May 22nd, Papaaaaantla

I wasn't going out on the ATV at 6am, but I didn't want to stay in too late, making me feel like a slob. So.. I got up around 8, and headed to the front of the house to see what had to be done. There was mucho work. This, being the first solid day of bright sun, was to be one of our biggest hatching days. I helped Roberto fill up the two big 10'/6' tubs before the the boys got back with hundreds of turtles needing a place to swim. We ran a huge hose (one of those ones used to fight fire) from the tubs at camp down to the ocean. Roberto turned on the pump at the beach, and I held the hose steady. Deanna waited on the sideline to call down to Roberto when it was time to turn the hose off. Then...it was game time. The first tub was filled easily enough, and so was the second, but problems arose when it came time to fill up the five bins about 5' from the two tubs..the two tubs the tub just barely reached. Naturally..I started laughing and freaking out about how we were going to handle this dilemma. Fernando stepped in and rallied the few men and women wandering around the camp, to help drag the hose up closer so that it might rieach the other bins. Fernando didn't seem the least bit worried and kept the same expression as he soaked myself and the few other people observing. He couldn't control the hose any better than I could, but he kept giggling the whole time. Phase one was soon completed, and no less than 10 minutes after filling the tubs, Ramido and Changa pulled into camp, with two huge bins of squirming and ready to swim tortugitas. We carefully placed each and every baby into a tub. They swam all over each other using such strength, ramming themselves right into the wall. They were pretty cute.
After doing a legitimate amount of work, we all enjoyed breakfast together. Juan Carlos or "Juanito" as he has been dubbed, is by far the cutest 2 year old I know. He is the adorable first child of Changa (53) and Lolita (19). You can often see him running around camp in his diaper with his half full cup of milk (the other half is all over his shirt and face) or saying "hola" as he sits on the front porch existing.
Juanito ate breakfast with us. Well..not really "with" us. He just ate our food. He snagged most of Roberto's huevos-eggs, my frijoles-beans, and with Fernando's help, unsuccessfully drank half a carton of Nutri-Leche. Juanito would reach for the baca-cow, on the carton, and Fernando would tilt Juanito's head back and the little boy grabbed the milk with both hands and tipped it all over his face. Roberto kept saying how masculine he was doing such a thing as drinking milk without a cup, he helped Juanito wipe his mouth with a smirk and make a grunty man noise after. Not so successful, but nevertheless, really really cute.
Then...the children came. Until summer vacation starts, Fernando will be having hundreds of classes coming to the beach and releasing turtle. This is a way to get some form of income, but it is also one of the sweetest things. Most of the kids look to be in about 3rd grade, and couldn't be happier about not being in school AND getting to play with baby turtles. They all take their shoes off, roll up their uniformed sleeves and pants legs, and walk in their line to the beach. Then, all hell beaks loose. They are freaking out with the water almost touching them, and then after letting their turtles onto the beach, screaming for them to go faster so they will be the "winner" to the ocean. Kids are also naturally blunt. In any country. These two twin girls were my buddies, and asking me if I was a woman, where I lived, where my shoes were, why I was here etc. I love kids and just seeing them being themselves makes me love them even more. I also love that Fernando is getting kids involved at such a young age. The school systems here are truly a mess, and a sense of hopelessness is very strong in Tecolutla, mostly due to the long term effects of having an un-reliable and corrupt government. The fact that these kids get to see nature in action and how wonderful it can really be if they take care of it, is no greater lesson. It leaves them all with a sense of responsibilty towards these little turtles and their habitat. It's amazing.

After a successful afternoon, Roberto, Blanca, and myself ventured to the beautiful Papantla to experience the festival in El Tajin. I can describe it in two words: Ridiculous and Glorious. Before the show at the festival actually started, there was a CD of maybe 3 songs that repeated over and over again for 2 hours. One song in particular repeated "Papaaaaantla!!!!" so many times, Roberto and I just started singing along. I really haven't laughed as hard as I did when I Roberto made his crazy face and sang and played the air guitar. It was great.
During the show, there was a recreation of the Gods sending explorers to the ruins, sacrificial dances, and freakin FIREWORKS. The fireworks really came out of no where and made my whole night. Also, the giant horchata was pretty good too.
Everything was done around 1 am, and apparently busses stop running sometime around midnight, so luckily one of Roberto's friends who lives in Tecolutla was there and offered to drive us back. Now I can say I've succeeded in recreating the stereotypical mexican carpool. Five kids, including a small child under the age of 4, riding in the bed of a truck, as Grandma and Grandpa ride shotty, speeding around curves and up hills, braving the horrible terrain that is any Mexican road. I loved every second of my hour ride, with the exception of when my feet fell asleep...and when we were almost hit but a bus.

Tomorrow is Friday. Which means. MY BROTHER AND MOM GET HERE! HOORAY!!!!

May 21st, FINALLY a pretty day!

Roberto played a trick to get me out of my cabin. He told me someone was on the phone for me at the house and that it was very urgent. He just wanted me to get out of bed. So I got my panties all in a twist and just folded t-shirts with Roberto in silence. The entire time I thought about why I was so cranky, and what I could do to just break the silence and be a big girl about it. Roberto finally broke the silence and asked if I was annoyed. I said no, that I was just having a moment and if I got outside or something, I would be better.
we folded shirts for 4 hours and had some breakfast. The day started to open up and become quite beautiful, so I decided right then that I would make my first trek out to the beach since Katie had been here. Being outside in general just makes me happier, so that plus the beach would be a perfect combo. Thus, I begin my walk. It is 1.45. I walked for an hour, and decided to stop for a break near a big piece of drift wood on the beach. I made myself comfortable after taking a dip, and read some of my favorite parts from Eat, Pray, Love. I can't say I've ever really re-read a book. I know it's not unheard of, but it's something I just don't do. Here, I've started easing myself into it. and I have to say..I quite like it. I can remember how I was feeling when Ir ead it the first time and compare it to how I feel this time. I still love the book just as much as the first time, which gives me now reason not to read on.
After an hour or so of reading, I went swimming and sang my little heart out because absolutley no one was around me.
I packed up to start walking back and not even a tenth of a mile away from me, a momma tortuga had come onto the beach and was now laying her nest.
I waited by the nest, now being the new mother of those eggs, and sat and read, hoping someone would either drive by from camp or get worried and come out looking for me. There was no way I was leaving that nest, knowing what could happen to them. A random truck could pass by, notice the track (which are freakin impossible to cover..I tried haha), or dogs could smell eggs/turtle remnants and decide to dig up the nest and feast.
During my few hours of hanging around the nest, I saw at least 3 bikers, 1 scooter, 2 trucks, 4 random people walking, a dog who made himself quite comfortable next to the turtle tracks, and finally lachanga who drove by with a full ATV of turtle eggs and another guy. He said I needed to wait, but that he would be back after he dropped the stuff off at camp. I was glad I stayed. and the fact that no one passed by for another 2 hours, gave me the hint that I was just to take it slow. No rush. It's Mexico!
Lachanga came back a while later for the nest, and said I could start walking back because he had to go in the other direction to re-check the beach. On my walk back home, I realized that early evening is soccer on the beach time. I walked through at least three games, successfully halting each and every one. I kept walking and noticed the sea and how breath-taking it was. It had a tint of purple all across it and low-tide had made it incredibley calm. The sky had a few huge cloud spread through it with the remaining sun shining out of it. It was beautiful and I couldn't stop smiling.
I got back to the house at 7.15 and had pineapple, yogurt, and cornflakes in a bowl. Best dinner ever. After discovering how much I loved skype the night before, we tried it with a huge group of people. Dad set it up at the Kiehner household, and I got to say hi to my best friends. Their pop-pop and grandma were there as well, and after I heard pop-pop make a comment about my butt, I couldn't stop laughing. He's such a crazy man..I love him.

May 20th, OK..this is the last uneventful day for a while..promise.

I woke up around 8 today, and got to my second day of tough work.. I ended up folding pamphlets until 11.30. At this point during the day, I was feeling pretty well. Then we had breakfast. Eggs and Beans. Not too extravagent, right? I felt sick anyway.
I went back to my cabin to lie down and feel better. SO of course..I watched Little Miss Sunshine and my new movie that is pretty much on repeat down here- The Office. I passed out for a few hours after, and by the time I woke up it was dinner time, and I was feeling much better.

I like helping with meals. It's one thing I feel like I can do and actually take a load off of someones hands. I helped set the table for dinner, serve food and drinks, and after, clean the table and put chairs away. They never once have asked me to contribute food or cash for food, so along with the different foods I'll buy and donate to the kitchen, I like helping.
Now..it was time for..SCHOOL! This class was made up of Roberto, Paty, and myself. Ramido hadn't eaten since 9 that morning, so he totally was a rebel and didn't go to class. He ate food instead..pfft. The things that gets me about school, is that before I got here, none of these people from Tecolutla had a desire, or even a need to learn English. There are very few only English speakers who travel all that way down here, and the tourists that do make it down here..only speak Spanish anyway! I like that they want to learn now..it makes me feel a little less alone in my quest to learn this language. I think it also makes everyone a a little more sympathetic which isn't a bad thing either. Paty wants me to put of little signs around the house with names of what thigns are. So on the stove, I just write "stove" on a piece of paper, and tape that baby on there, etc etc with other things.

After class, I tried something especially fun. My dad had helped me load skype onto my laptop when I was here the first time, but I had yet to try it until tonight. I got to see my little brother, and my dad, and Beans! It felt like Christmas.

May 19th, SOMETHING AMAZING IS ACCOMPLISHED!!

