Where do I begin?

Where do I begin? I really can't express how happy I am with my school, my teacher, my family, the food, the city, etc. My teacher's name is Edna, she's very strict, patient, and smart. She's been teaching for quite some time. I'll have her for 2 weeks and then I'll get a new teacher. I don't want to change, but I think I should so I can have a different experience. I can always request her again some other time. She & I have fun b/c at times I say the wrong thing and the meaning of what I said is perverted! LOL! She always assigns me things to write in spanish, but the entire class is listening to her tell stories and us conversion and her teaching me grammar. It can be very frustrating at times, but when I get something it's very rewarding. I feel every day I'm able to communicate better with my peers and my family. Often times, we're doing a lot of sign language to communicate with each other. It's very amusing. One of the most difficult things for me is pronunciation, did I spell that write in English? God, in my diary, I find myself writing in spanish midsentence. I'm constanting thinking in spanish or how to say something. I feel like I'm in elementary school all over again. We were using flash cards with cartoon pictures on it so I could learn adjectives yesterday. Also, I learned some irregular verbs today and I couldn't pronounce them worth a damn. She would make me repeat them like 5 times each. she's tough, but I like her.

I'm going to take a break from the Taiwanese stand b/c the veggie empanadas are very good, but very fattening. I've been there 3 days in a row now. Last night, I met some students for dinner at an Indian restaurant. I couldn't even wait a week to try the Indian restaurant. The portions are good, but the food isn't as good as in the United States. I'm spoiled in Chicago. I guess I'm an Indian food snob. However, they have these drinks called licuado con fresa, mango, banana, etc. I ordered a shake with strawberry (fesa) it was the most amazing drink and biggest thing I'd ever seen! It could've been a meal! I can't wait to take Nolan there in August. I brought my leftovers for the family. Josefina said it was fantastic and that her hubby and her son didn´t like it too much.

I had to hurry to meet a classmate to show here where a few things were. I can't believe I'm able to do so after being here for 4 days! I ate lunch quickly with my family. I ate the best guacamole of my life! My friend, Lauren, from pharmacy school has turned me onto Guacamole. My family is spoiling me w/the food. Yesterday, my host mom gave me fried plaintains for breakfast! They were soooo yummy and I don't even like them in the states. Josefina made salsa too, but she loves salt so she adds a bit too much, but still, how eats fresh salsa daily? She sauteed spinach, onion, and tomates and I made my own veggie tacos w/corn tortillas. We drank Pepsi with our lunch! It wasn't diet either, man, they are spoiling me!!! I told her I love Pepsi, but I think it's kinda expensive so I hope she doesn't think I want it all the time. I try not to eat too much because there are about 7 people living in the house so 8 including me. I can always buy a snack if I need too. I know I'm paying to live there, but even fruit is a luxury it seems. I'm going to pick up some at a market soon so we can eat with our meals. During lunch, two of her children at with us and they were talking and I had no clue what they were saying. They would pause and explain in laymens terms what they were talking about. They correct me constantly.


I'm getting bit by fleas all the time b/c of the feral dogs wandering the streets. My family's house is very clean so I doubt it's from them. The sun hasn't been out much and I'm so cold all of the time. I wear 3 layers of clothes sometimes. What's up w/that? I'm living in Central America!

Josefina has been hosted students for 15 years! She really loves it b/c she likes she worked in a laundry facility before and hated it and it was very laborious. Plus, she wans't spending much time w/her children. She enjoys working at home, boy does she ever work! She's so busy!!

Yesterday, I went to a tiny shop across town, I forgot my camera so I couldn't take pictures. :( In Guatemala, the are these dolls called Munecas and that are hand made and painted. It's kinda like paper mache. It's very intricate so it was cool to see the process. I takes many days to make them. I didn't bring enough money so I couldn't buy one either. However, I'm sure they are quite prevelant around the country. We had to take 2 busese and walk a couple miles to get to it. I forgot to spray my legs with insect repellant I'm covered in flea bites! God, I wish I wouldn't have taken microbiology last quarter b/c I'm constantly worried about germs and what disease I could get from a fleas or mosquito. I'm excited b/c my family finally got hand soap in the bathroom! However, I use my handsanitizer like crazy.

My eyes are finally used to the pollution. They aren't burning or red, but they are puffy. However, I'm a bit concerned b/c I've developed some sores on the sides of my mouth where the the crease it. I keep applying chapstick. I hope I didn't catch a cold sore from something.

Today, I'm going to watch a movie in my school then I go home eat and study. A store across from the school sells school supplies so I bought index cards so I can make flash cards. My spanish was so bad that the girl let me go behind the secure counter and look through the inventory to find them. LOL! I'll never forget how to say index cards with lines in Spanish again!

I promise I'll take some pictures starting tomorrow and I'll post them in a few days. I haven't been taking many pictures so I need to get on that! I think I'll wander around on Sunday and take pictures. Pictures are so much better than stories or it will solidify stuff for you.

Tomorrow, I'm going to take my first Salsa dance class! Yeah! I heard the teacher is very good! Wish me luck! I'm the least graceful person I know so it's going to be very interesting. I think the gym I wanted to join is very far away so I need to do some kind of exercise while I'm here or I'll go nuts! At least I walk everywhere, but I've been eating so much. I still haven't gotten sick! Whew!

All is well in Xela.

Oh! Next Saturday, my school is overing a mountain biking activity. Do I dare? I don't want to hurt myself so I think I may not do it. What do you think?

Only one cat call since I've been here, not bad, huh? Everyone is soooo nice!