A todos mis amigos y mi familia, voy a regresar este domingo. Es una decisión mía y solamente mía. Tengo un sentimiento que tengo que ir a mi casa pero es complicado... Lo lamento a todos mis nuevos amigos que me voy antes del fin del semestre. Yo sé que es terrible pero es algo que siento que debo hacer.
To all my friends and family, I am going to return this Sunday. It is my decision and only mine. I have a feeling that I have to return home but it is complicated (FYI I forgot how to spell complicated the 1st time typing this).... I am sorry to all my new friends that I am leaving before the end of the semester. I know it is terrible but it's something I feel I must do.
ay yay yay.... maybe I'll update this again when I'm not really tired. maybe. If you do not have access to my Facebook profile, google "monterrey, balacera, ITESM, two students" and find some online articles. I think I've put up a fair amount of info onto this blog, but I know my fb profile has more. Terrible. It truly is. Everything.
People from Monterrey said that 5 years ago, even as of 1 year ago things were no where near this bad. 5 years ago they could go almost anywhere without fear, actually live. Now everyone is constantly worried. It's not so much about being in the wrong part of town, or being cafeful of your surroundings, but more of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Except those "wrong places" could be extremely extremely dangerous (as in the case of ITESM last Friday morning). It's probably really hard to get out of the way of 6 men with automatic rifles firing continuously in your general direction. Just saying. Now if you were to be caught BETWEEN those 6 trained military agents, and a few ex-military trained Zetas carrying AK-47s, pretty much may you rest in peace.
Once again, I am returning home 7 weeks early based on my feeling alone. It is not the logic and thought of the situation and the pros and cons of it all or what my parents are saying. It is MY feeling. I feel I need to go home, I don't know why, but I have learned to trust my feelings. I only hope it proves okay again this time.
People, please do not lose hope in this country. Mexico is truly a very very beautiful place. The mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the vistas, the people, all of it is amazing. Now the country is falling down because of decisions that were made many many years ago, even decades. I do not understand that history well, all I know is that those decisions made long ago, fueled on by the demand for drugs in the US, have helped to create what exists today. And yes, I am blaming the US for a good amount of this. It is not the government, is the people who consume these drugs, who sell these drugs that I am blaming. If they knew what had to happen for their weed or coke to get to them, they'd be amazed. The amount of bloodshed, the loss of money, the amount of fear created through many countries, 2 continents, and potentially millions of innocent people affected. It's incredible. I do not believe that if the US were to legalize drugs it would help much with this situation. Nor will a 15 foot wall across the entire frontera with Mexico. These people want to move drugs, they'll find ways to do it. If no one wants these drugs, they're done. No more fear, no more bloodshed, no more innocent people caught up in the war to deliver a quick-fix, a temporary escape for everyone that takes these drugs.
The warnings from the US Consulate to NOT go to Mexico are there for a reason, but I do not believe they are giving the reasons behind it. Many parts of Mexico are safer than even the mediocre parts of SE Michigan. Sure there is petty theft, maybe a robbery, but no one wants to kill to get away with it. Much like MI. Hell, you will not see me walking around downtown Flint or Pontiac in the day, let alone at night. Compared to those 2 places, walking around down here doesn't seem too bad. The reason the Consulate is giving these warning is because of the unexpected LARGE events that may happen. Balaceras en Tijuana (gunfights in Tijuana) for example, kinda hard to avoid if you find yourself suddenly near one. Walking around Guanajuato or Los Cabos San Lucas, Cancun, Mérida, Oaxaca, Zacatecas, much less chance of a balacera breaking out. If you want to go to Mexico, GO! Just avoid the larger cities, for now. Travel with people who know the area well, hire professional guides and taxis, but go and visit! You will be amazed at what this country has to offer. Truly truly stunning. Standing atop pyramids, climbing mountains, going thru caves, walking the streets of 400 year old cities, going into mines, drinking wine in outdoor restaurants while enjoying music, waterfalls, rivers, todo.