I was up at 7am, and immediately started folding t-shirts. There was a giant garbage bag full of fresh t-shirts that needed folding. I was quite diligent until 11 or so when I finally finished. In between folding though, I did sneak in breaks. I went to the beach and saw two turtle releases with all the children. It never gets old and they never ever stop being adorable. Even the parents are just as into it as the kids. After folding and a little bit of beach time, I helped get breakfast ready. I love eating later here, when you accomplish things first, work up an appetite, and then eat. Breakfast wasn't too eventful until the end...THEN SOMETHING AMAZING HAPPENED.
I managed to get Fernando to sit down for 2 hours. We did the most beneficial thing yet for his camp and purpose: I became the accountant, and we went through all of the expenses of the camp, and each source of income they had. I wrote everything down.
This is something that had been put off numerous times, always getting out of sitting down by saying it was important but quickly removing himself from the room to do something else that was important. This time was different. As we were finishing breakfast, I brought it up with a smile and a light attitude. His response, "yes, yes that is very important." came so naturally that he didn't expect my retort. I said "yes. It is very important. If we are going to get any money from America, we need this", followed by his enthused "oh yes, i hope so!". I then moved us bak into the house and told him to stay right there..that I would be right back with my laptop so we could get this done.
I came back and his puffing away on his cigarette told me he wasn't looking forward to doing this-This thing he had spent 35 years successfully not doing.
I outlined and organized a word document and got down to business. We started by listing the expenses during his 6 busiest months and regressed into the relatively un-eventful 6 months
met tanya(?). she's from mexico city but living in tecolutla because she feels a higher spiritual being has brought her here. she tells me she loves her country and that it is one of the most beautiful places on earth, in which I completely agreed, but said it's pretty screwed up with a smile. I smile back and say...yeah...that government of yours. We both laugh in agreement.
Irma got home around the same time we were finishing up the financial stuff, which meant it was time to prepare dinner. I had been planning to spend my evening at the combined spanish and english class I was now going to be having with roberto, and ramido. Felix called during dinner though to say he wasn't feeling well so we ended up staying in.
Later that evening, Roberto and I went to get Horchatas at the best stand in Tecolutla to get them. We then walked over to Hotel Tecolutla (Thanks for the rec. Nancy!!) and explored. He's so persistent that I keep speaking and practicing, I really feel like I have no choice but to speak.
It's a good thing, but lets just say I am excited about the arrival of two of my favorite English speakers- My mom and younger brother, Will. They fly in on Thursday, and will be in Tecolutla this Friday!!! You never realize how much you miss a persons voice until you don't hear it for 3 weeks.
Now it is bedtime. Tomorrow...I fold pamphlets.

May 18th, Translator

I woke up to Roberto's voice calling me for breakfast outside my door. I was a little surprised to hear "JULIE!!" first thing, so I popped my head up and shouted QUE PASO?! I got teased for my loud reaction the remainder of the afternoon. I made my way to the house and had beans and eggs for with everyone. As we were all eating, Dulce found me in the house. She asked if I had made any progress translating the intro pages for her job. I honestly had just passed out last night, so I told her I would start working on it and would have it all done by the time she was leaving for the day. She came back to my cabin and listened to music as I started translating. She's fun though. When you see her in camp, she always looks like she's entertaining someone or being silly and entertaining herself, but when we were just hanging out she'd ask we questions about my home life. I asked her about her homelife and her parents, her friends from school, whether she wanted a family or not. I still am so impressed at how strong she is. With every answer she seemed so sure of herself and the bright future that awaited her.
Dulce went back to work not that long after I started translating so I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon translating as best I could. The verb book I brought back this time has been a life saver..I love it. Translating was great though. After every word I looked up, or verb I conjugated, I could feel myself trying to absorb as many of the words as I possibly could. I'd say sentences to myself to try and get the words to stick. I flew through the first big paragraphs, trying to educate myself and help Dulce, but somewhere between 5 paragraphs translated and getting tired of flipping back and forth from intro page to verb book to dictionary to notepad, I decided it was time for a break. I finished Three Cups of Tea during my little break, and all I can say is wow. One of the best books I've read. Everything this man has done, from his attempt to climb K2 to building a Non-Profit into an organization dedicated to the education of young girls in Central Asia, inspired me. He spoke so passionately about the only way to end poverty and terrorism, ignorance and hate, is through education, especially for girls. I cried, I laughed, and I learned. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about a world so many dismiss, and believe children are our future. It will touch your heart.

The rest of the evening wasn' too eventful. It continued to rain, as it had consistently been doing all weekend, and decided it was time to get on the computer. I checked mail, posted a blog, and talked to Irma, Fernando, and Roberto who were also in the room. They informed me that I would actually have a job tomorrow! This was extremely exciting. I haven't done anything since Katie left, aside from a few 6 am trips to the beach and helping with the release of the turtles. I was excited to have something to contribute, even if it was raining and very few turtles were nesting/hatching.
I'm up at 7 am tomorrow! I'M SO EXCITED. but seriously. very excited.

May 17th, The rain is fierce

Today and Yesterday are really the only days worth talking about. On the 15th, I woke up at 6, left for the beach at 6.30, found 4 nests, and hustled back to camp with lachanga (sp?). I napped from 9 to 12, ate food, and then read until about 4 oclock. I ate dinner, and went back to my house and read a little bit more. Then I retreated to the one who knew me best: My laptop. I stayed on that for an embarrassing number of hours, and then called it a night.


Today, I followed Thursdays schedule with a few adjustments in the morning. It didn't rain this morning, so I went out again at 6 with Lachanga. I've become the unofficial morning person. I don't mind it though. I can stand getting up that early, and when it's of my own free will, no other parties included, I'll even enjoy popping myself out of bed and making my way out the door. I'll ride for hours, tracing the outlines made by waves on the beach, looking for turtle tracks. I get to see the sun rise, and before in April when it wasn't as humid, you could see the shape of the sun coming up so clearly. Now with the end of May coming up, the rainy season is lerking upon Tecolutla with every rain cloud, trying to muster up a storm. For the moment, the clouds can shout with thunder and rain for only 30 minutes. I can watch the sky through my window, though. It has a fierceness I've never seen in a Pennsylvania sky. It wants to pour everything it has out onto this town, but is restraining and holding back its full power. I can see it in the clouds.
We arrived back at camp faster than I can ever remember getting back. Probably because I drove, what normally is an hour, back to camp. I like kicking it into 4th gear, and zooming along the bumps of the beach. We made it back in approx 30 minutes, just in time to watch the little kids scurrying to the beach to collect their baby turtles from Ramido and Roberto, and then set them free into the ocean. It was quite a site. Parents, Grandparents, 3 year olds, 15 year olds..Everyone..came to set a turtle free. Everyone was smiling and taking pictures with their camera phones, excited to get to hold such a tiny creature. Until that moment, I had somewhat been taking my privelages for granted. I, unlike everyone in this town, get to ride up and down the beach with the pro's who have been at this for years. I get to touch eggs, direct spectators to a safe viewing distance, and collect baby turtles like it's no big thang.
After witnessing the two rounds of releases that would be happening that morning, I went back to the house and had some cereal. Cereal has definately become my comfort food. I'm not eating in all the time like I can't live without it, but when its breakfast, I'm eating cereal. I started consuming much more after Katie left on Wednesday. That also was when I started feeling sick. Now it isn't like before, when I knew I would be throwing up at some point, this is more like something that is just gonna hang around for a while. It may be part of the reason why I sleep around 7 hours of sleep at night, 4 hours of sleep scattered thoughout the day, and still feel sick.

I had breakfast, round two, with a crowded table of 8, all tired from the mass turtle releasing that happened and the flood of people that completely occupied Vida Milenaria's camp site, buying t-shirts and turtle trinkets. While we were eating, Dulce (19 year old who made fun of me my first night here in March, but is now one of my closest friends.) was complaining of a stomach ache. I offered up the spare bed in my cabin for her to nap. She took me up on the offer and joined me later in the cabin while I was cleaning. I sweeped, put away clothes, made a actual dirty clothes pile instead of floor and chair, and cleared off the spare bed I had started piling books, my towel, and random articles of clothing on. Dulce asked me some questions here and there about my mom and brothers anticipated visit, then got comfortable and just curled up. I asked if she needed anything else, and given a smile and no, gracias in response. I was still cleaning when she passed out, and right then I more or less felt like her mother.
Dulce's mother has been out of the picture for years, and although Dulce lives with her father, she rarely sees him because of his work and hers. She also just doesn't like him that much. Dulce has pretty much been raising herself for 8 years, working and studying for university as I found out today. She talks alot and is quite animated. She smiles at me everytime I see her, and I always return the smile with a big hug. Today, more than ever, I felt like she was my closest friend here.
Dulce went back to work around 10.45, after a good hour of nap time. She said she felt much better, and as she was leaving I told her if she ever needed a place to nap, she could always come here. She smiled her smile, and walked right back to camp.
I read for a while after she left. As usual. I couldn't help it though. I was into my book more than I was into Eat Pray Love, and just wanted to learn and educate myself on Greg Mortenson's experiences. I was reading about his 6 day courtship, before getting married to the woman of his dreams, how he had gracefully learned from his first school experience, quickly producing more elementary schools all over Northern Pakistan's most remote villages. I felt like his dream could be my dream..or something of the sorts. It truly is an inspiring book. Three Cups of Tea. Buy it online at www.threecupsoftea.com, or even just visit the website for more information. You'll be happy you did. Did you know 1 penny can buy a pencil for these Pakistani kids, and that one U.S dollar will cover the wages of a teacher for one day...that's less than $365 to hire a teacher for an entire year! IT IS SO WORTH CHECKING OUT..PLEASE..Look at the site..You'll be inspired www.threecupsoftea.com

I read until 4 again. Naida came to my cabin and asked if I was hungry. She said that before Dulce went back to work, she had told her that I really loved reading, and that I would probably need someone to pry me away if I was going to eat. Naida let me know there was food if I wanted some, so I thanked her a million times over and followed her to the house. I ate, and listened as people talked around. They always ask me if I understand what their saying after they speak to each other really quickly. They know I can't follow the fast pace of their language, so asking me makes me feel that much worse that I can't understand. The ones who know me will slow it down, like Naida and Dulce. She asked me a couple questions about when I was going back to the states, if I wanted juice, and told me there were only a couple tortillas. I ate and went back to my cabin. For some reason, I just get uncomfortable with all the faces turned towards me and asking questions, slipping curse words in just to make it funny. Everyone laughs and I have no idea whats going on. I guess that is kind of to be expected though. haha.

