123 Days of Life

Well, it has been 123 days since returning from Mexico and even longer since I last blogged. So, I thought it would be a good idea to update you all on what I am up to and how life in the States has been.

Since 4 days after returning from Mexico, I have been working at my home church (Elim Gospel Church) as the office manager and administrative assistant to the lead and executive pastors. I am also taking classes online to finish my BA in business administration. If all goes well I will be done in the summer. So that is what I am "doing."

Emotionally, though, the transition has not been so simple. When I went to Mexico, I experienced virtually no culture shock of any kind. Sure there were things that were different, but I did not notice it effecting me. Returning has been very interesting, because I have felt reverse culture stress or re-entry shock more than I anticipated.

Let me explain it this way. Everyone has an emotional bandwidth. This is the amount of emotional energy that each one of us have that allows us to respond to the highs and lows of our day in an appropriate manner. We obviously sometimes encounter situations that require more emotional energy than we have, either because it is a very demanding situation or we have already used up our emotional energy on other things without refilling it, and we thus feel taxed and stressed.

Since returning, I feel that I have a very small emotional bandwidth with very little emotional energy. I have contributed this to the idea that my emotional bandwidth has not shrunk, but rather that I am subconsciously using my emotional energy to readjust back to life in America in ways that I am not even aware of. This results in me being much more stressed and emotional than I have ever been in my life. It seems, especially when I first returned, but even still at times, that I do not even have a sufficient emotional bandwidth to handle the everyday normal small spikes and dips on the emotional radar. For example, when I first returned, you could have told me, "Good work Traci, I appreciate you" and I would have burst into tears with an overwhelming since of appreciation. While "words of appreciation" ranks last in my 5 love languages, this would obviously not be a typical response for me, but yet I would find myself fighting back tears all day long. Or for example, one of my bosses asked me to do a very simple calendar planning task a few weeks after returning. A task that would normally take 15 minutes and very little brain power. And for reasons that I still cannot grasp or understand, it totally stressed me out. It stressed me out to the point where I took a half day and went home and watched 4 straight hours of The Cake Boss. Now that is not normal activity for anyone, and even less normal for someone who's favorite week of the year just 2 years ago was the should-be-stressful week of the 1000+ person conference she organized and was responsible for.

This uncharacteristic emotionalism has been the hardest part of my re-entry stress. Obviously there are other things like readjusting to the English language, being away from close friends in Mexico, just being away from everything I love about Morelia, not being able to walk 2 blocks to eat $2 quesadilla meal for dinner, etc. There is a bunch to readjust to, but not having the emotional energy to adequately readjust makes everything harder. It makes the effort to reconnect with old friends or even make new ones a battle, because when you don't have enough emotional energy to deal with the little things, it means the energy that is exerted to connect with others is non existent. It also means getting frustrated at the little things which brings added friction into relationships. It means not knowing what to do with yourself when you don't fit in where you did when you left.

But, it also means some other things that are just little stresses that add onto the pile, which sometimes tip the scale. A lot of this has to do with information overload. If my work email inbox doesn't all fit in one screen without scrolling, I start to get anxious and quite often will just have to walk away until I can muster up enough emotional energy to tackle it. And while a minor stress like this should only take 5-10 minutes to get the energy to accomplish, it will sometimes take me days. Restaurant menus whether sit down or fast-food overwhelm me. The thought of browsing through each item is a daunting task and so I order whatever the giant picture tells me to. Large groups of people, or any size group of people including someone I do not know or do not know well now cause this outgoing extrovert to socially shut down and sit quiet until called upon. And the list could go on.

The hard part is, I don't know how to make it better. I have found some relief in running. What I used to despise has become a good release/relaxer for me. (So much so, I signed up for a triathlon that will take place in August). But aside from that, I think I just have to wait this out. Which is not easy.

