Day One

I've been here 8 hours and it feels like I never left. At midnight I caught the bus to Toluca thanks to asking several kind strangers where the bus was and what I was supposed to be doing. We arrived at 6:30am in Toluca. It could only have been God that led me to the right bus station in the maze of little shops where I happened to notice a sign that said _eju_ilco. That was what I wanted and $4.50 later I had my ticket to Tejupilco. I wasn't sure what bus to go to when someone asked me where I was going. It turns out he was also going to Tejupilco and he saw me in Guadalajara.

So he showed me to the right bus and 2 hours later we were in Tejupilco. I thought I had to get off the bus and take a taxi to where I wanted to be, but after an extended and confusing conversation with the bus driver, he insisted I get back on the bus and sit right in front to let him know where I wanted to get off as he drove further west. Thanks to him I thought for sure we were all going to crash and die a few times, but he saved me a few dollars by not having to take a cab. And now I know how and where to catch the bus going back. So we found the rural corner that I wanted and I walked about 5 minutes to where I thought was "my" house.

It looked so different that I had to ask these girls by the gate if I was in the right place, they were rather surprised to see a gringa with her backpack and huge duffle bag walking around here. Then the woman they were talking with, who looked familiar, asked one to ask me who I was. I am not sure why she didn't just ask me herself, but when I told them my name, she recognized me, smiled big, said welcome and told me to go on to the house. So I knew I was in the right place, but as I walked toward the house I could barely see it. The rainy season has begun and the vines, trees and other plants have grown so much as to cover the entire front stone wall.

I called “Hola!” and didn't hear anything, so I went around back, inside the house and said it again. Sra was in the kitchen and later told me that she thought she heard my voice, but also thought she was mistaken. When she turned around and saw me she gasped and came to embrace me. Somehow I muddled out about sending a letter without knowing their address and not having their phone number and I think she understood. She was making tortillas and almost instantly asked me if I wanted her to make me some quesadillas, which of course I did.  Sra. makes the best ones and I'm pretty sure she understood me when I told her just that.

We talked for a bit then had to go to the store, about 50 meters away to get my cheese. There I saw Sr, who I think almost had a heart attack upon seeing me, but welcomed me warmly just the same. Then a cousin, Feliz, came over to greet me. Then the aunt next door came and I went with her to visit another cousin, Adriana. Each new person I had to tell my story of learning to teach in Guadalajara and my bus trips here. They are all impressed I made it here alone (me too).

I visited with Adriana a bit and was very happy to see still here.  She is about my age and I was afraid that she would have moved somewhere else. She also is perceptive enough to intentionally talk slowly and clearly to me and reminds her mom to do the same.  She even thinks my Spanish has improved since I was here 3.5 years ago! I disagree wholeheartedly, but I thanked her just the same.

After we talk and catch up, I wonder what I am going to do the next few days. I did just discover a big yarn stash I left here and some needles that I had forgotten about. I wonder what else I will find that I had forgotten about or wonder why I brought them in the first place.  Example: why I have 2 bikinis here, I have no idea.


In the front yard area this afternoon there was a wedding party with VERY LOUD music, I couldn't hear myself think and I have a slight headache. Now the television is so loud, I am convinced that everyone in this country is half deaf. Sr. turned it on, I thought for him to watch, but he left..so I guess it's for me?

I am so thankful to a classmate for giving me some amazing motion sickness pills to make it here in one piece.  And I am glad I finally took the bus here, it was so comfortable and since I wasn't watching the road (until the bus driver made me sit up front), I felt so much safer than in a car.  Before, I could never imagine myself spending too much time here because it caused me such discomfort to actually get here (2-3 hours straight of nausea).  All my worries for naught.  It's about 8pm and soon time for me to take a shower and sleep well!

Move on to Day Two...