Please take these words into consideration and even to heart. The news doesn't report everything, they only give the BIG PICTURE of what happened. Don't judge an entire country based on the border and a couple other cities. Thank you.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Technological Institute of Higher Learning of Monterrey
The title of this blog is the English version of ITESM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estuidos Superiores de Monterrey). When I first read the name in the CNN article about the killing of 2 Tec students, I thought "what is that? that's not Tec's name!" I guess I never translated the name ITESM into English... anyway.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/22/mexico.students.killed/index.html?hpt=T2
there is the CNN article covering the end result of what happened. I have friend that were at a bar called La Barca when this happened. Also another that was in a car driving by (he was about 40 feet away from the Militars). They said there was gunfire for about 15 minutes, then a 10 minute pause, then another 10 minutes of shooting. The drug dealers used fragmentation grenades against the miltiars. The 2 students, Jorge and Javier, both masters students on academic scholarships, were leaving from the library. They walked up behind where the car of drug dealers were firing from. It was the military that shot and killed the 2 students. *********The rumor is that the military took any ID's out of their wallets to avoid problems******* might explain why the initial news said it was 2 drug dealers who were killed and not 2 students.
Anyway, for those who read this, you will know that I am coming home. My parents have said that I am free to choose to stay here or return home, my choice. I know that if I stay my mom will be nothing but stress and I cannot do that to her. Therefore I will return to MI somewhere around Sunday the 28th of March.
Talk to you soon.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/22/mexico.students.killed/index.html?hpt=T2
there is the CNN article covering the end result of what happened. I have friend that were at a bar called La Barca when this happened. Also another that was in a car driving by (he was about 40 feet away from the Militars). They said there was gunfire for about 15 minutes, then a 10 minute pause, then another 10 minutes of shooting. The drug dealers used fragmentation grenades against the miltiars. The 2 students, Jorge and Javier, both masters students on academic scholarships, were leaving from the library. They walked up behind where the car of drug dealers were firing from. It was the military that shot and killed the 2 students. *********The rumor is that the military took any ID's out of their wallets to avoid problems******* might explain why the initial news said it was 2 drug dealers who were killed and not 2 students.
Anyway, for those who read this, you will know that I am coming home. My parents have said that I am free to choose to stay here or return home, my choice. I know that if I stay my mom will be nothing but stress and I cannot do that to her. Therefore I will return to MI somewhere around Sunday the 28th of March.
Talk to you soon.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Damn Drug Dealers
For those who are clueless to the current drug cartel war in North American right now, this message is for you. For those who know what's going on, this message is for you.
Thank you, thank you, *dearest* drug dealers (note the 100% sarcasm here) for being *ever-so-smart* and *playing nice little games* of *tag* with the Mexican Military at 2am and 10ft away from the edge of Tec campus. You lost. Good. As for what that says about security in the city of Monterrey, I don't know.
I reallllyyy hope this drug war doesn't progress further in this city, and in the vicinity of this school, otherwise I will have no choice but to come home early. Suffice to say, I am feeling somewhere in between nervous, scared, angry, and confused.
Beyond this, life has been alright. Great weather, had a blast at Privatt on Wednesday night watching Los Claxons! Personajes live!!!! yeah. Okay, its Saturday, maybe I'll update this thing today again. We'll see.
Ciao.
Thank you, thank you, *dearest* drug dealers (note the 100% sarcasm here) for being *ever-so-smart* and *playing nice little games* of *tag* with the Mexican Military at 2am and 10ft away from the edge of Tec campus. You lost. Good. As for what that says about security in the city of Monterrey, I don't know.
I reallllyyy hope this drug war doesn't progress further in this city, and in the vicinity of this school, otherwise I will have no choice but to come home early. Suffice to say, I am feeling somewhere in between nervous, scared, angry, and confused.
Beyond this, life has been alright. Great weather, had a blast at Privatt on Wednesday night watching Los Claxons! Personajes live!!!! yeah. Okay, its Saturday, maybe I'll update this thing today again. We'll see.
Ciao.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Why writing in this thing is becoming harder and harder...
At first, I had a lot of time down here. Yeah that has changed. My apologies for taking over a week to update this thing, but stuff keeps happening! I have a huge headache right now so this is gonna be short.
First off, the differences in salutations between MI and Monterrey. In MI, most men my age greet each other with a handshake and maybe a quick hug with one pat on the back from right shoulder to right shoulder if you are good friends. Greeting women is usually with a hug of right-to-right shoulder if you know each other. When saying goodbye the same process is used. Here when you greet another man of similar age, and even up to 20 years older (if he's a friend of a friend or the Tec security guards because they're cool) you go right hand to right hand with hands open then kind of pull away with your hand still open. Then make a fist, or turn your hand to the side and lightly tap the other persons greeting. When saying goodbye you do the same thing first, then LEFT SHOULDER to left shoulder is a quick hug-and-pat their back and then another fist bump thing. Saying goodbye to a familiar female you lightly kiss right cheek to right cheek.
