Great Weekend of hiking, beautiful views, sun salutations and theater

This past weekend was the first time I have really gotten out of the house (away from the books) and explored the city and nearby cultural and natural beauty.  Saturday, I travled a short 1.5 hours on bus with about 75 UNAM students to visit nearby Tepoztlan.  We enjoyed climbing the rocky path 400 meters to reach the Pyramid of Tepozteco.  It was a beautiful sunny day and you could see the whole village and beyond.  We also had fun with the coatis (wild muskets).  Afterward, we strolled the village, eating tepoznieve (their unique icey sweet treat in rare fruit flavors) and visiting the expansive market or quality and inexpensive artesenia.

On Sunday, I was finally able to attend a yoga class (after 6 weeks! not to worry, I can't live with my yoga practice, so of course I did my own each day)...this one was at Jiva Spa (fancy I know) and consisted of 108 sun salutations (a traditional vinyasa yoga sequence) - half facing the east to honor this past summer and be thankful for all it has brought, while releasing any negativity or attachment to things of this past season, and half to welcome the autumn and welcome a new outlook on life for the coming season.  This workshop was extremely valuable to me as I have been adjusting to a new culture, new student life style, and a new world in Mex City. 

In addition, Sunday evening, I attended a great show, "Las Tandas del Centenario" which was the final production of the season.  It chronicled a Mexican theatre company in the early 1900s, mocking the constant change in leadership, yet proudly showcasing Mexican culture and triumph over decades of unrest and change. I went with Rebecca and Billy, two other Ambassadorial Scholars, as well as some of their UNAM friends.

Today I started my classes in the full time MBA program.  So far, great! I will write more at the week's end.

Chamba, Chula y Otros Palabras Mexicanas

I am learning that Mexicans (for their great indigenous influence) use many slang words that begin with "ch".  (Note: the ending for most of these words changes from "o" to "a" for a woman.)  Some of these include:

--Chilango:  someone who is from Mexico City, like Washingtonian, Texan, Porteño (A los chilangos, les gustar pachangar!  Mexicans (from Mex City) love to party!)

--Chulo:  term of endearment or cat-calling (Hola chula, como estas? Hi honey, how are you? ...can be used to taunt women or to speak sweetly to a girl/boyfriend or friend)

--Chamaco:  child/young person (Preoccupo por el chamaco. I worry about the child.)

--Chavo:  guy/friend (Voy a salir con los chavos/chavas.  I'm going out with the guys/girls.)

--Chamba:  work (ie. Tengo mucha chamba.  I have a lot of work.)

Sonidos de la Manana / Sounds of the Morning

Each morning I wake up in my bungalow (my room is a converted 2nd floor storage room that is separate from the house), and outside my two large windows, I see my beautiful avocado tree (I have actually eaten some of them too!) and hear the following sounds:

--Roosters (love those little guys because their wake-up call reminds me of my cousins, Mena and Angelos' farm in Southern Italy)
--Birds (like in Cindarella)
--Fireworks and other loud bangs that sounds like fireworks but I'm not sure!
--Dogs (not so pleasant)...they especially hate the loud fireworks
--Church bells...pretty often they play Ave Maria - which is very sentimental to me in my Epsicopal upbringing

My only break from studying and class this past week was the Rotary District 4170 Quarterly Breakfast Meeting on Saturday.  It was a huge success with more than 400 Rotarians participating. With Mexico celebrating its 200th birthday this month, the meeting was quite a production, including a head table (panel style) with 30 Rotarians, a group of 10 mariachis, Mexican flag-colored jello (pictured below) and a red, white and green balloon drop!  The highlight of the day was hearing from Dr. Jose Narro Robles, the well-respected President of UNAM - Mexico's main government-run, public (free) university.

Dr. Jose Narrro Robles, President of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

yummy & colorful!

District 4170 Governor Jose Luis Martinez Larios and me

Ingreso o Egreso?

Today was my last day of class - yes, that was fast!  9 days and 36 hours of Math later...I did well on the basic Algebra --actually got a 9.2 on my exam last week - which is equivalent to an A!  However, yesterday's exam with word problems, absolute value and solving for inequalities was another story.

Accounting is great. My professor is amazing and so kind. She gave me her accounting text in English - so helpful!  Here are some examples of the vocab differences in (Financial) Accounting/Contabilidad:

Activo: Asset
Pasivo: Liability
Gasto: Expense
Venta: Sale
Deudores: Debtors
Acreedores: Creditors
Cargar: to debit (an account)
Abonar: to credit (a account)
Almacen: warehouse

some words I translated and was still at a loss...amortization, surrender value... but know I understand them.

Final exams are Monday. fortunately we have the next three week-days to study since we have time off for Mexico's Bicentenial (Sept 16th).  I have to pass them as part of the program.  Wish me luck!

Let the Classes Begin

Thursday I started one of my propedeuticos - pre-rec classes - of Applied Mathematics.  Wow, re-learning algebra in spanish after just skimming it during GMAT-prep in 2007 is tough!  I am using a Spanish language math text, notes from lecture (given in Spanish of course) and some online tutuorials in English.  I pray that I pass the class!  On Monday, I begin my pre-rec class of Business Accounting.  This week will officially be crazy as I will have 9 hours of class EACH DAY (5 for Accounting and 4 for Math).  Not quite sure when homework comes in...I guess I will do it in my sleep.

Vivan las Mujeres!

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Rotary Club of Jardines de Pedregal - a club composed only of women Rotarians. It was a small gathering of about 6 of us in a private breakfast room of the Club France' restaurant (bascially a country club for French citizens and others).  It was a lovely setting and I enjoyed chatting with the women. It was in stark contrast to the male-dominant fraternal style of the Mexico City club. Pictured are: Carmen, myself, Maricarmen (club president), Marta, Susana and Gabriela.

Maricamen Porras, club president, receiving the H-E-B club flag

La Piedra del Sol y other art of Mexico

On Tuesday, Jeremy and I visited the National Anthropology Museum in Chapultepec, which boasts the largest and best collection of indigenous art of Latin America.

Introducing...Mi Esposo, Jeremy

Jeremy was in town this week, so I took the opportunity to introduce him to the downtown Mexico City Rotary Club.  He enjoyed meeting the Rotarians and practicing his Spanish.  We sat with Ernesto, Amina (who is 90 years old and was the 1982-83 District Governor) and Gloria.

Amina and Vanessa