Friday August 5th
Today I actually woke up before 8am… on my own. That’s weird. Haha, I guess it helps that I go to be around 11pm these days. Puerto Rico has been wearing me out! I was going to go out but I decided not to because I have a ride coming to grab me and my stuff … and I didn’t know when they were coming. (And I am not about to lose a ride for me and my 3 suitcases) So I stayed home and sat on the porch and worked on my translation project for Abbett Elementary. I am now done with the 2nd Grade Indiana State Standards Documents. I hope to make a lot of headway on those in the next few days…. Right now I am feeling tired and I am wishing there was a hammock that I could take a siesta in. It is perfect siesta weather!! A storm is coming in and it is getting quite windy. It just feels so nice. I really wanna get to the beach!!! It has been sort of cloudy, so I was going to wait for a sunny day.
Today I changed houses. I am now with a different family who lives very close to the last house I was at—which coincidentally is also a second floor apartment. I really am starting to hate the 150lbs of junk I decided to take with me. I am sure I will be glad later that I have an iron, a surge protector and enough clothes for 2-3 weeks… but now, I am really wishing I didn’t. My new host came to pick me up when she got off work. We went to the store and she got some groceries…. And then she made me (and her son) a delicious meal! Chicken, rice, beans (with pumpkin), and tostones. It smelled soooo good. They use a lot of garlic in their food. I paid close attention so that I will be able to copy later on. J
After dinner my host dropped me off at the train station and I took the train to Jardines where there was a dance sponsored by my church. It was soooo amazing!!! Everyone dancing salsa, merengue and bachata… and POLKA!! I actually danced all four, if you can believe it! If the guy can lead well…. Merengue can be easy. Bachata I love…. It’s probably my favorite dance in existence. Polka was so funny…. Girls in a circle in the middle, boys in a circle on the outside… and then the same dance repeated and repeated with every partner in the circle. I laughed the whole time! There were some EXCELLENT dancers there. I was impressed. It made me so excited. And now… the dances back home will seem ohhh soo lame. Everyone here is just so alive… maybe it’s all the rain. I made a couple more friends. I am very excited for church Sunday so I can get to know more people….. Specifically people who will be living close to me…. And I will need to find a place to stay… because I will be homeless in a foreign country as of Sunday evening. (Until Saturday…..)
---this pic is sort of lame..... but you get the idea... sort of.
Sunday, August 7th
Well, I missed yesterday. The place I was staying at didn’t have internet. Actually, the place I am staying at now… I am very surprised it has internet. I thought I was SOL on this one…. I am at a hostel, but more to that later on.
Saturday was pretty fun. Mostly because I finally own something by Coach… that wasn’t bought in Shipshewana in the back of a truck. The best news is that I got it for $29.10, including tax. It is this cute little clutch. I just LOVE it. I have wanted one for a very long time! I even bought a different one… but it just didn’t do the trick. The outlet mall in Puerto Rico is VERY nice. There were a lot of upscale stores… that I couldn’t even think about shopping in. It’s not my style anyway. Except for Coach. But Coach is everyone’s style, right?
Saturday evening was fun because we went to an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant where I ate a little stuffed chicken. It was soooo good. And I ate it with tostones de pana. I have no idea what pana is, but it tasted very delicious with mayonnaise and ketchup. Puerto Ricans know how to eat!
Sunday morning comes and I go to church… and at that point I am starting to get worried about the next place I will stay. I had been staying with some people… but I was there as long as they could have me. (One place Wed-Fri, the next Fri-Sun) I was in places that really only locals go… so as far as attractions, there weren’t any… but I was able to get to know some real Puerto Ricans. I really like Puerto Ricans because they are bilingual. When I get sick of Spanish/ frustrated with a phrase…. I can just say it in English. And the English of a lot of people doesn’t even have much of an accent. It is so weird to hear them go back and forth… and sound so natural in both. That is a perk of being Puerto Rican.
But by the time church was wrapping up, I was getting more and more nervous about where in the heck I was gonna stay. I was hoping I would find a member, but nothing was coming up… I have a contact that is staying in Old San Juan, but where she was staying it was full. So, I decided I was going to have to look for a place to stay on my own…. I had no internet, no GPS… no way to figure out a place to stay. I didn’t even know where to go to be able to FIND a place to stay. I kept thinking… God please ….. PLEASE help me. I was sort of freaking out because there I was in a foreign country. I had almost no idea where I was. All I knew what that I needed a place to stay and I needed it pronto.
I think the girl I was at church with could tell. She told me not to worry. Then she took me to her house, gave me lunch and then let me use her computer. Then she said that she would take me to get my stuff, and then take me to wherever I needed. I felt such a relief. I found a hotel, but by that time I have been able to get in contact with someone in Old San Juan… and found a hostel for $15 PER NIGHT!! Haha, I was soooo happy….. so so soooo happy! I felt a huge relief and my back became less tense and the world just looked better to me.
I must note, that this is the THIRD place I have stayed… and lugged my 150 lbs of luggage… AND… all my places are on the 2nd floor with NO elevator. Moving is such a hassle. I am glad to be staying here for the rest of the week. To make things better, Old San Juan is REALLY fun. There are all sorts of attractions and restaurants. There is latin music everywhere. The atmosphere is just so fun! We are on the beach, too. AND to make everything better yet- I have been able to get in contact with a friend that is doing the same National Student Exchange program.. We are going to visit the school together tomorrow and then we are going to the beach.
Ok…. Well, here I am in my hostel, or “guest house” as they call it here. I am in a tiny little room… about 8 feet by 16 feet…. A ceiling fan hanging above… and a twin bed with sheets that I don’t think have been washed in a while. But, I am having a great time. I am ever grateful to have a roof over my head. .. and my stomach is full. (But smaller! I’ve already lost 5 lbs!! GO MEEE!!!!!!)
Ok folks. Have a great one. Sorry for writing so much. Skim straight the the pictures if you don’t like it.
Here are pics of my lovely hostel. It's actually better than I imagined it.... I mean, for $15 a night, what more could I ask for??? They even gave me a roll of toilet paper that I have to take to the bathroom with me every time I go. It's that awesome.
the entrance: very secure! you must use a key to get in and out! so-- if there is a theif, he will get locked in!!!! also, if i leave quickly because of a fire, i wont be able to get out. :/
(sorry about it being sideways. im tired. i want to go to bed. so tilt yo' head.)
My cute $15/ night room. The bed is kind of sketchy... but I don't care.... heh. I'll deal so that I will be able to go island hopping later on.
Above, this was a meal that one of my hosts made for me upon arrival. It was delicious!! White beans and rice... and she cut up pumpkin with the beans! And tostones (fried plantains) and chicken. Sooooo good!!! This is me.... can you tell I look razzled? Haha, I finally moved into my new place.... and then I made it to the pier. There was a looovely breeze. It helped the 90 degree weather seem more bearable. I must be getting used to this-- seeing as how I wore jeans (long) today. I'm becoming more Puerto Rican every day!!!
Ok... goodnight! I am off to visit the university tomorrow and then visit the beach!
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