~ Más felicidad y muchas más aventuras ~

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Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:33:11 -0400

First of all,why Puerto Escondido and what for ?? As mentioned before, my school asks us to do...

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:24:02 -0400

First of all,why Puerto Escondido and what for ??

As mentioned before, my school asks us to do a form of social service or human experience which corresponds to a month in an NGO in order to obtain experiences different from the business oriented education ESSEC provides us. After a lot of research, the AIESEC failures, and other non-convincing opportunities, I decided to choose a place I still had not visited in Mexico in an area that both would boost my interest and my curriculum.

I wanted to take part part in a program of microfinance in any NGO. Unfortunately it resulted as very difficult to find as almost all the micro-credit institutions in Mexico are companies and not NGOs.

When I found the link of Casa Hogar Nueva Vida on internet, I was delighted to see that it was not only a form of orphanage but that it also had a rehabilitation home and sold its own products such as honey! One email, one call and it was set ! The volunteers could arrive whenever they wanted, meet the kids and choose their schedule between morning and afternoon … I booked an hostel and the adventure was on.

I truly believe that I have luck issues because the spell I was under started even before leaving Mexico City. Two days before leaving we casually went to the bus station in order to buy our 21-hour-bus-ride tickets with the 50% student discount … as we are students to be told that the discount only worked with a letter from the university. After a two-hour-car-ride to go to and come back from the university with the letter, they told us my letter is not valid because it does not mention when I get back to school … I went home upset and the falsification process started with tap, printer, stamps in order to have two identical uni letters only with different names. On the next morning, we took a last look at our pieces of art before heading to the station…and leaving the papers on the desk !!! Until the last minute before we took the bus, the spell was on …

But arriving in Puerto Escondio, the sun was shinning, the air was warm and the DF was far far away, so all my worries and misadventures flew away !

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Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:42:39 -0400

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Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:40:46 -0400

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Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:14:45 -0400

Puerto Escondido - my best Summer adventure !

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:13:41 -0400

I know what you think : I am the worst wanna be blogger : 1 month without writing is inadmissible. But I have valid arguments ! :

1. A hurracane hit Puerto Escondido 2 days before we arrived there, therefore there was no internet (sometimes no water) and no signal.

2. I was very busy helping in the Casa Hogar (orphanage in which I did my social service)

3. I wanted to enjoy the sun (finally some heaaat), the beach and my boyfriend by taking some detox from internet, cell phones and other electronic devices.

4. My keyboard’s C - R and Ts stopped working so it was basically impossible to write any word in less that 1 minute…

The good thing is that I lived incredible experiences that I will try to share as vividly as possible with you. The bad thing is that TOO many events, experiments, adventures, discoveries took place and I don’t know where to start … let’s try !

I hope you wil laugh reading the following posts and that your envy will rise because I had an incredibly delicious amazing time !

I missed you !

"Im @PuertoEscondido : no water, no internet. I am living out of mosquito bites, playa and love."

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:29:54 -0400

“Im @PuertoEscondido : no water, no internet. I am living out of mosquito bites, playa and love.”

- xxx Happy Summer

~ Mexican Graduation ~

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:06:00 -0400

It is well known that Mexicans are party rockers ! As I was telling people I was about to hit Mexico 8 months ago, their response was : sooo you are going to “fiesta fiesta and drink a lot of tequila” …Indeed true but not only ! Anyways, one of my wishes was to assist to an official Mexican party whether it be wedding or .. graduation. Wish granted ! Last weekend, a friend graduated from the UDLA university in psychology. The ceremony was held in the Metropolitan Theater of Mexico City and the dinner + party in the two block away Hilton. How can I explain my excitement ? Instead of accepting my friend to lend me a dress, I wanted my own dress ! Instead of patiently waiting for D-day, I was harassing my friends with questions about the food served in the dinner, the dances and other customs as I did not want to feel too much like an outsider.

Two days before, I went to the center of Mexico City (Centro Histórico) to buy a dress. This district is impressive as the main avenues are essentially composed of shops selling party dresses … very cheap ! My first shopping spree was a blast but as always, the first item I see generally turns into the one I purchase. The tradition says that the Graduada (the one graduating) is supposed to wear a long dress while the guests should wear cocktail dresses. Well guess what ? I wanted a long dress - so I bought one (with the agreement of the Graduada). After some tailoring, the dress was PERFECT !

Back to the ceremony ! I went for some make up and hair and nails with my girl friends before heading to the theater. As I entered I could see the pride of all the Mexican families waiting impatiently for their children, grandchildren, cousins and friends to walk down the stairs with their togas. After an hour and half waiting, the ceremony began with a speech from the Dean and some early works of G. Bizet, played by the national orchestra of Bellas Artes. We then watched all the 132 students coming up the stage for their diplomas, hugging their professors and smiling like it were the best day of their life. We (finally) came out for another family/friends photo shoot before heading to the Hilton to hit the dinner and party !!!

