Packing for Puebla

      Puebla's climate is not what you probably envision when you think of Mexico.  Recently, days have been in the 70s, nights in the 50s -- quite a bit cooler than Indiana lately! The record August high for Puebla is 32C (89.6F) .While Puebla is much closer to the equator than Indiana is, it's also at 2200 meters (7,217 feet). The surrounding area is mountainous, with recently-smoking volcano Popocatépetl ("Popo" to the locals) 40km away.

       Two years ago, I went a little later in the year and encountered a few nights in the 40s -- pretty chilly when there's no central heat! On the bus in the morning, the mamacitas would be escorting their niños to la escuela. Each chico or chica would have on a heavy chaqueta (jacket) and often a knitted scarf and gloves. Meanwhile, I'd be wearing a medium-heavy wool sweater with a light trench coat over it. Mexican people are very polite, but I know a few looked at la pobre turista and thought she must be muy frio like them.

      I'll be taking the same sweater again, and possibly the trench coat, though more likely just a nylon windbreaker. For the flight itself, i'll wear the sweater (I FREEZE on planes!) with slacks and a blouse. I'll be wearing wool socks so I don't have to go barefoot in the airport when i take off my mock Crocs. Since I always get wanded and patted down because of my knee replacement, I'll make sure nothing I'm wearing has metal fasteners. It makes life easier for TSA and for me. (As much as some of the TSA people annoy me, I always make a point of thanking them. Their work is almost the dictionary definition of "thankless job," and I'm sure their pay stinks, too.)

      My wardrobe will be black, white, gray and turquoise; all the tops will go with any of the slacks. Rolled up in my small wheeled carry-on will be two pairs of slacks, four long-sleeved blouses, three short-sleeved t-shirts, a lightweight pullover sweater, a few scarves, undies and at least 4 pairs of socks I've knitted. When I went before, I had only two pairs, so I had to wash one out each night, and the clean pair wasn't always quite dry by morning. Very refreshing.

       Sharing the space will be travel-size shampoo, etc.,; a microfiber washcloth; and fewer first-aid and over-the-counter remedies than last time. I'll also have regalos: Multicolored and white LED Christmas lights for Olga and Humberto's patio, an extra skein or two of sock yarn and inexpensive needles in case I meet some local knitters, and some Endangered Species chocolate bars (an Indianapolis product). For the school director there'll be a bottle of Cholula hot sauce. It's made in Cholula, the smaller city adjacent to Puebla, but you can't buy it there. Bottled sauce? Practically sacrilege in the city where mole (MOH-lay) was invented, Carefully padded by clothing will be a fold-up, battery-powered Ott Lite LED lamp for the desk in my room. No more sitting on the bed and juggling a notebook, a text and a dictionary! (Speaking of which, I won't have to take my texts with me -- loaners will be provided; if there have been changes in the books used, copies will be mailed to me when I get back.) I'll also take a night light for the bathroom.

      The stuffed carry-on will be placed inside its "big sister" wheeled suitcase for the southbound trip. I'll stick a couple of pairs of shoes in there, along with my jacket, rechargeable batteries and an extra book or two. On the way home, I'm sure both cases will be used. If I didn't want to take gifts there and bring some gifts home, I know I could take everything I need in a carry-on. That's very liberating.

       For the flight, I'll carry on my ancient, homemade denim backpack, stuffed with a change of clothes,  my iPad, charger cord, battery charger, bag of prescriptions, a couple of magazines and, of course, a sock in progress. I may also get one of those tee-tiny umbrellas.  Drinks and snacks are included in the ticket price, but dinner is not: In Mexico, it usually isn't eaten until late evening. So this gringa vieja will be taking a sandwich or whatever along, because mi estomago won't be on Mexican time yet. My purse will have the usual (minus keys), plus the little photo album and a small dictionary.

Something else that won't be going: A skirt. Last time, I wore it only for the closing dinner. There's no good reason to take something that far if you'll only wear it once! Ditto for any shoes dressier than my plain black sandals.

I'm ba-a-a-a-ck! Or, rather, I'm going back soon. Back to Puebla, back to living in my second language for a few weeks.

Two years ago, I tested into Level 3, which was challenging intellectually (pluperfect subjunctive, anyone?), but not really what I needed for comfortable conversation. So this time,  I'm insisting on taking Level 2 -- simple past and future.

I'll have my same host family, the wonderful Olga and Humberto, whose extended family and friends also were so welcoming.

Margaret, a fellow student from two years ago, also will be there. Margaret (known in Mexico as Florida  (pronounced flow-REE-dha) is from Vancouver, WA.,  and we've kept in touch since our Puebla days. When I went to Sock Summit in Portland, OR, last summer, she took me out for a wonderfully authentic meal at a "real" Mexican (not Tex-Mex) restaurant. We had a spice-rubbed pork loin that was outstanding!

I decided to start my immersion experience a little earlier this time: Instead of flying to Mexico City on American Airlines, I'll be using Volaris, a Mexican line. For just over $500, it will take me from Chicago Midway Airport nonstop to Benito Juarez Airport in Ciudad de Mexico, Distrito Federal. It's about a 5-hour flight. The announcements and such will be bilingual (at least!), but Spanish first, and I probably will be in the minority among passengers. As I did last time, I'll be taking a small album of photos, postcards and maps that show where I'm from, where I'm going and a bit about my life. It's a great ice-breaker.

After I clear customs and immigration, I'll be met by a college student guia from the Spanish Institute, and we'll take an  Estrella Roja "executive" bus (comfortable, air-conditioned, similar to Megabus) to Puebla, which is about 75 miles southeast of Mexico City. There, I'll be met by mi familia Mexicana, and we'll probably stay up way too late catching up on what's happened since '10.

The following day, we'll probably just hang around, talking, cooking, eating -- or maybe see some of the extended family. I can't wait to see Ximena (hee-MAY-na) and Carolina (cah-ro-LEE-nah), who are cousins and both about 5, and Ximena's hermanito, Jose Emilio. He was only 3 months old the last time I saw him. Who knows? Carolina may have a baby brother or sister by now.

Next time: Packing for Puebla