Hey everyone! Well it has been almost 3 months since I left Guadalajara. A lot in life has happened and I still don’t feel like I am in the swing of things, but I will get caught up soon! I just wanted to share a few things about being back home.

I still find myself answering others in Spanish at times. People will ask me questions in English or I will be reading something aloud and occasionally slip into Spanish. This has been a dream of mine since I started speaking Spanish, to be developed enough to start speaking Spanglish on a regular basis. I plan on continuing with my major in Spanish and will most likely  take courses in grammar, literature and history.

I miss my Mexican friends and other study abroad alumni a lot! If it weren’t for all the technology we have today, I probably would not have a daily conversation with them. It really helps when I find myself missing a part of the experience I had. I can call them or text them and talk about it. They also encourage me to keep up with school here and get started on my career. I couldn’t ask for anyone better than them!

I have tried to bring the culture of Mexico home which has worked out ok for now. After a few burnt tortillas and odd tasting dishes, my mom and brother have enjoyed some of my Mexican cooking. The day time Spanish soap operas have been entertaining to. I have also been reading the hit series Twilight, but in Spanish. It was a going away present for me from my best friend Julio. It’s going slowly, mostly because I am not too big a reader, but I find it a good practice and a way to keep up my Spanish.

Finally, as titled, today I am returning to Guadalajara for just a week. I had the opportunity to go and decided to take it. It will be nice to see my family and friends there again and get to eat some real Mexican cooking!

Please feel free to contact me if any of you have questions about my study abroad experience, about the Gilman Scholarship, about JCCC’s programs, ANYTHING! I will be more than happy to help pass on the goodness of studying abroad

Well it’s almost been a full week since I’ve been back. It was a very sad goodbye as my friends and I parted at the airport. But thanks to communication, we have talked almost everyday through skype, facebook, and using my mexican phone that I brought back. It only costs about $.51 to send a text and it’s free to receive. I can put more credit on my phone at this Latin store not too far from my house. This communication has helped, A LOT!

I am happy to have my car again, to have my things and family near, and to enjoy some of the foods I haven’t had in a while. I also have a list of things to do which is keeping me occupied and distracting me from missing Mexico too much.

At times my mind still functions in Spanish. I find myself answering questions in Spanish or using phrases that I commonly used in Mexico. Talking with my friends still will help to keep my Spanish up and not let me lose it so fast from not practicing.

It was hard to leave, but it’s been a good homecoming. What a great experience, one that will not be forgotten anytime soon!

Well it has been a long but great 6 months here in Guadalajara and home is calling me back. This isn’t the last post to my blog however. I will posting after I’ve been back home for a couple weeks.  My flight is on the 23 of this month.

If someone were to ask me how I am right now, what I’m thinking, the answer would not be so simple. Right now, to be honest, I am a bit of a mess. I am excited to be going home, but sad to leave my friends and new family. I really feel like I have grown-up a lot, as well as becoming a master at Spanish, in the sense of being a stronger person. Being “forced” to constantly meet new people and put myself out there on a daily basis has made me a stronger person. I feel like I can accomplish and handle just about any situation, be it in the U.S. or Mexico. Yes, school here was fantastic and I learned and practiced a lot, but the real action that helped me grow was being with the people. Having a close contact who is now my best friend was one of the biggest benefits. He’s the one that got me connected with many people by doing many things for me: inviting me to party’s, offering to take me to places, talking about Mexican society from his point of view, taking me out to eat, and in general being a friend. Yes, I already had this contact but a friend like this can be made anywhere. I think it is a must do when studying abroad. Not many of the other people who came down for the semester can say that the had the experience of working at an ice cream shop in Mexico!

It will be hard to leave, but at the same time life must go on back home too. I will be different from this experience. I have changed for the better. Would I do it again? Yes! Would I recommend it to others? Yes! Study abroad has been an amazing experience and I thank everyone who has supported me in this. I’m especially grateful to the Gilman Scholarship; without receiving help, I would not have been able to have such an amazing experience as I have. See you soon U.S. I’ll be home soon!!!

This delicious looking plate is called Sopes (So-pays). They are made with thick masa (dough), that is made out of the same ingredients for tortillas and tomales,  topped with frijoles (re-fried beans), lechuga (lettuce), queso (cheese), salsa verde o roja (green or red salsa), and occasionally creama (sour cream). They can also be topped with meat depending on the restaurant and region. They are kinda like a Mexican version of a deep-dish mini pizza.

Something you might find interesting is that every commercial shown in Mexico that is advertising a product has to say something positive in white subtitles. For example, if there is a commercial for cookies they normally place at the bottom of the screen “Exercise 30 minutes daily.” If there is a commercial for make-up they normally place at the bottom of the screen “Beauty is health.” I asked a friend about why all the commercials had these messages at the bottom. He explained that a law was passed that the companies advertising have to advertise something positive with their product, such as the importance of exercising, good health or consulting your doctor. He also explained that the government has the right to make their own commercials and run them on the public channels without paying. These commercials generally talk about “being a part of Mexico”, “traveling in Mexico”, “rights of the people”, etc.

