Beat the Seat

New Braunfels, TX -- Just so you know: I do NOT have the swine flu. Nor does anyone that I know... however people that I know that knows someone that knows someone that knows someone has it. But in my particular area there has been no great threat, and I, as far as that is concerned, am healthy and good to go.

Well, I've made it to the great state of Texas, US of A.

Friday morning, the arrivals started at 5:20am... I had gotten about 2 hours of sleep, and got up and packed away my bed and that... many kids came by throughout the morning and said their goodbyes. Two of the girls left notes/letters for me, which were tear-jerking, of course.

Anyhow, I started my journey at 10am, travelled to Perote, to Veracruz and then up to Reynosa. On the ride to Reynosa, we had to get off the bus at like 4am or so for a military checkpoint... and they checked all of our carry-ons for explosives. We were all a mess... sleepy-eyed and messy-haired, wobbling off the bus with our stuff in hand.

From Reynosa came the tricky part. There, you take another bus to McAllen, TX... We inch across the bridge, and I saw the border sign that "here" is the States, and "here is Mexico", and the bus slammed on the brakes, and I was still on the Mexican side while the peron in front of me was in the States.

Anyway, when you get to the immigration point and you have to get off the bus, take all your stuff, and go get in line and catch the bus on the other side. But I was carrying 2 very full suitcases, my laptop thing, a bookbag, and then a bag with my lunch, snacks, etc. Oh, and my purse. The customs guys were impressed that I could carry it all. And I did it with style!

And then, of course, from McAllen to San Antonio in Greyhound and then to New Braunfels, arriving Saturday at 8pm. The journey wasn't too bad... I found people to chat with along the way, and one American girl who I helped out who didn't speak much Spanish.

Going to church with the Briles on Sunday was really nice... interestingly enough, there had been a missions conference that same weekend... Anyway, I found it very refreshing to go to church here, even though it wasn't my home church, it was kinda like, I guess I am home.

And apart from that, I got to hang out with my uncle some, and pick up a few things that I had to leave behind... like contact solution, and body soap, etc.

Yesterday, I hit the tired wall, as I call it. I slept hard for 2 hours and then was just kinda like Eh? for the rest of the day, and slept good last night. So, anyway, here I'm getting logistical stuff taken care of, and trying to get back into the realm of American social customs and ways of doing things.

It's weird to go to stores, with a ton of people and carts (and those stocked high with food) and thousands of aisles with millions of choices. Dizzying, really. The occasional observer might find me randomly staring at things, and if you ask me a question that doesn't have to do with either Mexico or Japan, and more likely has to do with a preference for this or that... my answer will probably be 90% of the time, I don't know... and this will be preceded by a long pause.:)

This is all expected, and within its time will go back to "normal"...I also feel the compulsive need to say goodbye to every single person and handshake/kiss them (as the greeting is in Mex) and chitchat before leaving. And I don't think that you do that here. But I'm afraid of offending, haha!

It's just mental things, like being prepared an hour beforehand to shower so that I can light the water heater.

I forget that you have to wear seatbelts, and the Briles' car keeps beeping like 3 minutes after I get in the car that I need to put my seatbelt on. And that's in the passenger seat!! I beat the seat belt beeper thought today for the first time!

Signing Off

Altotonga, Mexico -- Well, this is the week of lasts. And there has been so much to do, so many people to see... And I keep thinking, this is the last time I'll be here, or do this or go there...

Even up till today I have been selling stuff and collecting money and finishing packing, and going here and there and eating with so and so. I go to bed every night so tired, and now I don't even say "Ì'll be back" to my roommate, because I keep going in and out.

Last Saturday I shared my "letter" to them (the youth) taken straight from the book of Philippians. It seems to say everything that I wanted to say, and expressed so clearly what I felt... and so I shared that with them and as well, emailed it. And it was a good afternoon, they tried not to cry, we laughed, shared, prayed and played together.

This week there has been a lot of "bartering"... Janine, don't go. Janine, why do you have to go? Tomorrow will obviously come the worst of it, and I think arrivals start at my house at like 5am. Oh dear.

And so many have told me, I'm coming by... Anyway, I don't know if there is much point in sleeping.

Also, just so you know, my drivers license arrived!! I was a bit concerned about that, but it arrived. Thank you Jesus!!

