la gringa anda bien cansada

It's tough to believe I've only been here for a week--the US feels so very far away. I feel so lucky to be here, to be doing and seeing things that I never thought I'd have the chance to experience. I'm also really tired! We've been walking & using public transportation all week long, and I'd forgotten how exhausting it can be to use my Spanish all the time.

I definitely am ready to settle in with my host family--with whom I have yet to connect. It's tough to feel so uprooted, I'm ready to move out of this funky ass hostel and into a place without vinyl mattresses--I can't wait to take a real shower and not live out of my suitcases. I've decided hostel stays are not really my thing-maybe it's just the one I'm staying in, but I've realized that having my own room and bathroom is something that my patience and sanity seems to require. It's great to save money, and I'll tough it out for the next couple of days, but what I need above all else right now is some quiet time to myself, which is absolutely impossible to come by here.

What's great is that my host family seems like they're going to be wonderful. They live in a big ol' house and they have two daughters that're my age. Perfect.

Today we headed to the Parque Chapultepeque (think Balboa or Golden Gate Park) and though there are a ton of incredible museums there, I was totally fascinated with all of the street vendors that line that walks and assault you with all the crap they have to sell. It's incredible--like the ramate multiplied by a million -- DOS CINCO HELADOS DOS CINCO HELADOS, ¿QUE LES DAMOS? or yelling about their chicharrones or any other thing they have to sell you. They seriously yell right in your face!

Alright I'm off to bed because we have another really early morning tomorrow--we're going to Teotihuacán and want to climb the pyramids before everyone else gets there! I promise to post pics soon, I've had bad luck with internet connections so far.

Drop me a line if you have a sec, it'd be wonderful to hear from you!