My first two weeks of intensive Spanish lessons are complete. Next week I will only go two days a week for three hours each day. It had gotten to the point that I could not take in any more information. By the time I got finished with 5 hours of class and home, I did not at all feel like studying nor could I. And by the end of the week my brain was totally fried. Now that I know some basic grammar, phrases and a little vocabulary, going every other day for a shorter period of time, I am hoping to be able to concentrate my studying on the multitude of voacabulary that I was given these two weeks and just could not absorb. I'll see how this idea works. My classes will still be taught in Spanish. Immersion seems to be a great way to learn. I am trying my hardest not to convert the Spanish to English. I can understand a whole lot more than I can speak. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Mark has been in Guadalajara (sp) the past couple of days. It has been so quiet around here. He comes home tonight. We have a three day weekend this weekend. So many holidays!! I wish I had known this one was coming and I would have booked us to go somewhere like maybe the beach. I am not quite sure what we will be doing. I do know that Mark finally has the legal authorization to enter into a contract so.... I will finally get my car!! I had to chose a car from the companies who use Makino machines. As you know, I was a bit town between the Honda Fit, Civic, and Nissan Sentra. After having been driving on the streets for a little bit now, I think I want the Fit. Some of the streets are sooooooo naarrow and the parking spaces are difficult to navigate at times. If Mark feels the Fit has the accelleration I need then that will be my little car. I think it will be a 2011 model, and I do not know at all whaat options are available. It will most likely be siver as my choice are red, silver, black, white and possibly crayon blue. Color choices are limited here in all makes of cars. I will have a bit more freedom and grocery shopping will be so much easier.
With Mark going out of town, I had to learn how to drive into the Centro (center of the city) to get to my lessons. I was scared out of my wits to learn. The streets are winding and are not marked well or even marked incorrectly. You learn to navigate soley by your surroundings ( buildings, stores, monuments). The biggest problem I have is losing my bearings. Well, that and I have a huge fear of getting lost here. Mark had great patience riding in the passenger seat while I drove to and from school for a couple of hours. I probably did the difficult part of the drive 6 or 7 times. After I learned how to get from home to school and home again, I then had to learn how to gt to school from Mark's work as I had to drop him off at work before school so I could have the car while he was out of town. I did it and only got misplaced once. Luckily i knew where I was, I jsut did not kow how to gt to where i wanted to be. A quick phone call to Mark and her navigated me back on track. Teamwork. It is the only way to survive!!
Adios mi Amigos!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Espanol
Spanish lessons have begun --uuggh! I do not think I have had to cocentrate this much in 20 years!! It is much more difficult to learn a new language at this age than in high school and college!! Maybe it will stick better once it gets into my brain, well, I guesss I should say IF.
My vocabulary is so small at this point that it is difficult to say what I want. I only know 5 or 6 verbs, three of which are the verb 'to be'. I have, however, made some progress. Mark and I went to the store to find a sewing machine and I manage to say a few things to get my point across.
My sewing room is now set up. All the wools are neatly folded and organized by color. I purchased two work tables yesterday. With the addition of the sewing machine, the mitten shop is now functioning and running.
Funny thing about that...they only sell gloves down here, no mittens!! What a market! My spanish teacher came up to me after class with a crudely made pair of mittens on her hands and asked if I owuld pick up a pair for her the next time I was in the States. What a suprise to her when I said that I make them! I told her I would make her a pair as long as she told me where I could find a sewing machine. She was immediately on the hunt and by the time I left school, we had a list of a few places to check out and had walked through the center of the city talking spanish, well, she did and I spoke my broken works, and looking into 5 or 6 stores for a machine. I can't wait to give her a pair!
Tomorrow we are going to a place to see and learn about the Otomi people who are indigenous to an area near here. We are going with the newcomers club and will be tasting the food and seeing them make their crafts. They are known for using cactus fiber to weave things. We will also learn their customs.
I had a few camera problems recently, I am still planning on getting a few more day of the dead pictures on here if I can manage to get them uploaded.
Buenos Noches!
My vocabulary is so small at this point that it is difficult to say what I want. I only know 5 or 6 verbs, three of which are the verb 'to be'. I have, however, made some progress. Mark and I went to the store to find a sewing machine and I manage to say a few things to get my point across.
