what a great feeling....

to feel 'at home' at several different places. (or maybe that's called being a grateful vagabond)

Went to Mexican movie theater for 1st time since 2000.

Javi, Rod, y yo, fuimos al cine para ver la pelicula  Limitless.  Very entertaining and very entertaining to watch a movie in english with spanish subtitles now, because I can't help but notice when the translation  loses the major component of humor.  I might start to go see more movies, i think it helps to hear and read at the same time.

my first mexican haircut....

and i told them to do as they wished....i like have full service wash before and after cut, two people tending to me offering me drinks and i got to pay what i pay in the US, including the 100% tip i was able to leave.

Forget about Jamba Juice.....

i went for my 'just as sun is rising' exploration of the city. took the metrobus a few stops (next post will have that story in it) and then i walked back the 2 kilometers or so and on the way i saw a this dirty looking tent with two guys who looked like they are competing for who can go the longest without a shower.... but in that filthy tent is the most wonderful street food ive ever seen. so the menu boasted of healthy smoothies and i didnt really know what to expect, i thought it would be a sweet high calorie jamba juice type smoothie with some extra 'boosts'. Anyhow, I ordered the VAMPIRO, because vampire related stuff is still super hip here. So i get this giant cup of juice, for less than 2.00(us) and i taste it....and it is nothing more than carrots, beets, and celery, blended up into a warm liquid. Now dont get me wrong, it tasted slightly unpleasant at first, but when i realized what a healthy goldmine i stumbled across, it tasted better than any smoothie or milkshake or soda or ANYTHING i've ever had. Unlike the U.S., Mexico actually has healthy foods available for (relatively) low costs. Maybe its the nerdy health kick talking, but this is the most exciting thing I will find in mexico city!

Just over 1 month left and I created a challenge for myself.....

So, here is a photo of a map of the mexican metro and metrobus routes (not busses) think greenline trolleys in boston. 

So, my goal is to get a picture at each ot the stops.  the pictures might be just of the sign at the station like this:

Or it could have me in the photo as such....

Anyhow, I figure if I visit every stop of public ´train´transportation, I will be able to aptly claim that I went to every part of Mexico DF. 

In other news, my Spanish is continuing to improve, my english speaking is limited to swearing and night time when Im too tired to think of the words.  I weighed in t 81.5 kilos today, which is a little more than 179.6 pounds.  I haven´t been under 180 since before college.  Im eating really well here.  Raw foods, also taking vitamins and supplements (acai, fish oil, spirulina).   I haven´t been exercising as much as I am used to and the half marathon on June 5 is going to teach me a lesson, but the walking that I do and city exploration has provided me with a well balanced body and im pleased with how ive be keeping in shape.

Here is a picture of my two cousins that Im living with here....

my family has been so good to me. im grateful everyday.  be well everyone.  hasta la proxima!

not sure about that uv index....

if you are getting this by email....

it means you have been on an autolist that emails you when i post.  you will no longer be receiving these emails even though i will continue to blog.  in fact i will be blogging more, and for this reason, there will no longer be automatic messages sent.  thank you.

Going out to celebrate...

...a special occasion.... With my one vice left.... So grateful for my family here that can see the sadness without pushing me too much about it.
Thank god I dont drink anymore! 217 days :)

Sent from my iPhone

City is alive again....

Mexico city is alive again after it's week of vacations in seemingly every industry and profession. Mi tia and mi tio said it's going to be a busy couple of days of work. Now I can learn what "busy" translates into in Mexican Culture. Though I've been glad that things have been not "busy" since I arrived. My Spanish skills are starting to go flipmode now.

Pitbull on 28 may. Get some!

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April 25

Today is a special day for me. (here in Mexico it is 23:14 but i want this to post early EST) Exactly 2 years ago I met someone who has become my best friend and has made me a better person. I love you dearly.

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I was the only one with....

a suit on at church today. Talk about blending in! Happy Easter to all.
Here is a picture of my newest friend in mexico!

