Oh - a few other thoughts....
Brasilia...yes - photos are coming for you! And keep writing in Spanish!!!
Lola ...get on the next plane and I'll pick you up at the airport!
8th graders...Buena Suerte on your ER/IR verb test! I know you'll do great!
7th graders...Have you helped Sr. Lehman memorize all your names already?
High Schoolers...How is the start of the new quarter?! I was impressed with your exams. Hope you did as well on your other exams as you did on mine!
Gracias por todo Sr. Lehman. Todo va bien? Me escribes si necesitas algo.
Nos vemos...
Sra. Koch
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Hola!
I want to write in Spanish, but haven't figured out how to make the accents work yet. Have you all?
Thought I better connect today since I won't have internet for a couple of days!
Today we felt brave enough to figure out the subway/metro system in the city. It was actually quite easy, but we still managed to get on the wrong subway for about 15 minutes! We took it up to the enormous bus station. There were no less than 300 options of places to take the bus from the city - including Dallas, Texas and Chicago! Can you imagine taking a bus from Mexico City to Chicago?!
Anyway, we took the bus to Teotihuacan the ancient city of the Toltec and Aztec Indians. It was so hot and dry when we got there that we had to immediately get the boys some lunch. We walked about 2 miles and discovered a restaurant that was in an old cueva (cave) where the Aztecs used to store their grains. It was super neat and almost too cold.
After we decreased our body temperatures and filled our stomach on authentic quesadillas and carne de res we summitted the world's 3rd largest pyramid. (El Piramide del Sol).
It really did take our breath away since we are at 7200 feet and the pollution is less than desirable! We then visited many of the other ruins and learned who lived where in the 22 square km expanse. Let me tell you, if you were not one of the Kings/Rulers, it was one tough life. We are lucky to be born thousands of years later!
We are off to San Miguel tomorrow - a 5 hour bus ride from here.
Hasta luego! Buen dia!!!
Abrazos...
Sra. Koch
I want to write in Spanish, but haven't figured out how to make the accents work yet. Have you all?
Thought I better connect today since I won't have internet for a couple of days!
Today we felt brave enough to figure out the subway/metro system in the city. It was actually quite easy, but we still managed to get on the wrong subway for about 15 minutes! We took it up to the enormous bus station. There were no less than 300 options of places to take the bus from the city - including Dallas, Texas and Chicago! Can you imagine taking a bus from Mexico City to Chicago?!
Anyway, we took the bus to Teotihuacan the ancient city of the Toltec and Aztec Indians. It was so hot and dry when we got there that we had to immediately get the boys some lunch. We walked about 2 miles and discovered a restaurant that was in an old cueva (cave) where the Aztecs used to store their grains. It was super neat and almost too cold.
After we decreased our body temperatures and filled our stomach on authentic quesadillas and carne de res we summitted the world's 3rd largest pyramid. (El Piramide del Sol).
It really did take our breath away since we are at 7200 feet and the pollution is less than desirable! We then visited many of the other ruins and learned who lived where in the 22 square km expanse. Let me tell you, if you were not one of the Kings/Rulers, it was one tough life. We are lucky to be born thousands of years later!
We are off to San Miguel tomorrow - a 5 hour bus ride from here.
Hasta luego! Buen dia!!!
Abrazos...
Sra. Koch
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hola!!!!
After 3 family and friend filled days in Seattle, our plane ride down to Mexico was uneventful (oh, expect for the fact that we almost missed our flight despite the fact we were at the airport 2 hours early!) . I was the last one on the plane and they closed the doors the second I stepped on to it!
We arrived last night very tired as we had to be at the airport at 3:45 a.m.! The boys were totally awesome and had a blast on their first memorable airplane ride. Even more memorable was our zaney ride in a taxi from the airport to our hotel. We missed hitting several cars, a bus and a policeman by just inches and we couldn't even talk over the loud noice of the honking horns. It was totally insane. No one follows the traffic rules and pedestrians definitely do not have the right of way.
