Week one at the CCM

What is up everybody!

The night we arrived

I officially made it through my first week at the CCM. It is awesome here! However, now nearly as warm as I had hoped it would be. All those sweaters that my mom mocked me for packing are now coming in super handy.

I should start by saying that my companion is Hermana Eyre, and she is from Utah, as is 95% of the English speakers at the CCM. No joke. But she is amazing. She spoke fluent French before she got here, so the Spanish is pretty hard for her, but she is dedicated, and she pushes me to be a better missionary and person (which has included getting out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to go running, which to anyone who knows me, it is not an easy thing to do.) We get along really well, and I couldn't have asked for a better first companion. We share a room with the other two girls in our district, Hermana Welch and Hermana Te'o (And before the questions start coming in, yes Mantai Te'o is her brother.)

Hermana Eyre being, well, Hermana Eyre

Our district is super and we are getting to know each other really fast. The vast amount of time that we spend locked in our classroom makes sure of that. Our zone is super awesome too. We do TONS of stuff together, and they are all super fun. 

Mom asked what our daily schedule was like, so I figured I would tell you about that.

6:30--Wake up

7:00--Personal study in our classrooms

8:00--Breakfast

8:30--Language with Hermano Munoz

9:30--Fundamentals of teaching (pretty much more Spanish)

10:30--Coaching (Basically individualized Spanish)

11:40--Gym Time (Aka King of the court volleyball with my zone)

1:00--Lunch 

1:30--Tienda Time (Although not an officially sanctioned part of the day, it is a crucial and important ritual of zone 10, and is the only way to survive the next hour which is...)

1:45--TALL (Spanish computer grammar)

2:45--Teach Arturo (he is our first "investigator" and we have to teach him completely in Spanish, seeing as he doesn't speak any English. I am very grateful for my previous Spanish knowledge.)

3:15--More studying (Hermana Eyre and I take this crucial period of the day to sit out in "Zona Rosa" and study a lot, and possibly get a little bit of sun tanning done at the same time. It is a double win.)

6:30--Dinner

7:15--Personal and district study

9:20--Sing Hymns and Night time prayers with our zone

9:30--Casa time! (Crash for the night, write in our journals and get in to bed as soon as possible)

10:30--Lights out (I should take the time to mention that I am ALWAYS fast asleep by the time this rolls around. Sometimes even before 10.)

Our Casa

Our room (my bunk is on the right, top)

Still haven't managed to fall out of bed. It is an accomplishment.

Anyway, I don't know how many ways I can say I love it here. The food, however, is mildly to moderately questionable, but I have learned that a Nutella and Banana sandwich and/or a bowl of cereal will at least get you through to the next meal. I have also learned that true joy is walking into the comedor, and seeing a stack of Costco pizzas.

The comedor

My district and zone are amazing. That is the only way I can describe it. We are always together (seriously, always) have tienda time, our own secret TALL lab to which you may or may not have to have a secret knock to get in to, teaching everyone to break/cut their apples with their bare hands (yes I can do this, pictures to come next week), and SweaterScarfSaturdays. There is always something to look forward around here when it comes to my zone.

Hermana Gamble and me...                  This is more like it. 

One really cool thing: I didn't know that the CCM has not been dedicated yet. But anyway, on February 9th, some general authorities are coming down from Salt Lake to dedicate it! (Rumors are Elder Holland, but nothing has been confirmed on that front.) It will be so cool to get to be here for that though. I also got selected to sing in a choir that is performing at the dedication, and have been able to be practicing with them throughout the week. I am so excited!

Fun connections of the week: I got to see Hermana Kandice Palmer who lived above me last ear in Wyview. She left Tuesdayfor Baton Rouge, but it was nice to see a familiar face, especially when I thought I knew no one here. Also, Hermana Gamble from my zone lives right across the street from Bishop Christensen from my ward this year. Her companion is Hemana Jones, who, incidentally has eaten at, and loves, Oklahoma Joe's, and therefore wins my favorite person of the week award.

Sorry that is so much, but it has been such an exciting and fun week here at the CCM! Me gusta el CCM, and can't wait to see what else will happen over the next 5 weeks!

It's always a beautiful day in La Ciudad de México

Today

A wonderful view of the city

These are the fire hydrants.

I hate these sinks. I didn't know it was possible to hate sinks, but I hate these sinks. You have to put your hand on the little bar thing and push it to get the water to get out of the sink. So strange

Earthquake circles. Whenever the sirens go off, you run to one of these. That way you are guaranteed that no buildings will fall on you. Comforting, I know.

I could get used to this.