wow. i am the world's worst blogger. over 2 months since my last update. i have now been in mexico about 7 and a half months. it's hard to believe that it's been that long. i will be here at least until the end of the year, which makes this the halfway point. i am considering the possibility of staying thru next spring. my spanish is actually progressing, but i'm not sure it will be where i want it to be by the end of 2010. who knows though? i am just not sure yet. it is difficult to decide because some moments, i feel pretty comfortable in mexico and others, i very much miss my life in the states. living the states, i felt totally confident, understanding how my own culture works. but here, many times, i feel like i don't know how to act. the level of confidence i have is certainly different. i do feel though that i am finally starting to get my footing here in mexico.

the hardest part for me here in mexico has been adapting to the cultural double standard that exists for men and women. my younger male cousins can go out on the weekends and stay out all night, but if i come in at 1:30, or thereabouts, i might get a stern look of disapproval. it has been hard to give up my independence to live in a house with more or less "rules". i don't necessarily have a curfew, but i do get lots of questions about everything i do.

part of the reason that is frustrating is that i just turned 30 last month. the weeks leading up to turning 30 were strange. but i did have a nice big party with lots of people, including lots of people i didn't know, but i really didn't care. i guess actually being 30 is not so bad. maybe the idea of turning 30 is worse than actually turning 30.

last month, i went with my cousins a few other friends out to la pesca, tamaulipas for a fishing trip. we had lots of fun. la pesca is on the gulf coast, and we did get out to the beach one afternoon, although it was pretty windy. the rest of the time, we fished on the river -- rio soto la marina -- grilled out in the evenings. the first day, only my cousin charlie caught a few fish, but the next day, we went out with a guide who showed us a good spot for fishing, and we caught quite a few. i myself caught about six, but only one was big enough to keep. i hadn't been fishing in years, and i had a really great time.

my classes are going pretty well. we've had a change in directors at berlitz, so that has been interesting, especially since the new director doesn't speak english, but i am learning to communicate with her. she has added quite a few more classes and i am starting to fill out my schedule, although i still have more free time on my hands than i would like. the semester has ended at the university where i have been teaching. we simply lack the final exam which is next week and then we are out for the summer. to be honest, i wish i could teach a summer course or something. i have too much free time as it is. i could try to add another school, but it is difficult with my schedule; plus i have to submit more paperwork to the immigration office every time i add a new employer. anyway, as far as i know i will have this same job at the university when school resumes in the fall. at the end of our last class, i told my students how much i enjoyed teaching them (despite the fact that they are kind of lazy and whiny and never want to do any work) and then i started crying! i felt silly, but they were really sweet and we took a picture of the whole class. i'll try to post it soon.

other than that, things are not too exciting. i've lost some weight in the last few months. i've been working out on a pretty regular basis, although the last few weeks, i haven't been as careful as i should be about what i eat. it can be hard in a country where everyone is encouraging you constantly eat more. i do not understand how mexican girls can be so skinny.

anyway, i guess that's all for now. i think my mom and sister are coming for a visit next month, which should be nice. and hopefully i will get to make a trip into texas in the next month or so. i really need to do some shopping.

well, i guess i'll see you all in another few months. . . hasta luego.