The One Where She Tells You the Real Reason Behind the Blog

Hi Friends!

Just so we all know, I am completely psyched about having started up this blog!

You: Why, McKenna?

I will tell you why..... Because up until now I felt that I had absolutely no good/ worthy reason to write about my life. I frankly thought it was simply too boring for me to get on maybe every week purely for the purpose of telling you about the goings on in my average life. I'm sure you all have dozens of familial blogs that you have obligations to read therefore very little time to pay attention to my incessant, pointless banter. It would become like a journal or something, and in my journals, lemme tell you- homegirl is whiiiiiiinneeeyy.

It is not at all pleasant. I strongly dislike re-reading my journals. Although it does remind me that I have made progress in my life. Thank goodness....

You: Ok McKenna. Gettin a little off-track here, soooo why did you start a blog then?

Ah! Glad you asked. Well folks....

I am leaving for Mexico in 5 days. 
 

So for those of you who were so confuzzled by my choice of blog title "What fiesta?! WHO'S HAVING A FIESTA???" I'm sure you were all wondering. BUT, you can all be put out of your misery now- there is a method to my madness.

And I will be there for 4 months, teaching English to adorable little ninos!

• Donde esta el bano? = Where is the bathroom?

• Lo siento, no hable ingles. = I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish.

• ¿Sabe usted dónde encontrar un Nordstrom? = Do you know where to find a Nordstrom? 

That last one, key.

I will be here.

 And here.

 Aaaand here.

 Eating this. Mmmmmm

And playing, what is hopefully, a lot of this.

And it's all because of this program riiiight here 

A few months ago I was accepted to the International Language Program to be a "student teacher" for a group of kids in either Mexico, Russia, Ukraine or China. I was initially assigned to Tehuacan, Mexico then transferred to Puebla, Mexico a few weeks ago.

I can not tell you how excited I am to be a part of this program! English is a huge commodity in foreign countries, and being able to learn English at an early age will be a doorway for the kids to better educations, jobs, opportunities and general improvement of their lives and their families lives. Mexico is obviously in a bit of a rut right now (no worries! I am completely safe and my family has done well in scaring me into an acute sense of awareness and slight paranoia that will aid me in not being stupid whilst I'm there. Hopefully. Plus we have lots of rules that prevent us from getting in dangerous situations. Mk pumpkins?) so I feel greatly motivated to be part of an effort which is leading towards a better future for the country's children.

And hey hey hey....

Guess who's coming with me????

THIS GIRL!!!!

My wonderful roommate since first semester (pictured with my other goofy faced roommate since first semester) Carly K Berg will be traveling with me from LAX to Mexico City and joining me in spending the next 4 months eating mountains of Mexican food, visiting the Mayan Temples, becoming acquainted with locals, getting incredibly good at soccer ( watch yo back Mia Hamm! Even though you're like, 40-something now), avoiding the 15 lbs which is rumored to be gained by EVERYONE who goes to Mexico (losing 5, right Carly?), teaching kids a language which we occasionally struggle with ourselves, weekly Office episodes on Hulu to try and keep up with our tradition at college, and every so often breaking down and crying, wondering why we ever left our American comforts in the first place.

So let me tell you a little bit about this girl, and why I am SO stoked that she's going to be my closest compadre on this expedition.

Carly Kay Berg

Roommate Extraordinaire

Her stats:

- She is the youngest in a family of five older brothers. So yeah, she's witnessed all sorts of horrors and gained tough skin through her traumas.

- She loves her Ducks. (Oregon)

- There is no one nicer than Carly. NO ONE! You're probably thinking to yourself "Well I have this one friend and he/she is actually really..." I'm stopping you right there! Because I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but you are wrong.

- She has the best bursting, loud laugh. I'm serious, you didn't know a noise like that could come out of a girl of that size.

- She's the one who told me about the program in the first place.Thanks doll!!!

- It's hilarious when she gets excited. Which is often.She giggles uncontrollably. And starts bouncing.

- She is the reason for about 80% of our apartments inside jokes. Not because they're about her or anything, she's just that funny.

-She is a peace maker. A common phrase for Carly is "Whatever is good for everyone else!" which is a precious commodity in our apartment of stubborn personalities.
- Her parents, Pat and Stacey (spelling?) seem to be very grateful that I am going to be there with her, when actually I should think it definitely the other way around- Homegirl's gonna be needing some definite comforting.
- I just lover her to pieces. End of story

Now that you're all up to date on where I'll be, who it will be with, and what I'll be doing for the next little chapter of my life, I just want to say one thing:

I have gotten several different responses about going on this trip. Both negative and positive. People telling me I'm a silly goose to spend money on going to teach English in a foreign country when people do that for free, or paid in other situations.

But I would just like to give a quick, little, itty-bitty, cutie patootie, shout out to all of my friends and family who have supported me through this whole process.

Including my roommates who listened to me through ALL of my going back and forth like a ping pong ball in indecision.

To all of you awesome, wonderful, loving, generous people: 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

VIVA LA MEXICO!!