Monday, May 28, 2012

A Few Weeks In

Wow.  Mexico sure is great.  These past few weeks have been very interesting indeed, and I've been able to spend them kind of just getting used to Mexico.  Several really cool things have happened since I have arrived...

I find that I am understanding a lot more and my Spanish is improving (YAY!!!).  I make sure that I am reading in Spanish every day (El Libro de Mormon, Harry Potter y El Prisonero de Azkaban, lo que sea) and what helps a lot is just being able to get out and talk with people.  This helps my comprehension as well as my speaking capability.  Some days are better than others and at times it is hard to express myself, but I'm trying to have patience and inasmuch as I have done so I am beginning to see that I really have been getting quite better.

I have gotten to meet a lot of cool people.  Joshua and that family that I mentioned before with the book store have proven to be great "gatekeepers," meaning that they have opened doors for me in the community.  They live right in the middle of town so whenever I need to know where I can do something or need a place to sit and think for a while they are there for me.  I have almost become part of the family there as well.  Joshua and I are great friends, and Carmen, the mother, and I really get along.  The other day I was just walking into the shop when Carmen was walking out to go and pick up her niece from school.  She asked if I wanted to come along so I did.  We picked up her niece and went shopping and just spent time together.  I am beginning to learn that spending time together (especially if their is food) is an important part of the culture here.  What a wonderful cultural aspect.  I wish that things in the US were more like that.

They are also good friends with Martin, a history expert at the museum across the street whose job is basically just to help college students with their research.  Martin has been extremely helpful so far because even though he doesn't have information concerning the LDS church, he has tons of information concerning the history of the state of Guanajuato.  This is great because for my classes I need to be read quite a bit about the history of the area here, and because Martin has provided me with so much, I basically can choose to read about the things that most interest me.

I also have gotten a good start to my project.  I have completed two interviews so far which have helped me think more about how my project is going to work methodologically.  I decided to create a survey for members to fill out if they have interest in the project, and through this manner I will be able to get contact information for those who have an interest and are willing to share more, possibly in an interview.  What is more is I will be able to prepare more individualized questions for the interview based off of the information they provided in the surveys.  I started passing them out yesterday in one of the wards and they were way more popular than I anticipated.  I still have several wards to go to, but I can't wait to start getting back some of these surveys and really getting to work on the project.

All in all, I have really been enjoying my time here.  The only real problem that I have had is that sometimes I have been having a hard time getting out and about to get things done.  I always have course work I can do at home and it is tempting to stay inside out of the sun, but I also love just getting out and talking to people.  I have taken some time to get settled and to figure things out, and I want to be better at getting out and making things happen.  I feel like I have the tools that I need, and tengo muchas ganas de estar en trabajo y tener éxito (I'm excited to get to work and start seeing things happen).

Benjamin

Friday, May 4, 2012

¡Que Simpáticos Son!

They are so nice here!

I have only been in Mexico for 4 days now, but I am quite "whelmed" as to how nice they are here, indeed it may be said that I am "over"whelmed with joy because of it =) Everyone is super helpful.  In my prep-course they talked about the different stages of culture shock, being the honeymoon stage (everything is new and interesting here) the irritation phase (things should be like they are at home) the adjustment phase (just like it sounds) and the bi-cultural stage (Yay, I love both places!).  Besides a little bit yesterday when I was feeling slightly sick (all good now =) ) I have definitely been in the honeymoon stage, and I hope to keep the two middle stages as short-lasting as possible.

So, cool things... I already I have made several friends... we went to go see The Avengers on Wednesday and while waiting in line I met a family just as excited to see it as me (which is saying something, I brought my captain america shirt solely for that movie). They were excited to meet me because Felipe was really tall, but not as tall as me.  We´ve become friends and should meet up sometime to practice our Spanish and English respectively.

Today after the others left for the Racheritos I went and ate a huge lunch of delicious rice, beans, and puerco in a picante sauce, complete with lime and onions and everything authentic. I filled myself up for like $2.40 USD! Then went and spent an hour in the Museum of the City of Irapuato learning about the history and the culture here. I love museums and could spend tons of time alone in each. On the way back towards my apartment I decided to stop in a "libreria" (bookstore) and the guy behind the counter was playing guitar, so after talking for a bit he let me play his guitar (we both love the band Coldplay). We were talking and I mentioned my project about the history of the LDS Church in Irapuato, and he told me he had a friend who was Mormon... which happened to be one of the few people that I know so far in my 2 day stay in Irapuato. Long story short, we´re going to get together to play guitar, platicar (chat, converse), and help each other learn each other´s languages.

On my way home I saw a little girl asking for her dad to pick a flower from a high tree, I asked if they wanted help and helped them choose a good one. I met the whole family there in el centro and they were just so kind and talked with me for a while.

What a great place this is.

Basically, I´m seeing every sign that everything I hoped for and more will come to me in these few months in Mexico.  Each day I am learning more Spanish... the more I come to know the members here the easier my project seems to be able to complete... with every person that I meet I am reminded of how kind and hospitable these people are... the city is beautiful... I love spanish music and food.

Todo me trata bién =)