Here are some pictures that I promised.
NO I do not have any of my stool sample although I thought about taking one.
This is a picture of who is called the Ugly King from the Strike of Sorrows. It is a play on the beauty pageants that normally take place at festivals. Instead they elect an Ugly King who is the person who can best make fun of politicians and the government or who is quick thinking on their feet.
This is an example of the kind of things that a lot of people wore during their parade. The robes are similar to the ones that the men of the Catholic processions use. They do sort of look like KKK members though. Each different major had a different color and a different float.
There were quite a few things against Bush. I figure you can read the first part and the second part I won´t translate but it does not say anything nice.
Now to switch gears a bit this is Semana Santa. The only pictures that I took were at night so they are not great but if you click on this one you can see the bigger version and see the guys wearing robes and half hoods. That huge thing made of wood is being carried more guys in robes. They switch every once in a while but they walk really slowly. I can not imagine what it does to their backs.
Same float as the previous picture. It is a little hard to see because of the lighting but Jesus (the guy laying down) is really dark skinned. Maybe even a color close to what his actual skin color was. It was interesting because it was one of the only portrayals of him that I say with dark skin.
These things were really cool. Of course this one is older and has been run over by a few cars but I saw it when they were making it and it was much more elaborate. It is made out of colored wood chips with a bunch of flowers and things. They make them in the street where processions than walk over them. Sort of like the Native American (and maybe Buddhist) tradition of making sand paintings just to wipe them away when they are finished. You can still see the shape of the chalice in this one which was probably originally filled with flowers.
I do not know how well you will be able to see this one. It is a stitched picture of the view as I look south from my house. It was a really pretty evening but I am not sure if the picture really captures the beauty. Definitely have to click on this one to enlarge it.
So I have been here for about six weeks now and have some what of a routine. Not totally but I will tell you what a normal week for me looks like. So far I have always studied in the morning although there are students that study in the afternoon at my school. So I usually wake up around 6:30 or so because that is when the sun starts coming into my room. That is my room to the right. The baby also starts crying around then as well, I can usually lay in bed until my alarm goes off around 7 but than it is time to get up and start getting ready for school. I usually head down for breakfast around 7:25. Four out of five days breakfast is beans and a scrambled egg eaten with tortillas tamalitos (corn tamales with nothing inside cooked so that they are hard), or bread. I need to leave my house by 7:45 or slightly after to arrive to school on time. Going there it is all down hill so that makes it a little easier. 8 to 10:30 is class time working on grammar or pronunciation or what ever the theme is that day. 
Than it is break time there is always bread and coffee water or tea and of course fusbal or futillo as it is called here. It is the passion of a few of the teachers and some students as well. Than back to studying except for Tuesdays when there is a conference that I usually go to. Class is over at 1pm and I head back up the hill for lunch. Lunch varies a lot more than breakfast or dinner and is usually pretty good. It is the biggest meal of the day and some businesses close so that their employees can go home to eat. The afternoons vary a lot. Mondays the school show a documentary which I go to sometimes. But Monday and Tuesday afternoons are usually my days to get things done like washing clothes, getting money out to pay the school. Checking my email, going to the market or what ever other errands I have to run. 
Wednesday and Thursday are teaching English days so I have to hurry back to the school to get there by two in order to plan the class with the other teachers and than we teach from 2:30 until 4 an than discuss how the day went and things afterwards. Thursday is also football (soccer) night so at 7 we head off to a field and play soccer with students and some teachers. Friday afternoon their is a dance class every other week. which I usually go to and than at night there is the graduation. The picture is some of the teachers who always sing before the meal. It rotates every week who brings what one week the students provide the drinks and the school the food and the next week it switches and the students make food and the teachers provide the drinks. 
There usually are some students who go out afterwards dancing or to a bar. Dinner with my family is at 7 at night and usually consists of beans fried plantains an tortillas tamalitos or bread. Afterwards it is time for studying. Weekends vary I have gone on some trips with the school or else have free time to read study or hang out with friends. I have gone to two Soccer games here. They have been a lot of fun.
