Monterrey - Mi Vida Parte Tres [My Life Part 3]

We were invited to Barrio during the first week of school. Guess what - It's the BACK TO SCHOOL party!. This may be the only time that I was real excited about a kick start to school.

The organisers were great! They provided us with buses to the venue. Met Pedro there with his friend. I wasn't drunk but I remembered I swang a few heads, jumped a lot and went out of the club with my ears popped. (: Fantastic!

I tried to cook! Not the combination that you'd see in a fancy restaurant. Ingredients were dugged out from my humble fridge. The rice part was the HARDEST! Not because it was hard to cook. But scrubbing the base of the pan after cooking rice is a CHORE! I hated it. Other than that, I thank God for oyster sauce ;)

Sayaka Tamaguchi from Japan shared one class with me: Introduction to Mexican Culture. One day her group had to present on Mexican Festivals and El Dia de Muertos was highlighted. She even brought along a sugary skull to show us how they celebrate the festive.

p/s: It was really really a shame that I didnt travel out of Monterrey to Morelia (where I heard the festival was the brightest). Instead I went to Arena de Monterrey to watch Maroon 5's concert with Sergio. It wasn't a total waste tho'. I had a great time - least I know the crowd of Mexicans when attending such concerts - they enjoy LOUD music. My ears were drumming when I came out of the hall.

Do you know what cheers me up? I LOVE Noodles. An alternative to tacos, burritos, nachos or quesadillas. I really dig the food the traditional chinese eatery sells near our school! Anna catered like a dozen trays of chinese food (comida de china) for her Birthday Party!

I'm here with the lady boss of Comida China! She couldn't speak mandarin so I had to converse in really simple cantonese with her. Seems that even her cantonese had a certain slang to it. And every time, I ordered something she would smile to me and say, "Lei man man sek arh". Which means to take my time to eat (:

Meet Monica! (seated on my right) How did I get to know her? Through Facebook! Anyways, we managed to meet up at Centro Estudiantil in TEC de Monterrey and invited her for a drink at this place (picture above) called Tapioca House extremely near my apartment =)

I need to rant about Tapioca House. Obviously, someone brought it over from Taiwan or from Asia. Cause it's just plain bubbletea. BUT they dun sell Milktea~ which was a let down because I totally dig milktea. Well, they have western flavours like chocolate or vanillia milkshake. Oh they have tangly favours like pica mango and it was wow!~ You could choose whether you like to add the bigger tapioca pearls or the smaller ones. How much does one cost? Freak'in SG$ 3 (!!!) Cost twice as expensive and even so I would only pay like SG$ 1 (which is about 9 pesos - yes as much as one BIG cup of jamaica would cost)

Once a while, I'd give myself a treat and buy a chocolate milkshake sin tapioca (without pearls) coz I dislike chewing on them. So it's a really expensive cup of choco con leche~

This picture IS hilarious! I was explaining to Monica the meaning of my chinese name and the character which looks like a person but with squared-face is actually my surname (Wu). Soon after we dropped the topic and Monica was telling me the different kinds of meat to go with tacos.... and one of them was trompo (reddish meat where they grilled it vertically) She drew a stick man trying to shave off the meat with a knife but it looks as tho' it is killing off my "surname"! I had such a goooooood laugh~~~ =D

During my time in TEC de MTY, I took salsa classes! and we had to dance in this particular studio 3 times a week. (Cada los Lunes, Miercoles y Viernes) from 10 - 11am. After dance classes, I would hang out with Misook and chat =)

Needless to say, we had to perform in our auditorium at the end of those lessons. We rocked the stage and it was allllllllll worth it! Made so many friends! Tho' I swear I would never wear this skimpy and frimpy red costume in my life again. I was exposing HALF my butt and it was uncomfortable.
I was so happy that I could learn salsa in MTY and esp in Mexico where they literally shake it down!

A typical Hotdog stand outside HEB. They even provide you with benches to sit and a shelter to hide from the sun! How cooool~ Did I tell you I LOVEEEEEEEEE eating hotdogs from these stands. Usually it will cost me between 10 - 15 pesos depending on the size of the hotdog and location of the stand. Nevertheless SUPER yummy! I will always drizzle mine with lots of mustard sauce~ *geee*

Im ending my entry with this.... =) I have been away from Singapore during our National day for the past 2 years. I'm not sure whether I missed the holiday but I'd be home for our nation's birthday this year 2009. =)

Monterrey - Mi Vida Parte Dos [My Life Part 2]

Im glad that I stepped foot in Mexico. Did what was wrong and right. Did everything I could possibly have never thought of doing. Shared so many first times. Made so many friends and their families. Internalising this is very important.

