Honeymoon is over; Jolene left us

My body has always had just stupid physical reactions to stress. And I'm not just saying that. I developed shingles my first year teaching. I was 27,  24 fit and healthy. My doctor said it was because of extreme stress. I didn't even feel more stressed than usual, so I guess I just live in a perpetual, stressed state.


This move has done a number on me. I have no doubt that learning the language will ease my anxiety, and I'm eager to start that process. I've already learned a tiny bit, but when I get my internet hooked up at home, hopefully the Rosetta Stone will prove itself worthy of all the hype. I think my school might offer Spanish classes, but I haven't delved into that just yet.


Meanwhile, my hair is falling out. Gross, I know. In clumps. I'm not too worried, as it's happened before, but there's an example of my body saying F everything. I've lost approximately 5-10 lbs since I've arrived here. If I stand up too quickly, I get light-headed and have to steady myself for a minute. Jolene says this is from my blood pressure being pissed off about my weight-loss.

mmmm hair clumps

salsa salsa salsa

Aaaaand, as the school warned me, my tummy is revolting against all the yummy foods that are available here. I could easily eat spicy foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner... and in Mexico, that's actually quite possible. So, I do. The combination of the spice and the different type of bacteria here has my stomach angry with me. REALLY angry with me. I can't help it though. Can't stop. Won't stop.

tummy fixers

This was a pretty good week. On Wednesday, we watched a film about 9-11, and then discussed how it affected not just Americans, but many nationalities. I tied it into ELA by discussing how emotions affect our writing, and how to express those emotions through words. I gave them a writing prompt, and they used descriptive writing to paint a picture with their descriptions. My 9^th graders did really well with it, some writing about things so painful, a few tears were shed.


Yesterday was an interesting day. The kids came to school dressed up in traditional Mexican Independence attire. Caden did not, because the note came home in Spanish and I didn't have a chance to get it translated properly.  But I did manage to get from it that he needed to bring six burritos on Friday morning, and bought those from the little shop next door to our place. We also got some gorditas from there, for dinner, and they were divine. Only our stomachs disagreed.

I'm so glad this place is next door.  

Anyway, so every grade at the school did a little presentation yesterday, and it was pretty neat to see all the participation, and pride they have for their country. At my old school, there is no way the kids would have dressed up and participated, at least not to that degree. I took quite a few pictures on my regular camera and will upload them later this week.

Afterwards, Pearl, my Canadian friend (She's been here for 35 years), took us to Home Depot and Walmart. Being in Home Depot was a bit like being in the twilight zone. It was so much like an American Home Depot, but it was off, just slightly. Imagine everything in your living room being 5 inches to the left. Familiar, yet...different. Smelled the same, like wood shavings and lumber. Went to walmart afterwards and Pearl explained to the woman at the pharmacy what was happening in my stomach and they laughed, but it wasn't super embarrassing because I couldn't understand what they were saying.

After she dropped us off at the apartment,  I walked down to the school for Caden's open house. I really just went so I could get him a free homework day; his teachers and I are in constant contact, anyway.


Around 7:30, Pearl came back over and the four of us walked through a very crowded downtown to have dinner at this little Italian place we went to last Sunday, with a few other teachers. We would have done Mexican, but our tummies doeth protest too much. It was a good evening, with laughter and wine and good food, but bittersweet because the fact that Jolene was leaving the next morning was heavy on my mind. Walked home through a slight drizzle and crowds of revelers.


Got up this morning around 4, and met Noe, the driver for the school, outside. Jolene and Caden sat in the back, cuddling, while I sat up front with my google translate, trying to talk to Noe. He was pretty patient with my bumbling, broken, backwards Spanish.


Got her to the airport, hugged, cried, and headed back home.


Now, real life begins.