10th day update

So I've been here for 10 days and I have to say that every part of the trip has exceeded the expectations I had when I got on the plane. I would definitely consider my Spanish to be classifiable as Conversational. Without fear of the inevitable errors and sufficient vocabulary to speak with 90 percent of the people here I recognize that the next part of total immersion demands a lot more active learning.(new words, fine-tuning grammar). This next part will be the most difficult I think because it's easy to fall into a pattern of using limited words and phrases if those words and phrases are allowing for conversations with most people. Buying a thesaurus now seems like a great idea and the dictionary isn't as useful because learning a new language, especially with years of classroom prep, allows for a smooth transition to this point but to get to the next level, at which I can truly say I am communicating as I want, will take a lot more studying, practicing and cultural learning. I guess those chapters in our Spanish texts actually were prepared well :)

Today was the real first strong moment homesickness, but it isnt a coincidence that the two people that dropped me off at the airport were the same two that made me feel much better today. I can only hope that other people have that kind of support in their life. I'm very grateful.
It was a beautiful day in Mexico city and the scale said I weigh 84 kilos. (it's so much more exciting using a measurement system in which you are unsure of the conversions)

Best wishes to all and thanks for your love and support today, Dad and Alicia.

Hasta la proxima...

Leaving wifi without FaceTime with the fam

Everyone back home has an iPad or iPhone 4.....

But alas, no one picks up their FaceTime calls. I guess a little homesick today. I'm well though.

Sent from my iPhone

Lost in translation....

Learning Language and culture without structure

When I was in college I didn't study abroad, and I'm wondering just how different my experience is now than if I had spent a semester in Mexico 9 years ago when I was a junior at Williams. Obvious differences aside (longer stay, scheduled classes, college liver health and pre-sobriety) I wonder how much Spanish I would actually be speaking. I'm pretty sure most of the programs had many American students so I assume i never would have had the necessity of speaking Spanish or not talking at all. But have the years made my total immersion experience more difficult than if I had done this when I was 19 instead of 29. The one thing I do know is that I could not more fortunate in terms of the opportunity I have right. To live in 'downtown' Mexico City for seven weeks with family that care for me through custom, and through blood relation. My cousins are great. The 19 year old has become a younger brother I never had and my ability to finally get to know my great aunt, are the two stand out situations that have come out of this trip so far. My aunt and my older cousin that I'm also staying with are equally as important to me but I knew this from previous trips. But in the interest of fair sharing I wanted to mention how important they are to me. I've learned more about my Mexican family in 7 days than I had learned in 29 years. It sounds unbelievable but it really is an accurate statement. I've come to really love the city that used to make put my nose up like the arrogant, spoiled American I am. I know this is very cliche but I know already that this stay in my father's first country will change the way I approach life when I get back. If not my actions, my attitudes towards Mexico, Mexicans, and the American view towards both, will forever be different. Language barriers can prevent an open mind from being open at all. Now that I can communicate on a basic level with anyone I come into contact with in Mexico, everyone is becoming another human being with basic wants and needs. It is no longer a giant smelly city filled with millions of clones. To be able to communicate in another language, even at low level that I am at, feels amazing. I have said this before here and I will say it many times again- I cannot wait to talk to my dad in his first language. When I get frustrated trying to find the words in a conversation or when someone doesn't understand me, I think of my dad, my frustrations turn to motivation. I only wish my brothers had this same opportunity before they had careers and families. I feel like my idea of 'Mexicaness' will always be different from theirs and from what mine used to be. I only hope the next generation of Vazquez will be able to understand just how much their grandfather (mi papa) sacrificed. The same way I am able to recognize and be grateful for how much my Lithuanian grandparents sacrificed for the sake of their children and their grandchildren. I hate to say it but I suppose it only takes one generation in my family to become a self centered American with an idea of what came before us but with our minds focused on what is ours and what we get to have. Mexico had fallen right into place with my shift in attitude over the last 8 months regarding what is important and what is not 'real' life.
Overwhelmed, but constantly grateful. It feels wonderful.

