Back in Mexico. I arrived yesterday and began the big job of unpacking my room. All my things were in my closet plus the bags I brought with me. My bathroom is in pretty good shape except for needing some drawers and such to help organize it. My bedroom needs a lot of work still including some more furniture to put out stuff on. :)
This morning, Adam (my roommate) and I came to the school and have been here in meetings. Tomorrow will be more of the same. Have lots of work to do so time to jump in.
Showing posts with label Mexico City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexico City. Show all posts
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
I declare March International Crochet Month
I have been busy this week (well yes at work) but also... crocheting in Mexico City. I am working hard on my Shibaguyz CAL and making some progress on the back.
I have done a few more rows since the photo, but no new pictures yet. Hope to finish it and start the front this weekend. Work has been busy, but I take a bit of time when I get home to relax and crochet. Of course, I also need to get back to my running as well. I am enjoying the project and the yarn.
In case you wondered what inspired my sudden writing of crochet, March is National Crochet Month in the US and from some of my crafty pals like Knit Purl Gurl I found out about the CAL. I of course did not let the boarder stop me from crocheting with my new friends. Then my hosts the wonderful Shibaguyz had an even better idea... let's make March International Crochet Month and of course since I have lived outside the US for over 5 years now, I am all for it.
So let's hear it: March will now be International Crochet Month!!
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| A few rows done |
I have done a few more rows since the photo, but no new pictures yet. Hope to finish it and start the front this weekend. Work has been busy, but I take a bit of time when I get home to relax and crochet. Of course, I also need to get back to my running as well. I am enjoying the project and the yarn.
In case you wondered what inspired my sudden writing of crochet, March is National Crochet Month in the US and from some of my crafty pals like Knit Purl Gurl I found out about the CAL. I of course did not let the boarder stop me from crocheting with my new friends. Then my hosts the wonderful Shibaguyz had an even better idea... let's make March International Crochet Month and of course since I have lived outside the US for over 5 years now, I am all for it.
So let's hear it: March will now be International Crochet Month!!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Do you know the way home from Santa Fe?
Tonight I ventured out to the Centro Commercial Santa Fe (a big mall) with Adam and Sarah. I was on a mission to buy yarn so I could participate in Shibaguyz Designz FAB CAL (A crochet along) being hosted on Ravelry for National Crochet Month (ok I know I don't live in the US anymore, but that's ok). After deciding on making the Wrap Front Shrug and buying the pattern (I love the whole download the pdf instantly thing.), I was so excited that I ordered yarn online only to realize it would take too long to get here so... I decided to look for some local yarn shops here in Mexico City. I found one called Crochet and one of their shops is relatively nearby in Santa Fe which used to be the city dump and is now built up. So we ventured out this evening and had success all around. I got some really pretty yarn
and Adam got shoes to wear to his brother's wedding in April. Can't wait to get this project started... well now!
and Adam got shoes to wear to his brother's wedding in April. Can't wait to get this project started... well now!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Platinum movie treatment
Since I just saw "The Kings Speech" Friday evening and it won Best Picture yesterday, I definitely need to share my cool experience.
So Adam, Barbara, Sarah and I decided to go to a theater called Cinemex (one of the 2 big local chains) and the movie was playing in the Platino part of the theater at the time we wanted. It was such a great experience. Besides the movie which I did love, the reclining leather seats and a theater with only 42 seats and a bar and lots of other amenities was really great. I have been told, that these exist in the US as well, but here we paid what I would for a normal NYC movie ticket and got the royal treatment. Beer and Cosmos were had along with our popcorn. It was nice to stretch out and have lots of room. WARNING: Danger to falling asleep during the film if you get too comfie.
Has anyone ever gone to a movie like this?
So Adam, Barbara, Sarah and I decided to go to a theater called Cinemex (one of the 2 big local chains) and the movie was playing in the Platino part of the theater at the time we wanted. It was such a great experience. Besides the movie which I did love, the reclining leather seats and a theater with only 42 seats and a bar and lots of other amenities was really great. I have been told, that these exist in the US as well, but here we paid what I would for a normal NYC movie ticket and got the royal treatment. Beer and Cosmos were had along with our popcorn. It was nice to stretch out and have lots of room. WARNING: Danger to falling asleep during the film if you get too comfie.
