March 28, 2009

My bad, this is so late. The thing is the weekend actually kept me quite busy. But on to the interesting part of the weekend which would be Saturday afternoon where in we went to the cenotes!

Chelsea and I met Megan at the cathedral and took a little walk over to catch a combi which cost us all of 14 pesos for an hour ride to Cuzumá. When we got there, we were let out and there were a bunch of people with bicycle taxis waiting for us.

Chelsea and Megan each chose different bicycle taxis, but they fit two people each, which left me with the exceptionally difficult job of making a decision. The kid behind Chelsea was…exactly that, a kid, but normally I would ride with her. Megan helped out and said she would go by herself so I sat with Chelsea. Well, the two of us laughed the entire way at ourselves, the entire way being 5 km with this poor kid who was pushing us. We weren’t really sure if he was going to make it. But surprisingly, he managed.

When we got to the end of the road, we hopped into a cart with a pony that began the trek to the first cenote. We got to spend 30 minutes at each cenote which I think was actually just enough.

The cenotes were so interesting because while it was sweltering outside, when you went down into them they were so much cooler, then plus the water it was very refreshing. The water was so clear you could see straight to the bottom. Absolutely beautiful.

While we were there, there were also a couple of daredevils who climbed up some of the rocks and back flipped into the water. We clapped…so I kind of felt like a bit of an enabler but it was actually really neat to watch while I was glad for the first time that my guy friends from home weren’t here so that I didn’t have to worry about them getting similar ideas into their heads.

With that said, we made the rounds to the other two cenotes, all of which had a different appearance and charm before heading back to the bike taxis where Angel (the boy) and the other guy waited for us. They drove us back (this time Chelsea and Megan rode together with the other guy so it wasn’t quite as difficult for Angel, and we made it back, took a convi and came back to Merida.

You can find the pictures here on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028672&id=47802150&l=bd46b25b55

Cheers! <3>

March 27, 2009

Today I played hookie from school. It was only one class and I’ve yet to miss so I thought I’d take a three day weekend and save myself the 16 pesos to get there. So the morning was spent relatively lazily in my room reading, e-mailing, etc.

After lunch, Chelsea and I went on a wild goose chase to find tickets to a soccer game. This was kind of not smart of us because it was over 40 degrees celcius (over 100 degrees out) and we were walking around trying to figure out where we were going. Also when we got there just before 4 the place was closed.

Then we went to Grand Plaza where Chelsea got her hair cut and dyed grey. No, it was not supposed to be grey, they were supposed to make highlights it just turned into a disaster. But it’s all good, we got it, because, thanks to prior disastrous highlighting experience, I knew enough to get them to change it. Now it looks quite nice and the cut is really cute.

Since it was 8:30 by the time all that was finished, we went to the food court and got dinner. I ordered a spicy chicken sandwich…and ended up with some sort of burger. Yeah…I…don’t entirely get it either. We’ve really have excellent luck the two of us. The good thing is that in the end the hair turned out alright. =)

On the other hand, I just got an e-mail telling me my coke points are going to expire. Despite the large amounts of cocacola I’ve drank down here, they don’t participate in this points awarding system. So. You know, if you don’t happen to have a coke account yourself, but happen to have a code laying around that you feel like passing off to me so my points don’t expire on the 3^rd, that’d be pretty super sweet of you.

And I think that’s about it. Haha. Would reaaaaallly like some super sweet streak of good luck right arouuuuunnnddd now. We’re going to visit some cenotes tomorrow and hopefully nothing bad will happen. We’re going to cross our fingers (and not get them slammed into car doors or anything like that. We’ll make sure to take extra caution since the way things have been going of late haven’t proven to be particularly auspicious). I’m actually not as bitter as I probably sound. I’m kind of looking at the day as a “wow, it really didn’t go our way, did it?” and laughing to myself. So no worries. But really. Hope things go well tomorrow.

Cheers <3>

March 24, 2009

The goal for the day was to do laundry. That, at least, was achieved. The other, somewhat secondary goal was to find tickets for this soccer game in Cancun. That was not achieved. Chelsea and I went to this place in Plaza Fiesta where supposedly they would sell them but they didn’t. On the other hand, Chelsea did some investigating/asked someone else who gave us another location that we just have to find at some point. We can go check there then at some point in time.