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Stayin' Alive

Since my visit to Mexico in December I made it clear to my family that I do not mean any disrespect when I say no to food offerings but that I will not eat food that is offered simply because it is a strong cultural tradition to share love through food. Usually they take it personally, until i show them pictures of myself from last august when I was just over 70 pounds heavier. Though I wish health would be prioritized here more, I guess I'm glad I have an excuse that gets me out of being in bad favor when I say no to daily offerings (multiple daily offerings). Here is a picture from dinner time on 4.20.2011. It's my oatmeal with cinnamon and a whole bunch of plain celery sticks. Food that I can honestly say i enjoy eating and I know is healthy for my body. The food in the containers is food I did not eat, nor do I even remember what everyone else had. Mealtime with family is my favorite when the type or amount of food has nothing to do with how the table conversation goes. Meals with others aren't supposed to be about the food.... I'm almost certain of that now. Meals with others, like most activities with others is about....,, yeah....im going to say it.....COMPANY.

Pardon the delays....

I know it has been several days since I posted, not because I have abandoned the blog, but because the Internet connection in my family's house has been down for several days and AT&T is out to really f#^+} me if use the international roam on my phone. Anyway I'm at a local restaurant where they have wi fi if you buy a meal. Anyway
Things are going really well. I had my first dream that was involved English and Spanish. When I have my first dream in Spanish (if ever) that will be a huge milestone. Im Wah beyond my original hurdle of being embarrassed to make mistakes and since I got over that I've been improving at a much faster rate. Even as I write this I'm thinking of Spanish phrasing and sentence structure and I have to reread my English. = good sign.
My family has been so helpful and very generous with everything. I'm so grateful to have this opportunity. There has been one day that I felt homesick to the point of watery eyes but it was more because when I reflect on my father's emigration I can't help but feel overcome with gratitude and the desire to hug and kiss him and say thank you for your sacrifices. More to come. Hopefully Internet gets fixed soon. Know that I'm well and im safe (for now).

Sent from my iPhone

Modern technology

First Run

Just got back from my first predawn run. I guess 8000ft altitude really does take getting used to. Bring on the altitude sickness. Good morning Mexico. Good Morning World.

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night night

I love my family. And I love my best friends. and im in love with a wonderful woman. I'm lucky. Some people don't have any of these three things to love.
Good night peeps. Day 1 was great. I speak spanish better today than yesterday. I explored the neighborhood. Learned important words like apuesta while I played some low stakes roulette at the casino that is a 4 minute walk. Don't worry loved ones. Part of understanding why some behaviors become irreversibly compulsive is to do similar vices and use a strong cbt model for assessing threat, and course of action.
Tomorrow I work at 7.

by the way.  My dad responded to my previous post, to me directly.  And it was the best thing anyone has ever written to me.  I am overwhelmed with appreciation for all the sacrifices of our previous generations.  

Mexico 4.14.2011

It is a beautful day in Mexico City.  I slept in to recuperate from the travel day and spent a couple of hours with my great-aunt, who laughs and talks and looks a lot like her sister (my grandmother, see post from april 1st for reference).  then i went out and walked around, bought the most pimped out Mexico City Street guide which will be very helpful.
Just like when I was here in December, the speaking spanish only here is exhausting, but that only last for a couple of days and then its a lot easier to really learn and pick up the subtleties.  Im  so glad that i know that the exhaustion of total spanish subsides after a couple of days or else i would be pretty bummed about the prospects of me learning spanish well.
Feeling grateful and content.  its a nice way to feel. 

Landed

(just payed like 8 dollars in roaming charges to post this). But I'm here safely.(ostensibly)

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Language change....

Just got on the plane and I am I'm the language minority and it just gave me such an awesome wave of excitement. More importantly I felt the gratitude come first. For life, for family, for friends, for everything! Thank you to my closest ones past and present. You can smile knowing you don't have worry for or about me the same way as the last 10 years. Your support, patience, and a lot of hard work is allowing me fantastic second chance to live life happily. Thank you. I hope I can be there you the same way. I love you all. GOTTA GO! next time you hear from me I'll be SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

P.s. I love you dad. I can barely go to another country for 2 months, you went to a new country for your family. I love you and appreciate what you did for us. (three cheers for mr. Vazquez!)

