howluiseseestheworld-blog - Tumblr blog

howluiseseestheworld-blog · 9 years ago

Text

last month

So it’s one month since my last update. I am really sorry about the long gap, but there were soooo many things going on.

Ok let’s start with my trip back to Austria. The reason why I was going there was my sister’s wedding. The problem was, that the responsible person of my home university told me, that the semester in Mexico is starting in September, so I thought greaaaat! I only miss one week BUT after I got accepted from TEC I realised, that university starts in August, so I was really screwed….. Of course there was no option for me to not coming to the wedding and also for not going to Mexico. The solution: Let’s go back to Austria for 5 days (because the trip is not sooooo long……)

So I went back to Austria (being half ill and nearly missing my connecting flight in the US) and was really happy to see my boyfriend <3, friends and family again. So I was in Leoben for 2 days and then we hit the road in the direction to Czech Republic because the wedding was just over the border to Czech Republic (husband = Czech & much cheaper there). On the way there the car of Kevin’s dad broke down- at the best spot possible. Imagine being at the “Tangente” in Vienna and suddenly without no reason at all the car starts slowing down and smoking. After 2 hours of waiting for the mechanic, rental car … we could start driving again and arrived in Mikulov. All the friends of my sister and her husband from their exchange semester were already there and I was so happy, after I finally got a beer to calm down (real beer, not that light water they have in Mexico :P)

Wedding day started really calm (I couldn’t believe my eyes to see my sister that calm), everything went perfect and they were the cutest couple that I have ever seen! I am so happy for you two and to have now a new family member. Also my sister was the most beautiful bride EVER!!!! :*

Party was long, no voice the next day and enjoying the last few hours with my family and boyfriend. This time it was much harder to say goodbye, because there was no “we will see each other in a month” :(

Monday morning I went back to Mexico, had finals week- and it went better than expected.

On Friday some of us extanjeros and some mexicans went to a friends ranch just an hour outside of SLP. WE made a BBQ (really mexican, only meat meat meat... I think we have to show them European bbq next time) and some did horseriding. Judith and my special surprise was a “little” Bowle which the Mexicans had never seen/drank before.

On Saturday we headed to Tequis and Queretaro, this trip was organized by TEC. It was the weekend before Independence Day so there were a lot of people in Queretaro. I could just sit there and watch the people for hours, the clothes, the parade, the music… everything is just awesome! I really would like to try on those traditional clothes once, maybe one day I will get the opportunity.

After the weekend a short week at Tec followed because it was independence day. Monday was a surprise party for Amandine’s birthday (organized by her buddy Fer) with Mariachi and everything! Aaaah Mariachi is so much fun. Like such a clichee, middle aged men in their traditional costumes and sombreros. Tuesday I went with Ricardo to El Grito de Indepencia- for 150 pesos (7euros) food and drinks AND!!!! A pinhata- I broke it hahahah muchissimo gusto!!

The rest of the week was not really intresting but on the Weekend we had some plans again (what else). Friday the band of some friends were playing at a bandcontest- they were really really good and made it to next level (winning the first price in each category I think), then to the Frenchies party and on

Saturday we went to a place near Armadillo with Jose, Hector, Fabian, Victor, Christobal, Ines, Dagmar, Marie, Judith (who else :P) and me. Fabians family has there the sweetest cottage that I have ever seen! When they bought it, it was a ruin. They repaired and built everything on their own. No electricity, only oil candles, waterfiltering system and everything what you need for a place where you want to retire. In the evening we had a bonfire and were enjoying the company.

With a little lack of sleep we went hiking the next day. It was a “little” exhausting for me, but the view at the top was totally worth it!! So this was two weekends ago (20th of September), I wanted to write about the last weeks on that Sunday and also did it, but my supergood, superfast Internet decided to break down at the exact moment when I was submitting my posting..

