Una Familia Mehicana

Sunday... Sunday.... Sunday...... Sunday..........Mexicans dedicate this day fully and wholeheartedly to FAMILY... They cancel all plans, reunions, and forget about friends or lives.... and focus on staying home with the FAMILY.

I was looking for a way to maximize my 'Sunday in Mexico'??? THIS is what I came up with!

LIVE WITH A MEXICAN FAMILY!

I left my Hostal yesterday and am now living with a Mexican Family.

A Mom, a Dad, and a 20-year old "Paco" with 12-year old "Fernanda".

They also have a third 19-year old"Marco".. but he is studying Architecture in Mexico City.

The Mom, Patricia, calls her daughter :"daughter".

For example: "Hija, please come here help me"

"Hija, we are here, We arrived"

And I found out that THIS is normal here.. They dont use kids' names! They just call them 'Daughter' and 'Son'.

Patricia also called her husband "sky"... (They hold hands as they walk the streets!)

"For example: "Cielo, I think you need to go this way"

"Cielo, what time is it?"

My Mexican family picked me up and took me to the house, where I put my bag down.... and looked around me TRYING to digest where I am , and What I'm doing!

At 1:00 pm, they took me out!!!

La Quinceniera……

Of all the parties that a girl will attend, none equals the excitement or importance of her 'coming of age 15th birthday ' (the quinceniera). The ceremony -which is basically a mini-wedding- starts with a mass at church with all her friends and family . Dressed in a bridal-like gown , la quinceniera is escorted to the altar by 14 boys and 14 girls. The priest then delivers a sermon based on the girl’s childhood . Then, her father and mother walk up to the stage and both give a very emotional speech addressed to her infront of everyone. She replies back with another speech.

*** Her father gives her a ring.... and With this ring, he says he wants her to stay as a Virgin until her wedding night.

Then, her grandma and grandpa come up to stage and give her a gift and a speech.

Then, the aunt comes up and gives her a speech and another gift.

Then, her uncle gives her a speech.

Then, the 14 Boys and girls go up to her and are GIVEN a speech by the priest.

At first, I was standing in the back of the hall trying to peek inside!

They were around 200 invitees and I had nooooo idea what was going on.

15 minutes later, I started walking slowly....... closer and closer... until.... I eventually was standing ON the stage, One meter away from La Quinceniera, taking upclose pictures , and listening to the ceremony!!!

By the end of the Fiesta, I was eating with them, and smiling and playing with the kids!