Mexico City, Mexico: Still in Mexico City, and loving it! My grandma left last Thursday, but I still very much feel like i´m with family. I´m staying with my tia Goyeez, and I think i´ll be staying here for the remainder of my stay in Mexico City. I have not eaten this well, I guess, ever. Every meal is like a feast. I over did it last weekend, and went to bed with a stomach ache Sunday night. Since then, i´ve been trying to take it easy.

My main objectives in Mexico City were to meet my grandma´s side of the family and improve my spanish. I think both are being accomplished. As an added bonus, i´m reaching a comfort level with salsa! I´ve been taking classes, and went out Friday night with my cousin. The girls here are nice about teaching a novice. One girl even said I was a "good" salsa dancer. She wouldn´t lie, would she?

Above is a picture of my grandma´s dad, my great grandfather. It´s a picture of a picture, he died long ago. I think I got his ears, as you can see below. Below is also my grandma´s oldest brother, Clemente. This picture was taking at a taco stand that he still runs. He´s in his 80´s. And his tacos are delicious. There´s at least three places in the city where I can go and eat for free. My family has food stations around the city. But I prefer to stay home and eat my tia Goyeez food. Can´t say enough about the food here.

Above is a picture of Mexico City, and one of the most famous streets here. If you look closely, you can see the Angel de la Independencia (Angel of Independence). It´s one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mexico City, built by Porfirio Diaz.

The little guy below is one of my little cousins. He live with my tia Goyeez, with his mom and dad, and two older brothers (also my cousins). There´s a total of 8 people in the house, besides me. As is common in Mexico, the whole family lives together. Sometimes, even after the kids are married and have kids. But everyone gets along fine, and there´s plenty of room for everyone. Mexicans are definitely more family oriented. Which has not come as a surprise to me. It´s nice to see.

I´ve finally figured out how to post pictures, quickly. My camera is 10 megapixels, which is too much for my needs, and too big to download on most websites. I didn´t know. But if I shrink them, they fit. So more pictures should be forthcoming.

Hope everyone is well back home. I do miss home. Homesickness comes and goes. Sunday may have been the worst, since i´m used to seeing my family and friends on that day. But, as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. (that is what they say, right?)

Love you all,

Michael

WEEK ONE: MEXICO CITY

Mexico City, Mexico: Week one is in the books. You wait and wait for a trip and once it´s here, it seems to fly by. It´s been a quick first week. Here´s a recap of my week.

Monday
Arrived...late. My cousin Moy and his family picked us up from the airport. Went to eat, then
to my tia Concha´s (my grandma´s sister) house. Overwhelmed by the amount of family I was introduced to the first night, and my spanish was horrible! Did a lot of smiling and nodding!

Tuesday
Woke up late, went to the park and exercised. Wasn´t quite used to the elevation. Mexico City is 1.4 miles above sea level. In comparison, Denver is one mile (hence the name, Mile High City). I remember huffing and puffing in Denver just going for a walk. It´s tougher here. I realized it quickly. Stayed at my tia Concha´s house.

Wednesday
Went to the park, again. Walked around the neighborhood. Nothing too exciting. Getting acclimated.

Thursday
Skipped the park today. Forgot what I did today.

Friday
Went to the Zocalo. Really cool place in the center of the city. Took the bus and subway there. Very calm, absolutely no problems.

Saturday
Went back to the Zocalo, this time with my cousins. Took a tour of Mexico City on one of those red double decker buses. Great idea! It took over five hours, but we saw the whole city. My favorite spot was Polanco (sp). It´s just like Rodeo Drive, with smug people and all. But very nice neighborhood.

Sunday
Went to church in the morning. Very old school church, women can´t wear pants, earrings, etc, etc. Went about town at night with my cousin Julio.

Monday
Took a salsa class at the local community center, called Casa de Cultura. A lady asked me where I was from. I said Los Angeles. She said she could tell by my accent and "ritmo". Apparently I didn´t have enough rythmn for her. I´m going back today, so hopefully I won´t disappoint her this time.

Tuesday
My cousin Julio took me to the castle at Chapultepec. Very nice view of the city. I have to post pics soon. I may have figured out how to do it, but it will take me forever. I may gain the motivation and do it soon.

My spanish is improving. I think within a month I should be ready to tackle Central America.

I´m off to salsa class. It´s fun, because they also teach you other dances. They even teach you how to dance Nortenas. It´s funny. But fun.

I´ve already been invited to a local party to try out my dance moves. We´ll see if I go, for the cultural experience, of course!

Hope all is well back home, and thank you to everyone who responded with regards to the orphanage in Guatemala.

The easiest way to donate would be through their website: http://www.casa-guatemala.org/donate.php

If you prefer, you can give the money to my brother, and he'll get it to me, and i´ll make sure it reaches the orphanage.



