Ch-ch-ch-changes

Lots of new stuff happening and life continues. Sigh. But not always the way we expect. Here's how I cope.
Enjoying Jens Jensen's Garfield Park Conservatory

Lots of tacos at La Pasadita, the best taqueria in Chicago
Belting out "Living on a Prayer" with strangers
"Ma-ma-ma-material Girl"
Holly, Maya, Melissa and I enjoy $2 Guiness at Christina's Place

View of the Sears Tower from my favorite hill at Humboldt Park
Norwegian architecture, Puerto Rican culture, my great neighborhood
Jay's 31st
Drew Barrymore and Liv Tyler love a good Logan Square party
Friends via their blogs finally meet!
my favorite person in the world-Becca!
Waiting in the library at the Hop Leaf
Enjoying Belgian beer and delish food; the mussels are the best!

Christmas, Mexico style

First of all, Christmas without snow is weird. It´s hard to think of Santa driving a sleigh through the dry, 80 degree Central Mexican hills. There´s no Christmas music, few decorations and hot weather. It hardly feels like the Christmases of my youth.

But there are many good things about Mexico in December. Although I like the snow on Christmas, I am over it the very next day. This morning, I had my breakfast of local, fresh fruit in the garden surrounded by mandarin and guava trees, and in full-bloom roses. Not too shabby for the 24th of December.

I´m in Chamacuaro for 10 days. Life moves a little slower here. We buy the food needed for the day and cook on a small gas burner. We visit family and are fed lots of delicious homestyle Mexican food (fresh tortillas, chicaron, lentils, pozole). Terry (Gabe´s brother) and I play lots of music in the courtyard. Gabriel and I go for walks. There´s no internet, no TV, no phone. So that means no traffic, no mall, no distractions from just being in the moment. It´s a bit refreshing.

Tonight is Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and a big night in the pueblo. At midnight mass, Terry and I will accompany the all female singing group who will lead the congregation in songs welcoming the birth of Christ. Afterwards, we will have a little fire in the front of the house, while neighbors visit different fogatas and stop by for drinks.

For the past 9 nights there have been posadas, or reenactments of the Joseph and Mary looking for a place to stay the night Christ was born. The town follows the pilgrms in a parade through the town, who are denied twice at different homes, before being welcomed at the third home. At this house, there is a small fiesta, the group sings, and all the children are given small gift bags. I´ve participated the last couple nights, and been one of the lead singers (in Spanish!!). I was even lucky enough to play my violin with the singers at mass yesterday. Quite fun!

Tomorrow is Gabriel´s aunt´s birthday (her name is Navidad, or Naty for short). There will be a big party, a banda, and lots of food. Terry and I are planning to play the Mananitas, or birthday song for her outside her window in the early morning. We´ll see how early!

But for all the cool, new stuff here, I do miss my parents and family. This is my first Christmas away from home and I miss the snow, the decorations and the Christmas music that I like to sing. Sigh. Maybe next year, I´ll come to Mexico just for the New Year! Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas!

Thoughts on Puerto Escondido

Ive spent most of my time in Puerto in the tourist area. My classes are the top of the hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, then Dr. Bill (classmate) walk down a steep flight of cement stairs to walk after lunch or buy pre or post bug-bite medications. For some reason, the mosquitos eat me alive. The locals tell me that mosquitos love "sangre guera" or white-girl blood. Apparently. Its so hot that I cant wear pants, so I been slathering on 40% DEET bug spray. Dengue fever is still a problem here, but Im feeling healthy so far.

Oaxaca is known for having beautiful textiles and delicious mole. Ive been enjoying both. I already bought 3 embroidered bloused (I <3 them!) and have eaten a mole or guajillo chile sauce for lunch everday. Most days, Bill and I walk 20 steps to El Fondo, where women cook a prepared lunch in fron of there home for 30 pesos, or about $2.50. We eat well, chicken or eggs with a mole or guajillo sauce, fresh salsa made in the mocajete, black beans, and different flavors of agua fresca (mix of water and blended fruit). Betty, the chef, makes our tortillas fresh, right on the griddle over a hot fire. Its delicious and better than any food on the touristy road so far.

