nice.
Lulu, Jose = Host parents
Jose Luis, Kiko = Host brothers
Paulina = Host sister

However, there is a woman who lives above me, Claudia, and 2 more girls who live here who are on vacation!  Also in February there will be another international student from Japan.  (I'm not sure how long he'll be here?)  Their home is large, and very pretty!  It's definitely the traditional style Mexican home with lots of color!  (no pictures as of yet)

My first meal that my host mother made me:
Cantaloupe, ham & cheese sandwich, and a carrot cream salad with raisins and nuts!

My first night my host family took me to Walmart--yes Walmart, to buy some necessities like shampoo.  We also stopped by this wonderful bakery where I got to meet one of the bakers.  He uses one the largest brick ovens I had ever seen!  I also got to take a "torta," or muffin (that's what it looked like to me)

I got stung by a bee, that was very unpleasant for me.  I had never been stung before in my 27 years of life! My host family was nice about it even I was freaking out because one of my siblings is allergic to bee stings.

Then I had my first day of orientation at the TEC on January 9th.  This was actually a lot of fun!  Some students didn't care for the silly games we played, but I enjoyed them.  I was on team "Armarillo" or yellow.  There was a little "welcome parade" in which all the departments lined up and welcomed the international students.  However there were a few Mexican students included into the orientation--I'm not sure why?  Throughout orientation most everyone spoke in both English and Spanish, but with all the other other international students there was French, Portuguese, German, Finnish, Korean, etc.  

The 2nd day of orientation was more about getting to know the rules and how classes worked, where to turn in important papers that the school needs, etc.  This was also the time to sign up for extra classes, which are more like clubs.  So I signed up for a photography class, and Salsa lessons!  One of my goals while studying abroad: I need to learn how to do some sort of dance from Mexico.  The best part--the classes are free!  They have things ranging from volunteering, gym: swimming, boxing, pilates, weight lifting, etc, art: dancing, fine arts, theater, etc.  It's great because you can pick as many as you want!

So that night a lot of us went out and were able to see some of the night life.  I really want to go to a discoteca even though I can't dance!  We were invited to another students home, and the view was amazing!  Unfortunately I did not bring my camera, all I had was my phone.

Rooftop, left side taken from camera phone

Rooftop, right side taken from camera phone

There's so much more that has happened but unfortunately I need to go to bed, classes start tomorrow!

Finally made it!

Unfortunately I did not get into Queretaro until very late last night.  Due to the Arctic Freeze that the majority of the US seemed to be under my first flight from Detroit was delayed, then cancelled after an hour and a half.  But within about 20 minutes of calling I was able to book the next flight...which also ended up being delayed another hour and half.  This made me miss my connection in Dallas to Queretaro, but they reassigned me to the next flight that left about 5 hours later.  Then when it was finally time to board that plane, but it also had a delay (mechanical issues) for another 2 hours.   I was supposed to be in Queretaro at 3:30 in the afternoon.  Instead I got to my hotel at about 1:45am.  I was exhausted (had been awake and barely slept since 2am yesterday) and frustrated.  My luggage should be here this afternoon in which they said they would deliver it, which is awesome, but that causes a problem for me because I meeting my host family today and don't know their address.  They insist on delivering it, even though it would be best if we just picked it up.

So despite that headache which the weather from home is 100% to blame, I am here!  I can't wait to meet my host family.  That will make my travel stresses from yesterday go away.

Four Days until Mexico!!!

Up until now, I have been very anxious about going to Mexico.  I have no idea why, but right now I'm excited to go because my first night I will be staying in a hostel called Kuku Rukú.  It is gorgeous and in the heart of Querétaro.  (This was suggested to me by one of the advisers since a lot of the international students stay there)  Then I'll be able to meet my host family the next day at orientation!

Photo taken from the Kuku Rukú website
Click above link for more photos in "Galería"

So I still have some last minute shopping/errands and stuff to do before I leave but other wise I'm feeling pretty prepared.  Which is very unlike me, but I think it's because I'm going to a different country and need to make sure I have everything I need.