Right Royal Ingenuity

Did this day seem unusually long to anyone?









You know what would make me happy right now?

Shakespearean pick-up lines

Just got back from the rugby game in Abbotsford. We lost, 59-24, but it was a brutal game. I really understand the game better now, though, so hopefully next week I'll actually be able to play. The bus dropped me off a couple of blocks from my house, nice and convenient.

Today was the last time I'll see Tiff for three years. She came to visit me in block four, and, so as not to get too emotional, Beth and I told her all about the metal shop, since she had never been inside before. She came to say goodbye to me when I was on the bus.

And that's it, I guess. I'm kind of sad right now. I'll see most of you tomorrow.

Edit: Here's Tiff's message to everyone at Moody. I'm just upset that she didn't hug the wall goodbye...

She's not a witch, she's just psychic and weird.

My first rugby practice today, and, despite the confusion on my part, I think it went quite well. Monica, Cat and Kush were helping me a lot. I followed Kush around for most of the practice. We have a game tomorrow, but coaches have said that there's only the smallest chance that I will be playing; for that I am grateful. I am going to go watch anyways, which means that I'll miss French. I wish I didn't have French in block five. We got our jerseys today, and they are pretty. I also got a mouthguard, burned my gums when molding it, and I have been wearing it practically all evening because I am just that cool. When I pay the fee tomorrow I also get shorts and socks. Sammy said that she'd bring me her spare pair of cleats because she is pretty sure that they are my size, but if not, I'll be going shopping this weekend.

The Parkwood Manor show was alright last night, I hid in a corner until I had to dance, then got in trouble because one of my bra straps was showing, which led to a nice game of, "Let's make fun of Abby's chest," played by Luke and Thomas. The dance itself was okay, I hate the costume with a passion, but I'm not complaining...

I'm going to bed now.

Abby looks like...

This is what Abby looks like today.
Abby looks like her mommy!
Abby looks like she's giving you the evil eye.
Abby looks like a little angel.
Abby looks like she's about to fling some of that food right at you, catapult style.
Abby looks like she loves her sweater.
Abby looks like she'd rather crawl into a hole and die.
Abby looks like your cat.
Abby looks like the love child of Elvis and The Joker.
Abby looks like a stripper.
Abby looks like a princess even when she's boxing.
Abby looks like she's not sure what to think of the crazy person holding a camera two feet from her.
Who cares what Abby looks like?

Abby googled herself.

Abby stole this idea off of Erin.

I am uninspired today.

Today my family went to another of the CBC Spring Concert Series. This one was quite enjoyable, probably my favourite so far. The first piece had a guest pianist, and, when she first walked onto the stage, the only word I could think of to describe her, was white. She was middle aged, wearing a white dress that looked like it had come straight out of the eighties. She was very pale with pale, wispy blonde hair and wore transparent, white stockings. The only thing black about her outfit were her shoes, nondescript, shiny, black heels. She played with such ferocity. Her hands must have hurt by the time the piece was over.

In the second half of the program there were three guest musicians: one playing the trumpet, one playing the soprano sax and one playing the trombone. The man playing the trombone smiled, rocked back and forth and nodded whenever he wasn’t playing, never to the music at all, just rocking, nodding and smiling. He was the most amazing trombonist I have ever seen. I watched the sweat appear on his forehead as he played, and his face turn red. He was very animated. The man playing the trumpet stood hunched over, forever like that because of his trumpet playing. He seemed sad to me, but also amazing at his instrument. I didn’t pay much attention to the man playing the sax, but he had a nice suit.

We went to the Red Onion after the concert, like we always do. Erin and I finally tried the milkshakes there. As we were finishing our shared pieces of moose pie, Mr Catherall, his wife and his daughter walked in. We exchanged pleasantries, and then we left. He seems very happy as a retiree, and says that he has been keeping busy making things for their home.

