Feliz Navidad

To my many friends at Christmas this time. No matter how far we are from each other, I want you to know that I am thinking about you all and I wish you a very, Merry Christmas.
ThankYou for all the amazing moments together over the past few years and now that I am so far away from you all and especially at this time of year, I am missing you all more than ever.
We are all on different paths in our lives, spread all over the globe, but i know that some day soon we will all be together once again!
I am so grateful for the many adventures of this year, the new people i have met, the old friends that i have missed,the great moments with people that are no longer in my life, new experiences and ofcourse all the foto ops!
I cant admit to being the happiest person recently... Guys, I think that I am in Love! and well, I guess its not meant to be, but on reflection I have realised that i should not feel anger towards certain people that "didnt allow my happiness" so to speak this time around(ja ja).... Maybe I should just stop worrying altogether and realise that when things happen, its for a reason. Maybe we should all do that, try and chill out when things dont go our way and say.. "Tomorrow is another day and another chance" a little more often.
2008 is going to be a great year, I know it !
Love you all...

x x x x x

Welcome to "LF"....

So, since September I havnt bothered to update the blog for many reasons, I havnt really been doing anything of real interest to anyone else. Working, the odd party in Zona Rosa and weekends in Cuernavaca...
Im here in Mexico City, working still for an artist . everything is going fairly well but im on the job hunt again as im not sure if in January I will be working with her for various reasons.
I have been back in DF just over two months and I think I have found my home. I love it, I feel so comfortable here and I have also made some amazing new friends over the past weeks.
Art History seems like a good option if i decide to start school in February here, there is a small university very close to my house and the hours would be perfect.
Halloween this year was great, I decorated the house, carved some very cool Pumpkins and we hae a childrens party for my bosses kids. It was a success. Closely followed by "Day of the Dead"... a mexican Halloween if you will, there were lots of interesting things all around the city to celebrate including Day of the Dead Alters and in Reforma, Fifty Skulls all decorated to celebrate the day. Check out some of the photos below.
















There were Skulls decorated with Maiz, Hand Painted, Sprayed and also decorated with material.
(Check out my facebook album for all the photos)

So November rolled on and it was Birthday time, not just for me but for lots of friends here.
The 27th saw "His" birthday (I might go into my heartbreak later on, but its so high school that i might not even bother) . The 28th was mine and what a disaster that was.
I woke up early to find a txt message at 8am saying more or less that Id been dumped... on my birthday, Osea.. HELLO! how cruel can people be! Breakfast was good...great infact. I met Micho in Condesa and we had Carrot Cake and talked about the usual bla bla. After breakfast I went shopping and luckily managed to get TWO, yes TWO amazing little dresses and a beautiful jumper (retail therapy did make me feel better) So right now im sitting in one of the amazing dresses which suprisingly came from C&A... very retro and wonderful... I went for Lunch with the one and only Yami @ Big Red (cheap and wonderful as always) and i had made up with Mr Heartbreak by 2pm so the plan was to meet with him at midnight (sounds like a song ... or maybe im crazy) but as i was dressing in the little red fabric amazement, disaster struck again ( oh how i should have been expecting it) and that was cancelled.
Off i went to the Cinema, with hopes of "him" changing his mind by the end of my movie (but no such luck). So there I am, sitting, gripped by this amazing film, El Pasado for anyone that wants to check it out, film content making me feel slightly sorry for myself and I realise that in the almost empty movie theatre, there is a middle aged man sitting in the row infront of me, staring at me through the seats. At first i didnt pay attention but a few seconds later i realised that this "middle aged man" wasnt wearing pants.. and well, what he was doing i will leave to your imagination. I got up calmly, walked out to tell the security and well i guess the guy scuttled. After being outside a moment i realised what he really happened and fueled with my "bad day" emotions, i just fell to pieces, on the cinema lobby floor i was sobbing for a rather long time.... What a birthday hey !
So Christmas is almost here - I fly out to Guatemala on the 19th of December for a while which should be great. Im half hoping to meet a Tall, Handsome man to sweep me off my feet whilst Im there and make the end of my year a memorable one.

The Christmas lights are up here in the City, everything is sparkling and it looks beautiful.
There is an outdoor ice rink at the Zocalo and i will get there as soon as i can to take some photos - "Bellas sobre Hielo part 1"...
Coyoacan is also looking nice and festive. There was a projection display in the main square, lots of different christmas images projected onto the church... I took a few photos. I was really impressed with how beautiful it was.

And then there were 3.....

Carlos Peña is now one of the final 3 remaining contestants on Latin American Idol... COME ON CARLOS!

Help a Chapin win Latin American Idol!!

Everyone here is cheering him on, even the news presenters are wearing his badges on canel 7!

So, not long now until i go back to DF.. 28th September... Im going to miss Guate!

http://www.canalsony.com/lai/

On my way...

In just under two weeks i will be leaving Guatemala and returning to México to live and work in Mexico City.
I am lucky to have found an amazing job in DF working for a professional artist in Lomas de Chapultepec.
I am hoping to enroll at the Tec again and start studying in the mornings. Its my dream job come true so fingers crossed that things will go as planned.
All being well, i should have some cool visitors in the next few months all the way from the USA.
It will be sad to leave Guatemala city.. I love it!



My birthday is coming up so i am going to start planning a big party with Antuan in San Luis Potosí. I want Fireworks, a Piñata, Balloons, a huge cake and so on and so on. I am thinking to have a "London-México" semi theme as all the old friends from Europe will be there together again! Its going to be alot of fun.

Two of my favorites...

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.

Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.

¡Feliz Día de Independencia!

