Chocolate and a sort of stern talking-to from Karla.
                   Since I came in late, I sat with Mafer since Tilo was sitting with Lore which is fine, I just prefer to be with Lore! Eloina stopped Physics early so that we had sufficient time to present our math projects. I tried to have someone else go before me but since she made me go first, I did my best to hide my nerves. It helped that the majority of the time I was turned to the white board to show all my math. My project was about converting and then adding and subtracting fractions and decimals. My project was pretty complete so she didn't really ask me any questions like she did with all the other projects!! The only thing they made me do was subtract two decimals that she gave me to make sure that I knew how to do it (I used numbers and answers from my papers to guide me through my presentation).
                     After my presentation, Elo gave us a short time to go down to the kitchen and eat the yummy homemade pizza I brought for breakfast so that after, we could go back up to our class to finish our presentations. Pao's presentation took longer than mine (they asked her more questions) and led us up to when we left the school to go to the Museum of Cacao/Kakaw. When we got to the front desk, an extranjero-ish looking guy was talking with this woman and then she said something and seemingly out of no-where, he claps her on the arm as if to say, "good joke". The woman looked a little weirded out and she and the other lady at the front desk exchanged looks.
                      The explanation of the little exhibits was short, perfect for my museum attention span (which is VERY short). Then she led us to an exhibit with cacao seeds (no sugar, no nothin') and after she had us take the light shell (with my newly cut fingernails, I couldn't do, it so Evodio had to do the majority of it for me). Then she told us to eat them. Daunted by the looks of "eww gross" on my compañero's faces, I took a tentative bite and immediately understood what they were talking about. It was bitter and did not taste anything like chocolate and however unpleasant the chewing and tasting of them was, I had an oddly hard time swallowing them!!
                       They led us over to see a mannequin with a chocolate dress (sculpted from chocolate paste). They had us watch a documentary while we sat on these awesome chairs (unfortunately I think the chairs had a more lasting impression on most of us). After that, we toasted cacao beans, took the shell off them and then ground them into a paste that looked better than it tasted (still, no sugar). Then, after a thorough cleaning of the cacao grinder (in which we got a lot more chocolate), we added sugar (though we discovered later that it was not enough).
                      On the way back in the big van of Eloina's, I got to hold Dylan (Karla's baby) even though practically everyone was mooning over him and wanting to hold him. Upon arriving, we had a quick snack and saw Tilo's presentation. Since it was on a PowerPoint, before he started we all made shadow puppets like the mature middle-schoolers we are!!  Evodio kept stealing Lore's and my chocolate and so I started a new chapter of our poking-in-the sides war. Then, Karla catches me and tells me that hand games (such as those) are for villains (I don't exactly get why) and that it will be my fault if he comes to disrespect me (smacking my butt or something). I mean, I guess I sort of understand what she means but at the same time I think she is sort of over-reacting.
                    Soccer practice was pretty good because I got to hang out with Miguel (he was my partner) and so we talked and laughed and smiled a lot (no I don't like like him). At one point during our scrimmage,  he passed the ball to me even though I was on the opposite team. When his team started to be like what the heck, he said, "Well, I have to be gentlemanly right?" I teased him about it later and he said, "Well, do you want me to not be?" and then it was sort of a truce!! Another kid (whose name I do not know because he is new) kept going "Yur, pues" because I kept losing the ball and I sort of forgot that he was not one of my classmates and stuck my tongue out at him.Then I smiled to make sure he didn't think I was really rude. He didn't seem to hold a grudge (so that's good) and he isn't to rude or anything.

A fun day in which I goof off a lot with Evodio.
                    Rosie switched our groups that we were in for Spanish and English meaning she had to split Lore and I up so that with Mafer I could teach the people who needed the most help with English. I helped Lina, Kevin and Andres. I hate to admit it, but I got very exasperated because they would just have mental space adventures and they barely knew anything. I am happy to be in a group with Mafer, Toño and Evodio though!! Mafer and I will trade off with the difficult ones.