I have finished writing my French composition. It is very bad, but I wrote the whole thing with no help, and I am proud of that.

That is all.

Look! Toes :)

Today's party was a tad bit disappointing. Only eight people arrived. Nevertheless, it was quite enjoyable. Carolee's younger siblings are so cute and I stole Richard's hat and wore it for an hour before I gave it back to him out of pity. All of the food was healthy because everyone who brought food thought that everyone else was bringing junk. We made a collage for Tiff, it has practically everyone on it, and watched some Asian movie about driving. Richard is great with kids. Carolee's brother really liked him.

I need some sugar. I ate too much celery today.


Tiff and I.


Tiff and her collage. Hopefully we will be adding to it in the next few days, and on the back there is space to sign it, for anyone who did not sign the card.


I stole Richard's hat :)


All of the girls on the couch. Mao, Carolee, Tiff, Me, Katherine, Rhena.


Richard and Carolee's brother.

Mexico Travel Journal: March 12th

Sunday, March 12, 2006

7:50am
Slept with Amy and Anny last night, was really squished and got beaten up every five minutes by Anny because she does that in her sleep. Currently sitting at a table outside with Amy, KJ just joined us. Talking about people on the trip and random guys…and teeth whitening…Eating a breakfast of granola bar, muffin and juice. Amy was just trying to change her shirt inside her sweatshirt, but kept on getting interrupted by random guys walking by on their way to the bathroom. Just to piss her off, I waved and cheerily said hello to every single one that walked by. Breakfast over, going to get ready for Ensenada now.

2:57pm
Went to La Bufadora. Got my hair braided, got a custom bracelet made and bought ice cream. Nice and sunny and hot today. Current random thought, Jeff should get his hair braided. We are about to leave now and will be heading back to Ensenada. I wish that I had bought churros. They looked so good. I was kind of turned off though, by the men who were attacking me with churro samples held by tongs. So nice here, I want to come back sometime. I hope that we stop at that lookout place again on the way back, the ghetto playground was awesome. Amy is taking pictures of herself in her new hat. She said that she’s wanted a cowboy hat ever since she was three. Having so much fun today.


Getting my hair braided. Looking so 80's it hurts.










The finished product. I didn't like it that much, but it meant that I didn't have to wash my hair for a few days.


The ghetto swing.


The lookout.

4:25pm
Bangtastic – KJ’s necklace got bitchslapped with money.

4:28pm
Ghetto Car. Can you say Air Care?

9:45pm
Went to Ensenada, was fun. We made Sergio come with us because we didn’t want to order any food without him. We wandered around, most people didn’t buy anything, and Anny got her hair partially braided. Bumped into a bunch of people, including Jeff, who got his hair braided because of peer pressure. Took pictures of him. Ate dinner at the worst Mexican/Italian place ever, Sergio fell apart, it was funny; we thought he was going to cry. We dropped Anny, Amy and Kyle off for margaritas, I didn’t drink on the trip because my mom was there, and the rest of us went for ice cream. I tried Amy’s margarita when we got back and it was the worst margarita that I have ever tasted. We then momentarily lost KJ, but found her again. Everyone met by the giant flagpole and got on the bus. Watched part of a movie on the way back, about the civil war in El Salvador. It was really good. Lights going off now because we have to be up early tomorrow for the flag ceremony. More tomorrow.


The big-assed flag in Ensenada.


In a storefront. I didn't have time to see if it was real.


Movie Star Shit, I didn't get it either.


Anny with her hair braided.


This was hilarious.


The worst restaurant ever, except for that Chinese one in Metrotown.


Jeff with his hair braided. He only agreed to it because everyone else he was with at the time offered to pay. The other Jeff says that it it "the best dollar that I have ever spent."

Ow

I feel sporty. I joined two sports teams today.