Hoy 15 de septiembre celebramos el dia de la independencia de un pais tan bello como Guatemala, en el año 1821 especificamente el dia 15 de septiembre se firma el acta de independencia.

Happy Independance day to everyone today...


The streets were full of smiling faces, bands and party goers!

Good news...

I have some exciting news....cant wait for SLP 6th october

x x

Guatemalan....

In Guatemala you wont find anyone not using the verb Fijarse....except perhaps if you take a spanish class..Like pues, its probably not one of those words that you would learn if taking spanish classes here or anywhere else for that matter. It is as common in everyday chatter as lip movement but explanations for it are scarcer than empty seats on a weekend chicken bus!
Fijarse, like the english verbs, Fix, fixate and affix decends from the latin figere, "to fasten". The closest literal traslation is probably "to fixate yourself". Not a very everyday sounding express you might think....Maybe not, but if you were literal about all the "fixating" that Guatemalans casually order others to do with thier incessant fijateando, you would probably become as mute as Meher Baba, to busy pondering to ever get a word in edge or otherwise.
You will never hear the infinitve- fijarse...more than 99% of the time what you hear is one of the command forms including Fijate, fíjese,fíjense etc. Other forms are rarely heard, if at all and seem archiac. You will never hear someone say "Yo no me fijo en esto" , maybe there was simply no room for such an expression after fijate had saturated the oral side of the language.
Like the equally paradoxical pues, fijate came to mean almost nothing by coming to mean almost everything. But in this there is utility for learners of spanish.
Master Fijate, and you have (with pues) some leverage when speaking your second tongue with people who own it as thier first.
Unbelievable as it sounds, the first multi word utterance learned by Guatemalan toddlers is often "Fijate que". Infants only mimic adults, so we must ask what the adults are really saying.
Usually it will mean nothing and somethings it signifies that the declaration is on the way.
So babies will start, fijate que, fijate que but cant form the rest of the sentance. However its some sort of milestone in speach acquisition.
However there are times when "Fijate que" could mean something more,, reluncation, blame or disappointment possibly.
Generally you will hear the word for total non brainer stuff like "¿Té de Manzanilla? Fíjese que no hay" , but i guess one could cynically argue that "no hay" is in fact the predicate favoured over all others!
Its a sort of get out clause... inject Fijate and theres your excuse!
Anyways, much more could be said about fijate but, Fijate que, space precludes this.

A change, would do you good...

I am just getting into bed rather late after staying up to watch the lastest news on CNN. The help find Camille Cleverley campaign is apparently going well, with more leads and more than 500 volunteers turning out at the BYU campus in Provo to help with the search and show thier support. I will be praying for Camille and her family this weekend that she returns home safe soon. This sunday is fast sunday so maybe we could all take a few extra minutes to remember Camille in our prayers and whilst we fast this weekend.
www.findcamille.org

Today the salon was quiet..theres usually so many people on saturdays getting ready for parties but as the Dry law is in place for tomorrows voting, not too many people are partying!
I went to the Mercado Central in Z1 this morning to buy a few things.. i saw some really cute choni earrings.. i came back to the salon at 11.30am and at 4pm as there was nobody around i joked wish Jospeh to cut me in a fringe... well, he cut it before i could chicken out (which is what i would have probably done) and for a while whilst my hair was still wet, i was a little worried.. but im actually really loving the new look and i shall post a photo soon...
x x x

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday......

I have had that song stuck in my head for the past few days.. it always makes me think..im not sure why..So, apparently Hurricane Felix is on its way, and Henrietta is on the other side! Something to look forward to eh?...........Nothing much is new here, Im going to the salon tomorrow.. I have a few photos to upload thats about it..I havnt been feeling well the past few days...

What else? I miss my mommy!!!!! I try calling but she never answers! Miss you all...x x

"The local rock group down the street,Is trying hard to learn their song

Seranade the weekend squire, who just came out to mow his lawn

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday,Charcoal burning everywhere

Rows of houses that are all the same,And no one seems to care

See Mrs. Gray she's proud today because her roses are in bloom

Mr. Green he's so serene, He's got a t.v. in every room

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday..Here in status symbol land

Mothers complain about how hard life is,And the kids just don't understand

Creature comfort goals,They only numb my soul and make it hard for me to seeMy thoughts all seem to stray, to places far away

I need a change of scenery "

How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?

The conceptual symbol? Is it just a conceptual symbol? a "concept"? or does it really exist? What is a concept? and what ideas do we have of this individual "concept"..is it even one at all, maybe just an idea or dream?
I guess thats something that we are always asking, wondering, thinking about,pondering,presuming that it doesnt,waiting for it to happy,hoping for,asking for and sometimes indeed praying for....its something that we an inquisitive about,amazed by, speculative about and indeed curious about this one concept that rarely shows itself...we dont see things as they are, we see them as we are.. are we wise to do that? The risk it takes to remain tight inside the bud is more painful than the risk it tasks to blossom, One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life, that word is Love.

"Perfect love is rare indeed -
for to be a lover will require that you continually
have the subtlety of the very wise,
the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist,
the understanding of the philosopher, the acceptance of the saint,
the tolerance of the scholar and the fortitude of the certain."

I'll Back you up...

