Week 1, September 2nd - 8th

This week was really the first full week that I have had staying with my homestay family and what the Peace Corps considers as week one of training. We got to know the city a little bit while taking courses 9-5 on the week days including information about Mexico, Peace Corps, the Spanish language, safety, and many other topics.

After giving us a history lesson about Mexico, this Mexican History professor took us to the market and then to his favorite Oaxacan restaurant.

We tried the guacamole with chapulines (grasshoppers) and a special horchata with strawberry and walnuts. Both were really delicious!

After a gym session, we went to the mirador de los arcos or the overlook of the aquaducts that run through Querétaro from the times of the Spanish. We then ran into another PC trainee and his host parents and went to get tacos.

We often eat lunch in the mercado by the PC headquarters, here's some of what I've eaten

Pictured on the left: The bowls of guisado (stew). I ordered gorditas de Tinga, a chicken based guisado. Middle: Enfrijoladas, similar to enchiladas but in beans instead of a chile sauce. Right: Enchiladas.

The PC Climate team played lotería to practice learning the names for environmental concepts in Spanish.

Chiles en nogada: A special dish prepared only in September to celebrate Mexican independance. It contains beef, fruit, and many spices creating a deliciously sweet, savory combination that must be tried to be appreciated!

Saturday night I went with my host family and the host mom's sister's family to the pyramid of the pueblito. It was super fun! We happened to go on a night when there were many activities happening.

Pictured from left to right, back to front: Mariana Jr., Omar Sr., Omar Jr., me, Mariana Sr., Juan Carlos (brother in law), Jose Maria aka Cheme (son of Juan Carlos and Miriam), Miriam (the sister of Mariana Sra., eating the esquite), and taking the picture Valentina aka Vale.

It was an action packed week and there is only more to come! Thanks for reading.