First Futbol Game! CHIVAS!

Last night we went to our first Latin American Futbal game! It was quite an experience. We saw the Guadalajara Chivas play the San Luis. There are 3 professional teams in Guadalajara, but the Chivas are THE team in the city. They play in a brand new stadium called Estadio Omnilife. It was actually built in preparation of the Pan American games coming here this fall. They say it is the most technologically advanced futbol stadium in Latin America. It is beautiful. It looks like a space ship from both the outside and the inside. The picture at the below shows how the stadium looks from the outside with the grass coming up the whole stadium. San Luis was not a very popular team so the place was only half full. It packs out when the teams from Mexico City or Monterrey come to town.

Below you can see the boys go their picture taken with the team mascot, a Chiva (goat). I think that was the highlight for them. We had nose bleed seats, but I think they were the best as you could really follow the whole game. This poorly done sideways picture is the "Purro". This is the specially designated cheering group for each team. You pay extra to be part of the "Purro" kind of like a season ticket holder. This is the group that we often see at futbol games on TV. They stand the whole game chanting, beating drums, and generally yelling obscene things at the other team I'm told. We have not learned those words! Regretfully, the game ended in a 1-1 tie. David declared that he hates ties more then anything in the world!

I apologize for the crooked pictures. Blogger is driving me crazy tonight!

Foods That Never Should Have Come to Mexico

I have decided to start a set of regular posts dedicated to foods that should have never been introduced to the Mexican mainland. Part 1 Sushi!

What I had in mind for there posts is not food that is inedible, but food that when tasted by someone who knows what the food should taste like cringes in horror. Kind of like this mental Italian mamma I have in my head who cringes everytime I make boxed spaghetti then pour jarred Ragu marina sauce with meatballs on it and think I'm eating real spaghetti! That's what I have in mind. With this being said, there are a lot of Mexican foods I love that should have never been introduced into the States. We have a lot of Mexican mommas cringing!



With that being said, Mexico should have never been given rights to Sushi. In fact, I hope the next trade pact between Japan and Mexico involves the sending of real sushi chefs. Now, they do use rice and generally it is in a roll form, they even serve it with Soy sauce that has a bottle that makes it look like there was a remote chance an Asian approved of this sauce before sending it out. Other then that, the big Asian mamma is cringing!



First, with the exception of one upscale Sushi house I went to here, they never serve it with Wasabi. Real sushi needs Wasabi or at least the fake green Wasabi we get in the states. Here I often get chopped Jalapenos in Soy Sauce. Yet it is spicy, but it's not the same. Kind of like Tang and Sunny D are both orange drinks but they are not the same!



Secondly, sushi should generally not have "queso" cheese in it. Now maybe some of you in the states like your Philadelphia rolls, but the rest of us luckily can enjoy the other 95 percent of rolls that are made like they are supposed to! Come on has anyone ever seen cheese at a real Sushi House! Here every roll is made with cream cheese. Yesterday I orderd a roll for myself that said was topped shrimp with standard vegies in the middle. It failed to tell me that under the shrimp was a large chunk of cream cheese. I ordered Edan a fried chicken roll (I thought he would eat it) with avocado and you guessed it, big chunk of cream cheese. All rolls here have cream cheese, it should not be, do you hear me, IT SHOULD NOT BE!



Finally, Sushi should not be made with Uncle Ben's rice. There is specific rice for Sushi, I don't know the name, but they don't use it here (At least I haven't found it yet). Rolling Uncle Ben's is not a substitute.



Next Week Nacho Doritos!