There are some definite positives of being back as well. I love my job and my co-workers. My bosses (Pastor Josh Finley and Pastor Wayne Hedlund) have been particularly awesome in helping me adjust. (For proof of my emotionalism, I will confess that tears are rolling down my cheeks just thinking about how awesome and supportive they are. They really are the best. Which is probably why I love my job so much.) I have also been able to spend time with my family, which has been awesome. It had been 10 years since we have all been together for an extended time. And my 6-month-old niece is adorable and just makes everything better.

Many people ask me, "What are your plans for the future?" or "Do you plan on going back to Mexico?"

My answer is: When I felt the Lord telling me to come back to NY for a season, I also felt very strongly that my time in Mexico was not yet completed. I admit that I do not know what that means - perhaps it will look like me leading short term teams a few weeks each year or spending my summers there or maybe it means going down more permanently. So while having a complete peace in knowing that this is the right place for me right now helps a ton with not feeling regret, it still doesn't tell me the future nor console me when I miss Mexico. So I guess the answer is for this season I am here. And well, when this season will end, I am not sure. I am committed at my job until Sept 2011, but honestly, I think I will stay at least another year after that. I have thought about considering the possibility of starting a master's program in the Fall, but still don't have a complete peace about that. So, I am just waiting for the Lord to make the future clear, while leaning on the peace that He has me here.

I know this was a long post, but thanks for reading. Hopefully that helps clear up some answers and give you a little peek into what is going on with me. Please be patient with me during this time, but please also lift me up in prayer.

...nothing $100 pesos can't do...

At 8:17am I arrived at my friend's house where we had decided to meet the night before so I could accompany him to get his license. I arrive to greet his aunt who was not expecting me and to find out he was still in bed. After he dragged himself downstairs and let his aunt know what was going on, they started the search for the documents needed. After realizing they didn't have an original birth certificate to turn in to the "dmv", I started to walk home to head back to bed. About 12 blocks away my leg starts to vibrate. I answer and my friend tells me to return. We're going to give it a go regardless of our lack of documents.

The trip starts out at the Red Cross for a $4 medical exam. After waiting in line for about an hour, we get what we need and head out. After a pit stop for breakfast we go to his aunt's office to pick up some papers. There we head to the road test place. As we drive in and start looking for a parking spot, a man asks us if we would like our car washed. The guy driving us parks where directed and leans towards the car-washer and says, "we're here to get a license." A few glances, we hand him my friend's ID, and he walks away. About 4 minutes later he walks back with a signed paper saying the road test was passed.

...nothing $100 pesos can't do...

Then from there we head to a State building on the other side of town where they didn't even ask for a birth certificate. They took a picture and WAHLAH in a matter of minutes the shiny new hall-o-gram filled license was in our hands.

SUCCESS!!!

Life Change

"I have been so selfish."

The powerful words that reflect a deep heart transformation that has been occurring in one young woman who has been here in Mexico the past week. The past week a short term team of 20 youth and young adults has been here ministering. We have gone to a rehab center, orphanage, and two different church plants, as well as helping out here at me home church preparing for the youth conference that starts tomorrow. It has been very tiring for me on every level as I have been organizing it all on top of traveling, working, and ministering with them. But it has been so good. God is using them in powerful ways and it is incredible to see the transformation happening in their lives as they step out of their comfort zones and serve. This was my vision for first coming down--to see God use me to help young people get sparked with a passion for the Lord and the lost. It is happening. I am seeing it before my eyes and it is incredible. And it has only been the first week. I will be with teams from the States until July 29!

OH How He Loves Us!

"If you could just understand how much God loves, you it would change everything!" I shared with the room filled with 75 young Mexicans.

Some of my closest friends here in Mexico have a band and they put on concerts and events to share the Gospel. This time, they invited me to speak. It was a powerful night ministering with some of my best friends as I preached the revelation that the Lord has been giving me this past year of His love. Like always, they Lord came through and despite my short-comings, He moved in a powerful way! The ministry time was incredible. I received some very specific words for people and feel that chains and bondage were broken. It was special for me personally as I was able to embrace and pray for a woman (mother and aunt of two of my best friends) as tears rolled down her face as she experienced the love of Christ. And even better as I was able to lead a friend here in a prayer for salvation.