So, anyway, it's a bit hard to say goodbye to a place that's been your home for almost 3 years... where you walk the streets, and talk to different people in a different language, and buy tortillas and shop everyday instead of driving to a grocery store and buying for the week.

I feel a peace about it, have gone through closure and that, and am excited about the future... and really I can't believe that it's tomorrow that I go.

Anyhow. Those are just thoughts.

Tonight, I'm going to get some taquitos (tacos) and drink a Mexican Coke and light the water heater for the last time. I won't miss that.

I have stocked up on my goodies for the trip, have done good at not reading that book (haven't had time!), and have a box of nice soft Puffs kleenex (thanks Vonda!!)...And in closing up and signing off in Mexico, I know that God has been here, He has worked in many teens' lives, many seeds have been planted, and I know that I myself have changed, grown, been stretched, been strengthened here. And in leaving, I trust that my God will complete the work that He started here. With all my love to Altotonga--

Traversing

Altotonga, Mexico -- I am filling up this week on tortillas, tacos and garnachas. And, yes, I will miss them profoundly. :)

Maybe for a part-time job in STL I'll open up a tortilleria (a tortilla shop).

(Just a PS: will write about last Sat. in my next blog, last one written in Mex... so in the next couple of days. Thus, stay tuned. End PS:)

Well, everything is sold and JUST about everything is packed in TWO very full suitcases. My apartment looks empty, I'm sleeping on an air mattress and my roommate cancelled the phone and internet service, which alas, leaves me going to the internet cafes, since all wireless connections are secured.

Humph.

Anyhow, this week, I say my goodbyes to everyone, and so I've divided the people up into days, and am traversing the city, making last visits. Tomorrow alone, I'll go on street up like 15 blocks. I don't remember who else is on that list for the day... I'd have to check my handy-dandy super agenda, as they'd say.

The kids are planning on coming over early Friday morning before many go to school... I'm hearing rumors of 5am. Dear goodness.

And then I'll depart at 10am and spend way too many hours on 4 busses, I believe. I'm purposely not reading the book that I started so that I can have something to read on the bus. And I still have a sudoku book that I'm not finished with.

Speaking of the packing, I was considering for a while just wearing everything I own on the bus and not worrying about this packing deal. I threw the idea out... although I did consider it for a few minutes.

Nah.

Apart from visits and packing and making sure I don't forget to see people, I don't think there is much to think about... packing lunch(es) for Friday and Saturday... but yeah. Oh, I do need to copy all the numbers out of my cel phone. It's amusing though, I tend to wake up in the middle of the night with random thoughts or ideas about the traversing that will be taking place this weekend. And I think to myself, why didn't I think of this before??

Tomorrow sometime I do need to go visit a señora, who today came asking for some help with some Bible questions, so tomorrow, I'll go do that. Today she wasn't able to.

Hmm... de-parasiting myself. Walking lots. I feel like this is a boring blog! I did get my blood results back (just did a general test to see if I'm a normal person)... And so it would seem, I'm pretty normal.

But really, there's not much to comment beside that everytime I go downstairs, I have this sudden rush that someone stole everything, because beside my roommate's desk and bookcase, well... there is nothing.

Tieing Up Those Strings

Altotonga, Mexico -- I would just like to note that there has been marimba music outside my house for a couple of days, and I like that and will miss that.

Ok, so since I last wrote there has been a bit going on.

First, I survived the attack of the dentist. In fact, I just came from there. But seriously, that was waaaaaay to much time almost vertical in that chair with a light shining in my face and all sorts of drills and needles going in my mouth. By the time Saturday rolled around, I was swollen, and holding my face, on lots of tylenol, and talking without moving my lips. But I am recovered now (PS: I went today because one of the fillings chipped a good deal... and he also found it necessary to file my teeth from the inside. Granted, I couldn't get that string stuff up in there beforehand and now I can...).

We also had a couple of fun days with the kids, including a sleep over for the girls. They've really gotten into the game Dutch Blitz... they go INSANE over it. Who would have thought? That and Phase 10.Also, I've been trying to get everything down to 2 suitcases (that will be fuller than any suitcase I've ever packed)... because as you know, the moving date will change, but ALSO now, I'll be making pretty much the move by myself. I'm not daunted or upset about it, just being fluid. As it turns out, no one will be able to make it to Reynosa to pick me up, so I get to take a bus over the border into McAllen and then take a bus that at least gets me to New Braunfels, if not thereabouts. All in all, it'll be a long weekend and many, many hours spent in a bus.