My sewing room is now set up. All the wools are neatly folded and organized by color. I purchased two work tables yesterday. With the addition of the sewing machine, the mitten shop is now functioning and running.
Funny thing about that...they only sell gloves down here, no mittens!! What a market! My spanish teacher came up to me after class with a crudely made pair of mittens on her hands and asked if I owuld pick up a pair for her the next time I was in the States. What a suprise to her when I said that I make them! I told her I would make her a pair as long as she told me where I could find a sewing machine. She was immediately on the hunt and by the time I left school, we had a list of a few places to check out and had walked through the center of the city talking spanish, well, she did and I spoke my broken works, and looking into 5 or 6 stores for a machine. I can't wait to give her a pair!
Tomorrow we are going to a place to see and learn about the Otomi people who are indigenous to an area near here. We are going with the newcomers club and will be tasting the food and seeing them make their crafts. They are known for using cactus fiber to weave things. We will also learn their customs.
I had a few camera problems recently, I am still planning on getting a few more day of the dead pictures on here if I can manage to get them uploaded.
Buenos Noches!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Dia de los Muertos
Today is a national Holiday Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead. You know it as All Soul's Day. Yesterday was a holiday for many people, All Saints Day. Belowis a link to the traditional celbration by the indigenous. Put your cursor betweenthe starts and the link will show up.
*** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3obZze-V0YI&feature=related ***
I have also attached a link to a utube video of the celbration of this holiday in San Miguell de Allende. It is about 1/2 hour from our house. This kind of celbration is happening EVERYWHERE. When you see the skeletons dressed like ladies with big hats, those are Katrina Dolls and are designed to remember special things or nuances about someone who is dead. Marigolds are everywhere. the altars have favorites of the departed like breads,drinks, vices, etc. Enjoy!
Put your cursor over the space between the stars below and the link will appear, then click!
*** www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsTJ2qd4-P0 ***
Check out this parade in Oaxaca. Same thing...link is between starts
*** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86_Z0Nscs9g&NR=1 ***
When you visit these links, go ahead and clink on the other videos that are related, they are all great!
*** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3obZze-V0YI&feature=related ***
I have also attached a link to a utube video of the celbration of this holiday in San Miguell de Allende. It is about 1/2 hour from our house. This kind of celbration is happening EVERYWHERE. When you see the skeletons dressed like ladies with big hats, those are Katrina Dolls and are designed to remember special things or nuances about someone who is dead. Marigolds are everywhere. the altars have favorites of the departed like breads,drinks, vices, etc. Enjoy!
Put your cursor over the space between the stars below and the link will appear, then click!
*** www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsTJ2qd4-P0 ***
Check out this parade in Oaxaca. Same thing...link is between starts
*** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86_Z0Nscs9g&NR=1 ***
When you visit these links, go ahead and clink on the other videos that are related, they are all great!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Halloween
The big day of the holiday claendar is coming up, Halloween, or Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead, as it is called down here. It is a huge celebration that lasts for days. There are skeletons dressed up in different outfits around everywhere. These things can be found all year, but there are so many more right now. There are so many things in stores like this to purchase. It all has to deal with how they view death. I am attaching an explanation of the holiday so you will be able to understand the things I will be posting in the next few days.
DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO
DIA DE MUERTOS
One of the most typical and well-known celebrations in the entire Mexican territory is without a doubt the Day of the Dead celebration. Throughout the country, in both small isolated towns and in large cities, the Mexican people pay tribute to the dead and to the departed. These festivities are the result of an inter-marriage of the way our indigenous ancestors and the Catholic religion from our Spanish roots viewed death.
