A month has passed since I first moved to Chiapas, Mexico. Although my days are still filled with a lot of new experiences, I am starting to find a routine that makes this new place seem familiar. Here are some shots of what “familiar” looks like to me these days.

Usually I eat eggs or quesadillas or veggies for breakfast with coffee that we make in a pot on the stove. (It’s good – almost too good.) If I’m really lucky we have sweet bread too. My host family also sometimes has sweet bead and tea at the end of the day before bed time.

My host family’s home is decorated with many potted plants that make me feel like I live in a garden. We also have two little kittens that I think pretty smart, trilingual even. You can say “It’s time to eat!” in Tzotzil, Spanish, or English, and they will always come running.

These high school students in Huixtan, Chiapas are discussing what they like about their community and what they’d like to change. I travel to communities about two days a week to give workshops to young people like these guys.

After a day of traveling, giving workshops, and meetings in the office, I enjoy my long walk home. Those walks are made even better when I stop for a 10-peso fruit bar. This tamarind flavored one is my favorite.