Adrianna Jereb ‘18 (Kendall, Wis.) is studying in Guanajuato, Mexico. She has been sharing experiences on her blog, excerpted here.

Aug. 22: A Day in the Life

The mornings are my favorite times in Guanajuato. Women washing sidewalks, men sweeping up fallen leaves in the parks, shopkeepers washing the walls of their buildings, and vendors in the outdoor markets putting out fruit and bread for sale. The way people act, you’d think it was the dead of night – but days here do start later and the nights go longer. I’ve never visited New York, but I imagine that five or six a.m. there would be like morning here – not dead, but comparatively calm.

Nights here aren’t so relaxed. Groups of these rowdy tours hike up the alleyways and they always have to go to what’s known as the Alley of the Kiss. … Now the alley is a popular spot for couples, because superstition says if you go stand in the marked spot and kiss your partner, you’ll gain several years of happiness together.

Sept. 9: Mexico City, Part I

With a population of nearly 9 million and a metropolitan area with a population of more than 21 million, Mexico City is one of the greatest cities in the world. …

My next stop was the National Palace. You know how Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel? Diego Rivera had a similar relationship with the [National Palace.] All of the murals, which depict Mexico’s history from the Pre-Hispanic periods through the Mexican Revolution, are so impressive individually that had Rivera only completed one, I think it would have sufficed as his life’s work.

Sept. 17: Buying Power

To give you a quick idea of the prices here:

  • Cappuccino = $30 pesos = $1.50 USD

  • Dinner = $50 – $100 = $2.50 – $5.25 USD

  • Taxi ride = $50 pesos = $2.50 USD

  • Cell phone with unlimited text/calling to U.S./Mexico/ Canada = $100 pesos/month = $6/month

Sept. 23: Homesickness

It started when I saw a guy in a Wisconsin badgers sweatshirt. My initial reaction was to wonder why in the world Mexicans care about American college sports, but I also can’t explain why Americans care either, so there you go.

Sept.  29: Days Of Remembrance

9/16: Mexico’s Independence Day

The 16th is the official holiday, but the big celebration starts the night before with El Grito de Dolores (the Cry of Dolores). All over the nation, people gather in town squares to reenact the call to arms given by Father Miguel Hidalgo in 1810, when he rang the bell in the town of Dolores and shouted “Viva México!” (and some other stuff). It’s an important night for the whole country.

Oct. 9: Mexico City Round 2

Visiting Mexico City’s tourist destinations color is everywhere – in the bubblegum–pink taxis cruising the streets, in the flowers sold in bunches at street stands, in the graffiti and murals covering walls and stores’ security shutters. There are the brightly painted houses – hot, electric blues and deep oranges and yellows that almost shout.

Officially, lucha libre is a version of professional wrestling that translates to “the free fight” – so the rules are bendable. … The luchadores (fighters) would appear at the top of a platform off to one side of the arena, wearing elaborate costumes, sometimes with capes and/or masks.

The physical feats were impressive – flips, kicks, jumping out of the ring, to the point that the performance was often closer to an acrobatic routine than an actual fight.

https://lugardelosvochos.wordpress.com/ 

November 14 2016

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