Orientation II

After breakfast Sunday morning, we met in the palapa for our second orientation session. Val explained the street system to us and talked about money. After about an hour of classroom time, we gathered water bottles, sunglasses, and sunscreen and headed out onto the streets. We walked for about an hour and a half in a big circle around the neighborhood. Val showed us several landmarks and several popular places to go. We saw beautiful buildings, amazing flowers, and a Mayan sacred tree. Pictures to come, I promise! Most of these were along my route to my homestay, so I will see them every morning for three weeks.

We returned to the house just after 11 AM. Hot and sweaty, we washed up and collapsed into a comfortable chair to relax until lunch time. I escaped to my room, where I had over an hour of quiet time before heading back downstairs to join the others for lunch. We were gone from 12:30 to 3:00 for lunch and another walking tour of the area. We saw some more homestays, other popular hangouts, and the Mega, a giant superstore like Walmart. Mega is one of the places we can withdraw Mexican pesos with a debit or ATM card. Some of the students brought only American cash, and they will go downtown tomorrow to exchange it at a casa de cambio (exchange house).

Mega

After returning to the house, most of us took a quick shower. We had just been walking in the heat of the day, and the cool house felt amazing. Although we do not have air conditioning, every room is well-ventilated. The house is built for the tropics, and it is surprisingly comfortable. I returned to my room again to get some quiet time. I already love spending time with everyone else in the group, but I am used to Sundays being quiet days to go to church and spend time with my family.

At 5:00, the 9 Language students met in the palapa for another orientation session. Alex, Katie, Debora, Nicole, Bailey, Regan, Danni, Jasmin, and me. Val talked about our homestays and what each host would expect of us. At 6:30 we met in the dining room again for a delicious meal of lasagna, cheese bread, and tossed salad. (See, Dad, no tacos!) After supper, we had free time again. Some of the students went back out to explore the neighborhood, and Val went to the airport to pick up the remaining five students, who were flying in from Texas. One of them, Amii, joined Katie, Kayla, and me in our room. Amii, Buck, Maria, Eric, and Sioned are all in the Global Health program. The other students in the Global Healthcare program are Tristan, Taylor, Lauren, Kayla, Stephanie, and Hailey.

Today is another day of orientation. It is up to us to catch the Texas students on what we have learned so far! Val will lead us through more exercises and group sessions as well.