A New Routine

This week began a routine, mas o menos (more or less). That is, as much of a routine as one can expect with the unpredictability of a toddler and the weather. Chad returned to work this week and began commuting to the HP site in downtown Guadalajara. The rainy season came in like a lion on Sunday night. Rain was falling like I have never seen. It rained all night long and well into the morning. There was an inhundacion (flood) in a tunnel on the way to Chad's work. This gave him two hours to get to know the woman who has graciously offered to be his ride for the duration of our stay. Thank goodness they get along. The commute should have only been 30 minutes. Traffic was gridlock and they ended up walking the last 20 blocks after being at a standstill for nearly two hours. He missed his first meeting of the day but at least he had a good excuse.

The girls and I began our Spanish classes yesterday. It was great to be a student again. I am in a class with two other chatty women so we often digress from the teacher's charted course, but, man, we learn a lot of vocabulary! I do find it difficult and wonder if I could ever be fluent. I sit in my desk, carving on the top (Vashti hearts Chad) and sticking my gum under the seat and marvel at my 25 year old teacher's confidence as she navigates not one, but two languages perfectly. She not only speaks them perfectly but understands structure. I will probably learn just as much about English structure as I do Spanish. At least I won't have to Google English sentence structure terms or sheepishly ask my daughter's second grade teacher to remind me what an adverb is when my assistance is needed on her homework. I have been daydreaming about the possibility of moving to Mexico for a year (Don't worry Mom, it is just a year). I do think that is the only way I could really learn the language. My girls might start a coup. They are doing okay in class although they say they don't really like it. They are the youngest students the school has ever had. They are in a class that consists of just the two of them. Ages 7 and 3 are hard to mix in a class. The teacher does a good job and even if they claim to be bored I know that they are absorbing so much. Even if they don't attempt to speak Spanish out loud, words, rhythms, and sounds not found in English are being stored somewhere in those little active minds.


One thing that I have learned about Spanish is that if you don't want to be offensive just make it diminutive. For example, instead of calling a person "viejo," which means old, call them "viejito." It somehow softens it and makes it cute. Next time you want to comment on someone's sumo-like figure don't call them "gordo." Just say "gordito." Yeah, cute. The first time I hear someone throw the word "gordita" my way I'm hoppin' the next plane back to the states.


After our first day of classes ended my sole mission was to find "comfort food" for the girls. They have not been eating and have had the digestive curse common in many travelers. We found the closest supermarket to the school and hoofed it down there. The store put us at least a mile from "Casa Contenta." We filled our cart with Ritz Crackers, Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, Special K Dark Chocolate Snack Bars, American process cheese (individually wrapped), potato chips, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and an assortment of other items. Can you say "gordita!" I think that the allure of foods from home blinded us to the fact that we were walking. The girls were troopers although I don't think I was their favorite person by the time we lugged all of those groceries the one-plus miles home. We got in the house and I let them eat whatever they wanted from the pile then we watched a movie. I made a dinner of pesto pasta with vegetables, which was a welcome change from tacos and/or beans and had the girls in bed by 8:30. It was just the kind of day the kids needed minus the long walk with 100 lbs. of groceries. Hey, buck up little campers, I was fine with tacos and beans!


Our second day of class was today and was just fine other than the fact that we were late and I brought the wrong notebook. Geez! I felt like a 15 year old making excuses to the principal only I am 35 and my teacher is 24. I'll get it right, teacherito!


We came and ate some more salty, fat filled foods with no anti0xidant properties what-so-ever and then had one of the best days we have had since arriving. Pablo and Guadalupe picked us up and we braved the highways yet again (this is no joke - I wouldn't be surprised if I have to blog about a car accident before we return) and landed at Lake Chapala. Amazing! It is the largest lake in Mexico. We were at San Juan Cosala's Balnearios. Balnearios are hot springs. Guadalupe kept referring to this as a "healing spot." It was truly lovely. There are five different swimming pools, a large hot tub, two jacuzzis and a cave for steam baths. For an extra $15 pesos ($1.50) you could get a massage and get into a clay mud bath (another day!). All of this at the lakes edge with a spectacular view of the mountains. We had a nice lunch. I had a heaping plate of fresh fruit (found everywhere here although I eat it minus the traditional lime juice, salt, and chili powder) and the girls had hot dogs and french fries (why stop now!). We spent five or six hours surrounded by the "healing powers" of this magical place before heading home. The girls needed a snack for the road so we stopped at "Donas Donuts" in Ajijic, another lake town, and got them donuts frosted in chocolate and topped with sprinkles. Dang! I think I'm going to call social services on myself. What are these children eating?!!!


The lake was so spectacular that I think we'll rent a car and hit another balnerios. There is apparently another lovely spot on the other side of the lake and higher up in the mountains. If we can convince the girls to drive the two hours it takes to get there we just might make a weekend of it!


I will leave this post describing my dinner. Chad got Tacos Charlie for the two of us to eat. I requested chicken. In the photo, you'll notice a small carcass. I swear, this thing must have been taken out of the egg. These are itty, bitty, tiny-ito, chickens. I see little tiny eggoritos at the market that must come from these small birds. Chad first tried just placing the entire thing onto a corn tortilla. Small bones are still hard to swallow. I just watched, thinking I would learn from his mistakes before figuring out the best way to consume the chicken. We learned that the best way is to first rip it's pencil thin neck off and then peel the small amounts of meat it offers and place that on a tortillas. It was pretty good once I got past the visual. Tomorrow I'm going vegetarian - Ritz Crackers piled high with processed American Cheese (de-wrapped) chased by a Special K Dark Chocolate Snack Bar or two. Life is good!