Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Sometimes it's easier to blog with a format. So I have decided to document this weeks events with a list of some awkward and awesome things that have happened.

Awkward

- I swear there have been more times I have walked into my family's bathroom (our 1 bathroom shared by 8 sometimes 9 people) and there being no toilet paper, than walking in and there being toilet paper. Exactly when do I realize there is no toilet paper? You can use your imaginations.

- Watching entire movies in Spanish

- Witnessing a crazed fan in a man thong run out onto the field during the Mexico, Bosnia soccer game last night on TV. Poor kid. Probably wasn't hugged enough as a child.

- Hurricane like winds on the beach. You thought sand got everywhere? You don't even know..

- Parents who like to leave kids who aren't in our classes at our school. One day a mom left not only her 5 yr old who is a student, but also her 3 yr old who doesn't speak at all let alone english. She just left! We are not babysitters people.

-Realizing we were staying the gay district of Veracruz for our 4-day weekend

-Sitting in cars that are too small for you. Still fun

- Koreans in Mexico

- The weird corn thing with mayo and chili powder that people eat here. Not sure I'll be brave enough to try out that delicacy

- Explaining the difference between 'see' and 'si'. We have a 'No Spanish' rule in my class so every time I say "See?" they all gasp and point there fingers at me. Children are good at making you feel similar to a leper. 

- Hearing my sister and brother speak really fast in Spanish while throwing my name into their conversation at least several times, then when I pop my head up and say 'Huh?' they insist that they were talking about their 'friend'. I'm white kids, I'm not stupid. 

Awesome

- Coconuts cut fresh with the juice still inside. It is absolutely delicioso

- Being called bonita (beautiful) everywhere I go. I tell ya, you can endure a lot when the whole world seems to think you're attractive

- Conversations with my group. It's funny because most of us have very different communicating skills, so watching two people try to explain something simple to each other can take a few minutes 

"What's golf?"

"The game we played yesterday"

"We played golf?"

"It's a game, that's just what its called."

"I know, but what kind of golf are we playing?"

"The card game from yesterday."

"Ohhh. That golf."

other party " Wait, what's golf?"

. And the rest of us just laugh. 

- Coconut popsicles

- The amount of Birthdays we have while here- 5!! And a party for every one.

- Our lovely 'Office' calendar, which is now on the month of February- Phyllis Vance. "I don't trust you Phyllis.."

- English institute class. I am going to have so much fun going to Church when I get back and understanding what people are saying.

- When my kids catch onto a concept I'm trying to teach. Best. Feeling. Ever.

- Emails from family, missionaries, and other people I love.

- Punch dancing on our roof. Carly and I have very unique methods of releasing aggression.

- Fresh mangos for breakfast. Be jealous everyone.

- Our Happy Mexico playlist. Just to give you a little taste, we have M.C. Hammer, Tarzan Soundtrack, Shakira, and Brian McKnight as a few cast members. 

- Decorated fruit. Don't you want to just dive into it??? No? Oh, just me then.

these People

Have you ever gone on a trip somewhere?

Well, duh.

BUT

Have you ever gone a trip somewhere, and the thing that made it most incredible wasn't so much the place you went or the things you did - it was the people who you were with?

I myself have had many trips like that. My family and I went on quite a few roadtrips back in the day and took some pretty cool vacations every once in a while that I'll always remember because my family is just fun. They make me laugh a lot. And I enjoy laughing.

I've also had trips with friends and college roommates which are unforgettable.

Like last Fall my roommates and I took a road-trip to Montana for our other roommate, Trenna's, wedding and it was a BLAST! It was the most fun 9 hour plus some change drive I've ever had because I was with my best friends. And lemme tell you, it's impossible for us not to have fun.

Me and my lovelies outside of Trenna's reception in Montana.

So now I want to take a second to talk about these people...

They are kind of my favorites right now.

Jordan, Kate, Cryshel, Carly and I have done lots of bonding since being here. 

Kind of hard not to considering we spend all of our time together and there's only five of us, which we kind of love. 

But I'm sitting in a hotel in Veracruz right now with these four awesome people and I am just very appreciative of the following things:

1. That we're all such different people, personality wise, but we somehow get along seamlessly

2. That no matter what it is we do we have fun together. 

3. We play scum (pee-on) daily.

4. There's enough of us that I feel safe, but not so many that planning or doing things is a hassle

5. We all run on pretty similar energy clocks so there's no disputes about whether we need to take naps or hit the town.

6. Everyone plays an important role in this group dynamic. Everyone is needed, and not having one person there just makes whatever we are doing not as fun.

7. In case you are wondering what this group dynamic is, I will sum it up for you: 

Kate is our head teacher, therefore our leader. She speaks Spanish the best of all of us and is very good at getting things done and making things happen. She is small, but very tough and is really bothered when Mexicans try to take advantage of us. She is open to all sorts of people and opinions which makes her an awesome leader. Plus she's also very motherly and likes to make sure were taken care of.

Cryshel is our walking encyclopedia. She is studying to be a teacher and she is going to be the best teacher ever, because she seriously knows everything. This has come in handy and is so entertaining in so many ways. She also is the one with all of the crazy-fun ideas that none of us would ever think of, and is always good for a story when we're sitting around wondering what to do with ourselves. She's a gem.

 Jordan (the only male, which obviously means he is extremely patient if we get along so well) is our fun-guy. He can make a joke out of anything, therefore make any somewhat not-so-fun situation much lighter and even funny. He has a very go-with-the-flow attitude but he's also really good at making plans for us. Plus it's very assuring to have a 6'3 guy walk with you everywhere in Mexico. Really, it's nice.

Carly is our peacemaker. She dissolves tension and puts everyones wants before her own, while still giving logical opinions for us all to consider before we make decisions as a group. She is also very funny. Its been really fun for me to see Carly be completely herself around people other than my roommates, because seriously the girl is a crack up. I don't know many people who can make you laugh just by looking at you. She's also the mediator which makes her a good person to talk to for everyone. 

I would tell you what my role is, but I honestly have no idea. I feel that my role has merely been to just enjoy all of these people and their personalities while seeing and doing some incredible things in Mexico.  And lemme tell you- it is one great role that I play.

I love my group!

And yes. We are always this goofy.