An embarrassing day in which I see too many familiar faces!!
                  These last couple days, Favio, Lore, Ana, Diego, Evodio and I have been outside on the concrete basketball/soccer court practicing for our escolta!! On Monday and Tuesday, Lore and I spent our whole time teaching kids from tercer ciclo (fifth and sixth graders, well also a fourth grader with Oscar) because they out-of-the-blue decided they wanted to compete in the escolta competition (which was on Wednesday). That left us with TWO days to teach finicky younger kids how to do practically everything we did in a month!!! It was Oscar, Ricardo (Ana's brother), Juan Carlos, Claudio (Lore's sweet cousin who I tutored because he was in my position), Luis and Carlos Eduardo. We taught them as best as we could, spiffed them up for their competition and went through a last minute practice.
                 While they were gone to their competition, we started our first day-long practice with hats and lots of sunscreen. We can concentrate on it long enough to do one run-through or less and then we start goofing off. We are doing pretty well considering our really short attention span!!
                  I got burned one day (I am not sure which) and even now that I wear a hat and sunscreen every day since that, I still have red cheeks!! Today, our Spanish teacher and her husband (our escolta teacher) brought us each two bolis (milk popcicles with flavors) to eat!
                  Our competition is tomorrow and so I am a tad bit nervous about all the steps.

                   El chiste es que nos van a dar puntos basados en como hacemos los evoluciones en una manera especifica, nuestros uniformes, si vamos juntos y como levantamos nuestras rodillas etc. (Sorry it was just easier for me to right that in Spanish than English to describe that, now wait while I translate what I just wrote in Spanish with Google Translate back to my native language....how sad!)

                                                       ..........................................
I'm back, okay here is what I said:
"The point (in Spanish: the joke is meaning the same thing) is that we're getting points based on how we make the changes in a specific way, our uniforms, if we are together and raise our knees etc"

Wish me luck!!

Primary's escolta practicing before the competition. From far left, Ricardo, Juan, Oscar, Claudio and Luis in the back. There is one more person who goes behind Juan though he is blocked by him.

Oscar and Luis in his serious-verging on grumpy face

Okay, well I went to the competition on Friday and here is what happened:

Well, on Tuesday, I asked Miguel (my soccer friend) where he went to school and he said the state school so when I heard that that was where the competition was, I wondered if I would see him there. 

As luck would have it, he was the first person I saw as I entered the gates to the public school in puffy white hats, gloves and full on uniforms. I instantly smiled as I saw him (he tends to have that effect on me) and he came over and kissed me on the cheek before walking off to do whatever he was doing. 

They informed us that because we arrived late that we would go last so as we waited for our turn, Favio went and talked to some friends as did Diego. That left Lore, Ana and I constantly adjusting our boinas (the definition I believe are white puffy hats) as Evodio sat on the ground with his back to the wall as he asked us to kill him so he wouldn't have to go through with the escolta which he said was extremely embarrassing using stronger words. In Spanish that would be "que puto pena" (what f***ing shame), he and Favio kept repeating it over and over and I didn't understand quite what they meant until I had a major slip-up as we presented! 

Diego was talking to his friends one of whom just happened to be Brandon the goalie for the older team. I tried to make it so he wouldn't notice me but Diego told me later that Brandon told him that he knew me and Oscar and that we played well. 

After waiting, more adjusting of hats and photos, we got ready to go onto the arena, my heart started beating really hard and I saw Miguel walk over to watch as we got set up. The first part turned out well but as soon as we did the foot slap on the concrete (called as "desplante") and then turned to form a column of one, I slipped. Just as we were turning, my foot slipped out from under me on an extremely slippery part and my leg slid out. I caught myself before I fell and kept going but everyone was already giggling. I don't think I have ever been more embarrassed in MY LIFE!!!!!! I am sure my face burned up but I didn't show any emotion and I just kept doing the routine. We did pretty well besides that though at the end, since I was next to Favio, I could hear him hyperventilating, which I sort of inwardly cracked up at because he never is freaked out!! 

