piedras

So I must share with you what happened a few nights ago in my house here in Merida.

My papa was really excited to show me something. This something was tucked away in the ear of an elephant figurine.

But he dropped it on the floor before I got to see it. So for 15 minutes my family was on the floor searching for the KIDNEY STONE of my papa!!

(We think it shattered.)

A Surprise Visitor

Just thought I´d quick let everyone know what happened tonight as I was sitting with my family enjoying pan y coca (bread and coca cola). We were chatting about various things, my mountain of homework, when out of the corner of my eye what did I see? A rat running accross the floor, coming from the direction of my room, and towards us in the kitchen.

I didn´t have time to think or restrict my reactions, so I let out a true Alexa scream for about 3.5 seconds (frozen in fear) before I literally jumped in the air and onto my chair. I am beyond happy that I did not break the chair. But my mama and papa just stared at me in complete awe and terror before I managed to yell RATON! RATON! Then, finally, they knew why I was doing what I was doing. My papa stalled a moment then got up to chase it into the kitchen where we think it is hiding underneathe the stove. It wouldn´t come out. It won´t come out until we´re all sleeping I was reassured. Great...

Haha but we also had a really big laugh together. My mama told me that she thought I had cut off a finger or toe or something really horrible had happened. I scared her and my papa. My papa told me it was probably the first time in his life that he didnt know what to do about a raton because he was so shocked by my reaction. I seriously and truly scared both my parents!

Haha so all in all this is really funny, EXCEPT the fact that there is now a rat somewhere IN the house. I am going to remove EVERY crumb of food from my room before sleeping tonight. And I think I may even raise my hammock!

Buenas noches a todos!

Alexa

The perfect evening

I am really blown away at the love we are being shown here, and how accepted we've become into our families.

Last night, I was absolutely shocked at how much a part of the anniversary ceremony I was asked to participate in. I walked down the aisle two times last night as a part of my Santos Chi family.!Last night I truly felt like Alexa Santos Chi!

Papá, Rigo (13), Manuel Aaron (11), Mamá, Mi, Areli (9)

We walked into the ceremony as a family, and left walking to wedding music!

And the singing went alright! Although I didn't fool my mama here, she told me as soon as i sat down that she could tell I wasn't actually singing the whole time. True, but it was because of nerves. I actually couldn't remember the words at first!

In the itinerary, our singing was written "participation of the american ladies" (participacion de las senoritas americanas).

And there is so much more I'd like to write about last night, but I have to run to church right now. I'm also going to try and upload a few pictures from last night. Also, I got to have my hair done at a salon as a gift from a family friend!! :)

walking in. there were MANY more people

standing outside because there wasn't enough room inside.

singing :) there are videos too, i will post one when i can get ahold of it :)

abuelo y abuela. abuela es muy bonita, verdad?

hermanas. matching shawls.

black and white.

three granddaughters and daughter.

kristen and mandy!

Anyone who knows me will find this following story either hilarious, really ironic, horribly tragic, or all of the above.

Next weekend I am going to be part of the 45th (50th?) anniversary de mis abuelitos here in Merida. This event is very special, there will be about 200 people attending. The ceremony is in the format of a wedding.

Since I am a granddaughter, I have the priveledge, along with three other americana granddaughters and one americana daughter…to…are you ready for this?
...the priveledge to sing for mis abuelos in front of about 200 hundred people.
Really?
Me, Alexa. Singing. Period.
(If you dont know, I come from a family that lacks musical talent and I cannot sing. You should hear us when we sing happy birthday!)

What´s more, I didn’t bring a formal dress to Mexico, so I went out Shopping last weekend with my mama and hermana to pick one out. It cost less than 20 dollars US, but… upon looking at it a bit closer, it very much resembles the type of dresses I wore for ice skating recitles… in middle school. It’s really tight in the waist with a frilly bottom, and there are Diamond studs around the waist, and around the neckline. The thing is, there were no dressing rooms in the store where I bought it. I could only put the dresses on over my clothes. Also, there were no mirrors…so I thought from the Picture we took on a small cell phone that this dress was okay. Now…well…I’ll be singing in an ice show costume in front of hundreds of people.