Of course when meeting unfamiliar women or anyone of learned status (teachers, administrators, attendants tec.) you use the same handshake conventions as in the US. If after a friendly conversation with a woman you may say goodbye with a light kiss on the cheek, but it's up to the feeling of the conversation that will dictate this.
Let's just say that after 2 months a traditional good handshake is rare and actually comforting. Any woman who shakes hand does so with good grip pressure and time.
When walking down the sidewalk in MI and passing by unfamiliar people I generally look at them and nod my head as a sign of "hello". Here, no looking. Just keep looking forward. If you look at a passing stranger it might be interpreted as a sign of "confrontation" or some sort, as I've been told. This is a harder habit to break.
What else... carrying a lighter at all times even if you do not smoke is probably a good idea. It's a way to meet people, it shows that you are prepared to help others even if you do not partake in smoking yourself, and you never know what it might help.
I have noticed that people here shower more than in the US. Maybe its just living in housing, but even though the weather is warm for me, students shower a little more (not that I have heavily analyzed anyones shower schedule in the US). And I know this is going to increase when the temperature is above 30 C (86F).
Classes are going alright. My Spanish Language class is a giant review, which is actually good. Just kinda boring at times. Math for Engineering 3 is also a review with some more in-depth studies of directional derivatives and double integration. Design of Machine Elements is great. It's taught almost like my Mechanics of Materials class last semester with Professor Khosrovaneh. Good problem explanation with some explanation of the theory and dangers within problems. Good stuff.
Fluid Mechanics is just hard. Not only is my professor known amongst students and other teachers as being difficult and "different", but he is very strict and by the books. Example: Since the beginning of January I knew my father would be in Los Cabo San Lucas in the middle of March. In that Fluids class I never received a course syllabus nor a list of exam dates. All there was for exams where the ITESM recommended periods for partial exams. In late January I bought a plane ticket to Cabo to visit my dad from Thursday until Sunday (knowing that I would miss a Friday lecture during the week after recommended exams). Last Wednesday my professor announced that the next exam would be the week after the ITESM recommended dates for partial exams and that it would be a class vote for either Wednesday or Friday. Go ahead, guess which date the class chose. So after class I speak to my professor, explaining the situation and that he never announced the dates of partial exams. I asked him what my options were. His response, nothing. Huh?? Nothing. Can I take the test at a later date? No. Can I do a homework assignment in place of part of the grade? No. What can I do? Nothing. I spoke with the ME Department Head about the situation and he said that the course syllabus should have information in it regarding exams. Refer to 11 lines above (well, 11 for the editor of this thing). No syllabus. What will probably happen is I lose the $250 on tickets and just take the damn exam, then go to Xilitla, La Huasteca instead.
I am now helping the ITESM Solar Decathlon 2010 Europe competition team. I met a guy named Eleazar Garza who is on the team. They will hopefully begin construction of the huse within 3 weeks. I will be helping with the mechanical systems including hot water, plumbing, and general construction.
Swimming and running are going, worse than I'd like. It's really hard to eat enough at the right time to make it through a swim workout and then lifting/running. I really need to find a place nearby that has good healthy food that I can eat around 4pm every day... I'm able to swim 900m fine, but its that 19th lap where I just lose all motivation to keep going so I do one more lap to hit 1000m and just get out. Really depressing actually. Thinking back to last summer when I would get back to Clarkston on Tuesdays and Thursdays from working in Livonia, get a quick and small snack, then head out for a 45 minute bike ride. The bike felt great, but all too often I would hop off the bike after 12 miles and start my run. I would only make it 1/3 mile running and it felt like everything just dropped. I had literally ran out of gas. Those depressing walks back home just sucked. Now I need to learn how to avoid that from happening here...
