Peliculas!

Yesterday we arrived in San Miguel de Allende after a beautiful (all be it bumpy) bus ride through the mountains. I met a new friend on the airplane coming in to Mexico two weeks ago and she had suggested a bed and breakfast that was owned by an artist friend of hers. So we arrived at Casa Calderoni yesterday afternoon and enjoyed a rather luxurious evening here. It is a bit more expensive here in S.M. de A., but after penny-pinching all vacation we decided we could just eat beenie-weenies when we get home so that we can enjoy a delicious bed and tasty breakfast.

After lounging about in the room for a while, reading about Diego Rivera (the namesake of our room... and after having visited his first home in Guanajuato the other day, we can appreciate him even more) we decided to stroll to the jardin. When we arrived we found that an international film festival was being held in San Miguel. So after a short walk around part of the city we returned to the jardin to find it jam-packed with people. We bought some palomitas and some home-made chips with salsa (served fresh in a little clear bag) and settled in to the curb to await the festivities. By looking at the photos above from the bottom to the top you can see the evolution of our evening. The band was quite fun and when it got dark they showed a film about San Miguel, after which the bells in the church tolled clamorously and fireworks exploded immediately overhead. (Never been directly beneath fireworks before... it was quite exhilerating!) Then we watched -- along with several hundred other folks sitting outside -- about 5 more short films from various countries and part of a long film before we petered out and had to return 'home' for the night. The top two pictures were taken from the rooftop terrace this morning just before I came to type this.

I hear the breakfast being rustled up so I must stop for now... sadly, we have only one more day in this beautiful, magical country...

Different names for the same thing

So Death Cab for Cutie has a song I am currently into right now (several actually) and the title is "Different names for the same thing". (They have quite a cool movie with little videos from various directors ... I think the title is Directions...) I was listening to it last night and was thinking of all the words/names I have been learning here in Guanajuato. And sometimes I feel constricted because I cannot think of a word in Spanish ... and I like words very much.

But then as I listened some more I began to think of how we say lots of things underneath our spoken words. Some of the things I have heard lately in conversations with new friends and new people in GTO:
-- Uno cada dia..
-- I am still trying to figure out exactly what I think about things... I am just not quite sure about who I want to be yet, but talking helps me figure it out.
-- Well, my husband is a lawyer..
-- Yes, but our son lives in the U.S. ... it is very far.
-- Did they just say I am a "blanco gigante" and start laughing??
-- Don't tell _______ you saw me here...
-- Whatever...

Are they all different words for the same things? Perhaps. Which is another reason I love travelling... it helps me open my eyes and ears more so I can hear more clearly.

Digame...

It´s all good...

So my classes this week are a bit later in the day and we have time to leisurely awaken, find breakfast, and meander to school. But it is Monday. And at 9:15 we finally headed to breakfast. We forgot that things open when they want to open (or maybe not at all on Mondays). Most of our favorite places were still closed. But in Mexico, it´s all good.

The store is closed today? It is all good, it will be open later. You do not have money to pay for the hostel today? It´s all good... just pay sometime before you leave. You want to take classes but don´t know which ones? It is all good -- just try them out and we can rearrange things later if need be. Don´t have money today? It´s all good, they can find you later.

And my favorite -- the doggies don´t have a yard to watch and guard? It´s all good... they can guard la casa from the roof. Mira... this one is keeping watch over all that is happening in the street. (When we got too close to take his picture... 2 stories up from where we were standing, mind you -- he was very verbal about it.) After we stepped back a bit we could then take his picture.

Mexico... todo es bueno. (Must remember to bring some of this back home...)

HOW much further???

So today we decided to take a little hike. We found a note posted to the board in the school and it said that there would be a bus ride to another little town and a walk down the mountainside. The flyer said 4 hours. That sounded just right. So we started out at 9 in the morning walking across town to the bus stop and taking a very comfortable bus to a little village called Santa Rosa.

While in Santa Rosa we took a peek at a little church, bought a couple of snacks for the journey, experienced a very interesting bathroom and then set off on our journey. It was a lovely walk and we saw beautiful views of the mountains, old mines, and ate lunch on a little hillside of a very small village. Then we walked down and got some helado and continued our journey. And we walked... and walked... and walked. How much further is this, we kept wondering. We walked along a riverside, sat down at a little lake resevoir, and walked through another little mining village.

