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.