I remember thinking
I'll go on forever only knowing
I'll see you again
But I know
The touch of you is hard to remember
But like that touch I know no other
And for sure we have danced
In the risk of each other
Would YOU like to dance
Around the world with me

I'll be falling all about my own thing
And I know you're the heaviest weight
When you're not here that's hung
Around my head

And your lips burn wild
Thrown from the face of a child
And in your eyes
The seeing of the greatest view
Do what you will, always
Walk where you like, your steps
Do as you please, I'll back you up

I remember thinking
Sometimes we walk
Sometimes we run away
But I know
No matter how fast we are running
Somehow we keep
Somehow we keep up with each other

I'll be falling all about my own thing
And i know your the heaviest weight
When your not here that's hung
Around my head

And your lips burn wild
Thrown from the face of a child
And in your eyes
The seeing of the greatest view
Do what you will, always
Walk where you like, your steps
Do as you please, I'll back you up

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Pamela!
Friday we had Mariachis in the salon for Pams birthday. We had lots of fun, dancing, singing and eating the best cake ever!!

Adriens arrival...

So Adrien arrived today to a crowded airport with 2 suitcases... 1 full of clothes..the other full of candy... he brought me FRUIT TART LIFESAVERS! I am sooo happy! They dont sell them here which is probably a good thing.. i did form a slight addiction to them over the past months in México and USA...
Saturday is Pams birthday so we have arranged a suprise for her when she arrives at work tomorrow... MARIACHIS! je je... i cant wait!! its going to be cool...
She is going to Ft Lauderdale which will be a nice break for her.. Wish Dan and Roo could be here for it... i will have to send a video...
Its raining so much right now and it will be a while before rainy season is over, so i will just have to put up with wet feet and clothes for a while longer!!
Today i was trying to get some stuff done at the salon but the internet was being abit crappy so i left at 3pm without hardly anything done which is abit frustrating.. Hopefully this weekend and next week we can get everything moving and do what we want to do... Saturday will be a good time to take some fotos etc.. anyways.. its all good fun...
Adrien will be back in a day or two from Peten and maybe we will go to Antigua or Panajachel depending on the weather... we both think its wierd to be here, hanging out in Guate... its really nice to see him again, we will have alot of fun this weekend!

If only.........

Lo Siento, Perdoname.
Son Palabras dificiles de decir.
Pero cuando son dichas de corazon... traen gran felicidad en tu direccion...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is a very special day. Not only am i feeling happy for the first time in forever, but today is Chonis Birthday.... have fun girl!!
I wish that i was there with you in Utah to celebrate..but no.. we have got some serious girl talk to catch up on. Love ya x x

Love is Hard....

"Compassion and Love are precious things in life. They are not complicated.They are simple, but difficult to practice". Dalai Lama

That got me thinking.. How do we practice being loving and compassionate? Simple daily acts of random kindness? Telling someone out loud that we love them ? Giving up are spare time to help others? Being a shoulder to cry on when a friend is in need?
I started thinking about all this a few days ago when a close friend called out and needed someone to listen. This situation wasn't unusual. We often will talk about what is on our minds and give each other the best advice that we have to offer. But something this time was different in the tone of the conversation. This time i really felt that my friend needed someone, not just to talk. But that she really wanted to hear some advice.....she obviously was very upset and really needed to talk. I really felt that i needed to be there with her and i couldnt.
Ok, Warning to anyone that doesnt want to read any "sob story" about the complications of relationships, even more when it involves mormons and marriage..X MY BLOG AT THIS POINT..
but.. i am going to moan for the next 10 minutes about how much dating REALLY pisses me off right now..im sorry for that mild use of language but it is just so perfect. Im totally exasperated.
We meet people and who knows if men do it too, but I can say with 100% certainty that girls get caught up easily sometimes and with all nievety we day dream of what could be, we trick ourselves into thinking that we are in love and we live out the happy couple fantasies in our heads as we sit on the train or bus in a morning on the way to college or work.
The one problem is that most of us are day dreaming about people that we have only met but are not actually dating. Why are we not dating our dream man then ?
Because we are not honest, we are scared of looking stupid or of having the wrong idea and so we spend weeks, months or maybe even longer waiting for that perfect moment when we will tell our secret loves everything we feel. But we never do.
Why do guys circle around saying nothing when they really want to ask them out? For all us Mormons, dating is such a normal part of our society, so why is it so hard for us?
There is nothing to be embarrassed about. We have so many oppurtunities to meet different kinds of people and start relationships even if only great friendships that never turn into any romance. But we are we not taking the oppurtunities that we have and instead sitting around, single and wishing that we hadnt "Played it cool" throughout our twenties.. and now at the age of 28 we are on the so called "scrap pile" of over aged singles.
I always wonder why some of my amazing friends at the age of 31 and older have never dated anyone seriously, are not married and not anywhere near being married anytime soon.
Im talking about amazingly intelligent, witty, funny, cultured, well travelled people who are always willing to try something new. But why is it always the short blonde that lists her favourite music as "Nsync" and "Kelly Clarkson" as thier favourite music and thier favourite activites as "Shopping" ?.. Osea..HELLO !?
After realising that guys at church never paid any attention to me i stopped caring. I would go to dances with my friends and nothing. Ever.
Today i asked a married friend why he thought that was and he told me that i was liked by alot of guys but they found me intimidating and didnt know what to say. This was a huge suprise to me.
Fair enough, thats a reason and i would agree that i am not the typical church girl at dances. I would imagine how people would feel it hard to randomly start talking to me, but then i thought NO... no more rubbish about being nervous or intimadated. We need to just get on with it.
The second problem that my friends and i seem to have is distance.
I for one have been badly burned by a long distance relationship but i really think that we need to be more open to the idea of getting to know more people no matter where they are from or where they live.
My best friend has recently met a guy she was talking to for a while after a brief meeting through church. She went to his city with high expectations after conversing with him daily for hours for the past year or so and genuinely thought that there could be some chance of this turning into something of a romance or even more. I can honestly say that i expected it too.
After meeting the guy she told me how sad she was that nothing seemed to be as she expected and my simple advice was that she needed to be honest with him about her feelings so she wasnt wondering and the guy would then be able to respond. Honestly i hope.
I know how hard that will be for her to do and i imagine that it would be maybe embarrassing and difficult for myself to do something like that.
As ridiculous and pathetic as it is. Im completely in awe of a guy i met briefly once who lives a hundreds of miles away from me. We get on great, he is flirtatious and complimentary, a true gentleman but now i am beginning to feel some strong desire to get to know him better and i would be being dishonest if i didnt really wish that there was some way to start a more formal relationship with the guy. Its painfully obvious how much i am into him although maybe he doesnt see or, maybe he doesnt want to see it... but the thought of rejection if i told him honestly how i felt... is just horrifying.
Americans never consider us as a real option as, and quite rationally, the realise that dating someone that they dont live close too seems to have an ending even before a beginning. Doomed to fail. Or is it?
For the first time in my life, i am genuinely annoyed about being single. Theres nothing that i can do about it which is the most ridiculous part but with the millions of people out there to choose from..where are there so many of us single.
The guy i really like is approaching 30. I suprises me how a guy like him could have got to that age without being married by now but i have noticed that all these guys with something interesting to say, the one's that are well travelled, intelligent, they are all 29+ and not just unmarried but not even dating. Why ?
I asked a friend from my old ward in London why he was 30 and still single. "Too many years of playing it cool when i was in my twenties" was his reply. He told me "I never imagined to be 30 and still single". Do any of us imagine that? I dont think so... but it seems to be a product of our own doing completely. Atleast from the guys part.
Guys, why dont you just open your mouths and be honest. I hate to sound arrogant, but there are plenty of girls to choose from.. i know for sure that i myslef and my friends are far from unattractive and someone could do alot worse. So why are we all single?
What do we need to do to get your attention or to let you know what you need to before you make a move? I really wish that i knew as i really would rather be having conversations with my friends about there great dates and boyfriends other than the lack of.
As for my Mr Perfect. I will just sit and wait for a few minutes on that one. It will take me a while to pluck up the courage but sometime soon i will find out what the deal is... its wierd.. my little friend got me thinking about all this and especially this one guy...
Its ridiculous that i can have such a strong feeling for someone that a hardly know. But this guy really is a "catch" as they say. Intelligent, well travelled, intriguing, speaks many languages, he is funny and witty, kind and overly polite. A real prince charming and even if i will rationally say that i am not "in love" with him...i am simply in awe of this man.. crazy to think that he probably is clueless... Maybe we all have our secret admirers lusting for us in far off lands, or maybe just around the next corner.
I hope that they all get a happy ending soon. Sorry for my ramble.. this is just what i was thinking about over the past few days and it probably doesnt even make sense...
GUYS, SPEAK UP ! SAY WHAT YOU ARE THINKING EVEN IF ITS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR!! PLEASE!!

