The past few weeks I have experienced a sharp contrast in lifestyle living here in the "rancho" of Santa Rosa! Hannah and I live in the most rural community out of anyone in our BYU group, and we have been learning a lot about the survival, values, and other cultural aspects of the lives of the interesting and friendly people here! The days and weeks are long and hard in some ways. It's a challenge for me living without running water and being surrounded by mosquitos and other bugs that bite and being in the heat without air conditioning, as well as adapting to the different personalities and customs of the people here and trying to think and communicate in Spanish all of the time! But I am so grateful for all of the valuable things this experience has already taught me!
The principal and teachers have put us to work teaching up to five hours of English classes in the "secundaria" and "preparatoria" (middle/ high school age) students in the public school up the street! It has been challenge figuring out how to plan and teach effectively to meet their needs in the language, but we love interacting with the cute students there, as well as the teachers who have welcomed us in like family.
After teaching in the schools, Hannah and I roam the community greeting people, eating some type of food always with tortillas with our family, and teaching several literacy/ high school level studies to women in the community. We currently have 6 students who we teach individually at their homes. They are studying at varying levels, from learning to write her own name to learning algebra working toward a certificate the equivalent of a GED in U.S. I have been learning to appreciate more the value of education and the special privileges I have had in my own life!
We can't get enough of these adorable kids in Santa Rosa! They are always doing funny things and like to follow us around to our teaching appointments and wherever we go. My family donated a bunch of coloring books, frisbees, nail polish, and other goodies that they don't have so much around here! They just have the best time whenever we bring out something fun to share with them.
This place is beautiful!
Hannah and I have been learning a lot about how to work the public transportation systems in Mexico! Any time we leave the rancho, it's buses and taxis and buses and taxis!
We have to catch a specific bus that stops on this street outside the bus station to get back to our little rancho on Sundays after church! Here I am waiting with all of our stuff after we moved out of the house we were renting for the weekends in Guanajuato and had to take it all back to the rancho!
Sunny, sunny days! We finally took everyone's advice to buy "gorros" (hats) to protect ourselves from the sun! Plus, it's a fashion statement, right?
A lady we are teaching invited us to her grandson's 2nd birthday party, complete with pozole (a yummy corn/ chicken soup), a piñata, and friends and family, and tres leches cake!
This mama pig had 7 babies while we were gone over the weekend! They are so cute!
