Happy Fourth of July!

Hola!
    Happy Independence Day mi amigos (for the U.S.)!!!! Today was fun and informative as usual in school, but I felt like I was backward in my Spanish today. Normally I have been able to speak, read, and write my Spanish fine. Today, I was making mistakes left and right! I felt like I didn't learn a thing in the past week and a half. Part of it seemed to be from not getting my coffee fix this morning (had a small stomach bug so I decided against coffee for a day),and I felt slightly homesick from missing the Fourth of July with family and friends. However, my roomates and I made the most of celebrating it by going to the mall, and eating at Outback Steakhouse. While there was no fireworks or barbeques, we decided we try to make it feel like home by eating at a restaurant familiar to us with cheeseburgers, chicken, etc. It was very fun, and it made all of our day! We learned about fiestas in our La Culura Class, and we had talked about Mexico's Independence Day which is celebrated on September 16. The story of how it occurred reminded that freedom does not come easy. It also reminded me how hard our for fathers fought for our freedom, and how Mexico was no different in trying to gain their freedom from the Spanards in 1810. We also learned about one of my other favorite Mexican Holidays, Dia de Los Muertes (November 1-2). On November 1st, the Mexican culture celebrates the lives of children who have passed on (Dia De Los Ninos) while Dia de Los Muertes celebrates the life of the adults and elderly who have passed on. It is not looked down on as a sad or scary holiday. The Mexican Culture celebrates that day to remember those who have passed on in happiness. They go to the cemetery to give their loved ones their favorite things, and even spend the night in the cemetery the where the family member is laid to rest.There is a tradition in which someone can buy a candy skull, and write someone's name on it, and give it to them (to give them death). It is not a curse, but rather a way that expresses love because the Hispanic culture, from my understanding, do not have the same perceptions or fears of death that Americans or other cultures would have. My La Cultura maestra stated that Mexicans "laugh at death". I like it because it is a whole day where one can celebrate the life of their loved one! I also love the art of Dia De Los Muertes, especially La Catrina, one of the symbolic cartoons for Dia de Los Muertes.
    So that is all for today, and I have pictures! Gracias, y Hasta Manana!
Paula

 I decided to take a random picture of myself for the fourth, and give a peace sign! That has been my favorite pose since I have been here for an odd reason I cannot explain.

 Wanted to show my American patriotism by dressing in red, white, and blue!

 I am not sure if anyone saw this picture from the ground yesterday, but I wanted to let you know I found out what it means! In Spanish it means "Humanidades" which means "Humanities". This is the name of the building in which I attend classes, and other buildings have different names of schools, like that of U.S colleges. ( I learned this from my Grammatica maestro).

 What the maestro wrote  to show what it is meant to say. It seems some of the rocks were missing in the previous picture.

  I took a picture of a Diet Cola can because I am still amazed to see everyday products from America in Mexico and in a different language!

 It is chocolate candy made with some Jose Cuervo Tequila! I won this during a game we were playing to remember the names of the body parts in Spanish! I was so proud of myself (I was also glad everyone who did not win still got a candy anyway!)

Another unique statue I saw in the mall where we went to Outback Steackhouse!