Miss you all,

Michael

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Mexico City, Mexico: I haven´t shared with everyone the details of my year long trip. Mostly because there aren´t many details to disclose; but also because the details that do exist, I´d rather keep to myself.

But I did receive an email today that really impacted me, and I think maybe some more insight into my trip may be in order, so that you may understand the context of my urgency.

One of the reasons for this trip was to not only visit orphanages, but to also begin networking and partnering with the various orphanages to develop a long term relationship and to hopefully create and maintain a sustainable and constant cash flow for the preservation of each children´s home.

To that end, I was going to visit Casa Guatemala, which was to serve as a model that I could learn from and carry with me to other orphanages across Latin America.

Casa Guatemala has a youth hostel, call Backpackers Hostel, that is run by the orphanage, and whose profits help maintain the orphanage. They also grow most of their own food, and maintain a farm. From my research, this was an ideal and great model to follow.

But as you´ll read, Casa Guatemala has been hit hard financially in the last few months. So this model is now on the brink of collapsing. I´ll let you read the rest:


May 2009
Dear Sponsors, volunteers and Friends
I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits with your loved ones.
First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of our projects.
You have been so good to us and I know you are probably also being affected by this international economic crisis just like us. So please forgive me for sharing our problems with you, it is not our intention to burden you needlessly.
Our beloved Casa Guatemala is in dire straights and about to collapse! We have already closed the baby’s home in Guatemala City as we were unable to continue to support it.
As you know Casa Guatemala has two main sources to survive, donations from friends from all over the world, mainly from Canada and Spain , and the funds generated by the Hotel and production of the farm. However the donations have dropped a dramatic 60% and the Hotel has not been able to cover all its running cost so the bills have accumulated. At this point we find ourselves in a very difficult situation, which will surely takes us to a permanent close down!
I am searching for strategies, advice, and guidance from you our friends to help us through this terrible time. We need professional fund raisers to help us keep the Rio Dulce installations alive, I trust you can offer some input to help us.
Our present situation has forced us to close down our Florida Bank account since the minimum balance required by the bank is $25,000, and we are unable to maintain it. We have been unable to pay the employees from the baby’s home in city their severance pay, so we have to keep them on the payroll until such time we can release them; we are unable to pay for all our pending bills to continue working, we our drowning in bills and I don’t know what to do. Every week there is less money coming in, and less money generated by the hotel. I am burdened by this load of bills that continue to pile up.
The Backpackers hotel could be a good source of income, and here everybody can help. You can help us promoting the Backpackers Hotel in your university, church, club, set an stand in a shopping center to distribute brochures, put us in Internet calling young people to come and do humanitarian tourism, they can channel their funds and energy toward helping us to get through this crisis. www.hotelbackpackers.com
Ask them to come to Rio Dulce, a paradise in the jungle. Stay at the Backpackers Hotel where they will find a variety of programs for short or long stays which will help fund our many programs in helping so many children in need. Help while you vacation www.viajescasaguatemala.org
Could you please send any help you can, to get us out of this ditch we are in? I am open to any ideas, suggestions, funds, anything that can help up us continue our much needed work.
Please contact me for any ideas you might have, they are welcome. Thank you again and I look forward to your reply.
We are asking our friends to send their contributions to our Bank at the G & T Continental branch in Guatemala City , as we do not have the Florida account anymore.
www.casa-guatemala.org enter and find how to send your contribution, using Pay Pal, Google, Face Book or you also can send your check to Sara in the U.S. or John Nesbitt in Canada, Rachel and Pete in U.K
Send whatever, but send something and help us to keep THE CHILDREN VILLAGE open. No one wants to see those children back on the streets.
Angie

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I´ll be staying at the Backpackers Hostel during my time in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, but I think more needs to be done. I know this isn´t everyone´s calling, and many of you support your own charity organizations, but i´m hoping that perhaps 50 of my family and friends could help me with an Andrew Jackson (20 bucks).

I know you´re not supposed to tell your left hand what your right hand is doing, but i'm going to take a grand from my travel funds and donate to Casa Guatemala, and I was hoping I could get you guys to help me with another grand, so we could donate two thousand dollars to keep their doors open.

It´s a drop in the bucket, I know, and if you´re like me, you´re thinking how is this really going to help feed all those kids, and for how long? Well, two fish and five loaves, that´s how. We don´t have to worry about that part, we just have to act. Me of little faith.

I can commit a grand, and if you´ll pledge, i´ll front the other monies. We´ll figure out the details later. Right now I just want to tell Angie that there are some folks back home that are willing to help. Of course, don´t feel obligated, but if you´d like to help, please let me know.