The Days of the Dead are celebrated with a mixture of reverence for the departed, revelry to make them happy upon their return, and mockery to defy the fear of death itself. Though details vary from region to region, the basic rituals remain strong: receiving the spirits of the dead at home, offering them food and drink, and communing with them beside their grave. On October 27, the spirits of those with no survivors to greet them and no home to visit are received in some villages with bread and jugs of water hung outside the houses; on October 28, those who died by accident, murder or other violent means are offered food and drink, placed outside the home to keep out the bad spirits of these as-yet unpardoned souls. On the night of October 31, the dead children come home to visit; by midday November 1st, they too must be gone. Bells ring through that afternoon as the adults, or the Faithful Dead, arrive. The family formally greets the adult who has passed away most recently, and through him, the other ancestors are acknowledged. At sundown, the family moves to the graveyard for an all night vigil of communion with the dead. Candles are lit on the gravestones, one for each lost soul. By evening on November 2, the party is over and the ghosts return to the world of the dead.
Most Mexican houses will commemorate their dead by making an Altar and depending on the region the order of the elements will be different. The Otomi altar consists of four levels representing the four seasons. The one in the bottom will be white for winter and there will be seeds and water representing earth. The second level will be blue representing spring, and the offering will be fruit. The third level will be red representing summer, the offerings will be any kind of food. The fourth and most important will be orange representing Autumn. In this level you will find an owl to guide the souls back, a snake representing fertility, a shell to call the spirits with music and a turtle symbolizing eternity. In the center will be a cross made with the cepazuchil flower; on the right an image of Christ and on the left the Virgin Mary. There will be candles depending on the number of departed family, and the candles represent light. There should be a mirror for the reflection of the soul, together with favourite different items that the departed used. There is also a bowl of salt that means purification and of course the paper representing the wind.
DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO
DIA DE MUERTOS
One of the most typical and well-known celebrations in the entire Mexican territory is without a doubt the Day of the Dead celebration. Throughout the country, in both small isolated towns and in large cities, the Mexican people pay tribute to the dead and to the departed. These festivities are the result of an inter-marriage of the way our indigenous ancestors and the Catholic religion from our Spanish roots viewed death.
The Days of the Dead are celebrated with a mixture of reverence for the departed, revelry to make them happy upon their return, and mockery to defy the fear of death itself. Though details vary from region to region, the basic rituals remain strong: receiving the spirits of the dead at home, offering them food and drink, and communing with them beside their grave. On October 27, the spirits of those with no survivors to greet them and no home to visit are received in some villages with bread and jugs of water hung outside the houses; on October 28, those who died by accident, murder or other violent means are offered food and drink, placed outside the home to keep out the bad spirits of these as-yet unpardoned souls. On the night of October 31, the dead children come home to visit; by midday November 1st, they too must be gone. Bells ring through that afternoon as the adults, or the Faithful Dead, arrive. The family formally greets the adult who has passed away most recently, and through him, the other ancestors are acknowledged. At sundown, the family moves to the graveyard for an all night vigil of communion with the dead. Candles are lit on the gravestones, one for each lost soul. By evening on November 2, the party is over and the ghosts return to the world of the dead.
Most Mexican houses will commemorate their dead by making an Altar and depending on the region the order of the elements will be different. The Otomi altar consists of four levels representing the four seasons. The one in the bottom will be white for winter and there will be seeds and water representing earth. The second level will be blue representing spring, and the offering will be fruit. The third level will be red representing summer, the offerings will be any kind of food. The fourth and most important will be orange representing Autumn. In this level you will find an owl to guide the souls back, a snake representing fertility, a shell to call the spirits with music and a turtle symbolizing eternity. In the center will be a cross made with the cepazuchil flower; on the right an image of Christ and on the left the Virgin Mary. There will be candles depending on the number of departed family, and the candles represent light. There should be a mirror for the reflection of the soul, together with favourite different items that the departed used. There is also a bowl of salt that means purification and of course the paper representing the wind.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Location
Hello again,
I have been asked by a few people to put a map on here as to where we are living. I am going to give this a try. I believe these links are written in black, so, you can't see them. If you drag your mouse over the black gap below each of my typings, the link will highlight and you can click it to be redirected. The first one is very large. There are three links below 3 different writings.