Rediscovering Scripture Meditation

One of my personal goals in coming here was rebuilding my prayer life, Scripture memory, and meditation. I have to say with shame that I had allowed the busyness of my life, "demands" of my job, and general bleakness of my Spirit to let those things move to a less important part of my life over the last couple of years. Much of God's direction in leading me here, I believed, was to rediscover Him afresh. He has not dissapointed.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have again begun to understand the treasures and beauty of spending time meditating on the Truth of the Bible that I had long forgotten. About a month, after we arrived here, I told Joy "I feel God leading me to memorize 1 Timothy". This was probably in September. Two weeks ago I started this journey (quite obedient). I have paired this time with my daily long walks through Guadalajara and the surrounding Colonias. I had forgotten what I had been missing for too long. These truly have become the most anticipated and gratifying times of my day the last two weeks. I will often find myself walking for over an hour just lost in thought and truth of God's written Word.

With this being said, I realized today that I need to start recording these fresh truths and glorious times. Like all times, here and today will eventually fade away, as will my peaceful walk through Guadalajara, but Scripture truths learned will endure forever. I am going to star a little side blog on our blog here called "Walking with Timothy". It for the most part will just be a rambling of truth and thoughts that God has brought me to on the daily Scripture. Changes he is brining about in me personally. I am keeping it seperately from the blog so you don't have to be overwhelmed with it daily if you choose not to. For those of you interested, I would love your feedback, how these daily verses have impacted your life over time, or "fellow walkers" with Timothy.

Farm Fresh Junk Food

 In the United States, I would often hear of the fresh movement or organic movement where many strived to eat as much natural local grown food as possible. Here in Guadalajara there is not need for such a movement, everything is genrerally local and fresh. Of course, you can go to Walmart or another big box grocery store and buy apples from Washington, Bannanas from Nicaragua or beef from Argentina, but if you walk down the street you can also buy all of those items that literally have been grown within 25 miles of where we live.

The local market thrives here in every colonia (suberb) of Guadalajara. As new comers in the fall, we were often scared to avail ourselves of the delights of the local butcher or market vendor, but as we have been here longer we make less trips to the box stores and spend more time shopping daily and enjoying "fresh food". Of course, most of this fresh food is the "same" foods we buy at the box stores only sitting in crates in a local open air market, on the side of the street or cut freshly at a store front butcher. I bought a bag of the avocados to the right today. 

Today I got a real "farm fresh" treat. I fall into the small group of devoted fans who love the pork rind or as it is called here "Chicharron de Cerdo". Normally, I have always bought these pre packaged off the shelves of my local corner store, today I got special introduction to the pork rind. As I was walking today, I walked past one of our local butchers and outside he had just started a large vat (looked like a giant wok) of boiling oil (above). I stopped to watch and a I did he brought out a large bin of freshly butchered pig skin (small fact, it looks much better after it is fried!). He dumped it into the oil and let it fry. As he pulled it out, I could not resist but ask for a "bolsa chica" small bag. As he put them into the bag they were still crackling from the oil. I began popping them into my mouth and they were both wonderful and scary at the same time. They had a familiar flavor with a stronger pork taste. For the most part, it was truly a bag of "farm fresh" fried junk food. But as you find with truly fresh food, every once in a while you get a rind that exposes a little to much of the pig's flavor.

For the most part, I have tried to spare this blog the updates of my excursions into local cuisine (3 weeks ago I had pickled pig's feet for the first time), but this was to tasty an experience to pass up!

Living Through (Or Should I Say Walking) Contradiction

As the New Year dawned, I like half the Western world felt an increased verve to lose weight. I also made this decision because of constant back pain and knowing that weight loss could greatly help my back. One thing, I decided to bring with me was a pedometer (Step Counter). Because of pain, I can't run much or play many sports, so steps would be my exercise of choice. This is where much of this started.

Because Guadalajara has the world's best weather (Google the question if you don't believe me), every day is beautiful. I knew I needed to take advantage of this so I have focused on trying to walk everywhere. The more I walk, the more I see. One thing that I have begun to see daily ( I saw it before, but only sporadically) was the poor of Mexico picking through my trash bags every morning. I knew this was happening, but not until I began to see it everyday, and not just at my house but everywhere I walked did it really strike me. Not only did I see it daily, but I began to see what they were recovering from my trash. I briefly addressed this in my last post, but it has impacted me to an even greater level recently.

