Chihuahua Nights

Post 1
June 20, 2010
Yesterday, I arrived in Chihuahua, Mexico. The flight from Houston was a fine with a little turbulence as we skirted thunderstorms. The country over which we flew was rugged, vast and open. It is I think part of the northern Sonoran desert. You could see deep arroyos, tall mesas and the spines of mountains going north -south, with the various dirt roads looking like spider webs laid over the landscape.
Chihuahua is at 4500’ and lies in a shallow valley surrounded by mountains. The airport is new and facilities very nice. After clearing customs I was met by Rebecca Wynia, the director of the language school. Rebecca is a Minnesota native about 28 / 30, blond hair and blue eyes. As she told me before I came down, “You won’t have any problems identifying me in the crowd.” … and I didn’t. Our drive from the airport to my host family’s house took us across town.
My previous experience with Mexico has been in the border towns – Tijuana, Mexicali – So this was different experience. Unlike the border towns, Chihuahua is very clean, with working traffic signals and good roads, shopping centers, parks, ubiquitous strip malls and American fast food places – Hello Mickey D’s and BK. Rebecca said that Starbuck’s recently opened not far from the school and she is looking forward to some “real” coffee.
My host family is Minerva and Rueben. They are delightful and know absolutely no English, so my Spanish language lessons began last night. My little pocket dictionary is my new best friend. That, and my hands, as I gesture and make motions for the lack of words. It is more like a bad game of Simon Says.
I have my own room upstairs in their small house and my own bathroom. This morning Reuben cooked breakfast for me – Whew!! Eggs, ham, sausage, beans, tomato, bread and coffee cake. I need to find the Spanish to say – Too much. After he finished cooking and set the table, he went running and I started eating. Maybe Rueben and I should run together or I will have to buy two seats for the plane ride home.
School starts tomorrow. Class hours are 9:00 to 12:30/4:30 to 6:30. That four hour break is for lunch and a siesta. I am liking this. As I have grown older, naps are becoming a pleasurable treat. Rebecca informed me that I will be in a class of two for two days and one on one with an instructor for two days, so I should pick up much Spanish. On Fridays I will be teaching English at an orphanage.
This morning dawned clear and bright, as it rained last night and light breezes have swept away the clouds. It’s a good day to go exploring with my dictionary in hand.