Universidad Iberoamericana

Coming Home

danielapuebla — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:40:00 GMT

Soooo, today is my last day in Puebla. Im at the university right now trying to track down a teacher for my last grade. I need to get a paper signed by her, then I can leave. The sky is super clear today, and of course I didn't bring my camera. I have been trying to get a picture of the volcano since I got here, and every time I have my camera the sky is cloudy and you can't see it. I just brought it yesterday! But today its so clear, and the volcanoe is covered in snow and it would be a great picture, but of course I do not have my camera. It was quite amazing living in the same town as an active volcano...and so beautiful.

I'm going to go home after this and eat lunch with the family here for the last time. Then we are going to get Nicole's nails done. Just Nicole's because I ran out of money last week and refuse to get more out of the bank. She is giving me money for my taxi to the bus station tonight =) After that we are going to the tattoo shop because I talked her into getting a tattoo. So that should be fun. Then there is a going away party at the same bar that we had our welcoming party. That starts at 730, but we probably wont get there until 830 or so because her tattoo appointment is at 630. After we are there a few hours we are going to come home and I'm going to shower and get ready to go to the station. My bus leaves at 230 am, so I'm gunna leave the house around 145 probably. maybe 130 depending on how bored I am. From there I have a long day of traveling, and I get home at 4:11pm! Im so excited right now, I don't think this day could go any slower for me. haha. It's going to be very strange to be home again, but I'm super excited! yay. okay, welllll see you soon!

Gallery: Jalcolmulco, Vera Cruz

danielapuebla — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT

white water rafting and cmping adventure

Gallery: Semana Santa

danielapuebla — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:48:00 GMT

Puerto Escondido, Puerto Angel, Acapulco

Semana Santa: ÄcápüLcö

danielapuebla — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:59:00 GMT

I wasnt really excited to go to Acapulco at all, really no one was. We were happy with our little tranquil paradise. but we already bought the tickets so we had to go. My first impression was not very great of the city, I thought it was quite ugly. I also hadnt slept at all. we still had to try to find a hotel to stay at, which could have been impossible because it was spring break AND semana santa. EVERYONE in the usa and mexico was in acapulco. we somehow find this great hotel in Caleta, not the american tourist part of acapulco. it was on the beach, had air conditioning, a pool, and security. it was great. AND affordable. we each only ended up spending $97.00 TOTAL each for all 4 nights, which is SO cheap for acapulco during this time. They all went out every night to the famous clubs there, but i only went the one night. it costs a minumum of 50 dollars to get into the clubs. yeah right. we met these guys who took us to their mansion with a pool on the roof and an MTV cribs view of acapulco. it was beautifu, i have never seen anything like it in my life. then we went to one of the really nice clubs and we all walked right in without paying a thing. They bought all the drinks and everything too. We had so much fun dancing, and the view from the clubs was great too. it was all glass and overlooked the entire city as well. at one point they were spraying fireworks from the clubs that looked sooo cool. We literally danced all night and watched the surise over acapulco as we were driving home at 7 in the morning. Well, i didnt watch it i was knocked out as soon as i sat in the car. It was really nice to be able to experience that though, although I still prefer the simple paradises over the crazy expensive clubs and crowded beached with rich snobs. I hung out at our pool a lot, and the beach right next to us was nice becuase we were the only americans there. This one little girl came up to nicole and I when were were sitting there and wouldnt leave us. i was writing in my journal at the time so she wanted to watch me write. She didnt know how to write or read even thought she was clearly old enough. Nicole ripped some paper out for her and we wrote her name for her and she just kept asking us to write it. she drew all over the back page of my journal, she drew a picture of me. its very cute. She had the biggest smile on her face when we gave her my pen and some paper and nicole gave her sister her pen. They we so happy. It was great. They were suppose to be selling peanuts, so when the girl walked by they hid the paper and stuff. Its just so different here. Acapulco was nice, very differentand not my preferred beach, but it was cool to see. Ohhh, and the one day we took a bus to the more touristy beach and somehow discovered that our wrist bands from the hotel were the same color wrist bands as this All Inclusive spring break package for this american resort there. we snuck in and we were back in amerca. it was liek we were on MTVs spring break. the loud music, everyone drunk and dancing all over and in the pool. We mainly went in for the food bc we were starving and didnt have much money to spend there. haha. it was pretty ridiculoud though, they spent a minimum of 1,800.00 to stay at that hotel for the week. who knows how much else for the blue bracelet (the one we had that was all inclusive) there were all different colored ones, but we matched the best color. we ate so much and they all drank so much beer and we took some tequila shots and danced a bit in the pool. I was reminded of how much I really hate a lot of people in the USA. When Nicole tried to come in (her and two others had stayed out on the beach a while) they asked her where she was from because she looks mexican. then they grabbed her bracelet and realized she was an imposter. so she got kicked out. then i grabbed some food and took it out to her because they werent going to catch me, i have blonde hair and blue eyes. they didnt even look twice at me. Then they caught Nishi bc she is dark too, shes indian. they tried to make her pay and wouldnt let go of her and shes yelling at them in spanish not to touch her. it was so funny. then the bar tender grabbed kates wrist as she took her 7 drinks she ordered and he told her to get out too. its was hilarous. so eventually everyone was discovered. I left willingly. We still go so much from that place, it was really funny. A half an hour of that was enough for me, I got to see what they pay sooo much money for, which it quite ridiculous. I could not handle that for a day let alone a whole week. The only thing is that our hotel room was robbed by this group of guys (yes we knew who it was because they wouldn't leave us alone the whole trip) and we lost some of our ipods and cell phones. That wasn't the place's fault though, it was a nice hotel.