Then we had semana i (= innovation week)- a week with different activities at Tec, where you have to spend 40 hours in projects… worst week since I am here.. But okey doesn’t matter, not everything can be perfect and I am just happy, that it is finally over.

And last weekend Ricardo, Carlos, Fabo, Judith and me went to Real de Catorze. It’s a town located on a mountain that you can only reach through a tunnel. Unfortunately it was raining when we came there, so we couldn’t do that much than going out for dinner on that day. But on the next day we went horse riding to the old town of Real de Catorze. I am having a lot of respect of horses, but they were soooo well-behaving, so I was not afraid at all. Real Catorze is also famous for Peyote, which is the reason why we got stopped by the military at our way home.. Searching our car for the drug cactus and of course they were mixing up Austria with Australia when they checked our residence permit.

At Tec not much is going on at the moment, next exams are coming in 3 weeks, but I think until then there is just the regular stuff to do (like that’s not enough ..)

My cousin is thinking about visiting me in 3 weeks, so I really hope that she finds cheap flights so I (or better my Mexican friends) can show her all the great places around SLP.

I am really so grateful for all the good friends that I found here in this short periode! I love you so much <3

#mexicanadventure #exchangestudent #friendslikefamily

0 notes

howluiseseestheworld-blog · 9 years ago

Text

Mexican family dinner

You have to know, that I am taking a class which is about mexican culture. So we learn how it is different to ours, what are the traditions and how to react to them. My teacher Karla gave a homework: get invited to a mexican family dinner. I know it sounds weird, but she said, that is an experience that you should have.

Well here in Mexico family is a really important thing. The siblings are having a closer relationship to each other, than to most of their friends. So I think that if you are seeing a person how they are acting aroung their family, it shows a lot about their character.

Judith and I got invited to Ricardo’s and Carlos’ place for Sunday lunch/dinner (3p.m. is a weird time for Austrians to have lunch, so I don’t know how to call it). They are having this get-together every Sunday. At some there are more people and at some there are just a few. Today I think we were like 14 people (Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and the abuela-grandmother ...... AND what was like really amazing: all of them were like totally handsome and good-looking, I have to say really good genes) The lunch was at their grandparent’s place. When we came into the door we got hugged and kissed and very nice welcomed. When somebody says “Mi casa es tu casa” they really mean that. I got immediatly the feeling of being welcome.

I think on this day it was a little hard for me with homesickness, because I was missing my family and our get-togethers a lot (Of course we don’t meet once a week, but we try to do it as often as possible, even if it is just for a coffee/drink ;)). But when you are together with so many nice people, who are intrested in you and your culture, you get the feelingof being a little closer to home.

The food we had was as good as always! We had tacos rojos (red tacos), panuchos (refried tortilla that are more common in the south of Mexico) and dobladas de papa (also tortilla, but differently prepared and stuffed) aaaaand of course I put to all of them salsa (that I will miss the most when I am not getting that anymore- so I definetly have to learn how to prepare that on my own)

Of course we had some really nice Tequila before and after the meal and I have to admit, it is soooo much better here. So if anybody wants a present from me from Mexico, just tell me and you will get some Tequila ;)

I totally enjoyed the lunch with this family and I think that homework was a good idea of our teacher. It is just a different togetherness, when you see a person with their family laughing, ragging and having fun together.

Thank you so much Carlos and Ricardo for this opportunity :)

Muchissimas besitos :*

Luise

0 notes

howluiseseestheworld-blog · 9 years ago

Text

La Huasteca

Now I am going to tell you about a great weekend in La Huasteca. I should start at the beginning: On the 8th of August I went out with some other exchange stundents and some Mexicans.. Of of them was the buddy of one of us foreigners and he brought some friends to accompony us. We went to many different bars in downtown of SLP and then to a club. All of us got really good along with each other and after we finished our night at a Taco place they invited us for a weekend in one of their grandparent’s house. At first we thought this would be just a joke, but the next day they called and we met for discussing the weekend. Carlos and Ricardo (the nicest cousins that I have ever met!) were like our travel agency- the booked a bus with a driver for the weekend, so nobody would have to drive.