SigEp related news... Last weekend was CLA in Pittsburgh. I wish I could have went! But I sponsored Grant Burch instead. From the sound of things, he had an amazing weekend and learned a ton. Always brings a smile to my face to do things like that.... You deserved it Grant, now go, make Sound Body one of the best! I am about halfway thru my Lifetime Responsibility of Brotherhood, and I must say that book gets better every time you read it. I will hopefully take charge of some YRR when I get back, maybe take over as Epsilon Coordinator, and we'll see what happens with Executive Board next year. Also, I am making preparations for my Fellow Project. The Fellow Project is a 500 hour/60 day project that uses all of your leadership skills and abilities to work towards a goal greater than you may have ever imagined. I am currently talking to many many people here about the lack of electricity in rural Latin America. I might do something along the lines of Rural Electrification of developing cities and regions. This would also me community awareness of the issues facing less-developed cities and countries around the world plus the technologies involved and how that can be used in Michigan.
Family news.... My Mother will be running a half marathon this Sunday at Walt Disney World for the Disney's Princess Half Marathon. If you can see my Facebook status, there you go. Well heck, I'll just put it here again to quickly summarize my feelings on the situation...
Ian Williams in my 20 years of life upon this planet, I have constantly worked to make my parents proud. I am the man I am today because of their constant love and support. All of my actions are guided by the "would my mother approve of this?" rule. In running races the past few years, I have worked to run for my parents and everyone else. As proud as our parents can be of us, we too, their children can feel the same way. This Sunday, my mother is going to run a half marathon, 13.1 miles, something she thought only a couple years ago to be completely impossible for her. She has learned about food, exercise, stretching, The Stick, and running injuries. I am truly truly proud of her and apologize that I will be unable to watch her race. Mom, I love you with all my heart. I am so very proud of what you have accomplished. Run your race. See you in 13.1...
I will not say any more about this.
Spring break tentative plans: fly to Veracruz, get to Ciudad del Carmen, take a bus to Cancun, fly back to Monterrey. Sound good?? I need to visit Oaxaca while I'm here and I also want to make it to La Xilitla as well.
Okay, it's 12:41 am. I'm going to bed. I hope you all are doing well and thank you for reading this.
First off, the differences in salutations between MI and Monterrey. In MI, most men my age greet each other with a handshake and maybe a quick hug with one pat on the back from right shoulder to right shoulder if you are good friends. Greeting women is usually with a hug of right-to-right shoulder if you know each other. When saying goodbye the same process is used. Here when you greet another man of similar age, and even up to 20 years older (if he's a friend of a friend or the Tec security guards because they're cool) you go right hand to right hand with hands open then kind of pull away with your hand still open. Then make a fist, or turn your hand to the side and lightly tap the other persons greeting. When saying goodbye you do the same thing first, then LEFT SHOULDER to left shoulder is a quick hug-and-pat their back and then another fist bump thing. Saying goodbye to a familiar female you lightly kiss right cheek to right cheek.
Of course when meeting unfamiliar women or anyone of learned status (teachers, administrators, attendants tec.) you use the same handshake conventions as in the US. If after a friendly conversation with a woman you may say goodbye with a light kiss on the cheek, but it's up to the feeling of the conversation that will dictate this.
Let's just say that after 2 months a traditional good handshake is rare and actually comforting. Any woman who shakes hand does so with good grip pressure and time.
When walking down the sidewalk in MI and passing by unfamiliar people I generally look at them and nod my head as a sign of "hello". Here, no looking. Just keep looking forward. If you look at a passing stranger it might be interpreted as a sign of "confrontation" or some sort, as I've been told. This is a harder habit to break.
What else... carrying a lighter at all times even if you do not smoke is probably a good idea. It's a way to meet people, it shows that you are prepared to help others even if you do not partake in smoking yourself, and you never know what it might help.
I have noticed that people here shower more than in the US. Maybe its just living in housing, but even though the weather is warm for me, students shower a little more (not that I have heavily analyzed anyones shower schedule in the US). And I know this is going to increase when the temperature is above 30 C (86F).
Classes are going alright. My Spanish Language class is a giant review, which is actually good. Just kinda boring at times. Math for Engineering 3 is also a review with some more in-depth studies of directional derivatives and double integration. Design of Machine Elements is great. It's taught almost like my Mechanics of Materials class last semester with Professor Khosrovaneh. Good problem explanation with some explanation of the theory and dangers within problems. Good stuff.