So, 10 MILES LATER, we finally arrived back in town. It was 5:00. Did I mention we started at 9:00? Needless to say, we are a bit tired, a bit sore, but had a lovely time walking through the Mexico countryside.

Maybe next time we will ask a bit more directly exactly how far the journey shall be. Or maybe we shouldn´t. Sometimes it is better not to know!! Nos vemos...

Pipila!

It has been a couple of days since I have written because we have been very busy!

On Thursday we had a bit of an adventure because we wanted to go to Valenciana. I was told that Valenciana was the best place to get silver jewelry because it is right near the mines. So even though it was a bit of a distance we decided to walk. But first things first...

Between classes Jim and I decided to visit Pipila -- the statue of which you see in the picture here. Pipila is a hero in Guanajuato and helped to burn down the doors of the hideout for the Spanish invaders and to help further the fight for Mexico´s independence. The statue you see here is at the top of a very tall hill which we climbed, smelled the delicious food, had to come back down for class, and then hiked back up to again. In some of the photos in the post below you can see pictures of views we took from the Pipila outlook. The second time up that day we decided to have some delicious tacos from street vendors and also some drink that included chilies and some other lovely ingredients with which I was not familiar.

Then we decided to walk to Valenciana. But little did we know that we would spend much of our walk on the side of a highway. We stopped several times and asked -- Are we going the correct way??? --- to which the answer was always, --Si, mas arriba... So we walked and walked for about 4 miles. Oy vey. But we finally made it, found some lovely silver and then rode the bus back down. The adventure continues but my computer time is up. Nos vemos!

Pics of Guanajuato

El jardin...

Me gusta mucho el jardin! It is 9:30 and the jardin de la paz is buzzing with life. In the middle of the jardin is a large gazebo. Surrounding the gazebo are large beds of flowers and also trees which have been grown and pruned carefully to form a canopy protecting the iron benches below from the sun during the day and from the rain at night. Many families, couples, and visitors sit on the benches, on the steps of the Juarez theatre, and in the cafes encircling el jardin. Musicians play for those who can pay for a special song, but all can hear the tunes floating through the trees. Shakespearean-dressed actors roam with castenets and streamers in hand, vying for tourists who would like a special theatrical tour of the city. Families young and old stroll around the jardin, to say hello to friends or just to be a part of the community. (I will add a picture later when I have more time.)

I want a jardin. I want a place to walk to at night and see my friends and listen to music and just relax. Things are a bit slower, more relaxed, and there is always time to commune with one another. Me encanta Guanajuato...

Mis amigos...

Today we made some new friends! One friend is from Bulgaria (Spanish will be her third language but I think she might speak some others too..), another from Britain, another two from Holland (and they learned many languages in school... I cannot even keep track), one from Colorado, one from California, and then of course, there is the Texas contingent. Such a rich and varied group of folks all journeying from around the world to study spanish in this lovely town of Guanajuato. We took a little tour of the town today and saw many beautiful and historic plazas. And there are many lovely shops, panederias, statues, architecture. I cannot wait to explore more. But now, I must run to do my homework... mas mañana!

AY!!

Today I started language classes at la Escuela Mexicana. ¡Estan muy divertido pero tambien dificil! I am finding that I understand much of what is said, (the classes are taught solely in Spanish and most teachers -- I have 3 different teachers for my 4 classes -- will not speak any English so that you are forced to really concentrate and learn) but at the end I am soooooo tired. I have always respected and marvelled at my students who speak 2 languages, but with more experiences of my own I understand even better the tenacity they have to soak up a different way of organizing and structuring language. I think if I could stay here about 6 months I would be much, much better. But for now, two weeks will have to do. And I'm meeting many new friends from around the globe.

This evening we were going to take a tour of the city, but it is raining cats and dogs so we have postponed the tour until tomorrow. It´s probably best because I really need to practice and do homework. Hasta manana...

Estamos Aqui!

Estamos aqui! Y esta muy bonita aqui!

