I finally decided to make my appearance on this blog thing because it seemed like the easiest way to show my family and friends about my trip to Mérida, Mexico. This city is already a special place to me. In love with it right now! But even more in love with the Spanish language. The experiences I am having here are so intense and exciting because my life has never changed so drastically and in such a short amount of time. Learning a new language can be extremely frustrating. It's similar to a puzzle or any other similar game because you don't know how you're going to finish it, and you don't know where all the pieces should go. But you know what it is supposed to look like. So you just keep going. I usually don't understand everything in a sentence that my Latino friends are telling me. But, I gotta try and figure out what's going and focus on the main idea. A game all day! A metaphor for life.

Anyways, here is my bed! I know my family will want to see this. 

La Universidad de Modelo. It's pretty great here! There was a lizard in my classroom the other day. There is a nice library, and even drinking water! The professors are very intelligent and classes are never boring. There are only 10 students in my class. Such an amazing opportunity. 

I wear coral errday here. Brought way too much. woops!

Those are the classrooms in the back. This city is super hermosa.

My roomies Alli, Gayleen, and Audrey (in order). I am so impressed with them always. Gayleen is blazingly intelligent. Audrey is constantly thinking bout others. Alli is rock solid.

By the way that is gulf of Mexico behind us. The water was perfect!

Our first excursion was to Dzibilchaltún. One of the important Mayan ruin sites. It was first inhabited in 300 BC and then the city flourished in the post classic era around 800-1200 BC. It was only a 20 minute bus ride from our house! This ruin in the middle of the site is called "Las siete muñecas". They told us that on March 21 every year you can see the equinox through the huge windows and the light shines in from the back and out the front. It's supposed to be gorgeous. That's me standing right where it happens.

This is called a cenote. It's basically a natural sinkhole. Very typical in the Yucatan. The water felt so good in this 90+ degree, 70% humidity, grueling sun. We spent an hour in the water, and performed various tricks off the rocks. 

Here is an excerpt from my journal that I wrote while I was in Dzibichaltún: 

" I felt like it was a sacred place. It's amazing to think of and honor those who came before us. Where I am is also important in the LDS history because there is some Book of Mormon evidence here. Elder Grow's belief that the Mayans were the Nephites and that the Aztecs were the Lamanites seems accurate. I wonder where exactly it was the King Mosiah taught the people of Zarahemla. Dzibilchaltún was run by the administrative and religious elite. Sounds like the descendants of Nephi. I am excited to one day learn the secrets and wonders of this earth...I feel like I'm on cloud nine even though this is no easy. I'm hard on myself i know. But my Spanish has already improved immensely. The people here are so patient with me!"

Mi hermanita Ximena!

Rain dances! Rain storms just walk right in without knocking. That's the balcnony right outside our rooms. 

Hammacas! Its very common for people here to just sleep in hammocks. Imma one back to the USA.

On our way home from school. Busses here are called camiones. Always an adventure because the system can be super confusing. The first day we went without our madre I sat next to a really nice lady who could tell we were new at it. She saaid, "La universidad es aquí and yelled Baja!" She was super nice.