Dia Numero 10

Hola Amigos!
Today I switched my classes because every monday new students come from all over the world. They fill the classes based on ability...I jumped to a new group working in the 2nd workbook. My new "maestra" ´s name is Norma and she is very nice. The class moves much faster than my previous one. The first day there were 2 other students...an older woman from North Carolina who shooshed me when I spoke English and a Swiss-German who decided to move to another class after the first because she didn´t understand anything. My understanding level has gotten so much better. My teacher speaks the whole time in Spanish I haven´t had trouble yet understanding what she is saying. I feel pretty good about that! I also have a conversation class but I am the only student...not much conversation! I talk with the professor which is kind of nice because I think that I do better one on one...plus I get more attention! It has been super cloudy here and cold..okay probably not cold like you are experiencing back in MN but cold for Oaxaca. All the natives have said how cold it has been...I didn´t bring many warm clothes so I am quickly running out of things to wear...good thing no one cares! After "la comida" I took a nap and hung out reading for a bit. Lalo and I went out for a tea and did my homework together. The assignment was to write a poem modeled after one by Jorge Luis Borges discussing what you would do if you could live your life over again. I´ll share his poem in a seperate entry...it´s quite good! I was tired and returned early. I have been freezing in my room with sheet that you can see through and a small blanket. Katie and I have been unsure whether or not we should just buy a new blanket or ask Eva for one. Katie and I have spent a good many instances discussing cultural differences between the U.S. and Mexico. Culturally, Latinos are a very happy culture...whether they have pesos or not. We have been saying that if only all Mexicans could see an example like the U.S. (not that we have everything figured out...clearly not) they would require more from their government rather than just resigning to the fact that all government officials are corrupt and rob from the citizens. The minimun wage here is 48 pesos PER DAY! That equals less that $5 per day! A dishwasher in the U.S. makes more money PER HOUR than a minimum wage employee makes per day! And we wonder why so many Mexicans jump the border. Every family here has a story about a family member or a friend that has gone to the U.S. for work. Unfortunate that in a culture so different from ours, they are forced to look to the outside world for help from the poverty that permeates their society. We as foreigners want to see the world but bring every necessity with us so that we can maintain our comfort level we have at home...maybe everybody should live wondering where their next peso is going to come from before they pass judgement on an illegal immigrant?! Adios....besos...Hasta Pronto!