And I don't mind it.
I can't say that I love it yet, because I am still in some sort of shock and I am processing it all, but I think I'm okay right now. I've only been here for three days and I have had so much happen to me already! When I was in the SLC Airport, I passed through the revolving security scanner thing, the security guard looked at me as I was stepping out and said, "Welcome to Portland."
And I thought something had gone horribly wrong.
Also, the volunteer program representative that was supposed to be there with all my paperwork and documentation to get into Mexico wasn't there at first. So, me in a blind panic, I go up to some random old dude and tearfully ask to borrow his phone. The poor guy probably would have given me his own plane ticket.
Not having a cell phone sucks balls!
It all ended up working out and I got to my connecting flight from Phoenix with only 5 minutes to spare where I met up with 2 other volunteers in my program, Davina and Ashlynn. I fell asleep on the flight to Mexico, even though I had a window seat. (I can't sit still for more than a few hours without going crazy and needing something to distract me from sitting still. Windows are my lifeline on buses and planes.)
I kept falling asleep so deeply that I'd forget that I was on a plane and when there would be turbulence I would jump awake all panicky and startle the poor Mexican woman sitting next to me. I still kinda feel bad for her. Haha
We landed in Mexico City, made it through customs and I learned my lesson about bringing all the supplies for the school in a second suitcase.
While I was waiting in line for the bathroom to freaking pee, some drunk dude was causing a scene and tons of security had to run over and escort him out. He was shouting some pretty choice cuss words!
Welcome to Mexico!
We then found an employee from the school we would be teaching at, Edwin (see also: man whore) and he got us onto a bus that took us to the city of Puebla to catch our connecting bus to Tehuacan, where we would be living until May.
The second bus from Puebla to Tehuacan was, uh, interesting. I was seated next to this old Mexican guy that WOULD NOT STOP TALKING TO ME. I just wanted to freaking finish reading my book and he just kept asking me questions about it and I was like, "I don't even know how to explain this book to you in English, let alone Spanish, hombre."
He then kept getting WAAAY to familiar with me and grabbed my hands and told me my small hands were pianist’s hands. He kept asking me if I played the piano. Super weirded out I just pulled my hand back and said, "Um. Gracias?"
He then held my hand and told me we were making memories and he then kissed my cheek and kept trying to go in for a real kiss! I was just so shocked and terrified that I didn't know what to do or how to say, "Back off creep before I cut off your hand and super glue it to those lips you keep trying to kiss me with."
He freaking kept pinching my arm too! I was like, "Uh. Please stop." Finally after him keeping on about the kissing thing I told him, "No. No, gracias." And I tried to explain that in America we don't do that. We shake hands. He kind of backed off, but I was a little traumatized and praying to God that we were almost to our destination. Which, luckily, we were!
We got off the bus where our host families were waiting for us and the Area Advisor in our program sorted us into our host families.
I felt like Penny from The Rescuers and that I
was being adopted or something. Just instead of cute mice from Australia, I had
cockroaches from Mexico.
This wasn't looking too good.
My host family doesn’t speak any English, aside from the 16 year old daughter. And they were grinning from ear to ear as they helped me put my luggage into their car. They kept going on about how they couldn't believe how old I was and how long and beautiful my hair was. And what color were my eyes again? They kept going on about how small and young I look. I just smiled and nodded, really having no idea how to communicate with these people in their language.
They took me to some shady back ally street place and bought me Esquites (a Styrofoam cup half filled with straight Mayonnaise and half filled with corn and chili powder) it was freaking nasty. I was chewing this mint gum and didn't want litter and spit it out onto the street so I just kept it in my mouth and tried to eat this disgusting concoction that they all seemed to love at the same time. Mint gum and Mayo corn don't go well together.
I was just a little more traumatized after eating this thing.
Their entire extended family then came and met up with us in the street and they were all taking pictures with me. They kept pushing me at this Uncle guy to take pictures with him and he kept blushing and saying stuff in rapid Spanish to everyone that I couldn't understand. I couldn't help but think, Dear Lord. Don't tell me they signed up as a Host family to get this guy an American girlfriend. I will freaking kill myself. This is way too Better Off Dead for me. I feel like that poor Foreign French exchange student that had the hard on for John Cusack the entire movie. EXCEPT I DON'T HAVE A FREAKING JOHN CUSACK TO BACK ME UP.
I finally just faked a headache and they eventually took me to their house. When we walked inside the dad told me that I would be sleeping on the couch. I think he was hoping to get a reaction out of me and I honestly was too tired to care. I would have curled up on the floor to sleep if I had to. I just looked at him and asked, "Okay, where do I change my clothes?" Pouting that I didn't freak out, he took me to my bedroom on the roof and the family said their good nights and I passed out.
Overall, I get the feeling I am never going to be the same after this. I hope that's a good thing!
M Out!
This wasn't looking too good.
My host family doesn’t speak any English, aside from the 16 year old daughter. And they were grinning from ear to ear as they helped me put my luggage into their car. They kept going on about how they couldn't believe how old I was and how long and beautiful my hair was. And what color were my eyes again? They kept going on about how small and young I look. I just smiled and nodded, really having no idea how to communicate with these people in their language.
They took me to some shady back ally street place and bought me Esquites (a Styrofoam cup half filled with straight Mayonnaise and half filled with corn and chili powder) it was freaking nasty. I was chewing this mint gum and didn't want litter and spit it out onto the street so I just kept it in my mouth and tried to eat this disgusting concoction that they all seemed to love at the same time. Mint gum and Mayo corn don't go well together.
I was just a little more traumatized after eating this thing.
Their entire extended family then came and met up with us in the street and they were all taking pictures with me. They kept pushing me at this Uncle guy to take pictures with him and he kept blushing and saying stuff in rapid Spanish to everyone that I couldn't understand. I couldn't help but think, Dear Lord. Don't tell me they signed up as a Host family to get this guy an American girlfriend. I will freaking kill myself. This is way too Better Off Dead for me. I feel like that poor Foreign French exchange student that had the hard on for John Cusack the entire movie. EXCEPT I DON'T HAVE A FREAKING JOHN CUSACK TO BACK ME UP.
I finally just faked a headache and they eventually took me to their house. When we walked inside the dad told me that I would be sleeping on the couch. I think he was hoping to get a reaction out of me and I honestly was too tired to care. I would have curled up on the floor to sleep if I had to. I just looked at him and asked, "Okay, where do I change my clothes?" Pouting that I didn't freak out, he took me to my bedroom on the roof and the family said their good nights and I passed out.
Overall, I get the feeling I am never going to be the same after this. I hope that's a good thing!
M Out!
No comments:
Post a Comment