Personal reconnect

Hugs from grandchildren
Newest one just arrived Kyla Patricia Moll 10/01/09
Driving again
Completing projects
Sewing again
Cell phones
Grilled steak
shopping for clothes that fit
Fond memories of Mexico

Over and Out again!

Well, we are still over 60 and probably still out of our minds but our service in the Peace Corps is over and we are out of Mexico. It has been a hard decision but a lot of events have lead us to terminate our Peace Corps experience early. We have learned a tremendous amount and would not trade the experience for anything.

What we know is:

• people all over the world are alike
• we all just want the best we can achieve in life
• good friendships last forever and
• there is a time for everything.
  

We look forward not backward and hope to see all the friends we have, both new and old, in the near future.
We will continue to blog as we resettle.

Final days in Tehuacan

We observed some interesting events in Tehuacan these last few days. We watched the fireworks and the parade, saw both museums and went to a movie. Here are some thoughts:
1. Watch out for the mime in the square, he might just steal your wife away.

2.Walking after dark is more comfortable, but also more peligroso (dangerous) as you can't see where the dog left his "deposit".
3. When a large tree branch breaks in the zocalo, how many machetes does it take to chop it up? or how much gas is there in the chain saw?
4. If the place you are planning to stay is out of gas and has no water, what should you do?
5. "Taking the dog for a walk" has a new meaning if you carry the dog. Then who is really getting the exercise?
6. There are some really delicious appetizers out there. (jitomate, aquacate, queso, crema de queso y oliva)

Dia de la Independencia en Mexico

This week Mexico celebrated their day of Independence. Next year 2010 there will be a mega celebration of 2 Independences for Mexico 1810 and 1910. A lot of planning has been going on toward that event so we did not know what to expect this year. As luck would have it we are in Tehuacan and happened to go to the Zocalo Tuesday night to see what was going on. Found a table at a restaurant on the square and watched the crowd. Lots of street vendors selling all kinds of Independence Day cosas. Everything decorated in rojo, blanca y verde! Lights everywhere! reminded me of New Years' Eve in NYC. Then at 11 pm the cathedral bells rang and the fireworks began. It was spectacular!











The next morning we took a walk to get some breakfast and low and behold we found ourselves at the staging center for the parade. That was fun too. Watched most of it and were surprised at the number of schools who have drum and bugle corps. Seems they start young learning to play instruments. And use whistles to keep in step. Sorry no pictures of that part. It was neat though. One school was dressed up to depict the history of Mexico.

Last weekend in Oaxaca

Eric, Jen, Anne and Roger
Roger, Anne and Cole
Chiles en Nogada
Margaritas Grande
Arbole del Tule
10% the MX-PCV's in one place! Chris, Cole, Maggie, Anne, Roger and Stacey



Our last weekend in Oaxaca.
The last three weekends we have traveled to Oaxaca (an easy trip for us) and met up with some of our fellow volunteers to explore the city and the area. It has been great to see our friends and taste good food, see interesting sights and collect the necessary hand crafts for which the artisans are known.

And the rains came down

Well, it is rainy season down here in south central Mexico and now we know where the water comes in!!! Heavy rains each of the last 7 days and we are hoping to escape any real water inside the apartment. So far it is just creeping in under the door and staining the ceiling. Good thing!

Funny things

1. If you don't have a cell phone, it is acceptable to stop in front of a person's apartment and honk til they come out or until you decide they aren't coming, then you might try to get someone to let you into the courtyard so you can knock on the door. Or if you can't do that try throwing rocks at the windows. However it takes a pretty good throwing arm!
2. When you lose your cell phone and your computer gets stolen, you don't have to communicate with anyone! Just show up and hope they are there.
3.There is tortilla delivery 24/7. They run their noisy motorcycles up the street every 15 minutes from 4 am until 7am and other times too. Who, I ask is eating tortillas at that hour?
4.To start your engine coast as far down hill as you can before popping the clutch, it saves lots of gas, oh, but don't turn off the engine if you are not on a hill, it might not start again. That includes dump trucks.
5.NOT all trucks are meant to carry tall Americans.
6.After school band practice: go drum line! you rock!

Anniversary Weekend

We spent last Friday getting our FM3 visas picked up. It struck me odd that here we were signing 4 documents that have changed our lives on the same day we signed our marrige certificates 38 years ago that also changed our lives!
Here are some pictures:
We had our shoes shines! You can't be in Mexico and NOT get a shoeshine in the zocalo!
We watched a "parade" complete with fireworks, we visited a convent/museum and looked down on the "jardin de nativos".
We ate Pizza for dinner!
We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing, walking around, seeing some sights and even enjoyed getting caught in the RAIN!!!
Some other thoughts:
1.Today's adventure was if the truck makes it up the hill, will the brakes would hold going DOWN?
2.If you fill the gullies with garbage will it eventually stop the erosion?
3.Living in Mexico is HARD work.