Leaving Newark

Leaving Newark for D.F.
Feeling awesome.

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Airport...

The two people I most wanted to drop me off just did. The flight was delayed then less delayed (that shouldn't be allowed). Anyway. I'm on my own. Happy, nervous, hopeful. The glasses are covering some drops. Happy tears though I suppose.

April 13..."Wow that's pretty cool, I can't hardly wait"

"well you don't have to...  Because here it is."


So we have indeed arrived at our final blog post from the comfort of my particularly uncomfortable room.  It is currently 4:00 (I changed my iphone over to 24 hour time so I'm cool like that and don't have to write A.M. or P.M.  I hate that it makes so much sense to use 'Military Time" but then you can't lie or mislead through ambiguous answers like, wife: "what time did you get home yesterday, dear?".  Husband: (with confidence and future plausible deniability): "4, I was exhausted and went right to bed, maybe I'm coming down with something"
You catch what I'm saying.

So back to the fact that I'm scheduled for a flight in less than 8 hours.
Truth be told, it has been a strange series of up and down emotional reactions to the anticipation of this trip for the past couple of weeks. (past or passed?  well, by this time tomorrow no one will care if speak english)  They will only care about things like:
1---what kind of car I drive in the U.S?
and 2---why do I want to get a sun tan, tans make you look darker?
and 3----"you want to buy some acapulco gold?"
and 4---- "why aren't you wearing a wool jacket? its almost below 80 degrees F."
and 5-----"why are you only eating foods that are supposed to make you feel alive and healthy?"
and 6-----"why the F&*@$ do you want to find a store for pinatas...you racist half mexican, half non-mexican!". 

I've already prepared my answers to each of those inevitable questions and many of their close relative variations.

To the above for example,:

1-----I drive a lot of brand new sports cars,  I can't even name them all.  Of course all americans are rich and of course its fun to talk about cars, and of course I like having this conversation and of course this city smells wonderful.
2-----because i'm hot when i'm bronzed and, the entire U.S. (except for in Mississippi, and my grammar school, where the nuns called me the colored boy) people are down with the brown and vanity is more important than the almost completely dead last generation of public racists.
3-----Maybe yesterday I would have.  Come back then.  But don't forget, I'm checking out of my hotel last wednesday.  And me police.  And me no have money.  And please shower before you solicit me to buy your acapulco gold that was grown in colombia (oh snap).
4-----Because I do things that make sense, especially when it involves clothing that relates to the weather (Fs not Cs) by not more than 10 degrees of common sense and comfort.  And no, I'm sorry, but I, along with everyone trying to show off an out of season (pun intended) fashion item aren't noticing you.  In fact you probably haven't been noticed in weeks even though you think you stand out.
5-----Because I see that nice wool coat that the other a-hold has on even though its too hot?  Well, I gave that to good will when I lost 70 pounds and realized i don't care if its rude to say 'no' to someone offering you food if you are visiting them.  or if its a holiday, or if they want to make you fat and then tell you that you should lose weight.
6-----I like pinatas.  but yes, I'm racist, but only toward the race of people wearing winter coats in scorching temperatures.  So, where can I but pinatas?


Ok, so i won't answer like that (mainly because I don't know how to translate that yet). but soon.

