I sent this e-mail to study abroad because they wanted an update on my trip. so I thought i'd post it. I know I haven't written in here for forever. But I did buy a new journal to write in. It's just easier because sometimes I'm just sitting outside waiting for the bus or whatever. But I'll make sure to write in here again soon so that you guys know how I'm doing.
What is really lame is that my camera broke in February so I haven't been able to take any pictures. :( but my new friend Ricardo lent me his camera for my spring break trips which was incredibly nice of him, so I will take a ton of pictures and post them on here or on facebook. I'm borrowing a dress for the dance that makes me look super-guapa so I'll make sure to take some pictures of that too. :)
Here's my update:
My classes have been going well. I had some difficult times trying to figure out what the teachers wanted, but I have learned that they are very understanding and encouraging. I have been on 2 trips so far, and will go on 2 more over spring break. My first trip was to Puerto Vallarta, which was amazing. I loved swimming in the ocean and meeting people from all over the world. We also swam in a waterfall and got serenaded by local kids which was really cute. I also went to San Miguel de Allende, which is close to Querétaro but still "super padre" - super awesome. I got to see mariachis and take a picture in front of a huge castle-like church - it is beautiful! I have made a lot of new friends from church and friends who share my passion for music. Another accomplishment I have made is that I have been learning how to salsa dance. I've always wanted to be able to dance well and now I'm living one of my dreams. I think that's my favorite activity to do here. I also love to walk around the centro or the mall to shop or just to people watch. On holidays, the centro is super full of people just walking around, and there is a lot of tourism. I really like my host family. My host mom is very proper, which is kindof the opposite of me, but we are both respectful, religious, and dedicated to our families, so we have had some really great talks. She also cooks amazing food. My host dad is funny, he always teases me for practically sleepwalking to my first class of the day. My 2 host brothers are awesome - they both know English really well but never speak it to me because they want me to learn Spanish. One of them moved out to live on his own but he still comes to visit sometimes. Something I would like to accomplish during this last part of the semester is that I would like to add as many new experiences as I can, and work even harder to perfect my Spanish. Well, that's my update, I hope everything is going well at Western too! Have a successful end of the semester! Stephanie
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In my time here in Querétaro, my relationships with my friends have been very important to me. Laura, one of my best friends here, is from Western too, and we talk about boys and exercise together - we joined a gym together. I love the girls in my study abroad group - Amy and Katie and Lisa and Janelle and Amanda - they are alwasy such fun to hang out with and I meet a lot of people through them. Lenina is my ever-animated mexican friend from church that always laughs at me when my spanish comes out funny and when I try to dance by myself. She's always talking about her "Pololo'' -which is apparently the chilean word for boyfriend, even though she's not chilean or anything, she just likes the word, haha. She has been helping me get hooked up to go to this YSA conference this weekend - I'm sooo excited! And then there's Jaser - my bestest ever mexican friend who taught me how to dance, as you know, and also took me to San Miguel, vents to me about whatever problems are going on, relationship-wise or with his job, family, whatever - which I understand - especially the relationship ones. He introduced me to his family, and watched general conference in english with me, gave me the courage to ride on his motorbike which is DEFINITELY new for me.. I thought I was going crazy. I hate motorcycles. AND he is the only guy besides Brian that's ever held my hand. I'm still trying to figure all that out, but I am pretty sure we will end up staying as just good friends. I have also made a new good guy friend named Ricardo who walked with me to the centro and back TWICE - and that's a good 20 minute walk each way. And he lent me his camera. We just became good friends on that day, which was this past Sunday. I guess it's really nice being a foreigner because guys actually notice me. I think it will help me have more confidence when I get back to the US.
Maritza and Frank and their daughters Magaly and Magda are my "adoptive host family". I am at their house nearly every day to practice viola and I hang out and talk to them and through them I have made a lot of new friends. Magaly's boyfriend, Fedy, is really fun and wants to study in the US. Alejandro is tall and black and cuban and he has an accent that's so strong I can hardly understand him. hahaha Tonatiuh plays the violin and is really cute but i think he has a girlfriend. we all always want to go out and dance but never can because Alejandro is only 17 and they won't let him in in the clubs.. hahahahaha. Jousmin and Juan Manuel are in the band that plays at my ultimate favorite place, Barra Habana, but they are teachers at the music school which is also the house of the family that I was talking about. I want them to introduce me to the rest of the band but we haven't gotten around to that yet.
So that's sorta the run down on my life and friends here right now. i will try to write again soon. I really miss all of my friends in the US. *hugs to everyone!*
Love,
Stephi
