Durango, Mexico

Durango Mexico
October 15th- October 21st
Theme of the week: Motivation
Manuel, Paula, Ana, Natalia Medina
Kaisa (Finland) Lindsey (Oregon)

10-15-18 Monday

Travel Day!! We drove from Torreon to Durango in about two hours. We arrived at a gorgeous facility where the mayor of the town greeted our cast. It felt like a palace. The weather here is absolutely perfect and I am so grateful. It's a little bit warmer than crispy fall air, and it's glorious. Then the cast went to lunch at the Historic Center of Durango. There was so much publicity at this place with the mayor, the news, TV interviewers, and government officials. After we ate, they played traditional Mexican songs and we danced salsa. We went back to the Silvestre Dorador and heard an orchestra rehearsing in a fabulous venue, and it made me miss classical music. My new host family is amazing! The family dynamic and vibes remind me so much of my own family. I feel right at home. There are three girls in the house, and the family is very involved in their Christian church. The two oldest girls play on the worship team there. Everyone in the family is musical except for the mom. I love how quickly I bonded with this family, and its so interesting to see how our families could be so similar but live in totally different places. They also have wifi, so I'm back on the grid!!

10-16-18 Tuesday

Today was a community action day at Red Cross. A group of us were transported in an ambulance to the center where Cruz Rojo is in Mexico. We volunteered with the workers of Red Cross to paint the outside of their building. We also got a tour of every room where patients are treated. When we got back we had a cast meeting where we realized the semester is half way over! Crazy how fast time has gone by. When we got home, my host family took us to Plaza de Armas in the Constitucion of Durango. It is basically just down town with beautiful buildings. We went through a haunted house that was actually underground. Usually I am not phased by things like this, but there were a few times I was terrified for my life. They separated you from the group and had extreme strobe lights. It was really fun, but scary at the same time. Then we went to San Juan. This place is notorious for having the best Elotes in Durango. Elote is corn, chips, and chile. It's delicious. When we got home, we found a scorpion in the garage!!!

10-17-18 Wednesday
There was a Backing Track Show at a high school very early in the morning today. The teenagers who came to see the show where complete fans of Vive la Gente. They stood up, sang along, asked for autographs, cheered for an encore, and asked to take pictures with the cast for an hour after our performance. This was the closest the cast will ever be to fame. We all had legitimate fans, it was a cultural experience for sure. We were supposed to go to a different CA in the afternoon, but it was canceled. Then we learned the lyrics to the Swedish Medley because we will be there in two weeks!!! AHHH! I am feeling very exhausted to the point of sickness. My host family went out to the movies, and I decided to stay home and rest because I need it so bad.

10-18-18 Thursday

The acoustic promo group went along with the culture fair group and did two performances. Something with the communication went wrong so we didn't start the culture fair until after lunch. We had some free time to explore downtown. Angelis, Momo, Nasya, and I went into many stores, and then decided to grab some coffee. We started talking about being camp counselors. If all four of us went to camp, the campers would have the most amazing experience. Once culture fair started, we sang, promoted the show, talked to people in the street, and hung out. It was a really cold in the morning, and then while we were singing it got extremely hot. Once again... I got a heat stroke! 

10-19-18 Friday

Double Show Day! I am not feeling 100% still, but the show must go on. Our show venue is absolutely gorgeous. The staff had to set up the stage from midnight to three in the morning because they needed to close down the streets for the trucks. While they staff where sleeping in the morning, the cast wrote a song about our experience. We were very connected as a group because we all had ideas that were incorporated in the song. When we performed it for the staff, they all started crying. It was very special. Then it was time for the first show. This was the worst performance of our show that we had ever had. Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. During Keep Hope Alive, the lights in my face and the heat in the air made me feel like I was going to pass out. As soon as the song was over, I ran off stage and threw up in the bathroom. After that, I ate, got some medicine, and felt so much better. In the greenroom for the second show, the staff wanted to pump us up for a better show. They told us that we only have nine shows left together as a full cast. We can never come back after December 12th and do it all over again. I felt extremely grateful for my cast, the show, and experience of a lifetime that I was having. Then Momo came into the circle and talked about "Warriors." She brought "Peanut Butter Reese Cup" from camp into Up with People. All of the campers got excited and jumped into the middle of the circle with her to teach the cast. This chant was one of my fondest memories at camp, so I was so excited to have it be on the road as well. While the second show was going, I felt very sick, but I pushed through and had a great show. I started to really appreciate who is surrounding me because before I know it, they won't be there anymore. After the show, I saw Cindy!! She drove all the way from Torreon to see us perform again. Then I was signed out for Parent Newsletter that evening. 

