RachelsAdventure.com

Hey All!  I am so sad that I can't make it to the retreat this weekend so I'm sending a little love your way from Mexico.  Have fun.  Love you all.  Lots.

Con Mucho Amor
-Rachel

Life is good. 

Thought I'd post a quick update (never know how long we'll have internet access around here!). 

Teaching is a delightful challenge.  I love trying to figure out what makes my little monkeys tick and then helping them learn to be better people.  I read an article from the New York Times yesterday that was about self control (a common topic in my classroom) and learned that self control, not IQ, is the best indicator of long term success.  Now I have a new mission: teach 5th grade boys about self control.  Wish me luck.  haha.

Working with the church is great, too.  I love giving English lessons (surprisingly, it helps my Spanish a lot because I'm constantly having to translate).  I'm going to a youth conference November, should be interesting because it's all in Spanish (and I'm all in English, haha!).  Church is starting to feel more comfortable...more like home.

A lady stopped me on the way to school the other day and asked me (in Spanish) about the Homework Club and the English Club and I realized, about 3 minutes after parting ways, that I totally gave her the wrong time.  That's another one of those frustrating things about not being able to speak Spanish...had it been English I could have run back and corrected myself...but I didn't know the correct words in Spanish.  Long story short, the woman and her daughter did show up at Homework Club tonight...LATE.  Oops.  I apologized profusely (one thing I DO know how to say!).  The woman was very kind and her daughter even walked home with me.

Overall things are settling into a good routine.  I thought I would do a "Week in the Life of Rachel" post sometime soon so you can see what a typical week is like (complete with pictures!). 

Hasta Luego.

Do you ever have one of those days when you think "hey, I look good today" and then one of your precious students pokes you and says, "you're fat". 

SERIOUSLY?!?

 I guess 5th grade boys are here to keep me humble (but really, can I strangle him?)

Friday (Oct. 9, 2009) was Cultural Day at school and it involved a field trip to the pyramids in Teotihuacan.  I have linked to individual pictures below (labeled: PIC), but they can ALL be seen on the multimedia page in the 'Teotihuacan' album.

The pyramids in Teotihuacan are pre-Colombian (200ish BC) and they are truly amazing.   Most people don't realize that the largest pyramid (by volume) in the world is located just south of Mexico City in Puebla (the Great Pyramid of Cholula) and the third largest pyramid in the world is north of the city in Teotihuacan (the Sun Pyramid). 

The Sun Pyramid (PIC) was originally built 63 meters (200ish feet) tall but is shorter now due to erosion and invasions.  This pyramid was used for worship (of the sun god) and ritual sacrifice, human (PIC) and otherwise.  The Moon Pyramid (PIC) is situated at the end of the Avenue of the Dead and is thought to have some connection with a water god.

During it's heyday, the city of Teotihuacan was thought to have over 100,000 residents which would have made it the largest city in America and the 6th largest city in the world at that time.  It is awe-inspiring to walk through ruins knowing that people lived and thrived in this city over 2000 years ago.  Wow. 

Here's what it looks like today (PIC) with my little monkeys running around.

We originally planned on climbing each of the pyramids, the Sun Pyramid is over 300 steps to the top, but we found out when we got there (actually, I found out when a security guard with a tight smile and a gun stopped me with my class as we were walking up the stairs) that school groups are no longer allowed to climb the pyramids without a (pre-signed) waiver from the school.  Apparently there have been a couple deaths on the pyramids from kids goofing around (which is why I am secretly glad that they wouldn't let my little monkeys climb). 

I was disappointed to not get to climb but I know I will have many more opportunities to visit the pyramids over the next few years (hey Dad...I already know you have to visit Teotihuacan when you come!). 

I took well over 100 pictures during our 4 hour tour, but have only posted a selection for your viewing pleasure.  Of all the pictures I took that day, this one is my favorite.  Make sure you check out the multimedia page to see the rest of them.

Sources:
Arizona State University
Washington State University
and good ol' Wikipedia

all pictures are Miss Rachel originals and not to be used without permission (please!).

Okay, I've been "official" for awhile, but now my picture is up on the teacher site.  The picture on the site is from TODAY (Oct. 7, 2009) and you'll probably notice only two changes 1) I'm tanner and 2) my hair is longer.  Otherwise, it's the same ol' Rachel.

Here's the page: http://mccateachers.weebly.com/

I’ve been thinking a lot about convenience these days.  I guess there is something about not having a car (a dishwasher, a washer, a dryer, a bank account, a mailbox, a consistent internet connection, reliable electricity, occasionally warm water...um, I think you get the point) that makes a girl think about convenience, or rather, inconvenience.

I lived a very convenient life in the States.  When Sar (Hi Sarah!) and I lived in our apartment if I needed something it was nothing to hop in the car and drive across to New Seasons or down the street to Target (oh how I miss Target!).  Our hot water always worked, we washed clothes in the washer and dryer in our apartment and when I bought things I didn’t have to think “can I get this back on the bus with me?”.   

I took for granted how easy my life was. 

Now I experience inconvenience on a whole new level.  Now hear me, people.  I’m not complaining.  This is just something I’ve been processing so I thought I would share it.  I never realized how much my life centered around convenience until, suddenly, everything in my life became a bit more complicated.  The cool thing is, since I’ve been down here I’ve learned that I can shower without hot water, I can teach without electricity,  I can get around without a car and (gasp) I can even find things to do without an internet connection. 

And it feels good.

I have always liked the IDEA of becoming a person who isn’t inconvenienced by inconvenience, but I’m learning the steps to BECOME that person are not necessarily fast and easy (well, of course not, that would be too convenient!). 

I've decided to post my "bucket list" for a little accountability.  I'm only going to do it in installments of 5! 
Here's the first bunch:

1. Travel to Europe.
2. Learn to speak at least one foreign language.
   
3. Dance like Beyonce.  (haha.  really!)
   
4. Visit every state in the US and in Mexico.
5. Get a tattoo.
   

What would you put on your bucket list?