Día Cuatro

Today was church and sleep and more sleep. Gratefully, the first Sunday of the month the English speaking missionaries combine for Sunday School and Relief Society so I at least understood that part of church. I did enjoy the testimonies in sacrament meeting. Though their words had no meaning for me, their voices invited a powerful spirit. What an amazing group of people!

Later in the evening, we went to family home evening with the senior missionary couples serving in the area office, mission office, and temple. I struggled physically. Finally, as we were walking home, I asked my dad to amuse me and check my ears. He smiled with a "okay but we probably won't find anything and you just need to rest to get better" look. Lo and behold! Double ear infection. My dad commented after that now he understood my grumpiness. I immediately started antibiotics and went to bed hoping for relief.

I love to see the temple

Día Tres

Today we visited Teotihuacan which is located about 45 minutes (with no traffic) from Mexico City. I mentioned earlier that I had a head cold before flying down here and today it seemed to grow worse. Additionally, my dad likes to take pictures (understatement of the year) and that mixed with the pounding in my head made for a not so happy me. At the beginning of the day I had a very pleasant look on my face. By the end, well...you'll see.

Lanes are more like guidelines here

The poor live on the hillside

Pyramid of the Sun

Pyramid of the Sun

At the very top of the Pyramid of the Sun

Pyramid of the Moon from the Pyramid of the Sun

Happy in the morning

Very contemplative moment, lots to ponder

Pyramid of the Sun; Avenue of the Dead

Me and Papa

Pyramid of the Moon; Pyramid of the Sun

Happy face

Remaining frescos inside the structures

Remaining frescos inside the structures

The missionaries

Día Dos

I woke up with very little energy. Plus I had to do a bit more work today. Yes I worked every day while in Mexico.

My work station in Mexico

Because of those two factors, we decided to do a bus tour of the city in hopes that I would have more energy for the pyramids the next day. To get to the metro, we had to take this micro bus that probably cost $0.10 per person. We'd hop on and off at no point in particular, just when we needed to. A few times home the bus was so crowded that I stood on the stairs with the bus doors wide open as we revved along the streets of Mexico. Then we took the metro which was about $0.50/person. Needless to say, everything was at a much lower price point in Mexico.

I enjoyed the bus tour as I got to see some cool things about the city, including a free art museum, and had a chance to rest. This city fascinated me. At times it was so stereotypical Mexican and at other times the pre-Aztec/Aztec/European influence dominated the landscape. Just fascinating. 

Ruins found in the middle of the metro

Very European

Very Mexican

Art Museum

Rodin Impersonation

Just made me laugh (history nerd humor)

Día Uno

Today we visited Chapultepec Castle (very European like), walked through the anthropology museum (artifacts from the many Mexican civilizations), and encountered a protest in the Zocalo (the city center). First impressions of the city: what a mix of European, ancient civilizations, and Tijuana. Not quite what I expected yet somehow exactly what I expected. Also, I love the view from parents' apartment.

Hiking up to Chapultepec Castle

Courtyards at Chapultepec

Just a bit of silliness

Resting while dad took missionary phone calls

Aztec Calendar at the anthropology museum

Protest at the city center

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Palacio de Bellas Artes

View from the parents' apartment

South of the Border

When my parents were called to serve an LDS mission in the Mexico City area, everyone asked me if I was going to visit them during Thanksgiving or Christmas or some other holiday. I politely responded, "I'm going to go visit them at no time in particular." That time ended up being the first of February when it was bitter cold in Utah. So off to Mexico City I went.

The flight was actually pretty hard for me. I had been suffering from a head cold and the changes in air pressure just exacerbated the situation. More on that later.

When I finally got off the airplane and through customs, I was exhausted. And then I saw my mom...

A New Beginning

2013 started off really, really well. I had a job interview in the Bay Area so I made a weekend trip out it. The people I interviewed with were great, but it was such a new, new, new startup and my current job was sucking the life out of me that I didn't want to take the job.

Two interesting lessons I learned through that job process were 1) I was worth more than I had thought and 2) I need to act when I know an answer. The first insight sounds obvious. But it wasn't to me. I had degraded my own worth because of failed relationships and lack of immediate success in a job transition that I had begun to doubt me. Where my current boss continued to stall requests for a raise or promotion or both, this company courted me. Offered me my asking price. Wanted me. I hadn't experienced that feeling in such a long time that it was a startling wake-up call to my current reality.

The second lesson reminded me that I often do know the right answer but it was all about having the courage to act. I kept debating if I should take the job or not, and I was studying conference talks that morning the words that kept jumping at me were courage and act. So I left my room and declined the job. I knew my answer. I had just lacked the courage to say no.

This month also captures two of my favorite events: the engagement of two of my new friends and the marriage of another dear friend. I was glad to be in California to celebrate the former and in Utah to celebrate the latter. At the end of the month, I needed an escape from the snowy, cold winter and headed to Mexico to visit my parents.

Dave and Kambria

Sherstin and Jay

Time for a warmer climate

My Favorite Time of Year

December has always captured my attention and imagination. My mind and heart get caught up in the ambiance of the Christmas season, and it doesn't help that in my family we have five birthdays in one week. With my parents gone, I wasn't sure if this December would live up to the hype my mind places on the month, but my aunt, friends, and family maintained the joy that comes from Christmas.

First, my dear friend Erin married the man of her dreams. They had a traditional Indian/Mormon wedding (is there such a thing?) and it was so fun to see my normally strong-willed friend tear up during the ceremony. But she looks incredibly happy and I felt honored to spend the day celebrating the nuptials.

Next, my aunt offered to host a birthday celebration. Neither of my two sisters and their families could make it that night, so it turned out to be an extended family celebration. My aunt makes the most delicious food and has stepped in as a mom figure for me while my mom served in Mexico. I'm glad I got to spend my birthday with family. After Erin's wedding, my aunt and I also put up her Christmas tree. I thought that was one traditional I wouldn't get do this year, and I ended up decorating three trees: two while in California and then my aunt's tree. 

A few days later I had a second birthday celebration with my family. I love all my nieces and nephews. They definitely are my kids too!

Christmas Day was wonderful. Family. Food. Hangouts. Silliness. Pictures do speak a thousand words.

Bon Jovi tickets

My little buddy

Setting up their new computers

Hanging Out

My friend Jon came to town that week and I spent a lot of time with him. On New Year's Eve we joined my sister and her family on a Park City ski trip. I didn't realize how tiny Brighton was until I skied Park City. Wow! All in all, December lived up to my memories of being the best time of year.