Life in Guanajuato is more than I could have asked for. Trying to describe the city is pretty much impossible because its beauty lies in the small intricacies which make up every building, every street, and every small alleyway. The streets wind around each other and up and down hills in a labyrinth which I am definitely going to get lost in. On the outskirts of the city they stretch up into the mountains as do the colorful houses and stores. From an aerial view it would almost looks as if someone did splatter paint in the middle of a mountain range. Needless to say, every time I look off the balcony of the university I catch my breath for a moment at the beautiful vista.

I just figured out my schedule for the semester and I will be taking 5 classes- a grammar course, a speaking course, a Mexican general history course, a Latin American literature course and a history course on prehispanic culture and society. All of the classes are with international student at my level of Spanish except the prehispanic history course is with only Mexican students. I would be completely and totally excited if these classes didn't begin at 8 Monday through Thursday and if I didn't live around 45 minutes from campus...

Nevertheless I am eager to start classes and actively start working on my Spanish. So much vocabulary and so many small grammar structures evade me having not spoken in over a month and once classes start hopefully my communication skills will improve drastically. When I begin classes, I will begin the volunteer aspect of my program. I cannot wait to meet the women at Centro Las Libres (http://www.laslibres.org.mx/eng/index.php?cmd=) and begin work with them. Last year, it became illegal in Guanajuato to receive any sort of abortion even in cases of rape or incest. There are also high rates of sexual assault and violence in the communities surrounding the city. I will truly have my work cut out for me and a lot to learn.

On another note, my fingers are crossed for Martha Coakley today. I was reading about her and thinking about the Health Care bill. I had fairly naive views on the health care bill and the overhaul in general so I decided to start the book Who Killed Health Care by Reginal Herzlinger. It has really shined a new light on the entire situation in just the first 30 pages. One of the things I have most looked forward to in going abroad is the opportunity to educate myself on current issues to a much greater extent than I am able to while taking classes and stressing about school. If anyone has any book recommendations, please send them my way. Anyways, it is not looking good for Coakley and I wish I wasn't registered in Texas...