Popcorn and Marshmallows

"Uh.... the fire doesn't normally burn that strong." I thought to myself as I noticed the flame on my stove top extremely high and abnormally orange while I was cooking some hamburger meat to make lasagna. I opened the door to the preheating oven to find a even larger flame and lots of smoke. Confused and slightly afraid I was going to burn my apartment building down due to a gas leak or something, I studied the mini bonfire coming from my gas stove to realize that there was something down there that had caught on fire. I lifted up the bottom cover only to find my stove had turned into a popcorn machine.

For the last week, a woman in the church and her two kids have ben staying with me. Apparently, out of fear that her kids would eat too much junk food, the mother hid some cookies and popcorn in the bottom part of the stove. While I don't approve of the dangerousness of this, I must admit it was a great hiding place. So, when I went to preheat the oven for the lasagna, the hidden boxes caught on fire. It was probably one of the funniest experiences I have had here as the kids and I took advantage of the opportunity and roasted marshmallows over the fire that had popcorn shooting out of it. :-)

I am NOT a fan

Wednesday nights I do the "Word" half of the "Worship with the Word" session in the House of Prayer. From 7-8pm I was on the platform adoring Daddy. At 8pm when the set switches gears a little I stepped down and went into my office to check something real quick. I walked in and realized that not everything was as I had left it. Almost everything was in order, but one thing was missing... my laptop!

Thinking that maybe one of my friends had borrowed it I quickly walked downstairs to see who was there. No sign of any of my friends. So, what else could I do but head back to the House of Prayer. I finished the session, and as it ended one of my friends asked me, "What's up"... I looked at him and said, "Well, I think someone stole my laptop."

I wish this story had a better end to it, but that is it. Some one stole my laptop. :( I am far from happy about it, but I know that it isn't the end of the world. While I am sad about some special photos and irreplacible documents I lost, I hope that the theif is blessed by my virus infected laptop :)

I hope to buy a new one soon. Right now I'm in the middle of the Mac vs. PC debate...

Sisters

"Um you should come to Mexico for break instead of NY :) come on... get to see me, get a tan, and well get to see me. So much better than NY!" That is how it all started, a well intentioned hoping for the best but not acutally believing for anything. Turns out the next day she had bought a plane ticket to Mexico and 4 days later arrived.

Lifetime friends are hard to come by, but when you find one, you treasure them forever. This past week I had the opportunity to spend some time with one of those friends. My next door neighbor and one of my best childhood friends, Beth Allport came to visit me.

We had so much fun together. We went horseback riding, got our nails done, saw the sites, went to the waterpark, got sunburned, went shopping, and ate the goodness of Mexico. But, the best part about was we just got to be together and talk. It has been a few years since we had spent extended time together and I was just so blessed by the opportunity to hang out and chat with the closest person I've ever had to a sister. It was such a blast!

One Small Step

"Traci, tranquila."

The kind words of a good friend telling me to relax just minutes before I got up to preach my first sermon in Spanish. Amazingly, I really was relaxed. While prior to grabbing the microphone I was concerned about my Spanish, I still felt such a peace and lack of nerves. I want to thank you for praying! I feel really good about how it went. While I am sure my Spanish wasn´t perfect, I communicated what I needed to. The youth leaders had asked me to talk about small groups, so I focused on the important of having Godly community from Hebrews 10:22-25. At the end of the night we had about 20 young people sign up to join a small group. While I am sure I could have been better prepared or that I could have communicated it better, the Lord spoke and moved.

I feel like this was a step in breaking down a wall of Spanish that has been containing me. Always the first is the most difficult. Now that it is done and over with, I feel like I can do it again. I even feel a breakthrough in my conversation in Spanish with friends. This weekend I have been able to have some great conversations with a good friend in which I feel that I have been able to communicate and express my thoughts and feelings well, and that they understood what I was saying. In the past, I have felt that I can´t express myself when there is something deep within me or serious that I want to convey, or that they don´t understand what I mean. But this week I have felt a breakthrough. Even on Sunday in praying for people at the altar, I felt an ease that wasn´t there before. This past week was one small step for me in my language breakthrough, but a giant leap in the Kingdom of God. It is just the beginning.