The first link is to a very basic Map of Mexico.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.survivalspanishinmexico.com/images/photos/COUNTRYQTO-country.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.survivalspanishinmexico.com/whereIsQueretaro.htm&usg=__1aNZcZX9MvYtn4EQtgCFSThnabw=&h=496&w=700&sz=94&hl=en&start=0&sig2=kII3eKNZFmVluBJzJDpRPg&zoom=1&tbnid=ISkDPT2j5If6MM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=126&ei=WuK-TIeMJcH68Abv8bDqAg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dqueretaro%2Bmexico%2Bmap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1T4TSNA_enUS359US360%26biw%3D1174%26bih%3D428%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=468&oei=WuK-TIeMJcH68Abv8bDqAg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=52&ty=68
The following is a link to a map that is a bit more involved of the country the country of Mexico. We are in Santiago de Queretaro. Mexico City is Ciudad de Mexico. You should be alae to zoom in and out on the map to get our bearings.
http://www.maplandia.com/mexico/queretaro/queretaro/queretaro
Our house is in a town called Jurica. the link below puts you close to it. Our house is the one to the right of the 'A'. It has a large driveway opening and the lot is pie shaped in the back. It is smaller than the surrounding houses. You can zoom in and out of this one also.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=map
I hope these help. Email me if they don't. And by the way, our mailing address for the next couple years is:
Call one of our cell phones for this info
This is Mark's work address in the states. they are UPS-ing our mail to Mark's work in Mexico. This way we are assured to get our mail and in a timely manner.
I have been asked by a few people to put a map on here as to where we are living. I am going to give this a try. I believe these links are written in black, so, you can't see them. If you drag your mouse over the black gap below each of my typings, the link will highlight and you can click it to be redirected. The first one is very large. There are three links below 3 different writings.
The first link is to a very basic Map of Mexico.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.survivalspanishinmexico.com/images/photos/COUNTRYQTO-country.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.survivalspanishinmexico.com/whereIsQueretaro.htm&usg=__1aNZcZX9MvYtn4EQtgCFSThnabw=&h=496&w=700&sz=94&hl=en&start=0&sig2=kII3eKNZFmVluBJzJDpRPg&zoom=1&tbnid=ISkDPT2j5If6MM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=126&ei=WuK-TIeMJcH68Abv8bDqAg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dqueretaro%2Bmexico%2Bmap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1T4TSNA_enUS359US360%26biw%3D1174%26bih%3D428%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=468&oei=WuK-TIeMJcH68Abv8bDqAg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=52&ty=68
The following is a link to a map that is a bit more involved of the country the country of Mexico. We are in Santiago de Queretaro. Mexico City is Ciudad de Mexico. You should be alae to zoom in and out on the map to get our bearings.
http://www.maplandia.com/mexico/queretaro/queretaro/queretaro
Our house is in a town called Jurica. the link below puts you close to it. Our house is the one to the right of the 'A'. It has a large driveway opening and the lot is pie shaped in the back. It is smaller than the surrounding houses. You can zoom in and out of this one also.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=map
I hope these help. Email me if they don't. And by the way, our mailing address for the next couple years is:
Call one of our cell phones for this info
This is Mark's work address in the states. they are UPS-ing our mail to Mark's work in Mexico. This way we are assured to get our mail and in a timely manner.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Car shopping
We have finally begun the search for cars. And what a trip it is!! First there are no big lots of cars for you to browse through and peek in the windows, not stickers to read the price, of course. It is definately a formal adventure. When we walked into the dealership, we were greeted by a receptionist. She took our information and introduced us to a salesperson. All well and fine....would you like a drink of water, coffee, pop? Normal question here as it is so dry and you always seem to be thirsty. Yes, we take the water. Well, that means you now sit at a desk and discuss what you are looking for, even if you already knew what car you want to see. The sales person shows you to the vehicle in the showroom and stands by your side and explains every little button...helpful. We are looking for automatic transmissions as driving on the roads here is as hazardous as me driving a race car in a race! I have enough to think about just avoiding the crazy drivers and trying to figure out where I am going. The sineage is quite a difference. Sometimes the sign for an exit is after the exit! We found out, you can get all the airbags, front, side, curtains feet, in standard cars only. The automatic ones tend to only have front airbags. OK So do I want to save my life by being able to keep all my attention on the road or just hope and pray the airbags work??? We opt for the automatic and find that a slightly bigger car has the chance of more airbags. There are models of cars we do not have in the US and may of the ones in the US are not available down here.
