First-Year Student Journals : Alma : Journal 6

Home Sweet Home

Authentic tamales, going to bed at who knows what hour in the morning, waking up at noon, spontaneous trips to Mexico, absolutely no obligations. This is truly the good life. My holiday vacations were exactly what I needed after the ruthless finals.

Christmas was peaceful. We spent half of the day at my grandma’s in Mexico where we chatted and laughed endlessly with our aunts, uncles and cousins while we nibbled on all sorts of cookies, cakes and other sweets. When we returned home my entire family gathered in our living room, and one at a time we opened our presents so everyone would know what we had each received.

New Year’s Eve, although not as peaceful, was that much more fun. Our relatives gathered in our house and we barbecued and played small family games. One consisted of winning small gag gifts every time a particular number was rolled on two dice. Of course out of about forty presents, I only won one. Nonetheless, it was so much fun watching everybody fighting for and stealing a particularly attractive gift. (That was the object of the game.) After an hour of yelling, laughing and playfully criticizing, we rang in the new year by watching a most amazing 20-minute fireworks display put on by some of the city residents. It wasn’t a center display for the entire city or anything like that. We just happened to watch it from our backyard. It was awesome!

Unlike what many students are experiencing in their hometowns, I have enjoyed the warmth of an enduring sun and the windiness provoked by giant, swaying palm trees here in Weslaco. There were infinite things that kept me busy when I had just arrived: visiting my grandma in Mexico, last minute Christmas shopping, meeting with old high school friends, movies with my siblings and so on, but thankfully everything is winding down. I have returned to the usual housework in the morning, my abandoned Spanish telenovela in the afternoon and small wrestling matches with my 12-year-old brother at night because by that time we are already on each other’s nerves. Ahhh, the old times.

Today I got my hair trimmed and shopped for everything I needed to return to Austin. As painful as I thought it would be, it really wasn’t. When shopping for my dorm stuff, I was not delighted yet I was not sad. I realized I was well adjusted to my new life in Austin. While the fun I enjoyed with my family during these past few weeks could never be replaced by anything else, I do miss my amazing dorm friends, working out in the local gym and hanging out at the coffee shops. No, I don’t miss my assigned readings yet. I guess it’s time to return!



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	Home Sweet Home Authentic tamales, going to bed at who knows what hour in the morning, waking up at noon, spontaneous trips to Mexico, absolutely no obligations. This is truly the good life. My holiday vacations were exactly what I needed after the ruthless finals. Christmas was peaceful. We spent half of the day at my grandma’s in Mexico where we chatted and laughed endlessly with our aunts, uncles and cousins while we nibbled on all sorts of cookies, cakes and other sweets. When we returned home my entire family gathered in our living room, and one at a time we opened our presents so everyone would know what we had each received. New Year’s Eve, although not as peaceful, was that much more fun. Our relatives gathered in our house and we barbecued and played small family games. One consisted of winning small gag gifts every time a particular number was rolled on two dice. Of course out of about forty presents, I only won one. Nonetheless, it was so much fun watching everybody fighting for and stealing a particularly attractive gift. (That was the object of the game.) After an hour of yelling, laughing and playfully criticizing, we rang in the new year by watching a most amazing 20-minute fireworks display put on by some of the city residents. It wasn’t a center display for the entire city or anything like that. We just happened to watch it from our backyard. It was awesome! Unlike what many students are experiencing in their hometowns, I have enjoyed the warmth of an enduring sun and the windiness provoked by giant, swaying palm trees here in Weslaco. There were infinite things that kept me busy when I had just arrived: visiting my grandma in Mexico, last minute Christmas shopping, meeting with old high school friends, movies with my siblings and so on, but thankfully everything is winding down. I have returned to the usual housework in the morning, my abandoned Spanish telenovela in the afternoon and small wrestling matches with my 12-year-old brother at night because by that time we are already on each other’s nerves. Ahhh, the old times. Today I got my hair trimmed and shopped for everything I needed to return to Austin. As painful as I thought it would be, it really wasn’t. When shopping for my dorm stuff, I was not delighted yet I was not sad. I realized I was well adjusted to my new life in Austin. While the fun I enjoyed with my family during these past few weeks could never be replaced by anything else, I do miss my amazing dorm friends, working out in the local gym and hanging out at the coffee shops. No, I don’t miss my assigned readings yet. I guess it’s time to return!