Where Are You From?

This past Friday was Oremos Mexico, a monthly prayer gathering. They way it works, is various congregations in the central states gather monthly in their city, and then once every 4 months all the different congregations from various cities and states gather for a 4 hour prayer meeting for Mexico. On Friday, almost 400 from my church here went to León, Guanajuato. This was my first time in León, so that was fun. I drove there with the Lucateros, my family here. It was a blast to spend some time with them. The praying service was mind blowing, as over 15,000 people from different churches joined together in unity to intercede for Mexico.The next day, we ran into the León soccer team in the hotel we were staying at. I went down to the lobby with 7 year old Alek to take a picture of him with the team. The guys were very nice and obliged to the paparazzi. One of them asked me where we were from. I quickly responded, "Morelia." ... It took about 5 minutes before I thought through it and realized, "Oh wait, I´m not from Morelia, I´m from NY." Ha. The more I am here, the more the Lord is knitting my heart to this city, this church, and the people. So much so, it is becoming home.

Celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the House of Prayer

BOMB on the plane!

"I saw him run to the front of the plane!" said the camouflaged dressed military man that was seated across the isle from me to the flight attendant in a slightly panicked state. I was fast asleep on my overnight flight from LA when I woke up to the cabin lights abruptly coming on and to a ruckus by my side with a group of flight attendants interviewing this man that saw someone run to the front of the plane. I woke up with the thought, "Oh my Lord, they are rushing the cockpit. There are terrorists on my flight!"

I had always wondered how I would respond to a situation like this, so immediately in my half awake state, I started going through my options. I then heard one of the flight attendants ask, "So the rat ran to the front of the plane?" I then realized, it wasn´t a someone, but a something! Although, the thought of a rat lose on the plane instead of a terrorist wasn´t much of a comfort.
Soon, as I was eavesdropping on more of the interrogation, I realized it wasn´t a rat, but a cat! Someone had brought there pet cat on the plane and it had escaped out of it´s leash and was lose on the plane. Flashlights were out and the hunt was on. Soon people in the rows in front of me began exclaiming, "I see it!"... "Oh, it just touched me."

Then, like a bolt of lightning the cat flashed down the isle and headed to the little food station in the back of the plane. It´s owner was then able to retrieve it and I went back to sleep.

I Should Be a Bank Robber

Just finished doing some laundry, lasagna in the oven, and the house nice and clean...it was turning into a successful afternoon. I decided to get one more thing off my to-do list and so I headed to the little store about 3 houses down to replace my water jug.
So, I grab the empty jug that was sitting by my door and headed to the store. I got out my front gate, pulled it shut, and took about 5 steps down the sidewalk when I realized that I didn't bring my keys with me. OOPS!
Knowing there was nothing I could do at the moment, I bought my water and headed back to my house. In broad daylight with cars driving by, I jumped the gate. Then walked around and picked up my water jug that I left on the sidewalk so I could make it over. That was the easy part. The hard part is getting in my door!
So, I am now standing at my door with about 13 pesos in change, a water jug, and a gum wrapper. I always liked puzzles.
I went down to the trash cans and grabbed some papers out thinking maybe I could fold them up and use them like the good old credit card trick for opening doors. They were too floppy... didn't work. Meanwhile the lasagna in the oven is about 10 minutes from being done.
I then pulled some coins out of my pocket. They aren't as flimsy as the paper, so maybe they will work. After getting 11 pesos stuck in my door, I decided that wouldn't work either.
5 minutes until lasagna is done. I then had an idea. I opened up the water jug. The top has one of those plastic things that comes off, like on a milk container. I thought, maybe I could bend that and use it. I got it partly there, but right at the last second it would bend. Still too flimsy.
Time is counting down. After a failed search for some twigs, I shoved some paper into the bend water jug plastic and shoved it in.
WAAAALAAAA!
I did it! 20 minutes later, just in time as the buzzer sound and the lasagna was done.

Um, Do I Know You???

