Kyoo 105

This will be my last post while on tour. I´m in touristy country now (aka Playa del Carmen) and I have to say that it´s gorgeous but I don´t like it as much as the other towns I´ve visited. Just a bunch of spoiled rich Americans walking around and making fools of themselves. There´s so much more culture in the other parts of Mexico.

And Belize is still my favorite.

But the beaches are great. Can´t beat the beaches here. Sure wish I had my goggles though cause the salt water is killing my eyes.

Not complaining!

And I´ve decided that I´m not that great at keeping organized while travelling. Here´s what I´ve lost so far:

• deodorant (3 times - and it´s expensive here!)
• biology water sample test
• shampoo
• razor
• soap
• soap dish
• packtowl
• 2 pens and a pencil
• white Puma soccer shirt
• black sock
• iPod click wheel (yup, just the click wheel)

And there´s probably more that I haven´t noticed yet. Slippery fingers I guess. A string of hotel cleaners are increasing their collections I´m sure.

Sad news. Monday is Cancun to Salt Lake to Rexburg. Should get there sometime after midnight. Not quite ready to go back yet. I´m just getting used to Spanish. It comes out before I even realize what I´m saying in English! But, I only really know how to order food or buy something. And understand their voice influctions enough to respond si or no. Or esta bien. Whichever is appropriate. Long ways to go before I reach fluency.

Okay. I´m wasting time. Love ya´ll!

Have a great day :)

Kyoo 104

I was stalked by a barracuda today. If I could choose a mean-looking fish it would be the barracuda. They are vicious. I decided to join the group after that encounter. He got really close.

I'm trying to fit in with the islanders right now. I'm walking around on the white sand streets without shoes and with my hair down and Caribbean shirt flowing. Pictures to prove it too.

And I'm burnt to a crisp. Something about snorkeling for 7 hours in the Caribbean sea.........

But it was so worth it!

Caye Caulker rocks. And I ate conch today.

Add that to the list consisting of: grasshoppers, termites, bolis, and who knows what kind of bacteria.

Back to Mexico tomorrow.

Have a great day :)

Kyoo 103

I get to work on the Data Modeling/Dev DBA team for my internship this summer! Woot! That's exactly where I wanted to be.

I'm still buzzing with excitement.

This trip is AWESOME. Everything I wanted it to be and 20 times more. Swimming in paradise, meeting attractive foreign men, climbing volcanoes, spelunking, snorkeling, absorbing the culture, learning Spanish, making friends, creating stories, and, of course, doing my homework.

Just a week left.

Sending love to ya'll.

Have a great day :)

Kyoo 102

I really should be working on my Comm class right now because I won't have Internet access again for almost a week but I had to post an update.

I'm in Panajachel, Guatemala right now. I am very thankful for that. I think I came very close to careening off the side of a mountain 50 times last night in an old, richety school bus. Words cannot describe the "cultural experience" the past few days have been so I won't try. But, I'm safe and sound and enjoyed an early morning jog on the shores of Lake Atitlan this morning. Bwahaha, yes, I'm trying to rub it in. This area is so pretty and the wheather is perfect. Not too hot and not too cold and not humid.

My wounds from swimming and trying to boulder some of the falls at Aqua Azul are healing. The bandages came off my fingers yesterday and most of the feeling has returned. I still have a gross little scab on my knee though. Who knew limestone could be so brutal? I do wish I had my little trip down the falls on tape though. It was basically a domino effect. Two girls got swept away in the wrong current and were trying desperately to hold on and I came along completely unawares of the situation and took them both down! Haha, no wounds came from that. It was a little scary though. However, we found an excellent ride!

I taught two little Mexican boys how to play Go Fish! the other day. It took two hours because I didn't have written instructions in Spanish but we had a blast once they figured the game out. And I won a Marimba Orchestra CD Saturday night at the Zocalo in Tuxtla Guiterez. Yup, I've got some Latin dancing moves......

Haha, I'm watching the cutest little Maya sisters fight over the same crayon. I love how little kids are the same no matter what culture they come from. I'm learning so much on this trip just from observing. It's quite a treat.

Well, I should get to my homework. Less than two weeks left. It makes me sad but it will be nice to be able to flush my toilet paper again, not have to pay for Internet access, be able to wash my own clothes, and speak English again. I'm going to enjoy this while it lasts though!

On the schedule for the rest of this week: a visit to the Guatemala City Temple, hike up a volcano, 8-mile cave hike, boat tour of Lake Atitlan, and I think we're crossing the border into Belize on Sunday. Hard to keep track.

Have a great day :)

Kyoo 101

Greetings from Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico! It sure is sweltering down here. And I don´t sweat, I pour. Probably really gross for everyone else but I like sweating sometimes. It´s rejuvenating. Especially when you´re running on a trail through the jungle. I love running. I´ve been able to go on a few really good runs here. They haven´t been very long but the scenery is spectacular.

Today we went on a 3 hour bus ride, followed by a 1 hour boat ride, followed by a stroll through the jungle to get to the Maya ruins of Yaxchilan.

Spectacular!

It is so mind-boggling to see these beautiful temples and palaces and think about the work that went into building them and what life was like for these people. I have really enjoyed the ruins of Palenque and Yaxchilan. Something about the green green green jungle setting and the marvelous preservation make them more interesting than the Aztec and Zapotec ruins I´ve seen. Although the Olmec heads were kinda cool. All of these ancient people are quite fascinating to learn about.

So, I´m done being sick and back to eating again. I guess there´s only so many tacos and tamales a person can stomach. I found a jar of nutella at a supermarket in Oaxaca and have since been enjoying plenty of nutella and peanut butter sandwiches. I still try Mexican food when I get the chance but my stomach needs something familiar everyday so it doesn´t freak out.

Still 2 1/2 weeks to go. The really fun stuff is yet to come! On the itinerary is a swim at Aqua Azul tomorrow, a Caribbean Island stay, snorkeling and scuba diving, and more. I´ll keep ya´ll posted.

And just so you don´t think I´m playing away and working on my tan - I have a huge bio test tomorrow and a bunch of assignments to submit for my communications class. And I pretty much fail the nearly daily quizzes because they ask such specific questions about pages and pages of reading. No bien.

Have a great day :)