We're Here!

After five days of driving we made it from Gilroy to Mexico City! The trip went very smoothly, with only one glitch: the electicity went out in the customs office at the border just while they were processing the document for us to be able to keep our car in Mexico for a year. We waited awhile in darkness and somehow they were able to produce it!
It was 5:00 on Wednesday evening when we began driving into Mexico City. We were concerned that we'd be stuck in rush hour traffic and that it would take us forever to arrive at our apartment in the south end of the city. Boy, did we luck out! Never were we stuck in stop-and-go traffic and the route was easier to follow than we imagined. It turns out that rush hour here is just after 6:00 p.m.. Many business people work from 9 until 2 and then have a two hour lunch break. They return at 4:00 and then work until 6 or 7:00 p.m.. Later I'll describe a teacher's schedule.
My exchange partner's sister in law, Claudia, met us at the apartment that we are renting from her. It's a nice place with parque floors and two big bathrooms. It is very spacious, seeming especially so since there is very little furniture! We have a big living room that Jacob is enjoying as a dance floor - he is discouraged that we are planning to buy some furniture! Claudia has been really nice and has dropped by and called to check on us.
Friday was my first day at my school, Secundaria Diurna 188. It is in a low-income neighborhood with narrow, maze like streets. I really enjoyed the faculty meeting seeing the similarities and differences from faculty meetings at my school in California. It seems that Mexican teachers are just like American teachers: the worst students of all! The music teacher is a real card - he shouted out "I love you" in English when I was introduced to the staff. He also brought along along a pair of binoculars to look at the small print on the screen as the vice-principal made a presentation.
The faculty was very welcoming and I particularly made a connection with the two other English teachers. Consuelo, Connie, suggested that we always speak English together. She told me that I can practice my Spanish with all the other teachers. I really respect that she is going to take advantage of the resource she has in me! Tonathue, the technology guru at the school, has informed me that I am one of the four teachers that will be working on special projects this year. I'm excited to see what ways we can link up Gilroy High School with my Mexican school. He's got lots of knowledge to share. Overall, I was really impressed with the intelligent, fun-loving, and passionate staff. The principal said to me that she thinks that I have fallen into a great school - I agree!
Tomorrow is the first day of school! I'm excited to meet my students and see how it all works! Unfortunately for Jacob and Sabine, we were not able to find a school for them yet. They won't be able to attend the first day, but I don't think they're too upset about it! We are looking for a public school for them, near our apartment. It isn't as easy as it would seem! Schools are tucked away, at the end of dead-end streets or not very obviously marked from the outside. Kermit has asked lots of parents that he sees out walking the streets with their kids. He'll check out a few more tomorrow.