Things we want to remember about our early days in Xalapa:

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The nature sounds are awesome. We love the bird songs in the early morning. They sound very tropical and different than what we hear at home. There are also crickets of some kind. Funny story--we had been here for a few days and were just getting used to our apartment. One night there was a loud monotonous, repetitive sound that just went on and on. It sounded electrical and we started getting worried that maybe it was someone's smoke alarm, maybe they sound different in Mexico? We even sent a message to our landlord to find out what was going on. Turns out, it was just CRICKETS. FYI, they can be REALLY LOUD here.

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The city terrain in this part of Mexico is unbelievable and any pictures I have taken of the hilly city streets just cannot do justice to the reality. The closest thing I know of is San Francisco, but truly not even close. As we drive around cities like Xalapa and Papantla looking for missionary houses, we sometimes hang on for dear life and wish we had a Jeep or a 4-wheeler. Suddenly we find ourselves on streets with no pavement and can only be described as Handcart Hill on pioneer trek. At those moments, Dave is driving and I am navigating and we sometimes wonder if we will get ourselves somewhere we can't get out of. The first few times, I pulled out my camera--because you have to take a picture right?? Wrong. Don't pull out your camera when you are the navigator on the streets of Papantla. Trust me!

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The beggars in the streets...I don't think I will ever get used to it. Some are heartbreaking, like the little man in the wheelchair with crippled arms and legs. His friend pushes his wheelchair to their regular spot, and when he isn't there, I worry about him and wonder where he is. Many of the beggars are very resourceful and creative and seem to have their regular territories and shifts. One we love is an older man who does hula hoop tricks in the middle of the road during the red lights. He always takes a bow just before the light changes. Others stand on the speed bumps on super busy roads and sell trinkets or treats to passing cars. The cars have to slow to nearly a stop--making a living is all about location, location, location.

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