The dinner hall / ballroom was impressive. Hundreds of tables with roses and waiters ready to drown us with rum, tequila and champagne. The dinner was delicious : my first non-Mexican dinner with butter, bread, SALMON and VEGETABLES ! I perceived the dinner as express compared to our never ending meals. We soon were on the dancefloor to start the party, the dancing and singing like crazies. The school has contracted a live band singing both Mexican and International songs with Elvis remixes in Spanish and other songs with funny choreographies. By midnight, off the band and HELLO MARIACHIS ! My friends were on the stage, stealing the microphone and guitars from the Mariachis …

I know they were partyrockers but that much, sweating and yelling without ever getting tired … that I had no idea ! I hope you will all be able to experience a Mexican Party someday !!!

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Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:29:33 -0400

#YoSoy132 - PRI and more blurred information

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:54:01 -0400

Usually I do not like to write about politics but I believe that this subject is extremely meaningful and particularly relevant for other university students around the world. I was aghast to see that none of the international newspapers mentioned anything and keep on talking about Mexico because of the murders and drug dealers when the democracy is being compromised.

Currently, four candidates are running for President in Mexico. What they usually do is to make debates in the private universities to present their program and answer to the questions of students. This time was a bit different : one of the candidates refused to assist to the debate therefore they all cancelled and came individually to make some conferences. In ITAM, two candidates came just like in other universities. The movement I want to talk about started on May 11th when one of the candidates (EPN) went to La Ibero University and was completely booed by the students. They were yelling ‘Asesino’ - ‘Fuera’ (OUT!) - ‘Tenemos memoria’ … The reason for such rebellion is because this candidate pertains to the PRI party, responsible for many historical atrocities (check Tlatelolco 1968 and Atenco 2006). EPN himself has been the Governor of the State of Mexico since 2006 and many accuse him of being responsible for the increasing insecurity (namely many women homocides). In short, the conference in La Ibero was a chaos (as shown in the video below) but the following day, many national newspapers had the following front page : “Success of Peña in la Ibero despite an attempted boycott” (supposedly of a competitor from another party). As a reaction to this manipulation of information, the 131 students of the Ibero that assisted to the conference made a video in order to denounce the partiality of the media of communication in the country. Subsequently, many students responded to this video by creating the #YoSoy132 movement (I am the 132nd supporting you in this fight for impartiality) which resulted in pacific demonstrations in the historical center and around the headquarters of the concerned television and newspapers.

I would have thought that the movement would have turned violent as many political ‘uprisings’ tend to. However and surprisingly it remained very simple and pacifist. All the students want is that the PRI does not come back to power as since Fox’s mandate, the situation has been improving. If the archaic PRI government returns, lies and opacity will return.

The main issue is that the Mexican population does not have the possibility to understand genuinely and transparently the candidates’ campaigns as the media only diffuse what they wish to. Consequently, as the vast majority of the population is quasi illiterate and does not get objectively involved in politics, any candidate wishing to ‘buy some votes’ could easily do it with a few pesos or food.

I really insist that you look for information about the subject as I do not want to give too much details on this page (who knows what could happen). But I will let you know of the situation’s evolution.

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Tue, 22 May 2012 20:43:26 -0400

EPN en la Universidad Iberoamericana, México D.F., May 11th 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:39:39 -0400

EPN en la Universidad Iberoamericana, México D.F., May 11th 2012

I roll up whenever you call baby I roll up ! Sunny Sundays !

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:17:50 -0400

I used to believe (at the very beginning of my acquaintances with the country) that Mexico City was a dangerous city in which it was impossible to walk or spend any good times outside like in parks or riding bicycles. Well you know what ? Sunny Sundays in the DF are the most exquisite things ! Every last Sunday of the month, the city council closes the beltway for the Chilangos to take out their bicys a ride a 32-km-road going through all the most beautiful places of town, namely the Zocalo, La Condesa, Reforma …

Of course as a huge fan of bikes, I wanted to experience it … and once again I forgot about the altitude, the heat and my lack of physical condition … But I had a lot of great motivation. We put our shorts on, caps and sunglasses, took the dogs (bad idea) and went for the ride … After the first climb I was DEAD but only because the bike I was using was so minuscule for me that I could not even stretch my legs … Thank God (sorry) but the dogs got tired and injured sooner therefore I took a long break to take my breath back. After a few hours under the sun, we finally enjoyed our Barbacoa Tacos and Multifruit juice.

It was a long ride, and intensive but I enjoyed it ! Can’t wait for next Sunday to do it again (with 5 more bottles of water and a light breakfast before !)

