Yosemite National Park

If there is one thing that really makes me feel great, it is a day-hike in a beautiful place with the people I love. In October, 2011 we took a trip to California and spent about 5 days touring around Yosemite NP and areas around Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra. This is a picture of a high mountain off of the Tioga Road. We enjoyed climbing around the domes that surround the high valleys.

As much as I loved Yosemite, one of my favorite areas was the Eastern Sierra from Lee Vining down to Mammoth Lakes. This area just seemed off of the beaten path and in the wide open west. This was a cool little light-sport airplane that I saw at Lee Vining Airport. This airplane was really simple, but looked like it would be great for sightseeing flights or anything that didn't require more than 2 people and the need to go fast.

If you are ever in the sleepy town of Lee Vining, be sure and stop at Nicely's Diner on the main Street through town. The kids said that it was their favorite place to eat on the entire trip and it was much less expensive than anything in Yosemite.

Flying

Oh! I never realized how much I would miss my favorite hobby, being a private pilot. I started flying in 1996 and until 2009 I flew about 100 hours each year. When we changed jobs, I basically gave up my hobby due to the fact that I just could not afford it. Well, now that I have a new job, I am on the prowl for an airpane; an inexpensive airplane. The plane that I have my eye on is a 1965 Mooney M20C. It is a beautiful airplane, but normally out of my reach financially. This example is in very good shape, but will need to have the engine overhauled in the near future. Although the engine runs great now, I can expect to have to pay for an overhaul within the next 5 years. If I am able to work it out, I hope to be flying be early next year. We are about 4 hours flying in a plane like this to the US border of Texas.

Musica Americana!

There are some things that you miss while in a foreign country. One of the things I miss the most here is the music. Although I enjoy many different varieties of music, to me country music reminds me of home the most. Most, but not all american radio stations do not allow international streaming of their music, so normally listening to an iPod is the best option.

While driving in the car, we listen to the local FM radio stations and there is one station out of maybe 30 that plays american variety music exclusively. Yesterday, we got a big laugh out of this song being played on the radio. Somehow, this song doesn't seem appropriate for everyone here in Guadalajara. You would be surprised to know, though, there are a few Mexicans who were born in the USA, or their parents were born there and can transmit citizenship to them, but they never officially applied for their citizenship paperwork. They go to the Consulate to apply for a visa and get the news that they can't get a visa, they should be applying for a passport instead.

July-September is the official Rainy Season here in central Mexico. When we flew into Guadalajara in early August, my first view out of the airplane window reminded me of scenes from Ireland. Guadalajara receives about 37" of rain per year, and about 33" of that falls during the rainy season. Beginning in October, get ready for almost no rain. During the dry season, Guadalajara gets about as much rain as Las Vegas, NV. I have seen pictures of this area during the dry season, and although the weather is Wonderful, the grass and many plants turn brown and there is a problem with dust.

Getting Settled

We have been in Guadalajara for about 10 days now and although there is so much to take in, I think we are adjusting well. It has been difficult not having a car and either walking or taking taxis anywhere we need to go. I can already see that this will be an easy city to live in. The people are friendly, the weather is the best in the World, and the danger threat that you hear about in Mexico seems to be mainly in other parts of the country.

The most challenging thing about being here is not speaking Spanish. Sure, I had 11 weeks of Spanish class and know a little more than a baby on his first day of life, but not too much more. R, on the other hand, is doing much better communicating as she had 6 months of class. Last night, I went to WalMart and ordered Dish Mexico TV for our house. This was a challenge with my "Que Hora Es?" Spanish. See this youtube video for a laugh or two. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WckCw_-7e3M

Getting Paranoid about the Internet

I am getting more paranoid about the internet. It could be because I have been reading about kidnappings. It could be because I am becoming a more private person. It could be because I am afraid of creepy people stalking our family.

Should we delete all our photos from the internet? People can upload photos of us on facebook and we wouldn't even necessarily know. I have heard that once something is on the internet it is there forever.

There is so much public information available online, which is scary too. What about privacy? If I am concerned about privacy, why even have a blog? Should we delete it?

Passing the Spanish Test and Why it Felt Like Gambling

I passed! On my first try! It was harder than I thought it would be to spend 2 solid hours in Spanish reading and talking. I made quite a few mistakes but I just kept talking and hoping that by saying more words I would have a higher overall percentage of real Spanish. I think before in another post I talked about how easy it is to make up words in Spanish and not even realize you are doing it.

Lots of things in the FS feel like gambling, from the beginning when you start studying for a written test covering such a broad range of material. There is no way you can really study everything so you have to guess, and it is multiple choice. Then if you pass the written and go to the oral exam there are parts that feel like a TV game show. And just like a TV game they keep you guessing about whether you passed until the very end of the show. It's similar with the Spanish test. Your teachers give you little hints along the way, like someone might coach you in Blackjack, "split if you can double," "don't hit on 16," but you really can't understand all the hints until you start playing and seeing the scenarios yourself.

Several of my teachers coached us on using transitions, practicing common topics, and throwing in some subjunctive at the end to give your opinion. The best hints I got were from my fellow students including to act like you know what you are talking about and to keep talking no matter how you feel about what you just said. Even if you just said that many college students in the United States study the arts of liberalism instead of liberal arts, because you don't have the skill to say that in Spanish. (Not an actual test topic--I made that up.)

It's really a relief to pass. That's another part that seems like gambling. You've put a lot of money and time in this slot machine waiting for it to pay off. I don't know anyone yet who hasn't passed, although some had to try a second or third time. Part of it is your effort, but part of it is how your tongue does on the day of the test, how your testers feel, and the test topics you get assigned.

So now I have my 3/3. I still can't turn on the TV or radio in Spanish and understand all the words. I can get an idea of what they are saying, especially if they show pictures. I can watch a video and usually understand the details if I replay it a few times. I can understand a lot better than I can speak. I think the real test is yet to come in Mexico.