Guadalajara, Mexico:  Mi tierra nueva!



                    This is a cookie from my first time on an airplane. It says Delta, the name of the airline.                                            This was my first trip, and therefore, my first time on an airplane.  This was a cookie from the plane.  The airline was Delta.                                                           



The flight was scary at first, but it was worth it after I saw the sky from my window.  I was almost positive that the sky was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen... then I saw the ocean in Puerto Vallarta!        
  This is a picture of the sky from my first time on an airplane.

                                                                                                                                       My name is Breanna.  I was very nervous about travelling to Mexico ( I have never left the United States), but when I met my host family and was immediately accepted, I knew I was going to love all of my experiences there.  This is me on the first Sunday I was there.  The scenery outside of my house was absolutely amazing!                                                                                                             This is me, Breanna, on the first day in Guadalajara. I was sitting on my host family's porch.
These are my host parents, Blanca and Luis. Their grandson, Alex, also lived with us, but I did not get any pictures of him.          These were my host parents, Blanca and Luis.  They were so sweet, and they really taught us quite a lot about Guadalajara.  Although I missed my own husband and family, they were great company!  Their grandson, Alex, was also an awesome guy... I just did not get any photos of him.  On the right is their puppy.  He made me think of my own little dog while I was in Mexico.                                                                                                  This is my host family's puppy.
                                                                                                 

My first handful of pesos and my bus ticket.
These were some of the first pesos I
received after riding a bus in
 Guadalajara...that experience was very scary!
This is the first day we all met at "Los Arcos," our meeting spot.
Every morning, the students would
have to take a bus from their house,
and meet at "Los Arcos."
It was a beautiful place to meet at!

This is one of the tiendas I saw on one of my recorridos.  During the recorridos, I
really enjoyed the stores that were
inside the buildings, yet open to the
street (like the example on the left);
that was pretty interesting.  One
of my favorite things about Mexico,
however, was the different churches I
visited during the recorridos
 (like the one on the right).		This is one of the buildings I saw on one of the recorridos.

This is my roommate in Guadalajara, Summer, attempting to be a mariachi singer.These are some of the brave students in my group breaking it down to the YMCA.
The first group activity was at Mexicanisimo...
Those were some fun and embarrassing times!		These are two of the members of our group also breakin it down to the YMCA, but on the sidelines.

This is a picture of our profes.This is a picture of Sara, Dan, and Teo at Manzanilla.This is a picture of our profes.

On our first weekend trip, we went to Mazamitla...
But first we took a pit stop in Manzanilla to relax after a long bus ride with Ricardo (he was great).
It was a beautiful place to take pictures and a break to eat some lunch.
This is our whole group of students on a slide in Manzanilla.This is Adam.This is our whole group in Manzanilla.





While in Mazamitla, some of us woke up early in order to ride horses to see the "Cascada."  I am so glad I did not miss out on that...thank you Guty!
My second time on a horse in Mexico and in my life!Some students willing to wake up and take a trip to see the waterfall.We dared to walk on the rocks to take a picture in front of the waterfall.We are falling...Not really.




While on one of the recorridos, Adam and I dared to run through the freezing cold water.  The teachers, Norma in particular,
told us it was part of a long tradition.  She said the number of times you run through it, are the number of times you will
return to Guadalajara.  We ran through it, while Amanda and Guicho watched.  It was cold, but it was worth it!!!
As part of a tradition, we were talked into to running through ice cold water...the number of times you run through, is the number of times you will return to Guadalajara. Adam and I ran in and out as quickly as possible.Adam and I ran back through the water very fast.Mission accomplished!




Puerto Vallarta was one of my favorite places in Mexico.  I really felt like I bonded with a lot of people here.
  I also saw the ocean for the first time here.  
I will never forget such a wonderful experience in all of my life!
There was actually a bar in the pool!!!A couple of us taking a picture on the beach in Puerto Vallarta.Volleyball in the pool.



My profes at the lighthouse.I got to spend a lot of time with the Profes as well, and I am glad.  Sara and Dan (to the left), are not only both Spanish professors, but also husband and wife.
 I was so glad that I got to experience this trip with such wonderful people and profes!  Thank you both.

 
I am also thankful to have met one of the Mexican maestros, Guty (on the right).  He is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
I feel honored to have met such a person, and delighted to have got to spend this trip with him and others!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP!		Guty, someone I will never forget...




I am pretty sure Sara, my profe, is very frightened by this baby giraffe.
I am pretty sure Sara thought that this giraffe at
the zoo was going to touch her...that is hilarious!		Guicho, my guide at the zoo, was feeding the monkeys...
I am glad I got to go to the
zoo with Guicho...he was
very funny (even though he does like Atlas)!






These two, Marce and Guty, were wonderful...Rosy was such a sweetheart!I will never forget my Fernie...
All of the teachers in Mexico
were very nice and trustworthy.
I really do feel honored to have
met them.  They were wonderful
tourguides and great friends.  I hope
to see them all again soon.
 I will miss them soooo much!!!
Vero, our singing teacher with her son at Chapala.I loved these teachers!!!






Recorridos with Dani, he was awesome.On the last day to go on tours, I
went with Daniel.  He was very funny.  
He took me to the Espiotorio (the most
beautiful church I have ever seen), as well
as, to pick my wedding bouquet, and to
eat tortas ahogadas.  Great memories
that I will never forget.  Thanks "player."		My favorite church, the espiotorio, that I visited with Dani...






                                                                       Almost all of the teachers on the last day of tours.

This is me, Breanna, at the final party...I like this outfit!    I really feel blessed to have gotten to experience all of these wonderful things in Mexico.  I believe this was a great group of students, teachers, and friends.  Thank you all so much for such a PERFECT trip...I will never forget any of you and I will take these experiences with me for the rest of my life.Back in the United States...Mexican Style!