Riding in cars with boys

I woke up this morning and mi campañera and I went to see the Monday Market, which is really just tables of goods (clothes, shoes, appliances) that line the streets on Monday mornings. It was fun actually. We scoped-out some tennis and hats and that bought fruit for the week. We report to work around 8-8:30am and wouldn't have time to eat breakfast at home afterward so we stopped at the panaderia...Mmmm! 8am is a good time to be in the panaderia because everything is fresh and it smells delicious.

Back at the posada, the boys (what I call our collection of male co-workers) were waiting around. We sat and waited with them for a game plan- the usual chismes (jokes) being bounced around between them. I squished into the cab of the small pick-up truck we were taking to work that day with the other volunteer and one of the engineers. Two other boys were in the back with the tools (saws, hammers, etc.). A quick stop down the road to pick up our boss and I hopped in back with the boys. It was a lovely ride out to the country where we were to prepare a roof to be poured tomorrow (which reminds me: I need to go grab plates for our lunch tomorrow. The community is joining us).

We detached the wood frame from the roof of one of the houses that we poured last week and moved it to another. We put up support beams and insulation in preparation for the roof. And, fortunately I drive a standard (stick-shift) so I was elected to go out and bring back tacos for everyone. Of course, one of the boys went with me. And he started telling me about his car racing club and how there are many here in Tijuana and when and where they race, etc. And at the tacqueria while we were waiting he was still talking to me about it and said he would invite me to the next race. That would be fun.

At the worksite we had a long lunch with all sorts of debate about relationships, U.S. and Mexico stereotypes and other interesting topics. Thank God Monica is here so I have another girl to back me up! We finished prepping the house which we will pour tomorrow. I rode home, dozing in and out of sleep in the back of the truck with two of my coworkers (the boys). Then we spent about 2 hours talking and BS-ing with the five of us workers with our boss drinking beers here at the posada. It was actually pretty nice to just relax and talk to all of them like friends, without a big group, and without working. We were able to shared experiences and I am glad that I was able to share some of the reasons I came to Esperanza and what I hope to learn here with my boss.

My campañera and I ate dinner and chatted for awhile and now we are both going to bed. It was a good day. I still haven't started my paper that is due Friday....

Love,

aly