Day 4: Cue Rocky

This morning I met my teacher. He's absolutely precious- you guys don't even know. He is so sweet and grandfather-y I just want to give him a big squeeze. He is so full of energy. Today, he told me his whole life story with a great deal of expression- just watching him was entertaining. His name is Rocael, but as soon as he met me, he held up his fists in a fighting motion and told me that I could call him "Rocky." As it turns out, "Rae" is not going over as smoothly as I thought. I still have to say it two and three times. It sounds very similar to the word they use for "king," so Rocky told me I should be more or less a queen to Jonathan, and for that reason, my name was very good.

Again, I will say that everyone is so nice here. Jonathan told me to give it time, but I'm ready NOW to feel like I belong. Most of the students who are here right now are Guatemalan. I expected to be surrounded by people in the same boat as me, maybe just on different levels, but I feel a little blah being SO behind everyone. I go to my room and read during free time, because I feel like an extranjero (News flash, self, you are). You say, "Hey. Chill out. It's Day 4." I know. I'm just not very patient. I'm not very good at rolling with the punches.

During my class this morning, I saw Dorita showing a new girl the grounds. I was excited because for a moment, I was no longer the newest! Turns out, she was just taking a tour and didn't stay. Back to being the newbie...

After lunch today, I went to my room to read, then I was like No. Go back downstairs. So I grabbed my laptop and book and here I sit in the common room. I am going to a dance class around 4:30 so maybe that will be a good chance to have some fun with the other students.

(To avoid posting two posts in one day... I will just update this one after the dance class.)

Salsa dance class. What an experience. Mom asked how it went and I told her, "Your girl's got no rhythm." Because it's true. The instructor was nice enough. The only time he spoke in English was to ask me, "What is your problem?!" ... That should give you a good enough picture of how I was doing. When I left, he hugged me ("muchas gracias, mi amor"), most likely because I had just signed up and paid him for a month of dance classes. At this point, it wasn't because I absolutely loved the class, but it was more because I absolutely needed it. But watch and see, I'm going to return a salsa pro.

Another random, but notable thing that happened today starts with the adorable baby bunny they showed us when we arrived yesterday. So precious and soft. Then there's Mia, la gata, soft, but not so precious as she murdered the baby bunny last night.