There I was in PE, innocently learning a line dance as taught by that old square dancing guy, Dave Plume, when Stromgren came up to me and asked to see me at the end of class and then started rambling about rugby. Afterwards I found him, and also found that I almost didn't have a choice; he really wanted me to join. He said that they needed more girls. I told him that although I've always wanted to play, I never had the time, and because of this, I never learned. He said he didn't care, so I said yes. My only problem now is that I can't make any practices or games on Tuesdays because of dance and I have to try to not injure myself any further or I will have Donna after me.

After school I went up to the PE offices to inquire about track. I asked Sawchuck about practices and found out that they were on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the same time as rugby. I then asked him if I had to go to practices. and he said no, as long as I was training for some other sports team, and I had to make at least two of the preliminary meets, which also happen to cut into my rugby playing time. I am going to have to talk to Stromgren now.

In conclusion, if I end up participating in both rugby and track, plus with dance, PE, my Sun Run training and my additional running...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To make up for this post in which the only person who cares is me, here is a sexy picture of Marco dancing:



I had to lighten it up considerably, but it's my favourite picture out of all of the ones that I took today. If you would like any more, or the video of Marianna singing, just ask.

Stress

Hyperventilation,
Lack of Air,
Fall to the ground,
Then Silence.

I didn't realize just how nervous I was for my French oral until I stood up at the end of the day and almost collapsed because I had been hyperventilating so much that my head felt light. As it was, I didn't even get to go today. Now I have another night to stress about it. Most of the good people in my class are already finished. No offence to Maya or Jocelyn, but I don't want to go with them, Brian would be okay, I guess, Jordan told me to pray to God that I get to go with Truman tomorrow. Robert I don't know about. People are saying that he might be the one passed out on the floor of the second floor boys bathroom in Block Three.

I find it ironic how just this morning in planning we were talking about stress and coming up with ways to lessen the stress in the lives of youth.

Mexico Travel Journal: March 11th

Saturday, March 11, 2006

10:40am
We had tortilla thingies with cheese last night for dinner and it reminded me of French; the tortilla part tasted just like the crêpes we made on Mardi Gras. Afterwards, Amy, Anny, Kyle, Sergio, Jeff, the two Natasha's and I read magazines, talked and played Pictionary. I went to the bathroom to have a shower and Amy followed me just to hear me freak over how cold it was. I didn't and she was upset. Anny and Amy invited Sergio, Kyle and I over to sleep on their mats. I ended up sleeping on the space between their mats, on the tiled floor, and squished between Kyle and Sergio, with Anny on Kyle's other side and Amy at our heads. I was really squished all night, but on the bright side, I wasn't cold at all. My back is really sore now. I am also not feeling well, but I took some drugs, and laid in agony on my bed for a while and now I feel a little better. There was a storm in the middle of the night, complete with thunder and lightning, so the ground is too muddy and slippery for us to work with and you can't lay concrete if it's going to rain. We are heading to the local cultural centre now and are almost there.


Amy on her bed.


Anny on her bed.

12:33pm
The cultural centre was fucking awesome. The building itself was beautiful, very modern. I want to go back, so badly. I didn't have time to see everything. There were security guards following us around and making sure that no one touched anything. On the bus right now, storm outside, hailing so hard that you can't hear anything else. It's deafening. Thunder, lightning, Sergio was right, Mexican storms are way better then Canadian storms. Currently stopped at Costco, where a few people are inside buying some drugs. Apparently I'm not the only one who's feeling sick, though I'm actually feeling better now, bought a mocha at the cultural centre and immediately burned my hand with it. A couple of the chaperones are inside, plus Sergio, who is translating and mom, who was the only one on the trip who thought to bring her Costco card. They are back now and I have to pick up my mocha because I fear for my lap. We are heading back to the "ranch" as we like to call it for lunch, then we will spend the afternoon in Rosarito.



The cultural centre in Tijuana. We weren't allowed to take flash photos, so that's why the picture is so crappy.