Unfortunately, it was a work day. I actually set up the hammock in my room and got to work (now some of you think I’m being sarcastic but no, I sat in the hammock and read for 2 hours until I got a phone call from Mandy saying that they were going to the Centro for banana splits if I wanted to come along. It was kind of her birthday yesterday so I did. That kind of was a 3 hour trip (2 hours in the bus, 1 hour there…ah so pathetic). That kind of left me doing homework til 2- 2:30 in the morning. Which was a little unfortunate but that’s okay.
Cheers <3 Kate

March 23, 2009

Woo. Monday. Actually I’m pretty sure I was relieved that the weekend was over, even if that meant the beginning of the week. Weird right? Yeah, it’s cool, though.

The morning started out with a lovely weirdness between me and Pichel who I inadvertently ran into when I was trying to buy a can of tea, and by ran into I mean we made eye contact and I was pretty much just at a loss for what to do so I just nodded in acknowledgement. Well what was I supposed to do?

In the end, we resolved things…I think. And I’m pretty sure we can still be friends…even though he apparently isn’t going to be getting back to his house each day until 2 AM until sometime in july. Today excluded. I’m sorry honey, but I have a headache tonight… *cough* I mean I’m sure that’s entirely the case, but whatever ^.~

Ehm, so I did Mayan Civ homework in Cavernas…and then realized I did it wrong and had to redo it before/during Mayan Civ. It’s cool though there were no problems. During our break in Mayan Civ though I felt like soap opera/ telenovela because I was suddenly the center of attention explaining the drama between Pichel and I. It wasn’t really drama at this point, but it was something of an involved story, ne? Hehe pretty funny.

Anway after class we met up with Saidi and Oswaldo and decided we were going to go to the Soriana and get kraft macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. We brought them back to my house and ate them. It was pretty cool, not like…super cool, probably not quite as neat as your thinking but hey at least it was something.

That pretty much took up til like 9:30, and then I fooled around on the internet, talked briefly with Lee on AIM and J too. J I actually ended up calling. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be the best judge of my Spanish…and it didn’t sound supppppper terrible when I was talking with him surprisingly. Conclusion? It might have something to do with my confidence level, who knows. I mean, I feel like maybe it’s slipped a tad, but maybe it’ll go back to normal at least when I get back to the United States. Ugh so inconvenient though, for real. Anyway so we talked for an hour. And now it’s time for bed. I’m not going to be a very happy camper I’m going to have a lot of work tomorrow. And I seriously need to take my laundry to the laundry mat. I’ve been saying that for half a week now which is a super-bad sign. Yeah. I know I’m concerned, too.

Pues I think that’s about it. I hope all is well at home. Dad I still didn’t get that e-mail sent. Maybe tomorrow. Quite possibly more likely Thursday. As you can see I was quite busy today. My dying Spanish takes precedence just because it’s more of an immediate concern. Hehe.

Love to All,
Kate <3

String of Bad Luck

. . . I’m not really even sure how to begin this post, except to kind of repeat the title. It would seem that I’ve contracted a case of bad luck. Friday night, after posting, I went to go to Alta Brisa. I can take 2 buses to get there, it’s relatively close to my house (not walking distance, but like, still fairly close). So 2 buses, the circuito metropolitano, or the 52 norte. The 52 norte would only cost 3 pesos because I have my student ID. Well I just missed it when I walked out to the bus stop (by like, 2 seconds missed it). But that’s okay. Then another one comes by 10 minutes later. … This apparently is not like all the other 52 Norte Buses, as it turned and started taking me in the opposite direction.

So we went for a few minutes I had no idea where I was. Then we pulled out onto Prolongacion Montejo, which is a main street. I got off there, knowing that other 52 Norte buses (the normal ones) go by there. So I kind of dallied a little, but it was getting dark, and I didn’t fancy just waiting on the side of the road so I began to walk in what I knew was the direction of home. Finally I sat down at a bus stop with this other lady for 20 minutes waiting for a bus. No dice. I have no idea what happened to the buses during this time, but they were clearly missing. So I got up and started walking.

45 minutes after getting off the first bus, I’m on the main road that runs by my house, finally a 52 Norte bus passes. Well… it did just that. Passed me. I flagged it, it kept going. Seriously? Like for real?

Eventually I made it up to where my house is and took a circuito though I got off a tad early (it’s hard to gauge that in the dark) and got to the mall. Well at this point, I’m super late, there’s nothing really to do, we sat down, I ate a little because I was just so off kilter, and then we turned around and all went home.

Saturday.