On Friday morning our trip started. We were 12 people: 4 Mexicans (Carlos, Ricardo, Vazquez and Gore), 4 French (Marie, Siri, Jennifer and Nathan), 2 German (Dagmar and Ines) and 2 Austrian (Judith and me). After a looong drive and a stop at a motorway station we arrived at the grandparent’s house of Carlos and Ricardo.

I have to mention, that SLP is in the desert of Mexico and La Huasteca is tropical, there it was hot and humid and the first step out of the bus was really shocking. But after some time it was totally enjoyable and I am really sad, that I can’t absolve my semester in that climate.

On the same day we went to the Tamul river to get by boat to a waterfall.

The drive to the waterfall was really amazing - but also exhausting in the heat.

when we came there, some of us (of course me included) climbed the cliff that you see on the right side of the picture above and jumped down into the water :) (Allowedly I have to say, that I would make me in my pants if I would do that in Austria), I don’t know what was driving me up there, but it was just amazing!!)

With a happy smile on our faces we paddled back down the river and there awaited us a great dinner (of course included with some tortillas ;))

Our driver found in the meantime another way back to the house (without 100000 holes in the street)- during the drive everybody was so exhausted that all of us slept. Back at the house we partied a little ;)

On Saturday 8 a.m. we went to the next activity- rafting at Tampoan river, organised by HuasteXa (where also the dog is having fun).

At first I thought it was really expensive (at least for mexican relations). But after the 3h trip and the experience (and a lot of bruises- of course I fell not only once out of the boat .. haha typical me) I would have paid the double of it!!!

You can’t believe how beautiful the nature was and how exciting the rafting. I really can’t find enough words to describe that awesome trip!

I recommend this experience for everybody who gets the chance to do it. I hope, that maybe we can go there another time and do the rappeling and waterfall jumping :) (so Carlos, Ricardo, that was a hint for you guys ;))

Unfortunately I don’t have more pictures from rafting, because we will get them from the organisation. But of course you will get to see them as soon as I have them :)

In the evening we partied at the pool of the house and enjoyed the rest of the weekend.

On the next morning everybody was really tired, so we decided to just get some lunch and then head back to SLP.

Lots of Love <3 Luise

#lahuasteca #mexico #exchangestudent #funfunfun #mexicanadventure

0 notes

howluiseseestheworld-blog · 9 years ago

Text

First week at Tec

Hi guys. One week ago univesity started. At 7:30 (a.m.) Judith and I went out of our apartment to go to Tec. From our place it is like 30 minutes to walk there, there would be the possibility to take the bus. Here in Mexico busses are not the most reliable transportation somewhere.

First there is like no schedule for the time when the bus is going, second you don’t know where you can get inside of the bus. People are standing at the street (really like anywhere, nearly no bus signs) and waving at the bus when it is coming (the story behind that- as much as I heard is, that the signs they have are not enough, so the people just started to wave at the bus to stop, when you want to get out, you press a button and the busdriver stops immediatly. Unbelievable, but it seems like it is working)

and third you have to pay for each bus. So we would have to change once, but would have to pay twice. In addition to that, it is cheaper to go by cab together (Judith and me) than taking the bus.

Okey but let’s go back to the main topic. We walked to Tec (we are the only pedestrians on the streets because really nobody is walking here!!), went to the security guards to check in (24h surveillance and you have to register when/who/why somebody is coming) and then searched for the room of our first class.

We had 5 classes on that day and I really have to say, I was totally impressed. First the infrastructure is really good! Every class has like (working!!) projectors, computers and really really comfortable chairs! The only thing that you have to get used to is the air condition.. Having a scarf or a sweater in the bag is really a good idea.

