We just wrapped up one of our best weeks yet! Last month I met an awesome friend, Abigail, who is from nearby Toluca, but now lives and works here in the city. She is an event planner at the Italian Embassy and scores all kinds of sweet perks that go along with job, like tickets to Fashion Week in Mexico City. So, my friend, Tricia, and I rushed home from school, put on Fashion Week-worthy dress and headed out. We had a blast and caught shows from two different Mexican designer. I ripped off a few photos from Abigail's Facebook page to share. Check 'em out!
Mexico City Fashion Week
The anticipation of a weekend at the beach was about to explode by the time we boarded a bus bound for Acapulco on Friday night. We were beach ready! We arrived in Acapulco with another couple, who we've met through the school, around midnight and took a cab to our nearby destination -- Pie de la Cuesta, which means "Foot of the hill." Pie de la Cuesta, which is said to be the location where author Gabriel Garcia Marquez took inspiration for "One Hundred Years of Solitude," is a quaint, sleepy village about 45 minutes from Acapulco, away from towering hotels and bustling nightlife. We relished every moment of our relaxing weekend with time under the sun, walks on the beach, horse back rides, massages, drinks at the swim-up bar and fresh sea food. It was paradise! Check out photos from our charming eco-resort and beach below.
Pie de la Cuesta
It's time for me to hit the bed before a busy day at school tomorrow (which is actually a "pajama themed" day - yippee!). We'll post more soon about what we're up to this week, including some noticeable improvement with the Espanol (finally!).
A special shout out to our friends in Omaha, the Grahams, who just welcomed their first son Niles into the world this week. We're looking forward to a quick trip home to Omaha/Greenfield in a couple of weeks when we'll help Josh's mom and her fiancee Randy celebrate their wedding day. Can't wait!
Miss you all and, again, thanks for keeping up with what we've been up to!
Besos,
Olivia
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Holy Mexico!
I’m happy to report that my appetite for Mexican food has healthfully returned. My distaste for Mexican food was most definitely a byproduct of being sick a couple of weeks ago. But late, late last night after a girls' night out with friends from school, I couldn’t help but order a taco al pastor when we made a stop at a taqueria on the way home.
That brings up a great point -- I don’t think we’ve written about the heavenly tacos al pastor that go for about $.45 here. Tacos al pastor would be perfect after-hours food in a college town, or, actually anywhere.
Last Sunday we finally visited La Villa de Guadalupe, or the area on the outskirts of the city that is revered by Catholics (and others) from all over the world. This is the site where the apparition of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary) is said to have appeared before an indigenous Mexican peasant named Juan Diego. While I have always been intrigued by the story of Juan Diego and his visions and message from La Virgen, I realize you might not share the same interest. To read more about the story and how the image of La Virgen permanently became to exist on the tilma (cloak) or Juan Diego, click here.
Anyhow, visiting La Villa been something that I've wanted to experience for years. Several years ago I visited a Basilica in San Antonio, TX with my dear grandmother to catch a tiny glimpse of a small piece of Juan Diego’s tilma that was miraculously imprinted with the image of La Virgen – it was a relic the size of my pinky fingernail enclosed in glass – and we were among hundreds of others who waited for hours to see and pray before the small piece of fabric. So, for me, to view the entire tilma with the image of La Virgen was an experience I will cherish forever.
Thousands of other visitors were also visiting La Villa, which includes a Basilica built in the 1700s and a newer Basilica that was built in 1976 after the older one began to sink (how many of you remember from history class that the Aztects built Mexico City on top of drained lake??). We walked the entire grounds, including the gardens, chapels and up to the hill of Tepeyac where the La Virgen is said to have appeared before Juan Diego. It was incredibly humbling and moving to witness the few visitors who made the pilgrimage to La Valle and up the hill slowly crawling on their knees.
At the Basilica, masses are held every hour and the atmosphere was filled with song, prayer and art. We even took a peek at the “Pope Mobile” that Pope John Paul II paraded through Mexico City in. Even though the validity of the apparition is controversial, there is no denying that Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe and her famous imagage are iconic and unifying sybols of Mexico.
On Wednesday we enjoyed our first holiday with the celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day. Talk about patriotic – these people know how to celebrate their cultura and history! We had a blast downtown and toasted the occasion at a cantina where a friend played DJ for the night.
