Something I Can Do That I Didn't Know I Could

As I write, I am cooking red peppers in balsamic vinegar. I really like to make it and usually serve it with goat cheese on good bread. Except that good bread is next to impossible to find here, so I am trying some sort of good bread... I just got back from the store where I finally got some stuff to cook with (hence the peppers). I did drop a jar of chicken broth though and learned that here they don't give you a new one, you pay for the broken one. That was somewhat frustrating.

So far today has been a really good day. The thing I am most excited about is that while Nisha has been out of town, Christian and I have continued our training! It is so hard to self motivate and especially because I still don't know all that much, I was worried that we wouldn't go or that we wouldn't get anything done. But we have been doing really well, working on our parts for the show, but also just practicing tricks and trying to get stronger (which for me, feels impossible, like no matter what I do it's not enough). I am so happy because when I leave San Miguel and I don't have Nisha pushing me to do thing and try new tricks, I think I am going to be able to do it! It's not as hard as it seems to just go and do whatever you can. Everytime we leave Christian and I are so excited like we can't believe we actually did it. This is one of the things I am learning from Nisha; how to put into action the things that you think about doing. She gets more stuff done in one day than I think many people do in a week. Seriously, without exaggeration. She is incredibly productive. Not only that, but there is a woman who is just starting again after a long break and we are helping her remember movements and teaching her some new things and it's so cool to be able to explain things to her. Not only is does she learn, but once I have shown someone else, it is much harder for me to forget. I am starting to feel like I will be able to be a teacher. Soon! On top of that, the circus school is moving to a new location next month and there I may be able to teach some Pilates. It would be so good to just get started with that. I feel like it's what I really want to be doing right now and since the certification class got canceled, I am all off track. So I am just going to create a class myself and start at the school. I don't want to keep putting it off forever.
So I don't know what else, I am just so happy to be acting on my wishes instead of just thinking about how I can't do it. I have more energy today than I have had in so long, which is just totally reinforcing what a good thing this is. Chao!

My day

I feel bad that I haven't been writing here. The idea was to stay in touch and let everyone know what I am doing, but I have been in a funky place for quite a while and I don't really want to write about all the bad stuff. I have now been in Mexico for a year, save for the couple of months I came home last summer. It has been a very interesting time that has evolved from the idea of traveling for a bit to living in San Miguel training in a circus, with stops along the way in all sorts of places. I feel like I have learned so much. I am not even sure about what exactly, but I am definitely more grown up, more put together, more able to handle what comes my way, more flexible, mentally and physically! My heart has been opened and elated and broken and expanded and a few times had to close. I feel less confused about what I want to do.

And since I don't know what else to write will just say that yesterday I cleaned my room until Jan stopped by to pick me up. We went to the market and I had my dog leashes (which I got for 50 pesos) cut to the right length for spinning fire. I went to the key place I had been to before even though I knew they might not have the tools. They were just very nice. They did the work and when I asked them how much they said "just go learn quickly." It was so sweet, but I left them some money anyway. Then Jan and I went to the hostel where he had leftover tofu burgers ready to be cooked. We ate and it was great! On the 4th of July we had made tofu burgers for the first time and they were quite a success. After some lovely Oaxacan hot chocolate we went to the artesan's market to get the balls for my spinners. We walked up and down several times and finally got a couple of hacky sacks for 35 pesos. Back at the hostel we chatted with the owner for a while until one of the guests came back and said he was going to a performance of folkloric traditional dance from Jalisco. It was excellent! Afterwards, in search of food, we walked to the zocalo and the moment we arrived huge fireworks exploded over our heads! The closest I have ever seen them. We went over to find out what they were for and learned that yesterday San MIguel was created a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has been working for this for a long time so there a big celebration and everyone was very happy. When it was over we went to Los Milagros to eat, and then I went home. It was a good day.
Today I will work on my spinners and then go to training. Maybe I will go to the circus school beforehand and watch the class...