Go Chon-Chon!!

Well, she's there..so what can i say? All she needs to do now is get the guy to fall in love with her... hmm, maybe hard than we first thought...
Anyhow... GO CHONI GO CHONI.. WORK IT GIRL !!
So Chons in Utah, Im in Guatemala, WISHING i was in Utah, then maybe the not so young man im dying to see might realise that i do infact, exist! je je...
So, these things are lame,and you know that i never do them... but i had to do it as 1: I was bored and 2: Its fun!

1. Are you Happy?
Yes, Tired but im smiling!
2.Are you in Love?
Im in love with the idea of being in love...im too rational to say that im in love with someone that im not even dating..
3.If no, then what?
I would say..that..im in awe of someone, im amazed by him...he really is amazing.
4.Your longest relationship lastest for...?
Hmmm, i dont know! does less than 60 seconds count? I guess 6 months.
5.Is there someone of the opposite sex that you think about every day?
90% of my friends are male, so therefore yes... but one individual particularly..more than others..sob sob..
6.Do certain songs remind you of anyone that was special?
Yes, U2 and Chili Peppers songs are totally ruined for me..
7.Would you like to be married?
In this precise moment no..but maybe one day.
8.Have you ever said "I love you" and meant it?
Ofcourse, I have been very foolish in my younger years..
9.Are you a Heart Breaker or are you the one reaching for the tissues constantly?
Im in the middle..
10.What is the most Romantic thing you have ever done for somebody?
ja ! nothing that i can think of...or that i consider romantic..maybe others may think so..
11.Where do you think is the most Romantic place in the world?
Easy ! London riverside at night when all the lights are shining and the stars are out..
12..and the least...?
Easier, PARIS! sooo overated!
13.Do you date alot?
Thats a cruel question. Im going with A, no never.
14. Do you think that you will be married in 3yrs time?
I would imagine so. BUt who knows!?

Ouch !

Its almost Sunday and my eye is getting worse! I thought it would have gone by now, but i work up this morning to see my cheek worse than yesterday.. and it still hurts..talk about bad luck eh?
Tonight we watched "Evan Almighty"..... not a cool movie. Dont waste your time..
I spent the day at the Salon..then later on we went for Pupusas in the street.. they were very tasty! Nothing more to say!

Big Kiss

x x x

Besides ; Are we just playing around out here or do we mean what we say?

