Parties, Quesadillas, and Monarch Butterflies

So, last Friday night, there was a party to say goodbye to the surgical residents who are finishing their first year of residency. This week they are moving on to Leon. In true Mexican fashion, all the surgical nurses, surgeons, and aneasthesiologists got together for food, booze, music, and lots of dancing until late into the night. Luckily, I was invited, so I was able to partake in the fun. The lady on the right is the head surgical nurse. The man is one of the general surgeons, but not the one I shadowed daily. The other lady is a surgical nurse. Ironically, almost everyone there smoked cigarettes most of the night. But luckily it was outdoors so it wasn´t too smoky. We had a typical Michoacàn dish called Mixiote. It was made with a special sauce, chicken, and cactus. With rice and beans of course. And tequila to wash it down. We had a blast!

Two of my host sisters took my out on Sunday night for quesadillas. They had cheese and meat and cactus with crema Mexicana. Hot off the grill and delicious!

I finally went to go see the Monarch butterfly sanctuary. It was a two hour drive and then an hour hike up in the mountains. The santuary is at an altitud of 9800ft. Needless to say, the air was thin. And cold. But to see thousands of butterflies flying around in their winter home was amazing. In a couple weeks they will start their migration back to the US and Canada when the weather here starts getting too warm for them.

Adventures in the City

Sunday morning Caitlin and I walked through the city. It was so hot, we decided to go buy gazpacho. No, not cold soup. It`s freshly cut fruit with fruit juice and chili powder. Mine is mango, pineapple, and jicama. Caitlin`s is watermelon, cantelope, and pineapple. Yummy!!

Caitlin and I hanging out in the ballet room in the Casa de la Cultura, an ex- Carmelite convent.

So, Valentine`s Day is a big deal in Morelia. Or at least enough to warrant fireworks. They closed off the major blvd that runs through the middle of the city so that people could stand and watch the fireworks that they set off in front of the cathedral. It was really cool.

Living my Mexican life

In this picture you can see my new friend, Caitlin from Wisconsin, who I met at the language school. She is doing part of her student teaching practicum in a bilingual school. The girl is Holanda, the daughter of the Oncology Surgeon I know from the hospital. She goes to a bilingual school so she speaks some English. For a 10 year old, she`s not bad. I`m helping her practice speaking and correcting her when she needs it. Last weekend, Caitlin, Holanda and I went to the mall to watch a salsa dancing event. Then we went to Starbuck afterward because Holanda loves Starbucks. It is interesting to note that the prices for a coffee here are just about the same as in the US. All the interior and many of the drinks were the same too. I guess some things just never change...

So, my life has thankfully slowed down to a steady routine. My week-day morning breakfast usually consists of coffee in the house and then a pastry and drinkable yogurt while I`m walking or on the combi. Weekends afford me a little more time to relax. In my house, we typically eat papaya, banana, bolillo (small bread loaves- freshly baked they smell heavenly!!), and coffee. In the picture, my papaya has cheese on top. It is like ricotta cheese, but lighter and more dry. It is special, very low fat cheese that is made specially for my host dad by the cheese man because my host dad had a heart attack a couple of years ago.

Good Times

Thurday was Regina`s 39th birthday. Her aunt made her a cake, and here we are eating it! Regina is Camila`s mom. Next to her is her sister Julissa. My host dad, Pedro is sitting down and his son Fabrizio is standing up. The lighting is really bad so their faces look darker than they are and it`s hard to see them.

Last night I went to a bar named Balcon del Angel. The roof is open so you can see the steeples of the cathedral. Andrew, I drank a Corona with a lime in your honor. Yes, your sister drinks beer sometimes.

They had a belly dancer as entertainment at the bar for part of the night. There were live drummers and some guys dancing with fire too. My friend Caitlin from Wisconsin and I met some fellow Oregonians earlier in the night in the town square. They were meeting a teacher of theirs at their language school at the bar and invited us. Slowly but surely my social life is growing!

As a side note, I`m sorry I`m missing GenUnleashed for those of you going. I wish I could be there with you. Let me know how it is!

Something Unseen

I heard that the sun has failed to come out recently in Oregon. I thought I would remind you that it still exists. And it is beatiful. Hang on. I promise the rain will slow one day to reveal the sun. As a side note, winter in Mexico is quite enjoyable...