I looked around the cabin in between reading and really just felt alone. I couldn't understand anyone and they really couldn't understand me. As the end of my second week was coming to a close, I felt homesick. I layed in bed, wishing my Dad was here, or wanting to just talk to my mom on the phone. I wanted someone to know how I felt, so I could just get it out of my system and move on. I looked up at the fierce sky, and asked for some help..anything it had. I layed there for less than a minute when Dulce and her friend came walking in front of my cabin. She wanted to see me before she left, and when I tried to tell her I was sleeping, she just came in and gave me a hug. My eyes were wet when she pulled back from the hug and said, "You may not understand anything I'm saying, but you don't need words to know that I'm your friend." and gave me another hug. This was just too much haha. Right as I was allowing my heart to give up, Dulce came and really saved me from myself. She asked if I missed my family and I told her yes. I straightened myself out and invited the other friends of theirs that had wandered onto my cement slab porch to come in. We looked at pictures of my family (they are all quite infatuated with my brothers now, declaring how muy guapo they both are) Dulce then pulled out a big packet from her book bag. She handed it to me explaining it was part of her school work, but that the first few introductory pages, and a list of rules, were all listed in English. She had a small dictionary at home, but no verb book, which I find is pretty important. I told her not to worry about it, but that I would translate the majority of it so she knew what the foreign pages were trying to tell her. She wants to get into tourism and hospitality, hopefully getting herself out of here and exploring all over Mexico, and hopefully Spain.

The storm of people passed as quickly as the rain did, but that 30 minutes of smiles, laughing, and meeting new people, truly made my day.

Now I'm in my bed. It is drizzling, and glorious lightening is filling the sky, followed by a lulling roll of thunder. I hope it stays this way when I go to sleep. It is extremely peaceful.

May 16th, I have my first Spanish/English lesson

I slept, read, and sweat today. So basically..only one significant thing happened today. Around 6 pm, I went with Ramido and Roberto to Felix's house. There, we would have our first English/Spanish lesson. Ramido and Roberto started with introductions, and common questions (where are you from, how old are you etc..) I was started on the same ones. Now..I know I'm not that awesome at speaking Spanish, but my 4 weeks here have done me justice, and I can get along with small talk and getting to know someone. I gratefully took Felix's lesson, and watched as Ramido and Roberto asked each other their new questions. Roberto consistently answered that he was either 2 or 99 years old, and that he was never born, therefore...wasn't from anyplace in particular. We packed up the three mini notebooks and pens that Roberto had bought for us, and walked back toward the center of town to get back to camp. I offered to buy everyone huge Horchatas, and as we enjoyed our tasty dessert like drink, Roberto said.."YEAH!!" and gave me a thumbs up. haha, his comprehention of the English language is pretty decent, it's just the conversation part he has a hard time with. We practiced slang phrases, more ridiculous phrases about our age, and then just settled back to using Spanish. Ramido had to ride home to his wife and children, so Roberto and I walked back to camp. He asked why I hadn't practice my Spanish as much. I told it was hard for me to do it with so many new people around. He understood and felt the same way. We talked about the ATVs, riding out in the morning, and why I hadn't gone with them as much. I would answer to the best of my ability but was pleased to find that Roberto really wanted to help me. He would slip in the correct conjugation of verbs, I would repeat and then we would just move on. No one has done that with me.
My friendship with Roberto is awesome. He has a really similar sense of humor and can always tell when I'm B.Sing and don't actually know whats going on. Then he'll sit down and try and get through to me whats going on. He'll try a ton of different words for the same word until he finds one I actually understand. He's a good friend, and I know I'll owe a good portion of my Spanish speaking to him by the time I leave.

May 14th, Aw...no..Katie don't leave

Katie's last day..tear. Felix and his driver, the quiet and friendly Fernando, planned to come pick Katie and I up at 6. At that time we would start our mini journey to the Poza Roca Airport. Felix and Fernando pulled up 15 minutes early, forcing us to hustle out of the cabin. Katie said her goodbyes, and before we knew it, we were out of the Tecolutla and getting on the highway.
I'm pretty sure I've described driving in Mexico before, but I'll go over it just to refresh your memory. Highways are one lane, and from time to time, will even have a small shoulder. In order to pass cars in front of you, you must pull over into the opposing traffic's lane, speed past the slower car, and then move back into your correct lane. It feels like a game of chicken actually. Who's going to make the first move and pass? Is there enough time? I wonder if a car is coming around this corner.
Fernando, well aware of the rules, decided at some point to push them. First of all you never pass cars when you're going around a turn and can't see cars coming up. You also should never try and pass a car when you are approaching a hill, as you cannot see what is coming up the other end of it. Fernando did both. His tiny Nissan risked all of our lives, and for a few seconds Katie and I pretty much thought we were gonners. We got back into our lane with only 9 feet clearing room. Usually you want at least 100.
That was the highlight of the ride though. The rest of it was a piece of cake, and right around 7.10, we pulled into the tiny airport parking lot.
If the Philadelphia airport is a human being, the Poza Rica airport is a finger nail. Only one mini plane can operate at a time, meaning only one flight leaves every couple hours. The airport itself is a box, as Katie frequently described it. You pass through security only when you are making your way outside to walk onto the plane, so Katie, myself and our posse of Mexicans hung out at the "gate" and waited for her to leave. Felix had also never seen an airport or plane, so that was even more incentive to hang around and wait for her to take off.
Katie's flight took off right on time. There was no reason for it not to. As she walked out to the plane, I quickly reflected on the friendship I had just made and knew then I would be seeing her again, whether it was in Colorado, PA, Tecolutla, or some crazy other place. The friend I had made was too great to just brush off like any other brief acquaintance. We were now "buddies", and I look forward to keeping it that way. I smushed my face against the glass wall so she could see how much I would miss her, and she waved back and laughed.
The second part of the day was pretty uneventful. I drove back with the my gang and we went shopping at a huge Walmart. Everytime I find myself doing something so natural in such an unnatural setting, I like to just get out of my head and look around. Then I make a strange face because that too is unnatural, and then I just laugh at myself. I was practicing this in the Men's department, picking out pants with a Mexican English teacher, and his driver. Felix couldn't decide on what pants he wanted and was consistently unsure about whether or not the shirts he picked out matched the pants he wanted. Fernando was obviously getting frustrated, but stayed true, and kept himself composed. I laughed everytime Felix would ask Fernando what he thought, because I know inside Fernando was thinking, "Dear Lord, just pick something out!!" He laughed with me as Felix just went about his business.
By the time check out came around, we had probably been shopping for at least 45 minutes. We started towards the door, but then stopped. Felix asked me to wait with the cart while he went BACK IN to get money from the "automatic teller machine". I told him we just called that thing an ATM.
I sat on the bench for 20 minutes, starting to get impatient. I wanted to be in the car with my book and making some progress getting back to Tecolutla. When Felix and Fernando returned, I was relieved and a little frustrated with all the stops we had been making. I cooled down immediately when Felix showed me what he bought. He had gotten me what would have normally been prescription oitment for my bug bites. They are pretty bad right now and it almost seems useless to try and put bugspray on to prevent them. Throughout this trip and the previous one, the bites were successfully making me feel self-concious and giving me a vice for any situations where I couldn't talk. I just itched them instead. The fact that he had thought of me when I was convinced he was in his own head, worrying about his stupid pants, made me want to cry. I was tired and hungry, and he had gotten me what I needed most- Ointment for my boo boos. It felt like Christmas.

I got into the car feeling pleasantly surprised and with a new sense of happiness. I was constantly seeing why I chose to come here and why I came back. I finished One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, and that just did me in. I was bopping along to the mexican music I didn't like, smiling the entire time. I had people who cared about me right here, and I didn't need them to use words to convey that.
The rest of the day was full of naps, sweating, reading about Baja California in the Lonely Planet book Katie lent me, and starting "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson. I looked around a couple times, trying to let the fact that I was alone sink in. I had gotten so used to having someone to joke around with and talk to, all of a sudden not having that felt so different and wrong. I tried to remember the time when I did this before, and spend my time like I had then, but I was still having trouble. I picked up Three Cups of Tea, and read the intro. BAM. I was back out of my funk, and moving onto the next project. So far, I love the book. It is the story of a Mountaineer turned Humanitarian, who gave girls in a remote town in Pakistan that chance to get an education. He was determined to build them a school. I haven't gotten much further than that, but I'm almost definate it's going to be just as great as Eat, Pray, Love, if not better.

May 13th, FINALLY SOME TURTLES!!!

Today was a success, to say the least. It was Katie's last full day, and the only turtles she had seen were the babies from the day before, and a couple on one day at the beginning of her week.
Today...there were 37 nests laid. It was great. We were with the crew taking care of the first 1/3 of the beach. It was Katie, Fernando, Roberto (another boy who works at the camp that I hadn't met until this week), and myself. We took that buggy and rode back and forth for about 6 hours. Of those 6 hours, I believe there were 2 things that are worth mentioning.

First being that the tons of turtles we saw made Katie's day. She is seriously one of the greatest people I've ever met. I haven't laughed as much or as hard with someone I only just met in forever, and we're already planning trips to see meet up in later months. The fact that we had a beautiful, a great breeze, and so many turtles made it that much better.

Second is something not so great. In the beginning of our ride, still close to where people actually played on the beach, we noticed turtle tracks. We saw markings of what looked like where she had laid her nest and recovered it, but we didn't find tracks back to the water. This is just heart-breaking. The truth of the matter is that people will drive onto the beach (despite Fernando's efforts with gates and ropes to keep them off) and hunt for the turtles. These people know when the good days are and know how to spot them. When they do, they carelessly grab the turtle by the shell, and put it in their truck. Then they drive off..never to be seen again.
It's not even random people either that committ this crime. It's people driving the trash trucks, collecting garbage off of the beach. Employed people with official vehicles you want to trust.

We found the eggs safely laid in their nest and quickly collected and re-located them. The rest of the afternoon went like that. No more stolen turtles for block market money. But still...one is enough to really make you think. How can we stop this. Where do we start?

Katie and enjoyed her last night in Tecolutla by going back to the sanitized retaurant, and then getting ice cream. I'm going to miss that lady. Everyone here is wonderful, but truly connecting with someone and making a friend is very hard when they don't speak the same language. I keep trying and the longer I stay here, the more inspiration each day brings.

