First week in Oaxaca

We got in to Oaxaca a little over a week ago. I haven´t had the opportunity to write much as we have been working on settling in to the new digs. It´s been an adventure in itself figuring out where to buy groceries, where the banks are, which buses to take, how much is too much for a taxi, even the different way to wash clothes.
We´ve found out the best places to buy fresh chicken, or beef, who has the freshest vegetables, and where to buy in bulk. There are supermarkets, but the open air markets are much more fun. You go from stall to stall and buy a little here, a little there. This last Saturday we spent the whole afternoon getting to know the downtown market. The only drawback, is it is a lot more time consuming.
Matt has completed his first week of language school. It is very intensive, at 7 hrs a day. He has a good teacher, Flor, and is enjoying his cooking class. He comes home and our young neighbors, Gabi, 9, and Abram, 7, have taken on the formidable task of his little `maestros´ and talk his ear off in Spanish. The landlords at our little apartment, Zoila and Gonzalo, say that Matt´s Spanish has improved so much in just one week, and I can really see it too.
I have been so lucky as to find a wonderful Yoga studio not far from Matt´s school, and we also heard that the Selesians have a `casa´or home-convent here in Oaxaca. I am hoping to get to know more about the order here in Mexico and Latin America, and maybe even do some volunteering.

At our little apartment `complex´ there are 5 apartments. Zoila and Gonzalo live on the first floor. On the second floor lives Gonzalo´s father on one side, and their daughter Sandra and her family on the other side. On the Third floor lives Zoila and Gonzala´s son Eric with his family, and then there´s Matt and me. So it is really one big extended family. The apartments are closed off from the street and Zoila and Gonzalo help look after the children, and everyone shares the open space for fiestas, or to just relax together. They have been so sweet and welcomed us with open arms. Matt and Zoila have already started swaping recipes!

Robert and Glenda´s good friends Conchis and Miguel have also opened up their home and welcomed us to Oaxaca as well. We shared pan de los muertos (bread of the dead) with them the first of November, gone to church with them at the little chapel, and went to a pre-marital talk that they do. It has been wonderful discussing faith with them, and to learn about the Catholic Movement that they are involved in that promotes strong and healthy families, and talks about the change from the Machismo Male head of the family, to the importance of communication and compromise.

So that is our life right now here in Oaxaca in a BIG nut shell :). We will write more soon. We hope all is well and that God is blessing you all. Know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers. Keep in touch! Much love, Janelle and Matt