More Pictures

Here are some more pictures. In order from top to bottom: Dos Playas, the cafeteria at school, my classroom, and the snake that popped out of the books in the library at school.

Pictures!

Here is a picture of my school. My classroom is in the corner on the second floor. Our air conditioning broke this week... very HOT! The other picture is the living room in my new apartment. It is huge and beautiful and furnitureless. I love it though.

Discovering more every day...

After discussing some health issues with a colleague, she prompted me to go to Hospiten, where she goes to see a doctor. It was very nice, almost like an airport actually. The doctor and all employees spoke English and were very nice. I was able to make an appointment in one day and the cost for my visit was only $60. This is amazing to me! And in case you are concerned, I am fine. My body is just having a hard time adjusting to the change in location...

Today is my first day with my students. So far I have only had one class with the 11th graders, but they seemed really nice and full of life. One of my students is actually from my hometown! Small world. I am anxious to meet my other students this afternoon.

Some colleagues invited me to a soccer game this weekend, so I might meet up with them. And I also think I am going to splurge and buy myself a television and get cable. Ah, big weekend plans...

Playa del Carmen

So today I ventured down the coast about an hour to Playa del Carmen, which is a small town that has been growing and growing over the last 10-15 years. A friend and her family are there for a week so I decided to go down and meet with them for a coffee. So I walked about 2 blocks north from my apartment to the Centro bus station and bought a round trip ticket (cost was about $7.20). The bus was air conditioned and played a movie (en espanol). When I arrived in Playa, I took a taxi to a little mini-community within it called Playacar, which is where my friend was staying. We met at Starbucks and talked for awhile. It was nice to speak to someone from home.
When we were finished I just hopped back in a taxi (which was $5 each way) and got back on the bus and headed home to Cancun. I am so proud of myself for actually going on this trip. I actually thought about just staying in today because I was nervous. But I practiced a little Spanish today too, which was great, and I saw some new parts of the Yucatan - on my own.
In other news, I went to pick up my laundry this morning, but it wasn't ready yet. This week I will bring my laundry in Thursday or Friday. Saturday seems to be a very busy day for them. I met a new friend for dinner tonight too. I have to say it was a good day.

2 weeks and counting...

So I have been in Cancun now for just about 2 weeks. So much has happened - I don't even know where to start. When I initially got here, my friends, Miguel and Gustavo, met me at the airport and brought me back to their apartment where I stayed for just about a week. They both work all the time and are never home so I ended up sitting there alone without internet access watching Spanish television.

Luckily before I left to come here a girl had posted on a Cancun website that she had a room to rent in a good location and it was in my price range. So I had emailed her and she sent me a text while I was on the plane down here. I met up with her towards the end of my first week and agreed to take the room. The room and the entire apartment are gorgeous. My room is huge and air conditioned with a built-in desk and bureaus. I share a bathroom with Fiko, who lives in the other single room in the apartment. The common area is really spacious, but empty. No one wants to get any furniture for it because they all think they will only be here temporarily. The kitchen is stocked with supplies though, so I was actually able to cook for myself this week. The other room is a master suite that is shared by a couple. They have their own bathroom and walk-in closet. He is German and works as a chef in Playa del Carmen. She is Mexican and works at an architect here in Cancun. There is also a pool in the back that looks great.

The girl who rented me the place is awesome too. Grace is from England and works here editing wedding photos for her mom's business. She was moving out of this apartment to move back with her mom because she and the step-dad just separated. We have hung out a couple of times. She is so nice and we have a lot in common. Mostly I like that she is white and blond and doesn't speak any Spanish and has lived here for 4 years. Oh yeah and it completely sarcastic which I enjoy.

School is great too. I am stressed because of the workload but I am sure it will all work out once the kids come to school next week. There was a snake in our library the other day. That was pretty exciting.

And I now I am psyched because I have internet access at home, so I will be able to update this blog a lot easier - and they won't take as long to write - or read.

I am finally here...

I was greeted at the airport by my friends here. We then took the bus back to their apartment where I have stayed since I arrived. I am out today looking at apartments because I am desperate for my own space. I have not gone out of the apartment that much for a couple of reasons. 1. I don't speak enough Spanish to figure out where I am or where I want to go. 2. I have no one to go anywhere with. My friends are great for letting me stay but they work all the time. 3. It is HOT. I don't want to leave the one air conditioned room in their apartment.

I did get a chance to go to my school on Thursday. There they dropped the bomb on me that I am not only teaching Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry, but also Pre-Calculus and Geometry. It will definitely be tough but the students in 10th grade don't start until Augusts 20th so I will have done a lot of work before they arrive.

The school is providing me with a pre-pay cell phone on Monday though so I will have a Mexican phone number and they will pick me up for work every day, which is a huge help, because the streets downtown are crazy. I still can't figure out the addresses here.

So I am feeling a little out of sorts right now, but I am sure things will get better once work starts for me, and I make some friends, and hopefully start grasping onto the language some more.

Finally, some contact!

I actually received a phone call tonight from the director of the school in Cancun. She said she was planning on picking me up at the airport... unfortunately, since I hadn't heard from her, I already made plans for my friend to pick me up and to stay with him for a few days until I figure everything out. She did inform me that she is back at school this week and that we will get together Wednesday afternoon to discuss living arrangements. She also said that the school provides a pre-pay cell phone, which is one more thing that I won't have to worry about. So everything is coming together and I am looking forward to my time abroad. The next time I post will be from Cancun, Mexico! Hasta luego!