Semana Santa part I

danielapuebla — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:46:00 GMT

My crazy solo adventure through Mexico! From the airport in Mexico City I was trying to take a bus to Oaxaca city directly, so I took a taxi to the actual bus station in Mexico to try to find a bus to Oaxaca. They ended up sending me back to puebla, then I had to change buses to go to oaxaca to meet up with the girls. I basically wasted a whole bus trip for nothing when I could have just grabbed the bus from Puebla to Oaxaca! I thought the direct one would be quicker though, but they didnt offer it at that time! Check your schedules before jumping on buses I guess =) So I finally got to oaxaca and couldnt get ahold of anyone I was supposed to be meeting there, so that sucked and i had to sit in the bus station for about 3 hours by myself. And in Mexico there is no cell service unless you are actually in a town, and some smaller towns dont count. Needless to say I am sooo sick of buses and bus stations and aiports now!haha My friends finally got there as our bus to puerto escondido was about to leave and we had to hurry and jump on that bus. when we got to puerto escondido we realized we should have gotten off at the other stop before this because it was closer to puerto angel, which is where we were going for the first three days. so we have to take a taxi for an hour ride to puerto angel because no buses go there, it's very secluded. it only costed us 30 dollars each taxi split between 9 people, taxis are so cheap here! So note that if you take a taxi from Puerto Escondido to Puerto Angel do not pay more that 300 pesos!!! Puerto angel is so beautiful. It is So small and literally in the middle of nowhere. I thought puerto escondido was hidden, this beach doesnt even have an atm in the entire town! but it is so beautiful and i found SO much sea glass there (I started collecting sea glass) =) Our hotel was right on the beach and the view was beautiful. we could get showers and look at the ocean at the same time. there was a window-door thing in our bathroom that was really pretty that you could leave open if you wanted. the restaurant downstairs had all the tables and chairs on the sand. it was great. There was a little bar on the sand next to it too, and they sold the BEST fish ive ever eat in my life. it was amazing and they catch it fresh everyday. we ate there all 3 days. We met some people who live there and we ended up going out with them the one night, but they dont have any clubs or anything in the town, so there were just beach bars. it was really cool. we all piled in the back of the truck to go. we got pretty used to riding on pretty long drives in the back of trucks. haha. It was really great. the last day we took a taxi back to puerto escondido so we could spend the day there since our bus left from there anyway. I love puerto escondido. I bought a few of these little wooden sculptures that are painted extravagantly because I really wanted them last time but i thought they were a little expensive so i didnt get them. then i regretted it since then, so i bought a few. They are very famous oaxacan wood carvings. We just hung out on the beach all day until our bus left that night. That bus ride to acapulco was the worst in my life. I literally did not sleep allll night. I have no idea why but I was going to flip out. We got to Acapulco around 6 or 7 in the morning, I dont remember exactly...I was just happy to be there! (Dramamine became my best friend while traveling in MX)