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Fri, 18 May 2012 14:10:12 -0400

Hatha - Ashtanga - Kundalini & more

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:42:49 -0400

Unfortunately I haven’t found a dance studio as excellent as the Parisian One. Therefore, instead of mediocre dancing, I chose exceptional Yoga. I am not very sure which we practice, I only know that my buddhist professor manages to make me forget about everything, once or twice a week during a few hours.

People usually see yoga as weird positions that only supple people can reproduce. Indeed, yoga is physical (and not only a little) but also and mostly spiritual. It can be about religion if you believe in God, it can be about the Universe if you only believe in the world we are living in. The practice consists in devoting your soul, your energy and your thoughts to another force and therefore to let yourself free from negative spirits. In this way, one can realize that negative thoughts, difficulties, obstacles are only perceived as such if we want to, but that each of us is doted with a capacity enabling him/her to surpass barriers.

We usually need to dedicate the practice to something or someone or a part of our body that we wish to honor, to struggle for and by the end of the practice, after the exercise, the sense of peace, the reassurance are so intense we realize that the effort made by the body is an incredible representation of care, love and worship.

This week my group and I participated to an art installation in a surrealist exhibition held in my neighborhood of La Condesa, in an old building. The artist had filled an empty apartment with all sized speakers in order to diffuse his compositions made for the occasion. Even if it was a pure coincidence, the music coincided perfectly with our moves, with our energy. Beautiful experience !

Yoga contributes to my daily happiness :) Have a beautiful week !!!

Malheureusement je n’ai pas trouvé d’école de danse à la hauteur de mon école parisienne. Mais j’ai trouvé mieux ! Au lieu de me contenter de danse médiocre, j’ai trouvé un merveilleux cours de yoga. Je ne suis pas vraiment sûre du nom du Yoga que nous pratiquons parce qu’il en existe énormément, tout ce que je sais c’est que mon prof bouddhiste arrive à me faire tout oublier, à faire le vide en moi, au moins une voire deux fois par semaine en pendant quelques heures.

Les gens considèrent souvent le yoga comme des positions bizarres que seuls les gens très souples peuvent reproduire. Bien sûr le yoga c’est physique ! (et pas qu’un peu) mais c’est aussi et surtout spirituel. Ça peut être religieux si l’on croit en Dieu, ça peut être à propos de l’Univers si on ne croit qu’au monde qui nous entoure. La pratique consiste à livrer entièrement son âme, son corps, son énergie et ses pensées à une force supérieure et donc de se vider l’esprit de toute pensée négative. Ainsi, il est possible de réaliser que les pensées négatives, que les difficultés et que les obstacles n’existent que si notre tête les conçoit comme tels. Mais chacun d’entre nous est capable de dépasser ses limites pour arriver à de meilleures choses.

Généralement, nous devons dédier la séance à quelque chose, quelqu’un ou une partie du corps que l’on veut consolider, protéger, honorer. Un élément pour lequel on veut se battre. A la fin de la séance, le repos et l’apaisement sont tels que l’on se rend compte du pouvoir de l’énergie du corps pour représenter l’attention, l’amour, le respect, l’admiration ….

Cette semaine nous avons participé avec mon groupe à une installation d’art surréaliste dans une galerie temporaire d’un immeuble de la Condesa. L’artiste avait rempli l’appartement vide d’enceintes de toutes tailles et diffusait ses scratchs, mélodies composées sur mesure. Bien que se fût une énorme coïncidence, la musique coïncidait parfait avec nos mouvements, avec notre énergie. Très belle expérience.

Le yoga fait partie de mon bonheur ici, je vous souhaite une excellente semaine !

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Wed, 09 May 2012 01:09:10 -0400

"I know I don’t give news, I know I am a bad long distance friend/ family member and many more...."

Sat, 05 May 2012 15:26:40 -0400

“

I know I don’t give news, I know I am a bad long distance friend/ family member and many more. But it doesn’t mean I don’t think about you all every single day, it doesn’t mean that I don’t miss you or that I might forget about you and the luck I have to have you in my life.

Just so you know, despite everything happening in Mexico and the distance from home, I am not homesick, I do not feel uncomfortable in this country and above everything I am truly happy. I think more than an Exchange, it was for me an opportunity to take a step back from everything and to finally think about what I want; to distance myself from some people in order to evaluate the different relationships and to realize what really matters in (my) life.

I think one doesn’t need to be close to the people he loves to feel their presence. The actions that the people take show their care, so I promise to try to take some actions to get in touch with you more frequently so you can laugh about my awkwardness that hasn’t changed at all.

Much Love and smileeeeeeeee Summer is around the corner :)

”

- Philosophical moment that I wish to share x

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Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:27:47 -0400

mosquito bites

Stop #6 ~ El Cañón del Sumidero

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:22:14 -0400

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Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:13:29 -0400