Pequino Culture Shock

11/02/08
We slept in a bit and Artemio and Chewy took me to the local marketplace which was very busy and confusing. I spent the entire time trying to stay out of
the way. The bought chillis, rice, beans, and other food and Artemio bought a papaya which he cut up and shared with me when
we got home - muy rico y dulce. Then all of us went and picked up Mariana from school and took her to her mother's house Elia. We all went out to
eat at Cabrelito's for the local specialty, which is goat. It was very good and did taste like chicken. Unfortunately, when we got there, I had to use
the restroom and was in a bit of a hurry and went into the women's restroom. In my defense, it was unmarked, but as I was coming out several women were
entering. Kinda embarrassing, really funny. The family is loving to share this story with everyone. After lunch We went back home and had some down
time before the remainder of the family came over for a large barbeque. I lied down for a nap, but I couldn't sleep as my mind was running. I was having
my first strike of culture shock. Here's how it went:

"What the fuck am I doing? I quit my job. I moved out of the best housing situation I could have asked for. Here I am, I know one person and she's
leaving in 5 days. I can't speak at more than an elementary level with anyone here. Crime, I know I will get held up. I don't even have any money,
because my debit card is not working (it's still not) How am I going to figure my way around? How can I travel if I can't communicate with people?
I have no one here. Oh me gato!!!"

Then I took a walk with Alicia, vented, and she talked me out of it. She has been more than amazing this trip. We went back home and the family arrived
for dinner. I met her cousins Temo and Javi who are both super fun and speak English - up until this point no one I had met did. I talked with them
and their families and this was very comforting. After dinner Javi and Temo took Alicia, Artemio, and I to the top of a mountain where you could
overlook all of Monterrey. The view was one of the best in my life, second only to the view from Osaka Tower in Japan where Kenji's cousins took us.
I can't describe it better than that, but please see the pictures when I get them up.