Adam's Visit

danielapuebla — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:37:00 GMT

Getting here was the only problem we encountered all week. His flights were delayed and delayed and delayed. Nicole and I went to the airport at 8 in the morning on saturday to see her boyfriend off. We got there around 10, and figured we had about 12 hours to kill until adams plane came in. We took a taxi to the movies and did everything possible that you could do in the airport trying not to be bored. Then adam's flights kept getting deplayed. We were going insanes, and the airport didnt have any seats, its all cement. we ended up laying on the floor on the airport curled up bc it was so cold. she ended up getting on a bus to puebla at 2 in the morn, but i was there until 530 when adam got in! i was crazy by that time, but it was all better when he finally got here =) we went to puebla and got to the hotel, which was situated in the coolest place overlooking a little market (the market that was on Mimi's postcard). and we ony slept for about 3 hours bc we didnt wanna waste the day. we explored puebla and ate tacos arabes and went to el centro. The rest of the week we visited the ruins in cholula and walked through the pyramid, ate with my host family, went to the movies with nicole, hung out at our favorite bar, and went to school. Then we went to Vera Cruz on Wednesday and we stayed in a really cute hotel. The pool was awesome and we were right on the beach. AND it was air conditioned...the first air conditioning i have been in since ive been here...it was wonderful! We just hung out at the beach and the pool and went to eat in vera cruz. it was really nice. We took a bus to mexico city at 1100 on friday night and then just hung out at the airport until his plane left. I felt like i lived in that airport. It was a reallllllly great week =)

LuChA LiBrE

danielapuebla — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:16:00 GMT

Last night Nicole, Elina, Veronica, Erika, and some Mexican friends went to Lucha Libre, which is a very famous "sport" in mexico. Its sort of like WWF at home, but they all wear crazy masks and capes and stuff. Its held in this green cement arena in the middle of el centro. Its was interesting, Nicole took pictures, so I'll post them after she gives them to me. Outside there are vendors selling masks and hotdogs. Inside you can buy beers or sodas and differetn mexican foods and cotton candy (but it takes like cotton candy from raw sugar, not like ours) while you are watching. Its funny. There is actually an american film about it. Its called Nacho Libre I think. It has Jack Black in it...Adam actually saw it, which could tell you what kind of movie it is. haha. Bean would know I think.

here is the link about it...

http://luchalibrepuebla.ning.com/

Whats goin' on...

danielapuebla — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:44:00 GMT

Well, I haven't written in a while, but nothing really has been going on. Just going to school and hanging out. This past weekend I went to get a tattoo, but I couldnt get it because I needed and appointment. So I made an appointment for about three weeks =) My friend who went with me ended up getting her lip pierced. The place is really clean, Im excited! So we will see. Nicole, my friend from Penn State, and I went to el centro three times this weekend. It was nice. We just walked around and found a cute internet cafe that we spent ALL day sunday in "doing homework," or so we tried. Then we went to see a movie. "Amor y Tesoro" which means love and treasure. I think the english title is Fool Gold or something. I liked it a lot. and the movies here are only $2.20, so we find ourselves going to the movies a lot!

