(Nearly) un mes!
Hola!
Wow! So I've done a bit in the last (almost) month here in Mexico. My first week here was, most positively put, not great. I made the really smart decision to "wing it" here in Mexico (which includes pre departure preparation). To give you an example of what exactly that entails, I waited five hours before I left for the airport to wash hang-dry only clothes. I was doing three four-week intensive summer classes (eight weeks of work fit into four weeks in three different classes) and so I did not realize just how fast Mexico was approaching. Therefore, I really lacked any and all mental preparation before coming here. Consequently, there was quite a bit to get used to and I experienced some severe withdrawals from the fresh, marine air, cool temperatures, and peace and quiet.
My first day, I took a tour of my host city with all the other TESOL students. Then, I got ice cream with my roommate (who has doubled as my teaching partner during the past three weeks). My second day in Mexico, I went wine and cheese tasting in a town called Peña de Bernal. We stopped at a vineyard called De Cota first, took a tour, and then got to drink two glasses of wine for breakfast. (I drank one glass because I don't quite fancy red wine.) We then drove to Bernal, and got to walk around the city for a bit. Then, after Bernal, we went to a dairy farm. There, we ate lunch, and all three dishes were made with the cheese they make at the farm.
A week later, I went to the Teotihuácan pyramids. That was a busy day, but worth it. The pyramids were cool and there was a great view from the top of both Pirámide del Sol y del Luna!
The weekend after that was free, and it felt very nice to recuperate. All of the students grabbed a beer with our professors (college is chill) on Friday night, and on Saturday I did nothing productive. I took a nap, which was beautiful. On Sunday, my roommate (and teaching partner) went to a cafe called the Italian Coffee Company and worked on a bit of school work. We then went home, and around 8 we caught a bit of a tropical storm. That was real cool to watch.
Our fourth weekend (just this past weekend) we all went to León de Guanajuato. While I was there, in a matter of two days, I took 935 photos. I think that perfectly exemplifies that León de Guanajuato is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I could easily compare it to the beauty of Prague. While we were there, we saw the mummy museum and Diego Rivera's house. I took the funicular up to the top of a mountain/cliff with two other girls. The view was absolutely beautiful, and it reminded me exactly of the day I took the funicular in Bergen, Norway. I was shocked at how similar everything looked and felt and there were times when I was thinking so hard of Bergen, I had to check myself and remind myself that I was indeed in Mexico, not Norway. I spent so much money in Guanajuato, but I do not regret my purchases. I am most proud of the fact that on this trip (Mexico in general, not only León de Guanajuato), I have spent more money on practical souvenirs than I have food.
I have also taught! While I am here, I have to take three classes: a methods for teaching English class, a seminar class, and my actual TESOL practicum. The first four weeks are dedicated to my methods class. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I have to teach a different lesson with my teaching partner on national parks in the USA. There are four teaching groups, and each teaching group had to prepare one lesson for all other teaching groups to teach. Our first lesson (prepared by our professor) was on wolf reintroduction to Yellowstone. Our second lesson (designed by my partner and I) was on invasive species in Glacier National Park. Our third lesson was on deforestation in Redwood National Forest. Our fourth lesson was on LGBTQ rights at Stonewall Inn in New York City, New York. Our fifth and final lesson was on Mount Rushmore.
Our methods class is in its last week, and our students are now preparing a final project. Next week, I move into my last two classes (seminar and practicum) for the last four weeks that I am here. For my practicum, I will be teaching at the local university (Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro). My practicum is pass/fail, so here is to hoping that I don't have to repeat anything in the United States.
I've also had Spanish classes! My last week of Spanish class is this upcoming week. Yo aprendo despacio, perro yo he aprendi una poquito español! Yo puedo comprender español cuando es escrito más que hablado. Danès fue más fácil a aprender, yo creo. I am learning slowly, but I can understand a bit of Spanish! I can understand Spanish when it is written more than spoken. Danish was much easier to learn, I think.
That's all for now!
