50 days left!!!

So the countdown begins. I have 50 days left in Sahuayo, Mexico, then it's back on the plane, and back to Ontario.

I've been quite homesick lately. Damien left just over a week ago, and it's been really different without him being here. Everything is starting to irritate me a bit more, like the CONSTANT fireworks that seem to be going off (yesterday was some holiday or another, but there seems to be a celebration every day or two, and May is supposed to be even worse than most months, so I'd better wash off those earplugs that have been sitting on my floor...)

The weather is pretty much sorching every day. Our apartment, which used to be nice and cool because of the marble floors, is starting to become in a permanent state of unpleasantly hot... And that means, the coocarachas are coming out full force!! Yesterday I went into my bathroom and turned on the lights, but as I stepped forward, I accidently squished one, and it turned on its back, with its legs up in the air, in a pretty clear state of death, so I went to pick it up with a piece of toilet paper, and it then started scurrying away again!!! I screamed, needless to say... We have these little dough balls, that apparantly have poison which is supposed to attract, then kill them, but so far all the little dough balls all around the house lay by themselves, without the corpses that they are supposed to have surrounding them.

Anyway, life isn't as terrible today as it was yesterday. I am still generally enjoying myself. Last weekend Jen and her friend who owns a music store in Sahuayo, Victor and I went to Uruapan, via Paracha. They make BEAUTIFUL handmade guitars in Paracha, and so of course, mine in Canada being broken, I had to buy myself a new guitar using my birthday money. Thanks so much grandma and grandpa and mom and dad!!! It's gorgeous, and sounds beautiful and resonant, so now I have something to do with my evenings before I go to bed. I am quite anti-social, it seems (I know you don't believe me, dad, but it's true!) Jen and Lauren have friends over almost every night, but after dinner, I tend to just want to go relax in my room, so it's nice to now have an excuse to leave... "Well, I'm going to play my guitar" instead of just "I'm going to bed. Goodnight." So now I don't seem as boring, perhaps. Haha.

On Tuesday we had a day off from school, because of Labour Day, here in Mexico. I have a mother and daughter in my morning Colors Basic class, and they had invited me the day before, to their farm. So, on Tuesday afternoon, they showed up on their motorbike (or I guess maybe they're called mopeds) and I hopped on. It's pretty much the most common way of travelling around here, but it was the first time I'd ridden one! It was such fun!!! So when we arrived at their "farm" it ended up being more like a ranch-resort! Beautiful huge pool with about 3 different sections (a smaller wading pool like thing, for the kids, another side part, with a bridge over top, and then the main big part) and a huge chalet house, with a large open section with lots of long tables and chairs to seat all of the huge family and extended family, as well as a couple of bathrooms and bedrooms, and another side building for the kids to play nintendo in. The yard was beautifully landscaped by the mother of the family (oh to be a homemaker...) covered in cactuses, bushes, trees, and even small orchards of all kinds of things (apples, oranges, limes) and some which I didn't even recognize. At the back of the property, where I thought it ended, there was a gate, and the woman asked me, "you want to see the animals?" so we went through the gate, and there were huge cages of individually separated roosters, and also cages of hens and chicks. Also, a few peacocks roaming around, and in cages. I asked her if they eat the eggs, and she said no, and that she didn't even eat the meat!!! She said she buys her meat at the market! I couldn't believe it! Having a poultry farm, and not even eating your own meat! Anyway, she said she didn't like it. I guess maybe it's kind of tough or something, but still!! You'd think they'd buy some chickens that the liked, instead of buying them! They certainly have enough property! I guess money's not an issue in that family, though. They own a Farmacia here in Sahuayo, and so the farm is just a "hobby." I was thinking, "well, so is my families, but at least we eat the food!!!"

Anyway, the table was laiden with piles and piles of food including fresh fruit (pineapple, papaya, mangoes, and another fruit which I'd never tried, but which is DELICIOUS, guyava. They look like little wild apples, and their tart, and filled with little seeds which you can eat) and guacamole (avocado and cucumber!) and spicy peppers, tostadas, chips, and lots of pop and water. I ate until I couldn't possibly eat anymore, then I ate some more. I moved away from the food table with my student who's about my age, so that we would stop eating, and sat at the side of the pool to let all of our food digest, then got changed into our bathing suits. There were lots of kids (which was really good for me, because they speak simple Spanish, so I had a better time understanding them) and we played ball, and raced and swam for a long time. Then, of course, we ate some more. Desserts and seconds and thirds....

We sat around, chatting for the whole afternoon and into the evening, me kind of leading a group English lesson, but some of the family members spoke some English, as they're all quite well educated. Got home around 9p.m. and was invited to return this Saturday, along with Lauren and Jen, so I think that's where you will find me! Lounging in a pool in the most beautiful place in Sahuayo, and eating until I can't eat anymore! Sounds like a pretty good Saturday, eh?

Wednesday was presentations at Culturlingua, so we had all of our bosses, as well as many parents come each hour to watch their children perform what they know. It was very stressful, and I was EXAUSTED at the end of the day, but it went really well, the parents went away happy and proud, and surprisingly so did Cecilia, our boss! So that was good! Our students made us all so proud, and did a wonderful job.

Well, that's about it for now I guess. It's Friday, so I might go check out the Friday market, and then I'll probably have a nap or lie on the roof for a bit, before going back to school.

Happy weekend!