Friday, March 28, 2008

el best western.

Thank you America for the Air Conditioned hotels in Mexico! Mom and Dad are here for the long weekend and it is hotter than I might even be able to handle! I don't think I will complain.

It is there second whole day here and I think I have already tired them out three times over. I met them in Veracruz where I had spent the previous day practicing my guitar skills and soaking up the sun. We returned to Xalapa and yesterday we walked the city. Mom thinks that we walked 5 miles. I think I about showed them everything and didn't realize until later how much we really did do. It's crazy how I've become so accustomed to walking everywhere!


The highlight of the day was having dinner with my host family. We spent 3 hours over the table speaking spanglish. It was absolutely halarious! Alejandro, my host brother understands english and Dad likes to talk.. so Dad would go off on tangents about painting and construction and Alejandro swears to me that he understood everything that he said. If that's the case, he has been holding out on me! Sneaky kid! Gabriela and Daniela also made the recipe for the cake that Mom sent. It was adorable. I think it made Mom happy. Paty made tons of food and kept us eating crazy mexican fruits all afternoon. When we left everyone was happy. It was a good feeling.


Today I took them to Xico and to Coatepec. It was hot and we walked a lot. We didn't get a chance to get down to the waterfalls and swim, but I am sure that I will go again. We had lunch in Coatepec and now we are back in the hotel room where someone is already snoring. All of this walking is tiring them out.. I am not so sure what we will do tomorrow. Tonight we are going to Cafe Lindo to have some guacamole and cervezas. There should be live music and an entertaining atmosphere.


Then I will see them off as they return to el Best Western and I will party the night away with my havent-seen-for-long-time amigos for Gay Friday!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Topics of the Day.





David the dog.
Tulum.
and Mangos of all sorts!

Tulum.






Tulum was incredible. I wish we could have stayed forever. The Papaya Playa was spectacular. Turns out that it was a nude hippie beach where everyone was beautiful and did yoga in the morning! I didn´t follow their lead, but it was beautiful!
My brian isnt working today. I am tired from the 22 hour bus ride (that was definetly worth it!) and haven't quite realized how to fit back into society.
Maybe I will have more later!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Picture Post.

So much has been done within the past few days. I might just have to post all of the pictures.

Thursday- Last day of school for over 2 weeks (they just informed us that we don´t go back till April 2..soooo long!) Kareoke with Alejandro and his friends. It was a a discrete bar with very little people called La Cueva de Oso (the bear cave). It was very clean and tons of fun. Isabelle and I sang Britney Spears and Ace of Base. I think there a couple videos out there somewhere! We also attempted to sing in Spanish..










Friday- we fuimos to Villa Rica.. The most beautiful place that I have seen so far. Not only is it a beach, there are mountains, dunes, and ...my english has left me... The pictures will explain. Some friends met us there and we ended up staying till 11pm. We swam, played frisbee, played soccer, hiked, had a camp fire etc. It was incredible. Villa Rica is a very very small town that not many people know about. It´s kind of hard to get to, I´ve gotten lost twice getting there, but it it totally worth it. When we returned we had cena at Angels house. David made hot dogs wrapped in tortillas then fried them.... I call them Eggrolls Americana de Mexico. Kind of good after a long day at the beach without food.










Saturday- Went to a party again at about 2 pm and didn´t get home until just now. The people here can party hard.. It kind of scares me! I met Alejandro´s girlfriend. She is adorable. Had some psychology talks in spanish. Most of the Mexican friends I have made so far are Psychology majors.. Funny how that happens! Read somebody's thesis and comprehended it! Yay!.



Sunday- Today. Preparing myself for my Spring Break. Tomorrow we are going to Walmart to buy sunscreen. bugspray etc...then we leave at 9:30 pm.. 18 hour bus ride. I am soooooooooooooo excited!!!

The Mom and Dad come and I get to show them Mexico and all of it´s wonders.

Por eso, this may be my last post for about a week. I will return though!!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

changes.