Today, the true adventure began. We are staying in an area called the Zocalo. It's the historic district of Mexico City. We began by stopping by what I am sure must be the worlds largest bakery. I am not kidding. It is huge! There were at least a 400 items to choose from cookies, jello molds, candy, cake, donuts and a large assortment of breads. We are going back tomorrow and I'll take photos because you can't believe it.
I am interrupting my train of thought right now to report that firecrackers have been going off outside our window for about 5 minutes now. Oh, now I hear drums. It's 10:00 at night there must be a parade of some sort. I can't see anything I can just hear it. Wait, it's
fireworks right outside our window! Be right back.....
O.K....10 minutes later...
Wow, only in Mexico! We are staying right by a small Chinese district. Is it Chinese New Year? Anyway, on to what we saw today. Class, check out the photos as they are all places of historical or cultural value. We visited the Palacio Nacional (Home to the Presidential offices, the military and art work by Diego Rivera (Frida Kahlo's husband)! He painted the intire history of the Mexican people into murals that cover the walls of the palacio. Across the street from there are several cathedrals (remember 90% of Mexicans are Catholic). When the Spaniards came, they used the Aztec and Toltec indians as slaves and part of their slavery included building churches. The most magnificant today had about 80 percent of all it's features covered in REAL gold!!! There were guards (with guns) surrounding the place.
We then visited the Templo Mayor which is the remains of the tallest temple in Aztec city of Tenotichtitlan. After a lunch of helado y licuados (ice cream and fruit smoothies) we continued on to the local park called Alameda. There, the boys used their Spanish to make their first friend, Victor.
We listened to loud music, people watched and then went to the Palacio de Bellas Arte. It's the art museum that was constructed almost intirely in marble!!! It was so elaborate that we quickly realized we were out of place with two young boys, so we took them across the street to the tallest building in Mexico - La Torre and took in the views of the city and the pollution!
Tomorrow we'll go to Teotihuacan, an ancient Aztec City built for the leaders and Kings. This will be our first time taking the subway and buses. Wish us luck!
I am having so much fun using my Spanish. It's pretty awesome to have the ability to converse in two languages. So estudiantes, keep working hard at it!
Will connect soon.
Abrazos.. Sra. Koch
After 3 family and friend filled days in Seattle, our plane ride down to Mexico was uneventful (oh, expect for the fact that we almost missed our flight despite the fact we were at the airport 2 hours early!) . I was the last one on the plane and they closed the doors the second I stepped on to it!
We arrived last night very tired as we had to be at the airport at 3:45 a.m.! The boys were totally awesome and had a blast on their first memorable airplane ride. Even more memorable was our zaney ride in a taxi from the airport to our hotel. We missed hitting several cars, a bus and a policeman by just inches and we couldn't even talk over the loud noice of the honking horns. It was totally insane. No one follows the traffic rules and pedestrians definitely do not have the right of way.
Today, the true adventure began. We are staying in an area called the Zocalo. It's the historic district of Mexico City. We began by stopping by what I am sure must be the worlds largest bakery. I am not kidding. It is huge! There were at least a 400 items to choose from cookies, jello molds, candy, cake, donuts and a large assortment of breads. We are going back tomorrow and I'll take photos because you can't believe it.
I am interrupting my train of thought right now to report that firecrackers have been going off outside our window for about 5 minutes now. Oh, now I hear drums. It's 10:00 at night there must be a parade of some sort. I can't see anything I can just hear it. Wait, it's
fireworks right outside our window! Be right back.....
O.K....10 minutes later...
Wow, only in Mexico! We are staying right by a small Chinese district. Is it Chinese New Year? Anyway, on to what we saw today. Class, check out the photos as they are all places of historical or cultural value. We visited the Palacio Nacional (Home to the Presidential offices, the military and art work by Diego Rivera (Frida Kahlo's husband)! He painted the intire history of the Mexican people into murals that cover the walls of the palacio. Across the street from there are several cathedrals (remember 90% of Mexicans are Catholic). When the Spaniards came, they used the Aztec and Toltec indians as slaves and part of their slavery included building churches. The most magnificant today had about 80 percent of all it's features covered in REAL gold!!! There were guards (with guns) surrounding the place.