All the teachers were really interested in us and cared if we understand all the topics. Even when the topic about exams came up and inconveniently two of my midterms would be when I am on my way back to SLP (my sisters wedding is in 3 weeks so I am going back to Austria/Czech Republic for that event). They changed the exam day in one and in the other one I can do it later. I think that is not something, that would be so easy in other countries, so I am really glad that it was possible.

The course I liked the most on that day was negotiation technices, I think this is going to be a lot of fun with discussing and learning to have control in a negotiation. Like the perfect course for my character ;)

The first day was really hard because we had classes until 9, but I am already delighted to the upcoming weeks. The rest of the week got easier, because we alread knew in which building we have our classes. I think we chose really good courses for this semester, because we have the perfect combination of business and engineering classes. There are some that are going to be really hard but I think it will be worth it!

Now it is Sunday and I have to get up really early so I think that is it for the moment. Tomorrow I will get my students card and then I can use all the stuff at Tec (gym, computers, salsa classes will start…)

Tomorrow I will tell you about the great weekend that I had in La Huasteca :)

Buenas noches y besitos

#itesm #sanluispotosi #exchangestudent #mexico

0 notes

howluiseseestheworld-blog · 9 years ago

Text

First 10 days in SLP

So I will start at the beginning. At 3 in the mornig my alarm ringed and it was time to get up. I had to fit the rest of my clothes in my luggage - well at least during that work out I woke up.

as you can see there, totally hard work ;) But then it was time to say goodbye .. I kissed my family and after I forgot my scarf at home and had to go back, I was on my way to vienna to catch the plane to Frankfurt. On the way there I got more and more nervous, somehow I was really looking forward to the upcoming months, but somehow I didn’t want to leave my family and friends.

When I arrived in Vienna I met with my studybuddy Judith (you can await to read that name more often) and we checked in for our flights: Frankfurt - Houston - San Luis Potosí.

After an not as tearful as I imagined farewell to my boyfriend Kevin we went through security and to boarding.

I am saving yourself the story about the flights (mostly because I slept the main time) and the hover the top security checks of the U.S. with waiting lines of about one hour…

But yes.. after some time we arrived in SLP- took a taxi to the hotel. We there got our out of first hand experience of the driving culture of the Mexicans. After nearly killing 2 old ladies the taxi driver left us at the hotel - Real Plaza . I can only recommend that hotel. We booked our stay for 3 nights because we thought, that we would have an apartment at that time easily .. haha NOT!

We spent the first week with looking for apartments and then going to inspections with our buddies. If it would have been once, that the told us a total different price after the inspection it would have been ok, but it happened far too often. Maybe thats just the business of real estates.

On wednesday we thought that we found the perfect apartment, not too far away from the TEC, a good price and just so beautiful - but it was too good to be true. So we had to start again.

For our inner peace we went out to enjoy the nightlife of SLP. My buddy Karen took us with her and some friends and there we met another exchange studente from Brasilia, Nina. We had just the best night that you could have and danced until the early morning. My spanish is not “the yellow of the egg” but it gets better after one or two tequila, ;)

During the week we did some sightseeing of the city (especially historical downtown) and enjoyed ourselfs with delicious foods and drinks.

After 8 days, 6 times extension of our stay at the hotel (yes we stayed optimistic), 10 apartment inspections and many tacos later we found a place to live in!

Now it is Wednesday evening and we are (nearly) done with unpacking and getting ourselves comfortable. In this apartment I am staying with Judith (we are taking all classes together) and Andy, a boy from Germany with whome we got along pretty fast after just one phonecall.

On Monday university starts and I don’t know what is coming down my road - but you can be sure, that I am awaiting the best experiences with the mexican and international culture as possible!

Until my next update I just have to say- I miss all of you a lot!

Lots of love,

Luise

#mexicanadventure #sanluispotosi #fhjoanneum #itesm #exchangestudent

0 notes