A few weeks ago I applied for a job in Monterrey working setting up art projects for under privelged school aged children with an emphasis on Art, i.e - My dream job that i never thought existed in reality and lucky me, yesterday the project director emailed me and they want to meet for an interview in Monterrey!
Im really excited to know more about the job, I dont care if they pay me peanuts..this is my dream job and I am going to try my best to get it!
They want someone with an Art-Creative background to imput ideas in the projects,take photographs and set up new schemes...I almost died when I saw the job advertisment and that it is in México, 90 minutes away from Texas by car. I really hope that one of the few jobs im interviewing for soon comes through as they both sound exciting.
At the moment im still in Guatemala trying to get my students to be more "Artsy" but they are not overly interested although Adriana really seemed to enjoy her "Photo shoot" yesterday... I took some good ones even though im not a fan of portraits.
Tonight was slightly strange. We went to a "Roller Skating Rink", a fast flow of too many people skating around, it was so 1976 and i ripped my jeans..
The guy at the pay desk gave me a few laughs with his bad chat-up lines but I would have to say my favourite part of the evening was the "Grease" theme playing whilst the disco lights sparkled along with the glow-in-the-dark wheels. Never again. No one seemed to understand why I was so distraught about my jeans. No, the rip isnt "fashion" as I explained and people obviously shop with thier eyes closed here, even simple things like Jeans are hideous!
Right now im faking my way through the days trying to keep smiling, but I occasionally falter and my "sweet as a diet coke" persona shows through, (thank you for the description by the way John Boy... unflattering but i love it). People ask alot why im so serious..My answer is that im not serious, im just honest. People dont seem to like honesty here too much, but i love the awkward look on peoples faces when I can tell that they dont know how to repsond to my "seriousness".....missing the Brits again and the sarcasmism and the dry wit.. god bless england!
Im not sure if its me, but people seem to be annoying me rather alot lately..I even argue with kids, its ridiculous. However I hate that people here are so narrow minded and arguementative.Maybe they got my started on this thing. Saying that, i dont feel I "over reacted" this evening when someone "joked" with me about the whole, "5 wives" thing.. Im so over that and now it just annoys me how misinformed people are. Maybe I was just in a bad mood and I took it too hard, but it really, really got me. I can be such an angry person. I love me ! ( can I actually get away with that many puncuation marks in one badly formed sentance? Im not sure, but its done anyway).
Alexander, I feel I must apologise. On reflection, we could have had a wonderful friendship in London. Our "friendship" was not at all bad..but it could have been much improved. That was my fault and yes I do realise that I have an attitude problem at times. Lets say that your kindness scared me... I mean, Hello, London and someone is smiling, wanting to be a great friend. You must admit, its not an everyday thing. But, I miss your quotes,facts on the random, and plain flat out wierdness ( and thats complementary,something we share..Im very wierd,I have been told so many times)..you must come and visit me and give me a run down of the last 150 books you have read in the past 6 months. I know you have. Smile - well, I know your smiling. You always are. Dont stop.
Its been raining alot and its cold in the nights. I cant wait for rainy season to be over. I caught alot of sun the other day and yesterday for the first time ever, my skin started peeling....on my face...Horrific! I looked like a leper and spent an hour scrubbing in the shower. Now thats gone, I noticed a rash forming on my chest and neck. I think I'm allergic to whining,spoilt,bad mannered children. Of which there are an abundance of here.
I've tried to be a bit of a bad ass this week and so far I have managed to get out of the house 3 times, 3 TIMES! unaccompanied.. I stole the cars door clicker and snook out. I only went about 250 metres but it was the most freedom I have had in the last few weeks. I cant explain how glorious it was. Tonight I even ventured out in the dark ! to take a photo of the temple infront of the house. However I returned home to a greeting of, "do you want to get kidnapped? " .. I admit that I was half expecting to get my camera stolen within the 4 minutes I was out. Oh how much im missing London right now. I keep having a rebelde urge to jump on the bus or run down the street. Flirting with shop assistants and security guards is alway fun. If anyone understands why I "shouldnt", without explaining the formalities of LAM, they will share in my smile. Anyways, I dont care.
Which reminds me, Security guards here. They are all 5ft nothing and are scarily always carrying rifles or shotguns half the size of there person. Its a strange sight. Im comfortable with the guns thing again now, however I cant help wanting not to be. Its so normal, but it shouldnt be. No one seems to want to admit just how ridiculously bad some things are here. Anyways.
I read a rather funny article in the news paper today however Im not sure how accurate it was. Apparently Rigoberta Menchu was thrown, or almost thrown out of a 5 star hotel in Cancun. They thought she was just a poor indian or something. It was funny firstly as I dont really like the women or her " im a poor humble indian bla bla bla" whole thing she has got going on. Ok, yes she is a noble prize winner and she has done many good things. But also her whole "thing" is just old and so tired now. Secondly it was rather funny how people in Quintana Roo didnt even know who she was.
Menchu is running for president this year. She doesnt have a chance if we are realistic. She doesnt have many posters up for her campaign as she says that she is "too poor" to pay for those things..hmmm, yeh right lady.
It suprises me every day just how "white" or more exact "Guero" Guatemala is. A country with more than 90% of the population being Indiginous but the city is full of Blond, blue eyed people. Its so normal here. Yesterday i saw a rather indigenious women in the bakery with blue eyes and they wernt contacts. Morenos with blonde kids..its bizarre.. its just funny the picture that people imagine of Guatemalans.. Its so wrong.
What else? Adrien got a girlfriend. Im happy for him.. its cute. I on the other hand feel as single as a single person could possibly ever feel ! Marce, great Street dog analogy. Hilarious. Why cant those two ridiculously amazing men in the good old US of A show us some more interest! I mean, im making the effort. Im in the same time zone (almost) now! What more can he possiby want? Well, possibly living in the same city, let alone country could help a little i guess and the guy knowing that you hold the slightest sparkle of interest too, although I think we have both covered that one, however im not sure with how much success. Less emphasis on the joke of it all next time im thinking? Chon Chon, get your butt to Utah. I will meet you there girl. AND, if it all fails... I can still day dream right? How is he not married by now anyways ?? Im pretty sure that he is one of the ever ilusive "catch" guys that people always talk about that do exist out there but no one ever see's....Man, he really does put a smile on my face. Ok, day dream moment over... by the way Chon, im wearing the Chile hat... loving it still...
So, i must get into bed. I can see the missionaries across the way are getting ready too,so thats my cue that its getting late. Gotta love missionaries...they are such strange beings at times. Next door we have the prize winner for "campest hispanic missionary ever", theres the one that always says "O-La" in his most gringo of gringo accents and the handsome, silent one from Nevada. They really are a wierd bunch and so nieve. I cant wait for thier first day beyond the gates of the MTC in a few weeks. I think a few of them are going to be a little unnerved when they get sent to there new accomodation in the wonderful parts of the city like Trebol and Zona 1... riding the bus full of people is going to be fun too.... poor kids.
With lots of love and my "cara de fuchi" je je.. Night x