10-20-18 Saturday

Today was another Community Discovery opportunity. The cast went to a museum called "Bebeleche." We learned a lot of information about El Dia de los Muertos! It was interesting to be educated into the Mexican culture and beliefs through exhibits and hands-on interactions. There was a mini studio with five microphones so Angelis, Camyrn, Ellen, Nasya, Pluen, and I each grabbed a mic and sang some harmonies. After the museum, we went to a golf course called Campestre de Durango. The people there made our arrival a huge ceremony. They asked us to perform for them, so the acoustic promo group did two songs, and the cast joined in on the last song. Then we had free time to play golf, tennis, soccer, and to swim. The water was so colds, I finally felt like I was back in Minnesota. Everyone was complaining about the cold, and it was just perfect temperature. At night, Cindy picked Leonie and I up from our houses and took us out. We went to a bar called Cerveceria Duragno. We met up with people from the cast and had a really great time. When I got home, I had an amazing faith conversation with my host sister, and I encouraged her to go to camp this summer. She is really interested, and I could see Josie and her becoming best friends.

10-21-18 Sunday
Host Family Day! We went to church in the morning. Ana and Natalia were both on the worship team and they sang Hillsong songs in Spanish. My host dad was playing the piano for the band, and they were actually really good! After church we went to a place called "Nombre de Dios." We had Tacos and Gorditas for lunch. Then we tasted different tequila and mezcal samples. Then we went to El Salitito which was a big waterfall on the Rio Mezquital! It was beautiful scenery and we took many pictures! After that, we went to this place where many famous cowboy movies are made. There were people dressed up as Indians, and role playing random cowboy scenes. When we showed up, there was so many of our cast members participating in this massive spectacle and it was hilarious. For dinner we went to a place where you could see the entire city of Durango! This was one of the best host family days so far! We did so much in the day.

Torreon, Mexico

Torreon, Mexico
October 8th-October15th
Theme of the week: Justice

Cindy, Viveck Rueda ~ Mali, Gorda
Leonie (From Belgium)

10-8-18 Monday

First International Travel Day... After spending the night in the airport, we boarded our first flight from Houston to Mexico City. Then we had a four hour layover in Mexico City, and boarded the next flight to Monterrey. The we had a six hour bus ride from Monterrey to Torreon. It was a 24 hour travel day with about three hours of sleep... Wheew! In the airport I got to frustrated because I was so hungry and I couldn't buy anything because of the currency exchange. When I finally got money, I couldn't order a subway sandwich because of the language barrier. That was my first experience with culture shock. When we arrived at Ibero Torreon, all the host families where lined up and cheered for us as we walked into the room. Their excitement for Vive la Gente was so welcoming after a rough travel day... Then a full mariachi band comes and performs onstage! Immediately, we were immersed into Mexican culture, and our Mexican cast mates all started crying because they had missed their home. It made me so excited for the next four weeks. I met my host sister, Cindy, and she is awesome! She speaks English too!!!Then we went out to dinner, and I tried tacos al pastor for the first time. This meal was the best thing that I had tasted in my entire life. It's my new favorite food. Their house is in a gated community. It is completely livable, but it is very different from my last house in Houston. I went from living in a mansion with AC, my own bathroom, a comfortable bed, and a pool, to a small apartment with no doors, no wifi, no hot water, and a tiny pull out bed. The family in Mexico is very well off compared to the rest of the city, and it is really interesting to see the difference. Leonie and I headed straight to bed when we got the chance.

10-9-18 Tuesday
Today, some members of the cast went to Hecat primary school to do a Culture Fair and International visitors. Most of the students who went there did not speak English so I had to share facts about Minnesota in Spanish. I learned more Spanish today than I did in all three years of classes in high school. Many kids were interested in the midwest because it was apart of Estados Unidos. We talked to kids from kindergarten to middle school. The older the students were, the more English they could speak. This school was donated for families with low incomes so that poorer children could receive an adequate education. It was a very nice school, and they only have to pay $15 a month. This is very cheap for schools in Mexico. After lunch, we played some games with the kids and they reacted with enthusiasm. When it was time to go, the kids would not stop hugging us. It was very special. Then we had guest speakers come in and talk about gender equality in Mexico. We got invited to a traditional Mexican fiesta in the night. Cindy came with us to the party. There was so much culture at this party from the drinks, to the music, to the dancing. It was one of my favorite memories so far!