Being a Clown and calling it your occupation is uncommon from where I come from. But a whole lot of places in Mexico do that for a profession. From the sounds of it (and I remembered someone telling me) you can earn a lot from just being a Clown! *maybe I could be one?*

During the Enrolment Week of Tecnológico de Monterrey - with an interesting party of Clowns.

These are some of the few important people I cannot live without in Monterrey.
(L-R: Me, Claressa, Carlos & Sergio)
Hola means Hi in spanish. And I taught them how to do it in sign language. H.O.L.A !

Claressa and I made dinner for the both of them (including Charis & Lily but they were late, hence not the in the picture) It was our way of saying thank you (: We had a lot of fun cooking and teasing each other.

Cinepolis! Carlitos y Charis (mi pompis) brought me to the local cinema which was a stone's throw away from our apartment to watch a thriller movie - The Strangers (Los Extraños). It was the first time in many years since I agreed to watch a horrer flick. Carlitos is AWESOME. He didnt even flinch a muscle when those creepy masked men came out! I keep wailing and hiding behind my hands. To avoid the sudden scare, Charis had his ears shut! It was hilarious observing how my friends cope with fear. (:

Claressa's Birthday - We had so many friends over at our place. But this picture was taken on the eve of her birthday.
(L-R: Frizzi, Benjamin, Claressa, Momo, Carlos and Sergio)

Ever seen a bag (la mochilla) as big as a person (!?!)

View from of Monterrey from the top of Cerra de La Silla. Misook told me this was her favourite and most romantic place in Monterrey.

And boy! it sure was cold!

Monterrey - Mi Vida Parte Uno [My Life Part 1]

Monterrey (MTY), my love had been extremely kind to me - as you read on you will know why (: At the same time, I hope you get to know the characters (my angels) from my life in Mexico.

I set off to the unknown land on the morning of 26 July 2008. I was still packing earlier that morning before I reached Changi Airport. Holding my passport nervously with both hands I turned and left. That was the last day I saw Singapore in 2008.

I picked up my red bag pack and I never looked back...

My flight stopover in Hong Kong and flew all the way to Los Angeles. That took me about 18 hours. Transferred to Mexicana and it was the first time I greeted MTY at night. Couchsurfed and my 1st meal was Gorditas at Doña Tortas. (Ironically, my last meal was also Gorditas). I remember when I arrived in MTY, the first person I texted was Sergio. (again another irony) I never knew he would turn out to be one of the most important people in my life.

Gorditas

It's something you'd find common in Mexico. I love it with huevos (eggs)!

My Apartment

I love the view. I love the little path and the potted plant which bore blue flowers! I love apts 6A and 4A. I love the stairs leading up to my home. I love it that it was not like Singapore. Not city-like at all. Not many high-rised buildings. I got hold of this place from Sergio whom recommended that I stay with his best friends Carlos.

I love my loft (:

I love the mountainous view every morning, every evening and every night.

Los Domingos en El Marcoplaza (Every Sundays in the Marcoplaza)

You'd never miss this place. Its the city in MTY where people gather, dance and enjoy life.

People dancing in the centre hall of Marcoplaza. Randomness - I love it! The dance culture is in your face!

I knew this lady who was standing beside me. She grabbed me by the hand and taught me how to dance! Yup! You see that man in a white sombrero - YEAH. I am in Mexico! (L-R: Danielle, Me, random friend, Celeste, Misook)

Sundays are interesting in MTY. If you walk along the houses in the afternoon, you'd hear a penny drop on the ground. It's that quiet! Families usually stay in their homes to rest. So no one goes out of their houses. Then again, if you go to the city/town, the area is full of bustling energy. People gather, young teens holding hands, little carts selling balloons, lucha libre masks and ice cream!

The Flea Market Next to Barrio Antiguo

This is such a cute little street and really, if you didnt turn at the right place, you might miss it. It's behind the Marco Muesum. Behind the Big Bronze Bird (literally yes)

At the crossroads of the flea market

A stall selling story-telling photos

Selling handmade earrings and bracelets etc...

Every stallholder had a displayed license