We finished and after we filed out, Lore burst into tears it was because of the nerves and because she thought we were the worst escolta ever. It took a while for her to calm down and stop thinking she and the rest of us were awful. Then, with a calmer Lorena, we went and got sandwiches and soda. As we were walking back, I hear someone calling my soccer name: "Yur, Yur, Yurmina, Yurmina." It took me a while to realize that that was me but I turned around and there was Miguel who called me over. I got Ana and Lore to come with me and we walked over to him. He kissed us on the cheek and then said that Lore looked familiar to him, turns out that an old friend of Lore's had shown him pictures of them and so that was why he had seen her before (albeit in photo form). We said good-bye and ate our food. Lore's hands still shook but her mood had greatly improved.

After we had finished, we had to don our hats again to meet up in the middle of the makeshift stage so all the comandantes (leaders, ours was Lore) could receive our certificates. Then, they announced the winners. The school that we were competing in won first place and in second place was the afternoon version of the school we were in. The funny thing is, Lore whispered to me that she bet the school we were in would win. Everyone in my class including teachers, thinks that the competition was bought, meaning that the school paid to win. That really surprised me because in the U.S., that would never have occurred to me!! That just shows how different these two places are.

As we were about to leave, someone called my soccer name again.  I turned around and there was Lenny; evidently, he goes to school there. Then, I am with the rest of my escolta buddies and someone else calls my name and I turn around and it is Gabi!!! They practically all go there and I was so embarrassed that they all saw my trip!!

We went to get popcicles where I accidentally picked a nasty one (note to self: never get grosella!!). We  took a detour going to school but eventually showed up!!

Our escolta practicing in front of our school before going to the competition

Escolta, confusing translations and more.
                  I am going to start talking about Wednesday. For me, it was such a great day: swim class and  then we drove to Tuxtla to pick up Oscar's really good friend Joshua and his mom Kara from the airport! Oscar was super excited and kept saying, "I can't believe they are coming!!"
                  On Thursday, my class had a Valentine's party and Joshua came to school with Oscar. At 9 o'clock, my class went to the kitchen and made the pizzas. Then we ate a small breakfast to save room for eating seven pizzas!! (Keep in mind that we are only 14 kids!)
                  We waited to set up the movie and then finally watched the movie! It was a goofy fun Mexican movie called "Suave Patria." (I thought it was Soft Patriotism but when I looked it up on Google Translate it said Sweet Land so who knows!) We ate and watched pizza just before we went to PE. We did a Valentine's day card exchange (where we each pulled a name from papers and then we kept it a secret); Toño gave me a really cool card and I gave a card that folded up like a package and opened like a flower to Ana.
                  On Friday, I went to school for one hour from 10-11 to do a practice for the escolta. Generally, our escolta can only focus for as long as it takes to do the routine....or less! I waited with Lore for a while before my dad came to get me.
                    After, we went on a really fun, long and adventure-like hike in which we guessed where to go more than once!! We hiked next to a river, in a forest and alongside roads. We ended up in a little village called Rio Arcotete. We also went to an eco-park called Arcotete with a natural rock arch. We then walked to a little ancient church with these fabulously tight staircases on either side to go up to the look out. I went up and down the stairs just for fun because it gave me the feeling of being in a story or in Harry Potter!
                   We went home and my dad abandoned the idea of making dinner, so the adults went out to get pizza from El Punto while we went and bought candy at a little family run equivalent of 7/11! We came back and as Oscar and Josh played computer games, I watched Grey's Anatomy.
                   We set up a sort of blanket fort on the big balcony with lounge chairs, my foldout couch and lots of blankets. We put our "provisions" (candy) in a covered part!!
                   After talking for a long time, we played spoons (the game) on the table and one time, I laughed so hard I cried!

