Over the years I have had a lot of random jobs.  Seriously, check out this list:

1. Silk cutter and reed box assembler for a woodwind instrument supply company
2. Lifeguard
3. Packer for a moving company
4. Elementary and middle school substitute teacher
5. Waitress
6. College cafeteria dish room worker
7. Sales associate at a Pfaltzgraff outlet
8. Church equipping ministries intern
9. Teaching assistant for an elementary school reading program
10. Administrative assistant for a beverage magazine
11. Human Resourses representative at Bloomingdales and Morgan Stanley
12. College career counselor
13. Front desk assistant at a pediatric office

And now I will be adding to that list preschool ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor in Mexico City.  I certainly never would have guessed when I graduated with a bachelors degree in Psychology and masters degree in College Counseling that I would end up here, but the opportunity to work at my son's preschool a few hours a week kind of got thrown in my lap.  

To tell you the truth I'm a bit nervous about it.  It's not that I'm intimidated by preschoolers.  And yes, I certainly know how to speak English, but teaching preschoolers it is not exactly my field.  Plus, for the first time I will be in a situation where communicating with my coworkers is going to be a serious challenge, as they only speak Spanish, and although my grasp of the language has certainly improved over the last year it is still definitely lacking.  Nonetheless, next week I'll be jumping in head first.  We'll see how it goes.

In the meantime, this song keeps running through my head:

Make the Most of Me - Marie Miller

On my own, I'm afraid to step out on the sea. 
All alone, no mountain will move for me. 
But you breathe your life into my soul. 
You take away the impossible. 

I can feel your mystery moving in my hands and feet 
Leading me through disbelief, finding strength when I feel weak. 
You make the most of me. You make the most of me. 

With you here, I see sight return to the blind. 
When you're near, I can watch the dead come to life. 
You shine your light into our souls. 
You make all things possible. 

I can feel your mystery moving in my hands and feet 
Leading me through disbelief, finding strength when I feel weak. 
You make the most of me. You make the most of me. 

When I don't have the words, you will be my voice. 
When I don't understand, I will still rejoice. 
You make the most of me. You make the most of me. 

You make the most of me. You make the most of me. 

I can feel your mystery moving in my hands and feet 
Leading me through disbelief, finding strength when I feel weak. 
You make the most of me. You make the most of me. 

You make the most of me. You make the most of me.

And so, I keep praying that God makes the most of me in this situation and in general here in Mexico.  This was one of my biggest prayers before we even moved here - that somehow God would use me despite my inability to communicate.  In a very literal sense there are times when I don't have the words and I don't understand those around me.  Somehow, despite all that I'm hoping He works in me to not only teach and love these kids, but build some kind of relationship with my coworkers, the parents of the other children, and others I come in contact with in my daily life here.

I'm praying He makes the most of the little I have to give.

As I mentioned previously, on my birthday we had the opportunity to attend our first quinceañera.   It's been a couple of weeks, but I wanted to go ahead and take the time to share the experience with you, because it was like none I have had before.  The closest I have come is watching MTV's Super Sweet Sixteen, but this involved a much less bratty birthday girl.

How did we end up at a quinceañera, you ask?  Well, when Dave was finishing up his time teaching in Reno and we were getting ready to move to Mexico one of his previous students told him that her sister would be having her quinceañera in Mexico City in the next years and she wanted to invite our family.  Dave didn't think much of it at the time.  I hate to burst your bubble, but high school students do not always follow through with the things they tell their teachers, and an invite to a party in another country seemed particularly improbable.  However, a year later a message popped up on facebook officially inviting us to the  quinceañera.  Surprise! 

So we dressed up for the event, took a cab WAY across town and joined the party.

Now, if you have never experienced a  quinceañera  either let me first say that they are not all the same and we only attended the after party.  There is a more traditional church service that takes place before the party.  As the majority of Mexicans are Catholic (at least in name), the whole event is something akin to a confirmation mixed with a coming out party.

Anyway, the party took place at a banquet hall and the room was set up very much like a wedding reception with round tables around a dance floor each with a large floral centerpiece.  As we entered (fashionably late as we have learned is standard in Mexican culture) the birthday girl was in the center of the dance floor surrounded by six young male dancers.  This was her entrance dance and the first of five choreographed dances which were performed throughout the evening.  The male dancers were hired for the for event (I have included a shot of their business card if you are interested:)) and the birthday girl came down from the US a month early to learn each of the dances.  

After the entrance dance there was a brief ceremony with the family where the birthday girl received a tiara.  Unfortunately, my Spanish is still limited so I understood very little of this.  Next came a choreographed father daughter dance which began with the waltz and went through an eclectic dance mix including both the chicken dance and T-Pain's Apple Bottom Jeans.  This was followed by a dance in which each male family member was presented with a rose.  Next came the dances with the hired dance team including a waltz, a Michael Jackson number, and a Shakira number.  The birthday girl and her dancers had a costume change for each dance.  Oh and I can't forget the guy who's job it was solely to periodically shoot off a confetti cannon over the dancers!