Oh, you want to test drive the car?? Well, that is not possible of course, you need to make an appointment and come back on another day. And so we did. Talk about a time taker!! We entered the dealership and skipped the water this time...getting smarter!! Now you don't get to drive the car you are specifically looking for. You get to drive their demo car and imagine what it would be like to have the seat that goes up and down. Just imagine what your visibility would be! First, the agent must drive the car to show you how and to work all the features. Then you are allowed to drive, with him in the backseat of course, on their designated route. The better the car, the shorter the route. And did I mention, we were testing two cars in each dealership. One for Mark and one for me. Mine first. Next we drive Mark's . The agent decided she could let Mark drive without doing it first. Mark drove his directly off the showroom floor, as there isn't a demo model for the nicer cars, only the floor model. I think he got to drive it for 6-8 miles. Imagine how that engine might be when climbing a hill or how comfortable the ride must be when you drive over all the cobblestone roads in your neighborhood! Upon return, we had to go in, sit down and discuss what we thought of the car, having a drink. Thought we were And of course talk about how we are going to love that vehicle and how are we planning on paying?? Finally after a couple hours, we are free to go, but they kno, we will be back to buy that car!! We just don't know that.
After a weekend and a couple weekdays, we managed to make it through Honda, Chevy, Ford and Nissan. We are down to Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic, Honda Fit for me. And the Nissan Altima and the Honda Accord. My decison is...Do I want the fun car (FIT) the safe car (Civic 6 airbags) or the smoothest riding (Sentra). Help if you have an opinion!! Mark is still working on his decision too.
Oh yes, and two days after Mark test drove the Altima, the salesperson showed up at the Makino office with "HIS" car!! Nice touch! But he hadn't made up his mind and neither had Makino!
Oh, you want to test drive the car?? Well, that is not possible of course, you need to make an appointment and come back on another day. And so we did. Talk about a time taker!! We entered the dealership and skipped the water this time...getting smarter!! Now you don't get to drive the car you are specifically looking for. You get to drive their demo car and imagine what it would be like to have the seat that goes up and down. Just imagine what your visibility would be! First, the agent must drive the car to show you how and to work all the features. Then you are allowed to drive, with him in the backseat of course, on their designated route. The better the car, the shorter the route. And did I mention, we were testing two cars in each dealership. One for Mark and one for me. Mine first. Next we drive Mark's . The agent decided she could let Mark drive without doing it first. Mark drove his directly off the showroom floor, as there isn't a demo model for the nicer cars, only the floor model. I think he got to drive it for 6-8 miles. Imagine how that engine might be when climbing a hill or how comfortable the ride must be when you drive over all the cobblestone roads in your neighborhood! Upon return, we had to go in, sit down and discuss what we thought of the car, having a drink. Thought we were And of course talk about how we are going to love that vehicle and how are we planning on paying?? Finally after a couple hours, we are free to go, but they kno, we will be back to buy that car!! We just don't know that.
After a weekend and a couple weekdays, we managed to make it through Honda, Chevy, Ford and Nissan. We are down to Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic, Honda Fit for me. And the Nissan Altima and the Honda Accord. My decison is...Do I want the fun car (FIT) the safe car (Civic 6 airbags) or the smoothest riding (Sentra). Help if you have an opinion!! Mark is still working on his decision too.
Oh yes, and two days after Mark test drove the Altima, the salesperson showed up at the Makino office with "HIS" car!! Nice touch! But he hadn't made up his mind and neither had Makino!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Forgotten Images
I see from the reviewing the posting that Mark's sister, Anne, did that she left out one very important adventure that she and Mark embarked upon. We were out to dinner and the waiter suggested they try a local delicasy. I opted out of this one, but Anne trusted Mark and gave it a try. He had had the dish before and told her it was good. Anne was such a brave sole that evening. First she joined in on the Tequilla Train with Mark and then this! Yes, those are what you think they are......ANT EGGS!!!! They were served cooked and piled high on the plate. Mark and Anne put some in a tortilla, added guacamole, a little salsa verde, top it off with a squeeze of lime juice, and ........ Crunch! Yuuuuummmmmmy, or somthing like that! I guess with enough tequilla in you and your brother at your side, in a wonderful setting, you'll try anything!
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