May 12th, mmm I love naps

We woke up at 6, and left in 7 in the truck. We rode out to the nest that was due to hatch the day before, so we could collect the tortugitas, and bring them back to the camp. I nodded in and out of sleep on the way there. After we arrived, I was up and helping to collect the turtles from their hole. They were adorable. Most of them were still sleeping, so they didn't put up a fight when we held them in the palms of our hands. The process of collecting the turtles takes a little bit longer than collecting the eggs during the nesting process. I believe I'll have a little more to do in this stage of the process which is a good feeling.
When we got back in the truck to go back home, I nodded off again. I'm not sure why. I didn't stay up too late and I didn't have this problem before. After a couple minutes I just stopped fighting it and gave in to my sleepiness.
I went straight to the cabin for nap time and slept until 10. When I woke up I didn't see Katie, so I went to the front and asked if she left to go to town or was on the beach. Ramido said she was in town but didn't know where. I knew where she was. The blue place we had spotted on Sunday with Lazaro. Katie said it had her name on it and would try it for breakfast either monday or tuesday. I had a gut feeling she was eating there, and as i strolled up and peered over the half-wall making up the side of the building, i saw her enjoying a book and finishing her meal. She said the food was excellent and that if I wanted to eat, she would hang out while I did that. I mean afterall...schedules don't really exist here. The thing I liked most about this place was that it had soap and a sink right outside of the bathrooms for you to use. That, alone, made it our new favorite place. The fact that the food was really good too also helped.
When we got back from breakfast, We rode the buggy for the first time during this trip. We rode and didn't see anything. So we got beers. Well I didn't get beers. Fernando and Kilos had many beers, Katie had one and commented about the mass amount of beers, and I had a soda. The remainder of the afternoon and early evening was made up of driving and occasionally stopping to check turtle prints. Not too shabby I would say.
Irma had made dinner and I was quite hungry so I enjoyed that quite thoroughly. I used the internet for a little while longer than Katie and when she decided to walk into town for a "horchada" and Ice cream, I turned my music up really loud. The family had gone to the next town to see the circus, so I felt no shame in blasting my english version of Hero by Enrique, and Avril Lavigne. When Katie came back she knew just what to do. She joined me and blasted Shakira from her lap top. The two whitest girls in Tecolutla, a camp of Turtles, and "My Hips Don't Lie". It was a glorious.

May 11th, "what did we do on mother's day?"..."we celebrated mothers all across the world" - Katie Davis

Today was crazy awesome!!!! haha Actually it was almost ordinary, but I wanted to add some pizzazz to the intro :) We read, slept, sweat, and walked!
But first... we ate! This was Lazaro's last morning, so the three of us went out for a final meal. La China (not to be confused with Va Gina!..Thanks Katie haha) was the restaurant of choice. In order to get to the dining room, we had to first walk through the kitchen, passing their pet parrot who happened to be missing many feathers, and grandma who appeared to be doing dishes.
This morning I try the Chilaquiles! This recommendation from a friend, was delicious. It's torn up tortillas with a spicy sauce and torn up cheese over it. It hurt my belly, but was so worth it.

Over breakfast we talked about Fernando's financial state. He always seems to manage to break even by the end of turtle season, despite loans he takes out and how in the hole he appears. As an American, I'm well aware that in order to really grow a business, you need to do better than break even. This is something not apart of the Mexican culture which I think is what makes it so hard. They give until they have nothing, and even then they will still give. This is wonderful and generous, but they also have a hard time accepting and taking. For example, Katie wanted to give Fernando a disclosed amount of money for allowing her to stay with him and for his hospitality etc. This was money he clearly needed, but repeatedly turned it down and kept shoving it back into Katie's hands. She finally made him take it and said she wanted a shirt and would call it even. He wanted to just give her the shirt and not get anything. This is nice on the outside, but in operating his camp, he needs to think about it as more of a business. This is also the only way he will be able to receive a large amount of funding from other big businesses or companies or cities even. The three of us talked about ways for them to start changing how they work things so that we can get them more money in return. They first need to start writing everything down that concerns money. Without this, no one will give big checks to help them because it will appear as though the money is just disappearing into the abyss. Those of us who are down here know better, but still, if you want to work with America, you've got to know the rules. We've started to set up a spread sheet to just start getting numbers down for their operation. We need written proof of their expenses over the last few years in order to work with big financial supporters, so the three of us are working to get that done by the time I leave on the 30th.
We walked around the stores and headed back to the house. It was unfortunately time to say goodbye to Laz. Fernando and Laz joked around for a while and then accepted that it was indeed time to go. Laz took off and Katie and I went back to the cabin. We read for about 2 and a half hours.
By about 2, it was hot..and I'm talking real hot. Like you're brain stops working and all you can do is nap or walk. It's ridiculous. We had already napped, so it was walking time. We headed for the beach and just went. We walked for an hour and then went swimming to cool down. After you walk the beach for 45 minutes, you finally hit the part of the beach where no one goes. We swam for a little while and then just sat and talked. We talked about our families, home, air conditioning, what we want to do in the future-All very good things. The thing I like most about just walking with Katie is that we both enjoy talking and we both enjoy the silence. We talked for about half the time we walked and used the rest to just be in our heads and think. The beautiful ocean and soundtrack of birds and waves crashing can inspire much thought.
We got home and it was time for the best part of the day. Shower and get food time.
We got pizza which was delicious as usual, and then switched it up and got ice cream after. The 24 hour store actually sells the Magnum bars we had been hunting down all week, so we enjoyed those and walked back home. Then it was time to check our mail and connect with the outside world (or write in my blog). After a little while, though, it just gets old. I want to read now. I want to lay around and just relax. It's something that I never would have expected of myself before this second return.
I returned to the room and talked to Katie for a little while, then we decided it was movie time. and not just any movie...TOMB RAIDER!!! haha The Cradle of Life is bad, its amazing. It was the perfect way to end the day.

Now for some insight.
Everything feels like a home here-Restaurants, the beach, the 24 hour store Katie and I love so much, and every stand we pass on the way to town. There are always families out front or walking around together. A family prepares the food for your family. I've never been to a place where literally everything feels like a home. It really makes me miss my family. I doubt we all start a road side taco stand together, but I love being with them. My brother told me today that travelling adds years onto your brain and it's so true. I feel like I've grown up more than I could have imagined being down here. In high school, I would have been so scared to have made this decision by myself, it probably never would have happened. I would have made up an excuse to get out of coming, and would have retreated back home. But now the truth is that I love exploring and learning. I love meeting families and people and making friends. The change that has happened since coming back for round two, however, is that I can appreciate the balance. No longer can I imagine myself living in just one place, but nor can I see myself growing up without my homebase, without my family and their families. I need both to be happy. I also need to just take a step back every once in a while and look at my life. Just float and exist. Existing, as I have come to find, is way underrated. No matter how busy you are, there is always time to just exist. If you don't have it now, make it for yourself. It is this simple act of existing right now that is keeping me at peace. I could worry about going home and working, or having enough gas to last me all summer, but I won't. I'll exist and be happy, and that's that.

May 10th, Mother's Day party!

Today I did what I usually do - sleep alot, read, and walk. The morning was made up of going out to eat breakfast with Katie, reading for hours on the porch, and going to the beach on an ATV with Noe around 3pm. I'm definately feel like I'm on vacation. In fact, I sort of wish it wasn't this intense of a vacation, but I'm accepting the life style.
The evening was great. I read a little bit more and then showered and dressed up for the Mother's Day fiesta that was to take place. There was a live band coming to play for an hour, a huge feast, and wonderful company (but that's to always be expected). Lazaro drove to Poza Rica that morning to pick up his mother, his god mother and her husband, and his sister, Carmela. I love her. I met her in February, and she was one of the sweetest people I'd ever met. Most of the guests were older, so the dancing part of the night didn't really happen, but it was entertaining and fun regardless. After the band left, one of Irma and Fernando's friends showed up at the gate. He was carrying a guitar and wanted to come in and play and talk. Lazaro, of course, got hold of that guitar and serenaded everyone for another hour.

Around 9.30 was when the mothers and Laz's sister decided it was time to leave. They were driving back to Poza Rica and didn't want to get home too late. When they left, I could do anything I wanted to. I ended up talking to Lazaro for a little while and life and other deep conversations. The man is great at really connecting with his friends too which makes just talking awesome. Him and Fernando are adorable together too, and seeing them spend time with each other warms my heart. Laz always talks about Fernando is his best friend, so it's good to see them talking. Katie was in bed before I was, and was sleeping by the time I got back. It was about 1am and I couldnt fall asleep. SO what did I do? I watched Little Miss Sunshine. I love that movie.

May 9th, Katie and I are Huevonas ( I would write more but I have to be outside to get the internet and I'm being eaten alive by mosquitos.)

I keep feeling like my days here are being used to complete unimportant chores and that my work load should have more to do with turtles rather than cooking or food shopping. Maybe that's why the last blog was somewhat sarcastic? haha, Who knows.
Today I woke up late. haha. Always a good start to a productive day. I was up around 8, and realized if people had gone out to the beach, they had left about 2 hours ago. Instead of getting up and checking, I opted to stay in bed and write on my laptop. After about an hour of writing, I was finally at peace with myself. I wasn't hassling my brain about staying in bed and typing versus walking or riding on the beach anymore. I just accepted that this is what I was supposed to be doing at that moment. That is very much the life style down here. No one freaks out when they get up late, or tries to fit as many activities or jobs as possible into one day. They just accept that they will do maybe one thing at maybe this time on this day..if it's nice. Then that's about it. If on the way to their task they see a friend, maybe they'll stop and have a beer with them for an hour, or maybe help them out with a stuck car or flat tire. After you get back into the routine of things in the states, however, you no longer allow yourself time to just exist-life is more about getting task after task done. I imagine that is why I feel "lazy" here. I'm used to not having free time and feeling rushed.
Now don't get me wrong. Katie, Laz, and myself did quite alot of travelling today, just no saving turtles.
Anywho, before setting off anywhere today, Katie and I needed breakfast. Over the past few days, the heat had depleated both of our appetites, but this morning was the first day we had a big appetite. So we feasted..We enjoyed the All American Breakfast: Pancakes, fruit with yogurt and granola, orange juice, and coffee. It was delicious. We walked off breakfast for just over an hour and after planned to meet with Laz at camp. We would be driving to El Tajin to see the ruins and then to Poza Rica to buy food for mothers day and to visit Laz's mom. Lazaro told her about my bug bites, and she advised using the natural medicines she kept in a large coke bottle. Whatever she put on my legs, stopped the itching so I can't really comment on where she stored it.
The market in Poza Rica is a maze, both chaotic and smelly. People travel from Tecolutla (about an hour away) and further, just to go there. We were able to buy green beans, rice, tomatoes, shrimp, crabs and a few other ingredients all in one place. Driving around the more urban part of Poza Rica was way different than only being near Lazaro's mother's house. SHe lives in a tiny neighborhood, away from the packed streets, crazy drivers, and people running from store to store. A place that has those very different feels, right next to each other is quite convenient and I can defiantely see the appeal of raising a family there like Lazaro's mom had done so many years ago.