This was at the cultural centre. I thought it was cute until I saw this:


It was to the left of the display. I thought it looked lonely.

6:00pm
Had the best lunch ever, potato taco things and Manzana Lift. I love being vegetarian. It was so filling though. I couldn’t walk properly afterwards. We left for Rosarito and Anny and Amy played Word Association, absolutely hilarious. We wandered around for a while, Amy, Anny, Kyle, Julie, Michael, Sergio, KJ, Carly, Kayla, mom and I, where Sergio bought tons of jewellery for his girlfriend, I bought SUS’s birthday present and Anny got repeatedly attacked by this woman who wanted her to buy a bracelet. Lights just got turned off in bus, I will write more when I can see.


The best damn lunch ever.


Anny, sporting the new, "Wear two pairs of sunglasses if you want to be cool like me," look.


This was in a store near where Amy got attacked by that woman. I didn't touch them.

9:07pm
After wandering around and buying a few things, we came across a little marketplace. It was really confusing in there; the whole thing is in the shape of a grid, very easy to get lost. I bought the coolest Jack Skellington bag. We wandered around in there for a couple hours, then met up and traveled to some unknown destination and ate in a restaurant, with the loudest mariachi band that I have ever heard. Absolutely everything was in Spanish and the only vegetarian thing on the menu wasn’t even on the menu. It was a scooped out chilli pepper filled with cheese, with rice and beans on the side. So good. Sergio ended up ordering for almost everybody in our group. Our meals came with soup and a dessert, which was really good. I think that it was some sort of rice mush with raisins, wrapped up in a corn husk. Very sweet. Sergio couldn’t explain it in English, so I’m not sure exactly what it was. I ended up eating mine, half of Anny’s, who for some reason didn’t like it, and part of KJ’s, because she was too full to finish. Amy made up a skit thing using a cup and a piece of ice about KJ and how she was going to die from Hep B for using too much MSN lingo. Anny passed the time by trying to throw ice down Amy’s shirt, earning Amy the name “Ice Boobs.” Afterwards we were dancing in a corner of the room to the sound of the mariachi band. We finally went outside, where everybody pretended that they were drunk, some actually were, and I kneed Anny in the crotch for singing the Spice Girls.


The hotel near the market.


The market.


The restaurant with the loud mariachi band.


The dreaded Ice bucket that gives you Hep B.


Dessert.

Karma?

Nearly three years ago, in July 2003, a girl arrived at Vancouver International Airport, fresh from a ten-day long camping trip in St. Martins, New Brunswick. After a rather happy reunion with her parents and some unfortunate news from the week before, the family walked out to their waiting vehicle, the girl's father pushing her luggage on a cart. As they neared their vehicle, the girl's mother noticed a cart sitting in the middle of the parking lot with a small bag on it. Upon looking in the bag, she found a return ticket to Germany. The family took it home with them.

The next day at work, the girl's mother looked up the name and found that the person whom the ticket belonged to had relatives in Vancouver. She called them and the next day, a seventeen year old boy and his uncle arrived at her workplace to claim the ticket. Coincidentally, the boy's father was an architect back home in Germany, so the girl's mother not only gave him the bag containing the ticket, but an official Architectural Institute bag and the latest Architectural Digest.

Now Nearly three years later, the girl's mother arrived at her workplace to find a large box of chocolates on her desk and a note that said:

Dear Mrs. Carla Brown

I'm not sure if you remember me...

I came to Vancouver in summer 2003 to visit my relatives. Unfortunately I lost my return ticket back to Germany at the Airport. Luckily you found it and returned it, which I'm very thankfull for.
In 2004 I came back to Vancouver for a short visit. I brouche a bottle of vine with me to give it to you. But when I came to see you, a big crew was shooting a movie here in your office.
2 1/2 month ago I moved to Vancouver. I'm working here with mentaly disabled people as part of my military service. Today I droped by here to give you a little something ... but you weren't in again...! I'll try again sometime but might call in in advance.