You can contact me through this blog site, or facebook; find me through my email address on facebook: rivera2006@lawnet.ucla.edu, but don´t email me, I rarely check it.

Thanks.

Love you guys,
Michael

http://scripturetext.com/matthew/14-16.htm

Finally!

It took over half an hour, but some pictures posted! At this rate, I wont have very many pictures to share. But i´ll do my best.

Very exciting day today. Went to the Zocolo (there may be another c in there). The Zocolo is the main plaza in Mexico City, where the President lives, the center of town, etc, etc. But the exciting part wasn´t so much being at the Zocolo, though it was really cool, but it was taking the bus and metro there. I´ve heard so much about the dangers looming in Mexico City´s public transportation, that I couldn´t help but get fired up and an adrenaline rush when it was time to go.

I´ve heard some crazy stories. And been told not to do it.

"You´ll get pickpocketed"

"You´ll get kidnapped"

"If they know you're a tourist, you´re doomed!"

And of course, none of it was true. No one attempted to pick my pockets, I wasn´t kidnapped, and I still have my camera. And I took pictures on the bus, and on the metro (see above). It´s just as safe as Downtown L.A. Meaning, I wouldn´t do it at night, but taking public transportion here is as safe as most major cities. But it was still a thrill.

I have to get up early, so I have to go to bed. But here are some pictures...finally. My aunts, and grandma. (Really, my great aunts).

My special walking shoes...best 200 hundred bucks i´ve ever spent. These cost more than my last five pairs combined, but worth every penny.

Trying to get in shape. My bag weighs over 50 pounds, and i´ll be carrying it from here to Brazil!

PS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!

Mexico City, Mexico: Thursday afternoon in Mexico City. In a lot of ways my trip has not really started. This is sort of a trip before The Trip. Staying with family, as we all know, has its pros and cons. And, of course, the pros heavily outweigh the cons.

For one, the food is great! I have to run every day just to keep from becoming overweight. You know how it is when you´re with family, expecially family you just met; you can´t say no when offered food. So I eat...and eat...and eat. But the food is delicious. If you like Mexican food, you should be jealous. Tortas, Chilaquiles (sp?), arroz con pollo, you name it, they make it. And the tia´s love to cook. This morning I had to finally, very politely, say no to another plate. I thought I was going to explode!

I can´t say enough about the food. I´m taking advantage of it, because I know I won´t always have it this good. It also made me think. I´ve been missing out on this for a long time. Living on your own, you don´t get this kind of treatment. I´m starting to think that I should settle down when I get back. Have someone to cook me a good meal. But I think those days are long gone, atleast where i come from. My tia´s are always asking me ¨cuando te vas a casar?¨ I didn´t want to tell them that getting married back home has lost many of its advantages. And I know someone out there will be outraged by this, but really, what are the advantages of getting married now a days? Most girls are too independent. Which is fine, they just don´t make good marriage partners. So until you´re ready to have kids, I don´t see the point. I´m not saying marriage is not an honorable and sarcred institution. I´m just saying it´s a bit different now; in my part of the world. Feel free to agree or disagree.

This I guess, is the first cultural difference. Mexico City is still very old school, and I think i´ve always preferred old school, but I live in a new world. They call it progress...i´m not too sure about that. But, as my Evidence professor would always say after going on a tangent...I digress.

The week is going well. I can tell my spanish is slowly but surely improving. My grandmother even asked me how to say something in spanish! That was good for my confidence. I still have a long way to go, but i´ll get there.

The one negative about being with family is that you always have to tell them where you´re going, when you´ll be back. I´ve been on my own for so long, that I am not used to it. But of course, out of respect, I stay within the rules. A little discipline never hurt anyone.

But being with family is fun. Especially my little cousins. Always asking me what i´m doing. ¨Que haces, primo?" The same thing I was doing five minutes ago, nothing. But of course I try to strike up a nice conversation. I realized he was only asking, because, like me, he was getting bored. He´s eight, so I figure, he´s the perfect person to practice my spanish with. I´m at about a third grade level with my spanish. Yesterday I took him to the park, he had a blast. I think we´ll go again today.

About pictures, i´m still trying. I was able to post a few on facebook. But, it´s a struggle to get them to upload.

I´ll figure something out, just not sure when.

Hope everyone is well back home, I miss you all, love you,

Michael

Si, gracias!

Mexico City, Mexico: Just realized blogging is no fun for me. So I decided to instead "journal". This may be absolutely boring to read, but it will keep me writing.

Just got back from the park, I think they call it "el bosque"? Spanish here seems very difficult. I guess I expected to land in Mexico City and miraculously become fluent. That didn´t happen.