So I have been challenged by a somewhat Spiritual contradiction. I need to lose weight because of my inability to avoid the abundance of my cupboards. They also find importance in the abundance of my cupboards. Not to overindulge, but to survive daily. At moments I feel blessed, and honestly a somewhat comical thought comes to mind "Maybe I should eat half of everything so they always find enough". But then a sadness comes to mind because I have the ability to have that thought and they don't. God has a great deal to say about Christian charity to the poor in Scripture. The Bible is overflowing with the directives. What more should these directives lead me to do daily?

New Year's Perspective

This morning as I was walking from school to my house I saw three different individuals with wheelbarrows or carts going from house to house collecting whatever they could from the garbage cans on the street. While most were from a distance, I did end up walking by one woman who was pulling out a peice of what looked like half eaten "Rosca de Reyes" (See previous post) to take with her. The sight of it broke my heart and honestly sickened my stomach.

It is in these moments that you really are struck with a sense of perspective in life. Frivolous thoughts that fill our lives and time become embarrassments. For most of us reading this, even worries over money became foolish at best. We realize that the meaning of the words "just getting by" take on very different meanings for us then they do for other people. I personally begin to wonder how my abundance can support their lack of. I don't always now the answer to that question, but I know it is a question worth continuing to ask.

Maybe it's worth a resolution.

Feliz Dia de Reyes!

Happy Day of the Kings! 

Another great Mexican tradition.  One I wish I would have had growing up because I like it a lot better.  This is the day the wisemen come to bring Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (see foot note A.) 

In Northern and Southern Mexico many open presents on this day instead of Christmas.  The wisemen come to bring children gifts.  They fill up the kids shoes that were left outside the door the night before.  Sometimes the children will also get a new pair of shoes in exchange for their old. 

In the area that we are living most people do not open presents on January 6th.  They have adopted the tradition of Santa Clause and open presents on the 24th or 25th.  But they do buy or bake the Rosca de Reyes and eat it.  The King's ring is a Mexican Bread with candied peppers and cherries cooked on top.  But the fun part is a little toddler Jesus doll is cooked into the bread.  Each family member cuts a piece of bread to see if they get the little doll in their piece.  The lucky person is suppose to then invite everyone over for Tamales later.  Joelle was our lucky winner.  Her piece had the little doll. 

Joelle and Edan dressed up as Kings this morning.  Well...that is when they weren't a doctor, a princess, or a super hero! 

Note A.  Frankincense and myrrh are both sap from trees. Frankincense was used for making incense and myrrh was also used for spices and medicinal purposes.   Myrrh was one of the most valuable spices in the day of Jesus. Zondervan's Pictorial Bible Dictionary

Goals

We have had family this week so I haven't had much time to post.  It's been good running them around and showing them Mexico. 

Tonight I have been reading some of my friends blogs and many of them have put up New Year resolutions.  I never give much thought to New Year resulotions.  I like the fact that each day if I mess up I can start over not having to wait for the next year.  Therefore I can make a resolution any time or day of the year.  I like the verse Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  (English Standard Version) It's nice to know that no matter how many times I mess up God is always faithful to love me and show me undeserved mercy.

That being said it probably is good to set goals for yourself.  Last year my goal was to finish my degree after a dozen years and three babies later I can now say I have my degree.  There is also something to telling someone your goals.  At least for me it pushes me to that next level.  I'm much more likely to succeed and accomplish it if I know I've told several other people what I want to accomplish.  I don't want them to know I'm a big failure.  So here are my two goals for 2011. 

1. Learn Spanish
2. Make the MOST of my opportunities here in Mexico, including learning from those around me. 


Those are pretty big goals so I better leave it at that. 

Different

Things have been extreemly different for Christmas, just as it was for Thanksgiving.  It really doesn't feel like it has actually happened.  Even though I finally found some Christmas lights for the tree after searching who knows how many stores(Also on December 28th).  They were made in such a way that you can't really hook them together and you have to plug them in seperately, but we now have lights for our tree.  Now that Christmas is "over". 

