Harsh February, Fun March

Here I am, closing in on 7 months in Mexico, leaving only 3. February was probably one of the most difficult months I’ve been through until now, I’ll explain why later. As I said in the last post, the faire of Tonatico was coming; well it came and went. It was quite a big deal, bigger than the 27th of September. The cars couldn’t get through town because all the streets were full of shops. Not to mention people, just walking down the main street which usually takes 5 minutes took half an hour. People come from everywhere to buy, see the Virgin of Tonatico, and to just see the craziness of it all. Personally, I really liked the faire, all the small shops, the games and carousels, the artist Joan Sebastian coming and whatever more there is to mention. Also, some cousins of my sisters came. They are from the U.S. and speak English fluently which was fun as I’ve only met like 5 persons in all that do so. They were very nice, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone get drunk so fast. The garbage was everywhere, but that’s not a problem after having gone to Roskilde.

Streetlife during the faire of Tonatico

During the faire some AFS students came, we went to the caves of Tonatico again, the water being as cold as ever to dive into, and feeling the sun warm you as you get out on the other side being as close to heaven as you can get without being atheist, did some presentations about our countries and in the end went to Taxco (memo to myself: check spelling there) which is a very nice town, piling down the side of a mountain, full of silver shops, you’ll be blinded upon entering half the shops there. I got to know another guy from New Zealand during the few days they were here, named Luca. And I’ll see you on the Ruta Maya soon too right? That’ll be sweet.

Silver from Taxco. Pretty, isn't it?

So anyway, the faire came to an end and life went back to the usual, school starting again, exams this week actually. Now I’m capable of paying attention in class, which I do, whenever I feel like it. I started doing “servicio social” which is a part of the school I go to. It’s basically just doing work that applies to whatever you’re studying, as my class does the geeky programming I’m working in the “INCA” which is short for “National Institution of Applied Computation”. What I do most of the time, however, doesn’t have too much to do with computers; I help teaching English. In fact, today I was in class with 6 women and an older man speaking only English, and not letting them talk Spanish to me. It wasn't too bad, and there was free pie.

My ID from the "INCA"

Last weekend I went to see my friend Runar in Mexico City. I didn’t get the same language shock upon speaking to him that I got when I met him on the trip to Zacatecas, actually, our Norwegian went pretty fluently, although now and then we had to fill in with English or Spanish when there was some words we didn’t remember. Coming back to Norway there will definitely go some weeks before I’m back to normal. Runar’s family is very nice; he has an adorable little sister that turns into a drooling monster when things don’t turn out too well perfectly (most of the time she is very cute tough), a brother his age and a little brother who is, well, he’s the little brother. I didn’t get to know the parents too well, but they seem very nice, according to Runar, his mom shouts a lot in the morning.

Friday the 9th we went to Six Flags. I’ve never been to one so I was pretty excited. We went by sub-rail, which was actually a little disappointing as I thought it was supposed to be somewhat dangerous, or at least look dangerous. It took about one hour to get from the north to the south, and we were all packed into the sub-rail wagon as sardines. If you ever go to Six Flags Mexico, promise me you’ll take the rollercoaster “Superman”. Twice. All the other ones are cool and all, but Superman is something for itself.

The following Saturday was what it was all about anyway. We were going to see Red Hot Chili Peppers! The concert started at 6, but we thought it started at 8 so we were out of the house at 5. It was raining and I was a little nervous about getting my camera in. The last didn’t turn out to be a problem though, and I have the expandability of Björn Borg boxers to thank for that. The concert was to be at a baseball stadium that is currently just used for concerts and car races. I don’t know how they do that last one though. The problem with stadiums is that they have seats, and I was starting to get nervous as Runar’s brother said it was too bad they would be wet because of the rain. Wait a second; this is a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, why would we want to sit? Apparently the tickets were for general admittance which is what I thought; we would be sitting on the side, watching from afar at the small dots moving around on stage, or of course at the big screens, but then again you go to a concert to see the group right? So we kept waiting for them to start playing another 3 hours, and then finally at about nine-thirty they came on; immediately all displeasure goes away and we had a kick-ass time. To all my friends that are seeing them with me this summer, you have something to look forwards too!

