Día de las Flores

Día de las Flores really begins the night before, with everyone crowding the Centro, going to parties/bars, selling flowers, and building/decorating altars. This extravagant altar is actually very tipical. Many people bring waters, juices, beers, ice-cream-anything liquid-to represent the Virgin the Guadalupe's tears (for her children.)

The morning of Día de las Flores, I watched as the boys went around giving different girls flowers. Actually, three guys gave me a rose, too, and asked me to come visit them where they worked/asked me for my number, but I’m afraid I was a waste of a rose--I’ve already found my man. ;)

I ended up studying in a café called Zilch for the whole morning, in the company of Sergio, a friend who studies in the Centro de Idiomas with me. On our way to Zilch, we ran into Sarah, Elizabeth, and Amy breakfasting at a nearby outdoor cafe, as in the picture. they definitely teased me for studying the first day of spring break, but I had my reasons. :) Sergio and I chatted a while, and then I tried to work diligently, as I knew I had to finish as much “tarea” as possible before Ryan (!!!) came to visit, and I also had plans to go to the student conference, and to the beach with Holly and Caitlin.

Here is a short entry—somewhat scattered thoughts—in my journal from while I was there:

“(John 12:12-19) The crowd followed JC b/c of His signs/miracles. Their response? To glorify and praise Him—with branches and crying out Hosanna, and the He did come in the name of the Lord, King of Israel. I wonder how much they really understood what they were saying. How much do I understand this? Your own disciples didn’t understand, until JC was glorified (v16) and perhaps others around me won’t understand (nor I) until you are glorified in our lives. Please Lord, use me to glorify yourself that I and others may understand and praise you more! Forgive me for not lifting you up more in my daily (public and private) life.”