MEXICO!

This is my frist time in Mexico and it is quite the experience! (I don't really count TJ!) I am in Monclova, Mexico and it is an adventure to visit "the real" Mexico! My parents and I are visiting our old exchange student, Santiago. The people here are extremely nice and the weather has been "cooler than normal" so that has been good (even though it is still very hot)!

It is very interesting not being able to communicate freely with everyone. I am very rusty with my Spanish since the last course I took was 13 years ago! I only remember simple phrases and random words! YIKES! Santiago and his two cousins have been our very own translators and keep us out of trouble! ;-) They are wonderful!

I have been visiting Santiago's family, shopping (nothing like the U.S.!), eating Mexican food (I have tried many new foods and most of them I like...not the jalapeno chips though!), swimming, and driving around the city seeing new sites. I thought I would love having siestas everyday but then you have to get up twice!! ;-)

Carson

I love our dog Carson! He is hilarious because he will maneuver your hand on him so that you will pet him! He is a smart dog! He used to be able to open the front door for our guests! Since then my parents have put in a screen door. Cars0n used to run and get enough momentum to run up on the couch and across the back rest of the couch until one time he accidentally hit is nose on the wall and he got a bloody nose. For some reason he doesn't try that anymore! And who said that dogs shouldn't have chocolate?!?!? This dog is definitely a Ford! He LOVES chocolate. Even when we try to keep it away from him he will eat it! My favorite thing to do is watch my dad play with Cars0n! I don't know who is having more fun, my dad or the dog!!!! They run all over the house chasing each other and my dad holds up his arms for him to jump over! Cars0n sleeps on the floor by my dad's side of the bed. He is a SPOILED dog (but we love him!)!!!

My old stomping grounds!

Blaine High School

Whoever thought of an outside school for northwest Washington was CRAZY! Don't they know that it rains a lot here?!?!?!?

The white arch is actually our school mascot! It is a small replica of the one at Peace Arch State Park. We are the Borderites!

GO TEAM!

Border Town!

This picture is mainly for Heather! Now you can see what they did to the state route.

It is much more safe! (For everyone else, we live on D St.)
At the top of the D St. overpass. I told you I lived close to Canada!!! If you don't follow directions to get to our house you could be waiting a long time in a border lineup! Those semi trucks on the right are waiting to clear customs to go into British Columbia. You can also see the cars waiting (near the center) in line to cross the border.

SHARKS!!!

My dad and I went around town taking pictures to send to Scott. While we were at the marina on the pier a family showed us the two sharks they caught! One was about a foot and the other was about a foot and a half. They were really cool looking. Who knew when I was in the bay I was swimming with sharks! I think these are called sand sharks. Apparently they have a spike near their fins that are poisonous. I also didn't know that these creatures can live for over an hour on land! It was kind of cool because I could see them breathing! They also caught a starfish that had 18 legs!