Best Regards

David


I feel that good things are going to happen soon.

Mexico Travel Journal: March 10th

Friday, March 10, 2006

12:17pm
We woke up this morning to the sound of bugles and drums. At first we thought that it was our wake-up call, but after half an hour of listening to the same song over and over again, somebody finally went outside and realized that it was not our wake-up call, but early morning band practice. We got up, got dressed, ate a quick breakfast of muffins and juice, met some of the kids and teachers at the school, then got to work. Originally we were supposed to be building a volleyball court in a corner of the soccer field, but the local soccer club complained, so now we are building a big-assed sidewalk thing. It was raining really hard for a while, and that’s why we got a break, but now I have to get back to work, so I will write about my morning later. I hope that everyone at home is having fun in the snow, it’s all nice and sunny here now.


Seven AM band practice.


Me, working SO hard.


Some of the locals. They liked to watch us work.

1:42pm
Must laugh at Jamie when I get home…

6:43pm
This morning all we did was dig. The ground was composed of a mixture of sand and clay. A little on the heavier side. I immediately stole a shovel from Ms Peach and went to work, as I am one of those people who works really hard until they take a break, then is lazy as hell afterwards. We were breaking up the clay and shovelling it into buckets, which were then passed from hand to hand to an open area behind the bleachers. At one point in the morning, Devon accidentally hit a water pipe with a grub hoe and water sprayed out, completely soaking him. Joe went with Principal to the hardware store and fixed it. We had a short break of freshly sliced mangos with freshly-squeezed lime juice on top. So good. There were always children watching us. The more popular people were the boys with blonde hair, a rarity in Mexico. Devon and Brent constantly had to stop work to pose for pictures. At one point a boy came up to Devon, asked him his name, then pointed behind him to a small group of girls and said that they thought he was cute. He told the boy to tell the girls that he thought they were cute too, and thirty seconds later, they all screamed excitedly and ran away. There was always a group of girls nearby, calling Sergio over to translate for them. They wouldn’t leave until they had Brent’s email. Lunch was good, we ate frijolas, mine with just rice, beans and cheese in them. I tried the best drink ever, Manzana Lift, which is a slightly carbonated apple drink. Afterwards, everybody got changed and we got on the bus, headed for downtown Tijuana. It was an eye-opener, seeing Tijuana, and makes you realize why you came here and why you are doing this. The houses are painted every colour that you could ever imagine, but they all look half-built, or like somebody found some old plywood and some nails on the ground and built a house from it. There is rebar sticking out of the tops of all of the concrete buildings. There is garbage everywhere. There is no garbage pickup and no landfills, so they just dump their garbage on the ground. We drove through all of this poverty, then through a passageway in a hill to the other side. It was like a different place there. It was bright and sunny on that side. It was full of nice buildings, nice cars, nice familiar American fast food restaurants and stores. It was disgusting. It was disgusting how they thought that they could hide the poverty, hide it away behind a hill and forget about it. We spent about fifteen minutes at Tijuana Beach and I touched the US/Mexican border. Originally there was no border here, and the whole park was called Friendship Park, but after 9/11, the wall was erected through the middle of the park. It was too windy and cold to do much, although it was very pretty there. I would like to come back here one day to surf. We left for the poorer side of town to downtown Tijuana, their main shopping district, where we spent a little over two hours. Every single store was exactly the same: containing jewellery, figurines, sunglasses and sombreros, and everything alternated: souvenir store, cheap pharmacy, topless bar, store, pharmacy, topless bar, everyone beckoning you inside, trying to convince you to buy something. Everywhere you walked there were little children selling bracelets and candy for a dollar. I ended up buying a purse and some postcards. Fifteen dollars in total. Carly bought a piece of jewellery from almost every store that we entered. She’s not going to have any money for food if she is not careful. I was and am tired, and spending two hours visiting what seemed like the same store over and over has made me really bitchy. I’m pretty sure that dinner will be ready soon. When we got back, a bunch of us headed for the washroom, but Grace couldn’t get the door unlocked, so after spending five minutes outside in the freezing cold, we finally climbed through a nearby window. Dinner is ready and I am going to go get in line.