"Hey Traci, It's Marco."

I searched my mind trying to figure out who this guy was calling me on a Sunday morning. I drew a blank. "Marco.... Marco... Marco... nope, don't know a Marco," I thought.
He continued, "I have my application, can I leave it with the receptionist?"

"OH! Marco!" I shouted in my head.

All the pieces started coming together. Marco had attended the informational meeting about Campus Target back in November. There were a few who had attended that meeting that I saw serious interest in, but Marco was not one of them. But, in the last few months he had made the decision to give a year to go to the nations, and now he was acting on that and handing in his application. I am so excited about the partnership that is being birthed with Campus Target and the idea of sending Mexicans to work with this incredible ministry that has been so fruitful!

The rest have until January 10th to hand in their applications. Please stand with me in prayer for the rest of those who attended the meeting while they are in decision mode.

The Holidays

This entry may lack some creativity and humor, but I wanted to let all who are interested know what I did for the holidays. It was such a special time for me. I had so many little touches of home and so many who reached out to me during this season.

Some of the things I look forward to the most and that really make the holidays special to me in the States are:
1. The candle lighting service on Christmas Eve.
2. Eating cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.
3. Being with family.

And here, I got all those things. On the 24th the church had a special Christmas Eve service here just like my home church in NY does. And the best part about it, was we even had a candle lighting to Silent Night. While the song was in Spanish and we used glow sticks instead of candles, it was just enough to make me feel at home. Although, it was lacking the famous "It isn't the presents that matter at Christmas, it's the presence" quote from my dad, Pastor Andres gave a great brief sermon.After the service I went with my pastors, to Andres' parent's house. We enjoyed some great cooking, laughs, sparklers, and gifts.

Then, on Christmas morning, I even had my cinnamon roll. Kelly's mom, Paty Evans, makes cinnamon rolls for her family on Christmas, so she made me some too. From the start of the day it was special. Then I headed over to Robbie and Paty Evan's house for lunch with their kids and grandkids. Again, more great times.

After that, I was able to get together with some friends and watch a movie. Which was nice, since as time to time, if we are home, my family goes and sees a movie on Christmas Day.
Between Christmas and New Year's there was a youth conference in Morelia. It was so nice being able to go to a conference, attend, and receive, without having to plan or organize anything. I haven't done that in a long time.Here, New Year's is a big deal. It is very much a family holiday. It is almost on the same level as Christmas. The church also had a special service on New Year's Eve. Again, a great service. After the service, I went out with one of my friends. We went downtown and enjoyed some great conversation and appetizers at a really nice restaurant right in front of the beautiful cathedral downtown.
After chatting for awhile we headed over to the Lucatero's house. (The Lucateros are great friends here that I adore. They have really made an effort to welcome me into their family.) At their house we enjoyed a delicious dinner and hours of great conversation. It was a blast. After leaving there and picking up another friend, I went home. At 3:30am I snuggled in bed and welcomed in the New Year with some Zzzzs.

Then, New Year's day enjoyed some more delicious food and a movie at the Evan's house.
I had my "candle lighting service", my cinnamon rolls, and while although my genetic family were not around, I was surrounded by family. It was an amazing holiday season.

Hello. Goodbye.

The last few weeks have been ones of hellos and goodbyes.
I guess the story starts when I went to renew my visa about a month ago. Everywhere I had looked online, it said that it was very easy to renew tourist visas. All I needed to do was go to this government building right here in Morelia and give them $50. The problem came when I realized that I misunderstood something and I could not renew my visa. It turns out 6 months is the maximum you can have for a tourist visa, and after that you need to leave the country from 3 days to renew it.
So, with a this snag in my plan, I began to think up all the different options for getting across the boarder.

ROAD TRIP!!!!