Instead I find myself just smiling, and nodding, and saying "gracias," and "si." It really is mentally draining, because in L.A. most people who speak spanish know at least a little english. So you can always ask: ¨como se dice..." Here they just look at you like, what?

I´m trying, but it´s not coming easy. Although everyone here is so nice.

¨Hablas bien," they tell me.

All I can do is smile, and say gracias. lol.

Everyone is so nice. I´m staying with my grandmas sister Concha; I call her tia. Right now we´re at my grandmas other sister Goyeez house, and her other sister, Terre, is here as well. I call them all tia.

"Gracias tia," "no gracias, tia," that much I have down.

The accomodations are very nice, I have my own room. The houses are very similar to the ones i´ve been to in T.J. The showers are hot, the bed is warm. It´s quiet nice.

The weather has been a bit humid. Earlier today I went to "el bosque" (sp) to run and do pull-ups. They have a set-up very similar to the one just south of the pier in Santa Monica. I think i´ll make that a daily occurence.

Mexico City is nothing like you´d think. About 3% of the population wears masks, about .01% wearthem correctly. No one seems to be concerned. Everyone greets each other with a hug, and a kiss. While in Rome...so I do the same. I´m not at all concerned about it. I do make good use of my Purell, but that´s something I may start doing even after this whole H1 non-sense passes. It´s become somewhat of a habit to apply Purell after i´ve touched almost anything. Just call me Mr. Hughes. Howard Hughes, that is.

No one is concerned about crime here, either. When I asked about taking the bus (or micros as they´re called here) or taxis, no one offered any opposition. They just said taxis are probably better, because you get places quicker. When I mentioned going to El Salvador, they freaked out..."ten cuidado!"

What´s funny is that I recieved an email today from someone in El Salvador, and after letting them know I was in Mexico City, they had the same advice. "Be very careful!" They seem to think Mexico City is a very dangerous place to be right now.

My primo Moy, who´s really my moms cousin, took me around town last night. He said it was easier to get around after 10pm, when the traffic dies down. The battery for my camera died, but uploading pictures is quite a chore anyways. I will post as soon as possible. I know pictures always tell a better story.

It looks like I may be able to watch the Laker game tonight. The game is on ESPN, hopefully in english. I had a 15 minute break today when ESPN en espanol turned into regular ESPN. I´ve never been so happy to hear Peter Gammons voice. I´ve always taken for granted how thoughtless it is to listen to someone speak your native tongue. I could be doing ten different things and still listen to what someone is telling me in english. But if i´m not giving someone my full attention when they´re speaking to me in spanish, I totally lose them.

But I guess I can´t expect to become fluent in a day. It´s been almost two, and I do believe there has been improvement. I guess I was just looking for instant results. I´ll be more patient.

I´ll post pictures as soon as possible. I know i´ve promised before, but these computers aren´t all that great.

Love you guys,

-Michael

Mexico City!

I´m here!

Day one is over. A journey of a thousand steps starts with the first step.

Yesterday was the first step. And a relatively smooth first step.

The plane was delayed for an hour, but eventually took off.

We arrived in Mexico City at 5pm local time. I wish I could post pictures, but this computer refuses to upload photos. I´ll try to find another.

I´ll post later..too difficult to post right now.

But a great first day!

Flight 244

LAX: The plane boards in 5 minutes. Thoughts before I go:

-I won't be in the country for a year!

-My spanish is horrible!

-I love Purell!

-This keyboard is disgusting.

-I already miss my family.

-Why are there always really hot girls at the airport!

-This will be last time I hear english over the intercom for a long time.

-I hope internet speed is better in Latin America...this airport computer stinks!

-We're boarding, gotta go!

I love you guys!!!!

Los Angeles, CA: LAX, Alaska Airlines, Gate 33: 25 cents a minute for internet access, I couldn't pass it up! Except that it took about three minutes to log-in; clearly not a very good connection.

The morning has been smooth sailing thus far. My uncle picked me up at 6 in the morning. My grandmother was already in the car, ready to go.

We arrived at LAX at 7am. Checked in and went through security with no problem.

My grandmother had a bag full of pills and medicine, which no one bothered to check.

I did forget to order her wheelchair, so she had to walk. But the distance was very short, she had no problems.

My bag weighed 59 pounds, and anything over 50 pounds triggers an additional 50 dollar. I pulled a travel book, a few shirts and shorts, shoes, and some shampoo out, and stuck them in my grandma's bag.

I was still at 53 pounds, but the man at the counter let it slide.

It turns out you don't have to be at the airport three hours early for international flights. It's 8:15...I think i'll go and eat.

Later today, i'll be in Mexico City. I can't wait!

oh, yeah, I also have my mask in my pocket. I figured I wouldn't wear it just yet, didn't want to create panic. You know how it is.

Pictures in the next blog. Promise.

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