Vamos al partido de futbol Chivas! 050406

Buenos dias de Mexico!
I see so many things that I say, "Oh, I definitely need to write about that", but then I forget. I really need to start keeping a diary of notes for these e-mails. Well, overall Mexico has been really great.
My Spanish is improving by leaps and bounds. In fact, it is becoming increasingly difficult to not throw Spanish words into my english. I am speaking Spanish mostly all of the time. Every day (morning and night), I am having "Yuri-esque" discussions with my driver. He has been super nice. Throughout the day, I compile the things that I want to talk about in Spanish (things that I usually don't talk about… like the tequila fields, the police, ways to reduce graffiti, the elections for president and governor, etc), then we can talk about things that will increase my vocabulary.
The hotel that I'm at makes me feel like family. They are so super nice. Last night, I met some really great people. He is originally from Cuba, now lives in Puerto Vallarta, went to school in DE (Sales), paints watercolors and has the same birthday as me!! How cool! She is from FL, is doing a masters in public health, has been some really cool places (i.e. India and is going to Nairobi), is super curious and amazingly sweet. I always meet the best people when I am traveling. Well, we talked for awhile… about everything from language to parrots. I am sorry I will not have more time to spend with them.
I am changing hotels tomorrow. My new hotel is called, El Mansion del Sol (the mansion of sun). Apparently, it is a converted mansion. One of the other staff is staying there. I will miss Quinta Don Jose, but it is quite a ways from work. I guess I will lose my 40 minutes each way to discuss random things.
The company here is awesome!! They are really, really taking care of us. Tonight we are going to a soccer game. It is a final between two of the cities in Mexico, Guadalajara (Chivas) and Chiapas. They even bought us jerseys!!! Ahora estoy muy emocionado de eso! In english, I am super excited about all of this. It is going to be so great!!! Tomorrow night, we are trying to get together to go salsa dancing, and on Saturday, we are going to the country to see the tequila fields (via train) and see the mariachis! What an awesome trip!
I am now officially the favorite person of Chiquita. She knows that I always have some pechuga (chicken breast) for her. If I don't have it when I come in the first time, then she sits at my door until I come out again. The hotel also has an outdoor aviary with BABIES!!!! Parakeet babies, awwhh.
I've been eating a lot of interesting things-- moles (no, not like the animals), sauces, lots of stuff. It is all pretty good. I haven't gotten sick yet. We went to a great restaurant on Tuesday night with a bunch of people from the company. On the way there, Pablo took me through the city and showed me all of the sights because we were early. I got to see the churches, the governor's mansion, the arch, a bunch of statues, the street of old mansions… How cool!
I will have a lot more to write about after my fun-filled weekend. I will make sure to take my notepad, so I don't forget all of the details!
Better run… we are stretched for time.
Cheers!
Amanda
No, I didn't forget…
Rockin' things about Guadalajara
-This company treats us like friends.
-Claudia, my friend at the company. We go to lunch together. I really like her.
-Pablo, my new Yuri
-Parakeet babies… Awwhh
-Houses are cheap
-The old houses in Centro. They are these "antique mansions." I want one!
-All of the things named "Colon." Hahah… it makes me laugh, i.e. Hotel Colon…
-There are a lot of police by my hotel, but not like federales. They are very friendly and very protective of the tourists. I feel safe.
-There have been a lot of cool festivals this week because of the holiday. There are mariachis, fireworks and parties in the street. Tlaquepaque had one last night.
-Wednesday is a big party night in Guadalajara.
-Mexican Spanish is so clear and easy to understand here.
-I learn at least 5 new words of the day… a lot of slang… i.e. Que honda? (it is like "what's up" in Mexican)
-Pablo takes a new way every day to show me a different part of the city. I like that. I've seen all kinds of neighborhoods… the ghetto to the richest areas.
-The café is better than in Russia and they buy us lunch every day!!!
-My hotel has a deal with all of the restaurants in the area to deliver. It is great!
-Centro Guadalajara feels like a city… even though it is in Mexico.
-I'm learning a new process and the work isn't too bad.
-Toilets with foot flushers.
-Ice with holes in it… OK… Let me explain. The circular ice with holes in it is from the PepsiCo, so you know that it was made with purified water. No holes… beware!
-The company provides us breakfast and afternoon snacks. They are so great!
"What? That is crap!" things about Guadalajara
-Applebee's has invaded… What the heck! Man, my hate of Applebee's increases everyday. Oh and it is right next to Wal-Mart. I don't know what I think of that either.
-Graffiti
-Festivals going until 2 a.m. Stop the firecrackers! I'm trying to sleep. It was no big deal though.
-The food in the café is sometimes scary and the vegetables are always cold.
-Milk in a box… Usually no big deal, but you need scissors to open it.
-Prune flavored yogurt (believe it or not, it is tolerable if you add TONS of granola).
-The device to turn the water on in the bathroom is part of where the water comes from the faucet. This doesn't feel sanitary to me, but I guess the water isn't great anyway.