Vamos a jugar por la playa!

I finally went to the beach!... For the second time! Hahaha.

We didn't go until the evening though. About 6pm. So we got just a little bit of sun, but the water was fantastic. So warm. I swam a lot. Disan and I. Emmanuel just a little bit. Dulce didn't swim at all, and little Pilar swam a bit. Disan and I had so much fun just diving into waves. You know how that goes... It was strange though. There was nothing but men swimming. All the ladies were just on the beach or were closer in. Out where the bigger waves were it was just me, Disan, and men! So strange. Disan and I had some good laughs because we'd both have our asses handed to us by the same waves. We were fine for the most part, but every now and then a big wave would come and just knock us around and we'd bang into each other under water and we'd come up for air cracking up. All the guys around us would crack up too whenever it would happen to us. It felt good to laugh really really hard like that. You know the ones. The big I'm-not-holding-back-a-thing sort of laughs. :)


Gosh the men here are ruthless though. Disan and I used the restroom in the restaurant there on the beach, and good lord. All the waiters... yelling at me. Not gross or exceptionally rude things. But you know. "What's your name. What languages do you speak? I love you" (but in spanish, of course)... ridiculous things like that. I just walked as fast as I could and didn't let go of Disan... not that a skinny little gay 14 year old boy could really keep older men from yelling at me, but whatever. Stupid Disan thought it was funny. I really really don't like that though. Latin American men don't treat their own women that way... to an extent, but they very obviously treat foreigners different. I'm so tempted to use some of my bad words on people, but I'm scared of saying something wrong and just looking stupid and inviting more attention. So I just stay quiet and don't look at anyone.

But anyways. Besides annoying men yelling at me and the one guy who invited to me go to Cabo with him, I had a great time. :)

Guy who knew Dulce, Pilar, Emmanuel, Dulce, yo, y Disan

Llena de ballena

Hello dears.

Let's see.... what's happened since I got back from La Paz... lots of reading. Sitting around. We visited two older men the other day. Pierre and Franco. I liked Pierre's house best. It was filled with books and art from around the world. He's lived and worked all over. Born in Morocco. Very nice house. He had guayaba trees... Cool man. Franco, I didn't pay much attention to. I was tired and just wanted to go home. But he's Italian. And his house was much more empty than Pierre's.

Last night I went to Emmanuel's house and had a blast. It was me, him, Enzo (son of Walter y Carolina), Sammy (Emmanuel's younger brother), some guy named Sergio, and some other guy who's name I never caught. And Disan. I love Disan. I was the only female and got quite of bit of attention. It was fun I suppose. But maaan, did we daaaance. It was really funny because Enzo went over to the house earlier yesterday and me, him, and my nana were talking and he said he usually only dances out of necesity.. aka when his girlfriend makes him. But he sure seemed to enjoy dancing last night! Hahaha. It was a blast. I absolutely exhausted myself. They sort of went in turns dancing. It was usually me and Disan, plus one or two other random guy dancing. But I must have danced for hours straight. My thighs are killing me today. Man, oh man...

Earlier today me, nana, and Tono went to Oxxo, the corner store, to sit in airconditioning for a while. Hahaha. It's so hot here, I'm almost used to just constantly having sweat dripping all over. It's so gross... anyways. We went and they ate icecream and I had yogurt. Then we drove around Pescadero (the gringo part of town. Near the beach) and looked at homes and there was a cool donkey who started running along with the van, so we stopped and I pet him and took a photo of his cute face. After that we came home, and Emmanuel happened to be walking by towards the ice cream place. So I went with him and we got frappes, or something like that. Afterwards we walked to Dulce (his cousin's) house just up the street and hung out there for a while listening to music and playing with one of Dulce's pelucas. Hahaha...

And now I'm chilling here in the trailer! Chao, chao, lovas.

They thought I looked like a sexy teacher... Hahaha!

Little Disan looking good.

Viva! Viva! Viva!

Oh hai there.

I've been M.I.A. for the past nearly week because I've been in La Paz with Anahi.

