En Queretaro con los "Youngs"

When I met Steve Young (the man who gave Pepe’s name to Ann Dye for me to have a Christian contact here), he invited me to come to his house sometime and meet his family, town, etc. So, when we had a holiday (former Mexican president Benito Juarez’s birthday), I took the liberty to call him up and invite myself over! Quite independently, I might say, I took a taxi (first one on my own), to the bus station, bought a ticket to Querétaro, and was on my way! (Actually, I had to buy a ticket to Irapuato first, and we made several stops after that, but that’s how it works the economical way…)

I arrived late, but Steve and his lovely 2 girls, Mary Catherine and Audrey (who I later learned play the violin wonderfully), came to pick me up. At their beautiful home, I met Laura, mother of 4-the two above, a brother at college in the states, and Stephanie, the 18 year-old about to graduate from high school (or “la prepa,” as they say here.) I also met Mary and her boyfriend. Mary lived in Querétaro last semester as a short-term missionary, and she returned with her boyfriend for her last spring break. Laura took us all out to buy ice-cream and “elote,” (giant, white corn-on-the-cob with mayonnaise, chili pepper, lime juice—it’s sounds gross but it’s amazing; I’ve bought more since!) Down town (about 9pm) we watched a hilarious street performer, and I met Nolan, a two-year missionary who just graduated from Berry College, and who knows several of my friends from high school who went there! Small world! (Or as the say here, “El mundo es un pañuelo,” or “The world is like a handkerchief!”)

The next day I attended an English-speaking church with the Youngs, which I thoroughly adored, and got to meet Ann and Dick Dye, who have been missionaries in Mexico 30 years with MTW. Ann and I later played “the name game,” and found we have many common acquaintances. Fun! The Youngs have been here 8 years, and although there are about to take a year sabbatical, the plan on returning—maybe forever, AND they’re thinking about moving to Guanajuato some day! That night I went out with Mary, David, Nolan, and several other students from all over Mexico. We chatted in Spanish about the difficulties of learning a new language, and all sorts of randomness.

I had planned to leave after one night, but Laura convinced me to stay another, so I got to enjoy her small tour of the city the next day. I also met two visitors of theirs from Michigan. When I arrived Laura told me their house had “revolving doors,” and I learned how true that is! We went to the second convent built in Latin America (were Maximilian was assassinated), saw the giant aqueducts of the city, a huge open market, a statue of the “corregidora,” who warned the city of the on-coming Revolution (like our Paul Revere), and much more.

Overall, it was the most English I’ve spoken since being here, but it was quite restful and pleasant. Especially considering that they had an unlimited-calls-to-the-US-and-Canada phone line that I used to call my family and Ryan! Woo-hoo!