2nd week in school

Well, it is now my 2nd week in school, and I've stopped getting picked up at 1:30 by Annie. Now I wander around until I feel like coming home, and I grab a taxi. Yesterday it was 70 pesos, today it was 50. I think the exchange rate is somewhere around 13 or 14 pesos to the dollar, so, it is really cheap.

This is nice now, because when I was getting picked up everyday, I didn't wander too far so that I could always be back to the school waiting. Plus, walking around the areas by my school always gave me a bad headache, I think from the exhaust from all the cars, so I never lasted long before I ducked into my favorite coffee shop across the street.

Yesterday I found the most amazing place to hang out though, so I've been there the last two days doing my homework and reading Harry Potter.

I just took these from my seat outside. I told myself I'd take more today, but I didn't.

This place is really nice, because the streets are blocked off, and even if they aren't, they are small one lane streets with little traffic. So, this place is nice and relaxing, music is playing, people are walking around, things like that. Super chill and exactly what I want. Today I kept finding other streets like this, with different shops. This particular one is called Barrio del Artistas.

My teacher also told me I could get into some museums for free today, but I didn't... There are so many here, and one of the best is on the next block over from my school. I couldn't find the door today when I went by it.

OH! haha, so today I told my teacher I wanted to have more conversations in class. So, she marched me down to the zocalo and made me ask people what their names were, where they were from, how old they were, and what they do for a living, and also ask people for directions to different places. Those were always the worst, when I asked for directions, and when they told me, I walked in a completely different direction to get back to Lola. It was even better asking directions to things that I didn't know, like when I went up and said what Lola told me, and turns out I was asking someone where the bar distric was, alone, at 11:30 in the morning. She kept assuring me that these were all famous places.

I guess I shouldn't make myself out to be so outgoing. I tried whining a bit to get out of it, then when we got to the zocalo, I found a reason why each person looked like they didn't want to be bothered. So it was lots of walking around, being embarassed, trying to avoid talking to anyone. In the end, I asked 2 people the questions about themselves, and 3 people directions. I only got shot down once for directions.

Anyone want to send me an e-mail about the Obama inauguration? I was in class until 1 Michigan time. I just read about it online, and saw the tail end on TV. Anything noteworthy?

molly.kathleen.murphy@gmail.com

http://gomexico.about.com/od/colonialcities/ss/puebla_walking.htm

Mom, you'll like this. I just found some really cool pictures from around Puebla, with some background info. It is set up as a walking tour around the city. Maybe I can try this sometime, I want to see that meringue house, the theatre, and the revolutionary museum. I saw a sign for that theatre today, I can't wait to check it out.