Let the rain fall down

Well it's official. The rainy season has arrived. And this is not a light-shower-rain or gentle-drizzle-rain. This is your-umbrella-is-no-good-here-just-give-up-now-rain. But as long as you don't have anywhere to be or don't mind being a little retrasada, it's pretty nice. And considering that everyone runs on Oaxacan Time, rain is a perfectly legitimate reason for being 45 minutes late! It definitely helps to cool everything down after a hot morning and rain on the roof is one of my favorite things. Plus it makes all the farmers happy. In case you were wondering, this is the perfect time to be sembrando-ing amaranth!
I'm gradually getting my bearings and feeling more comfortable here. One of these days I'll go into more detail about exactly why my host mom is so fantastic, but for right now you'll just have to believe me. Although I'm still not cien por ciento happy with how my internship's going, I'd much rather have that be touch-and-go than to be unhappy with my living situation. It's nice to know that no matter what, I'll come home to someone asking how my day went. It's nice to be mothered.

There are also little things that I've forgotten are familiar. Offertory and communion always feature the same songs at mass (te presentamos…). Seemingly obscure slang, courtesy of Prof. Barrientos, comes up in everyday conversation (Mama Mercedes was worried that my lunch would get apapachado-ed in my backpack). I chose to ignore the "traditional Oaxacan food" side of the menu at dinner tonight in favor of a Puebla classic, tacos al pastor, and what a great choice that was. This summer is not going to be all smiles and rainbow ponies but is it going to be an unforgettable experience. As Bishop Allen says, let the rain fall down…oh let the sky be grey, 'cause if it's gonna get any better, it's gotta get worse for a day.

Poco a poco llegamos.