I am debating whether or not I’m gonna muster up the courage and sing with these girls, or if I should just learn the words and lip sync. I would rather sing. I’m not one to really shy away from challenges. So perhaps I’ll just be taking extra long showers for the next week so that I can practice (that’s really the only time I ever have privacy – when I’m in the bathroom with the door locked). I hope you’re Laughing with me, because personally I find this to be really really humerous.

Oh and to add to the story, my papa here had joked with me about having to sing in front of the church or at the anniversary before this occurred. Even my family in Merida knows that I’m not too fond of / can’t sing!!

Thanks for readin’!!

Love

Alexa

PS I think the song we´ll be singing is Desde Mi Interior by Hillsong -¨¨ From the inside out.¨¨ Awesome!

BASQUETball!

Here's a post from the end of last week!

Oct 1

I am sitting in my hamaca (hammock) right now and it’s nearly midnight. My family is asleep, except for my papa who is still at Dominos working. I am leaving tomorrow for Playa del Carmen with 15 other Calvin students, and it’s a much needed excursion for me. I absolutely love my family here but I am looking forward to having a weekend where I can just BE – a tourist, loud, American. Or maybe this is a bad idea, to think that because I’m visiting a tourist area that I can let down my guard a little bit. We’ll see.

I have so much I could update you all on, but for now, I’ll tell you about the basketball team I joined at my University!

I was thinking about how I could include exersise into my lifestlye and schedule here in Mexico, when one of my friends from the Universtiy, Nora, asked me if I wanted to play basketball for the Communications team.

It’s basically like intermurals, except each carrera – or major - in the University has their own team. So for example, my team, Communications, might have a game against Political Science, or Nursing students.

My first practice was last night, and I was a bit nervous for two big reasons. 1 – I’m still sick (since last Friday) and didn’t know if I’d have enough energy and 2- I’ve had really bad luck and experiences with Bball teams because I’m not the most skilled player :P

Well, practice was fantastic! I’m pretty sure the coach thought Bri (another Americana on the team) and I were incapable of understanding the game because of the initial language barrier. He asked us if we’d ever played before. Then again, when he told me I was a post, I heard “eres la postre” which means “you’re the dessert”, so I guess he had good reasons to doubt.

But, for the first time in my life I felt like I was a valuable part of the team! I actually caught plenty of rebounds, made baskets, and was part of the plays.  (I AM one of the tallest on the team here!)

Things that made me laugh / smile:

5.  Some of the girls frolic when they run

4. A few girls wore ribbons in their hair for practice

3. Another girl wore yoga pants

2.      2. At one point we had all the girls lined up shooting baskets from the same point for about five minutes. I believe about one out of every twenty shots made it in the basket.

1.     1. The coach, after playing basketball pretty strenuously for about thirty minutes, disappeared momentarily, and returned smoking a cigarette!

That’s basketball. Our first game I believe is next week. I’m really excited. AND I think that all the endorphins from playing / excersising improved my Spanish momentarily. Seriously, it was just flowing in my mind on my bus ride home.

Also, here is a photo of my schedule here so you can see what I’m up to! I tried to include my bus time just to show how much of my day is spent travelling!

You can click on the photos to make them big enough to read, or here is a little guide:

Camión/ Bus    PEPS- Problemas economicas, politicas y sociales de México (economic, political, social problems of mexico, in the mornings) AND Baloncesto (in the evenings) - [Universidad Modelo]  Spanish 315/ 342 with other Calvin students  [El Divino Salvador, a church] Lingüísticas / Linguistics ( Monday and Friday) [Universidad Modelo] AND Evangelismo / Evangelism and Capilla / Chapel (Thursday)  [Seminario San Pablo]  Ethnographic study [Universidad Modelo and Sol y Luna]  Almuerzo / Lunch with my family! [mi casa!]

Love

Alexa