A LONG day.
                   Friday was great fun!!! Evodio and Diego invited me to play on their team for a short game of American football. I wasn't doing a whole lot until Oscar came onto our team and threw me a pass and I ran for a touchdown!!
                   So much for "puro water polo" (pure water polo!); we had to warm up for what felt like an EXTREMELY long time when we finally played water polo. Before the game Favio told me, "Let's play clean." "Let's see if I can," I replied!!! Well, in the end, Favio and I could only smile at each other. Our plan failed miserably: he trapped me from moving and pushed me and I splashed water in his face and grabbed him to get the ball. My team won, 11 or so to about 8 I think!
                   After school, Lore, Luis, Oscar, Favio and I played football on a little space of grass. Favio is really good at it because he was on a team until he broke his collarbone and they made him quit for two years!! We played that is was a down if you touched their hip; we played Lore, Luis and I against Oscar and Favio. It was really fun to just goof around and play.
                 At 5:45 we met Karen, Canek and Emma on the andador and we ate at a yummy restaurant where I ordered fruit (because I was full after a double scoop ice cream, popcicle and chips!). We played farkle during it and after, I was practically asleep. We walked home and after I set my alarm and had some tea, I fell asleep for a little nap. I slept through my alarm and my dad had to wake me up; remember, this is 9:30 (at night). I woke up a little and got in the car and my dad drove me to Cinepolis (the movie theater) where we met Lore and her mom. My dad left and we walked in to buy our tickets, giant sodas and pop corns!
                The movie was Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters (rated R and in 3D). It was really fun, startling and cheesily gory! We walked out and she drove us back to her house. We stayed up for a really long time till about three in the morning (my new record)! We slept on this giant blow up mattress!! It was awesome. Lore told me that I was the first friend who had had a sleepover at her house! We had a delicious breakfast once we finally woke up and got out of bed and then went back upstairs (still in our pijamas) to fall face down on the air mattress piled with blankets! We ended up going to the market with Lore's dad, eating lunch and then going to escolta practice.
               We showed up late but Evodio and the teacher where the only ones there! Favio and Ana showed up later and Diego never came.

p.s. my one-hundredth post!!!

Yeah, I am really going to miss these guys.
                 Sometimes, I really dislike Lewis' model  (I think it is called) that shows the electrons on the last level of an atom. I mean, I am not saying that it not easy to comprehend and that he isn't (or is it wasn't, does anyone know if he died?) smart, but I really dislike (see I didn't use the word hate) drawing it for example, in "cloruro de sodio" y "yoduro de potasio."
                 Breakfast was okay, though the cappuccinos made it killer (Toto, I don't think we are in Utah anymore!). Lore and I tried to sneak off to hang out with the babies but Eloina caught us and made us cross-stitch. I tangled my string up twice and the second time has yet to be undone....
                 In Spanish class, Evodio came to work with us while Maya (in his place) went to Rosie's class. We painted the clay constitution book model that we worked on on Friday. I really enjoyed sitting on the hexagonal shaped tables and talking with Diego, Evodio and Toño. We sort of softly smack each other, fake-kick, laugh, smile and talk a lot together; as Evodio says "asi llevamos" (that's how we get along). I was fake-kicking Evodio and he grabbed my leg in the process; he normally does that and then makes the un-lucky person jump around the room!!! I bent my leg and pushed down as hard as I could. Evodio remarked to Diego and Toño that I had really strong legs and after Toño tried it for himself, he agreed. We decided who would be on whose team for an hour-long water polo game we plan to have tomorrow!!! (I CAN'T WAIT!!!!) It will be Lore, Diego, Evodio and I against Toño, Ana, Favio and Andres.
                  We played basketball during fruit time and after that we had math. In our PE time, the teacher didn't come, so, Lucy took the rest of the students who didn't have to do an oral Spanish exam (in which I got ten out of ten) to play basket ball. I missed the game so I was sort of jealous.
                 At practice, I forgot my ball so I had to share with Oscar. It was okay and the part that stands out the most to me is when Cesar, an older kid, talked a bit to me. He asked me what my name is (I only said a bit!) and later I asked him whose team I was on (there was some confusion there). I got the ball and he said "aqui amiga!" (here friend (a girl)) that is probably the nicest thing someone has called me.