10-10-18 Wednesday
Today I was a crew leader for Albergue Del Padre Manuelito. This is a home for children who have parents in prison, or who are unable to take care of their kids. This was one of the most impactful community action projects that I have ever done because the kids were so loving, compassionate, grateful, mature, understanding, and intelligent. I was so impressed how kids in such horrible circumstances can get attached to random strangers within a day. We just played games with them, and attempted to have conversations with them. I used my google translate all day, and even though we had a language barrier, our connection was so strong. The 10 year old girls were obsessed with my blond hair and green eyes, and they asked me in Spanish... “tienes in novio.” At the end of the day we had a debrief with the kids and asked them what they learned. Many of them raised their hands and repeated how grateful they were for us coming. It was amazing to see the impact that we had with kids from just playing with them. When we left, many of them cried, and so did all of the volunteers from Up With People. If that doesn’t show you the connection that was made, I don’t know what does. This was an experience I will never forget, and it taught me how important it is to give back to the community. At night we went to a party with Cindy’s friends from college. He was hosting Mattias and Eliot! It was another late night, but so much fun!

10-11-18 Thursday
The community action project for today was called Pi Pao. This is a school for children with special needs. We did many personal flags and international visitor workshops with them. Today I lost my voice and feel terrible so Ellen put me on vocal rest. At the CA, I was not allowed to talk to the kids so I went along and took pictures at the site. This school was founded after a girl was killed in the U.S. Her dad built the whole school her honor and impact over 150 families a day. Going into these poor areas make me so extremely grateful for the life that I have lived so far. At night, my host family wanted to go out again, but I stayed home because I could feel myself getting really sick. I lost my voice completely so we will see what will happen tomorrow for show day...

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10-12-18 Friday
Show Day! Oh geez, it's been a rough day. I woke up unable to speak, sing, or vocalize in any way. Ellen wanted to hear me sing Keep Hope Alive and see what I could do, and there was no way I could sing in the show later. I taught Ellen (Our Vocal Instructor) all the blocking, lyrics, and riffs of my part. She was terrified to perform as Hope so I tried to be as encouraging as possible. During rehearsal, I went on stage to practice the Mexican Medley, and then I had a complete heat stroke. Momo took me outside and I just cried it all out. Then Yui came and took me to the staff work office so that I could cool down and relax a little. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I HATE BEING HOT!!!!! I did not perform in the show so I got to watch. Then instead of striking, I went home early with Viveck. I hope that I get better soon because we have a busy next few days.

10-13-18 Saturday
Today was a community discovery day where the entire cast went to the magic town called Parras. We had a tour of the mansion of the richest family in Torreon and they own a wine vineyard. We saw all the trees, and the processes of how to make wine. Then we drove into town for some wine tasting. While we were there, a group of us went into a restaurant. We ordered Pina Coladas, Margaritas, and Martinis. They didn't even ask for an ID! It was so fun to order drinks with my closest friends in the middle of the desert in Mexico! When I think about my life, I get jealous of myself. At night, we went to Hayden's birthday party... crazy night! Most of the cast was there and there was a lot of alcohol. After the party ended, Cindy took us downtown to some bars for more drinks. I got to experience so much culture through this experience. There was an electric current that shocked everybody's hands, and if you let go because of the pain, then you lost the game. It's a Mexican tradition. I love it here so much. We did not go home until three in the morning, but it was the best night I've had in a while.

 

10-14-18 Sunday
It's host family day!!!! We woke up extremely early after a late night. Cindy and Viveck took Leonie and I to Las Grutas Rosario. This is a cave in the mountains of Torreon. It was about a two hour drive to see the caves, but the scenery was stunning. We toured the caves, and Cindy had to translate everything for us. Then we drove to Mapimi, which is a mine in the middle of the mountains. This was the coolest host family day so far because of the views. I am really going to miss this family. They were my favorite so far because Cindy was like a college roommate who took us out almost every night. I had the most amazing experience in Mexico and I can't wait for the next three weeks here!

                                                          BEST WEEK EVER!!!!