Thorns and Roses

Day 14

           If any of you that read my blog stalk me on facebook, you already know I found the church of my dreams on Sunday. The church is called Trigo y Miel (Wheat and Honey). I found out about it from Julieta (my landlord’s daughter). Julieta and her husband picked me up and took me. From the outside, the church does not necessarily look like a church, but when you walk in, the floors are beautifully tiled. I must confess…I had heard from a coworker that the church was Baptist and I was a little nervous that it would be Southern Baptist aka no dancing. But when I walked in I looked at the front and there were praise dancers (ribbons, tambourines, and all). Why did I love this church so much? Well in the United States, churches are so segregated. I love contemporary worship and reliance on the Scriptures in Anglo-nondenominational churches, the value of community/transparency in worship and heartfelt preaching in black churches. This church truly was the best of both worlds.

           I spent the afternoon in the café where I am now a regular! It was quite the lazy day, but so worth it. This day also began the tradition of tea and bread with Doña (my landlord). We have nice little conversations and she is a wonderful substitute for a grandmother. Not only that, but she calls me Ari (which I normally don’t like), but from her it is precious and makes me feel accepted. J

Day 15

           So this week at the Tecnológico it was exam week. While, the English teachers were conducting oral exams two students at a time, I was supposed to prepare the remaining students by conducting a review session. Well, I had to be at work at 7AM and a coworker offered to give me a ride because she lived in the Centro. It was still dark when I went down to meet her. And after 40 minutes and two frustrating calls, we realized that we were looking for each other in two very different places.

           Once I arrived to work, I found Regina—the teacher I was to help out. She is from Germany and is somewhat of a polyglot. We quickly learned that rain made the trek to her classroom in the trailer terribly difficult. And after getting our shoes caked with mud, we discovered that there was neither light nor internet in most of the school. It was then that I decided that I was done coming in at 7AM! The students did not arrive until about 8AM. When the oral exams began, I finally got student interaction. And I loved it! The students were so much fun and teaching them made me excited for the weeks to come.

           After finding out that I got lost for a while last week, Julieta took me on a tour of the bus system. We got on and off buses all over Guanajuato and I think I get it…for the most part. Juliata is like my mother in the faith and has definitely taken me under her wing. She also told me that I could go to Colombia in November for a conference with them! WAHOOO!!! I can check that off my bucket list.

Day 16

           Tuesday, was an all-time low. There was no internet at school. I did nothing all day. And on top of that, I got VERY homesick. I think it was the first time that has happened in my life! I didn’t even know what it was at first. It started when I looked at old pictures from the summer in my camera and before you know it I was completely depressed and looking forward to when I could go back home (I know you’re smiling mom). I realized that I am missing my house church and the community of friends that I have had over the last couple of years. You see, I have no one my age here to bond with…No one that just calls me up or comes over to visit. So that is my current prayer request J

           So to remedy this sickness, I prayed and wrote a poem. I realized that even when I am not surrounded by people, I am not alone. For in the silence, I can hear the small movements that the Lord is doing in my heart and in Guanajuato.

Day 17

           So the day that I had dreaded finally arrived. It was time to go to San Miguel de Allende to get my visa. You see, I went through a headache to get a visa at the Mexican Consulate in Kansas City, only to find out that they only last six months. On top of that, you can only enter the country once. Then when I got to customs in Mexico City, they said I had 30 days to get my new visa. So you can imagine my heart toward the visa process. Well, I was blessed enough to be able to go San Miguel’s office (about an hour away) with two coworkers Martha and Ramón who is from Nicaragua. Fígense…it was so easy! I was in and out in a couple hours (Ramón wasn’t so lucky). They said my visa would be ready on Friday, although I cannot go back until next week with Ramón. Martha and I had time to even walk around the city and grab a late breakfast (compliments of the school budget). In San Miguel, I saw a ridiculous amount of people from the States. The most interesting sight was the JoCo-looking mom with Starbucks in her hand. Ah…there really is no place like home!

           I went to visit a church with my coworker, Ramón, but it did not compare with the church I went to on Sunday. So it was double confirmation that Trigo y Miel is where it’s at.

Day 18

           From start to finish this was one of my favorite days in Guanajuato. I went to work at the Tecnológico at about nine. For some reason, the university has a little bit of a high school feel. When I walk in, it feels like I just stepped into the scene of Mean Girls when they are walking down the hallway and everyone stops all conversation and stares. Then all of sudden you hear safari animals because all time practically stops. That is what it is like for me. But it is less animalistic and more amazement at my skin and my hair. However, after getting to know another class of students, I got less stares and more Hhhhellos. One of the highlights was when this precious and EXTREMELY shy girl came up to me in the library and told me that she desperately wants my help in learning English. I don’t know who told her about me, but I passed her my information and let her know the workshops will begin next week. So this is what being famous is like…

           In the afternoon, I got to hang out with Julieta again. She took me to the Pipila which is this statue of a Man holding a torch and it represents liberation. From the high altitude, you can see all of Guanajuato. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera! We then went out on the town and walked through the theater district. On the steps of Teatro Juarez there was an audience watching with awe the antics of a payaso (clown). Julieta asked me if I wanted to stop and I warned her that I was sure to be the brunt of a joke. Not even five minutes in, he easily spotted me and pulled me to the “stage”. There, he mimed a whole scene of us getting married—bridal veil and all. To think that was not enough, he mimed me getting pregnant and asks how many to which I (without thinking) put up the number three. So apparently you were all right. I got married in Mexico and am now pregnant with triplets who will grow up to be street performers like dad. Lucky me!

Day 19 (today)—Friday

           Went to work and finally was able to get a schedule for the rest of the semester. I will be giving weekly workshops to both teachers and students at the school. I am so excited for what is in store and how God is going to teach me through this experience.

           Tonight I will be going to a Messianic Jew workshop at the church and will be spending the night at Julieta’s!

Cultural Lesson Learned:

To get someone to come, Mexicans make a gesture that looks like they are patting a dog. To me, it looks like either go away or bend down. Well if you do the one finger come here motion that we do in the States it is supposedly flirty and should be accompanied with a wink. So I mistakenly hit on a few male students when asking them to come to the front. The ooooooooos and whistles from the class were enough to teach me the error of my ways. My bad!

Alright I’m out.

Sirenita