So I said I would explain why February was difficult, well, yesterday it sort of came up again. Anyway, I’ll tell you about February first. This month, I had a lot of vacation, staying a lot in your house gives people time to get on your nerves, which is part of it. As I’ve said earlier my brother is a difficult character, which in time also can turn into quite an asshole if he wants to. Everything was going splendidly with my family until one day I followed him to the store. He gave me some cash and asked if could go get some milk while he went for some other stuff. I went happily off. Got the milk and cached up to him on the way back. Upon seeing me he asked “So, what did you get me?”. Not used to getting something for someone that hasn’t asked for it being the obvious thing to do I took it as a joke and laughed at it. Turned out he was dead serious, and not getting him anything was one of the rudest things I could have done. He started ranting about me being a greedy person who never did anything for the family and only thought of myself. I let it go, but about an hour later I asked for some money I had lent him a week or so back. I got fired up again and went for the cash, thrust it into my hand and stormed off. Later we talked, him going on about my selfishness and I trying to keep a safe stance to have him calm down. Eventually I got sick of him and gave him some examples of things I’ve given him and his family; never mentioning a thing when I lend him my cell phone, and some money I let my dad have after a little deal we made. This I understood in the one way he could; I wanted this money back. I stormed down the stairs and into the kitchen to tell my entire family that I was expected the money they owed me. I lay back in my bed with one thought in my head; I’m screwed. Later my dad Juan wanted to speak with me; from that day off his money was his money and my money was mine, I had to buy my toothpaste and other personal products; he wanted me to make a list of everything I owed them and everything they owed me. I never did it and it hasn’t been mentioned since.

A friend of mine, a guy actually, participating in the Carnaval of Tonatico

Yesterday however my dad came into my room furious. He asked me why I hadn’t washed my dishes after dinner. I remembered well leaving it there after seeing four other dirty dishes in the sink and thinking “if they don’t wash their dishes, why should I have to, I’m supposed to be a part of this family just like them right?”. It turned out this wasn’t Juan’s opinion as well. He gave me the bizarre explanation that we aren’t all the same; just because my sister is sick right now doesn’t mean I have to be. Wait, you’re comparing someone being sick and someone not to someone having to wash their dishes and others not? The dish in the sink was meant as a sign from me saying I’m the same as Erika and Manuel. And it’s just a stupid plate! Anyway, there was also me not having taken in the dry clothes. This was my fault, I don’t deny it at all, but according to him it was so bad that this was my last chance. One more slip-up and I’m out of the family. Basically I’m just waiting for that day to come; I’m human, I’m bound to do something wrong sooner or later. But I talked to my AFS contact person and her husband today and they are on my side not to mention very nice people. They said if Juan starts being rude to me they’ll let me stay with them for the last 3 months. Thing is, I don’t want to leave Lolita, Erika and Manuel. Sure, Manuel is difficult but he’s probably my second favourite person in my family anyway. It’s currently just Juan that makes staying with them difficult…

This Monday we are going on a big two week long trip called the “Ruta Maya”. Among the interesting places we’ll be visiting you’ll find Oaxaca, Teotihuacan(again), Vera Cruz and Cancún. The last one considered the ultimate spring breaking location of Mexico (closely tied with Tijuana). Don’t worry mom, I’d never take advantage of an open bar. Tomorrow morning I’m going, and I’ll stay with Runar until Monday morning, then we’re off. I am very excited about this, the trip last for a whole two weeks, and I will be seeing lots of cool friends from all over the world, well, Europe mostly. My suitcase is all ready.

So it took me two months to update my blog this time, I’m not seeing myself getting better at this at all. Last I’ll do a special-request paragraph about going to Catholic Church, which should be started by saying I probably won’t be going to it anymore with my family. Apparently they (meaning what Manuel has been hinting towards) think its better that I don’t go since I’m not Catholic. I don’t cross myself which is a little embarrassing to them and I’m not saying any of the prayers. Honestly, I don’t mind, but I think its too bad that they never understood me going to church with them of my own will was because I wanted to do something with them that the entire family does together. Keep less distance between us. Anyway, my family is VERY catholic, Manuel being without doubt the most visually Catholic of them crossing his chest at lest once per hour. He prays three times before going to bed and in the morning before going to school. Because of this the family goes about once in twice at six-thirty in the morning. The twist is that they do it to have more time in the afternoon, as the nine o’clock mass is in part for children so the father takes himself more time to explain his preach. Things I like about the church is it’s beauty. About mass is that everyone at the end shakes hands. It’s symbolic and means that you are passing on the peace of the lord to your Catholic brothers but whatever it means it’s a nice way to end things. Afterwards my mom and dad usually hang around in the church yard a moment getting in on what’s up in their religious social circles. After having gone to church almost every Sunday for so long time in mass starts to just float by, without you paying much attention, which is one of the reasons I think my family thinks its better if I don’t go. You’re supposed to go to church to listen. I’m a bad Catholic.

The church of Tonatico

That’s it for now, have to go back to my house and wait for some hours, then sleep, then wake up, then go to Mexico City, the third largest city in the world. Keep your eyes peeled for the next post; David’s amazing spring breaking adventures!