The internet is still not working at home, or rather not with my laptop so im writing days and uploading it all together if its slightly confusing...
Today, we went BACK to the roller rink to my horror. I slipped out for lunch and as i was walking through the restaurant car park i was hit in the eye by what i thought for half a second was just a bug or seed.... then almost screamed as i realised that the wasp had just stung me underneath my eye ( oh yes, go ahead and laugh and i hope you get stung there too..its hurts!) I was totally blinded, falling all over the car park almost hit by 2 cars and in agony. It REALLY, REALLY hurt!
After a few minutes my left eye was so swollen and tight. I looked awful and 3 people asked if i had been hit... nice! So i look like i've been beaten and the pressure is giving me a really bad headache!!
I had a nice paella tonight at my aunts.
So wedding bells keep ringing. Even non members! All my ex boyfriends seem to be getting married... its crazy. Why doesnt anyone want to marry me!? Or why dont i want to marry anyone! ja ja...

Quote...

I was reading on sunday afternoon and came across a quote from Gordon B Hinckley that i really wanted to share....

"This is a season of a thousand oppurtunites, it is ours to grasp and move forward. What a wonderful time it is for each of us to do his or her small part in moving the work of the Lord on to its Magnificent Destiny!"

(Conference Report Oct 97, Ensign Nov 97, Pg 67)

I am SO over Presidencial campaigns!!

Another week almost over and im still in Guatemala, REALLY wishing more than ever to be back in México! Im so tired of presidencial campaigns, campaign songs,adverts,the streets full of posters..although one guy running for City diputado is pretty hot!
Today i went to the zoo and my poor face is a little burnt..the sun was so strong....you can imagine how nice the zoo smelt on such a hot day! The baby zebra was so cute!!
So this week was full of suprises. Sunday i was woken up early to find Mariachis playing in the living room which was cool!! REALLY cool!!
It was my moms birthday, i called her and got to chat for a while which was nice, i miss her !! I MISS YOU MOMMY!!!!!!!
Iv been spending alot of time painting and drawing - Im working on a masterpiece!
what more?? oh yes... this week i went to play BOLICHE!!!! (Bowling for anyone else) and i suprised myself with how good i was! strikes and half strikes almost every turn! IM A PRO ! je je... It was fun, i havnt been bowling in years, and yes the shoes were still horrific, but it was fun... we also went to play tennis and went swimming at the American Club... goggles,flippers and all... it was nice to do alot of things this week that i havnt done in a long time..
Valeria has picked up on the way that i speak in spanish and started copying me, her dad say that she has started "singing" ( speaking with a mexican accent) so now theres a spanish ban....yesterday she told me, "no manches wey" which was pretty funny for me... but im sure if anyone else heard it they'd kill me!
Tomorrow and going to go and cut off all my hair! well, maybe not but im thinking about it..oh, and im happy too... there is life on planet Rodriguez after all !

London Friends

I dont think that i got a chance to properly say Goodbye to my amazing, wonderful friends in London.
Im sure that they are some of the best friends, if not the best i ever made in my life...
London was a great experience.. some days i feel like packing a rucksack and coming back.
London is such a great city with a little of everything, tucked in every corner you find something and someone new.
First there were the crazy colombians and Alina.. My Aline.. why did you have to go back to Germany? Portabello will never be the same without you! Efriams singing and amazing salsa skills, Diego and his infectious smile.. the day at the tate on the slides of death ! ohh my !!
Then came the Americans , the two Amys and Welsh Ray the architect ( the next Sir Norman i assure you) and Tyson... eyyyy.. Britannia sure was a wierd one wasnt it.. but we really had some fun. Amy W.. I am forever sorry for almost killing you whilst in the wheelchair!
Marcela rolled into town.. we picked up some random Venezuelan at a Salsa/Reggaeton night on Shaftsbury and history was made.. the one and only JHON... JHON, gotta love him.
Then came Gabo( my brother from another..i love you), Ivan (my china) ,Luis (bff! je je), the coshis (forever !) and there we were the best friends you could ever have! People came and people went home.. CAROL WHY DID YOU LEAVE US !
Baby Mau..COLOMBIANO and those hips! wowwww! Elliott.. I love you ! je je..Juan Pa ! adorable.. Fabio.. "hgmmmmmm".. Christian .. he even started to smile.. Eric..stylish!GUSTAVO ! the greatest guy alive with an amazing heart and my marce.. Cochi numero 1.. tkm po !

I MISS YOU GUYS !

Guadalajara Guadalajara

I LOVE JALISCO !

Alinnnnna!!