The lookout at Tijuana Beach.


The border.


The end of the border.


Me, Anny, Amy on Tijuana Beach.


The first thing everybody saw after we got off the bus in Tijuana.


Julie, KJ, Me, Anny, Kyle, Amy in the main shopping district in Tijuana.


The best sign ever.


I love how they blatantly display this stuff.

Grow up and blow away...

My first day back at school was not that interesting; Yuki got sacked again in PE, and although it was funny as hell, it was also kind of sad, because it is his birthday. We actually had a nice conversation today about what Yuki did during Spring Break and All-You-Can-Eat sushi.

Nothing else was really worth mentioning. I am currently helping Erin with her television article dilemma.

Edit: Happy birthday to Armin and Sam as well. And Synnove too.

Mexico Travel Journal: March 8th and 9th.

Please note: I rarely had much time to write, much less make anything sound good or even grammatically correct, so my journal is pretty rough. I have made a few minor changes to a couple of the posts, added stuff etc. but most of it is word for word. Please also note that my whole travel journal was handwritten, and my handwriting, although it looks nice because it is all pretty and small, it is also quite illegible.

Enjoy.



Wednesday, March 8, 2006

10:44pm
Near LAX now, flight was okay, my knee hurts. Everybody got a warm cookie. I drank tea and water as well. Got into a bit of an argument with dad at the airport, he left without saying goodbye, oh well. Had Thai noodle salad for dinner. Line-ups way too long. Had marble mocha macchiato at the gate and bought gum and a girly magazine. Nail polish girly. Just landed. Slowing down now. Been spending time with Amy and Anny. Very nice. They are in my group-thing. Learned a new card game from KJ. Plane stopping. Must go now. Will be spending the night in LA.

11:45pm
Mom lost her luggage. WTF.


Thursday, March 9, 2006

1:34am
Been hanging around on Amy and Anny's bed, talking and such. Nice hotel, though it's near the airport, so you can hear the planes coming in. The plaza is cool, with heat lamps, a fountain, and a canopy that is all leafy. Balcony-thing nearby as well, outside nice and warm. Took a couple pictures. Me in my sexy pyjamas. We're on the top floor, got confused on the stairs once and ended up on the roof, which was scary because we thought that we were on our floor. Currently eating crispers and drinking water. Animé show on TV, but none of us are watching it, so I don't know why it's on. Been talking lots, about stalkers, manly women, being spit in the face...also mama's boys. Anywadoesn'tom doesn't have her luggage yet, we're hoping to get it tomorrow, or else she won't see it all week. She is currently wearing my PJ pants and a work shirt that I borrowed from dad. I am wearing a tank top because it's too hot for my cross-country shirt and a pair of dark grey guy shorts. Ooooo, it's the first anniversary of my very first concussion. It's also What's-His-Name's birthday, but he's not here, so I don't care at all. Why do I always remember these things? Mom wants us to go to bed now, as we have to be up by eight.


Me, about thirty seconds from curfew.


The Hacienda in the morning.

10:13am
Had the last hot shower for a week this morning, probably the best hotel shower that I have ever had.

10:50am
On the bus now, took a long time to organize one-hundred fifty pieces of luggage. Heading to San Diego now, making a quick stop at the airport there to pick up mom's luggage didn't Apparently it didn't leave Vancouver until this morning, so they are sending it to San Diego for us. Breakfast this morning was okay, ate at Mariposa's, the coffee was really bad. Ate the only vegetarian thing on the breakfast menu. Amy, Anny and I found a gift shop and bought postcards, then discovered another courtyard thing and took pictures. Just went through a rather long tunnel. I see an In-N-Out Burger. Brings back good memories of stickers and piggybacks. I'm quite bored now. I am going stare blankly out the window and be antisocial. Ahhh, the bus.

