Running Around Like a Chicken With its Head Cut Off

Dear Diligent Blog Followers,

I am so so sorry.  I know I have not been a good blogger lately.  I know I never tell you any awesome stories of my awesome life anymore.  I know I only post videos that don't make sense/apply to your life at this point.  I know that you are starting to get bored of seeing the same post at the top of the page day after day.  I know this, and I am sorry.  Let me explain.

Last week I went on pretty much the best vacation of my life.  I taught my niños for only three short days and then I was gone to Taxco/Cuernavaca/Puebla for what seriously seemed like a month.  Every single day was a week long and let me tell you, it was Heaven.  But, as you can imagine, trying to document an entire month of life is nearly impossible, and that is under normal circumstances.  My circumstances this week (This week?  Try for the past 2 and a half months!) have been anything but normal.

We started our "Summer" session of ILP so our morning schedule is changed.  Now I teach from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every other morning at Help, and then I have the same evening class from 5:30 to 7:30 (with two new students who are awesome).  Entonces, I really have a lot more time away from school now, but for some reason that does not translate to less busy.  In fact, I was busier this week than I have ever been.  In Mexico at least.  Would you like to hear how I spent my time the past 6ish days?

1.  I spent HOURS this week playing basketball, riding bikes, and playing at parks with at least two or more of the following:  Elvira, Jorge, Miguel, y Roberto (depending on the day).  Best time of my life.

2.  Soccer night on Tuesday with the teachers and then tacos afterwords.  And you know how I can't play soccer.  Well my fellow maestros like to humor me and tell me I'm such an awesome goalie every single time I lay a finger on the ball.  Seriously.  I got cheers from both teams.  It was great.

3.  We (me, Elvira, Miguel, Jorge, Evelia, y Berto) went to Transformers 3.  But first we stopped in at the arcade and played some games.  And despues we bought tons of nachos, y palomitas, y candy, y coca for all.  But water for me.  I like to be healthy.  Te he.

4.  Elvira and I went to a bachelorette party.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  I, Brittan, went to a bachelorette party while living in Mexico.  There may or may not have been a boy dancer dressed as a cowboy.  He may or may not have danced on everyone there, including me.  Bahaha.

5.  I dominated at Crash Team Racing, as usual.

6.  Yesterday I spent the entire day at a wedding (for the girl whose bachelorette party I attended).  That was quite the experience.  Evelia made me dress for the occasion.  As in, she had a square for fabric, and she turned it into a dress.  I chose the material.  It's purple.  And it's awesome.  They also bought me little silver zapatitas to go with it because the shoes I brought from the U.S. were really unsuitable.

7.  And I spent today con mi familia doing whatever, eating, playing games, watching Aladin, going to the centro, doing whatever, and eating some more.

I could literally turn any of those numbers into entire blog posts.  So do you see my dilemma?  I have to blog about a month of vacation, plus all of that?!?!?  I can't do it!  It overwhelmes me just thinking about it!  Plus, if I were to spend my time blogging and/or emailing for that matter, then I wouldn't be around for all the experiences I just mentioned, me entienden?

Entonces, I have decided to set my priorities and guess what.  Blogging is not number one.  It's not even number two.  Do you realize that I have exactly one month to the very numbered day (17th) and then I will be back in Utah for the rest of my life?  I don't want to spend my last month worrying about keeping up on my blog/emails and blah blah.  I want to spend it with my fam because, in case you can't tell, I LOVE THEM TO DEATH.  I always have such a great time with them and in one tiny tiny TINY month I will return to my old life and things will never ever be the same again.  I am going to miss all of this so much, you have no idea.  I just really really wish with all my heart that this next month could pass at snail pace, but guess what.  It won't.  So I'm going to do all I can to enjoy what little time I have.

And by enjoy, I don't mean blog.  I mean party hard with the family.  Okay?

Now, a few matters of business/clarification.  That does not mean I quit the blog.  Don't worry.  I will still post things.  But I'm pretty sure I will never get around to the awesome kinds of posts I was previously doing.  Those take time, which I clearly don't have.

Secondly, I really do appreciate all the support from you all, even though I probably don't act like it.  I read every comment and they always make me smile.

Ronda?  You are awesome.  You helped me get here and then you actually care about what I'm doing and all your comments make my day.

And Laurie?  Dang, sista, I am so sorry, you should have asked me for that bracelet like 2 days earlier because I have only seen those dudes on vacations and I just completed my last one, so I can nearly guarantee I will not see them again.  If I do, I will totally get you one, but don't count on it.

Grandma?  You read blogs?!  Whaaaat?  Thanks for your support, too.  I love you.

And Reagan!!  Okay here's the deal.  I can totally see you doing this.  Trust me, I wouldn't just say that to anyone, because not just anyone can.  Meckenzie, for example?  No.  I don't see her doing this.  But you?!?!?  Oh my gosh, YES!  Start saving.  You will not regret it.

Everybody else?  Don't worry, I didn't forget you.  Thank you for your support and love.  Truly.