We arrived home not too late, and instead of cooking in the house, the three of us went out for Pizza and Calzones (yes..I know..very Mexican of us). The little place right in the center square is delicious and give you a nicely sized medium pizza for just $5. Quite the bargain. But then again...most things in Mexico appear that way.
I went to bed relatively early, and with a very full belly. I was all ready for another day of rest and reading. Gosh, why are things so hard here??

May 8th, One turtle nest

Wednesday morning was a little confusing. I was informed both Katie and I would be getting up at 6 to ride the ATVs on the beach. So we're both up and getting ready, we get out to the front of the house and there is only one ATV. Katie hasn't seen as many turtles as I have so both Irma and I were pushing her to go, but her first day took quite a toll on her body. She was exhausted still so I went to the beach for 3 hours, and she went back to sleep.
In the beginning of the ride, we found a momma tortuga laying her eggs so Ramido suggested I stay at that site to collect the eggs, and he would ride on and be back a little later. This is something I was used to by now, so I parked myself by the mother and waited for her to finish. I sang songs to her, sat and drew on the beach with a stick, walked in the water for a little bit.. all of the important things you need to do on a beach. One the mother had finished and exited the scene, i dug down to her eggs, bagged them and then started to walk. By now, as most of you have probably noticed, when in doubt, just start walking.
I walked for another hour or so by myself until Ramido rode back to me on the beach. He hadn't found any turtles at the other end, so we ate some oranges and went back to camp. When I got back into the house, I found Katie and Laz drinking coffee with Fernando, so I sat down and joined them. This was the first time I'd seen Fernando since I had gotten back and he was so cute. He was smoking so I shouted "como chingas Fernando?!!?" then laughed and gave him a big hug. He said that now our team was complete because I was back, which probably isn't true since I don't feel like I do that much, but never the less, very sweet. We had some fresh squeezed orange juice and just talked for the rest of the morning. Katie was scheduled to go out at 11 30, and Laz and I were put on cooking duty so before that it was all business. Katie and I discussed different ideas for ways to build up Tecolutla, rather than only the camp. Her idea was to really start from the base of what Fernando had to work with which is the town he lives in and gets support from. We both felt that if Tecolutla was taken care of by a bigger group, it would be easier for us to take care of the camp. She recommended something called "sister cities". I had never heard of it but was quite intrigued. Katie described it as a large city sort of sponsoring a poorer smaller city. Not as small as the little town of Tecolutla, but it got us thinking. Maybe a school could sponsor Tecolutla, or an organizaton. If anyone who is reading this has any ideas of "sister-anything" for Tecolutla, please post or email Laura Kiehner about them. Another idea of a way to start bringing money in is to work with the school of Tecolutla, or promoting women and girls in the town. Anything to expose them to a life outside of Tecolutla, because for the majority of girls here, this is all they will ever see. This life-style of marrying young, having children, and expecting nothing else from life is what they see their mothers and aunts to have done and the way they have been raised, they believe that they are to do that too. Perhaps even after being exposed to a life of possibilities, they still believe this is the best way to do things, who knows. Still, if we can generate any kind of financial support by at least trying to show them a new world, I think it all for the best.
After Katie left for the beach, Laz and I were left to our own devices. This always means we're going to have an adventure. I helped Laz make a tasty soup and chicken dish for the house, and after we decided it best to go to the beach. The explorer Laz had borrowed from his brother was a possible vehicle to drive to the beach and so were our feet. We decided we would take a comfortable drive to the beach. So we pack ourselves up, got in to the explorer and headed for the beach. This is when we just should have turned back and walked. Lazaro started to question whether or not the Explorer had 4x4 wheel drive. If it did, we couldn't find the button for it, so we pulled out the manual to try and find where it would be located. We read a part of the manual that had us believe the truck had four wheel drive but we soon found out...that wasn't true. Right after we got on the beach, we were stuck. Laz's maneuvering got us even further stuck so he suggested we try and dig it out.. that so wasn't happening. We dug and dug and made no progress. A couple nice guys came over and tried to dig and get us out, but their efforts went unsuccessful as well. We laughed at ourselves for being lazy and getting into trouble everytime we were in Mexico, so we headed for the water where it wasn't nearly as hot, and started walking. Noe came riding up on the four wheeler, laughed at us, and then attempted to help too. After this attempt, it became quite clear that we needed a large truck to get us out of there. Nothing was working.
Probably after an hour and a half of being stuck, a big white truck rode down the beach and came to our rescue..yes..like a big white stallion coming to save the day. He pulled us out! We gave the guys who helped us a little something for their efforts, and drove back to the camp. We really were never getting to the beach at this rate. We walked to the beach and headed forth to hopefully find some turtle eggs. I would say we walked for about 5 minutes when Lazaro lost his sunglasses in the water. This was bad news because his eyes are apparently very sensitive to the sun. He said he would be fine so we walked for 10 more minutes. That was it though, he had had enough and really couldn't bare the light. So again..we turned back to go to camp. We were both frustrated about our luck so we decided we would go into town, buy some new sunglasses, get a soda, and find the internet. We finished two of the three things with much success, but after attempting to use the internet, we gave up. The public computers have so much stuff saved to them, they run extremely slow. To make matters worse, when all of the computers are in use, you often lose your internet connection. We finally gave up with trying to use the computer, and went back to camp..again.
Little did we know, our luck was about to change! Lazaro still needed to check his mail so he figured he would just ask Irma if he could use the house laptop to do that. I remembered that the first time I was here, my laptop picked up their wireless signal but couldn't connect because I didn't have the security code. We took care of that problem though! Soon we had created our own internet cafe. I was on my laptop, Lazaro was on the house laptop, and Katie was on hers. It probably looked pathetic, but I don't think any of us cared. We were just excited to have the ability to be on the computer.
After way too long on the laptop, I finally called it quits. I put on my hardcore bug spray (thanks Dave Haley!!) and decided to join Katie and read outside.
I take for granted sometimes, my ability to just come out here and have the support of my family 100%. I can read and takes naps, walk the beach and walk into town, and never feel I'm not doing enough. Having Katie and Laz here this time is great, too. They are both interesting to talk to, and although we can all speak English, it doesn't stop me from practicing. Right now, I am extremely happy to be back. I'm pretty sure that feeling is going to stay with me until I leave.

May 7th, Bus ride to Tecolutla

Today was bus ride day! I got up around 9 30 so I could say bye to Citlalli (Bety) and then ate breakfast with Bertilde. I feel like she didn't want me to leave because she was pretty laid back about getting out of the house on time to get to the bus station. I went in multiple times to ask her if she was ready and she would say yes and then go and do something else. Well actually..it was pretty mutual. I was hesitant about leaving her in March because I had such a nice time getting to know her. It was the same feeling this time but I knew I needed to leave. The bus was scheduled to leave at 1 30 and we didn't leave the house until 12 50. It takes approximately 35 minutes to get there so we were on a time crunch, due to our successful procrastination. I bought my ticket at exactly 1 30 and ran to the bus. Luckily, most things are about 10 minutes behind schedule so you can usually bank on that. I made the bus and even had my own row again!
The bus ride was fabulous as per usual. I think my favorite part about riding the bus now is knowing where I am. I mean we drive through mountains and fields, back over the hills, through small towns. Now I can recognize each section of hills. On my first bus ride here I felt nervous. I didn't know much of the language and wasn't sure how well I would be recieved. This time I couldn't stop smiling. I listened to "Into the Sea" by The Album Leaf as I rode through the curves of one of the first mountains. I looked to my right and saw the white stone on the side of a mountain.It was so far away and so huge, it looked like I could fit it into a picture. Green hills and fields of crops hugged the mountain and spread farther than I could see. One of the most amazing feelings I have felt this trip was that one I just described. I've been writing to one of my friends since I've been here who regularly visits Mexico and seems to be just as inlove with the country as I am. One big thing we talk about, though, is how so many Americans accept the sterotype of a Mexican and in return never allow themselves to experience the country's amazingness. It's frustrating and sad and I hope to do something to change that in the future. In my moment on the hill I saw everything I loved. I saw nature in it's purest form-I saw where we come from and what we need to survive. Regardless of the country, language, customs-nature is always beautiful. It deserves to be loved as you might love your garden at home or a historical site or a habitat for your favorite animal because in the end..all of nature is connected and should be treated the same.

I arrived in Tecolutla at 8 20. After looking around for a car, I realized I was on my own getting to the house. This, however, was no big deal anymore. I knew my way around town and since the bus station is so close to the house, it wasn't even a 5 minute walk to get there. I rolled my bag down a couple streets and then up to the lot before the house where there is only sand. I picked up everything I had and walked over to the locked gate. Aurorita was playing in the water her mom was spraying her with, and Irma, while simultaneously squirting her daughter, was watering plants. I walked up with a huge smile on my face and shouted Irma's name. She shouted mine back and Aurorita let me in. She was excied to see me too! I ran over and gave Irma a big hug. She explained to me (AND I UNDERSTOOD) that Fernando and Lazaro had gone to get gas for the truck and would be back soon, but also that Katie was in the last cabin and I just had to go knock. I hustled to the back of the house and down the path to the last cabin. I called Katie's name just to verify that it was indeed her, and when she came to the door, we had a nice welcoming hug. I lugged the rest of my stuff into our cabin (which is actually a different one than the first cabin I was staying in) and went on a hunt for the remainder of my belongings I had left here when I went back to the U,S. Irma told me Paty had packed them up because Noe was going to stay in that cabin for a little while. I got all of my things in one place within 15 minutes and finally just layed on the bed. Katie had been out since noon, saw a few turtles laying their eggs, and patroled the beach with Fernando and Laz. Needless to say, she was pretty tired by the time I got here. She kept yawning and I kept yawning, so we just called it quits and gave into our exhaustion. At the moment, I am typing as she attempts to fall asleep. The weather is pretty much the opposite of what she likes and is used to. Colorado is cold and dry, Tecolutla is humid and hot. She's sleeping now I think. Luckily the dogs who live next door aren't barking. I feel lucky having grown up where I did now. I'm used to no air conditioning and gross humid summers. and honestly, I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Our Projects website!! MUY IMPORTANTE!

http://www.tecolutla-turtle-preservation-project.org/

THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS VERY IMPORTANT. I've heard comments from readers that they would really like to get involved and help this cause. This website gives you information on our group, shows you pictures, and helps you donate and support what we are working for. Donations are so helpful and are the way we help Fernando and the turtles. With the work I'm doing, and what Katie Davis and Lazaro are helping with down there, you as a supporter, will know where your donations are going and the different things you are helping to create down there.
Also, through the website, you can send emails to the founder of the non-profit, Laura Kiehner, and ask her any questions. I'm also open to any questions anyone has!

