A rough week

I realize that it has been awhile since I wrote anything. The last week I have spent trying to figure out an itenerary for the rest of my trip and runnning into roadblocks. Another issue is that I am the only student currently going to my school, making practice difficult. This week I may spend some time looking at other schools, but today I reqested that my friend, who is also a teacher at my school, be my conversation teacher. If that happens, I will probably stick with this school. Afterall, I am getting private and individualized lessons!
I know that I am learning some Spanish, but it feels like I am still in the dark most of the time. I know that I am understanding more, but speaking is another matter.
As for posting pictures. It is difficult to do, so I probably won´t be able to very often.
There are many things that I wish were easier, but then it wouldn´t be Mexico.

Finally...

These are my friends Nora and Ireni at Monte Alban. This is an old city of the Zaptec people and is about 20 minutes away from Oaxaca.

This is the view of Oaxaca from Monte Alban

This is my friends Nora and Matt. We were at a bar in Oaxaca. The beer on the left is good...Indio.

This is hilarious! It was a celebration for taxis. All the taxis in the city were decorated with ballons and flowers. They use any reason to have a fiesta!

The first week

I have been in Oaxaca for a week now. In that time I have been to a birthday party of one of my teachers (who is 25 years old), been out to the bars twice, been running three times, and have discovered that I am in way over my head when it come to learning spanish. I keep telling myself I need to take baby steps, but it is so hard when all I want to do is have basic communication skills.
I love my daily walks to school and my three course lunch at my house. Yesterday I went with some friends to a market that only happens on Fridays. It had clothes, food, music, and lots of trinkets. I had my first Mexican tamale. It was good with chilis on it. After that we walked to the Zocolo, or downtown area, where there is a big square. This is the touristy part of town with lots of nice restaurants and shops. I read in my guidebook about how Oaxaca had lots of quaint restaurants and shops, but had yet to see any. Yesterday, I discovered what the book was talking about. I liked it, but it was strange to be around all the tourists after being with only Mexicans for the last week.
Today, I think that I am going to try and see a movie. I guess that they have Spanish subtitles. Should be good for me.
I am going to keep trying to find a way to post pictures, but at this point I have not been able to figure it out.

No hablo Espanol...

I landed in Oaxaca two days ago and have been trying to find my way since. Basically, nobody speaks English....including my teachers and housemother. It has been fairly frustrating and I have been reduced to tears at least three times so far. However, I have to remind myself that I was not in this to take the easy road. I am truly doing Spanish immersion!

I have not figured out how to upload pictures yet, but will investigate more as I get more comfortable here. Oaxaca is a medium size city, fairly poor, with small streets and somewhat run down buildings. There is also a lot of beauty. The churches are amazing with intricate designs. My house is very colorful and decorative. I think of it as my own Casa Azul, only it is orange. I feel safe there...which means a lot. Overall, I have felt safe everywhere....just out of my element.

My hope is in the next week I will feel more at ease then I do now. Thank goodness for another student named Matt from San Jose. He has been a lifesaver for learning some of the basics.

More later...

My goodbye party

We had dinner at Nolas, a yummy creole restaurant in Palo Alto.  This is a group of some very amazing people! I will miss everybody.  

I felt like it was my birthday!  This is an ice-cream, brownie, chocolate desert.  Enough for everyone to share.

It was so special to have everyone make the effort to come and say goodbye. Thank you to all that came!  I appreciate it more than you know.  Who knows...maybe I'll be back.  However, hold a day position open for me. No more night shift for me!