We arrived in Guanajuato at about 12:15, after an uneventful flight and easy journey via taxi. We have been practicing our Spanish already and are trying to get used to converting money.
The buildings are colorful, the streets are cobbled and narrow, and there are many, many families walking around enjoying the perfect weather this Sunday afternoon. Above are two pictures taken just behind our hostel -- the first is Jim (or Santiago en espanol) just in front of the Cervantes statue, and the second is taken from behind the statue so you can see the hillside crowded with houses. We walked to the jardin, did a little people watching and then were able to check in to our hostel. After this short blog post we are going to venture out looking for food and fun. As i sit typing in the lobby of a different hostel i can hear someone practicing guitar upstairs and singing, families laughing and walking by outside, roosters crowing, and buses navigating the narrow streets. Me encanta!! I wish you were all here with me.

Until tomorrow. Hasta manana!

Travelling

We watched a video this evening, of music and 11 short films created to represent the music in some way.  I liked the songs already, but something about the art that accompanied the music -- this time in the medium of film -- enhanced the songs and transported me for a moment to another place.  When each little short film was over I was glad there was a bit of blank screen before the next one because I needed that time to breathe.  I needed that time before the next musical journey began.

It is interesting to me how we can travel through music and art -- to a forgotten memory, an old feeling, or even newly dreamed futures.  And books can help us travel a bit, outside of ourselves to other feelings, other experiences, other lives.  We can see ourselves playing out those other lives or at least trying to understand them.  And I always enjoy travelling in that way.  But nothing seems to shake me out of my comfort zone like physically travelling to another place.  Something about being away from familiar patterns, routes, routines . . . it seems to wake me up a little.  Like Annie Dillard notes, it's as if I surface for a while and get out of the watery fogginess that sometimes day by day existence can evoke.  

I like travelling.  It helps me remember to connect with my life, both away from home and in it.  Guanajuato, may you bring many new, awakening experiences! :) 

Salsa!

Mmmmmm, salsa. Green/red, hot/mild, heated/chilled -- I loves the salsa and chips. On a desert island if I had to choose only one food forEVER it would be chips and salsa. I can not ever eat enough and cannot keep it in my house without ravenously devouring a whole jar at one time. (Seriously, this is a contest I could win... where is the "who can eat the most pica (spicy) salsa" contest?? My SKILLS are not being used to their fullest potential!)

But I digress. The kind of salsa to be discussed here, in this post, is the other kind that involves thumping music, high-heels, and a bit of sass.

Now I do "got sass". And I likes to shake my as--pirin bottles. (What?? This is a family show..) But while I'm a salsa-TASTING expert, am I a salsa-DANCING expert? Hmmmm.

In a "let's-go-to-austin-and-have-fun" girls weekend with some of my coworkers, last night we went to Copa, a great salsa-dancing place. (Thanks for the rec, Tiff!). Let's set the scene:

We walk into the club and wiggle our way close to the edge of the dance floor. Music is pumping, skirts flying, hips grooving -- it is un corazon of people beating with fire. After a few minutes of looking in longingly, I shout to my friend Yang, "Will you teach us?" And she kindly shouts her agreement. So we weave through sweaty, happy, twisting people over toward the mirror. (Mistake number one because when I catch a glimpse of my sad, jerky, decidedly un-twisty hips I think to myself, "What on earth am I doing next to a flippin' mirror?!?") Yang shows us some steps and then we practice. And sweat. And practice. And sweat. And people come over and say, "Do you want to dance?" And I shout, "I don't know how but she does!" And away flies Yang. Then away fly Aurora and Sarah. And in comes a 50-something, kind-faced gentleman who has no idea what he is in for...

He kindly asks to dance and I shout, "I don't know how." And he says, "No, I saw you and your friends. You can do it." So I laugh and say, okay, and begin practicing my step 1,2,3,4 .. 5,6,7. 1,2,3,4 .. 5,6,7.

--"See you are doing fine."

(Holly trips immediately after compliment.)

--"It's okay you just need to loosen up a bit."
(Holly goes boneless. Chicken-y legs... is that an appropriate salsa move?)

--"Okay just try and take smaller steps"
(1,2,3,4.. 5,6,7... 1,2,3,4, step-on-toes)

--"..."
(Holly tries to add some hips. Mirror glance says, noooooooo, not the hips!!)

