Almost time to leave Mexico....

Well, I've turned in papers, read dozens of short stories, wrote nonfiction (weird, I'm better at making stuff up), and walked a lot. I'm kind of ready to head home even though it's been pretty fantastic.
I'm posting a couple more pictures, but I may put more up on Facebook. Anyway, here they are.
This first picture is of my strange pink and yellow room. Notice the mural signed "Jesus J.S. Dic. '02."


This is a sign outside of the hot springs. I sort of thought this was amusing. Notice the fifth bullet: I think it says something close to "We won't tolerate any antisocial behavior that disrupts the peace of this place."


Outside of the city, this is what it looks like: kind of flat and green, and you probably wouldn't guess that this is like 7,000,000,000 feet above sea level. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little.


A group of us went to this really strange church at Atotonilca. They call it the Mexican Sistine Chapel (notice the following picture). Really, this Jesus statue is a large draw, too, because he apparently has real hair and teeth.


This is a picture of the ceiling of the church, with the scaffolding for the restoration work.


This picture doesn't really show the extent of the bougainvillea in this city.


Last one for now: evening overlooking San Miguel.

Two weeks in Mexico

A few items of note:
1. If you haven't heard, I have a new nephew. This is so fantastically exciting.
2. After taking a tango lesson and two salsa lessons, I realize that dancing can be kinda cool.
3. Mole (pronounced mol-eh) is so good, I'm may have to figure out how to make it. Forget that, I'm going to buy some in a can.
4. Had to do a reading on Wednesday. It wasn't the catastrophe it could have been.
5. Went to Guanajunto, but I missed seeing the mummies. Boo.
6. Writers can be harsh.
7. Writers can be great.
8. The breakfasts at this little hotel (La Casa de Elvia) continue to be enough food to get me through much of the day. They have a farm somewhere (not on the premises), so breakfasts continue to involve foreign things like homemade butter, homemade yogurt, and chile killyas. The last one's spelling is questionable.
9. Masses in English are preferable to masses in Spanish.
10. Spanish is much easier than Korean. I don't care what anyone says.

Okay, here's a link to some informational stuff about the program here:
http://lowres.uno.edu/sanmiguel/
If you click on housing, you can see some pictures of La Casa de Elvia.

A week in Mexico

Here are a bunch of pictures from the last few days. Things are going well, I'm having a fantastic time, the weather is beautiful, the people are fantastic, and, yes mom, I'm eating very well.
These first few are from Teotihuacan. Here are some great skeletons that look like they are sitting around sharing a good joke.



Here is some graffiti.


Yes, these pyramids are as high up as it looks.




These next two are from a rooftop restaurant in San Miguel. I ate hibiscus tacos there.


This last one is just a fluke. I hadn't downloaded my pictures before I left, so now I leave you with a question: how is Mr. Susan?

Just a quick note...

I'm just posting this really quickly--
I'm safe and I've arrived in lovely San Miguel. After a brief internet snafu, I'm back online and working feverishly to be ready for class tomorrow. Everything is beautiful and comfortable--I think it's 80 today, and my room is comfortable. I will post pictures when I get my act a little more together.

Getting ready for San Miguel

What I have read in the last six weeks for classes:
1. Cod
2. Stealing Buddha's Dinner
3. Candyfreak (possibly my favorite)
4. The Underdogs
5. Biography of Frida Kahlo (way more than I wanted to know about anybody)
6. A brief history of Mexico (really not that brief)
7. Tear this Heart Out (not as bad as it sounds)
8. The Labyrinth of Solitude (way more convoluted than it sounds)
9. The Death of Artemio Cruz
10. about 10 short stories
11. about 10 essays

What is in my two suitcases:
-new printer, thanks to mom
-all nine books and short stories and essays listed above
-sunblock (lots)
-raingear (plenty)
-a few clothes

Say goodbye to honolulu

Last day in Hawaii, and I'm a little sad. Mandy is a little sad about leaving, too, but it's a little strange that I'm going to miss her friends quite a bit. I would pack up some of the people and bring them home with me if I could. That would be pretty cool.
In the meantime, I'm distracting myself with plans for trips--there's the trip to visit family in the Midwest next week, the trip to Texas, and the trip to Mexico--trying to help Mandy get ready to go, and writing different stuff. I have some different writing classes coming up, so I'm playing with different genres. I just started a nonfiction piece set at Camp Hebron in which Sarah Furler (sorry, Tanis now) and I go looking for the six-foot groundhog. Oh, to be ten again.
Eh, I still try to have my little adventures.
For now, here are a couple of pictures from the party last weekend. Mandy puts on an incredible party, and this high tea was incredible. Complete with some incredible people.

Some awesome things from this week

1. I'm still in Hawaii, and I haven't wanted a sweater yet. Haven't even worked much.
2. Watched Jake all day, and nothing broke or died or anything. I'm really proud of myself. He still likes me, too, I think.
3. Finished writing a science-fiction story. Huh. Never done that before. It's still pretty close to literary fiction.
4. Went to see Star Trek opening night. Zachary Quinto is not only talented but also good-looking.
5. Spent a wonderful Mother's Day with Jake and Mandy and Scott. We chased ducks, ran down hills, and ate very well. See Keiki Days for some awesome pictures.
6. Got my first pedicure--ever. Pretty nice, I must say.
7. Got straight As this semester.
8. Spent some time with some really great people here. Mandy has some great friends.
9. Get to spend another month traveling this summer.
10. Get to keep my promising and interesting job despite three months off.
Life is pretty good. If Daniel Dae Kim hung out with me on the beach, it could only be better.