I have to finish packing and enjoy pasteurized and homogenized milk while i still can, so I'll leave you with a photo that I need a lot of help understanding:
I wanted to be responsible and get a collection of items that some internet sites said were crucial for survival in Mexico.  There catch phrase was something like, "if you want to fit in but still have the special luxuries of a real 1st world country, you must pack this when you travel to mexico."
I don't know which is which.  Do i fit in with the toilet paper, purell, and soap, or will I be the 1 in 2000 that has a clean bum, bacterialess hands, and soap to carry around and look cool. ;)

well, the next post will be from the 'road'. 
sorry about this post- it is witless, long, boring, and self-deprecating and racist toward my own culture.  (sounds like the majority of mexican tv.   Sorry, we should use something a little less derogatory than "Mexican") (that jokes from the office btw)

1 more day to get through.....

thankfully today was fantastic....i got breakfast in bed, gorgeous weather, and her beautiful smile.
 The same beautiful smile that takes the nerves out of this little lion man.
Goodnight

Most people don't know this.....

...But I specifically made sure I was not in Mexico on April 21.  I felt like I may have caused nationality riots....

(From a list of Mexican Holidays...).
Heroica Defensa de Veracruz
Heroic Defense of Veracruz – Commemorates the defense against the United States occupation of Veracruz in 1914.
Thursday, 21 April 2011

And in case people wanted to know why I wanted to make sure I was in Mexico for May 5th......
(I feel like I'm going to make fun of Americans(myself included) from afar, this year.....)
Cinco de Mayo
Fifth of May – Celebrates the victory of the Mexican Army, led by Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza against French forces in the city of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. U.S. “celebration” of this Mexican historical event is largely a result of promotions in the US by liquor, beer, and bars/taverns/clubs/restaurants since the 1980s. For many years Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the US promoted Cinco de Mayo as Mexican Independence Day which is actually September 16. Although Mexican citizens feel very proud of the meaning of Cinco de Mayo, it is not a national holiday in Mexico,

4 Days left and i've settled on a look that will force would be muggers or conmen to think twice about who this 'mark' is....

option 1 - too experimental.  Denied

I shall exit the plane in Mexico City, as so.

So I'm still a young enough and thick enough  (though not like last year) to be able to dissuade the less professional thieves and robbers.  Although, my goods will be securely on me and in fastened pockets, that thievery would be almost impossible.  It would have to come in the form of a robbery or con.  My sunglasses and oversized novelty headphones (that sound pretty good actually) allow me to steer clear from the con artists.I admit even when i know its a con, I can't easily say no thank you and dismiss the perpetrator altogether.  My curiosity for what the con is going to be because too much for me to knowingly walk by and try to simply ignore the words.  So the headphones provide the music, the noise, probably an audiobook at the moment so i have to concentrate on the words.
So my only possible nemesis can be a robber.  Robbers are indeed the worst.  The ability to threaten force against someone you do not know in order to get something that you aren't even sure they have takes a lot of, a)desperation b)courage/bravado/foolish sense of power or c) the worst combination of a and b.

So, After I pass through customs, looking over my shades, surely, in order to not arouse unneeded suspicion from any Mexican Customs Enforcement.  Then I have that little time between being slightly vulnerable to snatch and grab, or a straight up stick up, and the time that my cousins find me after I pass through the big glass window doors that give you your first true smell of a Giant City that has only slightly tempered its 20 year flatulence-like pollution.

I don't mean to scare anyone.  I'm not afraid.  I know how 'act' (i taught myself when i used to drink) how to be the person that seems just a little too NUTS to go near, no matter what valuables he has in his pockets.  I always throw in some loud rapping with plenty of english swears that i can sort of get away with even though 95 percent of the mexicans at the airport understand me (along with all the other passengers who just flew in from the states).
 Its all good.  I just wanted to have something interesting written here in case something does happen to me....

Perhaps....

"...Egotism and Narcissism can be very different things.  Egotists are preoccupied with themselves to an extreme degree. Their self-importance is unshakable so much so that it generally allows them to disregard reality.  Narcissism, on the other hand, springs from an opposite relationship with the self.  Not self involvement, but a disconnection with oneself..."   -Dr. Drew Pinsky, from "The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America.

Wacky Mustache Gone....

several people are receiving this post as an email for the first time.  I have added several close friends and family to be alerted by email when there is a new post.  The email will have the words of the post but no pictures if there were any pictures in the post.  Questions?  Let me know.

5 days until Mexico...

