Category Archives: Uncategorized

(I now have reliable and fast internet . . .) Our final Wednesday excursion was to the state, and town, of Tlaxcala. It is a small state with a rich history – starting with Tlaxcala being the first state who formed an alliance with Hernan Cortez! This was my favorite tour – this place isContinue reading “!Adiós, Puebla – numero dos!”

(I currently have intermittent and slow WiFi, so I will post in two sections.) After a whirlwind three weeks with the Spanish Institute of Puebla, studying Spanish, visiting sites, and getting to know my host family, I feel at home in Puebla and have found a second family. Sofía, my anfitriona (I always struggle withContinue reading “!Adiós, Puebla – numero uno!”

Independence Day, celebrated on the night of the 15th of September, is a family holiday for most of the people I talked to. They gather, make and eat traditional dishes, dress in traditional attire, place traditional music and have fun. Meanwhile the streets and parks are crowded with other partying people doing much of theContinue reading “Here Comes Independence Day!”

1. Despite being the third largest city in Mexico, it feels like a bunch of smaller towns set really close together. The dominance of native speakers is refreshing. I find both of those aspects beautiful. Yes, they have colorful buildings and their churches are amazing. Puebla’s beauty is not as attention-seeking as San Miguel deContinue reading “I Love Puebla! Why?”

I wasn’t sure I would get the opportunity to host Sebastian before he starts school. But the stars aligned and he flew as an unaccompanied minor on a direct flight from Seattle. His flight was scheduled to arrive at 5:20 am. So, I chose to spend the night at the Mexico City airport in aContinue reading “Puebla . . . And Sebastian!”

On Tuesday I leave for Puebla City! I’ll be back for Dia de los Muertos and the San Miguel Jazz and Blues Festival in November. I am anxious to explore and observe a new city, but will be sad to leave a city where I know my way around and leave some people and placesContinue reading “Good by for Now San Miguel”

Last week I felt sad and uncomfortable to realize my role was that of tourist, with little opportunity to practice much higher level Spanish. This week I’m trying on a different role – that of observer, and appreciator. It still doesn’t feel ideal, but I can live with it, and it feels more true. ThanksContinue reading “Maybe Observer and Appreciator?”

What is it like now that the excitement and novelty has worn off? Well, I’m struggling with constipation, Spanish classes are kicking my butt, I nearly faced the world without my phone, I don’t feel like I am fitting in, I am running out of money, I feel the edges of depression creeping in, friendsContinue reading “The Honeymoon is Over . . .”

1958 to 1962: Chapala and Guadalajara, Jalisco Mom read that a family could live in Mexico on $125 a month – just the amount of Dad’s WWII pension. Dad was interested as he was not satisfied in his insurance job and the one-hour commute to downtown Chicago. In the summer of 1958, with our stuffContinue reading “Past Memories of México”

Yesterday I moved out of a family home in the center of town with three meals and housekeeping and into a small apartment farther from the center of town all by myself. I am about a 25 minute walk to school. Into town won’t be too bad, but back home is all uphill! What IContinue reading “Pedacitos y Pedazos (Bits and Pieces)”