I have much to update..going to do that in the internet cafe in about an hour.
but.. I changed the settings to anyone can comment even if you don't have an account (mom etc.) and i figured out how to block that spam! Thanks Kate.!

hasta luego..

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

for you reading enjoyment..

Emily Lemke
13-3-08
Cultura y Civilización Mexicanas

Plantas Medicinales Mexicanas

A través la historia de México la gente usaba muchas plantas por muchas razones. Las culturas diferentes a través México encontraban muchas plantas diferentes a causa del clima y la tierra. Todas las plantas eran usadas por la comida, construyen, la ropa y también la medicina. Las plantas medicinas de Meso América eran muy importante por la historia de México. Las personas indígenas usaban las plantas medicinas por muchas anos pero fueron descrubido otra vez en las últimas décadas del Siglo XIX durante la época del Porfirito. Muchas investigaciones sobre las plantas ocurrían y el valor de los usos prehispánicos fue documentado. Ahora las plantas tienen las clasificaciones botánicas y son incluyen en aspectos de Farmacología. Hay algunas plantas que son incorporados con la medicina moderna y usan mucho. Algunas plantas se usan son Zoapatle, Zapote blanco, Nopal y la Guayaba.
La planta Zoapatle o Cihuapali (su nombre Nahua) que significa “medicina o remedio para la mujer.” En la época prehispánica las mujeres usaban esta planta cuando tenían problemas para eliminar el feto. También la planta era usada para regular el ciclo menstrual, como abortivo y para ayudar las contracciones durante el embarazo. Se usaban el extracto de las hojas del Zoapatle y se lo bebían. Ahora los doctores piensan que se puede usar Zoapatle come un agente contraceptivo pero los efectos son muy complejos y no usan mucho hoy. La planta necisita más investigaciones por uso seguro en el futuro.
El Zapote blanco o Cochitzapotl que significa “fruto que produce sueno.” En Siglo XVI el uso del esta planta era para antidiarreico, cicatrizante y somnífero. En el pasado dijeron que las hojas curaban las cámaras y las semillas, si quemada y pulverizada, ayudaban el sueno. Actualmente las semillas y hojas son remedios para la hipertensión y pueden producir el sueno. Hoy el Zapote blanco ha permitido a usar en la farmacología moderna. Sus efectos en las investigaciones no son buenos todavía pero usaban mucho en México prehispánica.
El Nopal de la familia Cactáceas era muy importante en la vide de la gente prehispánica. Su nombre original es de Tenochtitlán y que significa “fruta de la piedra y de la Nuchtli,” pero los Aztecas se cambiaron mas bajo el nombre por los Españoles. Ellos usaban el Nopal para problemas de la piel. Usaban en el caso de golpes, contusiones, quemaduras y para antinflamatorios. Recientemente las investigadoras ciencias habían descubierto que los Nopales pueden ayudar la diabetes. La planta es una gran fuente de fibra y por eso puede combatir la obesidad también y orto problemas como así. Después muchas investigaciones se habían descubierto que el Nopal no cura las enfermedades pero con otras cosas alimencias, puede ayudar mucho. Los Nopales son muy comunes en las vidas presente en todo de México hoy. Se puede comer la planta sola o se puede tomarla en tabletas, capsulas, polvos deshidratados, jugos y otros productos comerciales. El Nopal es una planta que usaba mucho en el pasado y usa el mismo ahora también.
La Guayaba o Xalcocotl (el nombre Náhuatl) es una planta que había usado en muchos países por muchos anos. El origen de la Guayaba es Mesoamericano pero a través los anos habían introducido a otros lugares. Se la usan en México, Ruanda, Nueva Guinea, Madagascar, Malasia, Bahamas, Perú, Senegal, Ghana y China. La Guayaba tiene tres partes que son usados; las hojas, las flores y las frutas. En el pasado las hojas habían usado para cura la disentaria. Ahora los mexicanos se preparan las hojas para la cura de diarrea, en la distensión abdominal, come antinflamatorio y el cólico intestinal. Comen las frutas regularmente también por las razones mismas. La Guayaba puedo ayudarlos porque tiene la acción antimicrobiana que tienen varios de sus compuestos sobre la flora bacteriana patógena que es el origen de la diarrea.
Durante los anos prehispánicos no había las doctoras científicas o las investigadoras que tienen hoy. Había personas que eran grandes observadores de la naturaleza y estas personas eran los médicos de los indígenas. Conocían las enfermedades a causa de los dioses y podían experimentar con las plantas que curarlos. Hoy el sistema de medicina es muy diferente. Hay más conocimiento y muchas reglas y leyes sobre esto conocimiento. Sin embargo, las plantas medicina que habían descubierto por los cultures mesoamericanos son muy importante in medicina hoy.