Unfortunately, that didn´t pan out. Turns out it would be very complicated and expensive and well, a lot of driving. While doing laundry at a friend´s house, they tipped me off to some good, safe, cheap Mexican airlines. I found some great deals from Morelia to Los Angeles and so that was my plan. From there my friend from NY was talking about going to LA to see me and we could spend a few days together. Quickly my cheap airline tickets were getting added to rental car and hotel fees which made the trip a lot more expensive. It was then, that I decided, hey if I´m going to spend all that money just to see one friend, why don´t I fly to NY with that money where I can see everyone and sleep and eat free in my family´s house. And so I found a cheap roundtrip ticket from LA to Rochester. The fun part is though, I didn´t tell my family, or hardly anyone else, that I would be arriving :)

(My mom had no idea I´m behind her when we took this)

It was such a blessing to spend a week in Lima. I successfully surprised people and was able to spend quality time with the people I love. It was a great week - even worth sleeping on a bench in the LAX airport :)
While there I was able to reflect a little too. It is so neat how the Lord is knitting my heart to Morelia. While being in my hometown, where I grew up and have lived 21 years, with the people I love, I couldn´t help but be excited to return to Morelia. It is starting to feel more and more like home here.

But, just a day after saying goodbye to my friends and family in NY and arriving back in Morelia I had to say goodbye to some very close friends. Two of my friends, brothers Nestor and Diego, headed to Arizona for Christmas vacation with their family. While they will be coming back in a month, it is still sad to say goodbye to them as we hang out often. And, I had to say goodbye to Aaron, an American, also from NY, who has been here for the last 3 months. It seems like a short amount of time, but we have gotten to know each other very well. I´m going to miss having him around.

But, as the song goes... "na na na na life goes on." It is good to be back in Morelia and I am just as excited as ever for what the Lord is doing here both in and through me.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

As I reflect on this past year today, there is so much to be thankful for. The Lord has been so faithful. Back in the beginning for the year, I had the joyous opportunity to invest into the young people of my home church as the youth director. I was able to organize an outstanding (if I do say so myself) conference in May where many church leaders heard from the Lord, received healing, and were refreshed. I was able to spend time and connect with my brother and sister-in-law who live overseas. He has also been faithful as I have been adjusting to my new life here. I have an incredible apartment in a great location. I truly have amazing friends with whom I have made some incredible memories. I am involved in an awesome church that is doing incredible things to influence this city and transform the world. I love my work and have a great job where I am able to administrate (which I love) to create a culture of prayer in this church and city. And I have an incredible support team that stands behind me in prayer and blesses me financially so I can be doing the rest of these things that I am so thankful for.
For my first Thanksgiving away from home, I celebrated it with some American friends (and some Mexicans too) whom I met at Elim Bible Institute. None have us had ever really done much of the cooking for Thanksgiving before, so we were a little worried, but we worked like a team and it came out great! And the best part is, we were able to borrow a big screen TV and watch some American football!!! While it was different not being with my family to celebrate this special day and plan for crazy Black Friday shopping, I am so blessed to have friends here who are like family!

Scythe in Hand

"What's your name?"
"Where are you from?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"What do you do to celebrate Christmas?"

These are all questions that I was bombarded with as I stood at the English Corner in China in December 2007. Not knowing it at the time, I am now realizing that standing in the courtyard of that Asian university speaking English with practicing students would be a momentous moment in my life.

(Me with some friends in Asia in 2007)

Maybe being a "missionary" is making me think differently--I am on the mission field so I should be doing more "missions" outside the 4 walls of the church. I have never been much of an evangelist, but those who do not yet know the Lord are now becoming my priority. I can't explain it, but leading people to the Lord and watching them grow in Him is now a thought that is constantly flowing in my mind. This is developing burden in me is taking shape in 2 very exciting ways.