But before that, last Saturday was really fun in La Paz shopping with Emanuel, Dulce, Disan, and the little girl who I think was named Pilar. Emanuel is a sweetheart and doesn't allow me to pay for anything when I'm with him. I feel bad so I let him buy me lunch but I refused all the sweets and icecream that was offered and eaten by everyone later... gotta keep the figure trim. Hah! So anyways, we had some great laughs while his cousin Dulce was trying on PINCHE PELUCAS... WIGS. And she bought one! This girl is 18 yrs old. And she wears these pretty hideous wigs. It's quite comical. But Emanuel and I were attempting to be supportive but really we just kept laughing. But Dulce was a good sport. I think she's used to being laughed at. Tono saw her later that night and he burst out laughing at her too. Poor girl. But she likes it, so it's all good.

Sunday was spent lounging around. Monday was spent lounging around. And then Tuesday morning Nana and Tono drove me to La Paz. That night was the grito, which we were going to go to, but Anahi is quite the diva and takes forever to get ready. Haha. So Jose Luis, Lupita and I watched it on TV instead. But we still went to the plaza afterwards with her novio, Diego, friend Nidia, and Amao (first name Sergio, but his last name is badass). We commenced the intake of Tecate Lite and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. After the supply ran dry we went to the store to pick up some more then we cruised around the Malecon for quite a while. Back and forth, listening to Banda, Reggaeton, and pop. Quite fun. My courage was high and I was talking up a storm, translating songs and random phrases for a wonderfully drunk Nidia such as, "I hate you", and "You are the love of my life". And "Prostitute" (there were many) and "slut" and other such palabras malas. It was really great fun.

After cruising the malecon for a while, we went into some neighborhood and waited outside of a big house where a party was going on, and I had no idea what the heck we were doing at the time, but that didn't matter too much. Eventually I realized we were waiting for another friend, an incredibly large man for being only 16 years young. Blue eyes, very light skinned banda musician and singer. Humberto. Cool guy. Once we picked him up, we went and got hot dogs, or as they pronounce them here in Baja, "Jotes". Pretty yummy. Salchicha, tocino, crema, catsup... Mmm. Mmm. Nidia was hilarious, she somehow managed to get crema all over her face, even her forehead. Funny girl...

(Side note. One thing I really like about Mexico is that a wider range of age groups hang out together. I think it's a good thing. There's some obvious reasons why it's not so common in the states (21 drinking age and the risk of jail if you're charged with supplying a minor. silly...) that don't effect Mexico. Like most of the rest of the world, the drinking age here is 18, but it's not too seriously enforced in many places. Some yes. And who knows what the smoking age is. I don't know if there is one, but if there is surely no one follows it. And you know, I think that's ok. I don't think there's more drunks or smokers in Mexico than there are anywhere else, but hey at least here you have a wider friend potential range. Yeah!)

The next morning, bright and early at noon, we, all the same group plus Nidia's brother who's name I never caught, went to the beach! We went to one just right outside La Paz.. Corumel? Algo asi. We packed some ceviche, tostadas, trusty Tecate Lite, condiments, a gallon of water and we were good. We mostly sat around. It was incredibly hot and laying out in the sun would have been suicide, so we were all huddled under a big tent thing that Humberto brought. I went out and swam twice, and man was the water nice. So warm. Perfect. Except for the little animalitos in the water who bit. But they just itched for a while after you got out and then it was fine. No biggie. Oh! Nidia also took her baby who I regret to inform you I did not take pictures of. But oh god, this baby was GORGEOUS. Probably the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. Nidia, is very very beautiful. Light skin, hazelish eyes, black hair, very nice features. Beautiful. But her daughter was just gorgeous. Very white, blueish eyes, black hair, just beautiful... so anyhoo. The beach was nice. But draining. We didn't do anything that evening...