I was rather sad to find out today that a small "shipment" of German candy had been sent to my London address... ohhhh what i would do for Toffifee right now!! Carlos V just isnt doing it for me!!
I will let you know my address as soon as i get to Guate!

Love x x

Osea pues..Pa Chapines!

CHAPIN CON ORGULLO...

El Guatemalteco no toma: chupa

El Guatemalteco no saluda: dice "que putas" o "que onda?"

El Guatemalteco no enamora: cantinea

El Guatemalteco no festeja: parrandea

El Guatemalteco no conversa: platica

El Guatemalteco no critica: pela

El Guatemalteco no abusa: se columpia

El Guatemalteco no molesta: friega y chinga

El Guatemalteco no presume: chilerea

El Guatemalteco no toma drogas: se hecha los pitos

El Guatemalteco no ríe hasta mas no poder: se caga de la risa

El Guatemalteco no se accidenta: se va a hacer mierda

El Guatemalteco no es malvado: es pura mierda

El Guatemalteco no se avergüenza: se chivea

El Guatemalteco no se acobarda: se ahueva

El Guatemalteco no resiste: le hace huevos

El Guatemalteco no se molesta: se encabrona

El Guatemalteco no se desnuda: se empelota

El Guatemalteco no hace el amor: se echa un polvito

El Guatemalteco no se da un golpe: se da un morongazo

El Guatemalteco no se va corriendo: sale hecho mierda!

El Guatemalteco no se escapa: se pela

El Guatemalteco no sale en grupo: sale en mara

El Guatemalteco no tiene un problema: tiene un clavo

El Guatemalteco no tiene novia: tiene culito!

El Guatemalteco no pide que lo lleven: pide jalón

El Guatemalteco no va de paseo: se da un colazo

El Guatemalteco no toma siestas: se echa un cuaje

El Guatemalteco no descansa: echa la hueva

El Guatemalteco no te golpea: te pijasea

El Guatemalteco no es bonito: es chulo

El Guatemalteco no tiene un carrazo: tiene una nave

El Guatemalteco no ve una película: ve una lica

El Guatemalteco no le gusta una canción: le llega una rola

El Guatemalteco no es apuesto: es un mango

El Guatemalteco no es valiente: es huevudo!

El Guatemalteco no es haragán: es huevón

El Guatemalteco no es presumido: es caquero

El Guatemalteco no es avaro: es codo

El Guatemalteco no es inmaduro: es un ishto

El Guatemalteco no es entrometido: es shute!

El Guatemalteco no es adinerado: es pistudo

El Guatemalteco no es listo: es cabrón

El Guatemalteco no es diestro: es buso

El Guatemalteco no es un tipo bueno: es buena nota

El Guatemalteco no es un tipo tremendo: es un cabrón

El Guatemalteco no juega béisbol: juega al FÚTBOL mijito!

El Guatemalteco no es cualquier cosa: es CHAPIN

Its just a bit of fun !!

Dreaming of Guatemala..

GUATEMALA (1954)

Sentando en una roca,

Testigo del crepúsculo

Testigo del atardecer,

Me doy cuenta como la luna

Atraganta al sol.

Entra la noche,

La luz se esconde.

Las nubes como un ciego apresurado

Se mueven sin destino.

La lluvia empieza a caer,

Lluvia rocía de agua,

Se despliega por doquier.

Y entran en mi alma las corrientes,

Corrientes que despiertan mi nostalgia

Y me hacen pensar.

Empiezo a repasar mi vida, mi país.

Nacido entre los andurriales de Guatemala,

Terruño que me vio nacer

Y que nunca he vuelto a ver.

Debajo las piedras de la tierra

Se esconde la sangre de la historia,

Sangre de inocentes destinados a morir.

Bajo los paisajes;

Donde después de 36 años

Las hojas volvieron a verdear,

Se encuentran los cadáveres de los patojos,

Muchachos que por siempre

Vivirán jóvenes en las memorias

De los que un día los vieron partir

Y nunca regresar.

Los gemidos de la historia

Se escuchan entre las tinieblas del anochecer.

Todo comenzó en esos días,

Cuando la patria intentaba dar sus propios pasos,

Cuando los gigantes invadieron,

E hicieron lo que ambicionaron.

Cuando la tierra presenció

Las masacres contra los indígenas

Y contra el pueblo,

La tierra se trago la sangre de los hombres

Asesinados sin compasión,

Los ríos escupieron los huesos

De los difuntos que fueron

Sepultados en las aguas.

Esos son los días negros,

Cuando la luna perdió la sonrisa,

Días cuando la eterna primavera

Se convirtió en otoño,

El día en que las flores

Perdieron su orgullo de fulgurar,

Cuando el sol dejo de relumbrar

Sobre la bella patria que se convertiría en luto desconsolado.

Ese fue el día en que el Quetzal;

El bello Quetzal orgullo de la bandera,

Se echo entre las montañas a esconderse,

Entre los collados se perdió y nunca regreso.

Ese mismo día el pájaro de verde plumaje

Perdió la rojez del pecho,Y lloró lágrimas ensangrentadas.

Se filtraron los años,

Incontables vidas marcharon hacia la muerte,

Muchos fueron tragados por la tierra

En acto de agonía y valentía por salvar la patria.

Los gigantes ambiciosos se fueron,

Pero el daño ya estaba hecho,

Dejaron a la patria sin pies y sin brazos,

Pero el corazón de los valientes todavía palpitaba.

Y esos mismos latidos

Palpitan hoy bajo la tierra y bajo las tumbas

Diciendo que no hay que olvidar la historia,

La historia negra de la patria

Herida por ambición ajena...

Herida pero no destruida;

Aunque sin pies y sin brazos,

Todavía quedaba el CORAZON.

