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 !