Una Semana de Xela Amor
A week of Xela love…..
Last week my brain kind of hit the wall in regards to learning Spanish. The things that I had learned were all kind of mixing together and I was just having a hard time functioning. So I decided to take a week off and relax my brain. This is very normal for students to do, usually after 4 or 5 weeks students tend to take a brake. I did 10.
My week started off in an interesting fashion. I decided to go sit in the park, get some sun, and start reading a book (Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell). In this process a decent looking man came up to me and started taking. We were making polite conversation, and I was understanding most of it. He was asking me some questions and all I understood was something about the Internet. So I did my “Let’s guess what this guy is talking about in Spanish”. I attempted to tell him where some Internet cafes were, etc. Then he corrected me and said something to the effect of “Quieres” (you want), and “fotos”, and “sexo”. So I’m not sure if he was asking me if I wanted to do porn or if I wanted to go watch porn. To which I politely declined. But I’m glad to know those opportunities are available if need be (joke). It also makes me wonder what kind of vibra (vibe) I was giving off in my tank top and shorts.
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Some students and I went to El Cuartito on Tuesday to play some RummiKub and drink some Mango Mojitos. Delicious. I need to learn how to make those.
Dogs here in Xela have some amazing loyalty. I see many of the same dogs around in the town, and unfortunately their health doesn’t always look the best. I especially see one chucho (mutt) all of the time around town and I walk by him all the time. He always travels around town and hangs out in many different stores and restaurants during the day. But every morning and every evening there he is laying in front of his owners house on the sidewalk. To be able to go wherever you want and yet still come back home everyday where you probably aren’t treated the best is an interesting trip into the psyche of a dog. His picture is above.
I had a few celebrity sightings this week. In my favorite cafe I saw the latin version of Colonel Sanders, and I’m pretty sure the Guatemalan Charles Manson. He was in the form of a crazy homeless guy without shoes. Pictures below.
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My Dia Del Cariño (Valentine’s Day) was pretty uneventful. I had a date with two dudes (Davis and Max). We went to my favorite place, El Giardino, where I actually called and made a reservation earlier in the day. Not knowing the norms of Valentine’s Day here in the Guat I figured it would be like home where all restaurants are packed for that one day of the year where guys need to be reminded to treat their ladyfriends appropriately. Anyway, we arrived at the restaurant and it was completely empty. I was stupid enough to tell the waiter that I had a reservation. The guys didn’t let me live that one down the rest of the night.
It’s funny how when you are in a place for awhile, sometimes you forget to pay attention to your surroundings. I spent part of the day Thursday just walking around and taking pictures of Xela. The city, my school, and community have really grown on me. It has been a great trip and will be a sad day when my time is over.
Friday, the school had a pot luck dinner for Valentine’s Day where we all got together to eat, drink, and be merry. After a lot of laughs, the night ended with some students and Jaime (who works at the school) heading to Pool and Beer (yes, that’s its name) for some billiards and more good times.
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Now I head back to school to continue to hone my craft of the language. Deseas suerte para mi!
7 Responses to “Una Semana de Xela Amor”
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February 20th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Hey,
Does Pool and Beer have a huge honkin’ TV in the back corner? I think I shot pool there one night while they showed Forrest Gump in Spanish. Hola, me llamo Forrest Gump.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I love your mesh tank top. (Wink)
February 24th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
The titel of the TP should have been either “Oh, Jason, go wipe.” or “Get them while they’re HOT HOLE.”
February 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Throw your gang signs in the sky. For five bucks she’ll do the bat man on your face.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Diversify your bonds and shit. Konnichiwa, Bitches.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Thanks for hitting me one time with that mass of foosball tables. I hope you were able to hone your skills. I am in full effect. You’d better recognize.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:00 pm
That statue looks like William Defoe.