Home time :(

I'm a bit sad to be leaving. It's been fantastic - the volcano, the fieldwork, the weather (although it hasn't stopped raining for the past 2 days - you'd think it was snowing the way everyone's so wrapped up!), Carlos' family. We were sat at breakfast this morning eating a traditional Mexican breakfast which Mini wanted to introduce me to. It's scrambled eggs with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and tortillas ripped into small pieces - a bit much for breakfast, but I ate it and it was nice. She sat down and said "Mum can make this a lot better than I can" and Carlos replied "Yes, definitely"!!!

I can't believe it's time to go home. It's flown by! And there are still a million things I want to do!

I went to Mini's parents house as usual for lunch today and was given so many presents, and asked if I could take Mini's dad away with me!!! Mini's middle sister, Margarita, is an art teacher. One of her ex-students, Hector Miguel, is incredibly talented and now sells his paintings, and teaches classes of his own. He showed me his painting the other day. They're really beautiful, abstract paintings. He turned up at lunch today and gave me 2 drawings and which he signed and personalised for me.

I don't even know how to begin to thank them for all they've done and given me.

To wrap up, here's a bunch of photos from my trip....

Bye bye Mexico.... until next year! Hooray!

Welling up...

Carlos, Donaji, and Minerva

I spent a fantastic afternoon skiving off with Minerva's family. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so no pretty pictures today! Today is a holiday, so most people have the day off work. The uni was dead this morning! Carlos came in for a bit but left early, and then came back for me at 2 to go and eat lunch. We usually have a 2 hour lunch break, then work till 8.

Instead of going to Minerva's parents house as usual we went to Comala, where her parents have a party house. It has a bar, a big shaded area with hammocks, palm trees.... It's lovely and so peaceful. As usual, the whole family were there and we ate Pozole, a very filling chicken and corn soup - traditional food from Colima, followed by fruit, cakes, sweets, more fruit, more cakes... We sat around chatting and telling jokes and funny stories. I tried to tell a Mexican joke, but it doesn't translate well and I crashed and burned! But after I explained it, they all laughed as if it was the funniest joke they'd ever heard! Then after Mini's oldest sister told an embarrassing story I told them about the time I tucked my skirt into my tights and walked around work and across to the uni to buy lunch, and back before it was pointed out to me! Now that, they genuinely laughed at!!!

Carlos, Minerva and Minerva's whole family have welcomed me with open arms. Their hospitality and friendship has been amazing and it's made my stay here so much nicer. They won't let me pay for anything (although I did manage to pay for the Ballet yesterday - Carlos did try to pay me back though!), they make me breakfast everyday, Minerva's parent cook me lunch everyday. I'm incredibly lucky to have met such lovely people. For the first few times a battle ensued after breakfast about who was going to do the dishes. Eventually I won and now they accept that I wash up. It's the only thing I can do!! The other day I asked Carlos if I could contribute towards the food bills, as I'm living here for free. He laughed at me. Then said "You come here to work with me and you are welcome in my home. You are one of the family." That brought a wee tear to my eye.