"It's a disgrace, a crunchy taco!"

After a 2 hour flight to LA, a 2 hour layover, another 4 hour flight to Mexico City, then a 3 hour bus ride to Queretaro, then a taxi ride, I finally arrived at my homestay Saturday afternoon.  For those of you reading this that have no idea why I’m in Mexico at the moment, let me explain.  I’ll be here for four weeks teaching English at a public university to a group of university students who are in an advanced English class. For two hours every day, I will be working them.  I will be in a two hour intensive conversation Spanish class as well almost every day with just one other student.  I will also be taking a Mexican culture class, along with my Seminar and Practicum class for my TESL minor.  A couple times a week for two hours, I will be with my Mexican pal who will take me around town, or on small trips.  Just another great way to practice my Spanish! 

That leads me to the next thing you’re probably wondering: “How good is your Spanish?” Well, I think I can finally respond to that question properly.  I can understand most of what people are saying to me. But even if my host mom thinks I don’t understand, she won’t hesitate to start acting it out. It always gives us a good laugh.  As for my speaking skills, well…that’s another story.  It will all come with practice though.

I live with Yolanda, who is in her 70s, her daughter, and her granddaughter, a lady named Patti, and four other American students.  It’s a pretty large house, which isn’t expected by just looking at it from the front.  Queretaro is the second safest city in Mexico, and the cleanest.  It’s quite charming, and the people here are really nice.  Below are a few pictures of the town:

My homestay house

 

Even though I have barely been here for three days, there is already so much I have learned.  There are many cultural differences I’ve picked up on and a few other things I have noticed from being here.  Here are ten things I have figured out so far:

1.       Regarding meals, you eat a light breakfast before school.  For la comida (lunch), you eat a large meal between 2pm and 4pm.  This is their main meal, so it consists of quite a lot of food. Dinner is between 8-9pm, and is very light.  For the last few dinners I’ve eaten a bowl of cereal around 10pm.  Apparently this is common to do before bed since milk helps you sleep.

2.       Comida usually begins with a bowl of soup, and the main dish is always served with rice.

3.       Don’t make eye contact with people in town.  You only make eye contact with people if you need something from them.  When a female makes eye contact, it’s like an invitation.

4.       Never tip anyone, not even a taxi driver. The only exception is a waiter, who you tip 10%.

5.       There are not a lot of white tourists in this town, mostly just Mexican tourists.  And apparently because I have blue eyes, I’m sure to get whistled at a lot. (That explains why a guy asked if he could take a picture with me.)

6.       You have to be careful when crossing the streets because cars won’t stop for pedestrians.

7.       Rules here are just suggestions. Traffic lights are just suggestions. Seat belts are just suggestions… if there are any.

8.       You can buy a bag of crickets and eat them like chips. People also eat worms, ants, and caterpillars as well; though caterpillars are pretty expensive.

9.       When it rains here, it pours. Us Seattleites thought we knew what rain was, but compared to here, Seattle rain is like a mist.  Standing in a rainstorm for ten seconds will have you looking like you just got out of a pool. (I can now say I swept water out of a restaurant that was beginning to flood, and ran home in the flooded streets during a downpour and thunder and lightning storm).

10.   Tacos are always very small, and hard-shell tacos don’t exist here. According to my Spanish teacher, “It’s a disgrace, a crunchy taco.”   

Can’t wait to learn more about the Mexican culture!