Celebrating Mexican Independence Day
Josh is pleased with his tutoring schedule and has enjoyed working with students, most of whom are at an elementary or middle school age. Spanish is slowly progressing for me and I'll likely start exchanging English services for Spanish tutoring in the next weeks. So far, I'm making decent progress.
We’re working for the weekend this week as we count down the days to a trip to Pie de la Cuesta, a relaxing beach town on the Pacific not far from Acapulco!
We hope each of you are doing well at home - we miss you and love hearing from you!
Hasta Luego,
Olivia
Friday, September 11, 2009
TGIF!
Hola todos, how's it going? I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday. This guy is very excited abbout two great college football matchups in Notre Dame vs . Michigan and Iowa State vs. Iowa tomorrow.
Olivia and I are headed out for a bite to eat w/ some friends from school, but I thought I'd give a quick update on the job situation. Starting next week I'll have 5 different kids I'm tutoring Monday thru Thursday from 2:30 to as late as 7:30. So my afternoons are getting booked up, and I'm still looking for something in the a.m.'s to keep me busy.
I've also found a workout partner with Olivia's boss, assistant principal Robert Walton, and week 1 is officially over with the M-W-F routine. I'm looking forward to getting back in in shape for my mom's wedding come October 10th. That's right, Donna lola will be tying the knot in less than a month, so it's exciting times in Omaha!
Not too much else on this end, looking forward to some ultimate frisbee tomorrow morning and hopefully watching the ND vs. Michigan game. Olivia and I are debating on the Basilica de Guadalupe for Sunday. Adios por ahora!
Olivia and I are headed out for a bite to eat w/ some friends from school, but I thought I'd give a quick update on the job situation. Starting next week I'll have 5 different kids I'm tutoring Monday thru Thursday from 2:30 to as late as 7:30. So my afternoons are getting booked up, and I'm still looking for something in the a.m.'s to keep me busy.
I've also found a workout partner with Olivia's boss, assistant principal Robert Walton, and week 1 is officially over with the M-W-F routine. I'm looking forward to getting back in in shape for my mom's wedding come October 10th. That's right, Donna lola will be tying the knot in less than a month, so it's exciting times in Omaha!
Not too much else on this end, looking forward to some ultimate frisbee tomorrow morning and hopefully watching the ND vs. Michigan game. Olivia and I are debating on the Basilica de Guadalupe for Sunday. Adios por ahora!
Monday, September 7, 2009
There is no place like Nebraska!
Hello all, I thought I would put in a quick plug for Nebraska, who enjoyed a 49-3 football win this Saturday, albeit against a mediocre opponent. Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch the game as it was a PPV showing, but I was anxiously keeping an eye on the ticker as I watched Notre Dame pummel Nevada in their opener 35-0. Let's go Huskers and Notre Dame!
On another note, I was suprised to see Iowa struggle against UNI in a game they had every right to lose. They play Olivia's alma mater ISU this weekend which should be an interesting matchup. Gotta love that college football!!
On another note, I was suprised to see Iowa struggle against UNI in a game they had every right to lose. They play Olivia's alma mater ISU this weekend which should be an interesting matchup. Gotta love that college football!!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Jobby Job!
And here you all were thinking I was a domesticated man now!
Josh has a Job!! 3 to be more precise. That's right, 3 paying jobs. You want to hear about them? Do you???
Job #1 - 3 guaranteed hours/week tutoring an 8th grade boy at his home in Math and Physics, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:30.
Job #2 - 6 guaranteed hours/week tutoring a 7th grade boy at ASF (Olivia's school) in Organizational Skills, Math and Social Studies right after school from 2:30 - 3:40 M-F.
Job #3 - however many guaranteed hours I can handle writing for my good friend Tyler Forret and his websites about NCAA D-1 football, a subject very near and dear to my heart. Like Olivia.
So, there's a start on the Josh job front, and I'm still looking to get something for the mornings teaching English to business people/working for the embassy/working for various 3rd parties/playing online poker/playing spades for money/etc. The possibilities are truly endless :0)
What else do you loyal followers want to know?? I'll continue to get on Olivia about taking some Spanish classes or getting tutored and I need to get on it myself. 5 weeks in and I still don't know the word for grapefruit!
Josh has a Job!! 3 to be more precise. That's right, 3 paying jobs. You want to hear about them? Do you???
Job #1 - 3 guaranteed hours/week tutoring an 8th grade boy at his home in Math and Physics, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:30.
