soy una jalepena?

First things first, I'm feel rather uneasy about this whole blogging process, but after some thought I've decided it's the best way to let people who care know a little about what is going on in my life here in Mexico, so here it is, feel free to visit at your leisure... :)

I'm in Xalapa, Mexico, in the state of Veracruz, close-ish to the gulf coast, about a two hour bus ride. I got in on sunday night, after a full day of traveling, which was rather uneventful. What kept me one my toes was that I have been dealing with a severly sore throat and some very swollen tonsils/glands. For a while I was pretty sure the changes in pressure during the flights were going to cause the swollen gland protruding from my neck to explode...it didn't...so yay? I'm feeling better today than I have for a while, which is good.

Family life here is pretty good. I was a bit worried after I had recieved an email about my supposed host mom, describing her as a 70 year old who was gentle, careful (?!), and active...anyway, there were some changes made and I'm living with a mom, dad, 18 yr old twin daughters, and a 22 yr old son who I haven't met yet. Also, I live with my friend from school, Elena; the program through La Crosse places people in pairs in the homestays. It is interesting because this family has been taking in students, year round, for about 15 years. On one hand it is nice, they know excactly what is up and can explain things really well. At the same time I find it a bit disheartening to realize that I'm just part of the routine for them. I guess I keep thinking about my time in Chile and how I was really a part of my family there, like realllllly. We'll see though, I don't want to judge the situation too soon.

Yesterday was orientation day, and today we started class. First, I need to mention that I feel no more oriented after the hour long session the other day, things are a bit messy. The classes I was intending on taking don't really work cuz they overlap times left and right. Really the school isn't offering THAT many classes, it seems it could be a very avoidable situtation if they had concrete time slots...as it is I'm still trying to figure what I'll be taking for sure. Today I guessed and went to two classes. One is literature and I'm really looking forward to it. The professora is really open, she wants us to learn to read and really understand and feel what the authors are trying to convey....game on, that is my kind of class.

Something I'm looking forward to is that with the program we get a cultural aide, basically someone from the University that we get to meet with and chat with who can let us know what is up in Xalapa. I met with mine, Ana, yesterday and she is really nice and we are planning on going to some waterfalls outside the city this weekend. Kind of a cool idea for the program, right? My host mom mentioned that with past students boy/girl pairs have been known to fall in love...haha. Elena's is a guy...we shall see...

ok this is long, but one more thing that I found funny--- at the airport in Mexico City I went to the bathroom and noticed it was being cleaned by some little lady. As I waited in line I read a sign that mentioned that the bathroom was to be CONTINUALLY cleaned....and sure enough it was. The little lady moped up where you walked, wiped the sinks, and divvied out paper towels...and never left. really Mexico? does that make sense, at all??