Wally!! Welcome to San Antonio, Texas!!

The kids are really excited to have Wally at our school. We will be showing Wally some of the highlights of San Antonio as well as some of the surrounding areas. So, come along with us and learn about San Antonio, Texas.

Mexico will miss you!

Mexico says Good-bye to our friend Wally!!

Wally:
We were so happy having you here and sharing just a little bite of our culture in your blog. We wish you the best, good luck and... have a safe trip!! We'll miss you!! ¡Adios!¡Hasta la vista! ¡Buena suerte! ¡Vuelve pronto!
Your Mexican friends from Centro Escolar del Lago

I want to be "somebody" in my country

Dear Wally:
When I think about Mexico, I think of course in beaches, food and lovely and nice people. My family and me lived 5 years in USA and it was really hard because of what we left. What we missed the most were, family, friends and all that we have with them like our traditions and food. The most I think about my country, the most I love it. Unfortunately we're having some problems, well, not just "some", we have a lot of problems with drug gangs and you just are listening about all the people that are murder by these gangs and I'm always thinking that this is not "The Mexico" that my parents are proud of.
I love my country and I'm trying to study because I want to do my best for my country.
What are you doing for your countries? Luis Eduardo

Mammoth fossils in Mexico

Wally, my name is Sofía. Let me tell you that in half of 20th century were founded fossils in some little towns around Mexico city, all those were just a few meters underground. Now, the most important skeleton is in a permanent exhibition at the same place were it was founded.
Some of the greatest scientists have been here in Mexico to analyze and understand the age and the origin of the bones. The Mexican scientists think the mammoths lived in Mexico 11,000 years ago around the Lake of Texcoco. It was located near to an active volcano and the scientists believe, they were hunted by humans, it cause the mammoths extinction.

Mexican food

My name is Andrea and I want that Wally tastes our delicious food. Mexico is an exciting place to visit, there are many things to do and see for tourists. There are theaters, museums, restaurants, night clubs... everything!
The mexican food is delicious, we have a lot of food examples; chiles, tortillas, maiz, adobo, sopes, quesadillas, pozole, tamales. If you visit my country I suggest to eat: tipic recipies of mayas, tarahumaras, mexicas, mole, pozole and quesadillas. There isn't food like Mexican.
Would you like to taste our food, like Wally??

My family

Hi! My name is Jimena and I want to talk about my family that is very nice. I have a sister and her name is Regina. She is fourteen and has brown eyes. My brother is Mario and he's very funny, he works in a gym and he's seventeen. My mother is beautiful and she works in the gym too. My grandmother is very kind and sweet. I love my family very much and I think they're wonderful!

What about you?

Friendship

Hi! I’m Margarita of Mexico City. In Mexico and in all World I have some friends. In my classroom I can’t say that one boy or girl isn’t my friend, because I talk and play with everybody.
In the recess time I love to stay with Arely, Andrea, Denisse, Mariana, Miros, Elvia, Fernanda, Valeria, Amanda, Karina, Ana Paz, Viri, Daniela, Daniel, Alfredo, Diego, David and Pepe. We’re good friends so, some fridays I invite them to my house and we have fun together. Other fridays we go to the house of other friends and like this we can spend a lot of time together.
I love the children around the World and I would like to have friends from different countries.


Would you like to be my friend?

Para nuestros amigos :-)

Teotihuacan

Hello! My name is Estrella and I want to tell you that Teotihuacan means the place where gods were created and it's a big archaeological place located in the state of Mexico.
Wally and me went there with my parents. We walked through the avenue of the Dead which is the principal avenue in Teotihuacan. There are two important pyramids: " The pyramid of the Sun" which is the highest pyramid in Mesoamerica North Maya and "The pyramid of the moon" which is known for its beauty, it's about 116 feet high and faces south with a view of the city. In front of this pyramid is the Plaza of the moon. Teotihuacan was one of the largest cities in the world and is known for craft activities, water god called Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl. The ancestors created a beautiful calendar and they are known by their knowledge about astronomy and herbal medicine. Today Teotihuacan is one of the most noted archaeological attractions in Mexico. I hope Wally had lots of fun with me and my family.

To our Mexican Friends!

To our Mexican Friends! we hope you enjoy our podcast to you! Be patient as our español is a little rusty! We hope to hear back from you!
From the students at Merion School!

Prehispanic, Colonial and Modern Mexico

I'm Sacra from room 44 at Centro Escolar del Lago and last weekend I show Wally a little bite of my beautiful country. First Wally arrived to my home and I told him "Mi casa es tu casa" meaning: My home is your home or I want that you feel happy and confortable as in your own home, then we planned our trip because my parents offered me to take Wally just in one day to see and take photos of Prehispanic, Colonial and Modern Mexico. And then the great adventure!!

Mexico is a modern country with a great history!

Tacos are the most representative meal that joint Prehispanic and Modern Mexico. Wally had some "Tacos al pastor" yum... yum

My family and I took Wally to meet his Mexican Ancestors. Mexico has thousands of Mammoth's remains. Not many people know that Mexico is called "The Land of Walking Mammoths". Mr Celso Ramirez needs help to support a little museum of Mammoths.