Third matter of business.  In case you are wondering how my Spanish is coming along:  It's not.  I speak English at all times.  But guess what.  I made a commitment to my family last night/this morning that I will spend my last month learning/speaking Spanish.  I have already learned so much and it's only been one day.  This. is. awesome.

Last, and least?  The reason for the title of this post:

And you thought I was referring to my busy life.  Te he.

No but seriously, this horrified me.  And this guy is gentle about it.  You should have seen the first one I saw.  It was a girl doing it and she was pretty much a legit chicken killer.  I could not believe my eyes.  That's what happens at the sidelines of wedding preparations here in Mexico.

Alright, peace out, my friends.

Love, Brittan

Es Mi Turno

There is a little obsession going on around here and it's called the Color Code.  We teachers of English here in Tehuacan like to let our lives revolve around said code and guess what.  All the other bloggers have done a post about it.  So I figured it's my turn.


Here's the break down (in as little detail as possible).  Actually, you know what?  I was about to do all the work myself, but then I remembered what I just told you two seconds ago:  All the other teachers have already done it.  So I'm going to take the liberty of copy and paste and show you what Paige said about each color on her blog...


RED (Motive: POWER)—These are the power wielders. Power: the ability to move from point A to point B and get things done, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of vision and leadership and generally are responsible, decisive, proactive and assertive. 

BLUE (Motive: INTIMACY)—These are the do-gooders. Intimacy: connecting, creating quality relationships and having purpose, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of quality and service and are generally loyal, sincere, and thoughtful.

WHITE (Motive: PEACE)—These are the peacekeepers. Peace: the ability to stay calm and balanced even in the midst of conflict, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of clarity and tolerance and are generally kind, adaptable, and good-listeners.

YELLOW (Motive: Fun)—These are the fun lovers. Fun: the joy of living life “in the moment”, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of enthusiasm and optimism and are generally charismatic, spontaneous, and sociable.


Thanks Paige.  

So, ya.  All of us have taken the test and we all know each others' colors and we pretty much apply everything we do to what color we are and it. is. awesome.

That being said, please enjoy the following video taken on week four of our vacation:

If you didn't understand that, here's what went down:  I don't really know how it started, all I know is Hannah and I were sitting there and Emily says, "Two reds were sittin on a bench.  One said to the other..."  And then she and Hannah both said something at the same time.  Emily said, "Don't you hate everybody?"  And Hannah said, "What the H is she doing?"  

Funniest joke of my life.  In fact, funniest joke of all our lives combined.  So funny that we had to reenact it with camera in hand.  Thus, the above video.  

And that was the start of an entire day full of made up jokes about colors.  And they all apply specifically to someone(s) in our group, at one time or another.

Two blues sitting on a bus.  Their collars were choking them.

One yellow was talking to herself.  She laughed.

Oh man.  They really don't get old.  Sooo funny!

If you haven't had your turn obsessing about the Color Code, please take the opportunity to do so now.  Take the test, see what you are, make everyone currently present in your life take the test, see what they are, and then, when this fairytale life I live ends and I come home to all of you, and all I want to talk about is Mexico, and all you want to do is say, "Callate!". . . then maybe we can we can change the subject to the Color Code, but only for a few minutes.  


Sale?

Bueno.

*I didn't want to have to do this, because I feel like translations ruin the feel of Spanish on my Mexican blog, buuuuut this one is a tad hard for you non Mexican-readers, so here's a hint:  Sale is not like yard sale.  It's in Spanish.  A.k.a. Sah ley? And I don't really know how to spell it so that's my best guess.  Peace. 

I'm Alive My Friends

But here's the deal.  I don't want to blog about the vacation until I get sufficient pics, which I will be getting this evening.  So until then, here's a sneak peak:

Last Day at Discovery

NO TEACHING AND ALL FUN?!!?!?!?  Uh, best day of my life!

FYI I'm going on vaca for the rest of the week so don't bother checking my blog because this is all you're gonna get.

Peace out.

Lo Siento

I know you are probably disappointed in my lack of awesome stories lately.  Sorry, but I'm not gonna tell one today either.  I'll just provide visual evidence of my school life.  And my home life.  So you can see what my life is like.  A.k.a. awesome.

First, school.  This was Friday at approximately 5:45 p.m. when Rico was officially the only student in class for the day.

Te he.  He's a cutie.

Then there's the fam.  I love them.  They are ser-i-ous-ly THE BEST family in all of Mexico.  I can't handle it.  How did I get so lucky?!!?!?!?  So this was yesterday at la casa de los abuelitos.

Stuff like this happens at every family get together and it is so funny!  It started out as normal playing/messing around between Daniel and los niños, like Paco, Alejandro, y Itzel.  Then Roberto decided to go over there and show them what's up and it turned into this doggy pile frenzie in which every single person living and currently present at that house had to have their turn being attacked by the crowd, put down on the tile floor, and doggy piled on.