Get up at 4 AM to see the equinox. This is supposed to be the change in bad luck. Get up, out of the house, we’re good. Get to the place we’re supposed to meet up with this group Merida Como Te Quiero which is going to take us for free at 4:45. Chelsea and I grab muffins from 7/11. We’re supposed to leave at 5 AM. …We left at 6:15. The sun came up. We didn’t see the equinox event.

Instead, we walk around the ruins which not too many of us had much interest in doing, but it was okay actually ‘cause we made the best of it. Took some pictures which can be found here : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028462&id=47802150&l=81b63ad7f4 The story is kind of told in the captions on the photos there too.

After Dzibilchaltun we went to the beach. Well we stopped in Progreso for 30 minutes, where we were told we could grab something to eat so we did, and then got back on the bus where they gave us a sandwich *hangs head* fail. We were under the impression we were going to get food from them a little later, at say…2. Otherwise we wouldn’t’ve eaten anything.

So then we went to the beach. And that was pretty good for the most part, but in an attempt to save myself a little bit of typing, I’m just going to copy/paste an e-mail regarding the tale at the beach:

Scott: Lol what about taking pictures with random girls? Does that happen to you a
lot?

My Response:
No, I can't say it happens to me a lot. It was really weird. We were just chillin' on the beach and, (something that is quite common) someone came over and started chatting me up, and I lied (I know I'm sorry >.< but sometimes it's just so much easier than explaining "no i don't want to date you, you're 30 some years old" etc) about having a boyfriend in the states, and eventually he left. Then, the unusual began. The kid, pretty cute, came over and asked for a lighter while Laurie and I were sitting there, and we didn't have one, but Chandra, the other girl who was still in the ocean I knew would have one so I let him borrow hers (in retrospect this in and of itself was out of character for me, why would i help someone out with their cigarette problem...? don't let that get out). So we went back to talking when he returned to his friend and towel which were fairly close to us. And not very long later, like 5 minutes, he came back and asked for it again, then he asked for my name, and I told him it was Kate, thinking this is the same general chat up, whatever. He goes back to his towel.

Then I hear "Kate!" And i turn, and he and his buddy hold up a beer can, offering it, and I say no, not a fan, and time goes on. Then they came over when Chelsea was at the towel, Laurie had gone with Chandra somewhere, and asked Chelsea to take their picture with me. Odd much? Yeah. Well then there was like this swarm of people over when they returned to their towels, and they all proceeded to hang out til it was near time to go, at which point they were like "can we have a picture?" And then there were three pictures taken, 2 with 2 guys and 1 with only 1 guy. Kinda felt like i was in a zoo.

I mean, I asked at some point I was like "what's the deal...why do you want a picture?" and they're like "as a recuerdo" like a memory token... It was *really* weird. So yeah. If you come across some weird photos of me with strange guys...now you know the real story. Hopefully they won't show up somewhere and end up haunting me. That would be bad.
/end correspondence.

So that was the beach. Then we came back, I got dressed, uploaded my photos from my cameras to my computer, made it so they were all facing the correct directions then somehow accidently deleted them all. Yeah. So then I did it all over again and recommenced the editing process. I got a shower, ate a little dinner, and then that’s when I started talking with Saidi and Oswaldo (well…mainly Oswaldo since apparently Saidi and I can’t communicate well on the phone). They were asking why I hadn’t called, which, I had said I would when we got to El Centro but we never actually went since we got off at Grand Plaza shopping mall to go home. So they were supposed to come with us to the beach but didn’t even after they made a big deal of saying they were going to (which Laurie will vouch for). They were like “yeah let’s do something tonight” so I told them about this Salsa and Sabor thing we had already bought tickets to. Sweet. We’ll meet at the Cathedral at 8:30.

Chelsea and I got to the Cathedral at about 8:35, Saidi arrived at 10 til 9. And finally we got in touch with Oswaldo, they were waiting for the bus, didn’t end up getting there until 9:30 (the thing was supposed to start at 9).

In the mean time, we were talking with Saidi, and she commented about how she has a hard time understanding me, and as we concluded, it’s because of the way I’m not pronouncing the R. Something has changed since we first got here, because she was saying she remembered how it wasn’t so hard to understand me before, and now it’s really hard. And I agree. My Spanish sounds horrific now (for some reason mom it didn’t sound so bad most of the time while you were here, I don’t know why). But it really grates on my ears to hear myself talk, and similarly I think it is the R. Like, I have a hard time saying “padre.” Yeah. I sound like I’ve taken Spanish for 3 years…even though I’m sure I sounded a lot better when I was in Spanish III.