So, when you’re down here in Mexico and are watching tv you might notice the white subtitles during the commercials. Just something interesting to know.

When the clock strikes 12:00am, all the radio stations here in Mexico are required to play the national anthem. Every station has to do this. If you are in your car and station flipping, you will only be able to find the national anthem. Also on Sunday night around 10:00 or 11:00 pm, all radio stations in the nation are required to feature a program called “La hora nacional” (The national hour). It is a government program that plays only classical music from Mexican composers, reads stories from Mexican authors and features positive news from the Mexican government. The program lasts until 12:00am when the national anthem is played. After, the stations play music and their regular features and announcements.

Mother’s day is today here in Mexico. It always falls on the 10th of May. Some, like my host family, surprise their moms by showing up at 12:00 am and playing a song called “Las Mañanitas.” Others bring flowers or other gifts during the day or when they can. Some businesses even give mothers the day off on this day. It is celebrated similar to mother’s day in the U.S. but with Mexican style. Dances, special dinners and mariachis are just a few differences. Another cultural difference is that here they pay tribute to La Virgin, such as la virgin Guadalupe and other local virgins of the Mexican Catholic church. Here where I live, they pay tribute to la virgin of Zapopan by setting off fireworks and many laying flowers around her shrine.

To all moms out there, Felicidades y Gracias!!! (Te amo mamá!)

Having a cell phone while studying or living abroad is not a bad idea. In my first couple of weeks here, everyone communicated using email or Facebook but it got to be kind of troublesome. Then we got cell phones. There are 2 popular companies you can choose from here in Mexico. One is called Telcel and the other Movistar. Both offer similar services and have about the same coverage. When you go to get a phone you can choose a monthly plan or (more common) a pay-as-you-go plan. For about $400 pesos you can purchase the phone and get $100 pesos put on your account at the first of the month for 3 months. Not too bad of a deal for about $38 dollars. When you have used up the credit on your account you will receive warning texts to let you know. Even if you don’t have credit, the company will let the other person you try to contact know that you tried to call or text but don’t have credit. You can add more credit in just about any store. Using “Tiempo Aire” (Air Time) you give your number to the cashier and tell them the quantity of credit you want to add. Using Tiempo Aire gives you some benefits like extra credit, double the credit you purchase or free credit to those who have the same company. The other option is to buy “fichas” (phone cards) to add more money to your account. These cards can be found in many places including smaller family stores.

When you go to buy your phone you will need your passport and the address in which you are staying. Registering the phone yourself can be tricky. You have to call a service number and the people who answer tend to speak really fast and are hard to hear. When getting your phone ask if they can register it for you in the store.

Each phone comes with a chip inside. This chip is your account and phone number. You can put it in other phones, in case your phone breaks or your battery dies and you borrow a friend’s phone. Some phones from other countries use chips too and you won’t have to buy a new phone and can use yours from back home.

Sending texts is cheaper than making a call and is the typical way to communicate in today’s society. Making a call is not too much more than texting and you won’t be charged unless the other person picks up or you leave a voicemail.

Getting a phone can be a good idea depending on how long you are staying. It’s not too hard to do and can be an easier way to communicate with your new friends from abroad.

So here’s something you might find interesting here in Guadalajara. It’s a practice that has become more of a joke or myth even, but still exists. When you board the buses that pass throughout all of the city you receive a ticket to show you paid. It’s a small little ticket with a bunch of numbers, the bus company and other information. You have to hang out to it in case an inspector boards the bus and asks to see it. But you just might want to hang onto it for another reason. If you add up the number on the ticket and they equal the number 21 you can give that ticket to any person you wish and they are supposed to give you a kiss in return. I’m not sure why the number 21 exactly, but this is how the game is played. It’s a practice that has become more of a joke, but who knows if it might become popular again. So hang on to that tiny ticket and wish for the lucky number : D

So in one of my last classes we mostly discussed Mexican culture while reading different lectures that expressed different social themes. One of the themes we talked about was discrimination between the rich and the poor. Like in all countries, there is a division between classes in Mexico. The rich are the ones with power who always seem to have the upper hand. The poor are the ones trying to survive and reach that higher level of living. The story is the same for any society. Mexico however, explained my professor, is different because it has a common ground in society. “Sure there is poverty in Mexico,” he said, “but many believe that everything is dealt with by God.” He went on to explain how most Mexicans are catholic. According to the CIA world factbook, about 76.5% of the people are catholic. There common shared beliefs help them find something in common. The idea that God is in control of the world and can give and take away wealth is what helps Mexicans find common ground. “The rich are blessed and ‘should’ use that to help their brothers and sisters. The poor are are working hard to reach the next level and know it depends on God. Both groups come together in their beliefs.”

I thought it was an interesting idea how even though there are forms of discrimination there are also areas of common ground. This example of the rich and the poor was just one of many we discussed. Although my professor’s ideas don’t speak for all Mexicans, they still were general for Mexico. I too like to think the best of society.