You what's the best about this family?  They chant for EVERYTHING!  I've told you that, right?  So they would find their next victim and start chanting their name.  One person would say, "Chucho! Chucho!"  And then everyone joins in chanting their name, "Chucho!  Chucho!"  And then everyone grabs said person, puts them on the floor, and attacks.  Seriously, no one is exempt.  Not even me.  In fact, especially not me.  I was one of the first, so after a while, when more and more people joined in, everyone kept trying to chant my name because they missed my turn the first time.  Roberto, who was the leader of this attack-the-fam session, kept telling them I had already gone.  But then Sesar started chanting my name.  "Breetahn!  Breetahn!  Breetahn!"  And everyone joined in.  Even Roberto.  Thus I went twice.  And then everyone else went twice.  It just doesn't get old.

Diego, Roberto, y Meeee.

OJ in a bolsa at age 19

Today everyone's favorite Teacher Página turns 20.

Which means yesterday was our last day being 19 together.

Which means we had to celebrate.

And what better way to celebrate being 19 in Mexico than buying freshly squeezed orange juice in a bag?!

13 pesos each, my friends.

This country is legit.

A List of Twelve

Here are some random things about Mexico that I don't want to forget:

1.  When a car let's you in, you show the back of your hand as gratitude.
2.  There are stray dogs wandering everywhere.  I see them all the time.  The just walk around or sleep in the sun, or really do whatever they want.
3.  When you want someone to "come here" you wave your hand down.  You know, kind of like how we would motion someone to "sit down" or something.
4.  There are combies (don't know how to spell that) used as public transportation and let me tell you, these things are legit.  I've only been in one once, but Timber rides one twice a day.  They are little van things that drive all around the city.  If you want to get in one, you stand at the side of the street and put your hand in the air, motioning it to stop for you.  The driver has the door open for you before he even stops and then he's going again, with the door still open, and you still trying to sit down.  It's so cool.
5.  There are always people selling things at gas stations.  Well, getting gas is just a different experience all together.  First of all, there are workers there that do it for you.  So you pull up, turn off your car, roll down your window, and tell the worker how much money's worth of gas you want.  He then proceeds to fill it up while you listen to the little vendors tell you why their items are exactly what you want to buy.  That's how I got the awesome foot keychain currently on my backpack.  Other items purchased while sitting in the car at a gas station?  Flowers and mini-flashlights.  Awesome.
6.  There are always guys standing in the intersections trying to earn money.  Most of them clean your windshield and they will do it without prior consent so make sure you always have a few pesos stashed somewhere.  But if not, you can always give them a fruit or something (since we all have a fruit stash in our car), and that'll suffice.  Besides cleaning windshields, there are guys selling random things like little trinkets or fruit or nopalis or other things of the like.  And everything is so so cheap, I don't get how they even make any money.  There are also guys who play with fire and things.  They are the best.  We've tipped them before because they are that awesome.  Someday I will get a picture of them.
7.  You can't just wear bare feet around the house, or around the anywhere for that matter.  Shoes or slippers or something for crying out loud is always necessary.  Always.
8.  There are guys riding bicycle things around the streets all the time selling things, and they always call out over speaker.  My favorite thing to hear is, "Tomales, tomales."  You should hear it.  I'll have to do it for you when I get home.  It's awesome.  I heard it for weeks before I finally asked Elvira what they were saying.  Now I understand.
9.  If you drink a cold drink, you may get a cold.  That's what happened to me.  One day I woke up with a cold and my family said to me, "Oh no!  It's because we went to el mercado yesterday and you were really hot and then we got home and gave you that drink with ice in it!"  And for the next week they would not let me have ANYTHING even slightly cold because I was sick and that would just make it worse.  It was adorable.
10.  To not care about something is offensive.  Which totally sucks because I say, "I don't care" all the time.  And it's not the mean way, it's like anyone would say it in the U.S.  Do you want a fork or a spoon?  Oh I don't care, just pick one.  Do you want it in English or Spanish?  Either one, I don't care.  No.  You need to choose or find different words to use or something because I don't care just doesn't cut it.
11.  The combustable gas truck is always driving down the street and it plays the same tune over and over.  And this tune is like one line long.  So I'll sing it for you when I get home because I'm sure it's ingrained in my head for the rest of eternity.
12.  Girls that are always worrying about their looks, and walk around on high heels with their nose held high and flip their hair left and right and act all prissy and things?  Those are called Fresa.  FYI that translates to Strawberry.  There's Spanish slang for ya.  Remember drunk man's model girlfriend?  Elvira later told me that she is a strawberry.  Te he.

Alright that's all I can think of right now.  Life is fab.

Now that it is officially July, I am coming home next month.  Ew.  This is not possible.  It can't be over that soon.  I need more time.

The other day I was laying in bed and thinking to myself.  "In one month it will be the end of July.  Then I will only have a couple weeks left.  I only have a month and a half left!"  And then guess what happened to me.  You know how you think about something you are dreading and you feel that pit in your stomach?  That's what I felt.  Because that is so so so soon and I do not want to come home!  I love this life so much and it will be over forever in a month and a half?!?!?!?  Blast.  I just have to enjoy it while it lasts I guess.  And trust me, I will.