Is my Spanish getting worse?

I felt rusty when I first got here. Now I feel even rustier, and this after 12 hours of classes over 3 days. I had trouble sleeping last night because Spanish words, like chunks of cold hail from the sky, were pounding my mind. I just couldn’t turn my brain off.

I’ve had only 2 English conversations so far. The first was with a guy I met in a bar last night. He was from Canada and had been here almost 2 months. I’m impressed at the disposition of people like him. There’s a type of personality that can just head out to a strange part of the world, not knowing any of the language, and decide to have a great time. That’s not me. i don’t think I could do an entire winter by myself. That’s just amazing.

The second conversation was today with an American girl at my school. She’s younger, 22 I think, and is in college preparing to be a teacher. She’s also here alone. Good for her.

Other than that, it’s 100% spanish. I can’t believe I’m here.

Where’s the love?

So far Mike has been the only one to respond to my last blog regarding the question: “What is the one album I need to own NOW?”

I think you can do better than that.

And by the way, I’m in Antigua. It’s great! On Saturday I’ll join up with my roommate from college, Andrew, and we’ll get to do some hanging out.

For now I’m going to go examine some colonial artifacts from the 16th century before my Spanish class this afternoon. Wicked!!!

Influence Me!

I’m on the couch typing out the last blog before I head to Guatemala. Don’t know for sure how often I’ll be able to post while I’m down there, but I’m guessing I’ll be able to update the site at least a couple of times. So don’t go too far away.

On an unrelated topic, for Christmas I got a new Bible, Today’s New International Version (TNIV). I can tell this is going to make me a lot more holy.

In addition to the Bible, I also received an iTunes gift card. So here’s the part where you get to participate…

What album should I buy?

For now, don’t worry about whether it’s available on iTunes. Simply write a comment in support of the album you think I need to get. I will buy the one with the most compelling argument. This is your chance to influence my music tastes, folks!

Hasta luego!

High School

Tonight I’m going to a get-together with some people from high school. I feel weird. I’m obsessing over what I’m going to wear, and that’s not normally like me.

I was telling my family the other day that in situations like this, I often don’t enjoy telling people that I’m a teacher for at-risk youth. The response that I get is usually something along the lines of, “I really admire that” or “That’s really noble.” Do these people feel uncomfortable because they aren’t doing something as “noble”? I don’t want them to feel that way. All of us make great contributions to the world, just in different capacities.

On a lighter note, I’m jazzed that I can see one of my good friends again. Like most good friends, he and I can pick up right where we left off even though it’s been a year since we last talked. There’s little awkwardness, no big pauses in the conversation. That’s the bomb.

Driving

A co-worker lent me the Grey’s Anatomy Original Soundtrack, Volume 2. I’ve seen maybe 1 episode, but I dig the music.

Some of the songs are perfect for late night driving, which I must say is an underappreciated pleasure of life. Tonight I drove the 101 back from an event in the valley and I almost feel disappointed that I got off the freeway. The sensation of speed, the music, the black night sky clearing before me. That’s good times.

Lasers

Posts have been few and far between lately. Apologies to my 3 regular readers. I’ve set a goal to do a post a day between now and December 26, when I leave on my trip to Guatemala. Yes, Guatemala beckons: home of my future bride. Why do you think I want to learn Spanish so badly?

On Tuesday we did a white elephant gift exchange among the teachers at work. I ended up with by far the best deal, a laser pointer! I feel like a kid again. The staff at work almost had to confiscate it from me because I was using it when I was supposed to be working. To justify the hours I now spend with my laser pointer, I put together the following list.

Valuable Uses of laser pointers
1. pointing at things
2. pointing at people
3. pointing at people when they’re not looking
4. pointing at people’s eyes and having them yell at you
5. entertaining cats

If you are a male under the age of 35, you need to get a laser pointer. You will not regret it. The media will tell you that a GAP sweater is more desirable. Your family may even tell you that. But I stand here as a voice of reason, a beacon of truth against the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age. Get a laser pointer. Please.

I feel Office silly

Just finished Season 2 of the Office on DVD. I want to convey the following information to you with all the gravitas I can muster. I have never… NEVER… been so invested in a TV show plot, which is weird since The Office is a comedy (mostly). But there is this one relationship in the show that has me hooked. It’s between the characters Jim and Pam. I have been as emotionally involved in the outcome of their relationship as I was with the outcome of the 2000 Lakers playoff run. That, ladies and gentlemen, is saying something. Jim and Pam, you’re killing me!

My mom says it’s the sexual tension between them. She’s probably right.

I got the Skype

Who else has Skype?

I tried it out tonight by calling my dad. He was sitting across the room from me. Yes, my life is that boring. that’s how I get my entertainment.

Graphic Readings

Remember the 9/11 Commission Report from a couple years back? I didn’t read it.

This week I picked up a reasonable substitute, The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation.

My parents looked at me kinda funny when I brought this home from Borders. It’s mostly the same content as in the official report, yet presented in the form of a comic book.

This is actually my second graphic novel. The first was Palestine, which covers a journalist’s first-hand experiences in Gaza and the West Bank during the early days of the intifada. The graphic novel form lends itself well to such a subject. I came away with a raw sense of what everyday life was like for many Palestinians. I highly recommend it.

I guess my only concern is that I’m dumbing myself down. I hope I’m not adding to the growth of a generation that can’t read something without pictures, you know?

Episode 1

My first (and hopefully not last) podcast can be accessed either by right clicking here, and then selecting “save link as”.

Or, subscribe to the podcast via iTunes.

You can also copy this feed into a pod-catching program of your choice: http://feeds.feedburner.com/aboutthislife

Act 1: TV Shows
Act 2: Memories from summer OR the greatness of Kevin
Act 3: Self-Realizations