Sorry it has been a while!

Two weekends ago I went to Mexico City and saw the Pyramids at Teotihuacán. They were beautiful and amazing. I could not believe they were built by hand so long ago. They were so intricate and there was meaning behind everything they did. When my mom and brother come we are going to visit again. It has been one of my favorite places to visit so far. There were a lot of people trying to sell things there as well. They made me laugh because they tried to speak English to all of us. They would call out to me, “Hey Lady! Buy something nice for your boyfriend. Almost free!” Almost everyone we passed said that to us.
After the pyramids we had lunch at a restaurant in a hotel nearby. There was a buffet with different types of Mexican food and there was a band that played for us and traditional dancers.
After lunch we hopped back on the bus and went into Mexico City. The bus driver had the heat on and the bus was almost 90 degrees. It was disgusting. All of us were sweaty and cranky when we got off the bus. He must have figured it out when we all walked off the bus angry. My friends told him in Spanish to turn the heat off as well. We went and explored a church, some ruins, and the president’s old house. It was so beautiful. I felt awkward taking pictures in the churches because people were in there praying and preaching. They were magnificent though. Everything was so elaborate and decorated. There was a place outside where there was a hole in the sidewalk and there was glass over it. If you looked down you could see bones and skulls of dead people. I am not sure why it was there but it was creepy and it reminded me a lot of the movie Angles and Demons.
Later that week we went to a Queretaro soccer game. Queretaro’s team name is Gallos which is a chicken. What is with me always having horrible mascots? Chickens, Browns, Indians, Cavs, really though? Anyways, we placed the Pumas which are a really good team. We ended up winning 3-2. It was an intense game but a lot of fun. I felt like I was at a high school football game but times 100! Everyone was so into the game. They went crazy every 2 minutes and they had specific cheers for everything that happened. I loved the intensity of the crowd. They get into it like I get into my sports so I fit right in. I even learned a few cheers. I don’t know how many people watched Disney Channel movies when they were young but if you remember the one with the dance team. They had a coach with red hair and they all spoke Spanish and said ‘Si se puede’ (Yes he/she can). Well the point of this is that is one of the cheers they cheer at the game!
The game was on Wed. and on Thursday I went to the play Aida. My salsa instructors were in the play so a bunch of my friends and I went to support them. I had never heard of the play before and I really enjoyed it. It was in Spanish and I understood the majority of it. I may go to another play this Thursday.
Friday I took the bus home. I hit the button for the bus driver to stop at my stop. He looked at me and continued to go. He took me another five minutes down the road. I was so upset but I was glad I knew where it is was and it was in the afternoon. So frustrated I turn my ipod on and begin walking home. As I am walking a van pulls up next to me. I get nervous and just continue to walk until I hear someone call my name. I look and its my professor of my international business class. She asks if I am walking to the Tec and I told her I was just walking home to my house. She offered me a ride and I told her it was ok. She insisted and she drove me all the way home to my house. On the way home she asked if I have been to San Miguel yet, which is a town about 45 minutes from here. I told her no, but at my internship I translated a brouchre for a residential area in San Miguel called El Secreto. Turns out she owns a house in El Secreto. She then asked who set me up with the internship and I told her Carla, the woman who works in the international office. Ironically enough, my professor is Carla’s godmother. So it’s a small world after all! That is one thing about Mexico I love. People are friendly and would do anything for you. She could have easily drove by me and not even stopped. It was definitely a heartwarming moment and something like that would never happen in the US. I hope I can bring some of that kindness back with me!
Last weekend I went camping in Michoacán. It is a state in Mexico north of Queretaro. We stayed in a large cabin in the middle of the woods. It was on a farm with horses and cows. 27 of us went and here are the stats from the trip:
Quesadillas eaten: 230 pieces
Oranges made juice: 50kg (110 pounds)
Cups used: 200 pieces
Plates used: 275 pieces
Distance driven: 540 kilometers (335 miles)
Hours inside a car: 12 hours
Butterflies dead: 347,236 butterflies
Accidents: 4 accidents
Cars dead: 1 car
Cars wrecked: 1 car

To better explain, the first day we were there we went to see the Monarch butterflies. Every winter they migrate to the same place in Mexico. We drove there and saw them. It was unreal. The trees were orange that is how many there were. They were millions flying around everyone. It was beautiful but I would have much rather watched them behind glass or something. I did not like that they were flying at my face and trying to crawl on me and land in my hair. I am glad I went but it is one of those things I will never do again because I was so afraid of the butterflies.
On our drive back the car in front of us (a car that was in our group) had a fender bender with a van in front of them. There was nothing wrong with the car but a dent in the van. There were 2 women in the van and we drove out of the town and out of traffic to assess the situation. We offered the women 2000 pesos which was way more than enough to fix the dent. They refused and had the owner of the car call his insurance agency. Well in Mexico the insurance agency needs to come to the accident and look for themselves. The agency took over 2 hours to get there. So in the meantime we waited with our friends (the same people traveled in the same car all weekend) and played car games and made up a cheer for our car. We were team snakessssssss. Team snakes went to go get tacos and brought them back for the people in the car that got in an accident. At the taco stand we had tacos and burritos. The cook was so friendly and she loved us and our car cheers. She was interested in where we were from and how our trip was going. Anyways, when we come back with tacos the police and insurance agency are there. The police threatened to take the car away because an American was driving and she did not have her license. So they paid of the cops with 1000 pesos and the insurance agency estimated the damage at 1000 pesos. So in the long run we waited four hours and ended up paying just as much as if the women would have just taken the money in the first place. If anything they go the worst deal because they waited and go less money.
Later that night we went swimming and all hung out. My friend Owen had me laughing so hard that night I could not breathe. I do not think I have ever laughed so hard in my entire life. Our friend video taped him so hopefully it is on facebook soon.
The next day we went to the waterfall. We had to hike about 45 minutes in the woods to get to the waterfall. We had to cross the river two times and the current was strong and since it had rained a lot the water was up to my waist. It was definitely an adventure and a lot of fun. It reminded me of hiking in North Carolina when I was little. When we got back we packed up and headed home.
After my internship on Monday I began walking back to the Tec to catch the bus with a friend to go home. There is a hotel next to my internship and there was a car pulling out. It is a one way street and he was stopped. There was a ton of traffic so I decided to cross in front of him assuming since there was so much traffic he would not pull out. I was wrong. My left foot was in front of his car and he hit the gas. He ended up running over my left foot, hitting both of my knees, and my arm on the rearview mirror. I got so angry I hit his car with my fist. He stopped looked at me and then drove off. I did not fall over and I only have a small bruise on one knee so I am very lucky. I was more in shock that a car ran over my foot than anything else. Luckily Evan picked up the phone and calmed me down after it happened. I am alright though and feel fine. No pain and very minor bruising. But it is always a good story to tell!