It's gonna be a good day, just wait and see...

So, for anyone still reading...first things first....Acapulco. Friday I had a great day. Amelia and I talked all morning. I helped her make some kind of meat dish with green tomatoes and chilis and it was so delicious. The family didn't come home for lunch because they got invited to a birthday party so I was able to leave a little early for the bus. It ended up being good that it worked out this way, since I didn't get the bus until the next hour and who knows what it would have been like if I had left any later.
The bus ride was long, especially since I was looking forward to getting to the other end. However, the country is beautiful. There were plenty of mountains and little towns to look at in between Cuernavaca and Acapulco. The one thing I find completely strange about the buses in Mexico is that you can ask to get off anywhere, as long as you have paid to the stop past it. The bus will just pull off at the side of the road and drop people off. Also sometimes they stop at the side of the road in the middle of no where and a man gets on with a clipboard. The door closes and the man goes up and down the bus as the bus takes off. He looks at the seats and at the clipboard, and a little while later the bus stops again and the man gets off. Strange. Really, it's how it happens.
So finally I got to the bus station. I had to pee and didn't want to go on the bus cause I knew we were probably close. So I was like dying to get my luggage and get woff. I peed and then found my way to a taxi. It happened that their hotel was on the complete opposite end of the town, about a half an hour drive. I talked to the cab driver and he told me about the town and what was good to see. The hotel was in a quieter area, which was nice, and was very beautiful. Well the pool was beautiful, the hotel was unimmpressive, but the rooms were nice.
It was great to see my friends. We spoke English, fast. I never realized how fast we speak. I also was able for the first time to speak to people without having to censor what I was saying...not in the matters of curse words or anything, solely the fact I could say whatever I wanted about whatever without anyone getting mad. It was glorious.
The first night we went over to another hotel in the Mayan complex and met up with some guys they had befriended during the week. After pregaming a bit in their hotel room, we headed out to Paladium, a discoteque that the taxi driver had actually recommended. It was a lot of fun. Open bar, lots of people, lots of dancing. They even had this weird guy painted silver with a feather headdress the color of the Mexican flag come out and dance to a very inappropriate lyriqued techno song. We had a lot of fun and headed in at like 3 or so.
Saturday we all were up by about 11. Melissa, RJ and I went to the market across the street and got some food to eat. Then Melissa and I went to the fort that is in Acapulco from the Spanish. She wanted to see some historic things, which hadn't been anyone's focus as they all have real jobs, so I was happy to go. It was a nice museum and had some interesting things to say. It was also very nicely laid out and had some cool things I had never seen before. There was also a great view from the roof, of course, because it was used as a fort.
After the fort we hung out at the hotel for the afternoon. At 5ish we started getting ready for dinner and we hit the buffet at the other hotel. It was a bit expensive, although the food was ALMOST worth it. I ended up mostly spending all my pesos in Acapulco, except for the few I exchanged with Melissa for some USD.
Anyway, we missed the sunset on the beach we had wanted to see, but we did get some nice after dark pictures. And then we went back and changed and went to some club that I can't remember the name of. The music there was a lot better than the first night. There were a lot of people and an open bar, although when we got there we weren't sure about the people part so we sent in a scout to find out (a guy from not our friends so none of us would have to pay). I started a dance party on the platform . No one was there but the crazy people the club hired to dance like the Mexican NSYNC. (This part wouldn't really be that important, but it comes into play later, the me starting the dance party, not the Mexican NSYNC).
We got back to the hotel at like 4 something and went to the beach to say goodbye to the ocean. My friends left at 5:30 to go to the airport and as the door closed behind them I got sad for a minute realizing I was again alone and if I wanted to do anything Sunday it would be solo. But the sadness got overridden by my need to sleep. I had to wake up at 10 and I hadn't felt like calling the wake up call so I had an alarm I wasn't sure would work and kept waking up. I got up at 9:30, took a shower and checked out of the hotel. I walked across the street towards the taxis still unsure what I was going to do that day and when the taxi driver asked if I wanted a taxi I just asked him where was good in Acapulco to see. I ended up negotiating a tour with him for $18 an hour, a little expensive, but it was a great way to see things.
