Fun Weekend :)

Hello my friends....... I am glad to be back on here again. I just came back from a great day of sightseeing. We went to the Aztecs' pyramids. It was awesome!!!!!!! They are located to the North of the city, about 1 hour away with no traffic (basically on the weekend). It was really something unique -something I have never seen before. There is so much history here. Everything was done for a specific reason, they thought about everything, and can you imagine building those things however many years ago. It is just mind-blowing. People say their calendar was more exact than ours nowadays. Again, mind-blowing. There are two pyramids on-site, one called "Piramide del Sol" and the other one "Piramide de la Luna." What is funny is that each pyramid's measurements are directly correlated to the measurements of the Earth to the sun and the moon. Of course, in a much smaller scale. Also, it is said the sun one represents men and it is bigger and stronger looking and the moon one represents women and it is shorter and steep -tough as crap! Does that mean we are tough?! lol... So, you will see some pictures of that trip posted on today's blog. Also, you will see some of the restaurant we ate at, which is located inside a cave and might be the coolest restaurant I have ever eaten at -regardless of the piece of glass I found in my food :)

In addition to the trip experience, I have to say Mexico is an interesting place. It is so rich in its culture. It is so authentic, it is so unique. People seem to be so loyal and true to their culture. That is just nice. It is very different, especially after having been in other countries where the culture does not seem as strong. At the same time, I feel like it is a little dangerous because we have to be open to others and be able to adjust in different circumstances. I guess this explains why Mexican communities are so closed in the United States. I feel like maybe that is why they try to stay among themselves. Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to be a pretty accurate perseption. Someone told me last night that Mexico grows on you and I can tell you right now, it does.

So, along the same lines, everything in the city seems to be "similar" or look alike. Those words do not really say what I want, but they'll do for now. Everything feels "Mexican," if you know what I mean. But hey! not at all with a bad connotation. Everything feels authentic and unique. I guess that explains it and if you don't get it, come visit me so I can show you what I mean :)

We have eaten in very typical places, it is awesome, I love it! I have tried so many things! I am really glad I get to tell you about it through this blog because it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Also, another thing I noticed about people is THEY ARE SO NICE! Everyone is kind to each other... I feel like it is a million years ahead of Argentina in that sense. People love each other -that's what it feels like. It is an inspiring atmosphere and I feel encouraged in a different way.

On the other hand, Mexico is so mythical! Is that even a word? People have so many beliefs and it may be because of their Indian background. They told me there are theories the world will end on December 12, 2012 in the Mexican pyramids I just went to and people in Mexico will be the only ones surviving the end. And then again, Catholicism is such a big thing here. Or I thought it was.... I have not seen that many churches at all (of any kind). It's kind of confusing and I will start praying for these people specifically because even though most of them have found an identity in who they are as a people group, they have not found Christ or their identity in Him. It is sad because I can see how man-created beliefs or myths get on the way between them and the truth.

Anyway........ keep checking my blog. I am glad you all are reading this. I miss yall!

Tere

Some pictures from today :)