Finally. Tell your friends. We only get one world. We need to preserve and love it. Our end is starting with the turtles, and as we look to expand the different animals we help, your support and suggestions are vital. Thank you so much for reading, and get ready for alot more posts!!

May 6th, So I stay in the city one more day. No biggie!

I decided to stay in Mexico city for another day! I've been getting suggestions to go to all of these places I didn't visit on my first trip here, I just had to stay and get myself to these sites. When I got up late again today, the anthropology museum was out, so Bertilde and I took our time getting out the door. The plan was to go to Frida Khalo's big blue house museum after lunch.

I did forget how much I enjoy spending time with Bertilde, though. We talked about Canada alot and the possibilty of living there. She loves to travel but is very limited in the places she can go for family reasons. I feel so much for this woman, everytime I speak with her, I just want to help her with all of my heart. I was talking with her for an hour when Betty (age 22), came home. She is quite different than her brother and sister. For example, if there is a party, she would rather stay in. If there is a museum opening, she wants to be there. I love here though, and since my Dad helped her get a laptop, I now can stay in close contact with her!

The museum was great except for one thing: They put the majority of her paintings away for safety reasons..

Yeah I thought it was a little crazy too. I took pictures of the outside which was very beautiful and sat with Betty in the pretty outside seating area. After Bertilde finished ripping on the security for putting the pictures away, she sat with us and thus our crazy multi-lingual conversation began. I spoke French with Bertilde, working to not use any spanish when speaking with her, I spoke spanish with Betty and she responded in English. Then Betty would translate my English to Bertilde in Spanish, and Bertilde would confirm what she heard from Betty to me in French. I would confirm in either Spanish or French. It was a big beautiful circle of languages.
After the museum, we went to a restaurant for coffee and mini cakes. The language circle continued, but this time we wrote translations on a napkin to further our education. When we left, I felt like I was on cloud 9. There truly is no feeling like being able to speak in another language. You can learn about people, their culture, yourself..it's amazing.

I'm back at the house now, working side by side with Betty on our laptops. We have the english/spanish dictionary and my big verb book with us, as we string together sentences. For example: I don't fit into my pants now- yo no quepo en mis pantalones ahora!
I am so happy right now.
OH and I am going to Tecolutla tomorrow afternoon. I'm glad I stayed in the city today, but I'm ready to get down there.

May 5th, I'm back!

I woke up around noon today. Probably the best thing I could have done for my body, though. I hadn't slept well (or at all) the past few nights at home, so I had some catching up to do. I spoke with Lazaro last night and have arranged to meet Tuesday in Poza Rica. I will take the bus tomorrow morning, and get to Poza Rica around the same time Katie Davis' flight gets in (4:30pm). Then we will all ride to Tecolutla together! HAPPY DAY! Oh and I spoke to Fernando as well. He's so cute. He told me I had to sing my songs when I got back, I called him a pinche cabrone, he said they were all waiting for me to get back, and I said I would see him soon! It was beautiful.

So lets see. Yesterday was a long day. I have to be honest, I was having mixed feelings about returning to Mexico. So many things happened at home over the past few weeks, I was feeling overwhelmed and like leaving my family was the last thing I wanted to do. I got the airport really early and said goodbye to my dad-probably the hardest thing I did all day. The plane rides were both decent (Philly to Chicago, Chicago to Mexico City). I slept through the first one and most of the second one. When I woke up on the second flight, I found that we were about an hour from the city and that it was time to fill out our immigration forms. The man sitting next to me, originally from Mexico, but living in the U.S for I'm not sure how long, asked if I spoke Spanish when he got his form. He couldn't speak English, and couldn't write either. I asked if he needed help filling his out and when he said yes, I took his paper and asked him all of the questions, how to spell things (which he could actually help me with, thank goodness) and when we finished, I knew why I was back. I'm here to help!

Since being in the house with Bertilde and the family, I've been speaking some hardcore Frenish (French/Spanish mushed together). I actually know alot more Spanish than I give myself credit for and today confirmed that. I can even understand rapido conversation and get a general jist of what is going on. Although Frenish is an enjoyable language to speak, I can't wait to get to Tecolutla with all the bugs, turtles, and friends. Fernando said there were something like 40,000 eggs laid so far and then when I get back, I'll be quite busy. The next couple of weeks down there are going to be great and I'm looking forward to every second of them. Lets just hope I don't get sick again. That would not be great.

So I guess the last piece of news I have to share is that....I GOT INTO COLLEGE!! I've been waiting anxiously for news from College of the Atlantic and when I hadn't heard from them by the time I was leaving, I asked my mom to just send me a text when she knew what was up. I got that text this morning and finally have a plan for this Fall! YAY!!!

May 4th, Finally a return date!

I have a flight tomorrow morning at 7:55 am back to Mexico. I am staying over night with Bertilde and her Family in Mexico City and taking the bus to Tecolutla on the 5th. I'll miss the comforts of home, naturally, but I'm excited to go back. I'm expecting a few turtle nests to be in hatching mode, and a week back into my stay there, there are going to be a ton of new baby turtles!

April 10th, Bye for now

I'm taking a bus to Mexico City tonight. I don't know who I'll be staying with in the city, but I'm going, and getting a plane on Friday at some point. At least that is the plan right now.
I told Fernando and Irma about leaving this morning. I said in Spanish, "I needed to talk to both of you. I am going home tonight or tomorrow morning. I need my family right now. I'll return around the beginning of May."
Irma said that Felix had mentioned that last night to her but was waiting for me to bring it up. Fernando kind of shook his head. I couldn't tell if it was in disappointment or because he was sorry for the reason I would be going now. I felt like he was disappointed.
I kind of just sat at the table while the two of them got ready. Fernando came back out of his room and said I looked upset and wanted to know what else was going on. The truth was that I felt he was disappointed I was cutting out so early..like I was quitting. I told him I was sorry I was leaving, for both of us I was sorry. He gave me the pat on the knee like it would be ok and he wasn't mad. I sat some more cutting up and eating my pineapple. He came back over and without saying anything, gave me the most heartfelt hug. I hugged him back equally as strong, and just cried.
I have found something so unique here, I would be insane not to come back. This family has shown me a love unlike anything I've ever felt and exposed me to a world sans excessiveness. I feel like I've found another home in the world with people who will love me no matter what.
I'm sad to be going so soon after my arrival but know I'll return. I can't not return.
It isn't an option.

April 9th, Veracruz

I went to the grand ole city of Veracruz today. I tagged along for a doctors visit with Felix (the English Teacher in Tecolutla) and his friend Fernando (who drove and speaks no English). Its about a 4 hour trek from Tecolutla to Veracruz so there was some good napping on the way there, and much listening to my new found love..Marc Anthony. Fernando played a CD of his in the car and then put on some awful Mexican music (I probably think it's awful because the people who live next to my cabin play that crap into the wee hours of the morning, every morning.) When the CD had finished, I told Fernando I really liked the first CD, whoever it was. He had a nicer voice. Needless to say, I'm now obsessed with M.A.
We stopped about 2 hours into the trip at the eatery they regularly eat at when they go to Veracruz. It's on the side of the road next to a speed bump (I HATE THOSE THINGS) and has checkered plastic coverings on the tables. Thats all you can really say about it. I wasn't hungry though, but not being Fernando or Irma and understanding my eating habits, they insisted. I ate spicy quesadillas (everything is spicy even when you ask for it without spicy). My stomach is still re-cooping from in's infection so it took the quesadillas, but not happily.
Felix and Fernando wanted to drive around before going to the hospital so I could see the area. There was this amazing billboard for Coca-Cola and a ton of boats. Oh and soccer nets on the beaches. I took a picture of the billboard so I can put it up here when I figure out how to do that. And when I say amazing, I mean God awful. It's a bunch of drunk girls with their tongues out and sporting really trashy club outfits. Good work Coca Cola. I thought it was silly, especially to be displayed on a giant billboard. Oh and for those who are not familiar with the map of southern Mexico, like myself, Veracruz is south of Tecolutla which means it's considerably hotter. Let's just say I was sweaty all day.
Now for the hospital scene. If I had known how un-organized and frustrating the hospital was going to be, I would have insisted on some beach time prior to the visit. To sum things up, we sat in a hallway with about 40 other people, and waited for 3 hours. I watched at least 100 nurses walk up and down the hall going to lunch or going home. They have a very strange way of working things down here. It makes me grateful for our hospital system (you know..the make the appointment, show up for appointment, go home). Here, the doctors all get to the hospital around 3 so you have mass amounts of people getting there 3-5 hours early, like ourselves, in order to secure a good spot when the doctor does finally get there. Right before he does arrive, however, a nurse asks for your slips which you had been given when you checked in. Everyone rushes to a door and waits in that line to have their actual name put on an ordered list to see the doctor. Then you go back to your seat and wait some more. Oh and Ps these aren't cushy comfy chairs. I'm talking a wooden bench, and some plastic seats. Naturally, not everyone can sit down though. There isn't enough room. When the doctor starts down the hall to the examining room, everyone visibly perks up, eyes following his every step. Then there is a little bit of a sinking feeling. you have at least 4 other people in front of you to be examined. SO you wait a little bit longer.
Surprisingly, with all this waiting, people are in generally good spirits. Not dancing and singing, but smiling and talking with one another. (Ps as I'm writing this, it has just hit the midnight spot on the clock. My wonderful neighbors have started what sounds like Kareoke. C'MON)
Anyway, back to the people. They are pleasant. They all look out for one another, making getting into lines and reserving your place not as cut-throat as it could possibly be. It's a pleasant environment.
During the 3 hours, I talked to Fernando and Felix, and then got really bored. I listened to my iPod and tried to change the mood of people walking in crowded masses up and down the hall with each song. Hotel by Broken Social Scene was lovely, as was Cowboy by Kid Rock.
When it was Felix's turn, I would guesstimate that he was in and out of the room within 15 minutes.
Afterwards, everyone, except myself, was really hungry. We went to a fried chicken stand with homemade tortillas and crunchy dry soap in the bathroom (seriously, as least this place had soap. THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T HAVE SOAP IN ITS RESTROOMS!)
After dinner, which took place around 4 30pm, we left to get back to Tecolutla. I like car rides. This one was great. Fernando let that Marc Anthony CD from heaven play at least 3 full times. When I recognized he was only letting it play for my personal enjoyment, I realized what a wonderful car of people I was with.
But Somewhere between sitting and pondering for 3 hours at the hospital, and sitting for 4 hours and pondering on the way home, I decided I really needed to go home, regardless of what I was doing here. My family is currently coping with the loss of my Grandpa (Dad's Dad). We lost him on Tuesday the 8th. My family also lost another grandparent, My Bubby, on Saturday, March 30th. Both deaths were caused by inoperable Cancer.
Since that Saturday I've wanted to be at home with my family, but knowing my cause down here is great has kept me going and kept me strong. With my Grandpa gone now, I need to go home to my family. I plan on returning to Tecolutla before Katie Davis (is working with TTPP) arrives in May, but right now I need to be at home with the people I love most in the world. With the people who gave me this opportunity in the first place.