So, I've been trying to get as much as I can into 2 suitcases instead of 3 (which I had, more as backup)...Yesterday, my table, water table (it the thing that holds the water jugs and is handy for kitchen towels) and my bed went bye-bye (sleeping on an air mattress now). Tomorrow the file cabinet, my wood table (it's not that fancy) and... oh, the rack to hang my clothes, and possibly the stove goes. Sigh.

Monday the couch set, and then it'll be empty.The kids are pretty sad about all this... it's hard for them, and it's hard for me to know it's hard for them.

Saturday will be our last "Saturday" together, and I know exactly what I want to share at this last time together. I know it'll be nostalgic for them... good thing I have a supply of kleenex (thanks Vonda!).

Anywho, last night I did debriefing with myself, which is good for helping to close out time here (for myself) and good preparation for the move that will take place... the changing of cultures, customs and habits... there's a good book for missionaries called "Re-Entry" that I'm reading through... it helped me out the first time coming back... There is often reverse culture-shock and just other things that you don't realize-- you would assume that it would be natural just going back, but while you're away you change so much and people back home also change. So, anyway.

I'm not stressed about it, just trying to be smart and prepared for it, to make it as easy as possible.So, in this next week, I finish packing up, make my rounds visiting people and saying goodbye and then head back.

I'll spend a week in New Braunfels, at the office and with the Briles and also have a speaking opportunity there. And then I'll head and visit some friends who are just excellent, excellent people. Em, as I call her, and I went to India together all 3 times, and we've stayed in close contact all this time. She now has a little baby and her husband, who is Indian, they are wonderful WONDERFUL people and are ministering among the Indian population where they live, and it is very exciting to see what God is doing with and through them. And then I'll be back home, where I will be very excited to see my family and all of you people!

Unattractive Slurs

Altotonga, Mexico -- So the highlight of the day has been the two hours sitting in the dentist's chair. Amid all the other aspects of "closing up" also comes visits to all the doctors.

Because, after all, it is cheaper to get it done here.

Way cheaper.

Anywho, as it's been at least several years since I've seen a dentist (hey, I haven't felt any pain, so it can't be tooo bad, right?), I figured I'd get it done now.

And I have a few cavities. So, I got some done today, have to go back tomorrow and Friday too. It's still going to be expensive, but cheaper than the States, certainly. And I figure, I'd like to grow old and have teeth.

Next week, I'll go to get all my blood work done and make sure all my levels of everything are fine. Get this: I don't have to go with any paperwork, any doctor's notes... anything. I just go in and tell them what I want done.It's the same way at the pharmacies. You can go in and prescribe yourself. Have a cold and need an antibiotic? No problem! It's amazing, all that... but I have to admit that it works for me. I only go in for the same medication I've taken all my life, and I don't usually have colds that get too bad that I would consider myself as needing medicine.

Oh, and: in about a week and a half: I'm going to de-parasite myself. Just in case.

And so, I should make it back to the states cavity-free, with blood work done indicating that all is good to go, and sans parasite buddies.

Well, I'm still all anesthesia-ed up, as it takes apparently a LOT to get me feeling-free (no pun intended), and it takes me many hours to get rid of it. I'm a little hungry, but as I sat there with my mouth stretched wide open, I considered, I'm never eating anything with sugar AGAIN. AND I'm going to brush my teeth like 10 times a day... and I brush my teeth 3-4 times a day (sometimes up to 5)... but like I said, it'd been a few years.

Going to a dentist here is about the same as going to a dentist in the States... except that everything isn't tucked neatly into cabinets and everything blindingly white. And the dentist mumbles in Spanish, instead of English... which can, indeed, sometimes be tricky. And I think he had some type of "jaw-jack" or something that he stuck in my mouth, which I don't remember state-side dentists having. Do they?

Ok, on to another subject beside my teeth. I'm still trying to get stuff sold... like my sofa set, bookcase, stove, etc. And I'm not getting much of a response. So... I'm just praying God will send someone soon. As the peso rate has changed from 9 pesos to 14 pesos per US dollar, I'm losing out on this end. But in other aspects of the conversion rate, I'm winning. So, you win, you lose, you get over it.

