The New Digs!

I know I said I was going to write my blogs this semester in Spanish, but it turns out my professor for my blogging class wanted us to create new blogs for the class. So, turns out, I'll be writing these blogs in English again, which is great for my English-speaking family and friends. And, for those of you who would like a taste of my other blog, in Spanish, you can check out: http://megenespanol.blogspot.com/. I must warn you though, the posts are not as candid as I have to turn them into my professor to be corrected pre-post and also because they're assignments that we have to do. But hey, if you want to practice your Spanish, feel free to give it a looksy. Plus, the Spanish should be very well written considering my professor has corrected each blog, but no promises, there's always a chance that he missed something.

My bed

My desk

Now that that business is taken care of...onto more exciting things. As all two of you know who read this blog (just kidding I know there's like 7ish of you) I moved homestays this semester. Best. Decision. Ever. (What is said from this point forward I do not want to jinx and as everyone to please knock on wood for me. Thank you in advance.) Here's the breakdown of the family I'm now living with: 

Olga: My señora. In one word, amazing. Her amazingness can only be described through interpretive dance. Just kidding (mainly because I can't see you guys to show you the interpretive dance). But I will describe her amazingness through anecdote. So, I'd mentioned to her that I needed to get a haircut and asked if she knew a place that was good. I expected her to mention a place somewhere near her apartment, but found out the salon she goes to was not really within walking distance (according to her oldest daughter, Eva, more about her later). At that point I was like, "darn, now I have to go to her place because I don't want to offend her by not going, but it's far away ahh!" Then, to my astonishment, she said she would a) make the appointment for me and b) DRIVE ME THERE BEFORE WORK This woman is a saint. She has three kids and offered to drive me to get my haircut before she went to work. BTW the salon AMAZING. About the same price as I've paid in NY and I got more attention than I ever do in the City. Other amazing things about Olga--she cuts me the amazing Spanish melon called piel del sapo (skin of the toad, or is it frog? not sure because the skin really does look like frog's skin) which is delicious for breakfast every morning. Makes a point of buying me whole wheat bread. Makes tea with real tea leaves for me and brings it into my room on a tray with either fruit or a whole wheat pastry because she knows I like both and not the other cookies haha. Oh, and here's the kicker, she FOLDS my underwear. I don't even fold my underwear! She said I could borrow one of her dresses. Talk about a lovely human being. 

Olga, Eva, and Ali 

Eva: Olga's oldest daughter. She's seventeen and has such a cool, deep, raspy voice (Maggie it reminds me of your raspy voice that I love!). Very mature for her age. I.E. After dinner one night Eva, Violeta (Olga's middle daughter), Alegra (Olga's youngest daughter), and I were dancing to some wacky music. Then I told them sorry, but I had to go read Don Quijote. As I was going into my room I heard Eva say, "Okay, this is the last song because Megan has to read."

Violeta and Alegra

Violeta: Olga's middle daughter. She's almost fourteen and is super sweet. If I ever need anything/don't understand something in Spanish, she's great at interpreting.  Her dream is to marry a rich soccer aka fútbol player. Who's isn't honey. 

Alegra dressed up!

Alegra: Olga's youngest daughter. She's five (yes five and adorable!) and her mom calls her Alegrita. Too cute! One day Olga was cleaning my room and so I was in the living room trying to study for my Arabic final (that's right, the final for my Arabic class from last semester was not until after winter break. not everything in Spain is perfect :() but Alegra wanted to play. So...I thought..hmmm let's make this Arabic vocab study situation into a game. I said, "Alegra, want to learn some words in Arabic?!" "Sí, sí!" Sometimes I surprise even myself. So, I both taught her some Arabic words and studied for my exam. Brilliant if I do say so myself. Now, every once and a while, she'll run into my room and say, "Teach me a word in Arabic, Megan!!" and then
run out.

Ali: Olga's boyfriend. He's from the Ivory Coast! (100 cool points.) And speaks fluent French and Spanish and translates for a living (another 100 cool points. Super smart and interesting to talk politics with. 

View from my window

I think what I love most about living here is how much a part of the family I feel. I've also never lived with younger siblings, seeing as my goofy brother Andy is 24 and I'm 21. Wow he's 24 and I'm 21. That's crazy. Anyway, it's such a good learning experience being the older role model for these young girls. Plus, I'm learning to understand conversations in Spanish between teenagers which I've found MUCH more difficult than conversations with adults because of a) slang and b) they speak SO fast! 

View from my window take two 

It's a long way down...

My bathroom

And back to Olga. It just amazes me how single moms do it. I mean she works most of the day and then comes home and cooks and cleans for four other people. One of whom is only five. I would want to sleep all of the time! And she doesn't have a maid like some of my friends' señoras do. She literally does it all! I'm so grateful to have this experience. At the end of last semester I was super bummed that things with Elena (my previous señora) didn't work out because other things about the homestay were going well. But it turned out sooooo well! Sure, the apartment is a bit further from school (I have to walk about 35 minutes, but I'll have buns of steel) and out of the way of things. And yea, my room is pretty small. But I wouldn't change anything! 

PS: The new girls living with my old señora had the same tp problem. Something's gotta give. Like more tp!