An interesting day of translating a song full of swear words.
                  With our windows still covered in a collage of colored poster board, we had to work with the solar-powered lights that are seldom used in our class. We had Physics class before Kevin and I went to present our projects on the Toltecs (me) and the Mayans (Kevin).
                  We ate surprisingly yummy sandwiches even if they were made out of white bread! I stayed with Mafer while she did her homework and I translated "Starships" by Nicki Minaj. For those of you who know that song, you will know it is full of swear words and very innapropriate! It had phrases like: Higher than a mother f***er, f*** who you want, f*** who you like!!" Yeah, it was really funny to see Lore's face when I translated it to her because she had no idea about the contents of this song she liked!
                  After we practiced escolta, we went on a run. Every time we run, we all get more tired!! What is happening here? Evodio and I ran together and he picked up a rock for me on our way up the hill in the case of rogue dogs like last time!! I find that I have more fun talking with Evodio when we are alone, he is calmer and not so teasing. After we finished, we still had plenty of time to swim! We did some laps and then played water polo: Evodio, Ana, Lina and I against Diego, Favio and Kevin. We were pretty evenly matched and since we are good friends, we play tougher with grabbing and splashing in the face (on purpose). Favio would just put his arm around me and I wouldn't be able to get away!!
                  English was pretty boring and Biology not really worth mentioning!! 

Woo-hoo, "El Hombre de la Mascara de Hierro" (The Man with the Iron Mask).
             Lore was back and I sat down on her right (as always) and got ready for her fun craziness!! After breakfast, we all went Karla's class (Spanish) and Eloina showed us some overly dramaticized videos about what 2070 will be like (very restricted water because of water contamination), about how we should protect the world and the reason for all our waste. Then we had to write a reflection, solution and promises.
             After that, we started to watch "El Hombre de la Mascara de Hierro" (The Man with the Iron Mask) on the ceiling. Yes, you heard right, we watched it on the ceiling; because we all couldn't fit around the computer, we projected it onto the ceiling. We couldn't project it onto the wall because with all the light from the windows, we could not see it well on the white brick wall (there was grout, making it not all one level). The problem with projecting it on the ceiling was that it was at a very awkward angle (not straight on). So, we covered the windows in a hodgepodge of old poster board and tape!
           The movie was really great and it was fun to watch! We watched it from roughly 11:00 to 12:00 and 12:30 to 2:05! Just in time to go to PE. We did drills and then used a volleyball to play a game where you could do whatever with it (passing it around) as long as it didn't drop to the ground.
           Soccer practice was pretty normal besides the fact that my team (those born in 2000-2001) got a new member (not a girl, unfortunately) but he seems nice anyway. Profe put Lenny (a nice kid who is my age) with Oscar and I for a trio, and it was pretty fun!
          While we scrimmaged, I went for the ball to try and take it from Gabi, and my foot got stuck and essentially, he tripped me. I fell flat on my front and though I was unhurt and Gabi quickly apologized "perdon, perdon, perdon," all the boys started going, "Ohhhhh Gabi, you tripped a girl" (or in the case of my age, they call them women or mujeres). I jumped up and started playing!! They also let my team start with the ball because I am the only girl, even if that is not on my list of priorities. 

