Excursion with the Mexicans: Part II

I have been introducing my Mexican friends to American (and more specifically Utahn) traditions. A few days ago, I made my roommate Ivonne and Ingrid some Chicken Artichoke Casserole. The idea of a casserole was a new concept to them, and although they claimed to like it, they both seemed a little hesitant about my creation. This morning I made them banana pancakes, with which they were a little more familiar and excited about.

Yesterday a small group of us went to downtown Vancouver where we hung out at Sunset beach. Ever since I have been in Vancouver, I've had an inquenchable desire to play frisbee. So I brought my frisbee along and convinced them that we needed to play! Well, frisbee isn't quite as common in Mexico, and it was pretty hilarious to watch them the first few minutes of tossing a frisbee around. However, they quickly improved and we started a small game of Ultimate with three on three. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! After about 15 minutes, most of them collapsed on the grass, saying, "I'm so tired, I can't play any longer" and my efforts to start it up again proved to be in vain. They kept asking how I had so much energy! It must have been all that frisbee, racquetball, and hiking back in Utah.

Later on that day, Ivonne and I returned to Sunset beach to watch the sunset (makes sense, eh?). It was gorgeous. I've noticed that Vancouver has very pretty sunsets but I usually don't get to see them because of all the trees. On our way there, we also made a furry friend. It was a raccoon! I couldn't believe how big it was and how close it let us get, it obviously was used to handouts. No worries though, I didn't try to pet it; I am actually not even allowed to play with small mammals for the next few months because I work with mice in the lab and we have to be very cautious about contamination. The evening ended in a splitting of the group: those who went drinking and those who went out for ice cream (me!).

I am so grateful that Ivonne became my roommate that first week. She is such a kind, happy, and well balanced person, and we relate well to each other and have become good friends. I love having her and her best friend Ingrid around, and I love the people that I have been able to meet and hang out with through her. I am still trying to figure out why, but I feel surprisingly comfortable and happy around this group of Mexicans. Some of them are incredibly friendly and easy to talk to, once we can overcome the language barrier. A few of them speak excellent english, while others struggle to find the right words, but they all are still willing to try to talk to me. They even laugh at my jokes, which is always a bonus. It makes a huge difference to be able to explore the city with other people rather than by myself. Vancouver is slowly growing on me as I settle in and feel more at home. These two weeks have gone by quickly at work because it seems like I am still just starting out, however it also seems like I have lived here in BC for much longer because I am a thousand times more comfortable and settled.

I feel happy and blessed!