Today started off horribly. The electricity went out in the night, so that meant no fans, no alarm clock, a ton of rain, and cats fighting right outside my window. Woke up disgustingly sweaty and late. Tried to take a shower- water was cold, dropped my shampoo, slipped and fell on the nice hard tile- damn it!
Got to the bus station sweaty and late, ended up getting on the wrong bus. I take “R- 2 Aleman” to school everyday but ended up getting on “R-1 Aleman”, a bus that was packed, with windows that wouldn’t open- imagine, if you will, 40 people crammed onto a bus without circulating air…gross. So 40 minutes into the bus ride I realized, hmm, I just passed Walmart- that’s funny- that shouldn’t happen. As it turns out, I got on the wrong bus- had to talk to the bus driver- wait another 20 minutes, get off the bus, ask where the stop was, and then wait for the correct bus. I made it to class about twenty minutes late- ugh. Maya was at least engaging today- we seemed to move really quickly- hopefully today was just to give us an idea of what the language sounded like and how it functioned. The pronunciation seems tricky!! Grammar doesn’t seem to hard though.
Had a super long break between classes- took the bus to the program office- ate lunch, did some Spanish homework, and then pulled the tables together and took a nap. Laura and Jen did too- at least I wasn’t alone!
Spanish is boring and cold. The grammar is easy- I just can’t retain it to use it in a conversation! I feel like I need a week to just study our grammar book obsessively and I’d be all set- that unfortunately, is not too realistic. We had a useless, waste of time program meeting after Spanish.
Some of my friends and I went to Walmart after- took way too much time. I bought a watch for scuba diving, folders, a backpack meant for a three year-old, and a CANDY BAR!!! I’ve been trying to find milk chocolate for the past few weeks- finally did!!!!
Taking the bus home was a trip- had to fight my way across a huge traffic circle, only to find out I had to do it once more because the bus wouldn’t stop there. Finally got on the bus home- stopped way short of where I am used to getting off and had to walk pretty far, with all my books, my computer, and groceries- wasn’t fun.
Got home, Ligia made dinner- tortilla, queso, salsa verde, crema, frijoles- I ate it sooo quickly- I was starving!!
All in all, a frustrating day. I know that there are a few other people feeling like this too- one of my friends started crying during the program meeting, felt badly for her, but she’s definitely not alone!! One of the guys also said that he feel s like he is understanding less than when he came- also definitely how I feel!!
I mean, there were positives for today- I got lost and got back home, I got homework done, although it was hard to understand, I found the things I needed, even though it took forever. I really feel isolated because I feel as though my Spanish isn’t improving at all and everyone understands what is going on more than I do. I also feel like I am never going to meet local people because they don’t want to have anything to do with the exchange students, and if they do, I wouldn’t be able to understand them.
The constant whistling and honking is old, and if i go out to eat with a guy and try to order, they always look to the guy to verify that I can have whatever I ordered. Does feminism exist here?
In terms of other akward situtations. If you are a foreigner in Mexico- joining in a protest, you can be deported. On my way to school today, I walked straight through a protest in the plaza, waited for the bus in the middle of it, and did not realize that it was indeed, a protest, until I got on the bus and realized people were holding signs regarding bus fees. Moral of the story, if large groups of people are gathered together with microphones- walk around them, as "hostile" as I am not, I don't really want to be deported!!
I have my first underwater part of the scuba diving class tomorrow, I’m really excited about that. Maybe some time in the water will actually permit my feet to be clean! They are always so dirty here! Ahh!
Thanks for the kind comments, they do help a lot!! Also, apparently an hour long massage is about $30 and there are gym memberships and yoga classes for 80p/day or 500/month. I'll think about it- I could use some stress relief!!
You'll have the down days and the high ones. And the people honking at you for being a blanca won't stop you'll have to get used to that. And don't get caught up in any anti-government protests! *imagines bethan on tv being arrested and deported* No good! : )
ReplyDeleteBethan, the most realistic reaction to all this frustration and crude stupid male person behavior is to be MAD and annoyed. Don't waste philosophy of living advice on situations you can't control nor change. You're entitled to be furious, just as you would be if it happened here. Mexico is 'funny' in how they treat foreigners. If there is an auto accident, the foreigner is always at fault simply because they were where they are - as in 'you don't belong here.' It's fun planning an adventure, just not always so fun in experiencing one!
ReplyDeleteBethan, I suspect that now that you are beginning the classes and going into more detail than you might have had at VVS or even Geneseo that at first you will feel like you know nothing. It has been my experience that the sense of being "overwhelmed" often precedes the "breakthrough" to a new level of understanding.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful blanca is going to cause stares. Plus, if the Mexican men have gotten their impression of American women from TV and the movies....need I say more.
Looking forward to hearing about the scuba diving classes.
Your aunt emailed that your mother has your new cabin all cleaned up and is settling in. She is taking your grandmother up to see the inside for the first time.