Monday, March 27th, 2023
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
Tuesday was another great teaching day, and to make it better, Tania, our new lunch lady, gave us Ice Cream! It was delicious. Tania is one of my favorite people that I have met in Mexico, and I am so grateful to know her. My kids did awesome in class, and they earned loads of tickets. We played a ABC game, in which they had to form each letter of the alphabet with playdough. Each letter they made earned them a ticket. They loved the activity, and I had a blast handing out so many tickets!
That afternoon, I had a long call with my girls. Nothing makes me happier than talking to them. I got told an abundance of chicken butt jokes, filled in on school drama, and gave lot's of advice. It made my heart so, so happy. That night, Kayla, Allie and I decided to drag our yoga matts and blankets to the roof, and sleep under the stars. I felt 12 years old with the ghost stories, giggles and plans we discussed. The weather was lovely, and the stars were bright. It was a perfect night. Honestly, it was one of the best sleeps that I have had in Mexico.
Wednesday, March 29th, 2023
Wednesday marked the first day of my last month in Mexico! That is absolutely wild to think about. One more month and I will be back in St George. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this. I miss home, theater, my red rocks, driving, being alone, and my family and friends. Mexico has been a lifechanging experience, and has grown me in so many ways, but there has also been a lot of stress and adjusting within the past few months. Part of me is relieved and overjoyed to be going home so soon, but I know I will miss Mexico. When I look at my kids and think that I likely will never see them again after this next month, I get incredibly sad. I'll miss Sergio and Lulu, my roommates, my rooftop Ukulele sessions, the food, the people and the beautiful culture. It is really bittersweet, but ultimately, I feel gratitude when I think of it. Every moment has helped to shape me and help me grow. Ah! No more of that. I still have a month. I'll write the complications of my feelings then.
On Wednesday, I woke to beautiful blue skies, and started journalling right away. After that, I did a yoga session on the roof, then put away our supplies from the night before. Classes were a bit more wild on these days. I had a big fight breakout in one class, then drama that followed all the others. There was plenty of prayers said for those involved in the fight, lots of gasping as the kids relayed what happened, and all the kids crossed themselves multiple times. It was pretty funny, but made it really hard to get the kids attention directed to the class itself. To make up for the high emotions of the day, Grecia and I danced in the courtyard after class. It made me feel much better. At home, we had a quick meeting, then I danced, worked out, ate dinner, made sick Alli's request for biscuits and gravy, played uke, sketched and did dishes. I was in a bit of a funk after school, but I still got done the things I wanted to get done. My barre class was really fun and really challenging. It was a swan lake inspired barre, and it really tested my balance and coordination. It also rained as I was working out on the roof, and that lifted my mood quite a bit. I ended my day really peacefully with some poetry and thinking about my novel, 'Willow'.
Thursday, March 30th, 2023
I woke up with the beginnings of a cold, but I refused to let it get me down. At school, we had a blast. I painted with my preschoolers, and their delight was worth all the messes made. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, knowing that spring break would be starting soon. In my afternoon classes, Aldo made me a mask, and we all just had a fun day. I love talking to the kids. Even with their limited English, they tell the funniest stories, and ask really intriguing questions. Genuinely, they're just the best.
Friday, March 31st, 2023
I woke up just 20 minutes before school, and it was plainly obvious that my cold wasn't going anywhere. I threw on a dress, then was off to school. The kids didn't have any of their regular classes that day, so only about 12 showed up. We decided to team teach, and we had a blast. I became the gossip of the day when I started to show the girls in my class pictures of various shows I have been in. As we scrolled, A picture from Cinderella popped up, and it was me kissing prince charming. I suddenly became VERY interesting to all of them. They demanded to know how many boys I have kissed, and they wanted to look at more pictures from shows immediately. It made me laugh and laugh. They were both fascinated, giddy and slightly repulsed. They were amazed at my number of kisses, and they then went around asking all the teachers for their kiss count. The news spread to the other classes like wildfire, and that seemed to be all the kids talked about. They even tried to marry Josh and Alli together, though they didn't have water to sprinkle over the newly weds, so Emelia opted for lyesol spray instead. She sprayed it all over them to complete the marriage...Alli and Josh weren't too amused with this development, but I thought it hysterical.
Back at home, my energy felt zapped. I read and wrote the afternoon away, but I felt immense relief to know that I had the next 9 days off. That night, Mica's whole family came into town, and we hosted them for dinner. We ate tamales and got to know them. We tried to help Lulu clear the table, but she finally spoke the first words of English to us that she's ever uttered in our presence. She looked Allie in the eye, and said very clearly, 'Sit down". I am guessing that will be the only English we'll get out of her, but it made us laugh. Lulu is a born hostess, and takes great pride in that role. It is really fun to watch her thrive there. Everyone but us girls went up to the roof, and we sneakily did all the dishes before Lulu could come down. Patti and her family then showed up, and I offered Patti my banana bars. After eating a bite, she said to me, "Teacher Ivie, you are ready to get married. You can cook!". I think I'll gatekeep my cooking and stay single, but it was a lovely compliment, and it made me laugh. Patti is a party, and we chatted with her for a long while. Sergio finally called us to the roof to perform our famed Wednesday dance, so we did. We then had a dance party! We got Sergio and Lulu to perform, Mica's youngest sister danced to "I am your Mother" TWICE with some of the sassiest moves I have ever seen, and we all joined together to do the cotton eyed joe. After dancing, he left with his family, and left us four girls to the house for nine days! WAHOO! Let the party begin! We hooked a laptop to the rooftop tv, and did karaoke late into the night. Sergio even joined us! It was a blast, and the perfect way to start our vacation time. Abba, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Bohemian Rap City, Hannah Montana, Katy Perry, Prince of Egypt, Waitress, Disney, Anastasia...all the best songs. Nothing is better than singing and dancing your heart out with a group of women!
Saturday, April 1st, 2023
I slept in, and it was lovely. I then spent my morning reading, dancing, and babying my wrecked voice. I shouldn't have sung "She Used to be Mine" with a cold so late at night, and I felt the consequences the next day. I had an amazing barre and center class while the others went to the Bodega. I did two swan Lake inspired barres again, but the advanced ones, and they were challenging! It's been fun to push myself more and more with my dance. I made sure to pace myself since I'm still recovering from a cold, but I actually felt much better after dancing. I did a little selfcare for myself. I made a hair mask, and let that soak in, then I washed my hair, did a face mask, journalled, made my monthly goals (crazy that it is the last monthly journal entry I will make in Mexico!) and I played uke on the roof. Josh and his dad came over briefly later that night, and we had a great time hanging out. Josh's dad is a doctor, so we were able to talk to him about possible reasons why we have been perpetually sick since getting to Mexico, and he gave some good insight. After they left, We watched both Princess diaries movies, and Alli cut Kayla's hair and did pedicures. I then forced the others to sit with me and watch SIX the musical. They LOVED it. I then sketched in bed for while, then, after that, we all went to bed. I think I must've strained my hip flexor muscle during dance, because it was twinging all night. I couldn't even fall asleep until four because between my chest congestion and hurt muscle, I was too uncomfy. Luckily, I was able to read to distract myself, and write some good poetry.
Sunday, April 2nd, 2023
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