My first real paper in spanish.. probably looks like a 3rd grader wrote it, but i don´t care. I am happy with it .. until I get my grade..

Sunday, March 9, 2008

the day of the woman


Apparently yesterday was El dia de la Mujer, which is supposed to be an international sort-of -holiday like Mother´s Day. My whole family here went out on dates, got flowers etc. There were a couple free concerts and things like that but the weather was not good. I don´t think we celebrate that in the U.S, but we should!!
This picture is from Coatepec a few weeks ago. I like it a lot!.. I am going there in a couple of hours with Elizeth to eat at a Vegetarian Buffet! I am super excited. Hopefully there aren´t mosquitos in the restaurant! I havent fully recovered from their bites..
The weather seems to be getting better which makes me happy. Hopefully it will truly be Spring in Mexico by the time my visitors get here.
Tulum is only a week away.. I can´t wait! I think we are going to take Scuba Diving lessons. I guess you take a class one day and have to prove that you can do 5 pool dives, then they take you out.. That would be incredible.. atleast to snorkle in the Caribbean. I am not so sure that I like Ocean life..but it would be an experience!!

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Hermaaaaanos!





Went to a fiesta with my brother last night. We had so much fun! I brought Michelle, Inge and Shauna and we played cards and ate hot dogs all night. Yes..i ate a hot dog or 3. I like them.

It´s so awesome how the guys can dance here and they dance together with no shame. Dancing is just the thing and I love dancing!


It is so freakin cold here today. I have sat in my pjs, socks, hooodie in bed and done homework. I am supposed to go to a concert tonight as Los Lagos which is a big lake park in middle of the city. I don´t have my winter coat though!!!...

Chipi Chipi all day long.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

two words..

....SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! March 17-24-- Cabaña on the beach.. Tulum. Mayan ruins on the Caribbean Sea..
Round trip bus ticket= 94.00 USD
5 nights in a Cabaña= 80.00 USD
MY EXCITEMENT IS OVERWHELMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

No School Today.

School was cancelled due to some sort of high wind advisory. It´s not even windy!.. This place is awesome!





Saturday


Chachalacas with Elizeth was fun! Her family is awesome. They own a beach house and have excellent taste in food. It was the birthday of her aunt and sort of a house warming party as well. We have traditional Mexican food, but all of the meat was made out of gluten! It was incredible! So many vegetarians in one spot.. I couldn´t even believe it.


The weather wasn´t all that great, a bit cloudy and windy, but we had fun. We followed a cow down the beach which is actually something that I DID expect to do while I was in Mexico. Random animals make me so happy. We played Loteria (the mexican version of BINGO) and I won almost 80 pesos!


Here are some photos from the day..


Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Food.



Yesterday was a good day. I found the best gaucamole I have EVER had in my whole entire life! it was perfect. I never knew that food could make you feel that way! ahahaha!! I couldn´t even wait to take a picture of it before we devoured it! Cafe Lindo is where it´s at! Mom and Dad we are going there when you get here.
Prior to the gauc experience, I found my favorites convenient store snack. Cacahuates Japones con Limon. They sell them everywhere. They are peanuts toasted with some sort of Japanese toasted shell with salt and lime. I could eat them forever!!!!
Gay Friday was sort of a bust. Alex was going to wear his San Francisco shirt (Alex in from England and has never been to the US, which makes it so funny!) but he copped out. Still the dancing happened which makes the night semi-successful!