Settling in...

Que honda, bistec?

If you have any knowledge of Spanish whatsoever, you are probably wondering why I have proceeded to refer to my audience as a piece of meat. Well, I guess you´d need to be here to understand. Hehe. Apparently, bistec is a way to refer to friends here, as is Peter Pan or other more unseemly terms that I should probably leave out of this posting.

At any rate, I have arrived in Merida, Mexico after a long day of traveling via plane and bus and over land and sea. Departing from GR at 8:30 a.m., all 35 of us (plus 2 professors) finally reached our destination at 9:00 p.m. last night. Yes, we were tired, and yes we were reluctant to begin communicating with our host families. Even so, I spent a good hour introducing myself to my familia, which consists of Don Wiliam, Dona Rosita, Oto (mi hermano) and Myra (mi hermana). Contrary to my experience in Honduras, my siblings this time around are just about my age, and I am actually living with Oto due to the fact that the room the family prepared for me is detached from the house and is made to hold an army. Hehe. As my mama said when she showed me the room, "no queremos que estes solito, Tito" (we don´t want you to be alone, Tito). Tan amable es... Oh yes, I should inform all of you that I have accepted and adopted the name Tito due to the fact that no one here can pronounce Tyler (big sorpresa...). My mom will appreciate the fact that they laughed when I tried to explain the significance of my name. If only I remembered the Spanish word for tile...

At any rate, the first night in Merida was spent snacking (it was late, remember?), getting used to my surroundings, and SLEEPING...IN A BED!!! I was supposed to sleep in a hammock like the rest of the group, but my mama decided that I should sleep comfortably on a night when I was so exhausted...she thinks of everything. Hehe. Needless to say, I slept well, but I think I am coming down with a cold and therefore have trouble breathing as well as hear everything through plugged ears and smell, well, nothing. Oh well; I have my vitamins and an abundance of over-the-counter cold medicine, so I should be fine. Please don´t fret, mother...

So far, the food has been edible and tasty (chicken, chicken, and more chicken), the hospitality has been fantastic (I have been escorted to and from school, which happens to be located 30 minutes from my home), and the excursions have been annoying. A group of 35 is not the most favorable for eating at Burger King or touring the city. I guess I would say that is my only complaint thus far: I lament the size of the group. Oh well; I will live. I just might have to suffer through countless tour groups and sight-seeing trips...

De todos modos, necesito ir. I am going to the supermarket now to find some food that I prefer. Like Mexican food isn´t my first choice...

Adios amigos y familia!

Tyler ¨Tito¨Petrini