Hasta luego!
Wow! So I've done a bit in the last (almost) month here in Mexico. My first week here was, most positively put, not great. I made the really smart decision to "wing it" here in Mexico (which includes pre departure preparation). To give you an example of what exactly that entails, I waited five hours before I left for the airport to wash hang-dry only clothes. I was doing three four-week intensive summer classes (eight weeks of work fit into four weeks in three different classes) and so I did not realize just how fast Mexico was approaching. Therefore, I really lacked any and all mental preparation before coming here. Consequently, there was quite a bit to get used to and I experienced some severe withdrawals from the fresh, marine air, cool temperatures, and peace and quiet.
My first day, I took a tour of my host city with all the other TESOL students. Then, I got ice cream with my roommate (who has doubled as my teaching partner during the past three weeks). My second day in Mexico, I went wine and cheese tasting in a town called Peña de Bernal. We stopped at a vineyard called De Cota first, took a tour, and then got to drink two glasses of wine for breakfast. (I drank one glass because I don't quite fancy red wine.) We then drove to Bernal, and got to walk around the city for a bit. Then, after Bernal, we went to a dairy farm. There, we ate lunch, and all three dishes were made with the cheese they make at the farm.
A week later, I went to the Teotihuácan pyramids. That was a busy day, but worth it. The pyramids were cool and there was a great view from the top of both Pirámide del Sol y del Luna!
The weekend after that was free, and it felt very nice to recuperate. All of the students grabbed a beer with our professors (college is chill) on Friday night, and on Saturday I did nothing productive. I took a nap, which was beautiful. On Sunday, my roommate (and teaching partner) went to a cafe called the Italian Coffee Company and worked on a bit of school work. We then went home, and around 8 we caught a bit of a tropical storm. That was real cool to watch.
Our fourth weekend (just this past weekend) we all went to León de Guanajuato. While I was there, in a matter of two days, I took 935 photos. I think that perfectly exemplifies that León de Guanajuato is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I could easily compare it to the beauty of Prague. While we were there, we saw the mummy museum and Diego Rivera's house. I took the funicular up to the top of a mountain/cliff with two other girls. The view was absolutely beautiful, and it reminded me exactly of the day I took the funicular in Bergen, Norway. I was shocked at how similar everything looked and felt and there were times when I was thinking so hard of Bergen, I had to check myself and remind myself that I was indeed in Mexico, not Norway. I spent so much money in Guanajuato, but I do not regret my purchases. I am most proud of the fact that on this trip (Mexico in general, not only León de Guanajuato), I have spent more money on practical souvenirs than I have food.
I have also taught! While I am here, I have to take three classes: a methods for teaching English class, a seminar class, and my actual TESOL practicum. The first four weeks are dedicated to my methods class. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I have to teach a different lesson with my teaching partner on national parks in the USA. There are four teaching groups, and each teaching group had to prepare one lesson for all other teaching groups to teach. Our first lesson (prepared by our professor) was on wolf reintroduction to Yellowstone. Our second lesson (designed by my partner and I) was on invasive species in Glacier National Park. Our third lesson was on deforestation in Redwood National Forest. Our fourth lesson was on LGBTQ rights at Stonewall Inn in New York City, New York. Our fifth and final lesson was on Mount Rushmore.
Our methods class is in its last week, and our students are now preparing a final project. Next week, I move into my last two classes (seminar and practicum) for the last four weeks that I am here. For my practicum, I will be teaching at the local university (Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro). My practicum is pass/fail, so here is to hoping that I don't have to repeat anything in the United States.
I've also had Spanish classes! My last week of Spanish class is this upcoming week. Yo aprendo despacio, perro yo he aprendi una poquito español! Yo puedo comprender español cuando es escrito más que hablado. Danès fue más fácil a aprender, yo creo. I am learning slowly, but I can understand a bit of Spanish! I can understand Spanish when it is written more than spoken. Danish was much easier to learn, I think.
That's all for now!
Hasta luego!
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