Day 3

First of all, I am really sorry that last post was so long, but I think as time goes on and I become more used to things, they will get shorter. Unfortunately, I don't think this one or any this week are going to be much shorter than the last.

This morning for breakfast we had eggs and beans, then were given official house keys and went to our class at 8 (uh oh, if Business 100 at UNC is any indication, I will not make it on time very often). Our teacher is Laura Moreno, and apparently her boss calls her Laurita (we had a bonding moment). This class, which will also be taught in Spanish, is called Mexican Society and Culture or something like that and we'll be learning about the different Mexican states, the economy, health care, family structures, etc. It turns out that our class with Prof. Alcocer (program director's husband) is the only thing we'll be doing in English.

Next we went to our Spanish classes. I moved up to Level 4 today and it was so different from yesterday (when there were 3 classmates). Instead there were 15 rambunctious people yelling in English when I walked in. But it turned out well, I feel like it's the right level for me and everyone was super friendly and outgoing.

(In case I haven't made things clear, the classes are: Mexican Society and Culture with Laura at 8, every morning for four weeks. Spanish with Olga at 9 for 1/2 my time here, then I will move up to Level 5 for the second half. Transcultural Awareness and Social Integration with Prof. Alcocer once a week on Skype.)

All the buildings are very open here. Even if there is no air conditioning, it is nice and cool because of the breezeways and air flowing through. So much less humid than Danville!!

Then we met up with the program director, Martha, and our favorite driver and campus-wide ladies man, Mario, and went to the volunteer sites. First, Acortar Distancias, is only 20 minutes away but looks like a different country. It is on the side of the mountains and all the buildings are colorful, so it's pretty in one sense, but there is graffiti everywhere, some slum-like housing, buildings with ceilings missing (like a bomb had gone off - it almost looked like a war zone). The agency, however, was like being back on campus. Acortar Distancias is a very nice daycare center where they keep kids off the streets during the free time after school, when they would usually get involved in drugs or bad influences.

Next we went with Mario to Los Pinos (closer to campus), a home for boys from abusive homes. They are CRAZY KIDS! And so fearless, they just ran up to us "Hey How are you?" If the families are improving, the boys can go there on the weekends, but if not, parents can visit the kids at the agency.

After that, we came home and Blanca had food cooking. She constantly is telling us to write every little detail of our trip down so we will always remember it, and wants us to write in Spanish, entonces: comimos sopa de arroz con papas y zanahorias y crema en las tortillas y para el postre, papaya con lima. In English: we ate rice soup (not really soup), which was just rice with potatoes and carrots in a sauce, then sour cream (but not really sour cream) on it, all in tortilla. For dessert we had papaya which originally tasted like bad canteloupe. The Blanca put lime juice on it (weird, right?) and it was sooo sweet! I get made fun of a lot for eating slow and not eating spicy food (by Blanca and her older son Alfredo), but she is happy that it will give me good digestion.... I guess I should be happy she's proud of me for something?

Next we met Martha at 4:30 (or 4:50 her time) and she drove us (no Mario!) to a home for mentally retarded people (severe Autism, Down's Syndrome, birth defects). Most were babies through twenty-year-olds, but there was also an 80 year old woman with Alzheimer's. Monks and nuns run the place but it is very difficult, only 3 workers live there full-time and there are 25 or so residents, all bedridden. Their motto is the Biblical, whatever you do to the least of these you do unto me, and their are pictures of the pope and Jesus everywhere. Hermano (I didn't catch his real name) stressed that they are all happy there because they are living, and the children are not sad. However, it was very sad to walk through there, especially seeing a 21 year old man the size of a 4 year old boy.

We were all in a down mood after leaving the home... ironically our next stop was the mall (the best in the city I hear). Like the school, you walk in the building but you are still outside. Stores have air conditioning, but the ceiling is open and it's sort of like an outdoor mall. I got a cell phone... quite an experience. You walk in, get a ticket, then wait in line and an employee at one of 30 stands calls you up. I picked out the phone, she sent me to a different desk to pay then I went back to the first stand to pick up my phone and numbers. (Yes, numbers, when I run out of minutes the first time I switch to a new number.) I couldn't register the phone there because I don't have two last names like everyone else in this country (ella dijo "que raro!"). They register them to keep prisoners from harassing people? I don't quite understand.

We went home, relaxed, then for dinner we had frijoladas con cebollas which are tortillas with beans in them and onions on top. It's probably my favorite food so far, it was really good. Unfortunately she gave me 2 and Ellie (aka Gordito) 4. I was jealous. This was our first time really talking with Ellie and he's a really friendly guy. I'm 20, Daisy's 21, Joakin's 22, and Ellie's 23. We like to joke that Blanca is 24 (and not 66). Alfredo came home from work and finished registering my phone. I didn't understand what he was saying to me so I finally just had to say "help me!!" and thankfully he didn't try to explain any more. End of Day 3... Day 4 is only a few hours away.

This is very long so I understand if you didn't read it all... I know at least my mom will :)