--"Okay we are going to spin, listo (ready)?"
(Holly, excited about spin starts spinning already)

--"No let's go back... small steps, just small steps."

(Holly sort of finds a beat again... sort of)

--"Here we go"
(Holly spins, back, side step-py things, spin, wheeeeeee!)

--"That's it!"
(Holly steps on toes again and says, "I think I can't get the beat. I'm a musician.")

-- " ummm. . . what kind? "
(Holly shouts, "singer". Other musicians would say that explains everything...)

--"Just stay loose. Don't think so much."
(Holly starts going boneless, chicken-y legs again.)

After a bit more uncoordinated writhing, the music comes to a close and we both laugh, (did I see him sigh with relief??). We move back to our own friends as the next song brings more dancers to the floor.

Later in the evening my "teacher" passes me and, definitely NOT asking me to dance again, says, "You really need to practice." (Chuckling.) Yep, he's right. My salsa dancing is hot. It's one big, hot, MESS!

Where are those chips again?...

¿Porqué Guanajuato?

Yo quiero ir al Guanajuato.  ¿Porqué?   Porque yo necesito a practicar español!!

I usually consider myself a pretty educated (of the go-to-school-a-lot-and-owe-lots-of-money sort… as opposed to the various and sundry other, possibly less expensive and more fun sorts of edumacation) but this year has been the year of the dunce for me.  I started working in a public pre-k and everyone speaks Spanish.   And I mean everyone.  Students, parents, teachers, TAs, office workers, delivery guys, crickets, ants… everyone but me and like, 6 other people.  So after a year I’ve learned very well how to tell someone to check out books, when to bring them back, how to take care of books, and how to find the Spanish and/or bilingual books in the library.  I feel quite proud of myself and think, “Mmmm, I speak Spanish.”

Then, I see one of my four-year-old students in the hallway… away from the library.   You see it coming, don’t you?  They start talking.  And I start listening.  And nodding.  And nodding some more.  And saying, “O, si??” And then they look at me funny.

Turns out I do not speak Spanish after all, only library.  Because I’m the library-er  (a moniker given to me by some of my students).  And shouldn’t a library-er be able to talk about lots of things besides where to look for that missing book? 

I think definitely so, and so Jim and I go to Guanajuato next week.  My neighbor Paola told me about it.  Via lots of handsigns and some terrible grammar on my part, I was yet able to learn enough to know that I can go there and learn some Spanish whilst being in the mountains and on a little va-cay.  (Is that what smart people or annoying people call vacation??  I forget.)

 So I think it will be an adventure on many parts.  Now if only I could figure out what book to read…

Why another blog?!?

As blogging goes my endeavors show signs of spinning top-dom.  Remember the "when I was yer age" ones made of wood, replete with stick and string?  You had to wind the string around carefully, and then yank like heck and watch it fall to the ground, spinning and bouncing eagerly until it ran out of momentum.  That's what my blogging is like.  I get all wound up with a great idea, pull the string and go, go, go. . . until I begin . . . to run . . . o  u  t  .   .   . o  f  .    .    .  

Yep. Spinny, spinny fun and then after a few last wonky jerks -- PLONK.  I had LondonRocks for my Maymester studies in London back in 2005.  Then there was the ever-popular (for 3 WHOLE MONTHS..woo-hoo!) Moore Marvel kindergarten blog.  Then several months ago I thought, "Hey, I should write something philosophical and transcendental... yeah. That would be sooo cool, man." Thus, Enoughness was born.  But sadly it only lived for 3 posts (maybe it will be the kitty-cat of blogs and regain another life in the future...).  So why the heck would I have another blog that I know -- we ALL know -- is destined to be short-lived?   

Well, because I just cannot blog about the same things all the time.  I like to blog about spinny fun happening now.   In my real life I job hop.  So it's no wonder that in my virtual life I blog hop.  Hoppity, hoppy, hop, hop.  And next week I'm going to Guanajuato, which actually means "place of frogs" so perhaps my boingy blogging will be just fine. Thus, the moniker of this blog -- Guanajuatorocks.  Spinny, hoppy fun.  Ribbit.