The kids are on their vacation time for spring break... 2 weeks. So, we're trying to get together very often and do stuff... spend time together. We were going to go up to the river on Monday morning, but there was a "norte" that came through-- a cold front from the north... Those always bring rain and fog and coldness.

There was an incredibly amount of whining last Saturday when I announced the official date of the move. And more talk of kidnapping, or forced marriage. And all the other things they still had to do to me before I left. Can you feel the love?

Other than that, the Saturday meeting was pretty good... with the Briles having left that morning, and an early morning (5am) drive out to the rancho to wake up one of the girls for her birthday with firecrackers, I figured they'd be a little down or tired and without energy. But they weren't, and they shared a lot. It was a good time.

Well, I'm going to wait off this anesthesia thing... It's so hard to talk with it!

Noisy Silence

Altotonga, Mexico -- Wow, there are about 17 MILLION thoughts running through my head right now. There have been a few reasons I haven't written in the last week-- Tammy has been here visiting, there have been changes in the plans for moving and therefore details to work out, and a few other issues that have gone on with some youth that have needed to be taken care of.

But today I was able to get some stuff done... laundry was a big part of it, too. The Briles also arrived today (did I mention that I dropped Tammy off at Puebla to catch her bus to the airport? And came back! Wonderful 5am mornings)...

I also got my report done, which is important, and did some research on my drivers license. It was stolen here, and so I need to get it replaced. BUT I'm going to transfer it to Texas... and so I'm trying to figure out how to do all this... because I'm going to drive to a point to meet some friends and stay with them a couple of days while my mom comes on the weekend and we drive back together. But in order to rent the car, you need a drivers license.... And so, I'm trying to get this all taken care of WITHOUT having to retake the written and driving test...

Anyway, logistical bleck.

But like I said, there have been changes in the moving date, and so on the 24th of this month, I'll be bussing out of Mexico (some 18 hours), which obviously gives a whole variety of emotions... happy and excited to see my family... very sad to leave the kids... and a whole bunch of things nagging at my mind of what has still to be done, bus tickets, packing, selling, and now the drivers license thing.

Anyway, if you could please be praying for me for these things.

Hmm... I just got distracted by the news... it showed the Mexican president giving a speech there in London, and then of course, it showed out president. We get about as much news about the states as we do about Mexico here.

On to more pleasant things. We are into "summer" which means it'll get to a steaming 75 degrees. At night there is a LOT of wind, characteristic of the 2 summer months, and you think that your house may be blown away. But after 3 years of this, I'm not fooled. We have this huge sign outside of our window on the 3rd floor. This sign is how I describe to everyone where my house is. And now it has a piece of loose cheap sheet metal on it. Tonight I looked up and there it was flapping in the wind. THAT'S what that is! I exclaimed. Since it's a newer sound and being so close to our heads, it's pretty obnoxious at 3am.

Tammy being here, and lately my grandma and mom, they note all the sounds that are just part of life for me and that I don't even hear anymore (on the contrast, it's interesting what I do hear clearly and they don't). We have the 2 competing ice cream cars that play some type of typical "ice cream music", but 2 different tunes. Every Monday-Friday, they arrive promptly at 1pm, outside my apartment and blast their music. There's an elementary school in front of my house, and it gets out between 1 and 2. Every night too, I get a concert across the street. The workout class, and later the dance class blasts out its Samba music (at least it was tonight) for a couple of hours. It's also on the 2nd floor, and they leave the windows open. It's often louder than the tv or whatever else I happen to be listening to.

Hmm... The shoe shop below us plays music all day long.

There's a shrimp guy that walks around every afternoon shouting "SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHRRRRRRIMMMP!" But in Spanish.

The bass-ed out cars that rattle my windows. The kids playing on the neighbor's roof that sounds like it's mine... the rattling of the lamina on our washroom from about 11pm til about 6am. The cow bells anouncing the trash truck. The roosters crow at all hours. The gas trucks that blare their horns and have irritatingly-catchy tunes that they play to announce their arrival. And just street noise (because you can hear normal conversations inside the house).

Very little of this do I hear... in fact, people ask me what was a certain noise, and I say-- what noise?America is quiet. I remember thinking that each time I go back home. It's so quiet, I whisper to myself.

Well, my day did start at 5, and it's 11 and I still have 2 more things to do on my list, so, I'm gonna get. If you think of me, be praying for me in these next few weeks! Thanks