2-21

     Eeesh I can’t believe that 2 days have passed by already! So much has happened, it’s been the quite the eventful life. Even though I don’t understand most of what’s going on, haha! I think my Spanish comprehension skills are getting better. I think that’s so because I’m getting asked same questions like a kajillion times. For the most part I’m pretty lost in what is going on. I love how many of the kids think that if you don’t know what they are saying that you will if they talk louder.

Yesterday I got to get up super early, about 6am. I went with Matthew(pronounced Matt-teh-o), the Italian, to go and drop off and pick up the kids. Matthew wanted to show/train me on how to get to all the schools. For starters I have no clue why so many of the same aged children go to different schools, it’s crazy. Everything feels so close and tight. But this might also be do to the fact that I’m driving this huge van. That same day I was able to meet so many new faces and learn and hopefully remember so of these super long names! Most of them know my name, which is pretty cool! I was afraid that they weren’t going to be able to. It’s kinda funny to hear them say “hola Blake”. And I got to go to Mass yesterday as well. The only problem about that is that I have to go a different Chapel, the Chapel that is connected to the Casa Hogar only has a mass on Sunday. But it’s not to huge of a deal it give me a better chance to enjoy the city. I really love Tepa it’s a great town. It’s way bigger than I thought. Me, Matthew, Cecilia, and Melena(that’s probably not spelled right) walked through Tepa and went through a bunch of shops and stuff. It kind of reminded me of the French Quarter.

Today I got to drive the Van to bring the kids to school. The traffic here is nuts! I think I am capable of driving anything and anywhere now. It was a bit frightening at times but I think I did pretty good. I hate those dumb “topas”, they’re kind of like speed bumps but they are pretty much the same color as the road so there is no way of seeing them. Sometime they’re signs and most of the time they aren’t. I just have to be super careful when going down small roads, that usually where I find them. Matthew said that some people call the town Topatitlan to make fun of the roads.

These kids are so great. I love the little ones that give me all the hugs and all the older ones that want to let me listen to there music with me. Lupita is one of the little ones that always want to hold my hand. She’s a really great little kid, she seems to really want to get me to learn Spanish. I was sitting with her and a few others at a table in the Hogar and we were all searching in Spanish/English dictionaries to find a word. It was pretty funny to say the least. I think that’s something I love about being her, that no matter how much we are not able to understand each other, we can always laugh and smile at each other.

Tonight I went to a diner at Cecelia’s friends house. Cecelia had invited me and Matthew yesterday. Cecelia is really cool, she actually grew up in the Hogar and then she moved. Cecilia’s friend Lee had a really nice house, it was pretty huge. Tepa has a pretty well to do society of people. So there are many big houses are spread across the town. Anyway it was cool to eat with Cecelia and a bunch of here friends. One of them, Chito, spoke pretty fluent English. It kind of took me off guard. So it was cool to be able to talk to someone that spoke that well. The night went well I got to laugh and ask a bunch of simple questions(the kind that would come from an elementary school student, haha!).

So I’m sure I’ve left out a bunch of other things but I promise I’ll tell you more when I see you again in person! Oh! I did a thing called magic Jack lent to me which basically allows you to call the States for free. Sister Threasa’s cousin let me use it, which is really cool. The only problem is that I have to have internet access to be able to use it. And none of us here can figure out what is wrong with wireless internet. So my access is kind of limited. And I don’t want to use it to often. But don’t worry I’ll call soon!

Here are some pictures from the great journey so far! I want to get some video’s soon. I love all of you. I hope you’re all doing great!

Dios Te Bindiga!!