A day to relax, a day for sports.
                    On Saturday, my mom and I had planned a day of spa stuff. That was very relaxing! We did scrubs, steams, masks and I did a remedy on my hair that is supposed to make my hair grow faster!! It was pretty much avocado, olive oil and honey!! I was a little nervous that the honey wouldn't wash out but it did in the end! When the remedy was still in my hair, my hair looked wet with chunks of avocado in it!! It kept dripping, so, while I read my kindle while laying on towels, I kept it a safe distance away.
                   We went out to eat at a cute little Italian place with yummy pizza. I noticed that three of the four people there were extranjeros! It was surprisingly warm inside the restaurant even with the door open!

                 On Sunday, after some TV watching, I read for a while until my mom was ready to make soap with me. We first cut down some hard glycerin into little cubes. Then we microwaved it in a glass measuring cup for 10 second intervals (stirring in between). Then we added the additives (pun intended) like fragrance, spice (if wanted) and color. We did that for three different bars of soap: one had dried orange peels, the second had apple fragrance and green coloring and the third was candy apple red with cinnamon in it! We poured them into empty yogurt cups with cool looking bottoms.
                Soon after, my dad came back from a painful soccer game very bruised (the other team was very good and they kept stealing the ball with legal pushing). We made the final preparations for the food we were bringing to the Super Bowl party. The problem was that I didn't know which team I was going to root for, and I mean, why bother watching if you aren't rooting for anyone? To fix that, I wrote "49ers" on two pieces of paper and "Ravens" on the other two. Then I chose one from Oscar's hand and I got one that said "Ravens" on it. That is how I chose my team. We walked a couple blocks down to the Super Bowl party and proceeded to watch the Super Bowl. We ate nachos, made jokes about Beyonce (sorry Beyonce) and laughed at the power outage. (They used too much electricity on Beyonce!!). Everyone else was rooting for the 49ers except me and my mom!! Well, we showed them!! I tried to keep my cheering to a minimum so as not to brag.
         

Ta-dah!!! Homemade soap!

              On Monday, we had no school to celebrate the constitution day. I woke up unfortunately early (7:45) but was surprised to see how long the day seemed to be!) I started by setting a timer for how long I would let myself watch TV and then, once that was done, I face timed Oscar's class back in the U.S. (with Oscar of course). I proceeded to take a shower, then I did some house chores (sweeping the driveway and cleaning the bathroom). We made delicious coffee milkshakes and headed out the door to watch The Life of Pi at the Cinépolis. I really enjoyed the movie. The way the scenery looked was fantastical and awesome.