Job #2 - 6 guaranteed hours/week tutoring a 7th grade boy at ASF (Olivia's school) in Organizational Skills, Math and Social Studies right after school from 2:30 - 3:40 M-F.
Job #3 - however many guaranteed hours I can handle writing for my good friend Tyler Forret and his websites about NCAA D-1 football, a subject very near and dear to my heart. Like Olivia.
So, there's a start on the Josh job front, and I'm still looking to get something for the mornings teaching English to business people/working for the embassy/working for various 3rd parties/playing online poker/playing spades for money/etc. The possibilities are truly endless :0)
What else do you loyal followers want to know?? I'll continue to get on Olivia about taking some Spanish classes or getting tutored and I need to get on it myself. 5 weeks in and I still don't know the word for grapefruit!
Flu anyone??
5 weeks into our stay already!! Craziness...
Well it wasn't the swine flu, but Olivia and I were two sick puppies recently. Olivia had signs of it last Sunday night with Liz still here, but went to school Monday and tried to fight through it. I started feeling it on Monday, and by "it" I mean fever, cold chills, nausea and extreme diahhrea. Yeah, I said it, the d-word, and it was bad, but I'll spare you all anymore ugly details. Definitely worse than any flu I've had stateside. Our theory is that the gringas that we ate in Taxco came back to haunt us. Verganza de Montezuma!
So Tuesday we were both out for the count, and on Wednesday, our 2-year wedding anniversary, we were still sick and laying in bed all day. What a way to celebrate!! I did want to give a special THANK YOU to Ester (Grammy)/Anita & Michael/Randy and Mom for our nice anniversary and b-day cards!! We got them all and they're in our foyer reminding us of all your well wishes. Thanks for all the love and support! We've found that it takes anywhere from 11 to 15 days for the regular mail to come through...we're all on Mexican time now
Olivia ended up going to the hospital (school requirement anytime a teacher is sick) and we found out that it wasn't the swine flu or an amoeba, but a bacteria. We got the required medicine and Olivia was back to school on Thursday for her birthday! She got multiple cakes from her students which was very nice, I think she was excited about that. I got her a jewelry box as a gift, but we're thinking about taking it back for a bigger one or to have one custom made at a local artisan market.
For now the sickness has passed, but it was definitely something we expected to encounter as our bodies got accustomed to the new food down here and the different bacterias that it contains. We attempted a Friday night anniversary sushi celebration at a place a few blocks from our place but were a bit disappointed, but we're still planning on finding a good spot for it now that we know where not to go!! So for now all's well on the Southern Front.
Ciao
Well it wasn't the swine flu, but Olivia and I were two sick puppies recently. Olivia had signs of it last Sunday night with Liz still here, but went to school Monday and tried to fight through it. I started feeling it on Monday, and by "it" I mean fever, cold chills, nausea and extreme diahhrea. Yeah, I said it, the d-word, and it was bad, but I'll spare you all anymore ugly details. Definitely worse than any flu I've had stateside. Our theory is that the gringas that we ate in Taxco came back to haunt us. Verganza de Montezuma!
So Tuesday we were both out for the count, and on Wednesday, our 2-year wedding anniversary, we were still sick and laying in bed all day. What a way to celebrate!! I did want to give a special THANK YOU to Ester (Grammy)/Anita & Michael/Randy and Mom for our nice anniversary and b-day cards!! We got them all and they're in our foyer reminding us of all your well wishes. Thanks for all the love and support! We've found that it takes anywhere from 11 to 15 days for the regular mail to come through...we're all on Mexican time now
Olivia ended up going to the hospital (school requirement anytime a teacher is sick) and we found out that it wasn't the swine flu or an amoeba, but a bacteria. We got the required medicine and Olivia was back to school on Thursday for her birthday! She got multiple cakes from her students which was very nice, I think she was excited about that. I got her a jewelry box as a gift, but we're thinking about taking it back for a bigger one or to have one custom made at a local artisan market.
For now the sickness has passed, but it was definitely something we expected to encounter as our bodies got accustomed to the new food down here and the different bacterias that it contains. We attempted a Friday night anniversary sushi celebration at a place a few blocks from our place but were a bit disappointed, but we're still planning on finding a good spot for it now that we know where not to go!! So for now all's well on the Southern Front.
Ciao
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Road Trip!
