Stardate, June 14th, 2006. Today was a pretty regular day. Classes are going pretty good and I'm learning a bit more everyday. One of the students here is my inspiration (Jessica, the salsa dancer). She always carries a notebook around to copy down new words she learns. She has about 4 notebooks in varying stages of completion. So, I thought that was a nifty idea and I bought a notebook. I have a scratch page that I write my daily words on and then at the end of the day I put them in alphabetical order in my notebook. So far I have learned some fantastic words and phrases that I would have missed out on if I wasn't always in contact with my notebook.
At the end of the day, I came back to the school (or "the big house" as we call it) and I ran into Jessica, who had gotten an secret and forbidden invitation from one of the charlantes (the staff at the school who take us on our out-and-abouts, cook, etc.) to go to the movies with her and some friends tonight, and the invitation was intended for me as well. She is about our age and is really wonderful, but there is a pretty hard and fast rule at the school that students aren't supposed to mingle with staff after hours, so for my charlante's protection I will not divulge her name, because she would get fired. I was really tired, but I figured, when am I going to get to hang out with people my age and go to a movie in spanish? So... we went!
We caught a bus to the mall, where the movie theater is, and met up with our charlante, her sister and two guys that she knows (one of which has a thing for Jessica, and apparently in Mexico when you want to invite someone on a first date, you bring about 3 people with you to act as a buffer. I think that would get really old after a while). So, they picked the movie (the remake of the Omen, or in spanish "la profecia" which was in english with spanish subtitles).
So, I learned a very important word... palomitas... popcorn. Now, I thought it was an american assumption that everyone in mexico ate things spicy, but it has pretty well been confirmed as truth on this trip. Everything from fried plantains to corn puffs to, yes, popcorn, are eaten with some kind of spicy salsa. So I figured, when in mexico.... and I pumped some (I think it was "salsa valentina") on my popcorn. Whoa! Won't be making that mistake again! A little much for my sensitive and pure mouth :-).
Anyway, the movie was terrible, put the previews before were interesting. Two things in particular. There were two ads- one for one of the presidential candidates and one was a rah-rah commercial for the mexican world cup team (which, I don't know if I've mentioned yet, is going on right now). So... while the presidential candidate was talking, there were tons of conversations going on, lots of cell phones ringing, popcorn shuffling, etc., but when the world cup business came on, nobody was going to miss that! Complete attention I tell you! I just thought that was funny.
So, the movie got done at 11 something, and our charlante's friend gave us a ride home since the busses stop at 11. His name is Oscar, he's an engineer in Mexico and his english kicks my spanish's ass, which made me feel like crap, since he never really studied formally. We listened to obsure american rock music and devo on our way back to the house. It felt a bit like the start of an indy film. And, that, my darlings, was that.
Tomorrow is field trip day and I don't know exactly where we're going yet, but once all is said and done, I'll fill you in. Promise. Abrazos, Tracey
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