Has anyone ever gone to a movie like this?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Superbowl Sunday in Mexico
Yesterday was a fun afternoon spent with 4 others who stayed around for the long weekend. We were hosted at a house with a Canadian feed so we could see the game and the commercials. The afternoon/evening were filled with margaritas, Rachel Ray's Lucky 7 Layer Dip (made by me), pico made by my roommate, chips, empanadas, coleslaw, pulled pork sandwiches (I had peanut butter :) and chocolate chip cookies. Did I mention the margaritas. :) I also started my Couch to 5k running program in the morning... good work against the calories of the evening.
On the lucky side we had off today for Constitution Day. YAH!! Though closing in on the end of a grading period (Bimesters - here) and having to write exams (one at the end of each of the 5 Bimesters), I have spent the day working.
Some highlights from earlier in the week:
Work, work and more work, until... Thu and Fri out eve to celebrate birthdays. Thu we went out not too far from where I live and had tacos for dinner. Fri night went into town right after work. The menu at the place was lots of small plates. After lots of food and some drink the whole night only cost about 300 pesos each... less than $30. So cool!
On the lucky side we had off today for Constitution Day. YAH!! Though closing in on the end of a grading period (Bimesters - here) and having to write exams (one at the end of each of the 5 Bimesters), I have spent the day working.
Some highlights from earlier in the week:
Work, work and more work, until... Thu and Fri out eve to celebrate birthdays. Thu we went out not too far from where I live and had tacos for dinner. Fri night went into town right after work. The menu at the place was lots of small plates. After lots of food and some drink the whole night only cost about 300 pesos each... less than $30. So cool!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Hola a la ciudad de México!
Last Sunday (23rd Jan), I arrived in Mexico City after a pretty uneventful early morning flight. Happy to get through passport & customs without any problem as I did not know my complete new address and I had a bunch of luggage. I was picked up at the airport and driven across the city to Cualjimalpa... this place really is HUGE... to my apartment. [Sorry, no photos yet... coming soon.]
My roommate, Adam, was out watching football so I looked around. The apartment is really nice. Stats: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a quite large living room, dining area and entry hall, kitchen with gas stove and even laundry :) [This makes me happier than you can imagine.] There is also plenty of closet space as well. Outside there is a gate and guard and it is about a 2 minute walk from the school. It is a bit far from the more happening parts of the city, but you can get there with a very cheap bus (5 pesos) or a pretty cheap taxi (150-200 pesos) depending on where exactly you want to go. [In case you were wondering it is about 12 pesos to $1 right now.]
The school director Jutty came over a bit later and I went for some lunch with Jutty and another teacher and her older kids. They had gone to a concert in the afternoon. We had a nice lunch and we went to the Superama (Isn't that a cool name for a supermarket) for some food to start out. Afterwards, I came back and unpacked my bags. I met my roommate later and went to get some sleep since I needed to be at work the next morning... around 07:15. YIKES that is early.
The first day was filled with meeting new people and getting a lot of information about curriculum and my schedule and the like... all preparing me to teach on TUESDAY. And of course Tuesday is my heaviest teaching day of the week so it really was into the fire. The day went well and I met all of my students and classes. It was a long day and I expect it will be just as long tomorrow too. My classes are all good and the other teachers very friendly and nice. I am still not quite as on top of my planning as I like to be, but am trying to be patient with myself. This week is a bit better. I even managed a lab activity with one of my grade 8 classes on Thursday and am fully booked for labs this week.
My 1st weekend here was filled with fun. Another woman who lived downstairs had her father visiting so lots of stuff was planned. Friday night we had some dinner and went out to a place called Garibaldi which is a big square where lots of mariachi music groups come to play.
We stayed out late enough to need some late night food. Quesadillas and tacos... YUM!! and sooooo cheap. Got home way way way too late, but still managed to get up and meet Vanessa for lunch in town the next day.
Saturday was my day to conquer public transport here... don't think Zurich or even NYC. Buses do have routes, but no real schedules and you can often just hop on or off at any corner or crossroads. They cost 5 pesos for longer distances and 3-4 for shorter. Then there is the Metro which is 3 pesos each ride. I did manage to get on the pink line instead of the brown since they have the same end stop, but I figured it out and only managed to be 30 min late (which is considered on time in Mexico ;) We went for some lunch in a nice neighborhood called Condesa. While sitting out on the sidewalk to eat in the sunshine (Yes it is sunny and in the low 70s during the day, it does get down to the 40s at night... and there is no heat so it is kinda cold.) we had the opportunity to buy handmade soaps and honey and a myriad of other goods. We only got the 1st 2 as after lunch we were headed to an artist market at San Angel. I picked up a cool nightlight for my bathroom and some small baskets as well. After heading back to Vanessa's for a cup of tea she came with me to show me which bus to take home... no it is not the same route as the one there. Got home without any problems and feel much better about my ability to take a bus as long as I have some clue where I am going to. The city is super huge and will take a while to find my way around.
