synaptic plasticity is awesome

I think last night a switch finally went off in my head, and Spanish is falling into place quite nicely. I realized during lecture today that I know what´s going on. And I know this because today´s lecture was a mish-mosh of Mayan astronomy and philosophy, theoretical physics, an herbal pharmacopeia, and the economics of medical care...and I totally understood what was happening. Uh, yeah.

Then I watched the Superchivos (yes, it means ¨Super Goats¨ - Xela´s soccer team) lose very unfortunately.

And then I went on a camioneta (chicken bus) to go to a guarderia (day care) in Llano del Pinal, about 20 minutes away by bus. I made 2 little friends who found me interesting for about 15 minutes each. Then a bunch of little girls asked me my age, and refused to believe me because they couldn´t find any canas (gray hairs) - and yes, they looked. Then another camioneta back to school, where I now sit and am about to do homework before an all-school dinner. FUN.

Instead of avoiding fellow Gringos, I´ve actually made friends. I´ve got a pretty set group of folks with whom I have drinks after school and such, and the other people in the medical program all turned out to be pretty great. So, WIN.

I still feel awkward about doing a homestay, but between school, clinic, and homework, I´m not home much except to sleep. And the awkward feeling diminishes every day as I´m better able to communicate with them. Also, last night we went to a bar in a hostel, which would be my housing alternative to homestay, and it was full of irritating hippies. So...I´m gonna feel awkward anywhere. Might as well go with the option that feeds and shelters me, eh?

Anyway, back to homework.