Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Today I got up at 8:45 and got ready. I had put my dirty clothes out in hallway the night before in case the laundromat man came before I got up, but he didn’t. He came during breakfast (two media lunas, a cup and a half of hot chocolate, and tostadas with dulce de leche). I went to my room and tidied up my belongings and got ready for the day. Fani left shortly after 10 to go grocery shopping (I think) and I left about 10:15. I went to the camera store close to my apartment and talked to the man (in castellano, of course) about what had happened and that I wanted to find a new camera similar to my old one. He got the cameras out of the display case and I found one that would be suitable. I don’t like it as well as my old one, but I really want to have a camera to take pictures while I am here (but I don’t want to get it stolen!). I left and went to the money changing place about a block away. I changed my dollars into pesos and returned to the camera store. It took the man a long time to find the camera in the computer. I think it was because the camera was on sale (as a Father’s Day special and it was after Father’s Day). He eventually found it and helped me put the battery and memory card in and made sure the instructions were in English (which I’m not sure was a complement to my Spanish ability). He also gave me a coupon for 100 free prints at his store. He was really helpful. I walked home, scared that someone had seen me buying a camera and was going to rob me… again! I went home and ditched the rest of my money (well, not quite all) and my new camera. I walked to the ISA office and asked about replacing my ID card for the university. They told me to talk to the people at the university. I called my mom and then had to leave for class. I got there a little early and talked to Will about his trip to see the whales. It turns out that the only bus available to take them was a semi-cama bus which means the seats only recline slightly. They were on the bus for 22 hours like that and they kept stopping. I cannot imagine! He did get to see whales and sea lions, though, and that was why he went. We had class and went over our homework until lunch break at 2. I ate my peanut butter sandwiches and an apple and talked to Will. We were the only ones in the classroom when the teacher returned 5 minutes late. No one else came for about 10 more minutes. We got started again and went over a bunch of grammar stuff. We had our short break and I ate a banana and some crackers. After the break, we had an argument. Well, I guess it was supposed to be a debate, but no one in my group agreed which I found hilarious. Our teacher told us a story about a wife, her lover, her husband, her friend, a drunk, and a boatman. All of them had some part in her husband’s death and we were supposed to decide (as a group) who was most guilty. No one in my group agreed. I thought the drunk was the most guilty and Meagan thought he was the least guilty! People all over the room started spouting off into English to get their opinions across and our teacher was running all over the room telling people to speak castellano. It was very funny. Our group was the only one that had completely opposite opinions. We had to end our discussion (even though people were still asserting their opinions) because it was time to go. We got our review paper to do in preparation for tomorrow and left. Will and I walked to the ISA office because he needed to use the computer and I needed to talk to Federico and get another copy of my passport. Federico told me the sad news that I am not going to be able to volunteer at the orphanage because my schedule is not good for them to work with. I could tell he felt really badly about it. I told him not to worry. Will and I left the office at the same time. He wanted to go to Chinatown and get peanut butter and I wanted to see Chinatown, too (even though we have been told it is nothing spectacular), so he invited me to go with him. We were walking along Cabildo (the main road) and Will told me that someone was following us. We kept walking because, after all, Cabildo is a big street. After a little while, Will and I stopped at a line of people waiting for the bus. The man in the brown coat stopped, too. We headed off in the opposite direction (the way we had come) and the man followed us. We went in a bookstore and found two girls from our program in there. They asked me about my robbery and we told them about the creepy man outside. Will said that he had noticed him three blocks before he told me. I hadn’t even noticed! We talked to Heather and Jane for about 10 minutes before venturing outside. When we did, the creepy man was waiting outside just a few stores down. We headed back the way we came. I decided to go home because I didn’t want to walk to Chinatown in the dark when there was a creepy man following us! Will offered to walk me home, but we were only about 5 blocks from my house (in the opposite direction of the man in the brown coat) so I said I would be fine. Will headed off to Chinatown and I told him that if he gets killed tonight, tomorrow in class, we are going to have a discussion of whose fault it is: mine, his, the man in the brown coat, etc. just like in our story! After getting robbed, I think I am even more of a wimp than usual! It makes me long for the country where you can walk outside by yourself safely at any hour and the worst thing that’s going to be out there is a raccoon! Anyway, I got home about 7 and was greeted by Fani. I put my stuff away and looked at my new camera. Fani got dinner ready (soup, a meat patty with a fried egg and ketchup, cucumbers and shredded carrots, and chocolate mousse) and I ate it. After dinner, I headed to my room to study. I am writing out all the important points of my notes on white paper with brightly colored crayons. It is more fun than a pen or pencil and I think it will help me remember the information better. I talked online to Anne (as I did last night) and wrote this blog entry. I am going to look over some more Spanish stuff and go to bed soon because it’s almost 11:30pm.