We then visited the Templo Mayor which is the remains of the tallest temple in Aztec city of Tenotichtitlan. After a lunch of helado y licuados (ice cream and fruit smoothies) we continued on to the local park called Alameda. There, the boys used their Spanish to make their first friend, Victor.
We listened to loud music, people watched and then went to the Palacio de Bellas Arte. It's the art museum that was constructed almost intirely in marble!!! It was so elaborate that we quickly realized we were out of place with two young boys, so we took them across the street to the tallest building in Mexico - La Torre and took in the views of the city and the pollution!
Tomorrow we'll go to Teotihuacan, an ancient Aztec City built for the leaders and Kings. This will be our first time taking the subway and buses. Wish us luck!
I am having so much fun using my Spanish. It's pretty awesome to have the ability to converse in two languages. So estudiantes, keep working hard at it!
Will connect soon.
Abrazos.. Sra. Koch
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
HOLA!
We are only three days away from leaving! I am SO impressed by all my students!! You all have been very welcoming to Sr. Lehman (substitute for 3rd quarter) and have been extremely involved in making a difference to the kids in Mexico!!
The highschoolers donated $50 (700 pesos) and the Junior High 8th grade A5/6 class brought in another $15 (230 pesos)!!! Muchas Gracias! I can't wait to share the stories and send pictures from the orphanage where your money will be going!
Also, the 8th graders rallied and put together some Spanish/English young reader books! Way to go! They will bring some smiles to many faces. Thanks to Mrs. Morden in the library for laminating all our pages!
Thank you students for being so flexible and making this an adventure for all of us!
Sra. Koch
We are only three days away from leaving! I am SO impressed by all my students!! You all have been very welcoming to Sr. Lehman (substitute for 3rd quarter) and have been extremely involved in making a difference to the kids in Mexico!!
The highschoolers donated $50 (700 pesos) and the Junior High 8th grade A5/6 class brought in another $15 (230 pesos)!!! Muchas Gracias! I can't wait to share the stories and send pictures from the orphanage where your money will be going!
Also, the 8th graders rallied and put together some Spanish/English young reader books! Way to go! They will bring some smiles to many faces. Thanks to Mrs. Morden in the library for laminating all our pages!
Thank you students for being so flexible and making this an adventure for all of us!
Sra. Koch
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Would you like to know more about where I am going? Let's look up San Miguel de Allende on the map and on the internet.
It's a town of about 100,000. It's a town full of diversity. There are some very wealthy americans living there and some of the poorest of Mexico. I will be going to a language school called CentroBiligue each morning and working at an orphanage each afternoon (after my siesta!)
I showed most of you the links on this site, but explore them more to check out where I am going!
Hasta Luego!
It's a town of about 100,000. It's a town full of diversity. There are some very wealthy americans living there and some of the poorest of Mexico. I will be going to a language school called CentroBiligue each morning and working at an orphanage each afternoon (after my siesta!)
I showed most of you the links on this site, but explore them more to check out where I am going!
Hasta Luego!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Hola Estudiantes!
I'm only 2 weeks away from going to Mexico. I know all of you and I are anxious about the transition, but I know you and Mr. Lehman are going to have a great 3rd quarter together.
I created this site so we can keep in touch during the next 9 weeks. I won't have a computer with me, but there is an internet cafe in the town where I am living and I'll be able to go there and share my stories and photos with you.
I'll want to know all about what you are up too as well, so keep in touch!
The bummer is that you can't do accents or tildes on this site, so when we write in Spanish it will not be our best grammar!
Nos Vemos!
Sra. Koch
I'm only 2 weeks away from going to Mexico. I know all of you and I are anxious about the transition, but I know you and Mr. Lehman are going to have a great 3rd quarter together.
I created this site so we can keep in touch during the next 9 weeks. I won't have a computer with me, but there is an internet cafe in the town where I am living and I'll be able to go there and share my stories and photos with you.
I'll want to know all about what you are up too as well, so keep in touch!
The bummer is that you can't do accents or tildes on this site, so when we write in Spanish it will not be our best grammar!
Nos Vemos!
Sra. Koch
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