Not the only Aussie in Mexico...

Days in Mexico: 47

Last weekend was the Rotary multidistrict conference for districts 4180, 4190 and 4200. It was such a jam packed weekend and so much happened!

There was also a group of Australians from district 9640 in Queensland who were on a group exchange! It was so good to talk to other Australians, even if they were from the other side of the country. I'm glad I was able to meet them because they were only in Mexico for a month and flew out of the country 2 days after I met them.

Aussies!

District 4190 exchange students from all over the world

All the exchange students in districts 4180, 4190 and 4200 

Last Saturday was the final day of the multidistrict conference and it ended in the gala dinner. The dinner was held at the World Trade Center in Boca Del Rio which is where most of the activities over the conference were held. Hundreds of people attended the event. There were lots of speeches and even a beauty pageant for the crown of Miss Rotary Mexico. One of the contestants was sitting at the same table as me so I asked if I could have a photo wearing her crown and sash...

Some of the people on my table at the gala dinner

The World Trade Center in Boca Del Rio

I also managed to collect lots of pins over the convention and I only have 26 pins that I made left! Luckily I also have some gold coloured kangaroo pins for when I run out. My blazer is starting to get heavy and is filling up fast.
When talking to the other exchange students, I was complimented so many times on my accent. I hadn't realised it before but most people who speak English in have an American accent. My accent isn't hard core Australian and I even have a bit of an English accent combined with it which makes it unique. As none of the other exchange students at the convention came from Australia or England, my voice sounded completely different to everyone else.

My blazer

At times it feels like my home in Australia is like a parallel universe to my home in Mexico. A couple of weeks ago my brother in Mexico was sick at the same time and with the same thing as my brother in Australia. Then last week the internet at my home in Mexico wasn't working and when I talked to my mum the next day, she said the internet was down in Australia as well. Last weekend, my sponsor district 9465 had their district conference. It was hosted by my sponsor club and was happening at the same time as the convention in Mexico! It some times scares me how many similar events happen in the two different parts of the world.

Last Thursday was my 18th birthday. It's the first time my birthday has been in the Spring time and the first time I have been away from my family for it. I skyped Australia at 7.30pm their time which is 5.30am my time. I had to get ready for school but I was able to be there to blow out the candles on my birthday cake (with a bit of help from my brother in Australia.) My family were sitting at the dinner table and ate a birthday cake that my sister made while I ate cake for breakfast in Mexico. My sister in Mexico surprised my by putting up pictures of my family and friends on the wardrobe with a beautiful birthday message.

Skyping my family in Australia and my birthday cake.

Waking up to pictures of family and friends on the wardrobe door 

For lunch, my family went out with my Rotary counselor and one of my Mexican uncles. We went to an Italian restaurant because I always have Italian food on my birthday, it has turned into a tradition. At night, I went out for dinner with some school friends to celebrate. It was a really great day and my friends and family in both countries helped make it a day to remember.

Girls night out to celebrate

Because I had school on Thursday, I brought along Vegemite. I then asked some of my friends to try it and the reactions were hilarious! Vegemite is an Australian spread that you normally put on toast. Personally, I like it on toast with melted cheese. It is a really strong savory spread that is a bit salty. Most people see the colour of it and expect it to be chocolate. I rewarded each person who gave it a go a piece of Tim Tam to help get rid of the taste. I will post more reactions to Vegemite during the next week on my Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/aussieinmexico

A tube of Vegemite can have some hilarious results

My brother trying Vegemite...

Smiling all the time

Days in Mexico: 40

Noche Colonial last Saturday night was amazing!! It was like a massive fete that thousands of people attended. Every class group at La Salle from Pre-primary to Year 12 performed a dance on one of the 2 stages set up. Other dance and singing groups from different schools, universities and independent acts from around Mexico came to perform in between the dances. There were also carnival rides and lots of food stands.

There were lots of people!!

My group's dance. I am the tall Hawaiian girl, sixth from the right. 

My group’s dance was based on the theme of Lilo and Stitch and ended coming 5^th out of 11 in competition between the upper school classes. It was the highest ranked dance from my year level. The dance that came first was a year 12 classes who danced to the theme was ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’

My friends and I as Hawaiian girls. I am on the right. 

