(no subject)
January 29th
Hello! So the guy that came last night was actually the CELL PHONE MAN and he was transferring music from Mayte’s computer to her cell phone. They really made a show of it. He was here for about two hours (delaying my cena!) Mayte is a “cool mom” if you will. She’s oftentimes under-involved in the ongoings of Cris, but likes to talk about boys with her (which is good because that’s the only language Cris speaks other than music). Mayte likes to dress like a 20-year-old, and she likes really horrible music 80s music (I don’t know what it is about the 80s here), and rap (double yuck). On the one hand she is fun and easy to relate to; on the other hand I do occasionally wish that she’d be more mom-like. She even hates vegetables in the way a 5-year-old would. I really do miss my veggies. She finally bought me fat free milk and I was overjoyed! Of course it is the equivalent of our 2% but I’ll take it! It’s yummy with my galletas
So this is embarrassing: I’m running dangerously low on underwear on account of the rain (which obviously prevents undie-dryage). Solution? Hand washing! So me and my underwear took a shower and then I hung them up in my closet with my towels that never dry. Next solution? Blow dryer. So while pretending to blow-dry my hair, I covertly blew the only hot/dry air in this country on my undies. I know, I’m ridiculous. I think that Mayte must’ve discovered my pseudo- washing system because miraculously undies appeared on my desk this afternoon. I am confused about when she uses a dryer vs. when she hangs things out. I haven’t figured out her system yet.
Also: Of course the DAY AFTER I learned how to use the calentador (water heater) it BROKE. Poop. SO I had ANOTHER cold shower. They are actually very refreshing and make the 50-degree house actually seem warm right after you’re done with them. Weird how that works….
I know that all of these things are redundant but that is my life here. Different versions of the same thing everyday. My main goals for the day are to 1) have a warm shower, 2) catch the bus, 3) stay warm, and 4) do my homework.
Blah, speaking of school. I got my test back today. I got an extremely disappointing grade (72%). Which (according to a lot of math I don’t understand) is actually a B. I am so mad at myself. I lost practically all of my points on two fill in the blank sections which required us to differentiate between the use of the preterit and imperfect tenses. For those of you who don’t know, these are the two forms of the past tense (ie- work of the devil). For the life of me (and I’ve been studying this now for a quarter of my lifetime) I CANNOT figure out the difference between them.
My profesora is really quite good. Our grammar class will finish on the 9th and I must confess that I’ll miss Monica. She’s helpful, patient, and friendly which is exactly what you need when you’re pulling your hair out trying to communicate in a foreign language.
I really like my friends here. We keep ourselves content and enjoy exploring the city together. I’ve realized on our adventures that one needs to avoid any place that has anything written in English because that guarantees two things 1) its lack of authenticity 2) its desire to rip off a gullible American. However there are exceptions: A bar called Carpe Diem that has perfect wireless that can be sacrificed for any price. We go there regularly. I’m convinced that we’re all going to get cancer just from looking at it because so many people smoke there. But…there is internet. That’s all I can say about that! The owner welcomes us and doesn’t care that we sit there for hours after having bought a very cheap drink (I usually get fresh strawberry juice). He enjoys our company and only kicks us out if there are big fútbol (soccer) games.
It seems that each time I walk out the door of my little apartment I am re-reminded of what an opportunity this is. Here I am, little Zoe Zulakis, living, moving, and being in a foreign country. I’m free of everything…even my own language. It is an exhilarating chance to be just exactly who I am because what else do I have? I do really love that.
Rayo stinker slipper stealer has yet again run off with my slippers and this time has hid them. He has a weird slipper thing…he steals Javier’s too. Also, he has taken to using my bedroom as a hot potty spot. Clearly this little puppy needs some reglas laid out for him.