Thursday! I went to University with Anahi and her cousin Abram. Anahi had class with boring numbers so I didn't go to that with her, I went with Abram to a meeting he had with a Tourism/Administration group that he belonged to who was working on puting on a big event. I think everyone got a kick that in their little random meeting there was some American girl just sitting there staring at them all. Hah. I understood majority of what they were saying with the exception of certain words that I'm sure were specific to their fields and not so much everyday speech. Anyhoo. That wasn't the exciting part of my day. What was exciting about Thursday, was LADIES NIGHT! And a good one too. Free entry, and free drinks until midnight. Right at the stroke up midnight when I happened to finish my drink a new one appeared before me from the bartender who'd been tending to opposite side of the bar. He said was it was curtesy of the gentleman over there... This, folks, was my first time being bought a drink by a stranger. It was very exciting. I guess it was maybe my first opportunity though, as well. I never go to bars, let alone with a group of women like it was that night. But either way, my first drink bought for me by a stranger! The stranger of course disapeared and we never talked. Not that I would have talked to him anyways, he looked old. But anyhow, after I finished my free drink, the ladies and I started dancing. And as you guys may have noticed by now, I love to dance. I danced my heart out all by my lonesome. It was really fun. I don't like dancing with strangers much, because I'm too nice and once I start dancing with someone even if I'm not enjoying it or want to dance with someone else or alone, I have a hard time getting away. Hahaha. So I prefer to dance with friends for the most part, or known good dance partners, of course. I don't turn those down.

After ladies night I did a whole lot of sleeping, eating, and more sleeping. We cruised around the Malecon just listening to music and talking on Friday, and last night, Saturday, we went to Eric's house to watch Fast & Furious, which I really liked a lot. Hahaha. Great fun. It made me miss my neighbor from El Paso. Hahaha. He has a really pretty muscle car. So jes..

But now I'm home. And I'm tired. Bai.

View towards the beach we went to.

Ceviche

Anahi, Diego, Ana, Eric, Yo, y Nana.

Anahi was cracking up.

Baila Morena, Baila Morena

Boy oh boy. Did I dance last night. I held off as long as humanely possible for fear of appearing to be a crazy drunk (crunk!) gringa. A couple ballenas later and that didn't matter, everyone was dancing with me! Last night was my first night out, and I needed it. I hadn't really left the house since I got here. I'd just been reading, sleeping, chatting, eating, and sleeping some more. We were supposed to go the the Sandbar last night, but turns out the reggae band wasn't there, and Emmanuel's cousin, Dulce (who has the car), got out of work really late anyways. So we just hung out at Emmanuel's house in his room watching music videos and just chilling. "We" was really just me, Emmanuel, his 14 year old friend Disan (who is AWESOME), and for a little bit the cousin Dulce and his dad and step mom sat in somewhat awkwardly for some beer and cigarettes. I loved the kid Disan, he was a fantastic dancer and had the moves for Loba memorized as well as a few other music videos. Very impressive. I'm actually really sad because Emmanuel is throwing a huge halloween party, but I'm going to be in Portland for halloween... I'm almost tempted to change my flight to a week earlier so I can go to Emmanuel's party. Because I have a feeling it will be crazier than anything my friends would put on in Portland. As much as I love my friends, Mexicans just know how to party. It's the truth, my dears. It's the truth.

As for today, I'm going to hang out with Emmanuel again, we're going to La Paz with his cousin because she wants to go shopping. Emmanuel and I are just going to tag along. Excuse to get out. I'm going to La Paz again next week for Mexican independence day and I'm going to stay with Anahi. I'm excited.

For those of you who may have not seen the Loba video. Please watch. It's incredible.

Are you there God? It's me. Venadita Chiquitita.