This was followed by a three course meal during which a solist dressed in traditional mariachi costume sang and showed a video of himself with various Mexican celebrities (a little self-absorbed for my taste). Throughout the evening professional photographers and videographers documented the event.  I am sure that in years to come the birthday girl is going to wonder about the shots of gringos she never met before.

Unfortunately, we had to leave at this point.  It was already nearing midnight and we had a long drive back and a toddler to pick up from the baby-sitter.  I do know that there was a very large wedding-looking cake to be served and as we exited we passed two clowns on stilts with balloons who were headed into the party.  Also, one of the birthday girl's aunt's stopped me and told me that we should not leave yet because the party was just getting started.  I was a little too pregnant to picture myself dancing the night away though.

Oh well, I think I experienced enough to say I have been to a quinceañera.  Above all it made me glad that I will not have a daughter who grows up in Mexico, because that was one expensive event!  

Just a 15 minute drive from our apartment are the Xochimilco canals.  While Dave's parents and sisters were in town over spring break we finally took the opportunity to go visit this beautiful and relaxing historic site of Mexico City.  I have no idea why it took us so long.  Now that we have been I fully intend to return and take anyone who might like to visit with me.

The canals are the remnants of what was once a rather extensive lake and canal system that extended over most of the Valley of Mexico.  Today they are explored aboard trajineras, colorful gondola-like boats.  The boats may be rented out by the hour along with a "captain" and are various sizes, generally designed for between 6 and 12 people.

The island and land areas along the canals are lusciously green (at least if you go during a time of year where there has been rain) and colorful flowers decorate the waterway.  You can also purchase plants from the many floating garden stores along the way.

Floating garden store

We brought along a picnic lunch, but if you happened to get hungry along the way there are plenty of stands in the area where the boats begin and end their journey, and various boats out on the canals on which Mexican men and women will cook you fresh tacos and quesadillas.  They simply tie their boats onto to yours while they make your food.  There was also a small bar/cafe along the canal where you could purchase a meal, cerveza (beer),  oversized pina colada in a carved out pineapple (I might have to test one of these out when I'm not so pregnant), or michelada (a traditional Mexican drink preparation made with beer, lime juice, salt, and sometimes hotsauce, the glass is then rimmed in salt - and in this particular case a chamoy jelly).

Float up mariachi service

These are not the only float up services.  There are also boats carrying complete mariachi bands who will happily play you a tune for a nominal fee per song  They too tie their boats alongside yours while they serenade.

Eli enjoying the view with Grandpa

Overall, it was a wonderful way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon with family and friends.  The kids loved it as well.  They spent their time checking out the water, plants, and various animals along the way.  If you're ever in  Mexico City I highly recommend that you make the trip down south to Xochimilco for your own relaxing afternoon on the water.

The weather has turned warm and sunny here in Mexico City.  The first glimpses of summer (even when they come during winter) always remind me to be thankful.  I am thankful for the warm sun on my face - the grace of God shining down even on little, undeserving me.

I have had my up and down days (even hours) since moving here to Mexico.  Too often I’ve forgotten to be thankful for all that I have.  But bright blue skies and warm weather always seem to lift my spirits and remind me of all that I have been given.  I look at Eli and am so thankful for his precious smile, I hear his sweet baby laughter and pray that somehow I can preserve it in my memory for a lifetime, I look down at my growing pregnant belly and am I reminded of the amazing miracle God is creating in me, I feel Dave’s arms around me and remember how blessed I am to have such a loving, steadfast man in my life.  All of this is only by the grace of God.

I’ve had this song by Jenny & Tyler playing on repeat.  I think I’m trying to pound into my head to remember the sunshine and just how blessed I am.

If you need the reminder too the whole album just happens to be free on Noisetrade right now.  Just click here: Jenny & Tyler, Faint Not.

As an added bonus, if you purchase their cover of The Sound of Silence from their website or iTunes right now all of the profits go to International Justice Mission (IJM) and their fight against human trafficking – go ahead do little something to make a difference int he world!  Learn more about it here: The Sound of Silence and IJM.

I’m just going to come out and say it …I think it may be time for me to start embracing mariachi music.  It’s not just for cheesy Mexican restaurants any more.  It’s a serious part of Mexican culture.  I first came to this realization a few weeks back when we attended a party complete with mariachi band entertainment.  They sang, they danced, they brought out lucha libre masks for a fake wrestling match among audience participants – and the crown went wild!

Plaza Garibaldi

Then last weekend, on our trip to La Plaza De TresCulturas, we passed by Plaza Garibaldi.  This is Mexico City’s Mariachi Mecca.  Since the 1920s mariachi bands have gathered here to show off what they can do.  On Friday and Saturday you can find dozens of bands scattered across the plaza competing to be hired. We walked by around 2pm and the plaza was already teaming with men (and a few women) donning instrument cases and tight black pants with silver trim.  I’m told the real party doesn’t start until 11pm.  It’s kind of a Where’s Waldo mariachi style.

And most recently, we discovered that our cable package includes an entire channel of mariachi music.  That’s right, I can sit on my couch and listen to mariachi music 24/7.  Jealous yet?