Week Two Day #8

I have been asked a lot about the food here. Its similar to Cuban food (rice, beans, pork) but the flavors are completely different. I think the food here is healthier. Every day Anna makes me a fruit shake. Every day its a different fruit. They are great. I think she uses yogart instead of milk. It comes in a carton that looks like milk. They have fruits here I have never seen or heard of before. She makes what I consider stews. Different types of meat in a sauce. They serve it with rice on the side, vegetables (brocolli) and always a soup. The soup alone is a meal. It always has meat in it. Her sister came back from Cuenca (where their family is from) and brought lots of food back. It turns out in Cuenca everything is natural. They dont use preservatives. She brought back pork, corn, peas & chocolate. None of it looks like what we are used to. Its bigger!

I forgot to mention that when I did laundry the washing machine is outside. So if it rains you are screwed. There is no dryer so you hand everything to dry. They have a cat named Camilo. I call him senor Camilo. (sorry Luca) There is also no tipping here. Not at restaurants or taxis. Its great! I have had three dreams in Spanish in the 1 1-2 weeks I have been here. Im tired when I wake up. The family was helping me study this weekend. They would read me the word in Spanish and I would have to figure out what it meant. Well, thats the easy way...recognition. So I asked her to read the English word because its harder for me to recall the Spanish word. Ana knows a little English. But it was funny when they tried to pronounce the words. I laughed and said yeah, its not so easy is it! We all got a good laugh! The public bathrooms at the park you have to pay to use. .05 for men and .10 for women. Women cost more because they give you toilet paper. No, there is no toilet paper in the stall. Dont ask me what youre supposed to do if you really have to go? It explains why men are peeing in the park against the walls. It doesnt explain why I see that in Miami at Key Biscayne. I am also learning how to tell time. Dont laught. Try saying its 2:40 in Spanish. I bet you never thought of that. I get a lot of homework but I was promised none tomorrow night because its salsa night. Lessons followed by a salsa disco. club. Im looking forward to it.

By the way, Adios is out and Chao is in.

Chao, Christine