I got my exam back last week,the only one I have taken down here, which so ridiculously easy and I got what is the equivalent to an 80 on it, so I was pretty ticked. I thought it was because the teacher hated me. So I emailed her and met with her the next day to discuss it, and she told me it was a good grade for her. She showed me all of the other students grades and I got the 3rd highest in the class out of 24 mexicans. That made me feel better at least. And now she doesnt hate me anymore. Good thing.

This weekend we are going to vera Cruz, which is a beach that is about 3 hours away, on Sunday into Monday morning. Nicole's boyfriend gets in on Saturday, so those two, me and Luba are going just for the day. Im excited. I think then when adam gets here we are going to try to go to Acapulco for a few days since his plane goes from there too. We will have to see though because right now its spring break in the usa and so acapulco is really expensive because all the gringos come down here. who knows. Im excited though =)

well nothing else is really going on. Im at my internship again, and for some reason I am allowed to access this site when it blockes every other one. Love you all =)

P.S. Nicole is the girl to my right, the one from PSU, we spend a lot of time together. the other blonde girl if frm Sweden. the tall red head is from the USA. Nacho (in the front) is Mexican. the guy in the back is from Guatemala. The white guy is from Holland. We are a rainbow. haha

Gallery: Cuetzalan

danielapuebla — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:50:00 GMT

Gallery: .._-°Puebla°-_..

danielapuebla — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:17:00 GMT

the town where I am living...

...My Internship...

danielapuebla — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:04:00 GMT

Well, I am actually at my internship right now, but its my first official day, so I dont really have to do anything. It is in a company called T-Systems, and it comes from the German company Deutsche Telekom. There are three branches in Mexico, one here in Puebla, Monterrey, and Mexico D.F (Mexico city). There is a website, but its all in Spanish, you can probably google it to find out more if you wanted to. I am mainly working with the lawyers here, and what I wil be doing is translating contracts from english to spanish and vice versa. They said that if I had any particular interests, though, to tell them and they would gear my work towards that more. Its a very lenient job, and they even feed me =) I can come in whenever I want to, and dont have to let anyone know my schedule. Im going to be coming in on Tuesdays for sure because I only have one class in the morning that is over at 11, so I have the whole day here. I might end up coming in on Thursdays too for a while, who knows. Its sort of wierd because there is a lady that I can hear and she is speaking German...its odd to hear German here. Its just a little bit expensive because I am taking a taxi here and it costs 7 dollars each way, although it is 20 minutes away. I have to ask which bus to take home and here. I might just try to find a bus today after work and see if it takes me home. haha. The Puebla Outlets are also really close to here, so one day I plan on going there to see if their prices are any less ridiculous! Also, this weekend is my trip to Cuetzalan, which I am really excited for =) especially because its included in my program, so the hotel and bus and everything is FREE..yay. It looks like such a cool place, so Im sure I will love it and have so great pictures! love you guys =)

The best place on EARTH...

danielapuebla — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 06:37:00 GMT

Okay, so I just got back from Puerto Escondido this morning at 8:00 am, and I had class at 9:00 am. The bus ride turned into 16 hours, not 14, but the ride home was great because I literally slept the whole 16 hours minus a few stops. The ride there was a different story though, but totally worth it! I loved every second of this trip, it was like nothing Ive ever seen before. I have never been in water so clear, or on a beach with palm trees. It was the first time I saw the pacific ocean =) and not the last. I loved the atmosphere of the place the best...everyone was so nice and relaxed, like all chill and helpful. Just cool people. It was so much fun. We just swam and relaxed and danced on the beach and went to clubs and visited shops. It was great. Everyone we met were so much fun, expecially these two djs from one of the clubs (Whipeout). They were funny. There was also CARNAVAL on sunday night, which is huge in Vera Cruz, but they celebrated it there with a huge parade and a stage on the beach with performances and people in the streets. It was nice. I loved every second of being there, I would actually like to live there...really.

