Czech this out…

Greetings from the Czech Republic!!! After a 13-hr delay from British Airways in the lovely Logan airport, I finally arrived in Prague (Praha), last Saturday morning. Everything here is amazing – like I’ve told some people already, I feel as though I’m in a fairytale. The buildings look so beautiful, gothic and picturesque that they almost appear to be surreal!

My apartment is fabulous, although the façade is a bit disconcerting sandwiched (no pun intended) between McDonalds and KFC complete with graffiti splashed all over the doors, and a death trap passed off as an elevator that requires a moment of silence and a few prayers to make it to the 6th floor! I’m sharing this cozy little apartment in local neighborhood, not yet discovered by tourists, with 4 other roommates! And, for those shopping fanatics, there is a mall complete with an H&M and Zara right next door. This could be dangerous!

The morning commute to school is, of course, an adventure. I would have nothing less actually. 5 minute metro ride to the train station from the old days of communism… then a 30 minute ride into a small town outside the city called Celakovice. Of course, the train itself is the actual adventure. Usually, we somehow always time it just right, so we get the run-down train with totally uncomfortable seats, with graffiti all over the place, and enough bounce in the ride to shake some sense into some of these crazy Thunderbirds I go to school with ;) No seriously, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster! Yet, even though it feels as though we’re riding besides the tracks instead of on them, and the train is so rundown it looks like it can fall apart at any bump – it’s still fun.

First day of classes consisted of an orientation, and then a scavenger hunt around Prague. Now, this would have been great, except, that there was practically a blizzard that blew through when my team and I were in the middle of hiking up the steepest hill in the city to get to the “Eiffel Tower” replica.. where we had to yet again climb more, as we scaled the stairs to the tower. Now my team was certainly not the most efficient team (but we actually got 3rd place!!)… as we didn’t reap the most points… but we certainly proved our athletic ability, as we climbed mountains in the blizzard, somehow covered about 4 more miles around the city than everyone else did, and hoofed it up the friggen Eiffel tower replica in the snow! But, it was all worth it when we finally arrived at the final destination to the lovely Chateau where we were treated to free drinks!

So, all in all, my first week in Praha has been a whirlwind – between moving in, trying to see as much of the city as I can including going to the symphony, and oh yeah – going to school!

Classes are difficult this semester – but I would expect nothing less. Finance 3, Accounting 3, Marketing 2, and Business Report Writing. Those are the balls and chains for me this term…. But, at least they are shaping up to be quite interesting. Hopefully in between the studying I’ll be able to see some cities around Europe!! Actually, speaking of which… tonight,.. Poland!!!!...

Brief intermission back east…

Phew! In a word, whirlwind comes to mind that describes the chaotic past couple of weeks! Actually, I think I’ve spent more time rushing around and then sitting in airports and on planes than I have actually on the ground with friends and family. Having less than 24hrs to unpack from Mexico, and repack for Prague, I decided to spend a few days with family back east before continuing the global adventures in Europe. But don’t let the “family time” fool you… most of my time back east was spent doing taxes, completing administrative errands for my summer internship, as well as preparing my final term paper comparing the prospective business environments of Chile and Argentina. By the way, did you know that the Argentine Spanish is heavily influenced by the Italian language – so much so that words are different, verb tenses are different, even structure and delivery are different.

However, in between the chaos, I did manage to spend some amazing quality time with my family back East hitting up charming New England towns like Gloucester (the actual historical setting of where the movie “A Perfect Storm” takes place), Rockport and Port Anne, North Hampton and even Boston (well, mostly the Logan Airport, terminal E, Gate E7A, 5th chair from the window, 2nd row). More on that 13 hour delay at Logan later.

Anyway, check out the pictures of New England below… beautiful. Although, after nearly freezing to death this morning, I am not sure I am much suited for this winter stuff. Southern California has ruined me.