April 7th, I make a new friend!..and that´s about it!

So today I'm feeling better. I didn't sleep until 2 in the afternoon which was a great start and actually had breakfast in the morning. I ate with Fernando and a new face, Juan. Juan is a character, and a wonderful one at that. He's a 40 year old Aquarius (The Mexicans, as I have come to find, are all about astrology. and I love it.) He's made his money by travelling the world as a sports fisherman, almost like George Bush, except classier and without that silly title of President (oh it doesn't look good to be on this sports fishing show while I'm in office..? Okie dokie.) He's married to his best friend, they claim residency in Mexico City, and with her support, and that of other friends, he's undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery on May 6th. Fernando was in and out of the room so he missed the complete life story of this man. He lived in Mexico City as a tot, and then moved to Texas for the remainder of his childhood. He played every sport out there and was good at them. When he moved back to Mexico, he went to the lovely state of Veracruz, where in a nut shell, he hit rock bottom. He developed bad habits, did morally wrong things, and was headed down a pretty bad track. As an Aquarius, he tells me, their head is in the stars all the time. Always concocting out of this world dreams to fulfill. So when he decided he was tired of the drugs and needed to change his life for the better, he touched the ground. Without rehab, he was able to unite his stars and the earth and has made quite the life for himself. He speaks Spanish, English, and French very well. He can get by in Greece (He tells me their hand motions are all the same as those of Spanish business men), and really wants to learn German. He has alot of business there and loves the language. He also has business in Germany, Greece, France, Mexico, Florida, and Canada (I'm probably forgetting some). He works with U of Miami and U of Florida's Marine Biology department. He's got a kind heart and a bright future. He's nervous about his upcoming surgery. Well not so much the surgery, but the after math. He has work he needs to do to support his family and maintain his career and without an exact date from the doctors of when he'll get better, he's nervous thinking about his business.

Whenever I've met older people here (and not really old, just people who've experienced life) I always take it as if I'm getting a life lesson. For instance, the other night with Fernando and Irma's friend Stella, she told me to be free forever and to not get married. She told me to live with someone because that is a beautiful experience but getting married isn't good and will weigh down your soul when it's ready to fly again. Juan told me when I was ready to marry, to marry my best friend. Not someone I was only in love with because that would never last. Someone who knew me inside and out and would love me regardless of my appearance, mood, or financial state. Bertilde, without directly telling me what not to do, showed me what I didn't want to do. Never to waste brilliance. Whether it's within myself, or others. Hiding your gifts from the world does no good for anyone. I've learned about culture and astrology, and develped relationships with so many people. And for those of you who think Astrology is wack, you have another thing coming. Go get a legit birth chart done and then come back to me. The one I had in the very beginning of 2008 was frighteningly on target. She said I would be travelling alot within the next 6 - 8 months. She said I love people, and have a passion for languages (something I didn't think was true until I got here. Now it's totally true) and also that I would possibly work in the Government-a job position capable of making a global difference. As I'm not sure about the government part right now, the language, and travelling part is so on target it's scary. I've been to Texas, Mexico, Bar Harbor Maine, San Diego, Mexico (the reprise), and I'll be back here to Cancun in July. After that I'm going to North Carolina for a wedding, and with planning, hopefully up to Canada. All of this will have taken place by the end of the summer. Yeah and I'm not one of those people who plans my life around birth charts because that would be a waste of money. Life just sort of happened this way.
Juan gave me his card and said he would be back May 1st. There was going to be a big Tarpin showing (whatever that is) and that I should really come out and see them. Apparently they are giant fish, that starting next year, will be illegal to kill - only a catch and release kind of deal. Juan really hopes for this. Sport fishing is a whole new world and actually something a little interesting to me now. I can see how it is a legit sport and feel a little more educated on something I never thought I would get a lesson in.

After breakfast, the rest of the day was pretty laid back. Fernando and I went to the next town to do some grocery shopping. We came back and I started working on a blog post. I got kind of tired so I layed down for a bit and read. If you think any of what I'm doing is cool, you should definately read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The telling of the life changing year this woman had is incredible and inspiring and really a must-read for those who love travel and wished they did more. AJ KIEHNER READ THIS BOOK PLEASE. SPECIFICALLY YOU. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND YOU NEED TO READ THIS.

After I finished my book I felt really good. I love finishing books, especially when i feel I've learned something about myself in the process. I made Aurorita a CD of some American music after that. The girl Denise that I had met on the bus when I was coming down to Tecolutla said that listening to American music at such a young age really improved her english, so I decided to try and give Aurorita that same advantage. I gave her the essentials: Avril, BBMack, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake,...High School Musical. I think there were a couple others but I gave her the proper tools to learn some basic songs..none of that DMX stuff. We don't want her to be a potty mouth, don't cha know.

So you may be wondering how I got here

I've decided to clear up a question that many of you probably have: What has brought me to this point in my life where I felt I needed to leave America and save Sea Turtles in Mexico? So for the good amount of people now reading my blog that weren't with me during the month of August 2007 and my first semester at Temple University, I would like to explain how I got here. This is something I've thought about alot. Before, when it felt like this trip was running away from hurt, I felt I was constantly justifying my trip. Now I see that although it was an escape route to begin with, it has blossomed into something so beautiful and life-changing, I can't even express how happy I am to be learning and living here. With the support of my Mom and Dad, both of my wonderful brothers, and the rest of my family and friends who have shown me nothing but enthusiastic support, am I here now writing to you all.

I guess the idea that I wanted to do something that was completely the opposite of what I had planned, hatched upon my break-up with the first serious (or legit as we say) boyfriend. Yeah insert whatever comments you please, but it honestly did change my life. This happened at the beginning of August while on vacation. Naturally I was a mess of emotion from pissed off and vengeful to broken and silent. No one around me really knew what to do or say except sit with me on Stag Island's pretty beach. I hated myself and him and felt like I had just lost the most important part of my life within a minute of phone conversation.
My mom had called the next day from PA to just see what was going on. She asked how Canada was doing so innocently, I erupted into little-girl-wanting-her-mommy tears and told her everything. Her voice was so soothing, I feel like it's a tone only a mother can take with her daughter when she is in hardcore pain. She could verbalize each emotion I had experienced throughout that day but also that there was another side and that I would get through it. My relationship with my Mom hadn't felt whole or happy for a very long time until this phone conversation. What no one could really say during those fragile days, my Mom expressed to me during this first of many phone conversations that helped more than I could ever reiterate. I know that without my break-up, the relationship and realization of love I wanted with my mom wouldn't have happened for God knows how long. At the rate our relationship reconstruction had been going, it could have very well been years. The love those around me in Canada and those who awaited my return home showed me was so strong and helped so much. One of my best friends even sped (as per usual) to my house to just be with me, before I said anything other than "we broke up."
After a few days, I knew I had to do something. Whether it was running away to Vancouver, Canada (becoming a certified event-planner at their Art-Insitute) or changing schools entirely (cleaning up my portfolio and applying to Moore College in Philadelphia), I knew I had to be doing something other than going to Temple U. Something that could keep my mind and heart occupied, when it just hurt.
Both my idea to go to Vancouver (way too radical) and applying to Moore College of Art and Design, a cultivated plan with the help of the glorious Olivia and momma Sutton-Smith, didn't happen for various reasons. Either ridiculous or impossible without an adequate portfolio. Although I would like to thank Joanne for all of the talks and tea she shared with me during my time at home last Fall. She is such a strong woman, proudly standing by her babies, hubby, and friends in times of pain and happiness, never missing a beat to give a hug, make you a beautiful card, or write a poem. I feel so blessed to know her and thank her a million times over for everything she has done for me.
I did go to Temple U, however, when move in day arrived. I moved in at the end of August and found myself paired with a very mild mannered and lovely roommate. I spent most of my time at class, at Leela's, or at the gym. I was running 3 miles more than every other day on a post-break up diet (that is..very little in my tum tum), and was going to bed by 11. This is pretty good, minus my "diet", for a college student.
Regardless of my new independence and dedication to my physical state, i still didn't like myself. I found myself constantly having destructive thoughts over things that had happened in my past relationship or things that were happening with my new crush. I was angry that I thought so much and just wanted to be in a mentally quiet place. This is when I started to really dedicate time into my World Religions class. I was going on field trips to Mosques, Buddhist Temples, and frequented a Meditation Center in the city. I was starting to find peace in learning about different cultures. I loved people and found it to be a new source of happiness. Something I hadn't felt during my senior year of high school. I spent most of my time with the person who knew me best, and ignored, like most young peeps my age who have a serious boyfriend, just about everybody else. Even now I can't say I regret doing that. I'm surrounded by people now who stuck it out through all of my crap and know that they are the ones who will love and support me to the end.

Learning was something i found peace in, so I wanted to pour whatever I had left into it. I was starting to work on my research paper which I had decided would be about Buddhism, both reformed and conservative. It was a brilliant assignment and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. The class, to say the least, changed my life. If you go to Temple University, I'm sure there are many brilliant professors who teach this course (or a similar one), but Professor Leonard Swidler was my professor and I owe a great deal to him for my experience in his class. He's awesome. PAX!

