Today was another great day-we are approximately one week away from Mexico's independence day, so the city is becoming more and more dec'd out in red, white and green. This morning we went to the Museo de Historia Mexicana. We got to see some great exhibits and artwork. There was a great exhibit of paintings from the colonial period. The paintings emphasized the transformation of social classes over time as Colonial Spain become more Mexico and less, Spain. I also enjoyed the exhibits dedicated to the architecture of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations. There were models to show how the cities once looked-makes me want to go back to Guatemala. We ended up going out to a Chinese buffet next to the museum and we all ate too much. It was a good revival after getting sick on the first Chinese food I ate here. There was a cool hippie-ish market that was going on down a couple blocks over. I saw some really interesting antiques and saw some other great restaurants that we will have to try out. It was a good way to end a long week of exams.

I went for a night run last night out on the track at UdeM and almost stepped on a tarantula. It looked very similar to this one, big and black, and almost squished. He didn't move much so I just kept running. I love Mexico.

Rainstorm in San Pedro

Just had a crazy night, another good memory. Some friends and I went downtown to do some shopping and get dinner not realizing that we were about to get inundated with a massive rainstorm! When we came out of the shopping mall there was torrential downpour, part of the street had turned into a river and there were no taxis to be seen! We ended up eventually getting one after waiting for about three hours. I had to roll up my pants to get to the taxi, the water was right up to the doorline. Monterrey has a very poor drain system as they're not used to getting so much rain, so quickly. In some areas, cars were completely submerged! We ended up driving for an hour and a half before getting home. We got stuck on a bridge and ended up having to drive backwards. During the time it was only slightly hilarious but now we can all laugh about it!

Zoos in Mexico

Well, yesterday some friends and I went on a zoo safari with other students from the University. It was quite the experience. It turned out to be a really wet, and humid day- that feeling of when you walk around outside and your shirt sticks to you. The safari trip was great, many times the animals would come right up and eat out of your hands, whether you liked it or not! There were zebras, monkeys, gazelles, camels (of course), and even bats. It was a lot of fun, the only downer for the day was when I decided to go down a massive slide, crashing and getting a bloody knee. The blood wasn't the bad part, it was all the mexicans that were laughing at me! Look at the funny gringo.

"...now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

"...These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy..."

La alberca

This past weekend it was hot, as usual, so a group of us decided to find an outdoor pool. After cramming into a car and getting lost in traffic downtown Monterrey, we found the pool. We ended up staying at the pool for most of the day, of course we played uno, and met some more locals. It was a very relaxing saturday and we found that taking the bus is the best solution to getting around the city. this was short-lived however as on sunday we all woke up sick...something in the water was not completely right...haha. We'll survive though. Happy swimming.

Not so far from Home

As I sit here on the patio of Starbucks and do my homework, I feel as if I am back at home for a brief while. With my iced Americano in hand, my spanish dictionary and a essay due tomorrow morning, I am partially comforted by the aroma of coffee and textbooks. For a time as this I enjoy the result americanization and that fact it exists right on campus. guilty.