Right, on to Prague. Well, hopefully. That all depends on bloody British Airways getting their act together. Man, you’d think I was on AeroMexico?!! ;)

Hasta Luego Monterrey…

I was going to title the blog “adios” Monterrey, but a better phrase in Spanish exists that denotes a temporary goodbye until a later time – hasta luego, literally translates into “until later.” So, with this definition in mind, I bid hasta luego to the bustling business center of Mexico. My 7 weeks here have been filled to the max with difficult classes and projects, traveling to various cities around the vast countryside, hiking famous trails in Monterrey, meeting amazing new friends and taking in as much of the Mexican culture and way of life, as I can.

As I reflect back on my time here, I will recap the top moments and experiences de Mexico for your reading pleasure…

• Meeting many new people from a host of different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life!

• Traveling to various cities around Mexico including Santiago, San Luis Potosí, Queretaro and Veracruz – along with meeting up with old friends Kristine and Sebastian!!







• Listening to the most FABULOUS mariachi band I have EVER heard in any part of Mexico. Very cool!!!




• Hiking around Monterrey – the city is revered for its famous hiking treks! El Parque Chipinque, Cola de Caballo AND the big one, Cerro de la Silla.






• Interesting nightlife in Monterrey – thank goodness for Manaus and Lov Pub!!







• Awesome food – LOVE tortilla soup, Chilaquiles and the fresh tortillas. Not to mention “Tacos Heaven” is to die for (no pun intended of course)

• Volunteering at Case Hogar Douglas - the orphanage outside of Monterrey.
  
  
  
  




• Tae-bow with Amanda and Lisa – the teacher loved us – we were the regulars. Well, sometimes :)



• The smoothie place – the dudes at the smoothie place laugh at me EVERY time I go there (about 5 times a week) just based on my first trip there when I didn’t know how to say smoothie in Spanish, so I tried to describe it, and apparently botched that one! Oh well, all in good fun!





• SuperSalads!! OMG, I’m obsessed with their salads and tortilla soup – not to mention their one playlist of 80s rock mix with euro dance! AWESOME. No seriously, it really is! I love it!





• Encountering extremely presumptuous Monterrey residents who apparently think its OK to generalize against and berate Americans, but quick to criticize anyone voicing opinions about their city or country. Although, as a disclaimer – the Mexican people I’ve met have been quite amiable and gracious, and are quick to point out quips about their own culture with a jovial and jesting attitude. The others must have been the Internet extremists.



• The “Thunderdorm” and the “Thunderstreet.” There were about 30 Tbird students staying at the same apartment. Poor chaps – didn’t know what hit them. But I guess if you advertise reliable Internet and cleaning service 5 times a week – and then offer NO Internet and cleaning service 5 times in 7 weeks, then you’ll have an angry mob of budget-bound grad students demanding 500 pesos off a 21,000 peso bill – shouldn’t be too far fetched.








• Instant smells and mystery water (pretty much self-explanatory)!!!



• And, saving the best for last – the Mexican culture. As I mentioned in earlier entries, the culture in Monterrey has been watered down a little to conform to the demands of a thriving business center, however, in the smaller towns, especially Queretaro – the city was alive with music, performances in the plazas, colorful shops, and friendly and welcoming people – what an amazing little town rich with history and culture!
  
  
  

Overall, my time here in Mexico was wonderful. I am so grateful for the opportunity to study international business abroad! So it is with a bittersweet note that I say “hasta luego” to this beautiful and diverse country. I wish I had additional free time to travel, as I’ve heard from many Mexicans from government officials to taxi drivers, to shop owners and students, that Monterrey is not “real” Mexico. Although I did visit 4 or 5 other cities, I would LOVE to come back and travel around the country more. But, for now, module 2 is starting in a week, and things like re-packing and taxes must be completed before!!! So, “hasta luego” Mexico… and onto PRAGUE!!!

A la gente que leyó la ultima “blog”

(quiero decir “lo siento” que mi español no es perfecto, porque estoy segura que algunas personas van a decir esto)...

