Sunday, June 22, 2008

Someplace Warm This Time

I decided more travelling was in order this summer. I signed up for the Mexico program with ILP, so once again I am abroad and helping teach kids English. This time I am a head teacher, there are only four girls in my group, and it is really warm all the time. I am still the only guy, and I'm still having a great time.
Our school is in a little city called Tehuacan in the state of Puebla. It is a quaint, conservative little place, but still has most of the modern conveniences you could ask for. The people are very friendly when you know them. Strangers seem to be a little scared by me, most likely because I am white and a foot taller than anyone else. I love how decent the people here are. Despite the heat, the women dress much more modestly than those of Ukraine and Russia. Families are very important her, and include aunts, uncles, cousins, and even the white teachers. I have been able to attend parties with a few different families, and all the members are very close. The people here are also incredibly generous. If you tell them that you like something they have or are wearing, they might just give it to you without a second thought.
The food here is delicious. I was especting things to be too spicy for me, like the food some of my friends back home eat to show off, and that induces vomiting to any average person. It turns out that I can handle a lot more spice than most Mexicans, though. I get warnings all the time that things are hot, but I don't feel it much. I haven't run into anything that was distastefully spicy. The best part is that it's really cheap.
I've been able to do some travelling already, but I think I'll write about that in a different post.