So with that in mind, 3 hours of sleep, having gotten up at 4 AM, I was, as I put it then, a little “desanimada” Pretty sure I didn’t want to do anything. And it sucked because Chelsea and I had already bought tickets. But at least if we didn’t go we wouldn’t have to spend money on a taxi to get home. Eventually it was decided we would just leave. I had Saidi treating me like I was 2 years old. It was time for bed.

We got on the 52 Norte. Remember how I said it was 3 pesos with the student ID? The bus driver was just like “5 pesos” and I was like “what? Why isn’t the student ID valid?” And he gave me some answer I didn’t understand that was really short, so we had to pay the 5 pesos. Now, 2 pesos really isn’t that big of a deal. But after a day like this, surely you can see where that would be some icing on the cake. Freakin’ A.

And that’s that. A lot of bad luck, some of it’s done and over with but I still can’t speak Spanish. Anyway, enjoy the pictures at least I suppose. I think I’m going to ask Diana about the Spanish thing.
--Kate.

PS: check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_E9SBfWPNg

March 20, 2009

Well, I don’t have a whole lot of really interesting stuff to report. In other the news, Pichel suddenly has a girlfriend and I’m kind of under the impression we’re not so much going to be doing a lot of the hanging out. So that’s…rather unfortunate. And weird because I found out via facebook which was just…funny, really, when it came down to it last night.

Annnnyway. I think the whole napping thing is reaaaaally gonna have to stop. Actually this week I think my sleep schedule has just been off but as I’m writing I’m a little groggy with sleep. Oswaldo and Saidi invited me to go to the movies but I don’t think I’m gonna go because I don’t have a ton of money just hanging around for the rest of this month, ya know what I mean, bean? I actually just had to recharge my phone again last night, which was amusing because I got caught in the middle of a txt messaging conversation without any minutes left so I had to walk over to the Extra at like 11 o’clock and get more minutes. I actually ran into the guy who served us at the Antesala (since that’s on the way and he was cleaning up shop). We’re basically pals now. Or at least I’m recognized. Unfortunately it’s like 2/3 times I’ve worn sweatpants while being here and it’s been those two nights. Oh well, not like I need to make an impression. Don’t you guys go getting your hopes up he’s probably old enough to be my dad. Just seems like a nice guy. As for Saidi and Oswaldo, that’s okay, I don’t really feel like going to the movies anyway, though I do sort of feel like getting out of my room since, besides class this morning and lunch this afternoon that’s where I’ve been all day. Hehm…

Chelsea’s host mom has an art exhibit thing that she’s going. I’m not sure if it’s kind of more of an invite-only type thing; Chelsea asked if I was invited and I had no idea. See here’s where you need that other person who’s doing something interesting on a Friday night (but not too late ‘cause I don’t wanna be dying tomorrow).

In the course of this week I think I went from really being like 'yeah mexico is pretty sweet, this is what it was supposed to be like' to particularly homesick this morning. Thing's have pretty much leveled off at this point, I think we're good. It's kind of unfortunate though because I was something of a fan of the enthusiasm for being here. Mighty, mighty unfortunate. Well not like all is lost or anything like that. I mean i'm still looking forward to stuff, it's just now all like big "going and doing" type things instead of the day-to-day interaction stuff which is normally where I get my kicks lol.

mmmmm yeah so I think that's about all I got for ya. Just lettin' you know i haven't abandoned you (or writing) altogether, hehe. Cheers~

Hope all is well in the U S of A.
<3 Kate

March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patricks day. Apparently that is so totally not a big deal at all here. Much more popular in the states. But clearly, as a very Irish person (my last name being what it is etc). Annyway, originally the plan was to try to find this crazy place that I’ve never seen but have heard of called O’Taco (like O’Reilly in case you didn’t catch on). Supposedly they serve Irish Tacos. I’m pretty sure no one in Ireland knows what an Irish taco is, but either way it would’ve been fun.

Unfortunately, however, no one actually knew where exactly it was. Somewhere in Pensiones apparently. Not exactly the most helpful thing in the world since that’s apparently a very large neighborhood type thing. So instead we just went to a place in El Centro.

It was really cool though because Pichel brought two friends, and Mallory, Mandy, Laurie, Chelsea, Nandini and Gustavo were there (sorry if I’m forgetting some one). But we just chilled there for a few hours talking, it was nice to meet some more people and you know…actually speak in Spanish. Over all I’d say it was a very successful day. =)

<3 Kate