Almost 2 months!!!! I have been having my ups and my down but mainly ups :) Spanish is getting alot easier. However it is still very difficult for me to understand when somebody is giving a presentation or a lecture like a teacher. This past weekend I went to RYLA here. It was ALOT different than the RYLA in the United States. Also it really made me realize the differences between Mexico and the United States and its kinda hard for me to deal with but I will get over. The main difference im realizing is that in the United State there is a social norm, however the social norm varies a lot. Also its okay if you are out of the social norm, it is relatively acceptable. However here, if you are out of the social norm or try to express yourself heaven forbid, you are nearly a criminal. Its just a difference of culture right? Its just hard to accept when I was raised a different way. 

I went this past Thursday to volunteer. I went to a relatively poor area which I think was right outside of Aguascalientes. Well this group goes every Thursday and there were around mabye 20 to 30 young girls who are from the community there. We do activities with them. It was alot of fun but of course they all stared! haha. A couple of the little girls came up to me and asked where im from and when i told them they said ohhh I can speak English, I said oh yes? what words do you know and they just looked at me and stared and smiled then ran away haha. It was very very cute! But I hope to continue going I really enjoyed it!!!

It is getting very cold here. About the temperature of Indiana right now believe it of not!! It makes me miss home a little :/ ha oh well I will live :)

Nada mas for hoy!                                 Peace & Love <3

one month

I have been talking another language, living in another country and a new family, eating different foods, making new friends, learning a different way of life. My family told me yesterday that my Spanish has improved greatly since I first got here. I am understanding alot more, however it is still harder to talk. I am becoming very fond of my mother and my sister! I spend a lot of time with them because they are home the most when I am home. My little sister, Luciana helps me with with my Spanish and I help her with her English homework, its actually kinda a struggle for me. haha but I didnt say that :P I am making friends slowly but surely!! The more I understand Spanish the easier it is.  welll I will update soon!   peace & love <3

Well, not much is new. I have been spending time with my host family a lot! This is a really excited time for Mexico because this is their 200th year of Independence from Spain! The day is celebrated on September 16th. Also this is their 10th year of real democracy so it is easy to see the Mexican spirit everywhere I go! There are decorations everywhere and people are very excited! I am extremely excited! I am going on a trip with Rotary to Chihuaha its a state about 14 hours from here. I will be there for a week and will celebrate the 16th, the day of independence with the governor or Chihuaha!!!!! how exciting!!!!!??   peace & love 

Peace Through Understanding!!! :)

Well, I have learned a lot about the culture and the social problems here, specifically the drug war. I never really understood until my host father explain it to me... the reason it has become such a problem is because when the economy suffered a couple years ago many people lost their jobs. Well unlike the United States they cannot go get financial aid from the government.. if they have no work their families starve. This is where the problem arrives... they take the risk to go to the United States and cross the boarder with drugs and sell drugs in the United States. This finally made sense to me, they are normal people trying to support their families with no other opportunities. Also I explained to my host father why so many Mexicans go to the United States for work, he was under the impression that there was plenty of work for everybody and that is why many people went to the United States for work. However I explained that because many people that cross the boarder are illegal, they work illegal and get paid under the table... and usually not minimum wage which many businesses like. The lightbulb went on just as the lightbulb went on for me when he explained the drug war. Its such a great feeling to truely be living the experience of Peace though Understanding!   peace  &  love

It has been a little over a week. I think my biggest problem right now is that too many people here speak english!!!! I keep trying to talk in English because that is one of my biggest goals while I am here. I think it will come with time. Today is my first Rotary meeting in Mexcio, I am very excited!!! Also this past Sunday I went to the lake with my host family, it is my grandfathers lake. It was so much fun! However... seeing my grandparents here made me think about all the Sundays I spent at my grandparents house in Indiana... it made me a little home sick. But now I am good, the lake was beautiful but more important spending time and getting to know the Mexican culture more was great!!!! adios!      peace & love <3

getting settled!

Hola,

Today is my second day of classes. I really love the school! I really love the life here. Of course I miss my family and friends and kitty, however the people here are very nice! My host family is great, many things about them remind me of my family and I. Specifically the relationship between my host father and my youngest sister, Luciana, it is alot like the relationship between my father and I. I have already begun to realize many stereotypes that Americans have of Mexico and its citizens are not correct, at all. Another thing I have noticed is that family is very important here. It makes me miss my family alot, but I am not homesick, YET! :) well you tengo clase, adios amigos!!!      peace  &   love

Welcome to my blog, this is my first post, obviously :P. Tomorrow morning I will be leaving from the Indianapolis airport to embark on a whole new journey. I will be an exchange student for around 10 months in Aguascalientes Mexico. I am going through the Rotary Youth exchange program. My host father is a Rotarian, I am so excited to meet my new family! They have 3 daughters, one is coming to the United States as an exchange student this year. I will update my blog and tell you all about them when I get settled!    peace and love <3