Cervantino Time!

Hello again, just wanted to let you know that on the post previous to this one, the Campeche picture didn't end up fitting BUT if you click on it, it will bring up another window with the full picture :) enjoy. Here is another video as well:

Hey peeps. Oh my goodness has it been a crazy early October. So sorry I am so horrible at getting these posts up :( Well, well, well, what do you know, it's Cervantino!! Okay for those of you that do not know what Cervantino is, I shall explain. Cervantino is a month long arts festival which Guanajuato has been putting on now for 36 years. Every year a different state is invited to perform during the month of October, this year the state of Campeche, a state located in Spain, was invited to Cervantino. During the Cervantino experience, Guanajuato is filled with tourists. The past two weeks I've seen more white people than I have in a long time. The plazas are filled with real maniqueins, dressed as silver cowboys, greek gods, and angels, which move to a new position for ten pesos and live performers. So far I have seen some pretty amazing events at the Alhondiga, the outdoor venue which is absolutely free. The first event I attended was the Ballet Folklorico from Campeche. It was beautiful, they incorporated live music, singing and dancing to tell a little story. Not only was the dancing spectacular, so were the costumes. The picture above is of a fan that the state of Campeche was giving out for free (yay free souvenirs!!).

The second show I attended was the Aluminum Show, it was crazy and I can't even begin to explain what it was like. It was sort of like Blue man Group on.... aluminum pills? It made me laugh really hard, I'll put up a video so everyone can see what I'm talking about. Then, I went to see the Harlem Jubilee Gospel Choir at the church in Valenciana, it was absolutely gorgeous!! And the music was outstanding. There were a set of Duke Ellington songs which were absolutely beautiful, they were in this jazz swing that gave me goosebumps. Recently, I went to see Dj's makossa and megablast, it was interesting to say the least, but for the most part I enjoyed it. This Friday I plan on attending the Pancho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band performance, can't wait. Then next week I have tickets to the Pilobolus Dance Theatre at the Auditorio del Estado. This month is flying by, and I have a feeling it's only going to get faster. A week from tomorrow our Spanish professors from Cal Lutheran are coming to visit us, "to see if we're going to class during Cervantino". I am looking forward to seeing them and telling them all about our experience thus far. Well thats all for now folks, I'll catch you up again soon :)

Not too far away from home.....

As I was walking from the dining room to by bedroom after breakfast, as I do daily to brush my teeth before school, I noticed the large bush which I walk past numerous times a day. This bush had produced a flower. A poinsettia, to be exact. I couldn't help but think of my cross streets in my neighborhood at home, Poinsettia & 93rd place. Little did I know that this plant is indigenous to Mexico. The flower is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US Ambassador to Mexico. The flower, also called "the Christmas star" holds a significance in Mexico, as well as in the United States, during the month of December. The story goes like this, a little girl who was too poor to buy a present for Jesus on his birthday, was inspired by an angel to gather some weeds to place on the church altar. From the weeds sprouted a beautiful pointsettia. From then on, the Fransiscan Monks since the 17th century used these flowers in Christmas celebrations.

Not too far away from home, no I don't think so. Guanajuato has become somewhat like my second home. I could not imagine studying anywhere else than right here, right now. But, Arizona will always be my first home, the place where I want to raise a family, to grow old, and to experience the rest of my life. There will always be aspects of Gto that will remind me of Arizona, like the poinsettia I get to indulge in every day. Inviting. Beautiful. Wonderful. Arizona. Guanajuato. Home. There's no place like home.