Traveling in Morelia

Back to Normal in Morelia – By Emily Hogge – Guest blogger traveling in Mexico.
I've started to finally get into a schedule here in Morelia, and more into the swing of things. The first week here, I was just so tired, both from the adjustment and from the altitude (Morelia is about 1000ft higher than Denver!). Now I have a routine of sorts, and I like it. I go to class each day for a few hours to work on my Spanish, eat a large lunch (which is really more like dinner) in the mid afternoon, and usually hit up conversation club in the evenings, along with other fun things. I've learned how to cook several Mexican foods, taken salsa lessons, and sat in a few cafes.
The pace of life here (in general it seems, not just for me, the traveler with not much to do) is slower than what I'm used to in America. People take time to eat and socialize, and when we eat dinner (or lunch), there's usually a steady stream of people flowing through the house. I like how when we have a drink in a cafe, we can sit and talk for hours, and the waiter will never come with the check unless we ask for it. There's the sense that you're there to relax and converse, and it would be rude to be rushed. I like that.
I've also taken to feasting on some of the delicious pastries from the local panaderia in the afternoons. There's a vast array of choices, along with a vast array of bees too, but that's just part of the fun. My two American friends are trying to eat their way through the bakery and try every kind, which isn't a bad idea. There's a custard that I've been eyeing, so that might be today's treat. Not a bad pace of life, no?
I feel like this trip is also teaching me about traveling. The only time I've been out of the country alone prior to this, I was 16, and lived with a host mother, so I really wasn't really ever on my own. Here while I am staying with a local family, it's really up to me what I do. I love meandering through the streets, looking at one of the many fountains, or even going to the local market and being wowed by the mountains of chiles.
It's interesting to meet new people too. Some of the people at the school have been here for a while, and don't seem overly friendly, but others are very open to talk, salsa, and explore. While last week was stressful with all the new experiences, I'm now very glad I'm here. I've met some really nice people, seen some neat things, and I'm excited to go to Mexico City tomorrow and the pyramids of Teotihuacan too (though I'm still a little nervous about the crowds in the City). I feel lucky that I get to do this traveling, since I know it's not an option for many people. It's nice to be here.