The first is, I get to be a part of lives transformed all over the world! Last Friday, we did the first of four promos for Campus Target (www.campustarget.org) in an attempt to get young people from Mexico to spend 10 months witnessing to and discipling the university students in Asia. I am super excited about the part I get to play in mobilizing young Mexicans to the nations. This time next year, some of my friends here in Mexico could be standing at that same English Corner sharing with Asian college students who are hungry for the truth just exactly what Christmas means to them and why they celebrate Christ.
The second way this is taking place is not just by me sending others to the harvest field, but by me picking up a scythe and getting to business. I am going to begin taking a Spanish class here. While I'm excited for my Spanish skills to improve, I am even more excited to connect with some other college-aged young people who are here in Morelia (and a plus is that they will probably be other Americans that I can share the Gospel with in my own language). Also, in January I am going to begin attending an English Corner here in Morelia! At one of my friend's universities there is an English Corner type thing (called SAC) where Mexican university students get together practice their English. I have seen how effective this ministry works in Asia--you meet a friend at the English Corner, you get their number, you call and ask them out to eat, you meet them for lunch, you lead them to the Lord, and then you disciple them. I am praying that the Lord gives me the same favor that I saw in Asia with the Mexican students that I will be connecting with at SAC as well as the other Americans I will meet at my class.

Mi Cumpleaños

Well, on Friday, November 6, I turned 22. Yup, the big 2-2. Although it was my first birthday without any immediate family around to celebrate it with me, it was still a ton of fun.
First, before I get too far into the festivities, you need to understand something about Mexican culture. Birthdays are a big deal here (meaning people assume you will have a party, and you will be flooded with hugs and congratulations on completing another year). While people are always sure to point out your big day, they don´t celebrate you like we do in the States (for example, they don´t buy you gifts, and if you go out with your friends for dinner to celebrate, don´t expect them to pay for you, you pay for yourself). I have observed this over the past 5 months, and realized that if I was going to do something for my birthday, I was going to need to plan it. Not wanting to come across as "It´s my birthday, LOVE me" by planning and throwing myself a party, I decided to grit my teeth and bear it. So, I decided to invite everyone over to my house for Spaghetti.
But before we get to that, the celebration starts Thursday night the 5th. Not sure why, maybe emotions of being away from home for my birthday, or culture stress, or who knows what (no, not pms :-D) but I was in a bad mood. I just needed to get out and be with people and not be at home by myself for the rest of the night. So I called a friend Aaron who happened to be hanging out with 2 other friends at Starbucks and they invited me to join. So I met them at Starbucks. Knowing I was not in the best of moods, Aaron, being the amazing friend that he is, bought me my favorite drink from Starbucks (Which was easy to do. Since I have now made friends with some of the workers at Starbucks, all he had to do was asked the barista for the drink that Traci orders). I was already feeling a little better :) What can I say, I´m easy to please. After Starbucks we headed to Los Camineros for some tacos. After hanging out awhile longer into the wee hours of the morning, I said goodbye to my friends for the night and snuggled into bed in a very pleasant mood. (Thanks Aaron, Abraham, and Israel!)
Then, Friday was the big day. I was tired from my adventures earlier that day, so I slept in. (A cool thing about Mexico, or maybe just the church I work for, but on your birthday you get the day off from work. Like I said, birthdays are a big deal here.) Then one of my friends called me and we went to a movie. Now I must admit the movie was retarded, but fun to hang out nonetheless.
After the movie I headed to the church for the evening service. I ducked out a little earlier to give my family a call so they could tell me how much they love me. Success. I was able to chat with all my State-side family and catch up which was nice.
Then after the service my friends insisted we go out to eat to celebrate. I could not refuse. We ended up going to Wing's Army, a Buffalo wing restaurant. It was absolutely amazing. Granted it was not the same quality as the Anchor Bar, but it wasn't bad. It reminded me of the many nights after small group going to Buffalo Wild Wings with friends in the States. It was the absolute perfect meal to celebrate my birthday. And I think it may have become one of my favorite places in Morelia :)Then on Sunday after church I cooked Spaghetti for about 25 of my friends in my apartment. Short of birthday cake, balloons, and singing, it was still a good party. We ate food and hung out. Then after the majority had left, a group of us headed to Starbucks and then to the theater. There were no good movies showing so we decided to rent a movie, which also failed for lack of consensus. So we headed back to my apartment to hang out and ended up playing one of those rythm games you play in kindergarden. Normally those aren't so fun, but when they include animal noises, they become a lot more hillarious.And so, as my good friend Bob would say, "There it is."