Aqui estoy!

I am here! Safe and sound.

My flights went smoothly, no big issues or complications. I started to feel nervous (the first time all week, really!) once I landed in Monterrey, but felt at ease as soon as I got to Guanajuato and saw where I'd be staying. I lucked out!

My host family is used to having students and travelers in and out; they have two bedrooms and a bathroom, set aside from the rest of the house, that they rent out. The little 2-bedroom, 1-bath "apartment" rests on a gorgeous terrace. There are flowers all over, and views of the city and nearby mountains. Check it out: photos here

I share the apartment with another American student, studying at the University this semester. I was relieved to see that I'd have a fellow traveler around, so we can share the experience of being abroad, watch each other's back, etc., all the things that good travel buddies do.

And the dog, Ringo, is a doll! He's big, fluffy, and friendly. I haven't been able to steal a picture yet, but I will soon!

La mama de la casa is very sweet, very friendly. The brothers are both kind and helpful, one particularly chistoso, and gregarious. El papa, so far, is quiet. He's from Irapuato, where the Montecinos hailed from a century ago.

My new roommate and I visited a couple of museums this afternoon, which gave us a chance to get to know each other a little, and me a chance to see a bit of the city. It's so beautiful here! Everyone told me it would be, and they were exactly right. I was too busy gawking to take pictures, but hopefully I'll be posting some soon. I got a crash course in Guanajuatan folklore at La Casa de Leyendas, and found a few new favorite paintings at Museo de Arte Olga Costa-Jose Chavez Morado.

I've got another day tomorrow before my classes start, and plan to spend it wandering, getting my bearings, getting to know the city. Who knows, maybe I'll even get a chance to do some of that tonight. We'll see!

Thank you so much for all the well wishes you've sent me off with! Hope to be in touch with more stories soon!

The Essentials

Warning: Some of these details may be painfully boring! Just wanted to have them up here so that family and friends who need to know have easy access to the information.

So, I'll be in Mexico for about three months. I'm leaving this Friday, August 29, at 4:05 pm for Mexico. I get back to Austin on Thursday, December 4, 8:10 am.

I fly into Monterrey with VivaAerobus, and from there to Leon. Then I'll take a taxi to Guanajuato to meet up with my host family at Academia Falcon (the language school where I'm taking classes).

What I know about my host family so far: They have two sons, roughly my age, and a dog. I hope the dog likes me! Oh, and the family too... (I'm a dog person, and I will miss my dog terribly; she's staying with my parents and their dog in Austin. I can't help myself!)

I'll be taking classes in Guanajuato during the month of September: Spanish language, Mexican literature, arts, and culture.

In October, I'll ease up on the classes a bit and spend time soaking up the Cervantino Festival.

In November, I want to travel to other parts of Mexico: Oaxaca, Mexico City, Monterrey. Maybe I'll squeeze in a couple of other destinations as well? However, this last chunk of the journey is pending travel buddies, as I don't want to be wandering the country all by myself. I'm hoping to meet some fellow travelers in Guanajuato. Or... anybody reading this want to come travel with me for a week or so? Let me know!

Other things I'll be up to: working on grant applications for a project I want to do in Austin this spring (a continuation of Muntu), doing research for Albany Park Theatre Project, photography, writing, working on my next solo performance piece.

Or, at least that's the plan so far. :) I expect there will be changes.

How to get in touch with me while I'm in Mexico:

• Comment on this blog (best way)
  
• Email me: nataliemgoodnow@gmail.com (second best way)
  
• MySpace: here's a link to my profile
  
• Facebook: friend me!
• Call me at Academia Falcon: o11-52-473-731-10-84
  
• Send me mail at Academia Falcon:
  Academia Falcon A.C., Paseo de la Presa 80, Guanajuato, Gto., 36000 MEXICO
  (You know how mailing stuff internationally goes... not always guaranteed it'll get there! But still worth a try for postcards, care packages, if you're so inclined :) )
  

I'll have my cell phone there, but it'll be off for most of the time, so that's not such a reliable way to get to me. And please don't text me! I love them, but it's expensive for me to receive texts while roaming abroad.

Let me know if you know of any people I should meet, places I must go! And let me know what you're up to, too!

And the next post will be more fun to read, I promise.