Agua!

Yesterday was filled with much more excitement than we had even planned--after our morning classes we boarded the "Rutas" (local buses) to the Water Park. Upon arrival I think we were all a little stunned (based on our experiences at Wild Waves) with the beauty and cleanliness of this water park! Add to that that we were practically the only ones there and we were all set for some fun in the sun.

Our excitement was quickly but briefly halted within the first five minutes when Clara slipped while running and fell and hit her jaw. Despite the profuse amount of blood (lips bleed a lot and quickly) the girls who were with her acted swiftly and well to get her to the closest teacher and alert the rest of us at the staff station. Within minutes we had her to the park doctor (a doctor on premises!) and although she was fairly banged up, the injury was caused by her braces whacking into her lip and cutting the inside of it. The park doctor was able to get the wire unentangled and give her some medicine for the pain, and then with the help of the folks here, Ms Ava and she departed to the dentist to get her bent wire removed. By evening Ms Clara felt up to joining us again, and although very sore was very happy to be back apart of the group. Our girls were great in the moment, and following up afterwards, and she was greeted with many hugs and cheers.

The girls who remained at the park seemed to have a blast. The day was hot and sunny (and we have the empty bottles of sunblock to prove it) and the water was wonderful. There were many slides and rides, and an added attraction we teachers had not figured into the mix, lifeguards!
All in all a fun day, despite the accident, and then we headed back to the Zocalo (center of town).

We got back to town and gave the girls more shopping time (!) before we met for supper. We ended up eating all together in an outdoor spot on the Zocalo with some music in th background and some great Mexican food. Clara had rejoined us (although can only chew for now on one side!) but we spent a relaxing dinner visiting, eating, and laughing before heading off in our separate directions home around 8:30 or so.

Today we go to Tepoztlan which loosely translates to "place where we will battle the girls to get them to hike up the pyramid". While some of the girls may have a real physical reason not to hike (like 3) most are already whining--um, I mean, suggesting that they would prefer not to hike...I will offer to stay behind with those not hiking at the bottom of the hill where I have prepared a 90 minute lecture on the philosophical ideologies and implications of different cultural practices on the teaching of sexuality education around the world. That should get them up the hill.

Following our day in Tepoztlan we will return to our families where we will pack all of our new found treasures, clean our rooms, write a reflection on our experiences, and begin to work on a presentation we hope to put together for you, the families, to be scheduled some time once we return. Saturday we head off early with all of our things to explore Mexico City a little before we head to the airport to wait for our flight home.

I will be unable to blog after this morning, so thank you all for reading our adventures and we will all certainly share more upon our return. Daniel will wait at SeaTac until he has seen each girl picked up so PLEASE CHECK OUT WITH HIM BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Our girls will all gather at SeaTac baggage claim once the plane comes in. Daniel will turn his cell phone on--his number is 206-214-5524. Please plan on parking and coming in to claim you girl since some of them may be checking bags (no drive by's please).

Until we see you next--take care, m