I didn't shave for the last 2 weeks so and today I was able to experiment with several different trimmings to see if I could come up with a facial hair scheme that would allow me to blend in best when I arrive at Benito's Airport next wednesday. This is the closest I came. (it's also the closest thing to looking like someone who should be on a no fly list or someone you don't want your kids sitting next to on an international flight, or on the same flight in general). Anyhow, you'll only see me look like this in pictures, because due to local backlash, I have to shave it today :)

Need Advice! Please help or ask a friend who might know.....

I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST WAY OF HAVING A CELL PHONE IN MEXICO WILL BE? 
So admittedly I'm probably a little lazy in that I could most likely find and purchase the phone and service right now on the internet.  But in terms of filtering through the scams, the misleading ads, and strong distrust I have developed for mexican tourism commerce, I am reaching out to others who have traveled to other countries for more than a week or two, and acquired a cell phone. 

I'll tell you what I have, what I want, and what i would settle for:

WHAT I HAVE-----So I have an IPhone4 with ATT service.  I will be staying with family that has a wi-fi connection I can use. (side note, in December I was in Mexico for a couple of weeks and took my phone off of airplane mode twice, for a total of ten minutes, didn't make any calls and sent four texts, unfortunately I received about 50 texts that were in queue and consequently i payed a 60 dollars in extra charges that month on my phone bill.)
    I also have an Iphone3 that is not connected to any phone service but can still use wifi, so its more or less an ipod touch.
   i also have 2 functioning non-smartphones that i was told could be used elsewhere if i buy a sim card from the country  i'm in....again, don't know much about it, and a little frustrated to do the research so i'm hoping for a lucky break that someone out there has the answer.

WHAT I WANT----- Ideally I would have a smartphone (my iphone4 would be just fine, mind you) that can make and  receive local (mexico) calls as well as receive international calls. And I could use data on the phone to send emails, look up maps, etc.   (like i  said, this is ideal, and if i could pay a hundred dollars and have this ability for even one month while there, I would.  unfortunately if I were to go to mexico, and use my iphone in the exact manner I use it here, my overage would be in the tens of thousands.  This might seem like a lazy exaggeration, but it is not.)

WHAT I WOULD SETTLE FOR- i'm bringing both of my iphones, and one of my non smart phones and i'lll settle for being able to get the most from Skype while connected to wifi and getting a sim card for the two months so that i can use the non smart phone for local(mexico city) calls.

Any input about getting sim cards in mexico (or other countries excluding u.s. and canada) and  or if they have 'burners' in other countries. And the jackpot would be if you or someone you know travelled to Mexico and did something in order to have a phone to use for local, international, and data services and the bill was in the tens of thousands of dollars (or pennies for that matter).

Any help, would be excellent.  Skype users, any tutorial on buying a number/plan before i leave would be great.  Their website and app does not provide clear information for me.  It might be clear, but i simply don't understand what it all means :)

thanks in advance.  You can email me at chrisjvazquez@gmail.com or leave a comment or send a smoke signal.  I hope somebody reads this :)

Is this....

...as cool looking in real life as it is in google maps?

"Black and white picture....

Of her on my wall. I waited for her call, she always kept me waiting."

12 days, I'm out

Sent from my iPhone

I must get a picture of this Lithuania Street in Mexico

iPhone apps for traveling

Just thought I would share just how sweet Trippit the app for travel is. Once I registered my email address with them, all I had to do was forward the itinerary email I got from priceline or hotwire and everything magically appeared on my iPhone. I love magic!

So true...

Suggestions For What I SHOULD NOT miss out on seeing in D.F...

First off, thanks for the support with this blog already.  The followers, the others that have viewed it, I really couldn't have expected the first day to be this good.

So I'm asking for opinions from people about what I should see in Mexico City.  Whether you've been there or know someone who has, let me know if you have any suggestions for what to so.  I'm hoping to keep it to Mexico City Limits but if there is something I just must see that is a day trip away, please share.