Fueron 36 los años de muerte

Por la ambición de los ambiciosos

That poem really made me think.. (well, im always thinking about the subject at some point in the day) Beautifully sad and poetic, it really made me want to go and tell the world about the history of such a wonderful country, Guatemala.

New Quote

I saw this last night and i really liked it..

" El Libro gobierna a los hombres y es el maestro del porvenir"

Hip Hip Hoorayyyyy!!!!

All my worrying can finally stop.. I have confirmation that my job is going ahead and i start shortly.
I fly to guatemala on the 26th of July !!!

¿Nacapulco?

So Acapulco wasnt that bad... if not a little expensive and the heat was extreme..we did have a great time.. The girls partied at night although i stayed at the apartment watching american movies badly dubbed into SPAIN SPANISH... ewwwwwwwwwwww....
I awoke at 7.30 on sunday morning to find the girls were still not home... about 5 minutes later a heard a male voice "vos" and i knew something terrible had happened...
Vanis opened the bedroom door with a large grin and began to describe in detail the night that has come to pass, the grin... as 4 young Argentine boys sat in our salon.. "vos" explained...
Before i knew it one of them was in the bed beside me as he didnt want to go to the "plaszya"..."playa" i corrected him... 7.40am... i was out of bed..on the beach... and the girls.. well... there my coshis...who knows that happened...
Vanis and I rented a quad and drove up and down the beach for an hour or so.. we were told we could have another 30 minutes free if we kissed the rather naco drunken teen whom the quad belonged to.. we declined the offer..

You can do anything you want; aslong as it makes sense!

So, my last blog doesn´t work so Im starting from scratch!

Im back in... Tepic !! Right where i started, Kinda!!

The 12 hour bus ride wasn´t so comfortable this time..but the tacos supplied at 9am by a rather handsome young man who came aboard just before the border of Nayarit really made me feel GREAT! super picoso!! Also the 6 yr old boy sitting across from me that tried to impress me by beating up his "Scooby Doo" plush for atleast 8 hours was quite amusing....
The bus was headed for Tijuana... Im glad i wasnt going that far.. 12 hours to Tepic was far more than enough for me..
A young guy of about 16yrs sat at the back of the bus close to me.. Id seen his emotional goodbye to his family at the Terminal Norte in DF and couldnt resist asking him where his journey was taking him. He was going to Tijuana..and then "across the border". That made me feel sad.


So where did it start... i left my job, bought a ticket to Los Angeles... I was going back to LAM.
An emotional goodbye at the airport in London went to delayed flights, cancelled flights and my first encounter with a "Chicano" whilst waiting for my conection to LAX.
After sitting beside him as he spoke on his cell phone for 10 minutes i finally understood the Chicano "EY" mock that i had never understood before..the spanglish was rather amusing. We started talking after he asked me if i was Mexican.. random question to ask a stranger i thought.. but it was funny anyways.
After an amazing few days there in the OC with one of my best friends in the world..Mr AC , i took a morning flight to Puerto Vallarta..a 3hr flight after a near nervous breakdown at LAX after being told by a rather rude lady at Delta that i would have to pay $50 in excess for my famously overweight baggage, the problem being that i only had Mexican pesos with me and the nearest Foriegn Exchange office was a 15 minute walk away "somewhere down there".
I lugged my bags..all 4 of them down stairs, into lifts..down corridors..and 15 minutes later (with my flight leaving in less than 45minutes) was still no closer to the exchange bureau, or knowing where it even was!
I finally made check in..and spent the next few hours sitting next to a VERY strange american couple who lived in London. I cant stress just how strange they really were.

PVR has gotten really smart, the airport was totally transformed since my last visit...the only problem i had was my luggage... i had..have ! so much luggage!!
The bus left early which was great.. the journey was great until a guy got on by near Cruz and insisted on changed the video.. "conversations with God"... i had to laugh and think to myself.. "Im back in México".. It was gonna happen at some point..

I took a bus to Tepic where a smiling Siller was waiting for me ! It was great to see him after a year!
The time in Tepic passed so quickly! We roadtripped, went to some amazing beaches...and most importantly we ATE!! Molcajetes with amazing seafood, fresh tortillas, salsa verde.. tacos! yummmyyyy!!

This photo was taken at Playa Novillero, Northern Nayarit..close to the border with Sinaloa (and yes im still dying to get up there! I was invited to go to Culican this wkend but i cant go ! me muero !!!)

The boys managed to drink atleast 160 beers between the 12 of them, if not more... DESMADRE!!!
Novillero was great.... the botanero was amazing... one word "AGUA"!!!!!
The waitress (whom the boys swore was a man) had apparently taken a shine to Siller on thier last visit so we got "extra special service".
The best thing about the Botanero is that the amazing food is free..you only pay for the beer that you drink.. which is a few more pesos than the average.. with that, the waitress wasnt so impressed with my request for Coca Cola.

After the heat of Tuxpan (and im talking 49! 50!) i came back with not 1 but 24 mosquito bites on my legs, thus ruining my hopes of being the "belle" of the ball ... Yamis Grad Party at the oh so prez Sherton Centro Historico....However, my extra week of work and the extra money it brought came in handy... on my way through fabricas i found the most amazing traje ever... it was a little pricey... but.. it covered the bites... which by the way had gone by the time of the party..

The Dress !

Test Shot !!

The Party was a great success, over 500 people turned out and everyone looked great!
The food was amazing, the band played great music and at 4am Chillaquiles and Mariachis arrived which made the party unique and really made the night !
Felicidades Lic.Yami Hernandez Infante!!



p.s - You cant fool me Dennis!!