Culican, Mexico

Now we have reached past our half way point in Mexico.  For this week it was more of a challenge, but a really good one.  When we got there we got there we got a tour of our facility which was an addiction museum.  It was super interesting and really interactive, but all in Spanish, so it didn’t quite have the impact it should have on some, but I got a lot of it.  Then we got a mini concert from this local pair from a performing arts school.  It was drum-based party music and was really cool.  After that we got to see traditional dances and even learn a little bit which was super fun! Then we had to go sit through a bunch of people who sponsored us talk in Spanish which was really hard to pay attention to, but it was still really nice what they were doing for us.  We even had the President.  I lived with Iris from The Netherlands.  Our host family didn't come to get us at host pick up so we got switched with other students into a family.  This family was a mother, daughter and grandmother who none spoke English so I was the translator for the week.  My Spanish is not the best, let alone translating level.   For the week we had a new experience of taking a public bus for an hr each way to get to our facilities.

Tuesday I was in Planning session with the staff which was not at all interesting, but I did get to hear about what the rest of the tour will look like.  After we had a BTS which I ran the whole thing with Emelie and Erin because it’s our intern week.   It went super well.

Wednesday was SA and a BTS but I stayed behind at the beginning of class to run rehearsal for the BTS.  The BTS went well with a full audience.

Thursday I was in classrooms at an all-girls private school.  We had a 3rd grade and they were wonderful and creative and an 8th grade.  The 8th grade class was harder because they were less confident with their English but we still got awesome answers.  Then we had our 3rd BTS which went great and the girls went wild over any boy.  In the afternoon we had our final intern meeting where we shared stories and gave Leslie feedback on the program.  Erin and I felt almost exactly the same that  we loved our internship but the split staff member was a small challenge.

In the afternoon we had cast universities and I went to one about sharks by Dani from Mexico where I learned a ton and then learned a Dutch song with the three Dutchies.  Lastly we had the Ed interns’ final project which was about having an attitude of gratitude.  While I don’t think the cast really needed it, it was still a great refresher and felt really good.  For wrap up we announced the last round interns in super hero fashion.  My replacement is Kanami from Japan which I am super excited about.

Saturday we were back at the addiction museum because it was our show facility.  In the morning we were surprised we Cast appreciation by the staff that was super great.  The we had an hr long rehearsal that I ran and then a double show day! I got to watch the first show which was great, and then I started watching the second show but got called backstage because quite a few people were beginning to be stuck in the bathroom due to explosive stomachs by what we think was caused by food poisoning from the pizza we had for dinner.  By intermission we had around 10 people who had to sit out of the rest of the show so we were in a huge rush to fill all the now missing spots.  But we still managed to put on a solid full show!

Sunday we didn't do much.  We went to church, but we didn't really understand anything then we took the bus into town to go to the pharmacy and see our host mom at work.

This week was definitely a challenge, but a good one and I improved my Spanish a lot.

Beautiful Beaches Galore! Mazatlan, Mexico

This week after a hard goodbye we headed to the beautiful beach city, Mazatlan.  When we rolled in, we knew we had arrived because we were driving along a beautiful coastline.  When we got there we dropped out suitcases off at a beach-side hotel and walked down to the sand where we got to release around 200 baby sea turtles!  We had a dress code for the day of a nice white outfit, or light colored.  At first we all made jokes about why that would be, but the photos turned out beautiful on the beach at sunset in white-like colors.  My roommate for the week because of some hosting issues ended up being Cammie from Colorado! We weren't the most diverse pair, but we had a great family and I am so happy I got the chance to room with her, because we had 14 coloradoans last semester and I didn't get to live with one! Our host mom Karina is very nice and she has a son Fernando who is 16.  She drove us around the city a bit and told us about the city.  Then we went out for tacos for dinner. 

Adorable baby turtles!

the cliff jumping rock

The cast on the beach

This was probably one of the coolest things I've ever done and I was super excited about it!