Thanks,
CJV

Grandmotherly Advice

I know it's hard to tell but this is an unphotoshopped picture of mi abuelita y yo ;) This was taken minutes after she sat me down and offered me the following advice for being a gracious guest when I go to Mexico. Granted she doesn't speak English and since I haven't yet started my intense language study, I'm hoping some of her message was lost in translation.
She said it is very important that when I'm offered food while staying with family, I am obligated to eat it out politeness. Now I'm all about polite but considering I weighed 262 pounds last august and now I'm still morbidly obese (according to the wii fit board) even though I weigh a 190 now. I told her because of 'cultural differences' I am obligated to not only refuse most of the food offered, but that the three kings came to me in my dreams a told me to get them to eat healthier (I felt a little guilty because I know the three kings are rockstars for 'my' culture, but my grandmother was impressed with Divine appointment as nutritionist while I'm there).

Point of the story:
If you still have grandparents around, be good to them,even if it means a teeny tiny little white lie. (yes yes, I know, a brown lie)

Some helpful advice from our friends at the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs .....

(then again, if I showed the DTOs this picture they might not believe it's me anymore, thankfully)

this is just a snippet to get excited about being in a constant fight or flight response.  at least it will be easy to get my running completed there.  I'll be fine though, I can always pull the "I used to be a temporary employee of the united states government and i helped count people, so don't hurt me."  That'll show 'em!)

It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks involved in travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and who to contact if one becomes a victim of crime or violence.  Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where criminal activity might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.  U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are urged to contact the consular section of the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy for advice and assistance....the Mexican government has engaged in an extensive effort to combat drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs).  Mexican DTOs, meanwhile, have been engaged in a vicious struggle with each other for control of trafficking routes.  In order to prevent and combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed military troops and federal police throughout the country.  U.S. citizens should expect to encounter military and other law enforcement checkpoints when traveling in Mexico and are urged to cooperate fully.  DTOs have erected unauthorized checkpoints, and killed motorists who have not stopped at them.  In confrontations with the Mexican army and police, DTOs have employed automatic weapons and grenades.  In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles.  According to published reports, 22,700 people have been killed in narcotics-related violence since 2006.  The great majority of those killed have been members of DTOs. However, innocent bystanders have been killed in shootouts between DTOs and Mexican law enforcement or between rival DTOs.  
Recent violent attacks and persistent security concerns have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to defer unnecessary travel to Michoacán and Tamaulipas, to parts of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, and Coahuila and to advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution.  

Its a beautiful April 1 in Massachusetts!

What if I like it there so much that I don't want to come back?

Email Post Worked.....

at least I figured out how I'm going to blog from Mexico City so far in advance.... The snow falling on April 1st is making the Mexican Heat and Smog fest sound really good right about now.

Ok here is the email post test...

I wish my plane was leaving today instead of on the 13th. Tying up loose ends sucks, especially when you're not sure some of them are worth tending too.

Sent from my iPhone

Just setting up this blogging thingy

April 1st and I'm setting up this blog to make sure I'm good to go with posting to it whenever and wherever through email. (you see, there is a nifty little tool that I'm going to try in a few minute where I email (from my phone) what I want to post onto this blog and it should post without any problem.  We'll see.
I don't really know what I'll focus on in terms of what this blog says about me.  Although I'd like to believe that a lot of people will actually read this, I am content knowing that at the very least... I will have my spring/summer of 2011 chronicled electronically for me and well, hopefully someone else, to read in the future.

This is a unique period of time, not just because I am 29 years old, and without a job and 'planning' on returning to grad school in 2012.  But there are a lot of reasons that this is an interesting period of my life, and who knows, I might just share some of it with you through this blog.
Anyhow,       -   blog set up CHECK
and hopefully my trial email post will work minutes after this is posted.

Thanks for being here, whether you love me, hate me, or haven't quite decided who I am to you yet, Your valuable time, although I'm sure it could be better spent else where, is appreciated and feel free to comment on any of the posts.  Anonymously or not, nice or not.

-CJV