All of these different realizations, soul-searching experiences, and assignments I had during the Fall were all leading up to this. About a week before Thanksgiving, I was feeling expecially down. I enjoyed my World Religion class, but felt my general courses were wasting my time and in no way contributing to my self-growth (often times..they really aren't designed to help you in that way, only to get you a required few credits..i know, awesome, right?) Anyway, I was frustrated with the system. The man was getting to me and I wanted to just shake everything up and see what was in store for me next. At this point, by the way, I had become interested in Drexel University. Philly is great and Drexel's Interior Design program seemed to be what I wanted, so I was really trying to get over there the next year to continue my education. Something still didn't click though. The school's curriculum seemed so organized and perfect yet I still felt like I wouldn't be happy somehow. I wanted it to go away so I thought by just sticking it out, I would find reassurance that Drexel was the best option and that my happiness awaited me there. I sat down with my Dad that weekend and just started talking. He's really good at talking. Perhaps a little more reserved to an outsider, but he's a silly and wonderful man I'm proud to call my Dad. I told him I was un happy at Temple and didn't want to live there. I mentioned maybe commuting from home would be better and that I could just stick out the second semester there so when I transferred, I wouldn't be "behind" with the number of credits I had gotten that year. "Behind", as my Dad quickly pointed out, is self defined. No school or Professor or parent can ever tell you you're behind after you get out of high school. It's up to you. My Dad then proceeded to ask a question that will be with me until I die. "Why would you stay there if you aren't happy?" As Virgos often do, I thought of a million reasons why I should continue there, but none of them seemed to justify why I would voluntarily remain unhappy for the next 4 months. It's my life afterall. So an "I don't know" was my final answer. I sat there, feeling frustrated and defeated for a good while when from a desperate part within me, I finally said something logical. "I would be happier saving Sea-Turtles, Dad, than going back to Temple..."

So with a smile, Dad said, "Don't count that idea out."

This conversation is so vividily locked into my head. From the moment I said anything about sea turtles that night, I knew something had changed. It was that thing I had been waiting for. That moment of change where I could pack my bags and get out of here for a little while to find happiness. From my mentioning of the idea, I had almost expected a little bit of hesitation from my Mom or friends but was instead bombarded with "that sounds freakin awesome, do it. do it now." My mom and Dad were so gung ho about me going on my little journey, it left little space for my mind to fill intself with doubts. I now had a job to do. and it didn't include finals.

The original idea had been to go down with two board members of the Tecolutla Turtle Preservation Project, a non-profit started 5-ish years ago by Laura Kiehner with the support of her husband Scotty. This trip would take place in the middle of February for approximately 5 days. The two board members, among others members who couldn't make this trip, were my Dad, the almighty Pete Bretz, and Lazaro Herrera. I would go down in February and stay until the beginning of July when I would be returning to Cancun anyway. This seemed too unreal a time-frame to be away from my family. I was the girl at camp who got homesick and going away for 5 months, even at 18, didn't seem realistic. Within the next month however, the 5 month period made it's way down to 2 months, April and May-the busiest months of the turtle season. This was a time period I felt I could do. Still, 8 weeks is a very long time away from your family, and with a language barrier, I assumed it would feel even longer, but as I've come to realize..this really is my family. They care for me just as they care for their daughter and never once have I felt alienated. Maybe a little uncomfortable, but never like I wasn't loved. The character of the group I am with every day is unmatchable and makes me smile.
There is a really awesome quote from Eat, Pray, Love that when I read, I felt like I was reading a mirror into my thoughts and the thoughts of my family: "Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it."
Mexico isn't around the world geographically but culturally it is a whole new world. And a brilliant new world at that.

April 6th, I slept all day

That pretty much says it. I slept until 2 30 or 3 today. I was in and out of sleep most of the night and then tired until 6 or so. I'm drinking alot of water though so I should be better soon. Right now Fernando and Irma have a friend over who is all about me drinking water. She is very sweet and I know I should be drinking water, but this woman is persistent. They are enjoying some wine right now, so that could be part of why she's all about me drinking water and "cheers'ing" me. Oh well..I'm going to bed soon. I think I'll get to the beach for a little bit tomorrow, but not much. I may sleep again. I'll just keep you posted about that one.

April 5th, Yeah..we knew I would sick eventually

(Sorry if most of this post sounds pretty un-enthused. I'm not feeling well)
I woke up at 6 to go with Noe and search the beach for Turtle nests. We only rode for two hours rather than the usual four. Either way, we didn't find any that morning. They were expecting alot to come in that morning because the North wind was coming in, making the beach a breezy, and cool place to lay eggs. At the end of the beach I got to drive the ATV. I actually prefer to just ride on the back. I don't have to multi task and can just look for tracks. Driving you have to keep your eyes open for tracks, big dips in the sand, drift wood, and turtles that might be coming on to the beach (when they first get on to the beach you have to keep your vehicle pretty far away so you don't scare her off). I was pretty un "animau" anyway so driving was not what I wanted to be doing. Over the past couple of days, I've been described as having "no animau". This means i'm not animated or excited or in the zone. Haha..kind of drifting off into space with a really sullen look on my face.
Noe and I returned and I went right to my room to and just layed down. I started to read my book but was pretty tired so I fell asleep. I woke up to Fernando knocking on my window, seeing if I was ready to go. He started apologizing when he realized I was sleeping and said not to worry about going out yet, and that I should just sleep. I said I would be ready to go in a little bit and that I would see him out there. I fell asleep for 15 minutes more, and went into the main house. I went into the house and had some lunch with Dulce, Irma, and Paty. Dulce is a girl who lives in the area I believe and works at the camp on the weekends. The first time I met her, I'm pretty sure she made fun of me to the max, but now we're good. She's very sweet. After I ate, Paty asked me to help her outside. I cleaned the baby turtles they have at the camp and put salt on the minor infections the little buggers had. After that Paty was ready to MOVE. She was rushing around getting sticks, and finding her hat so that we could go meet her friend that would drive us to the beginning of the beach. In Tecolutla, there is a certain amount of beach where no vehicles are permitted. There was an accident not too long ago and now driving on a 1.5 span of beach isn't aloud. We drove to where that 1.5 miles ends and started running. I'm not sure why we were running but we were. We found a turtle nest, along with two guys named Ruben and Jim. They were all about the Turtles and wanted to see what the fuss was about. Paty was already flustered with the running and finding of the nest, she started freaking out and having Ruben translate what I should be doing. I understood already, but with the language barrier, Paty wanted to be 100% sure. I waited by myself for a while until Noe came to help out. We collected the eggs of that nest and started walking. When you walk or ride on the beach, it's important to look back every once in a while. Those turtles can be anywhere! Anywho, we looked back at one point and saw Ruben and Jim running-a clear sign that a turtle was wherever they were running to. We walked back to the Turtle and waited with Ruben and Jim. Ruben speaks Spanish and English and Jim just English, so while the two of them asked questions or told stories in English, I did my best to translate what I could so Noe could feel apart of the conversation. If there is anything I've learned from being the only one, aside from Fernando, who speaks English, It feels good when someone tries and translates what's going on so you can feel included.
Noe and I walked after that until we met up with Fernando, who was driving the now working VW Dune Buggy.
Fernando and I spent the rest of the afternoon together, looking for nests which was nice. I can speak English with him and he can help translate words I want to know into spanish. He dropped me off at a nest while he went down to the end of the beach to mark other nests. I have developed this little habit of singing when I'm alone with the turtles. I make up words to tunes that come into my head and It doesn't even matter if it makes sense, because no one can hear me anyway. When Fernando came back for me, we drove a little further to a Turtle that was still making her nest. I've been trying to find the right moment to ask him what the TTPP can do for them next, but haven't found a moment to bring it up when I can get a detailed answer. While we waited he said that they needed more vehicles for the beach and more people to work there during turtle season. So for the TTPP, I think more ATVs would be a good next step, and working toawrds another campsite would be a good second step. This season they are looking at getting 500 nests, and within the next few years, double that. They are going to need more space for regular helpers and nests.

After collecting those eggs, we decided to go down to the end of the beach to just double check that we hadn't missed any nests. From where we were to the end of the beach is about 35 minutes of driving. We started talking, and since he has met my dad, he asked about my Mom and what she did. I told him she was Una Maestra de Voz (voice teacher). We also talked about her visit to Tecolutla in May! He said we would wait for her at the bus station with a Mariochee Band. Then he asked if I sang. Whenever anyone hears my mom can sing and asks me if I can, I always say a little. Everytime. He said he wouldn't look if I would sing him something (usually when someone stares right at you, you get a little intimidated). I sang him some Enrique and his expression was so adorable I couldn't stand it. I guess somewhere after my musical debut and Fernando telling me, "you need to learn curse words, its is necessary." I started to feel sick. I'm not sure if it was because the buggy was so close to the ground, making bumps feel bigger than they were, or if I was coming down with something that made me feel sick. All I know is that I needed to get out of that car. We got back to camp and Irma had cut up some Papaya and made tea for me. I really don't like Papaya. I've eaten it everyday I've been here, hoping that my feelings for the fruit would change, but alas, they haven't. I sat with Fernando, Irma, and Dulce for a while before I really couldn't take the stomach pains without wanting to cry. I excused myself, and went back to my cabin. I tried to get comfortable on my bed so I watched Little Miss Sunshine (yes, again..I'm going to know every word of that movie by the time I come back). About half way through, however my stomach had different plans. Now I won't go into yucky details, but I threw up alot. I started experiencing vertigo shortly after and yelled for Noe who was sleeping in the cabin next to me. He speaks zero English, so luckily my Spanish was decent enough to convey the message, "Where's Fernando, I need Fernando. I can't open the door right now. One moment please. I want the doctor. I can't feel my hands." I finally made it out of the cabin and found Fernando just getting back to the house. They had wanted to take me to the Doctor earlier but I didn't want to go anywhere in the bumpy car. Now I was ready. The doctor said I had a Gastric Intestinal Infection...or something along those lines. I'm pretty sure it was that bad batch of beans from Thursday. I got a shot in my bum and some medicine. It was terrific. We got back in the car and Aurorita was so cute. She started blowing bubbles, trying to make me feel better. and you know what, they helped haha.
Fernando and Irma had me sleep in Aurorita's room so they could keep an eye on me if anything happened and I needed them. They truly are a wonderful family. Considering I'm in a foreign country, without family, or people who can really speak the same language as I, I feel pretty at home. My Spanish is getting better, however, so I really can't complain. I think I fell alseep around 9 and woke up multiple times during the night. Being sick is pretty lame.