Tuesday was a full internal day that was a ton of fun!   In the morning we did this thing called Cast University where cast mates led different workshops.  Hugh and I did one on self defense that turned out a lot better than we expected and everyone seemed to really like it.  I also went to one that Cammie did about color personality tests.  Turns out I'm an orange, in case you were wondering.  Then in the afternoon we had Hometeam Olympics on the beach!  There were many relays and team stuff and there was also a sand sculpture contest that we should have won with our Ursula sculpture! We ended up coming in third which still wasn't bad.  Then after we just got some free time on the beach.

Our sand sculpture

Hometeam 3!

The whole group

Wednesday was a BTS on this strange outdoor area in a park.  I got to run most of rehearsal and the didn't perform but got to watch and record it instead.  That evening we went out to dinner with Karina and Fernando and Cammie and I tried to practice our Spanish.

Thursday was our show day #1.  We were in this huge convention center and it was definitely one of our nicer venues except that they didn't turn on the AC until 1pm which was hard but the cast pushed through.  For the morning I was with the costume crew helping them find a routine for their setup.  Then I helped the stage crew set it  up more which was something new for me!  I got to sit out of all rehearsal which was really exciting! I love seeing it and being able to take notes.  During the show we lost power towards the end, but it didn't even phase the cast.  We've had so much practice with that by now.  

Friday was my first CI in a while here in Mexico! I was at the Orphanage that our sponsor owned.  We were painting and weeding but then we ran out of paint so we started sweeping.  We didn't even complain because we knew that then the girls wouldn't have to.  It was a really beautiful and well kept building that felt like a home and not an institution and it’s amazing what they are doing for those girls.  That evening we went out to dinner in the middle of this beautiful square with the sponsor and her kids because she is super close with Karina.  She was hosting Beyah so we got to spend some time with him.  The whole evening was beautiful and calm and so much like what you would expect mexico to be like!

Saturday was our second show day and it was a hard one! We were outdoors with no coverage so we decided to do rehearsal in the morning to try and dodge some of the midday heat.  But that didn't stop all of us from sweating buckets.  I was still super proud of how hard everyone worked.

Sunday was a dream.  We went on a boat of our sponsors with a few other families and all the staff over to an island where we just hung out the whole day.  It felt like such an escape and I got to talk to so many people in the cast that I don't always get the chance to.  We even got to sit and watch the sunset on the boat in the middle of the ocean.  This week there were so many times that I was in awe of the beauty of the Earth and I felt extra blessed to be where I was (even if I was sweating more than I ever had).

All the Uppies who were on the boat and the island

Hanging on the boat

The breathtaking sunset.  This photo doesn't even do it justice

Lazy day 

We were the only students of the group so of course we had to take a photo

Host family!

Los Mochis, Mexico

This week was another great one in Mexico.  We went on a long hot bus ride to Los Mochis and I had two bus dates with Darlene our sound tech and we shared awesome music and then with Miguel to work on intern stuff.  When we arrived we had to say goodbye to Jordan (WA) and Carlos (Mex) because they are off to be PRIs in Europe.   I’m rooming with our Vocal instructor Diane from TX.  Our host family was great! We had 3 host sisters, Andrea (17), Dani (14) and Dana (8) and one little brother Jose augstine (4).  Our sisters and dad Jose all speak amazing English and our mom Pati understands a lot but doesn’t speak much.  Right away I could tell it was going to be a great week.  I love having host siblings close to my age.

Host Code: Disney! 

Dani, Dana, Pati, Andrea and Diane

Tuesday was an internal day that was great.  We started with a Q and A with the Business team which was good to learn new stuff about how and why things happened within the program.  After lunch we did a “save the world” workshop which was about that Earth was no longer habitable, so we had to create a spaceship for 100 humans to live on.  We had to decide what types of humans would be there and how the space ship would be laid out.  One of my favorite decisions is that we decided right off the bat that there was to be a myth passed around that if you were bad, you got shot out into space (but it wasn't true).  It was so easy to do and everyone in my group agreed and we had all our spaceship planned out.

