First Excursion

OK, clearly I'm a little bored at this point, but that's totally OK with me...here's to hoping that once tomorrow rolls around, some of you who are unhappy to be at work will enjoy having copious blog entries to keep you entertained (or at least occupied!).  

So, here's today's recap:

After the last post, Dora, Sergio, and I went out to the "feria" which translates more into "fair," but in reality is more of a farmers market...actually, that's exactly what it was.  It was a pretty entertaining place, with tons of vendors selling all sorts of cool fruits and vegetables.  One of the things that sets my presence here completely apart from my experience in Colombia is that nobody pays any attention to the giant gringo.  While I miss that a little, I think it makes for a safer, more low-key profile which is good.  Anyway, the market was fun.  Dora swept through there like a pro, grabbing fruits and vegetables like I'd imagine a professional chef doing back in the states.  Clearly, she's been there before.  

We drove around for a while after, through the town, and hit a grocery store.  Nothing exciting to talk about there.  However, I will say that driving around and talking with Sergio is a lot of fun for me.  He's really easy to understand (doesn't have too much of an accent, and I think chooses words carefully for me so I get what he's saying) and he's also got a nice way of correcting me (which I asked him to do for me).  It's also funny because "machismo" is alive and well in this country.  Dora does all the work, sits in the back seat, makes us food and constantly cleans the house, etc.  It makes me feel bad, but I guess I have to remember that it's completely normal.  It's just hard to get used to.  Which brings me to my nap...

When we got back, Sergio and I took a nap while unbeknownst to me, Dora got to work making lunch.  I maybe slept for an hour or so and awoke to some knocking on my door.  When I emerged, the first thing I saw was a plate full of food waiting for me!  She had made rice, frijoles molidos (squashed/mashed beans...like a paste), pan-fried chicken, and salad.  It was awesome!  

After lunch, I started to get a little stir crazy after the TORRENTIAL downpour had let-up, so I decided to venture out to San Pedro Mall (about 1-2 miles away), but required me to use the bus for the first time.  It's always a little crazy to get on a bus in a foreign country.  You're sitting there being taken away from the one place that's familiar, all the while thinking, "Will I ever be able to get back?"  Of course I knew I'd be able to find my way back...if all else failed, I could take a cab, but I wanted to be successful with the bus system.  

The mall was gigantic, and full of teenagers and families...really not my scene, but I stayed for a while and people-watched.  What struck me again, as with all Latin American countries, was the family-centered focus.  You see ENTIRE families there...not just kids with single parents, but totally intact families.  It's just not something I'm used to seeing.  

After the mall, I tried to find my way back to the bus stop going the other way, and got myself nice and lost.  While criss-crossing the streets, I noticed a blanket under a sign that looked like somebody was having a snooze.  I went further down the street and on my way back was quite confident there was indeed a man underneath, as there was some "movement" towards the middle of the blanket.  I'll leave it at that...I promised my mom this blog would be G-rated!

Anyway, I guess that's enough for one day.  And wouldn't you know it, Dora has sandwiches on the table.  Gotta run:)