12:46pm
My ass really hurts and we have at least an hour to go. Somebody brought balloons, and there are now blue balloons being hit around the bus. Almost everyone has taken a nap at one point in the last two hours. I probably should since I only got about five hours of sleep last night because we were talking so much. I really don't want to. I hate sleeping on buses. A while ago we went through Capistrano Valley, past Muffin's old high school. Ugh, finally almost in San Diego. After a could of hours there we will be heading to Tijuana. Tomorrow I get to start working. I will be so happy when I get off of this bus.

4:25pm
Bought sushi from Wonder Sushi. Yeah, that's right. More later.



Wonder Sushi!!!

4:58pm
Okay, went to the Gaslamp District and checked out the shops. Bought a hat. Bought chocolate from Ghirardelli's. My cherry coke had cherries in it. Walked to Horton's Plaza. Bought the coolest pair of shoes ever for ten dollars. Great for costumes. Wandered around and went to shops not normally found in Canada. Didn't buy anything except sushi. Anny tried on nearly every pair of sunglasses that she could find and Amy bought a hat from a kiosk. Leaving for Tijuana now. Will go to Costco when we get there to buy water and snacks.


Me sitting in a tree. Wait, that was obvious. I'm sorry.

One part of Horton's Plaza. I only took a picture because it looked cool.

My ten dollar shoes.

5:29pm
Rousing chorus of "A Whole New World" on the bus right now. Not sure who is leading it over the intercom, but it's funny. He knows all of the words. So random. Starting to get a little darker now. Caught in traffic.

5:36pm
Starting to rain. People in the back of the bus are playing Concentration.


People on the bus.

10:25pm
Crossed the border at 6:07pm. Went to Costco and bought our water for the week, fifty cases, one for each of us. We had a train of people on the bus loading water. Everybody had to sit on their own case. We also bought breakfast foods and snacks. The school itself is in a rather poor neighbourhood. We had police and the principal waiting for us to escort us inside. The school is already built, but needs a lot of work. The whole thing is walled, with iron gates, and there is a security guard present most of the time. There are about six hundred students that go here, from grades one to seven. Half go to school in the morning and half in the afternoon. They occupy ten classrooms. The bathrooms are...interesting at best, there's no toilet paper, we had to bring our own, and the stall doors are really low. Everything inside is very pink in the girls and very blue in the guys. There are no shower stalls, just two shower heads stuck in the wall, and when you turn them on, no one can use the sinks or two of the toilets. There is a little room about halfway between where we are sleeping and the washrooms, with a little stove and some table where we eat. We have a couple cooks, Anna and Mary, who are the mothers of a couple of the kids. They had something ready for us soon after we arrived. The son of one of them, named Juan, was hanging around. He is the cutest little boy ever. We are all staying in the "library," a medium-sized room with a tiled floor. There is one bookshelf with a set of encyclopaedias and one with toys and games, I am sleeping in the corner of the room that is farthest from the door, next to my mom. Next to her is a trophy case filled with different trophies, namely for soccer, but there are also a few for basketball and running. The fifty of us barely fit in here. Nobody really has any room to move. People are getting ready for sleep now; we have to be working tomorrow by 8:30. We will work for about six hours, then we will eat lunch and tour downtown Tijuana and Tijuana Beach. I haven't been feeling well for most of the day, I think it was the breakfast I ate this morning, so I hope to feel better tomorrow. Learned a new phrase in Spanish today, "no carne" (no meat), which is very helpful. The lights are being turned off now.

This is the "library" where we slept.

We had one hundred fifty bags in total.

Fifty cases of water for fifty people.

Some people started a soccer game as soon as they were unpacked.