Wednesday was a normal SA day and in the afternoon I was with Miguel and Erin while they held dance workshops and I sat and worked on my intern stuff.  That evening Diane and I went out to sushi with Andrea, our oldest host sister.  It was fun and her friends were nice, but it got hard when they would all start speaking Spanish to each other. One of Andrea's friend’s grandparents live in CO in Fort Collins which is the city neighboring mine which was really cool and we talked about that.  I really like Andrea, she’s totally a person I would have a friend myself.  She picked us up every night so we three would talk a lot and sing a lot in the car.

Sushi with new friends!

Thursday I was signed out with the staff all day and we went to Starbucks.  For the first 3 hours I sat with Miguel at what is called a planning session where they plan all the open time for the next 3 weeks.  It was mind blowing how much went into it and I walked out of it not being able to keep any of my weeks straight.  For the afternoon I was just doing computer work while Miguel and Erin worked on the Danish medley dance. In the afternoon three students did a workshop on Human Trafficking which was super interesting and full of important information for everyone to know.  Did you know that the Super Bowl is the day with the highest trafficking in the world?

Saturday was our show day in our first outdoor facility! It was a long, hot day.  I got to give my first show notes (notes for the cast to improve upon)  as well as watch the first half of rehearsal which was exciting.    The show went great and we had a pretty full audience, but after a lot of people, especially our band people, we going out like flies from heat exhaustion and dehydration.  For strike I was with costumes trying to teach them everything and they actually did okay and I was proud of them for how much they want to know.

Sunday we went to the beach, but first we took a little boat to a secluded place where we got to pet a wild dolphin! It was so cool to be so close to something natural.  Then we had amazing sea food right on the beach and then hung out in the water for a bit.  When we came home the 2 oldest girls and one friend and Diane and I hung out just talking about everything for quite a while.  This has been a fantastic family and I am not looking forward to leaving.

Getting ready to get on the boat

The dolphin Pechocho (precious) 

Meeting up with a bunch of uppies mean jumping photos! 

And sibling jump for joy as well!

I made it bigger so you could see I'm eating real octopus, suction cups and everything! And it even tasted good

The whole amazing family :)

Viva Mexico! Guaymas, Mexico

I just wanted to start by saying a huge thank you again to everyone who has supported me along the way!! It's now the half way point of my second semester and every moment has meant so much and a lot of it is because of all of you!

First week in Mexico! Travel day way crazy.  We left our show facility Sunday night straight to the airport where we slept/hung out on the floor from 12-3.  Michael and I watched more Game of Thrones instead of sleeping like everyone else.  Then it was time to start checking in.  Checking in half of the cast was such a hassle and took an unusually long amount of time.  The first plane ride most of us knocked out before we even left the ground at 5:15am.  We laid over in Phoenix for an hour or so where the temperature was already drastically different.  My flight buddies for the first were Miles and Cammie, both from CO and then for the second flight we sat on a super tiny plane where we filled up the whole plane, plus one random guy.  When we stepped off the plane in Mexico, it was obvious that we were no longer in Washington! It was about 95 degrees out and sunny.  We arrived to our location and were immediately taken to a new one where there was a beautiful Viva la Gente float that was meant for us for a parade we would be a part of.  So many of us hit our walls smack in the face that walking in a parade did not sound appealing, but once we saw our little guests that were kids dressed in international costumes from around the world we already began to perk up.  Half of us were on the float with the kids and the others were walking ahead waving flags.  I was in the walking group which turned out to be a ton of fun and my cheeks hurt from smiling so big! We ended on a pier where the mayor of the town and his wife had each of us introduce ourselves in Spanish and then gave each of us a white balloon (that I took and handled quite well!) and handed over a real dove to Kanami (Japan) as a symbol of something and we all released our (biodegradable) balloons.  Then we met our host families.  I am living with Veronika from Sweden who is our Business Manager.  Our host mom speaks zero to little English, but Veronika speaks Spanish fluently and I speak a little so that’s all we spoke for the week.  We went home to a giant house that could over look the sea.  Yes, we get to see the ocean! I am so excited about that!  I get the feeling that this is going to be a great first week.

hangin out in the airport

Our itty bitty last plane! 

Our amazing float for the parade! 