Aztec ruins represent Mexico's Prehispanic history. Wally visited "The Sun Pyramid at Teotihuacán".

Mexico is a country filled with colours and textures. Come and have a wonderful experience in my country!

Do you like to visit Mexico?

Oaxaca

Wally, I'm Isa and I want to introduce you my sisters. We live with our parents in the metropolitan zone of the great city of Mexico, where there are thousand of things to make and interesting places to visit. But today I want to talk about the southwest of my country.

The past summer I went with my family to Oaxaca, a fantastic! state of our country. The culture Zapoteca and Mixteca settled down in this zone, we visited Monte Albán where there are several pyramids surrounded by gardens. In the coast of Oaxaca there are pretty beaches like "Zicatela" and Puerto Escondido. We saw a market full of food, textiles and crafts. Finally we went to the town of Santa Catarina where is a very miraculous Virgin. I enjoyed a lot my trip to Oaxaca.

Would you like to visit Oaxaca?

My wonderful country!

I promise as soon as possible, to put my photo with Wally.


Hi Wally, my name is Grecia and I want to tell you that I think that I live in a wonderful country because it is one of the best in the world. I have visited the beaches, deserts, jungles, forests and lakes that are natural places, but Mexico it is not only rich in that way, it is rich in History and the ruins or pyramids are so special and important too.
I'd like to improve my country by teaching mexicans about our history to don't repeat mistakes that happened in the past. If people cooperate and try to avoid the corruption, pollution and many other sad events that happened everyday, I think my country could be the best in the universe.

Tepotzotlán

Hello! Wally I feel very happy having you with me and my family. My name is Alexa and I want to show you where is located my home. I live in Tepotzotlan which is part of the state of Mexico. The name of the city has nahuatl origin and means “among humpbacks” referring to the shape of the hills that surround this area. It is located 44.5 km from Mexico city and from 10 minutes to my school.

The main attraction is the Museum National of the Virreynato in which is the Jesuit school of San Martin and San Francisco Javier and the Temple of San Peter Apostle. At the moment it has elevated to the category of Magical Town of Mexico. The center of town has maintained its colonial appearance with plazas, gardens, etc. There is a small secular plaza in front of the main church which contains a Kiosk at which many cultural events take place. The municipal market stands selling traditional dishes as quesadillas, sopes, pambazos and tacos as well as barbacoa and carnitas.

This is my town, a colorful and beautiful town. Hey! Children and teachers of everywhere Do you like my town?

4th grade in Centro Escolar del Lago

Wally:
Let me introduce you Miss Marthita and her students from room 43. As you can see, they're excited for your visit. They want to invite you for a tour to our beautiful country.
Our school isn't bilingual and it's not easy to write in other language but you will see Wally. We'll do our best.
Now, please show your teeth and smile for the foto!

Viva Mexico!!

Yesterday afternoon, a package arrived to our school "Centro Escolar del Lago". What is it?? the teachers asked. Let's see what is inside. Oh! What a nice surprise!! Finally our dear "Wally" is in our country. He'll visit some students and their families.

WELCOME WALLY!! MEXICO LOVES YOU!!

Wally's Roanoke Adventure

Wally spent several snowy weeks in Roanoke, Virginia. While here, he visited with school children and learned about our area.

Gabe and Wally visited the Taubman Art Museum during his stay. Here's what Wally had to say about this unique building:

Hi! I’m Wally! My friend, Gabe, took me on an adventure today. I went downtown Roanoke, Virginia, and I had a blast! He took me to the Taubman Art Museum. It was closed, so we could not go inside, but we walked the grounds. The architecture was amazing! It contains lots of weird shapes in all sizes. It looks like something from Star Wars! On the way back to the car, we walked past many stores and restaurants. Many delicious smells filled the air.

Wally joined Macy for his next adventure!

Hi, it's Wally. I am here in Roanoke, Virginia. Boy, am I having fun! Today I got to go to horseback riding at a barn called Centura. While there, I got to canter and jump on a horse named Flash. Although it was freezing cold, I had a blast! I can't wait to see what fun opportunity is coming next.

See you soon,
Wally Mammoth



Wally joined Sarah and Bryce to learn about our community.

Hi! I'm Wally. Today, February 18, 2010, I spent the day with a new friend, Bryce. He and his family treated me to a wonderful meal at a restaraunt called The Roanoker. The have the BEST Pancakes and their biscuits are out of this world! I'm very glad I got to meet a new friend in Roanoke, good thing I wore my thick fur, as you can tell by the snow on the ground-it was COLD!

We chose to go to the fire station because it was a very interesting place to go and the fire trucks were big compared to Wally. Also the firemen were not in their uniforms. They were in their in t-shrits and shorts because they were working out when I and Wally got there. Plus the fire station was a small one. We met a fire man named John.He was nice enough to let us take a picture in front or standing on it. As Wally and I was leaving more firemen in t-shirts and shorts were walking along the fire trucks. I said hi to all of them and they said hi back to Wally and I. Wally said hi too. Then Wally and I went to the car and drove back home.