Y Tú a Tus 30, ¿Princesa?

Tuesday of last week marked the beginning of one of the biggest events of the year here in my university (and city).

This event is called EXPOTEC and its purpose is to bring together all the different cultures that are represented on campus. Students from each state of the country and international students who have chosen the ITESM as their alma mater showcase their culture during this week.

Students are encouraged to even show off what their country/state is like.

While walking down the Pabellón, one has the opportunity to experience many different cultures and, for those of us who are not from this city (or state or country), one has the opportunity to relive and remember what home looks and smells like.

There are food stands from almost every state (my favorite food stand is the one from the state of Oaxaca, I cannot get enough tlayudas) and a bunch of other Latin American countries (the most popular one being the one from El Salvador).

However, even though it is a competition to see which state/country gets the most awards (my state, Tamaulipas, has gotten the most awards for a couple of years now, actually), EXPOTEC is one week in which everyone becomes one.

All the students want to represent their culture as an individual one but, while doing so, we all actually become a whole.

After all, the only way for people from Tamaulipas to eat crickets from Oaxaca is for the people of Oaxaca to eat goat-in-blood from Tamaulipas.

Traducción:

El pasado martes marco el comienzo de uno de los eventos más grandes de mi universidad (y ciudad).

Este evento es EXPOTEC y su propósito es juntar todas las diferentes culturas que son representadas en el campus. Estudiantes de cada estado de México y estudiantes internacionales que han escogido al ITESM como su alma mater tienen la oportunidad de presentar su cultura durante esta semana.

Los alumnos somos alentados a presumir como es nuestro estado/país.

Mientras vas caminando por el Pabellón, tienes la oportunidad de conocer muchísimas culturas diferentes y, para nosotros que no somos de esta ciudad (o estado o país), la oportunidad de revivir y recordar como se ve y como huele nuestro hogar.

Hay stands de comida de casi todos los estados (mi favorito es del Oaxaca, y es que no puedo comer suficiente tlayudas para que me basten un año) y de muchos otros países Latino Americanos (el más popular siendo el de El Salvador).

Sin embargo, aunque hay una competencia para ver cuál estado/país consigue más premios (que de hecho, mi estado, Tamaulipas, ha conseguido la mayor parte de los premios en los últimos años), EXPOTEC es una semana en la que todos nos convertimos en uno.

Después de todo, la única manera de que un Tamaulipeco pruebe los grillos de Oaxaca es que el Oaxaqueño pruebe el cabrito en sangre de Tamaulipas.

 The Baja California stand ... it won Best Stand, Best Student Association and Best Party Stand. Even though it's not my state, congrats to them!/El stand de Baja California ... ganaron Mejor Stand, Mejor Asociación Estudiantil y Mejor Ambiente. Aunque no era el de mi estado, felicidades a los ganadores!

 Nicaragua: a close runner-up to Best Stand/Nicaragua: casi ganaba Mejor Stand

 TLAYUDAS!!

 Clothes from the Estado de México/Ropa del Estado de México.

 A dance from Holland/Un baile de Holanda.

 A dance from Venezuela/Un baile de Venezuela.

 Part of the Tamaulipas stand. We'll get our awards back next year!!/Parte del stand Tamaulipeco. El próximo año recuperaremos nuestros premios!!

Para el Día de Hoy

Yay!!! It's sunny outside again!!!! :D
So of course I took the opportunity to wear my big, red, floppy hat --that I bought in Oaxaca-- again.
Where did I go? The supermarket, we needed some chicken.
I think it's kind of sad how nowadays so many people decide that sweatpants/shorts + tennis shoes + "bebe" shirts are propper attire for the banal things.
Maybe that's not so where you live, but many women in Monterrey have decided that this is totally acceptable, even popular!
I've seen my share of terrible velour sweatpants with "Juicy" stamped accross the ass to ever want to wear one myself.

Oh, and by the way, people stared at me the whole time I was in there.
I wish someone had taken a photo.
I must have looked so funny next to them.

Traducción:
Por fin, por fin, por fin salió el Sol otra vez!!!!!
Así que tomé la oportunidad para usar mi sombrero rojo y enorme que compré en Oaxaca esta Semana Santa.
"A donde fui", se preguntan? Pues al super, nos faltaba pollo para comer algo hoy.
En mi opinión, es algo triste que tanta gente decida que pants/shorts, camisetas random y tennis son un buen outfit para las cosas más banales.
Puede que no sea así de donde eres tú, pero muchas mujeres en Monterrey han decidido que esto es algo totalmente aceptable ... hasta "popular", creo.
Yo ya he visto demasiados pants que dicen "Juicy" encima de las pompis como para algún día querer ponerme uno --mucho menos comprarlo!!

Y por cierto, mucha gente se me quedaba viendo todo el tiempo que estuve ahi dentro.
Me habría gustado que alguien hubiera tomado una foto.
Siento que me veía súper chistosa enseguida de todas esas mamás usando pants y tennis...

Dress/Vestido: Gap

Shoes/Zapatos: Brantano

Belt/Cinturón: Zara

Hat/Sombrero: Oaxaca market

Watch/Reloj: Forever 21

Flower Ring/Anillo de Flor: Forever 21

Green Ring/Anillo Verde: New York City

Pour Aujord'hui

Yup, I know I've been MIA lately, but you must understand that those final projects are not going to get themselves done by magic (even though I wish it were that way).

But today is my boyfriend's grandfather's birthday, so we went to their quinta for a meal and a dip in the pool. Which means that I finally got to wear that didn't include jeans or tennis shoes, which is what I've been wearing every day since Wednesday to the I.D. workshops.

Dress: H&M
Sandals: Brantano
Floppy Hat: got it at a market in Oaxaca, Oaxaca
Bag: Zara
Bracelet: got it a random boutique in South Padre Island, TX

I love this dress, even though it's 2 sizes too big on me. The fabric makes me think that it was an eight-year-old who painted it with watercolors. I think it's lovely! :)

Si Hasta El Fin Del Mundo Estás

Welcome to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
Puerto Escondido is truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited, all around the world.
I cannot wait to go back.
And if you, or a friend, or your boyfriend enjoy(s) surfing, this is the IT spot, not that I actually know anything about surf.

Besides, before getting there you have to stop at Oaxaca (the capital of the state of Oaxaca).
It is SO full of culture. I'm jealous.
I wish my state had more culture, besides being the first state in Mexico to have an H-E-B or one of the most dangerous ones to live in at the moment. blah...

O.A.XA.CA.

I am Mexican, I've always lived in Mexico, but I've never really travelled in Mexico (one of the downsides of being from a border-city).
During Holy Week, I went to Oaxaca, Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
These are some of the pictures I took at Oaxaca, Oaxaca.

Way Down in Oaxaca

my newest friend! Floppy Hat: bought at Oaxaca
bag: flea market

When I travel, I try to dress nicely; most times I'll wear wedge heels and a comfortable, pretty dress.
I don't particularly enjoy looking bad just because I'm getting on a plane. That's just no excuse to slap a "Juicy" across your butt.
So, this is what I looked like while on the plane from Monterrey, Nuevo León to Oaxaca, Oaxaca.

Dress: Forever 21
Cardigan: Gap
Scarf: Target
Hat: flea market
Watch: Toywatch