Just a few of the adorable kids! (guess where this is from)

Traditional dance costume of a tribe here in Northern Mexico

Tuesday was a fantastic day that didn’t even feel like a “work” day! The morning we got dropped off at cute kids park but it was more than a park.  We luckily had the day in an AC room where we rehearsed for the BTS tomorrow and then after we went to the beach! Well first for lunch we went to the local Rotary Club house where the Rotarians made us lunch and let us use their pool.  So many of them were American and when we would ask them why they chose to come down here, all they said was to look around and they were right.  The area we were in was breathtaking.  Then after a great lunch, we departed to the beach! It was overwhelming and beautiful and everyone was in such a relaxed happy state of mind that it made it even better.  I spent most of my time in the water because it was warm like a shower, but there was also a staff v. student volleyball game going on.  That evening our host mom Pati made a fantastic meal, but it was very light which was nice.  That was one big thing I remembered I didn’t like in Mexico was how rich the foods could be.

We had so much fun! 

The whole half of the cast! 

Just taking some more fun photos :) 

My awesome "Mushu" Josiah (OH) 

We were pretty sure we discovered paradise.  Only people on the beach :) 

 
Wednesday was a not so easy day.  The BTS was crazy because we didn’t get to practice on the stage and literally got there already dressed, preset our costumes and hopped on stage.  There were probably three or four hundred kids there and their screams were crazy.  I could see right away that the first semesters were taken aback by it but it was so fun to see them soaking it all up at the same time.  After we signed autographs and took many photos for probably 30 minutes.  It will probably never cease to amaze me that people want my autograph, but I can now understand that we might be the most culture or most famous people these kids ever meet.  After we changed into working clothes and went to a rehab center for drug abuse.    It was a serious eye opener and pretty shocking.  The grounds were in the middle of nowhere in the desert and the facilities were sad and very run down but it had such a great reason for being there.  There had been some students there all day interacting and those of us who came later got the great job of digging a 10 foot hole for their new septic tank.  We were surrounded by run off sewage and garbage and dogs.  The girls of our group had to transfer, I kid you not, millions of small seashells to the whole.  They apparently clean the waste that’s dumped onto them in the whole so that by the time it reaches the ocean it’s clean.  It was the hardest work I’ve ever done in UWP.  There were some girls who had volunteered their time to work with us and I spent a significant time with both of them working alongside with them.  Catch was they didn’t speak English so I was stretching my Spanish skills to a far as I could.  The second half of the cast got here today which was exciting and it felt good to be whole again.  That night I definitely went to bed exhausted! 

Friday we had a BTS in a town a little ways away that was very poor and full of indignious people.  All of them were so great as an audience and we found out that the event we were performing at was for people to get free check ups and some food and clothes.  In the afternoon we got to have a really fun home team meeting where we learned how to do water spit takes, did trust falls and attacked some other home teams and created a water fight.  Then we got to staff round tables! I was super happy about that because it gives us a chance to talk to the staff about anything.  At the end of the evening we got a super cool presentation of some traditional dances! 

Saturday was interesting.  As our first Mexican show, we added a new medley as well as emcee and the theme song Up with People became Viva la Gente for the next 6 weeks.  It was also my first full show day as an intern so me and Emelie (Swed) the vocal intern and Erin S the dance intern got to learn how show days work which are crazy! But a good crazy.  We even sold out our first Mexican show which was awesome! 

Sunday we went to our beach house with our Pati, our host dad Eduardo and sister Pati.  We spent pretty much the whole day just relaxing on the beach with another family that was hosting Paul (SD) and Thomas(Netherlands).  Then we all went out to dinner.  Luckily the 2 boys spoke Spanish! I’m excited to see what the rest of the Mexican tour brings, along with my internship that is quickly picking up speed!