Fluid Mechanics is just hard. Not only is my professor known amongst students and other teachers as being difficult and "different", but he is very strict and by the books. Example: Since the beginning of January I knew my father would be in Los Cabo San Lucas in the middle of March. In that Fluids class I never received a course syllabus nor a list of exam dates. All there was for exams where the ITESM recommended periods for partial exams. In late January I bought a plane ticket to Cabo to visit my dad from Thursday until Sunday (knowing that I would miss a Friday lecture during the week after recommended exams). Last Wednesday my professor announced that the next exam would be the week after the ITESM recommended dates for partial exams and that it would be a class vote for either Wednesday or Friday. Go ahead, guess which date the class chose. So after class I speak to my professor, explaining the situation and that he never announced the dates of partial exams. I asked him what my options were. His response, nothing. Huh?? Nothing. Can I take the test at a later date? No. Can I do a homework assignment in place of part of the grade? No. What can I do? Nothing. I spoke with the ME Department Head about the situation and he said that the course syllabus should have information in it regarding exams. Refer to 11 lines above (well, 11 for the editor of this thing). No syllabus. What will probably happen is I lose the $250 on tickets and just take the damn exam, then go to Xilitla, La Huasteca instead.
I am now helping the ITESM Solar Decathlon 2010 Europe competition team. I met a guy named Eleazar Garza who is on the team. They will hopefully begin construction of the huse within 3 weeks. I will be helping with the mechanical systems including hot water, plumbing, and general construction.
Swimming and running are going, worse than I'd like. It's really hard to eat enough at the right time to make it through a swim workout and then lifting/running. I really need to find a place nearby that has good healthy food that I can eat around 4pm every day... I'm able to swim 900m fine, but its that 19th lap where I just lose all motivation to keep going so I do one more lap to hit 1000m and just get out. Really depressing actually. Thinking back to last summer when I would get back to Clarkston on Tuesdays and Thursdays from working in Livonia, get a quick and small snack, then head out for a 45 minute bike ride. The bike felt great, but all too often I would hop off the bike after 12 miles and start my run. I would only make it 1/3 mile running and it felt like everything just dropped. I had literally ran out of gas. Those depressing walks back home just sucked. Now I need to learn how to avoid that from happening here...
SigEp related news... Last weekend was CLA in Pittsburgh. I wish I could have went! But I sponsored Grant Burch instead. From the sound of things, he had an amazing weekend and learned a ton. Always brings a smile to my face to do things like that.... You deserved it Grant, now go, make Sound Body one of the best! I am about halfway thru my Lifetime Responsibility of Brotherhood, and I must say that book gets better every time you read it. I will hopefully take charge of some YRR when I get back, maybe take over as Epsilon Coordinator, and we'll see what happens with Executive Board next year. Also, I am making preparations for my Fellow Project. The Fellow Project is a 500 hour/60 day project that uses all of your leadership skills and abilities to work towards a goal greater than you may have ever imagined. I am currently talking to many many people here about the lack of electricity in rural Latin America. I might do something along the lines of Rural Electrification of developing cities and regions. This would also me community awareness of the issues facing less-developed cities and countries around the world plus the technologies involved and how that can be used in Michigan.
Family news.... My Mother will be running a half marathon this Sunday at Walt Disney World for the Disney's Princess Half Marathon. If you can see my Facebook status, there you go. Well heck, I'll just put it here again to quickly summarize my feelings on the situation...
Ian Williams in my 20 years of life upon this planet, I have constantly worked to make my parents proud. I am the man I am today because of their constant love and support. All of my actions are guided by the "would my mother approve of this?" rule. In running races the past few years, I have worked to run for my parents and everyone else. As proud as our parents can be of us, we too, their children can feel the same way. This Sunday, my mother is going to run a half marathon, 13.1 miles, something she thought only a couple years ago to be completely impossible for her. She has learned about food, exercise, stretching, The Stick, and running injuries. I am truly truly proud of her and apologize that I will be unable to watch her race. Mom, I love you with all my heart. I am so very proud of what you have accomplished. Run your race. See you in 13.1...
I will not say any more about this.
Spring break tentative plans: fly to Veracruz, get to Ciudad del Carmen, take a bus to Cancun, fly back to Monterrey. Sound good?? I need to visit Oaxaca while I'm here and I also want to make it to La Xilitla as well.
Okay, it's 12:41 am. I'm going to bed. I hope you all are doing well and thank you for reading this.
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