Primero, este “blog” es específicamente a mis amigos y mi familia para leer sobre mis aventuras mientras estoy estudiando. Solo contiene opiniones personales, y no refleja las puntos de vista de la gente de EE.UU.

Y segundo, estas observaciones son simplemente sarcasmo. Estoy media mexicana, y me encanta la cultura aquí, pero en realidad, todos los apetos, no son buenos... y tampoco, es la realidad en los EE.UU también.

Pero, las palabras sobre la corrupción, las aduanas, la policía, NAFTA.. es la verdad... y son hechos. Hechos en libros, periódicas, y los expertos MEXICANOS que habla a EGADE!

Espero que tenia mas tiempo para viajar alrededor de Mexico mas --- pero, las ciudades que he visto, están hermosas! Entonces, no entiendo que es el problema aquí – siempre defiendo la cultura mexicana a mis amigos que no la entiende. Por de eso, no significa que “estoy ignorante, o no tengo un “global mindset” --- simplemente significa, que escribo la verdad.

Finalmente... no me gusta las cosas que uds. escribieron sobre los norteamericanos... son generalizaciones también.

I bet you didn't know that...

Just a random assortment of realities here in Mexico... some funny, some not so much...

• They love and they hate Americans
• Child labor laws don’t apply in Mexico. I swear they have elementary aged kids bagging your food at the markets
• Food safety/quality regulations don’t exist here… that’s why you can get food for so cheap. You can get some of the best tacos you’ll ever eat in your life, from some scary looking street vendor selling food from a cart on the side of a broken down garage with all sorts of scary things nearby!
• Mexicans say “yes” when they really mean no.
• Anything green (accept for guacamole and green chile) is typically reserved for garnish or feeding animals. (salads and fruit are quite hard to come by).
• It’s damn near impossible to get a decent cup of coffee! Mexico is apparently not big on the stuff.
• Mexicans are SUCH hard workers. They’ll work harder than anyone trying to get things done… they won’t do it right, and it’ll be the least efficient way to do things, but they’ll get it done… that one is from a Mexican friend of mine (so don’t hate on my lack of cultural sensitivities)
• In fact, most business people work well over 8 hours a day (not including siestas), and only have 2-weeks of vacation time a year!!!
• Taxi drivers have NO idea how to get ANYWHERE around Monterrey.
• Professors don’t give explicit (or ANY) directions on expectations, homework or basically any general information regarding classes.
• If you are invited to a party at a Mexican’s house, it’s better to accept the offer, and just not show up then to graciously decline the offer. Basically, lying for the sake of appeasement is OK!
• Efficiency is not high on the priority list here (perhaps more Germans need to be imported).
• Monterrey is one of the safest cities you can live in Mexico, because all the drug-lords live here. They keep the city safe for their families (totally serious – the neighborhood where my school is located is the RICHEST neighborhood in all of Latin America).
• Tecate (the Mexican beer) is really only for men (appreciating all the hard work and contributions a man does a day), and if you drink out of a can, it means you are of higher status than someone drinking from a bottle. (I’m serious, I met the Mexican brand manager).
• Monterrey is AWESOME for hiking!!
• Telcel is actually really supposed to be “Tel-hell” the company just misspelled their name. OMG, it’s like the worst.
• You can’t pick your own name of a company or maquiladora (factory)… you have to submit 5 potential names for the company, and the Mexican Secretary General will chose it for you (totally serious).
• Mexicans put chile powder on all their fruit!! C’mon… seriously, the little portions of fruit they eat a day, they just can’t bare to not have spice added!! Haha.
• It’s illegal here to be over 5’10.”
• Speaking of illegal, it’s perfectly acceptable to bribe the police officers.
• Mexico is really behind in the tech-wave and infrastructure. Although, they are trying to catching up! (In fact, most Mexicans don’t like the US, because they feel we are not holding up our end of the bargain with the NAFTA agreement, and that they were not prepared for globalization. One famous Mexican economist Salvador Kalifa said, “when conquistador Hernan Cortes reached Mexico, he burned his boats to prevent crew members from fleeing. With NAFTA we burned our boats and threw ourselves into globalization… there’s no turning back!”
• The Mexican president, Calderon totally came to speak at EGADE (my business school here in Monterrey)
• The biggest area of corruption in Mexico is in customs.
• And speaking of corruption, experts blame corruption on the Spaniards! When the conquistadors landed in Latin America, they had to bribe the indigenous tribal leaders to get what they wanted. In fact, it was “all the gold minus the operational expenses.”
• I’ll NEVER be a finance person. It took an act of god, a few sacrifices and group rituals for me to pass the class. (haha)
• Principes are the BEST cookies in Mexico.
• Contrary to popular belief, it is OK to brush your teeth with the water!
• Thunderbirds are AWESOME!!! :)