A tiring day!!!
                    I walked into class and fortunately, Mafer was there. She asked if I wanted to sit with her and of course I agreed. Lore was not there so I hung with her. After we finished copying characteristics of common Periodic Table elements, I helped her assemble the breakfast that she brought for us! We made "molletes"  (bread with beans, cheese and ham; they do not normally have ham) together.
                   After, we took care of the twins (babies Mathias and Sebastian) while Doña Dania went to get something. Then, Karla came and dropped off her baby (Dylan) and went to talk with Eloina about something or other. Since Mafer and I didn't want to help sort and pack recycled things into Eloina's car, we wandered around and talked.
                  Finally, I figured that someone would get mad at us if we didn't go to help. We went over and packed shredded paper in boxes. We made them as full as we could. I would pack some in then, taking Mafer's hands I would step in the box and bounce a little to mash it down!
                 After that, Mafer's mom came to pick her up and after a talk with her mom to make sure she would come to school for escolta practices next week, we then practiced the escolta with Favio taking Mafer's place holding the flag and Evodio taking Lore's place yelling out commands. His voice went all funny when he gave us orders!! Then, a half hour late, we went on our five kilometer run. I ran mostly with Evodio and the way down the hill was mostly uneventful, but then, on the run up, stuff happened.
                Evodio and I had been trading off the lead but in this moment I was probably five yards or so ahead, when he says, "Will, RUN!" I turned back and saw a dog chasing him up nearly the steepest part of the hill. My adrenaline kicked in and I did not feel my legs as I poured on the speed. Then the dog stopped and so did I. I was spent but I forced myself to keep running. Then on THE steepest part of the hill, Evodio was still behind me but there was less distance between us when another dog came at us. This time he came across the road (which was not big) towards us. Evodio and I stopped and backed up a little. The dog was about one yard away from me when Evodio yelled to the swim teacher. The swim teacher scared them (another dog just about jumped over the fence to join the action) away. That pretty much proves Evodio's point which he said earlier: "San Cristobal de los Perros, Chiapas" (San Cristobal of the Dogs, Chiapas) instead of San Cristobal de las Casas!
              I did the whole circuit, hill and all in 38 minutes and 2 seconds. I arrived at the school exhausted and thirsty. I drank some water and about two minutes later, Evodio showed up. I filled up the cup again (it was Oscar's cup....sorry!) and silently handed it to Evodio. We walked over to the hill and collapsed. Some time later, the rest of them showed up. At this point, Evodio was telling Diego of our dog adventures: "So then I told Will to run and she started running hard...." Then he turned to me, "How did you do it?" I replied, "At that point, I didn't feel my legs." He agreed. He told me that a dog almost bit him (after I had gotten to school).
             Oliver, Karla's husband, offered to play a game of basketball with us and though we were tired we thought it would be fun. Lucy, the math teacher, decided to play with us and once she got started we knew she was really good. She was doing layups and throwing and catching like I have never seen a short, rather portly math teacher do before. She was good and it was really fun to watch her play.
             After the game, we went inside to get a drink. It ended with Evodio and I running around the kitchen throwing water at each other! Then we were pooped so when Oliver and Karla told us we were going to do escolta practice again, we all groaned. We marched around in circles again but every time we stopped we all collapsed onto each other. Ana put her head on my leg as I sat on the cement and Toño put his head on my shoulder as we stopped. Evodio pulled me up after every break. When Karla asked us for our Spanish homework, I brought it to her and then with a folder in hand, I laid on the grass shading my face. She told Oliver that I always did my homework and blah blah blah. It made me feel good. I must have looked really tired because she asked me, "What is it that you need?" probably with the intention of getting it for me. I told her that I didn't need anything and that I was just tired.
            Evodio dragged me to my feet so that we could walk up the stairs to class to watch videos of escoltas on youtube. As I stumped up the stairs, a paper fell through the cracks of the stair and Diego got it for me (why is everyone being so nice?).
          We watched some videos and then redid a clay version of the constitution (it is for a project). After school, we went to Soriana for a few things. As we rounded the corner of the massive building to get back to the car, to our right Lore and her mom came with dad!!! We gave each other a big hug and asked her how her tests went (tests for some stomach problem). She said that everything went well and that they were on their way to eat. Lore hadn't eaten hardly anything because they wanted her stomach empty for her tests and I guessed for the possibility of an emergency surgery! We said good-bye and drove home, where I stayed at home watching TV and vegging out for many hours. That night, we had hoped to watch the new James Bond movie named Skyfall starring Daniel Craig. Unfortunately, Netflix didn't have any of his James Bond movies but when my mom started surfing the channels for good movies or shows, she found a James Bond movie with Daniel Craig!! It was called Quantam Solace I believe!! What a coincidence!!

p.s. I forgot to mention this episode in one of my earlier blog entries so here it is now.

Evodio, Diego, some other people and I gathered outside the gate to the school waiting for the swim teacher. We were talking about which language was harder: English or Spanish. We talked about various aspects and then Diego said, "Like when you say "playa" (beach) in English, it is pretty much the same as "perra" (bitch). Then, I tried to teach them the difference between these two VERY different words: "Look, when you say "perra" as in bitch, the i is like this IIII. When you say "playa" as in beach, the ea is like eeeee. BITCH and BEACH (bIIIIItch and bEEEEEEch was how it probably sounded). They had me repeat it several times so they could try to understand! Now, you know, I don't generally like swearing, but I believe this was a learning moment!!! ;) Even after my wonderous teaching time, when they said both words it sounded pretty much the same.