My mood seems to go down with the sun.
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I met one of my students in the week that I was setting up my classroom. Her name is Ana and she's a doll-- very polite, shy, and sweet. Since she was there all day with her mom Naty (the principal), I had her take a break from coloring to help me wash and dry some rulers and containers.
Later, in secret, Naty showed me a drawing of a blonde girl with a big smile and a bow in her hair. Underneath was written "Miss K" with hearts.
Naty relayed Ana's reaction to me "Oh Mom! I like her! She's pretty. But I did not understand a word she said."
It was then that it clicked that, even if only half of my students are in ESL class, all but one are English Language Learners. Which means slowing down, simplifying, and using gestures. Thinking before speaking-- not something I'm good at.
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There's a MacDonald's nextdoor to BAICA. I never go to McDonald's even in the States. But I was in emergency mode. I'd eaten no dinner, breakfast, or lunch, and then I had meetings all day. I first went to Jumbo the higher-end grocery, but had nowhere to eat my ricecakes and bananas outside of BAICA. Walking back with bags in hand, I couldn't stay away from the wooden deck out front with nice wooden chairs and a big poster of a Toblerone McFlurry in back. I caved and then zoned out with icecream in my mouth.
The sound of rustling plastic brought me back and I looked down to the stray McDonald's dog who camps out on the deck. He was rummaging through my groceries, sifting through as if shopping himself! Unlike most stray dogs I've ever encountered, he listened when I said no, looked up at me, then promptly rolled onto his back whimpering and whining for me to pet him. He settled for wriggling his tummy against the bottom of my flip-flop, but he was hard to resist.
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My old study abroad classmate / Balvanera neighbor came from the capital to hang out! It was so nice to see her. Felt like no time had passed, though I know we've both changed in small ways. We walked from BAICA and came upon a river and park area, which was full of water-watching people. Some were feeding babies, others were ignoring theirs; some were drinking lemonade, others Fernet y Coca; some were fishing, others were littering (broken lawn chairs, mostly).
A bizarre place. Different from the more posh neighborhoods along the main avenue.
Oh and on the walk back, remember those all-age playgrounds?! Done and done. Got me some serious hip-swing action!
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There's a bird outside my window that sounds like a kid yelling in agony, "Owww!!" so much so that I want to go outside to check. Goosebumps all over.
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Woke up to that terrible bird screaming all morning.
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The bird turned out to be a lost loro (parrot) that flew into the tree outside my window! The neighbors were pet-sitting it when it escaped. It took 2 ladders, 10 hours, and a crew of electric wire workmen to coax it back to the ham in the cage. That is one special bird. I would have killed it off by that point.
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I heard someone in the hallway say, "Have you met Cheri yet? Blonde hair and red cheeks." The second part, my eternal description...
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Friday was official orientation, started off with a devotion led by the pastor. The day ended with a home-cooked dinner at la casa España, where all the other single teachers live except me. Katie invited me and she was so hospitable. She'd found a gluten-free recipe (stuffed peppers, homemade mashed potatoes), had all the ingredients ready, and we got to it! After eating plenty, we hung out with the rest of the girls at the house, and then I headed back home on foot with a tupper of leftovers. I've been walking more, which feels great! I walk to school when it's not raining (25 minutes)..Vero's is exactly halfway between España and BAICA.
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I need a social life...
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Saturday, Jemy's godmother came over and it was a blast playing cards, all 5 of us.
At night I finally went into la Capital! It was incredible and felt like coming home. Even in the rain, the excitement was overwhelming. I took the train in, then moved with such ease from Retiro to Microcentro to meet up with a friend. We arrived on either side of the crosswalk at the same exact time. It was on the same block we'd first met and last said goodbye and I was really nervous. We ended up having a great time though, catching up over dinner and drinks and paseando por Palermo (walking through Palermo). It was a true Porteño night, as I didn't get back to my bed until 7am. Suffice to say, I skipped church the next day..
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Here's the pool at night!
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