El Día de la Independencia de México

It´s Monday, and I´m recovering from a bit of a cold. Last week took a toll on me! So far, today has not been too stressful, though, which is nice. The big news in the office is that we´re all planning a party for tomorrow night for Mexican Independence Day! It will be fun to hang out with everyone outside of work and to see Valladolid really come alive. In the past few days I have seen people all over town put up decorations and begin to prepare for the big night. Every day I hear groups of boys practicing drums and trumpets in the central plaza and see dance troupes practicing in the community hall.
Apparently, at around 11:00 pm on September 15 (or midnight of September 16), all over Mexico you can hear the call (el grito): "Mexicanos, viva Mexico!" Then, everyone joins in singing the national anthem. It is going to be a big night here in Valladolid, though I would bet the enormous central plaza in D.F. (Mexico City) will be in the realm of Time´s Square on New Year´s Eve - probably even bigger. This holiday is much more important in Mexico than Cinco de Mayo, contrary to popular belief in the US. Wednesday, there are no classes at UNO and I imagine most of Valladolid will be sleeping off their hangovers - at least, that is what I have been told! Then Thursday we will have a campus-wide party to celebrate, so we will not be teaching then either. We will be working though, assisting with the set-up and stuff.
The weather is super hot and humid here in Yucatán. I am hoping to take a little trip to the beach this weekend, but I might have to go to Mérida for some visa stuff. Either way, it will be nice to see someplace new.