Sunday, I got up early to join Adam, Barbara (the ES principal), Emily and her dad and Tatiana for a day to the Pyramids of the Moon and Sun and the Basilica de Guadelupe. It was another day filled with walking and they are so close to the city.
To see the rest of my photos: click here. At the end of the day, it was time to do some prep work for the week and some grading. Trying to keep on top of that monster from the start.
And that is my first week here in Mexico City. If anyone wants to come by... just let me know. :)
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| I am at the blue dot! |
My roommate, Adam, was out watching football so I looked around. The apartment is really nice. Stats: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a quite large living room, dining area and entry hall, kitchen with gas stove and even laundry :) [This makes me happier than you can imagine.] There is also plenty of closet space as well. Outside there is a gate and guard and it is about a 2 minute walk from the school. It is a bit far from the more happening parts of the city, but you can get there with a very cheap bus (5 pesos) or a pretty cheap taxi (150-200 pesos) depending on where exactly you want to go. [In case you were wondering it is about 12 pesos to $1 right now.]
The school director Jutty came over a bit later and I went for some lunch with Jutty and another teacher and her older kids. They had gone to a concert in the afternoon. We had a nice lunch and we went to the Superama (Isn't that a cool name for a supermarket) for some food to start out. Afterwards, I came back and unpacked my bags. I met my roommate later and went to get some sleep since I needed to be at work the next morning... around 07:15. YIKES that is early.
The first day was filled with meeting new people and getting a lot of information about curriculum and my schedule and the like... all preparing me to teach on TUESDAY. And of course Tuesday is my heaviest teaching day of the week so it really was into the fire. The day went well and I met all of my students and classes. It was a long day and I expect it will be just as long tomorrow too. My classes are all good and the other teachers very friendly and nice. I am still not quite as on top of my planning as I like to be, but am trying to be patient with myself. This week is a bit better. I even managed a lab activity with one of my grade 8 classes on Thursday and am fully booked for labs this week.
My 1st weekend here was filled with fun. Another woman who lived downstairs had her father visiting so lots of stuff was planned. Friday night we had some dinner and went out to a place called Garibaldi which is a big square where lots of mariachi music groups come to play.
We stayed out late enough to need some late night food. Quesadillas and tacos... YUM!! and sooooo cheap. Got home way way way too late, but still managed to get up and meet Vanessa for lunch in town the next day.
Saturday was my day to conquer public transport here... don't think Zurich or even NYC. Buses do have routes, but no real schedules and you can often just hop on or off at any corner or crossroads. They cost 5 pesos for longer distances and 3-4 for shorter. Then there is the Metro which is 3 pesos each ride. I did manage to get on the pink line instead of the brown since they have the same end stop, but I figured it out and only managed to be 30 min late (which is considered on time in Mexico ;) We went for some lunch in a nice neighborhood called Condesa. While sitting out on the sidewalk to eat in the sunshine (Yes it is sunny and in the low 70s during the day, it does get down to the 40s at night... and there is no heat so it is kinda cold.) we had the opportunity to buy handmade soaps and honey and a myriad of other goods. We only got the 1st 2 as after lunch we were headed to an artist market at San Angel. I picked up a cool nightlight for my bathroom and some small baskets as well. After heading back to Vanessa's for a cup of tea she came with me to show me which bus to take home... no it is not the same route as the one there. Got home without any problems and feel much better about my ability to take a bus as long as I have some clue where I am going to. The city is super huge and will take a while to find my way around.
Sunday, I got up early to join Adam, Barbara (the ES principal), Emily and her dad and Tatiana for a day to the Pyramids of the Moon and Sun and the Basilica de Guadelupe. It was another day filled with walking and they are so close to the city.
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| Pyramid of the Sun (about 65m high) |
And that is my first week here in Mexico City. If anyone wants to come by... just let me know. :)
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