Students Wearing HRHS!

Today I distributed a variety of Highlands Ranch High School t-shirts to my students at the Instituto Polytecnico Nacional. All these t-shirts were donated by the schools various clubs, especially generous were the Student Senate group! Muchisimas gracias say the students, they quickly put them on for this group shot of two of my classes.

My students are working very hard to learn English and sometimes have to work all day before coming to school. I appreciate their efforts and will do my best as the year goes on to help them improve their language skills. The school is a public university and my groups are in the Marketing Program. They know English will be essential to their success in the business world.

Museums in Mexico City

The past few week-ends, I have had the opportunity to visit many incredible areas here in city. One of the most comprehensive being the Museo de Antropologia de Mexico, it is located in the Parque Chapultepec. There were authentic scenes from many of the Indian cultures represented and beautiful garments worn by each. I was even able to take several photos to give you a better visual idea of what I saw! One of the textile styles were created by the Huipil Indians called "La Malinche". They date back to the pre-hispanic era. Clothing distinguished indigenous groups and economic class.

Another interesting fact from this museum is that the Nahuatl Indian language from the Nahuas Indians date back 4200 years! The definition of the Nahua = tied to Earth and Fruit.
Some of tribes represented: Los Mayos, Tepehuanos del Norte, Los Pimas, Los Papagos, Yaqui, Guarijroc, Seris, Raramuri. As you can tell the history here is overwhelming and incredibly interesting.

Represented is a depiction of the Aztec Stone, which contrary to belief does not represent a calendar, but is called The Stone of the Sun and was a sacrificial altar.

Enjoy these beautiful photos!

Food in Mexico

We have many Mexican food restaurants in the United States and I wonder where they have been hiding some of the delicacies I've tasted in the last two weeks. My favorites were a restaurante called "La Birria Restaurante Mejor de San Rafael". They only served this one dish, birria, an increible blend of rich spices, with meat, vegetables and some of the best corn tortillas ever! It was as much about the experience of sound as it was the food...nortena band downstairs and mariachi upstairs.

Also, by our school, "Rinconada del Casco", is located in a colonial house and serves a $4.00 or $5.00 menu, all inclusive of delicious and regional dishes, all as tasty as the other, always including a fresh squeezed fruit juice.

We attended a dinner hosted by Fulbright alumni at their home in the state of Mexico. They graciously served something called a taquisa, or collection of dishes. They included a variey of regional dishes, my favorite being the tinga de pollo, or shreaded and spiced chicken.

All for now, look forward to sharing the Highlands Ranch t-shirts with my students tomorrow! It will definitely be a photo opportunity!

Mas fotos

2nd Week in Mexico City

Hello all! Time is going by really fast. The past weeks have been such an awakening for me...living in a different country. I can truly say Mexico as we know it from books and visits to resorts does not do it justice. I have visited many places in the city so far, and find the people here to be hard-working, kind, and have a great love for enjoying life, family and friends.

This past week-end we happened on parks where people got out and danced a dance called "danzon" all day! It was quite an experience to see people of all ages taking the lessons being offered and dancing away. There were a variety of celebrations going on including a "feria" of indigenous Indian people near the Bellas Artes area.

We were very fortunate to have been here while the Mexican cultural society was having a 100 years of Friday Kahlo exposition. People patiently waited up to 5 hours to get into this exhibit. We were fortunate to have waited a mere 2 hours. The exhibit was well set up to divide her work into paintings of herself and the dear, dear notes to her beloved Diego Rivera.

I will include a variety of photos from the week-end here, including a boat trip down the Venice of Mexico, Xochimilco.

Preparing to Leave the U.S.

August 9, 2007

A few days after my return from Washington DC and the Fulbright Orientation. It has been a whirlwind of trying to prepare for a year abroad. I have already shipped 4 boxes of books that were collected from colleagues and my students last school year. I look forward to sharing the English literature with Mexican students. My departure from the U.S. will be on Saturday 11August.
My first day at the new school in Mexico City will be Monday! I'm very excited.

My exchange teacher Paola Trejo is already on the job at Highlands Ranch High School. The students will be very lucky to have her to share first hand culture from her country.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from the Fulbright Orientation in DC. It was quite a lovely send-off for teachers from incredible places and the U.S. teachers going to those wonderful places to teach. Our goal will be build bridges between their nations and ours and leave a lasting and positive impression of Americans!
Quite a challenge!

Final Day of Orientation

It is Thursday, 2August final day of orientation....what a whirlwind of information and meeting people from all over the world set to go on their own adventures!

There is one common thread between us all as educators, do our best for our students. Each of us has the goal of sharing our own culture and knowledge with their prospective schools.

I will let the photos speak for me now....included are pictures of our welcome meeting with some of the flags represented .... my fellow Fulbrightees and touring around Washington DC. Enjoy!