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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