First we went to the Capilla de la Paz (Chapel of the Peace). It was built by a rich couple whose sons had died in a plane crash. It was a beautiful spot and had a beautiful view. The mass was going on so we couldn't go inside, but I've seen the insides of churches. We stopped at a lot of places with great views. One was a hotel called Hotel Flamingos where many famous people have stayed. I recognized Sybil Sheperd, John Wayne and Roy Rogers. It was a nice little place and there were many other hotels in the area with equally nice views, but they are losing business because most people want to be on the beach front.
He also stopped so I could see the murals done by Diego Rivera and some other interesting things. We went to a market where I spent the rest of my money. I found some great little things I hadn't seen anywhere else. I also had a great time talking to him about himself and Acapulco and got to practice my Spanish a lot.
Last we went to see the divers of Quedabra. It was really cool. There are little kids there who are learning to dive and then the older ones who jump from the top. While I was watching on the platform some guy who had grown up in San Diego started talking to me. He is now traveling throughout Mexico as a construction worker on Mayan Hotel buildings. Apparently he's also in some trouble with the US law, though I didn't ask what it was.
I left Acapulco at 3:25 or something and was excited to be getting back to routine and all. I didn't get as warm a welcome as I thought, but it was ok, the kids and I played and I went to bed early. I knew I had to talk to Nadine about stuff, but I didn't want to ruin my trip feeling so I waited until yesterday.
And now for the next part of the story. For those still reading I know I have talked some about a problem I had with Juan Carlos. Basically, he told me he didn't trust me with the children. Most of it was because of one incident with Louis where I grabbed him too hard and he got a scratch.
So I decided to talk to Nadine about it to make myself heard a little. I apologized for things I felt were my fault and asked for further guidance on some things. I feel like she turned a lot of things into my problem and mostly a problem of my character. There were many little things we don't seem to agree on, but we talked it out and I felt a bit better. I felt at least I could try to do things right and make some changes and everything would start to run smoother.
I was just praying yesterday went perfect and I could prove to her that I had listened and heard what she said and was going to try and make it work. Everything was going great until Clemence hit her head. I had everything under control and Clemence had almost stopped crying when Nadine came flying down the stairs yelling, "What happened?" I explained and then Juan Carlos came down, yelling as well. I couldn't say anything in Spanish after the accusing look he gave me and (have to admit) lost it and yelled that Clemence had lunged for some candy and I purposely had her slam her head into the chair. Not my finest moment, but sometimes you just lose it, especially when you are under pressure already. Everything ended up ok, but I went to bed tired and a little defeated.
Today I woke up iwth a positive attitude. I made a pasta salad for lunch, which is something new (I apparently wasn't trying hard enough with the cooking). I was a little annoyed when Nadine came down and saw me cooking and said, "Oh, you're cooking," in that tone of voice that you use when someone hasn't ever really done something and then just decided to do. I wonder what I've been doing all the other days they ate. Apparently it was magically showing up from somewhere. Ok, end bitterness. I ignored it and just politely said yes. They ended up liking it and I felt much better that they actually seemed to appreciate something I did.
Sometimes I feel maybe I do things they don't see, because I just do them and decide not to flaunt it to anyone. But if she wants more effort I will do what I have to to make this work.
However, today was good and made me feel much better. The kids have really started speaking in English. Clemence can form fully formed grammatical sentences. It's really cool to hear and know that I taught them that.
I have a job when I get back to the states. Sorry for all of those who have been waiting for me to come home, but I will only be home a few days again before I head to Lake George to watch Hannah and Rachel. I am excited to see them again and to go to Lake George. Their house sounds very nice and Janice is very excited (she hasn't told the kids yet just in case something happens). So you better start filling up my week home (or maybe few days) before I get there or you get no time.

AMANDA- if you read this I need you to help me pack. Cause you know I'd get nothing done without you.

Sorry for the insanely long post, I just had an insanely lot to say. I have left out a lot of the stresses and things because I feel it is too long and boring to read, but I feel it is unfair to only show the happy times...

Jenn