View from the top…

... of the saddle that is. Well – almost. So one of my goals during my time here in Mexico, aside from traveling around getting to know the “real” Mexico that is so different from the business-center of Monterrey, was to hike as many different mountains and trails that are so abundant, and well-known across the Monterrey region. I’d say I’ve done pretty well… there’s been Cola de Cabolla in Santiago, El Parque Chipinque right here in Monterrey, and the latest and greatest… “Cerro de La Silla,” also right here in Monterrey. At over 1800 meters, “Cerro de La Silla” also known as the “saddle” in English, is the landmark of the entire region – a symbol of the state! Visible from almost any point in Monterrey, it is situated on the eastern end of the city and is part of the La Silla range that runs parallel to the Sierra Madre Oriental range. It has four peaks: (from north to south): Pico Antena, Pico Norte, Pico Sur and Pico la Virgen.



So, our plane from Veracruz arrived this morning around 10:00am, and I took advantage of the “free” day in Monterrey to hike this mountain, as I know my last week here is going to be stuck in a classroom for 10hrs a day! Anyway, so equipped with water, snacks, a camera, hat and money for the cab (basically everything but sunscreen, which you will see for yourself later), I set out the climb the peak!

Now, my first mistake was probably to trust the word of experienced rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, that Pico de Antena was the “easy” trail. Umm… yeah, I guess if you hike 12 hours each weekend, part of which includes category 5 rock scrambles and propelling, then I guess yeah, this was the “easiest” peak of the 4 to climb. But, my dear readers, “easy,” is a relative term. This hike was NOT easy, by any means. Sadly my pictures just don’t do the trail justice, but it was literally straight up, and straight down. It was like Camelback in Phoenix, only 5 times higher, and slightly steeper at points.

After three hours of hiking up the peak, I was sad to realize that the “true” peak is off limits due to the Monterrey Cable channel 5 TV antennas, but then secretly happy, that I could begin the long and difficult trek back down! Now, in my opinion, going down the mountain was harder than scaling it! There were some rock falls that were literally 45 degree angles, with nothing by slippery rock and mountain edges on each side… so for these parts, I figured sliding down on my ass, would probably be the safest – albeit, not the most graceful method of getting down. In fact – I wish there was a giant slide that would take you DOWN from the mountain – now that would be awesome! Somehow, I am quite attached to the pearly whites I have, and don’t fancy having them shattered to pieces should I misstep one of the rock-falls!

Overall, the hike was amazing. It was so great to be on the trail – just me and my iPod. It was a great culmination to the end of my time here in Monterrey, and the views were spectacular (smog aside). Take a look at some of the pictures posted below, and if you’re ever in Monterrey, and are into hiking, I’d definitely recommend this trail – but, don’t forget the sunscreen!!!!

p.s.
the trail was 5.5 hours in total, with another hour up the mountain, and about 30 minutes down that I did not do. So it’s a tad more than a Sunday afternoon stroll…

... and this is what happend when you hike for almost 6 hours without sunscreen!!! Yikes!