Y Soy Rebelde...Cuando No Sigo Los De Mas..

Not really, but that song has been in my head since I left Mexico last week. Overall things have been alright. Not amazing. Not too terribly sucky...but alright. The last time I wrote we had just BEAT THE HELL OUTTA TEXAS in Basketball. That was all great and everything, until the next day when things took a turn for the worse. Some of my fish buddies got caught 'pulling out' privileges that fish don't have and talking bad about the upperclassmen so things got really bad, really fast. We weren't allowed to leave the dorm except for class, we weren't allowed to use our computers, the upperclassmen trashed our rooms, and crap like that. A lot of other stuff happened, and during this 4 day period I got really down. It sucked so bad. They would go into our rooms, yelling at us, and then they would dump out our drawers onto the floor. Mind you, I don't live like a normal college student. My life is strictly military regulated. I guess in a way we kind of had it coming, but still. It sucked more than I can ever express in writing. It was over a lot sooner than I expected. On the 4th I met one of my scholarship donors at a reception. His name is Mike Dillingham, and he is a very cool guy. He is a WWII vet and A&M class of 1935. We spent a few minutes talking, and he was actually a guest speaker at the reception. It was really awesome to get to meet one of the persons who is helping fund my education. It makes trying harder, easier...if that makes sense. Then we had our last week until SPRING BREAK. It went by really quick, and I was home Thursday afternoon. Friday morning I went up to Paradise HS, and spoke to the band about the Aggie Band. No one was really interested except for one kid, but everyone thought the band was pretty cool, just crazy, which is true. I went and saw some of my old teachers and stuff in my uniform, and they were all excited and a lot of them told me I had gotten really skinny. I've gained 5 pounds since I started school!! I wasn't fat in high school.....damn. It was good to see everybody, cause its been a while. I hope to go back once after school ends here, which is only another 52 days, counting today. On the Saturday beginning spring break, I went to Azle High School to volunteer for the Math-Science meet there. Math-Science was something I was very avid about back in the day. I helped out the kids I used to teach last year, and I helped in the grading room, where I got to meet a lot of amazing educators. I really think I want to do something in education. I have always liked doing stuff with kids, and teaching just seems to be my thing. I could get my teaching certificate and everything else as planned, then go to Grad School to get my Master's in Education Administration, so I could be a principal or something. One of the teachers I talked to said that a lot of schools, especially in the Metroplex, are wanting an administration that is proportional (race wise) to the student body. The schools are paying for these educators (Hispanic men and women) to get their Masters. I could be a principal of a school in less than 10 years if I want. I just think thats amazing. And maybe law school will fall into place. Everything happens for a reason, so I'm gonna keep an open mind and run with whatever I think fits. Well, anyway...Saturday night we left for Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico to visit my Grandma's sister, Esperanza, and her family. I was hesitant on going mainly because I had a lot of homework to do, and I wanted to get some work in at the Grill for some extra cash. Well I went, and it was fun. I met a lot of my Dad's side of the family whom I had either never met before or not seen for over 15 years. There were three particular parts of the vacation that stand out to me. The first was the party everyone threw for my Grandma. My Grandma's birthday is in April, but they wanted to celebrate it a month early so she could be with her sister. It was fun, and sitting in the kitchen, as I recorded everyone and ate my tres leches cake, I was so happy that I went to Mexico. The untiy between Mexican families amazes me. There were about twenty of us sitting there in a small living room of a two bedroom house. There were not enough chairs, but everyone was having so much fun, and enjoyed seeing each other. I grew up in a white town, and used to be so ashamed that I had a big family, or other things about being Mexican and even being Catholic. I can tell I am growing up and I am having new experiences that allow me to open my eyes up a bit and see how wonderful the Mexican culture is. Everyone is so close knit. The day after the party we went to 'el Centro' which is the center of Juarez where there a shops, and street vendors selling their stuff. It was fun, yet depressing at the same time. There is a lot to see, a lot to buy, and very cheap prices. It's just that there are so many poor people who are on the street begging for money. Little girls will come up to you in the little they have to wear, with their hand out in front of them, wordlessly asking for some change. It is so hard to say no, but the Mexican government doesn't want tourists giving kids money, because this keeps them out of school. It was sad. I don't know if this is cool or not, but you can find a bunch of DVD's that haven't even come out yet here in the States. Of course, they are pirated, many of them copied from actual DVD's, some of them copies of the actual theatrical showing. Yea, we bought a few. The prices ranged from $2-4. I bought some CD's too, including both RBD CD's. RBD are the people who sing the song 'Rebelde' (the song I quoted in my title). They are a pretty cool group and sing Rock/Pop en Español. It is a huge fad in Mexico. RBD stuff is everywhere. Also while in the Centro we went and visited the Cathedral's. As we went inside I looked around and saw all the people praying. There were homeless people in there and then other ladies who were just there praying for hope, luck, money, who knows. They were just there giving one more chance at something that they needed in their lives. During that time I took a look at my own life and realize how much I have. No we may not live in the best, biggest house, no I don't drive a 2006 Mustang, no my uncle doesn't have the best paying job, but I have a big family who loves me and who is so proud of what I am doing. Along with that I have clothes and some of the best friends anyone could ask for. I get fed three times a day, I have a roof over my head, and I am getting an education and one of the top universities in the nation. (WHOOP!!) What more could I ask for, right? Well the same things those people in the church were asking for, except, truth be told, they need it a lot more than I do. All I really need is guidance and discipline to do the right thing with the riches I already have. I also read this really cool Lenten quote inside the Cathedral, but I forgot it now. Speaking of Lent, for those of my Catholic friends who think it it is okay to eat chicken on Friday's, I looked it up:

