Finally, A Day Off!

After being told we would not have off on Oct. 12th, the Mexican government "changed its mind" and gave it to us anyway. VIVA! Many of us enjoyed ourselves by going out for a day of shopping and exploring with Rebekah Adams. We started at Starbucks, of course.....yum, haven't been there in awhile. Then, we headed toward El Centro where I made some great Christmas purchases and found a cool traditional Mexican skirt. We also got to see some tribal dances (since it was a holiday.....and the virgin of Guadalupe was being moved from church to church....crazy)....picture below. We were also hugged by several strangers holding "free hugs" signs..........a little unexpected...I checked my purse to be sure I hadn't been pick pocketed (spelling?). Next, we headed to Karne Garibaldi, a restaurant that holds the Guinness Book record for fastest service. We then went to an awesome pewter place where, again, I found great gifts for Christmas. I have a feeling my bags are going to be heavier than I expected. Jacque, Becca and I went downtown today, Friday, with Rodolpho to pick up our FM3 cards. We are officially legal as working Americans in Mexico. It was quite the process....I should have brought my camera to document the goverment building and the office we were in...YIKES! Tomorrow we are heading to a concert downtown....Rebekah's letting us borrow her car again....silly girl! :)

Viva Mexico!

I realize it has been quite awhile since I have updated....sorry. Things have gotten rather crazy here. We were told last week that we wouldn't have off Oct 12, even though it had been scheduled for Columbus day and for the Virgin of Guadalupe (celebrated in our colony of Las Fuentes). Then, a few days ago, we were told we now WOULD have the 12th off....I'm thinking I'll just wait until the morning of the 12th and find out if I'm supposed to sleep in or get up for work. If we have off, Rebekah is taking us to more cool shops to find all kinds of authentic Mexican goods for gifts.

Our friend Rebekah, 2nd grade teacher at Lincoln, let us (Jacque, her friend DeeDee, Tara and I) borrow her car and drive to Tlaquepaque today! What an adventure. I must say that I definitely enjoy driving in Mexico. Within my first five minutes of driving this morning I had made an illegal left turn and went through a red light.....I fit right in here. I think my crazy driving in the US has prepared me for driving in Mexico. VIVA. Rebekah's car doesn't have a muffler and every time we went over bumpy roads (so pretty much the entire trip) or a speed bump (also the entire trip...they are crazy about their speed bumps here) it sounded like something fell off. The air conditioning worked great (all four windows down....going as fast as possible), but there wasn't a radio due to the fact that Rebekah has had three stolen. ;( Anyway, we are so thankful we have met Rebekah. She is a huge help and knows the best places to get everything!

Pictures: Betsy and Rebekah (the second grade teachers); me, Tara and Jacque in Tlaquepaque seated with the fat mariachi....a father of some of our kids is the artist; me behind the wheel.....scary ain't it!