I'm Here, Parte Dos

We have Internet! Amazing! Entonces, aqu estan mas palabras de mi.

I was offered this teaching position in March and ever since then I have imagined what it was going to be like living in Santa Rosa, especially in my first weeks. It is now day two and I have to say that it’s pretty similar to what I imagined. Going the entire summer not knowing what I would be teaching, grade or subject, I began to realize that this may not be the most organized operation in history. This sort of prepared me to not know a lot about what I was doing here- at least in the beginning. I still don’t know what I am teaching and while I am a little worried, I have begun to adopt a “going with the flow philosophy, because otherwise I’ll just worry myself sick. And as you all know, that is not the Smiller way.

As expected, everyone speaks muy rapido here and I usually cannot understand what they are saying, or can only understand bits and pieces. I trust that this will get better; I can only hope. So far people have been fairly patient with our broken Spanish. Today the school principal, Triny, took us around town a bit. We all opened bank accounts which was an experience for sure. Thankfully Triny was there to translate a bit, because otherwise it would have taken twice the time, probably more. The banks are so crowded with people here and waiting in line is just what you do. When we first walked in I was definitely taken a back. None of that air conditioned, clean feeling you feel when you walk into a bank in the states. It was just crowded with people not to mention men standing on gaurd with rifles. I have already begun to feel my guilt of being from the states and being able to buy whatever I want here. I just whipped out a mil lempira like it was my job. The exchange rate is about 18 to 1 so as you can imagine, a lot of things are quite cheap. Oh, and refried beans come in a bag, not a can. Who knew?! You boil the package in water for 10 minutes and then voila! Beans! Ca-razy.

My fellow teacher John said that its so weird to be the only blonde for miles. At least I’m brunette! Allows me to blend in a little. I think my Spanish might tip them off pretty quick though. :) I am definitely getting many double takes and stares when people see me especially from little kids, because they don’t know any better. They are so curious about us gringos! The kids here are too adorable for words which makes me excited to teach.

My housemates/teachermates are pretty cool. Abby is from Chicago and she graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2007, so a fellow Midwesterner and NorCal girl in one! John is from D.C. originally but went to college in Texas. They are both better at Spanish than me, but I think more than anything it is a confidence level. I just need to have no fear and make mistakes and just go for it. I’m getting there, slowly but surely.

Yesterday we spent about two hours cleaning the house, mainly the kitchen, finding some new cockaroch friends as we went. Unfortunately for the roaches, they were killed soon after we said “mucho gusto.” Soon the kitchen smelled of bleach and all was well with the world. We then opened a few beers and sat up on our roof top overlooking the city. Does anyone remember in “An American Tale” when Fiviel and the girl mouse sing the duet “Somewhere Out There?” Well, I must say it is quite comforting that when I’m staring at the stars and the sky that it’s possible that you all are staring at that same sky…somewhere, out there. I’m so deep, I know.

My only beef so far with anyone or anything is my neighbor, the rooster. A few days before I left home my mom and I watched the movie “Babe.” Random, I know, but just go with it. As you know, they live on a farm and consequently are awoken every morning by a rooster. I remember distinctly thinking that “Aww…that’d be cool to be awoken every morning by a rooster.” I mean, I just thought that they walked up to the top of the roof at sunrise and crowed for about a minute and then went on their merry way. Well obviously I am a bit of a city girl because that is a complete wives tale. Roosters definitely crow when it is still dark and they definitely crow non stop. I was awoken by a rooster at about 3am I am guessing and the damn thing did not stop crowing the entire morning. Then roosters in the distance began to echo it and all the roosters in Santa Rosa were just having a grand ol time at my expense. Instead of being awoken by drunk college students playing flip cup, I am now awoken by roosters. If that doesn’t say it all then I don’t know what does.