Feeling outside my culture

Today is my first US celebrated holiday away from family. I have managed to enjoy every moment. Of course I would love to have family around, but I'm seeing that lives goes on elsewhere. Here is a just a normal day of finals, writing essays and presentations. Other students had big feasts with their friends, but the cloud of finals week still lingers overhead. It has been a wonderful semester, and I'm only half way done with my study abroad experience. Two weeks ago my friends and I ventured to Tequila, Mexico to view the oldest tequila distillery. I decided to save money on a tour train and venture by myself by bus and meet up with them.  I felt like I was walking through a museum as I saw the antique agave crushing wheel of stone and aged wooden and copper machinery. The center of the town had a colonial chapel like most of the towns in Mexico. I enjoyed some local food and headed back to the big city. From there we met up and headed to the beach for a few days of surfing and relaxation before finals. We stayed outside of Puerto Vallarte in a little surfing town where we camped on the beach under millions of stars. Just listening to waves crash and swimming with billions of bright bio luminescent plankton. They brighten like fireflies in the ocean when the water moves around them. To get to the beach where we camp we had to pass through a cemetery that was lit up with candles but pitch black and quiet surrounding it.  The atmosphere was eerie and beautiful all at the same time. I had the natural child like instinct of being afraid of ghosts or dead people but also felt intrigued by the glowing light and attention to detail of the grave sites. Their loved ones must visit every day. I didn't want to leave the beach but I had school work I needed to finish up. Only two more weeks and I will be in the great state of Oaxaca for a week. I will get more beach time then.