Great weekend!

Hola mi amigos!
      Wow! This weekend has been so amazing! As you have noticed, I have not posted a blog since Thursday, since I wanted to tell you guys in one blog what my whole weekend was like! On Friday, we got home from our last day of theory classes, so we relaxed a little then went down to Tlaquepacque to see the marachi bands. We also saw various types of dances ranging from ancient tribal dances to modern mexican dancing (we got to see the girls with the twirling dresses). Two of my roommates stayed in Tlaquepacque because one of them had family there, while my professor and I went home. Saturday, we went to Central Guadalajara for my professor since she had not been here. We went to two different museums which included the Regional Museum of Guadaljara and the Institute of Art at the old Hospico de Cabana. Formally an orphanage, it is now an art museum and now includes works of various artists around the world. his is where the famous murals of Jose Orozco can found! They were beautiful and vivid with various depictions of the conquest of the Spaniards and the revolution! Simply breath taking! They also included some strange modern art that were very interesting to view. Later we entered the Cathedral and it was also very mesmerizing! It was gorgeously decorated and is also the location of the body of Santa Inocencia. If you are unfamiliar with the story, Santa Inocencia was a young girl whose father refused to allow her to have her first communion or sacraments as part of the Catholic Church. Determined to obtain her first communion and be baptized, she saw the nuns and learned of the church practices against her father's wishes. She was able to be baptized, and received her first communion/ When her father found out, he punished her by burning her alive. It is said when one is chosen by God, their body does not decay or deteriorate when they die, so Santa Inocencia body is said to never have decayed or been burned, and thus sits in the Cathedral in a glass coffin. People from all around the world travel to see her. The emotions my professor and I observed were very powerful, and many cried and touched the glass with their tears. It was very moving!Later on Saturday, we returned to Tlaquepacque for my roommate's family's party. It was so much fun, and I got to observe how the Mexican people function as a family unit. It is one thing to read about it, and another to observe it! It is amazing to know how many family members and even friends attend parties that can make it a huge fiesta!  They were so welcoming, and friendly and made sure you ate lots of food! On Sunday, we attended mass at the Balisco de Zapopan, which was a very large, and gorgeous church! Like what we saw yesterday in the Cathedral, there was so much emotion, as well as devotion to the religion of Mexico! People came in the church barefoot from their homes to show that they would suffer and feel the pain in their feet for the sake of their Lord and Savior, as he has done for them. People crawled on their knees to kneel in front of the altar to pray during mass, and there were even a few who cried. It was also very moving!
     All that is left now is to study  since we now have clinicals and final exams on Tuesday for our theory classes! We will go to the hospitals tomorrow and apply what we have learned so far by asking questions to gather patient information as well as common items in the hospital. Two weeks has flown by so fast, and I cant imagine how the next two are going to be! Here are the pictures as promised! Hasta Luego!
Paula

 The first few pictures are of the marachi band. I took this particular photo for my husband of the violinists since he is a violinist himself!

 These next few pictures are of a tribal dance to represent their ancient culture!

This little boy in the tribal dance was only four years old! He danced very well!

 I don't remember what this dance was called but this dance was more modern than the previous one.

 Here they are dancing with glasses on their heads. One guy unfortunately dropped some water.

 Another more famous type of dance with the young girls in twirling dresses. Further pictures show them dancing with partners.

 These next few pictures are from the museum where I took my adviser. This is of a Jaguar from ancient society.

 This is one is one a few there were very interesting. It had a depiction of someone being beheaded while the priest points to the angels (not sure if you can see in this picture.

 One of several pictures of Christ.

 A old statue of Jesus Christ.

 Pictures of the archway of the museum.

 These pictures were of the state of Jalisco where I am staying! It was not available before, and it was such a site to see! There are some pictures of pictures depicting some ancient drawings that were found in various areas of Jalisco.

 This was a statue I didn't get to see the last time I was there. It was in front of the school of Music for the University of Guadalajara.

 Myself in front of a rose statue in front of the Jewelry mall.

 They had a set of angel wings near the Hospico de Cabana. It was very fun to feel like I could fly for the few seconds in this picture.

 There was a set of chairs that looked like thrones. I took the biggest one and said one day I shall have a replica in my home!

 This was in the Hospico De Cabana. To me, this represented family. A closer look at the picture will explain why (The little sideways statue in the middle of the parents is an infant).

 Not sure who this was a statue of, but from the rest of the museum and paintings it seemed to be the founder of the former orphanage.

 On of the murals of one of my newly favorite artists Jose Orozco! It was simply breathtaking...literally.

 Another by Orzoco.

 The museum also had several interesting pieces of modern art. This one included pictures of this suit of Siamese Twins.

 This is a model of the former orphanage. As you can see, it is rather large!

 Got to sit next to an interesting man...and yes it was rather hot this day and sitting on a metal couch was not very comfortable.

 Got my fortune told by a bird.

 A statue I found on our way to another mural by Orzco.

 Another famous mural by Orzco, Hildago. Hildago was one of the leaders in the Mexican Revolution.

 A picture of Orozco with a plague next to it.

 An old candy that brought back childhood memories of elementary school and waiting in the snack line for these! Got this from a birthday of one of my roomates cousins!

 Me with a new addition to the host family! His name is Benji! (It was Bruno, but they decided something else.)

 This is the Basilica de Zapopan. Here my adviser and I went to mass and saw the devotion of the Mexican people to their religion. It was very moving!

 Here, people kneel right before they enter.

Part of the inside of the church. People sat in the front when there was no more seating room! We were one altar when my professor took this one of the other across from us.