Q: Are chicken and fish considered meat?

A: Chicken yes, fish no. The Catholic Church's abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cattle or pigs-all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Fish are a different category of animal.

See!! I knew my priest knew what he was talking about! Well anyway...I was just doing some reading about Lent, and why we do it and stuff, and it is really informational. The website is americancatholic.org. I suggest it if you have questions about the religion as I do. Anyway...Juarez....I also got to see one of my mom's sisters (my aunt), who lives there now. She has a store, and some really nice kids. Well, we left Juarez on Friday night, got back home Saturday, and I came back to A&M on Sunday. So far this week has been alright. Nothing too bad, yet, but I know its coming. I am not going to Costa Rica anymore, officially. I am doing Relay for Life with the Corps here at A&M. It is A&M's first year to have it so it should be pretty exciting. I have a debate today (woohoo) and a Calculus test on Friday (sssssssss). Campaigning is going on right now for offices...I'm not running, but for all you Aggies wondering who to vote for for SBP, PIC NIC!! He's a pretty cool guy. Parents Weekend is three weekends away....Big Event is this weekend....Easter is four weekends away...Aggie Muster is five weekends away....March to the Brazos is six weekends away......and FINAL REVIEW is eight weekends away!!!! Only 52 more days, trying to tak it one day at a time. Well I guess thats all for now. I had a lot to write about, but that pretty much sums up my thoughts and all that is going on right now. Not much really, just getting ready for the end of my first year.

We Just BTHO tu!!!!

Word just in....Aggie Men's Basketball just BEAT THE HELL OUTTA Texas!!! WhOOOP!!!

Snow, Sunshine, Elimination, and the Talking Deer

Eight more days until spring break. I am very excited. I am leaving College Statio for Paradise next Thursday. No big plans yet. I may see if they need me to work or what not. I am also planning to get some x rays done on my knees. Something is going on, and they hurt like crazy. Today is Ash Wednesday. I went to the 7 AM mass this morning and got my ashes. This Lent I am giving up all drinks except for water. That includes juice, coffee, tea, etc. It'll be tough, but I can do it...I'm Mexican, member? You member....haha. Well I got to go home the weekend before last. It was good to see everybody. I suprised my family and stuff. I was supposed to come back to school on Sunday, but the weather got really bad, and it snowed a little bit, so I stayed an extra night. I came back Monday, and it was immediately back to the Corps life, and studying like crazy for midterms. I still have two left next week :( I got eliminated for the lead sophomore position. I kind of expected it though. It'll be okay, and now I can focus my attention on other things. I took another PT test, and my run improved a little bit. I am almost down to a 9 minute mile and a half. That pretty good for someone with short legs like me. Today, the weather was beautiful. It was around 80 degrees; perfect weather for shorts and flip flops. Luckily, I got to wear my uniform :.. Monday we had fish interviews. What happened is that we got into uniform, and went down to a lounge for "an academic meeting." Yea right. They called two fish at a time to go back into the dorms and have their interview. This interview consisted of you and your buddy going down a dark hallway while the sophomores yell at you. You do pushups and bear crawls, (in uniform), until you get to room 309. You go in, and its a room covered in trash bags with two chairs, a plastic deer mount, and a computer screen playing very disturbing images, Well we sit in the chairs as the sophomores yell at you, and spray water on you, and as one of them dances around you, practically giving you a lap dance, in his white briefs. Well while all this is going on the deer mount asks you off the wall questions that you have to answer. It was very crazy, and scary at first, but after it was over we were all laughing. Yea it could be considered hazing, but I can't wait to do it next year. I got a 93 on my sociology mid term WHOOOP! Off topic, but oh well. We're playing a huge prank on our commander so I'll write later on how that goes. Until next time, Gig 'Em!!