It's hard to imagine it's Christmas here.  There's no snow on the ground.  Very few Christmas lights up except at the Catholic Church.  A few decorations here and there.  Even some really big nativity scenes, but it's missing something big, family!  It's ironic a few years ago the holidays made me so stressed out.  It was so crazy packing up the kids and we always seemed to have a baby that always got off his/her sleeping schedual.  It wasn't easy driving several hours with the little guys.  They didn't last very long in the car.  There was one Christmas when I had a baby, 2 year old and 3 year old, I didn't want to go anywhere I wanted to stay home and have Christmas with only my immediate family. 

How different it is this year.  I want so desperately to be home with all my extended family.  It's not like all of it has been bad, just really hard to change and get use too the differences.  We even skyped my family to open up a few presents on Christmas Eve.  We managed to keep busy.  Went to a couple friends houses and had people over.  We've had fun.  We've enjoyed the break from school, but it's not the same. 

There is some excitement brewing today though.  The calvary is coming tomorrow!  We really are looking forward to an exciting week with Brian's parents and sister.  Then maybe it will feel a little more like Christmas.

Posada and Piñatas

One of the Mexican traditions Edan, Joelle and I (Joy) recently got to observe is Posada.  (David and Brian were sick)  One of the things I love about Mexico is their holidays like Easter and Christmas are still strongly rooted in the traditional Bible story.  Posada is where a neighborhood will act out Mary and Joseph needing room in the inn before Jesus is born.  You are suppose to knock at different neighbors houses that are participating and they tell you there is no room.  Then the final house that hosts the party lets you come in, but you sing a little song first about it.  Some get even more catholic and say prayers to Mary, but our coto did not.  It was a great way to start thinking about the Christmas holiday.  There was only one thing I would change, I would tweek the song, but it would definately be something that would be fun to do if we ever go back to the USA.  Afterwards you have tamales and of course you have to have a piñata. 

Our coto has parties at what they call a "terraza" our equivalent word is terrace.  It's a large outdoor covered patio, usually has a sink area and a bathroom.  It is very common here, especially since the weather is great year round.  Since we had it at the terraza two groups split one inside the terraza and one outside and they only did the asking once. 

Also I was taught the original story of the piñata coming to Mexico.  When the Catholic Priests came over from Spain they wanted to bring with them a way to convert the Native Americans here in Mexico.  I was told Saint Francis was given the credit for this.  (I tried to look it up, but couldn't find anything to back up which Saint Francis it was.)  The priests used the piñata as an illustration.  The circle part of the piñata was to represent heaven.  Then there were 7 cones sticking out of heaven representing the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, pride, and anger).  A person in his life is to take the stick and through his life try to beat off the deadliest sins.  If he is successful enough the rewards of heaven will break open and be his.  This obviously has been very successful in Mexico seeing the majority of Mexicans are Catholic and have a very similar theology.  

 

I would like to make a note: On my own there is no way I would ever be able to get the rewards of heaven. I could fight all I want, but all I really would be is what is left of the piñata.  You know, the ugly beaten up, falling apart pieces.  Romans 3:20 "No one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."  James 2:10 says I'm guilty of breaking the law.  Not only did I break God's law, but I was enslaved by sin according to Titus 3:3-8 and Ephesians 2:1-10.  But that's when God's mercy reached down to me.  I didn't have to fight off my sins to reach God because I couldn't. I would never had been good enough.  It's not through me it's through Jesus.  In John 14:6 Jesus says he is the only way.  The only way the pinata illustration would work for me is if the stick were a cross and the idea is that it pierced heaven open bringing gifts to men.  The fight was the perfect sacrifice, the laying down of a life to bring me to God.  He was born to die and I need to step out of the way and just trust in Jesus to save me because I sure can't do it on my own.