We actually ended up staying in a tiny little hotel a block from the beach. It was so beautiful with hammocks and brightly colored EVERYTHING. The roof was covered in palms and there were flowers and plants everywhere!. There was actually an outdoor swimming pool that was so nice as well. I always like to jump in the pool after a salty sandy day at the beach!

Gallery: PUERTO ESCONDIDO aka paradise

danielapuebla — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 05:54:00 GMT

the best place on earth

¡¡¡tRiP tHiS wEeKeNd!!!

danielapuebla — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 07:29:00 GMT

Soooo tonight we are leaving at 10:00 for Puerto Escondido, which literally means hidden port. Its a beautiful surf town on the pacific coast that is REALLY cheap and gorgeous! We are staying in a cabana (2 per cabana) on the beach for only 6 dollars a night. The only expensive part was the bus tickets, but it is a 14 hour trip. So that puts us there around 12 or so tomorrow. Who knows with how they drive down here! Im going with tal and nicole, the 2 girls from psu, kate, nishi, and luis, their friend from acapulco. It will be soo much fun! Im really excited, but i need to buy summer clothes! I HAVE NO SHORTS HERE, and only one dress and a few tank tops. i cant be baking in 90 degree weather in long sleeves =)

The youtube videos show both the market and culture, and the beach

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yyAQcuYa6b4

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uotv1sa9l4g&feature=related

http://www.ptoescondido.com.mx/

Links to places Ive been or will be =)

danielapuebla — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:45:00 GMT

I will list the places I have visited here or that I will be going and some links if I have them. and maybe some thinigs that I just think are cool, or places I like =)

Teotihuacan-archaeological zone about two or three hours from Puebla. Where my last trip was to, and I bought a blanket there that is so pretty http://archaeology.asu.edu/teo/
Cuetzalan-I will be going there Febuary 15, 16, and 17. Im so excited about this because I hear its beautiful and indigenous and unique. It has ruins and an archaeological zone http://www.vivecuetzalan.com/yohualichan_cuetzalan.php
Acapulco- Over Semana Santa we went...not my favorite place http://www.acapulco.com/en/
Puerto Escondido- In Oaxaca, an amazingly pretty beach located in the perfectly chill little town. http://www.tomzap.com/escondio.html
Vera Cruz-I will be white water rafting in vera cruz on April 5&6, also the beach is nice but it's not the crystal clear water or pristine beaches that Mexico is capable of. http://www.geoaventura.com.mx/aventuras/rios/veracruz/veracruz.html
Tlaxcala- a friend of mine is from this state which is right above Puebla, and think we will end up going there. Its an interesting place
Jalcomulco, Veracruz- Adventure to the MAX...white water rafting, hiking, repelling, and mango trees everywhere! http://www.rioaventura.com.mx/ingles/jalcomulco.htm

RE-adjusting back in the USA

danielapuebla — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:23:00 GMT

This will be a list of the things that are frequent here, but bizarre there, so therefore I will have to get, or already have gotten, used to them here, but will have to re-adjust when I come home.

You can't throw toilet paper in the toilet here, so you have to put it in a trashcan which is always found next to the toilet. This will still take some getting used to.
Eating lime on everything, which I love.
There are speed bumps everywhere in the roads here, so you can never really just go. We are always slowing down every so many feet to go over these massive speed bumps in the middle of highways, streets, allies. Everywhere.
Speaking English
Refrigerating eggs, which is NOT done here...anywhere (but they refrigerate peanut butter?)
Eating crappy food! The food here is AMAZING and FRESH and DELICIOUS. I wish we thought of eating as an important part of our culture.

Gallery: La Ibero

danielapuebla — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:01:00 GMT

my school

Gallery: Teotihuacan

danielapuebla — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:51:00 GMT

archeological site