The costumes were amazing! On the left is Stitch

This weekend is the multidistrict convention for Rotary districts 4180, 4190 and 4200. All the exchange students from the three districts are together in Veracruz for the convention and in total, there are about 200 of us! About 70 of the exchange students are from Brazil (which is a lot from the same country) and all the others are from all around the world.

I am the only Australian which means I am representing the country by myself. There was a parade on Thursday to open the conference as well as a small parade this morning. Each country that was represented by an exchange student had a flag. The parade was in alphabetical order by country name so I was second, behind Germany which is ‘Alemania’ in Spanish. I have become friends with some German and Belgium students who have kept me company during the parades.

Ready for the parade

Students from all around the world! 

During Thursday's parade

I don’t understand most of the things that are said at the conference but there are always photos being taken so I have to keep smiling all the time- especially because I’m the only Australian here and everyone wants a photo with me because I am a unique species.

6 exchange students from 6 different countries; Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Indonesia, France and Hungary.

Lots of photos are taken all the time at the conference.

At the conference with a Belgium and a Canadian.

Next week is also set to be a big week because it will be my birthday on Thursday!

1 month down and the homesickness is kicking in

Days in Mexico: 33

A couple of days ago I passed the 1 month of my exchange! Looking back on my time so far, a lot has happened already but luckily I still have so much time left to enjoy the adventures that are yet to come.

Last weekend was my host dad's birthday so we celebrated with a very tasty chocolate cake. To celebrate birthdays in Mexico, we sing 'Las Mañanitas instead of 'Happy Birthday.' We also went out for brunch on Sunday morning to continue the celebrations and I had my first ever Mexican enchiladas! They were nice but I think I prefer tacos.

The very tasty chocolate cake

Enchiladas

Tomorrow is Colonial Night at my school and it is going to be a really big day. After 3 hours of rehearsals during school time today and an extra hour after school, our dance is looking good. The stage area was starting to be set up when I left this afternoon and so far, so good. The day starts at 11am and finishes at about 11pm. There with be photos and a review of the event in next week's blog.

The stage being set up for tomorrow

The most common question that I currently get asked is, 'are you missing your family?' At first, I wasn't missing them much because my memories of them were so strong, but now even though I Skype them once a week and talk to them on Facebook I am starting to miss them whenever they are brought up in conversations. At times it feels like I am the only Australian in Mexico which is hard because I am not use to being in the minority in a country. Before I was in denial about it but I guess this is what homesickness feels like.

Sunset in Veracruz on a cloudy day 

3 days in Mexico City

Days in Mexico: 26

Last weekend was really amazing! 
Mexico City is massive and very crowded but full of historic buildings, including the Palacio de Bellas Arte. The drive there was about 5 hours long. On the way we saw lots of cactus as well as mountain and a couple of volcanoes. There were a lot of open spaces, similar to Australia but not as flat and with more trees. On our first day we met some of my host mum's family and walked through down town Mexico City. At night, we met some family friends and went out for tacos for dinner. There are lots of nice Mexican foods that I am being introduced to. As well as eating tacos, I tried tostada de queso which is grilled cheese in a barrel shape, normally eaten with guacamole.

Mountains and cactus 

Dany, Me and Diego on the trip to Mexico City

Volcanoes with snow on the top

Palacio de Bellas Artes (Bellas Arts Palace) 

Down Town Mexico City

Tostada de Queso 

Mexico City taco

We spent day 2 in Mexico City at the Santa Fe Plaza were we met some of my host dad's family. The plaza is 6 stories of shops and is the biggest shopping centre I have ever seen. It even had a nice skating rink! The hotel where we stayed was in Santa Fe which is a newly built part of Mexico City. The view from the hotel room looked like it could have been painted because it looked so different to the rest of the city.

The view from the hotel room

Santa Fe Plaza

6 stories of shops!

Inside H & M Santa Fe

The plaza ice rink

The third and final day in Mexico City consisted of more shopping and a 5 & a half hour car trip home. The scenery on the trip home was similar to the the scenery on the trip to Mexico City. We passed lots of cactuses, mountains and even some market stalls set up on the side of the road selling preserves, honey and other types of similar food.

Stalls set up on the side of the road

Cactuses and mountains

I really liked Mexico City and hopefully I will get to go back there some time later this year.
Since arriving in Mexico I have started a taco count which will keep track of how many tacos I eat on the trip. So far, I am almost a month into my exchange and I have eaten 20 tacos.