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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

OXXO

We went out in service today even though it’s the biggest Mexican holiday. That was awesome because, unlike the other times we went out, we only needed 15 minutes to get there and that was on foot! We went with Irving, Josh, Jesse and a sister named Judith. Judith is really cool. She was born in Mexico City, but moved to Frankfurt Germany when she was 19 and that’s where she became a Witness. She’s also lived in two different cities in Iran. Kelsey learned today that Irving is her flute buddy, but he doesn’t like chocolate and we think that’s strange! Irving is one of those kids that says really funny things and doesn’t even realize it. For example, OXXO is the name of a convenience store here, and he likes to say that it means “hug kiss kiss hug.” When the other guys wanted to go “make some RV’s,” Irving thought they wanted to go witness at a trailer park! Something we were told about before coming here was the stray dogs and cats. However, these are some of the most well-behaved animals we've ever seen. This dog was just lying in dirt as we walked by!

We only went in service in the morning since it’s a meeting night and people usually stay home. So we got dropped off near our house around 1pm and stopped by the taco stand on the corner. We ate these strange things called “tortas ahogadas” and “tacos dorados” which is basically bread or hard taco “drowned” in delicious sauce. After that, we went home and enjoyed the rain from the shelter of our little apartment. There are neighbors moving in upstairs, and they sure are noisy! Their kids keep running up and down the stairs and the men keep opening and closing the squeaky gate as they move their stuff inside.

Speaking of noisy, today is 16 de setiembre which means that last night this city was the party central of all of Jalisco! And boy do these Mexicanos know how to party! We just happen to be right next to this big outdoor amphitheatre. Last night it was quite a happenin’ place. It sounded to us like the Mariachi equivalent to a rock concert, complete with screaming girls and super amps! It was so loud! We recognized one song from the night in Tlaquepaque with the cute Mariachi guy. The only word we know in the song is “A-moooooooor”. We like it. Victoria at Starbucks told us she thinks it’s a song by Alejandro Fernandez. He is un hombre muy muy guapo in Mexico. He’s a BIG star here. All the girls love him. Once she told us that, we thought that it might have been him, in concert! Probably not, but we like to think it was him because that would be cool! Anyway, we went to get dinner (and a churro, the best ever by the way) came back, ate, watched Raising Helen, and went to bed around 12 and he was still at it! Then he talked for a long time and all the girls screamed louder than ever. We imagined that he must have been saying, “we’re having a contest. Whoever screams the loudest gets un beso de mi” But that’s just our active imaginations working off our crazy assumptions. By the way, that's a picture of the Farmacia Guadalajara that's on the corner near our apartment. It is open 24/7!!!

Guess where we are now? If you said Starbucks, you know us too well! We’re at the one on Avenida Guadalupe and our friend Victoria is here. She’s so sweet, she gave us both free drinks!!! Oh yeah, and if anyone from Kate’s Starbucks is reading this, I’m drinking my old Dulce de Leche bebida favorita! In your face y’all. We were just talking on the way here about how it seems we don’t have nearly as many fun stories to relate to you guys. In a way, it makes us a little sad, but it also makes us feel pretty good! That means that we are getting used to being here and that it’s not so much about what’s different from there. Now it’s just like, this is how it is and we accept and love it! We’re walking more and more and it’s killing us less and less, so watch out when we get home…you might just get taste of the Mexican style of service.

Hope you guys are up for the challenge! As always, we send our love.

K3LSO and Kate

1 comment:

MamaRosa said...

Oh my gosh! I bet I could scream the loudest!!! Them mexican girls aint got nothing on me! We are on our lunch break, and we came home to check your blog. Dancing Queen came on the radio and it made us think of you two. We came to the conclusion last night that we really really miss you guys. But we know you are having an adventure that most of us only dream of. Keep up the good work and we look forward to your homecoming! LOVE YOU !!!!
the poky pat mom