Today is my last day here in Puerto and the weather is cloudy and a bit cooler. I was bummed as I wanted to get some sun, but I woke up to the most beautiful waves instead. All the pro guys were out today, riding the 20 foot waves. I didnt realize I was seeing something spectacular, but one guy rode a tube for about 50 feet. Everyone on the beach the clapped. It was amazing. Ive surfed twice here, but I think I will stick to shopping today.

Coincidentally, my trip to Puerto coincided with the dia de la Santa. The whole town has taken part and Ive been invited by all the locals to take part in the parties, fireworks, and parade. Yesterday there was a beautiful boat procession taking a statue of the Virgin out to sea. I could hear the singing from my room. Mexicans celebrate Catholicism frequently and outwardly in such a vibrant way. It was a perfect week to visit this city.

Tonight is my last night here, and Ill be taking it easy. Theres a large number of Italians here and they opened restaurants here so Ill be eating some pasta, before I head to countryside to eat more standard Mexican fare.

Tomorrow I leave for Chamacuaro, Guanajuato, the hometown of the Alfaros. Gabriel and his family are driving to Mexico from Chicago. They just hit the border at Nuevo Laredo and there seems to be a long line of Mexicans returning home for the Christmas season. Ive seen how the whole town shuts down for holidays and Ive got posadas, fiestas, Christmas food, and parades to look forward to while in the campo. Seeing how important it is to celebrate religious holidays communily, and with family, I think I am beginning to understand the rush come back here. Que tengan un buena Navidad!

Oaxacaing

Im in Mexico and its great. The weather is beautiful, I go to the beach everyday, I do yoga in Spanish and Im learning a lot in my Spanish classes too.

My first day, I mention that Im from Chicago in class. Bill, my classmate, asked what part? Turns out he and his wife lived on Thomas Street (my street) for 9 years. The world just keeps getting smaller!

Bill is a Doctor, which is good, since I was stung by a jellyfish while surfing the first day and have like a hundred mosquito bites on my legs. Ouch! He generously passed on his billion mg probiotic drink that he and his family took when they started to get sick and my stomach feels like its made of steel now. Also, he told me which medicines to "import" from the pharmacy, since you can buy whatever you need. I will have quite a stock of antibiotics when I get home.

Back to Puerto Escondido. Its really lovely here. Cheap food, beautiful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, and the best part...no snow.

Miss you guys, but not enough to come back to that weather!

Holla-ACCION Chicago on CBS news

http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=64568@wbbm.dayport.com

Diggin' this weather...

Gabe and I have been geeking out over gardening and decided to prep his backyard for a garden and grass lawn next year. To get started, we purchased a city-approved, but not quite-rat proof outdoor compost bin. We fooled the buggers by building a rock moat around the bin. Once we tackled our little outdoor rodent problem, we thought it was good idea to get an indoor worm composting bin. Just a tip, worms little to explore and they do try and escape! Gabe's step-mom Elsa thinks we are a bit nuts feeding our little pets, "los gusanos". After all our hard work over the summer, we had about 15 gallons of compost to use. With the 70 degree weather over the weekend, we broke out the shovel and the hoe and went to town on prepping the ground for a Spring planting.
Hard at work. Yes, I'm gardening in boat shoes.

This is how the backyard looked earlier this year.

Before we started on Sunday.

Voila! Ready for Spring planting.

I think I miss Africa a bit. My old roomie/over-achieving gal pal Shann was in Chicago for a quick weekend in between jobs in Kenya and Tanzania. Sigh. I'm jealous. For my book-club pick this month, I chose a light-hearted read called "The Poisonwood Bible". At night, I switch between that and King Leopold's Ghost. You know when read bedtime stories about Mobutu, you really love a place. I've been in Chicago for about 2 1/2 years now, and I am happy here. Good job, great boyfriend, some traveling abroad. But I yearn for new adventures, and am feeling that draw back to Africa. They say that "Africa gets under your skin". Any visit and it changes you forever. It was great to catch up with Shann and feel that energy from her. What I felt being there. The beauty, the people, the history, the sadness and the potential. You want to be there and be a part of it. It is intoxicating and extreme. And now, I'm feeling that draw again. Will I find a way to go back?