Photos! A bit out of order....

Hardcore dancing. In masks. Yeah.

Rock on!

Sweet graffiti

Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Melodika - karaoke!!!

La Casa de las Sirenas

I think I've officially fallen for Mexico City. The people, the culture, the food, the COFFEE, everything.

On Tuesday, we had our first official class at el Universidad de la Comunicacion. It was intesive, but we definitely learned a lot about the history of Mexico (the Mexica people mostly) and business etiquette in Mexico. We also got to meet some of the students. They are interesting, incredibly artistic, kind-hearted, and open-minded. They want to know us, and it's a great feeling.

Wednesday was presentation day for the majority of my classmates and I. We got to play the role of tour guide at the Museo de Templo Mayor in the historic district. It was interesting to learn about the structure of Mexica society and the advanced practices and understanding of math, time, medicine, and agriculture that they had. It was, however, INTENSIVO! Afterward, we went to La Casa de Las Sirenas. Great view and great food, but a little pricey for us poor college students.

In the evening, we went out for karaoke at Melodika in Zona Rosa - SO much fun! Of course, lots of nineties-throwback songs were sung. It was an all-around wholesome good time :)

Thursday was another day of classes - 6 hours a day! Some of my friends and I really wanted a chill evening. Plus it was raining just a little (it's the rainy season in Mexico), so we went out for helado (ice cream) in Condesa, a lively neighborhood next to Colonia Roma (my hood) in which some of my classmates live. It was great to see a bit of Condesa. The nightlife is a lot more lively there, there is more demand for things labelled "organic," and there are more trash cans (just something I happened to notice, haha). I got mamey-flavored ice cream. Mamey is a fruit that is sort of sweet-potato-like in flavor and texture - muy rico!

Friday was my favorite day so far. We had class and then went to see the Basilica of the Virgen de Guadalupe (Virgen Mary). Every time I walk into a church in Mexico, I can almost feel the tradition, the solemnity, and the strong faith and reverence of the Mexican people. This was no exception. Every year, 15 million people from all over the world visit this basilica. It is rich in history and full of miracles. The virgin Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego and presented him with rare roses. When Diego went to the bishop of his church to tell him what he saw, the bishop didn't believe him. However, when he dropped the roses, which he was carrying in his tilma (cloak), the image of the virgin was imprinted there. The image is still there, and, though many hands have touched it, it has not faded. Scientists have studied the cloak for hundreds of years and still cannot identify the source blue and flesh-colored pigments. Wow.

At night, I went to my new favorite place in Colonia Roma - Multiforo Alicia. It's an indie-rock venue that features a lot of surf and ska bands. It's similar to Under the Couch - the graffiti, the scenesters, the girl taking pictures, the sense of community, the absence of judgement. Needless to say, I felt at home. I loved the band that we saw - Yucatan A-Go-Go - and the venue in general. I loved the hardcore dancing, moshing and conga line. It was just great.

Saturday was a day of rest and homework and a night of salsa dancing at Mama Rumba! We went in a group of 13, and it was a combination of my classmates, my host-bro and his friends, and friends from the Universidad de la Comunicacion. I had a great time dancing with different people and especially with my new lawyer-friend. He showed me some great salsa moves and was really great company. I had my first mojito, too.

Today was Museo de Antropologico and studying at El Globo - mmmm cappuccino. And of course, more rain. But I'm loving every bit of it!