Hola a todos. I am in Pescadero and very happy to be here. It's so funny, Baja is so comforting and familiar to me, and yet when I'm around anyone other than my nana or Tono I suddenly remember that... I'm not exactly a local. Hahaha. So far we've been speaking what I guess could be called spanglish together. Nana and Tono forget now and then to speak to me in spanish, but we're all getting the hang of it. Twenty one years of speaking only english with my grandparents is a hard habit to break. I try to say everything in spanish with just english words here and there, or if it's something really important or complicated then I'll say it in english. I just talked brieflly to Lupita on skype, and last night I said a quick hello to Anahi. I haven't seen anyone yet, but I will soon because they're coming to visit. For those who don't know, Lupita and Jose Luis are some of my nana's closest and oldest friends and Anahi is their daughter who is my age. Lupita and Jose Luis live on their ranch near La Paz and Anahi lives and goes to school in the city. We are living in Walter and Carolina's house in Pescadero, which is very close to my family's property on the beach and we have a view of Los Cerritos (huge surf spot) and another beach closer to Todos Santos from here. It's so beautiful and I'm in love with the house. Walter and Carolina are currently living in Italy to spend time with Walter's parents who are in their last years. Their oldest son, Enzo, is still here in Baja, also living and going to school in La Paz. Oh! I'm living in the trailer though. Hahaha. The house is two rooms and a bathroom. The big room is the living room/kitchen/dining room/computer room, everything plus a random twin size bed. The other room is the bedroom with the bathroom attached. I wanted a bit more privacy than living in the house could offer so I decided I'd stay in the trailer which is just outside. I think it'll work out just fine.
I'm so lucky to be able to be doing this, I love it. And god my nana is amazing. How many people went through only 8th grade and read stuff like Tolstoy just for fun? She's awesome. I found an english copy of Madame Bovary, so I think I'll read that at some point while I'm here. I also borrowed two books from Rosy, one of which I've already started and am enjoying. It's about a Dominican guy. Very funny... I just read an email from my aunt Rosy saying I left my bikini in San Diego. Damn. But an American guy lives across from us and he owns a surf shop and he just came over and said he has a ton of bikinis laying around and that I can go over later to check it out. We shall see... my nana is paranoid about me surfing, and I have a feeling she won't be ok with me walking to the beach by myself. A bit of a drag, but we'll see what I can come up with... My nana also keeps asking me about my work, and when I'm going to get to work. A little too soon for me to think of that. I need at least a week of lounging and being pampered by Nana before I get down and dirty with the anthropological stuff. Hahaha. We're going to the library in just a bit though, to see Emmanuel (Ay!) so I'll probably peek around for local anthropology books in english or spanish just for some preliminary research or something I guess. Who knows.
Oh, for those who don't know, a big reason I came down here (besides spending time with my nana in a gorgeous place that I love and to continue with my spanish...) is to interview my nana on her life and our family. My Nana is such an interesting person that I feel like her story would be interesting to not only me and my family but to others, and that I may be able to turn my work here into my thesis. God willing. But I have a good back-up thesis already in the works as well.

Chao, amores.

The Costco in Cabo must have the most beautiful view of all the Costco's in the world.



Tono (g-pa) on the backporch



View two of backporch.



La Nana in the living room. Chateando. Jajaj.



La Cocina



Living room



View from the front...



And two views from the back. First is towards Los Cerritos and the second more towards Todos Santos.





My little trailer!

Hello there, it's been a while.

So my blog writing fizzled away in my last weekish traveling. Sorry about that. Here is a link to all my facebook fotos of my time in Ecuador and central america. My sister doesn't allow her fotos to be linked to, so I went through and picked some highlights to post here...

With my friend Ivan near Guatemala City, hiking volcan Pacaya

Wooohoo!

Lake Atitlan in Guatemala


We conquered it.

Enjoying the local poison in Panajachel, Guatemala on the lake.

Mhm.


Playing in the waterfalls called Los Siete Altares


Erica and I had a "sexy" foto shoot in the waterfalls, but it was mostly just us laying around and laughing.




And then some darn other tourists had to go and ruin our fun... I was waving hello at them, extremely embarassed.


In Costa Rica on playa Hermosa near Jaco. There was a world surfing competition going on.


With the pop.


Yay!

And now! I am in my beautiful hometown of San Diego with my aunt Rosie and family. I went the past weekdays with my sister in LA. Her new home is really nice and she's very excited to be back at school. I am leaving for Baja this monday morning. I'm very excited/nervous, but mostly excited. Baja just went through a minor hurricane, but I was worried that my flight could be cancelled because of damage to the airport. Luckily that didn't happen and everything is fine. Yesterday I went surfing with my cousin Manci for the first time in my life and I was able to stand up not once, not twice, but three times in our short little session. I was pretty pleased with myself. I'm going out again today, and last night I talked to my veteran surfer uncle and he's certain I can get the hookup on a surf board for while I'm in Baja from some old friends of his. Very exciting!

Here are two quick fotos of my time here in SD thus far, and I'm off to the market place!

Lily and I playing in the front yard. I liked my boat with the cow on it.

Beautiful Manci and I heading out. She's a good teacher and we had a lot of fun together. :)