Flight to Mexico City

Hey there! I am glad to be writing again! Here I am in Mexico City now... sitting on a magazine which is on a chair -and if you are wondering why I am doing that, it is because my butt got dirty somehow and I don't want to get the white chair dirty. Simple. I love writing on my blog. I think it's because I know Sheley and Roslyn read it and that makes me feel like they know my every move. And if that isn't enough, we are chatting on facebook right now, even though it is 3 am in the morning, Mexico time, which means it is 4 am Miami time and I have been up for 21 hours by now. We'll see what time I end up going to bed.
So today was a hard day. It was quarter-end at work, which means we are trying to ship scanners and PDTs to your and my mom in order to meet the quotas. It was hard! We had to go through 300 boxes of inventory and take the cable out because it was a USB cable and the customer needed another kind. Now, we did ship those 300 scanners, but I think we ended up shipping them with the cables we had already taken out. Oh yes, things get pretty crazy in our office. But it is a fun job (even though stressful at times), what can I say?
Oh! I can't forget to tell ya'll (yes I am a Southerner at heart) about this morning's mess! I had to pack all my things and of course that was no easy task and I had to get all the packed things to the elevator. Let me tell you that was tough! Thankfully some guys who were walking by helped me and I got them IN the elevator. That was nothing my friends. I went all the way down to "G" (Ground Floor) and once I got there, I was trying to juggle three oversize suitecases, one carry-on that was probably the heaviest carry-on in the history of carry-ons, my purse, bags with refrigerated things, and two huge bags with stuff that I did not fit in my luggage (just like I had predestined the night before). So, I get to "G" and I start getting the bags -one by one- out of the fancy elevator. Well, what I found out this morning is that fancy is not a synonim of good. Oh, no. I was trying to stop the elevator door from closing with two bags out and the rest in when the thing actually closed on me. Yes, ma'am. It closed on me and my nice leg and I had to pull it so that it wouldn't get crushed by this fancy thing moving very fast toward the ceiling. It took me all the way up to the 20th floor or something. I was like "unbe-freaking-lievable," and on the meantime thinking "someone is going to steal my bags, someone is going to steal my bags." Anyway, no one did. Of course -they were way too heavy to be interesting items of robbery. After that little, funny incident, I pulled myself together and got out of the apartment to meet my ride. On the way there, I got several people involved in helping and, after a few minutes, I made it to the car. Yay!
So, work went by fast -especially after we went out to get empanadas for lunch- and it was time to go to the airport. That's when my day really began. Oh, yes. I get there and my ride tells me to get someone to carry my things for me (in order to avoid any previously mentioned incidents). I agree, a little skeptically since I hate asking for that kind of help. So, the man literally walks my things maybe 10 feet to another guy who was going to wrap the things for me -granted I took the luggage out of the trunk- and I gave him a $10 bill and asked for change. I said "you can keep $3," thinking that was pretty generous. Oh, man! That man made me wish I had cursed him. So, whatever, he took $5. Right after that, I get my bags wrapped, go to the ticket counter and start asking about the prices for overweight and extra luggage since they only allow 2 per person. I had to pay $180 for overweight. No comments on that one.
After that, I get on the plane and have a wonderful flight. No, really. Actually wonderful. I slept, I prayed, I read my Bible. It was great. But before all of that happened, I saw what I think was the best sunset I have ever seen. It was absolutely beautiful. Anyway, after about 3 hours, we got to Mexico City -lights everywhere which reminded me it is one of the largest cities in the world.
I get to immigrations, no problem. One of the questions was "how long are you staying in MX?" My honest answer was 3 days. Well, so I get through with no trouble and then I get to customs with my bags. Here we go again. After 10 minutes of holding up the line because I couldn't find my luggage tickets, it´s my turn to scan my luggage. The guy reads my 3-day answer out-loud and says "four bags and three days".... beep, beep, beep, beep! I knew I should have lied! So, they start asking questions (the FBI type of questions) and I get a little scared. After I answer all the questions and persuade the guy to open just one of my nicely packed suitecases, he says he will check for new items (he basically thinks I am bringing merchandising into MX... he should know better considering everything we sell in the US is made in MX or China - HELLO!). Anyway, I tell him to go ahead and he starts checking. He asks if I am from Argentina -judging by the amazing accent- and I say yes. Immediately after, I retort to ask him if he thinks anyone from Argentina would EVER (and I mean ever) move to Mexico. He laughs and tells me sure! I was like I don't think so, buddy. And he goes on to tell me I will love MX so much these next 3 days, I will not go to Chile. Doubtful, but whatever. So, I get through that on a great note -since they were very nice- and get out customs to find my ride -a nice coworker. Once again, she instructs me to get a guy to carry my things, which I am not happy about. I do it anyway. He takes the bags for a little while up to where the car was. I ask my coworker to tell me how much tip I should leave with him and she drops a big "$10." Guys, I am sorry I am referring back to money again, but seriously, that is a big tip for pushing a cart. Then, she mentions that is how much she pays her workers (she has her own business on the side) a day. Yes, a day. Then, I was really happy I gave the guy the money because I felt like he may have doubled what he makes, thanks to my tip. That was the Lord reminding me not to be stingy since the money is His anyway. So, I will give out generous tips from now on, especially here in Mexico.
Once in the city, at my coworker's apartment, we get all set up and go out on the town to see how the night life works around here. He lives in the heart of the city. It is very nice, but a little loud. We went out at 12 at night and ladies and gentleman, people were eating. Yes, eating. It was fun and there were bars open everywhere with live bands that played good music. It was nice.
Suddenly, it's getting really late and I think I have ran out of things to say.
I love you all, Tere

Leaving my third home...

So, I've decided to blog! yay! Maybe it won't take long for me to get used to it. I don't know. I like the idea of people whom I love reading about my days in yet another foreign country. What can I say? My life is pretty exciting! I thank the Lord for blessing me with opportunities and an enjoyable job. He is pretty nice :)

Tonight is my last night in my apartment in Miami... I am definitely going to miss it considering I love going on walks around it and it almost felt like yet another home away from home to me. I think I have way too many homes away from home. I think I just probably don't have a home at all, wouldn't you say? My citizenship is in Heaven and I am thankful for that. I have to admit, though, this home away from home in Miami is nice! I love the TV in my bedroom and just being at a familiar place after long days at work.

Anyway... I am supposed to be packing. I have little left compared to how much I had when this journey began in Greenville. I only have 3 suitcases to take to Mexico, so I have no choice but to fit all my stuff in the three suitcases. That sucks because I tend to deceive myself and think I need 10 boxes when I really needed more like 20 of them. But oh well, right? I can't change that now because I am car-less and can't run out to get another bag at a store -besides I pretty much get lost by walking inside the apartment building... can you imagine trying to find a store to buy a bag? No, thanks. I'd rather go ahead and sacrifice some of my much not needed attire.

On a different note, as I write I think about my dear friends... I miss Laura Beth and Sheley and Roslyn and Esther and Lyndsay and Valeria... God has blessed me with AMAZING, out-of-this-world friends, but it's hard when we are so far away. Sometimes I think I just want to get a big house and ask everyone to move in and then we could be roommates again and we could have so much fun together again (yes, you could bring your husbands if you really, really wanted to -I guess). And maybe we could also have some arguments -even though those were quite rare, maybe even non-existent. I can't even recall one right now. Maybe I have selective memory. Anyway... I love my girls. I wouldn't trade them for anything!

Okay, so I guess I need to go back to packing! I have to finish doing laundry, too. Oh, my! This whole "having an apartment" thing is too much work :) Anyway, I better get going for tonight and try to keep some energy for future blogging. Hopefully, I'll be diligent.

I'll try to keep you posted!

Tere