Hi all!
We know you've been in absolute suspense about what we've been up to since our "Weekend with Liz!" We'll try to update you quickly in a couple of posts.
Liz and I kept busy during the week with nights out for tapas and wine and even a night at an oyster bar in the nearby Condesa neighborhood (man, they're missing out with no horseradish and shrimp sauce!) We had wonderful conversations and had a great time mingling with the locals. We stopped by the Palacio de Bellas Artes where Diego Rivera painted one of his most famous murals that was originally planned for NYC's Rockefeller Center. The half-completed mural was destroyed in NYC when Rivera refused to reconstruct the mural (by removing an image of Vladimir Lenin) at the Rockefellers' demand. Thus, he recreated the mural here in 1934. Anyhow, it wasn't to be the evening we stopped by - the upper floors of the museum had closed. Hopefully I'll post a photo soon when we finally catch a glimpse.
The weekend brought another night of salsa dancing (Josh was a trooper until 4 a.m.!) and our first ROAD TRIP!!!! We took a nice (and very affordable) 2.5 hour bus trip to Taxco, which is known as the Silver Capital of Mexico. Folks around there say they boast the world's second largest silver mine. This charming colonial town hosts a giant silver market every Saturday. Silver everything - jewelry, tableware, frames and even word of hand-carved silver caskets. We skipped over the caskets and left with a couple of rings and a bracelet. We spent the night in a cute little hotel that was wonderful. We met a new friend on our walk to dinner who is a wholesale jewelry buyer from Long Island. Her fulltime job is visiting Taxco a few times a year to stock up and work with local artisans who craft custom goods for her business, Brook Silver Designs. Hello dream job!
The next morning we enjoyed a delectable breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel and even caught a glimpse of a Mexican volleyball tournament. Oh how we miss our Six Pack & a Pound and B Team friends in Des Moines. Tear. We boarded a bus in the afternoon and headed back to the city for our last days with Liz.
I attempted to create a movie with recent photos, but the picture quality is disappointing. If only I could remember how I made the slide show from our debut post.
Check back soon to find out about our first major experiences with the negative aspects of culture shock and how we celebrated our anniversary and my birthday.
Peace,
Olivia
We know you've been in absolute suspense about what we've been up to since our "Weekend with Liz!" We'll try to update you quickly in a couple of posts.
Liz and I kept busy during the week with nights out for tapas and wine and even a night at an oyster bar in the nearby Condesa neighborhood (man, they're missing out with no horseradish and shrimp sauce!) We had wonderful conversations and had a great time mingling with the locals. We stopped by the Palacio de Bellas Artes where Diego Rivera painted one of his most famous murals that was originally planned for NYC's Rockefeller Center. The half-completed mural was destroyed in NYC when Rivera refused to reconstruct the mural (by removing an image of Vladimir Lenin) at the Rockefellers' demand. Thus, he recreated the mural here in 1934. Anyhow, it wasn't to be the evening we stopped by - the upper floors of the museum had closed. Hopefully I'll post a photo soon when we finally catch a glimpse.
The weekend brought another night of salsa dancing (Josh was a trooper until 4 a.m.!) and our first ROAD TRIP!!!! We took a nice (and very affordable) 2.5 hour bus trip to Taxco, which is known as the Silver Capital of Mexico. Folks around there say they boast the world's second largest silver mine. This charming colonial town hosts a giant silver market every Saturday. Silver everything - jewelry, tableware, frames and even word of hand-carved silver caskets. We skipped over the caskets and left with a couple of rings and a bracelet. We spent the night in a cute little hotel that was wonderful. We met a new friend on our walk to dinner who is a wholesale jewelry buyer from Long Island. Her fulltime job is visiting Taxco a few times a year to stock up and work with local artisans who craft custom goods for her business, Brook Silver Designs. Hello dream job!
The next morning we enjoyed a delectable breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel and even caught a glimpse of a Mexican volleyball tournament. Oh how we miss our Six Pack & a Pound and B Team friends in Des Moines. Tear. We boarded a bus in the afternoon and headed back to the city for our last days with Liz.
I attempted to create a movie with recent photos, but the picture quality is disappointing. If only I could remember how I made the slide show from our debut post.
Check back soon to find out about our first major experiences with the negative aspects of culture shock and how we celebrated our anniversary and my birthday.
Peace,
Olivia
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