I went on another walk with Cris and her friends and we actually enjoyed each other’s company. We sang in the rain with our umbrellas and danced around with Luna. ¡Qué guay! (how cool)
Bueno, tengo que irme. Time for cena and sleep. Buenas
Love,
Zoe
Hello! So the guy that came last night was actually the CELL PHONE MAN and he was transferring music from Mayte’s computer to her cell phone. They really made a show of it. He was here for about two hours (delaying my cena!) Mayte is a “cool mom” if you will. She’s oftentimes under-involved in the ongoings of Cris, but likes to talk about boys with her (which is good because that’s the only language Cris speaks other than music). Mayte likes to dress like a 20-year-old, and she likes really horrible music 80s music (I don’t know what it is about the 80s here), and rap (double yuck). On the one hand she is fun and easy to relate to; on the other hand I do occasionally wish that she’d be more mom-like. She even hates vegetables in the way a 5-year-old would. I really do miss my veggies. She finally bought me fat free milk and I was overjoyed! Of course it is the equivalent of our 2% but I’ll take it! It’s yummy with my galletas
So this is embarrassing: I’m running dangerously low on underwear on account of the rain (which obviously prevents undie-dryage). Solution? Hand washing! So me and my underwear took a shower and then I hung them up in my closet with my towels that never dry. Next solution? Blow dryer. So while pretending to blow-dry my hair, I covertly blew the only hot/dry air in this country on my undies. I know, I’m ridiculous. I think that Mayte must’ve discovered my pseudo- washing system because miraculously undies appeared on my desk this afternoon. I am confused about when she uses a dryer vs. when she hangs things out. I haven’t figured out her system yet.
Also: Of course the DAY AFTER I learned how to use the calentador (water heater) it BROKE. Poop. SO I had ANOTHER cold shower. They are actually very refreshing and make the 50-degree house actually seem warm right after you’re done with them. Weird how that works….
I know that all of these things are redundant but that is my life here. Different versions of the same thing everyday. My main goals for the day are to 1) have a warm shower, 2) catch the bus, 3) stay warm, and 4) do my homework.
Blah, speaking of school. I got my test back today. I got an extremely disappointing grade (72%). Which (according to a lot of math I don’t understand) is actually a B. I am so mad at myself. I lost practically all of my points on two fill in the blank sections which required us to differentiate between the use of the preterit and imperfect tenses. For those of you who don’t know, these are the two forms of the past tense (ie- work of the devil). For the life of me (and I’ve been studying this now for a quarter of my lifetime) I CANNOT figure out the difference between them.
My profesora is really quite good. Our grammar class will finish on the 9th and I must confess that I’ll miss Monica. She’s helpful, patient, and friendly which is exactly what you need when you’re pulling your hair out trying to communicate in a foreign language.
I really like my friends here. We keep ourselves content and enjoy exploring the city together. I’ve realized on our adventures that one needs to avoid any place that has anything written in English because that guarantees two things 1) its lack of authenticity 2) its desire to rip off a gullible American. However there are exceptions: A bar called Carpe Diem that has perfect wireless that can be sacrificed for any price. We go there regularly. I’m convinced that we’re all going to get cancer just from looking at it because so many people smoke there. But…there is internet. That’s all I can say about that! The owner welcomes us and doesn’t care that we sit there for hours after having bought a very cheap drink (I usually get fresh strawberry juice). He enjoys our company and only kicks us out if there are big fútbol (soccer) games.
It seems that each time I walk out the door of my little apartment I am re-reminded of what an opportunity this is. Here I am, little Zoe Zulakis, living, moving, and being in a foreign country. I’m free of everything…even my own language. It is an exhilarating chance to be just exactly who I am because what else do I have? I do really love that.
Rayo stinker slipper stealer has yet again run off with my slippers and this time has hid them. He has a weird slipper thing…he steals Javier’s too. Also, he has taken to using my bedroom as a hot potty spot. Clearly this little puppy needs some reglas laid out for him.
I went on another walk with Cris and her friends and we actually enjoyed each other’s company. We sang in the rain with our umbrellas and danced around with Luna. ¡Qué guay! (how cool)
Bueno, tengo que irme. Time for cena and sleep. Buenas
Love,
Zoe