3-12

The welcome dinner last night was fun. We ate at a place called Super Chicken. And guess what? The chicken was super. I was happy that my Spanish was good enough that I was able to joke around with everyone.

After dinner, myself, Elsbeth, one the teachers, three girls from Ireland, and two East Coast USA folks went to a bar owned by the parents of another teacher. Guess what? It was a karaoke bar. Oh yes I did. LOL. I sang Thank You by Dido and Flashdance. It was pretty hilarious. The teacher who came with us taught me a few salsa moves too. We didn´t stay out too late because we had studying and homework to do. When we left the bar though it was POURING. I was so glad that I had my raincoat, which I had previously felt stupid carrying. It was nearly impossible to get a taxi and Elsbeth and I got soaked. We were shocked when a taxi finally picked us up after almost 30 minutes. We gave him an extra sol.

Classes were good today, but I am having a HELLUVA time with por versus para. En serio, es muy dificil. Rosana (my hostess and the school director) told me that even students that come and know a lot more Spanish have a hard time with them. Today I thought the irregular past tense verbs were easier that the damn word “for.”

I had been talking to the teacher who went with us last night about my CD, so he asked me to bring one today. He listened to it over and over for the whole two hours I was in my first period! By the time I came out he told me which numbers he liked best. People were really impressed and asked a lot of questions. It was nice, but you know that I am super self concious about it too.

I took a taxi with Rosana back to the house because another teacher was meeting us there shortly after lunch to take me to a volunteer place. We usually walk. It´s like a mile and we usually go back and forth twice a day. In the car, Rosana told me that her son Diego though I was pretty cool. That I was more animated and fun than the other girls. I was surprised but touched. I think it was the pack of chicle I gave him. (Gum)

Sadith (the teacher) took me a a clinic for severely mentally and physically handicapped children. Most of them were deserted by their families. There were maybe 40 children in the clinic. Most were between the ages of 3 and 10 probably, but there were a few older boys in one room and a few babies as well. The clinic agreed to let me work for two hours to get an idea of what it is like there. I think I am supposed to return tomorrow as well. I played with the children, sang to one little boy in his crib, held a one-year-old with Downs for almost 45 minutes and then helped feed the children dinner. I mostly helped this one boy who had no physical or mental capacity. He couldn´t even bite and chew. It was very difficult and the whole experience shook me up a lot. I hope that I am cut out for volunteer work afterall. I will probably go back there, but Sadith also is going to take me to several other places. She´s very nice and knows more English so she can explain things to me.

After dinner tonight, I spent about 20 minutes talking to Rosa, the girl who works here, and then Rosana and her children sat at the table and I spoke to them for almost an hour! The other girls had gone out for Indian food. It was pretty cool. Rosana told her kids about my CD and I gave them a copy. Luc was so excited she ran and got her notebook for me to sign. Shucks. If only I was as famous or even as good as they think I am. LOL.

All right. I have been online FOREVER. And while I have no homework tonight, I need to get some studying in. Blessings!