vaca santa

buenos dias!!

my first blog éntry´in merida.

and i don´t have much time.

i like lists, so i´m going to list some of the things i think are most important or interesting about the past few days!
-first of all it feels like a dream that i´m here. i dont think its clikced yet that im going to be living here for four months. i really love it here so far

-i already know how to use the bus system!! well to get to and from mi casa, at least. the first day our parents took us to el divino salvador, the church where we meet and study and have one class, and then to0k us home. then the next day we had to do it ourselves. great idea, although scary, because now im comfortable with the route. the bus system is different here though! there arent stops, well there are a few designated ones, but instead when you want to stop you just say ´baja´, or stop! so you have to look out for where youre going. the first time i passed my calle -street- by a bit. i like the combis better than camiones. combis are really small buses like minivans that hold 15 ppl max i would guess. the camiones hold many people and stop more. they cost the same, six pesos. or 50 cents.

- coffee is ten pesos at OXXO -a tienda like 7 eleven in the us. thats less than a dollar!!

-mi familia is great. i have a papa, mama, y three hermanitos . rigo is 13, manuel is 11, arely is 9. arely talks and talks and never stops. i love it. but cant understand much. but mis hermanitos help me so much. they talk slow and repeat things ten times if i need it. i feel bad and hope ill understand them more soon. mi papa has the hardest time understanding me. but he always exlaims MI HIJA! HIJA! when he sees me.

- im learning some mayan phrases here too! wixim or wikim means i´m very hungry.
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- the first night my mama thought i was very hungry but i really wasnt so she made me TWO sandwiches with ham avacado cheese tamato and peppers!! i ate them and was very full.

- the other night my papa came home from work , he works at dominos, and gave me an apple on a stick with what looked like red sugar or candy. i tried it and it was CHile! picante. my family laughed at the face i made. it was pretty funny. and its very common here im learning, to eat fruit with chile.

- i sleep in a hammock and im learning to like it. it was rough the first night.



- im always SWEATY. like, there is almost no point in puttin gon makeup in merida because you sweat it all off. its very hot here and humid. like the heat in michigan but hotter and the same humidity. or more near the ocean. but i think ill get used to it more as time goes on.

- yesterday i vistited a cenote!! which means sinkhole ithink. its likea cave with really fresh cold water inside because thelimestone filters it. it was beautifulinside! i went with mi familia. we had so much fun. it was about an hour or mor drive and i got to ride in the back of a truck. there were five of us and when it would rain we just had to duck. it was really fun.

- i really have trouble spe1aking and understanding my family, thats probably the most difficult thing so far. i want to understand more!


- today im going to three more cenotes with my class and then to a fiesta at my templo or church- thats called alfa omega -with my family!

- also, im learning how to play xsbox games. if youre reading this joey, be proud, i will soon be a halo expert!! sthaha. and im learning in SPANIS. its quite stressful having your two youngert brothers shouting at you in spanish phrases you dont really understand because you know its rally important to them that you fight and kill all the bad guys! :)

- ok my half hour is almost up so i need to check my email. i love you all and miss you and hope youre doing well

pictures to come. somehow. later.

i love you all mucho y mucho.
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(jenn i think about you lots. tell me how goes the duplex and OL training.

christian sorry i never got to call you! i love you.

britt and mom and dad and bobbie and brian' - love you tons and will let you know when a good time to visit is as soonas i can.)

ADIOS.