Paul, host sister Pati, Veronika and Thomas

Host family

Host family at a lookout point

Seattle, Washington

For our second week in Washington we didn't really change environments and for Marie and I, we didn't even change host families! We are now actually based in Seattle for the week which was super cool because it means an extra week in such an awesome area.  On Monday since we really didn't have to travel anywhere we got to explore downtown Seattle in typical Seattle weather.  Packed in our big scarves and boots we armed ourselves for an adventure at Pikes Place Market.  I spent my afternoon with Jimi (MT) and Luis (Mex) wandering the 4 floors of crafts, clothes, food, flowers, antiques and so much more.  It is also where the famous throwing fish act is and that was fun to see as well.  There is also the 2nd largest gum wall in the world which was disgustingly impressive.
Tuesday we had a BTS for a school and in the evening Gwen, Marie and I went out to dinner with her daughter and great-grandson.  Her daughter is just like her and it was so much fun to get to know her as well.  Marie and I also had our own little adventure finding a Target to do some last-minute in state shopping.  Something I've learned on the road is how hard it is to get around without a car or google at our fingertips constantly.  

Yeah, that's all gum!

Wednesday was our last class presentation for the anti-bullying workshop.  I was with Bert (belg) and Leslie (AZ) and we had a great interactive class.  Then in the afternoon we had a BTS for all the kids in the middle school.   That afternoon for internal time we had a business workshop on how to handle presenting UWP.  I’ve found that after 6 months I’ve really refined my technique on presenting the program and really redeemed myself from last semester’s mock TV interview and got great feedback on that.  At dinner I ate with Miguel and this is the first time we’ve been able to really talk since I got my internship.  I got to ask him a bunch of questions and he asked me some as well.  I’m super excited to start that, in case I haven’t mentioned that enough yet!

Thursday was SA and in the evening we had a CI with host families and alumni and sponsors which was really great except that the site that I was at must have forgotten because there was no one there when we got there.  Luckily we were a very small group with only 2 host families, but it was still odd.  I got to finally meet the alumna Holly who I would live with for the weekend while my uncle Grant and aunt Gretchen come to visit. She was nice enough to drive us home when our site ended up not working out because Gwen was volunteering at a local youth group.  Did I not say how active this lady is?

Friday was a full internal day.  We did a great cast meeting about getting to know each other on a deeper level.  We had to wear blind folds and just sit in small groups and talk about deeper questions like what’s something you are really proud of or something you hide from people.  For lunch we had a potluck with some 50 guests that were either host families, alumni or sponsors.  After lunch we had a huge wrap up of our last 11 weeks here in the US by sharing stories.  I still don’t think people quite know what to expect when it comes to Mexico and you can tell that many people are nervous about it. That night I switched families to go to the alumna’s house, Holly.  She is crazy but I automatically felt like I’ve known her for a long time.  That night my Aunt and Uncle flew in so they came over to talk as well as another one of their cast mates, Jeff,  and his partner Kevin we spent probably 4 hours just talking by the fire about all their UWP adventures as well as mine and how it's changed and how it is still the same.  

Saturday was host family day.  We started off by me going to Zumba with my aunt and Jeff and Kevin.  It was weird because it was like hip hop zumba.  Then we went out to brunch where there was much more UWP talk.   Then we went back to Jeff and Kevin’s house where we just relaxed.   In the evening we went out to dinner where we met up with my cousins as well which I was super excited about! We have always been super close and I don't get to see them often because of the distance. The restaurant looked over the port and the huge Ferris wheel and had great seafood.  

Cousins! Jeanna, Janelle, Elise

The whole family (UWP and real)

Sunday was one of best shows in by far the most beautiful stage we've performed on.  But it was 3 floors of utter confusion and stairs so we all got a great work out.  It was my first real show as an intern and it was full! In the afternoon, my cousins came to rehearsal and the oldest one even interviewed! I was super excited about that because she was the one who we thought wouldn't want to do it.  The show was awesome, and I'm sure all the different alumni and family members in the audience really helped.  Michael J's (WI) mom traveled with Grant and Gretchen so they were all very excited to meet him as well.  That was something him and I have slowly bonded over (that and our Game of Thrones marathon on the bus ride over) 

87A with Michael and I

Holly! 

 Then we went straight from the facility to the airport to leave for Mexico! We slept on the airport floor until we were able to check in.  Off we go to Mexico!