Peeing in the Dark

About a month ago, the light bulb burned out in the teacher's bathroom. The problem was temporarily remedied with a candle which barely lighted the toilet seat. Nonetheless, it was sufficient.

Now all the candles are gone. And I'm assuming because of budget cuts, the light bulb hasn't been replaced. But now, the bathroom is completely dark requiring master navigation of toilet paper, sink, and soap.

I'm really diversifying my talents here in Mexico.

Spanglish

When I visited family a couple weeks ago in Canada and the US, it was the first time being back in an English-speaking world. I quickly discovered that I had lost my English fluency.

In Mexico, the only people I speak English with are the other volunteers (and in my English classes). We speak a form of Spanglish. Mostly English, but when we forget a word in English or a Spanish word just fits better, we can use it without the worry of being misunderstood.

I quickly discovered, thanks to my mom's blank face, that when talking about not having the "ganas" to go out or that something was "mala onda" that I had lost my English.

So while my Spanish flunecy increases, my English fluency decreases. I guess there's only so much processing and containing of information my brain can do. But really, I'd like to speak just one language without any difficulty.

Reverse Culture Shock

Mexico has become my home so much to the point that when I went home to the US I found everything "weird." Upon my reutrn to Mexico, everything was once again "normal." Like, in the US, why couldn't I negotiate prices? Why did I blend in so much? Why is just a sandwich $6-7 instead of $3.50? Why is it so darn cold?

Whereas when I arrived I could write a blog entry a day based on cultural differences, I'm starting to have nothing to say because American culture customs have become a distant memory and I have replaced it with Mexican culture.

Soy Un Hombre

Today, while two of my girls were straightening their hair using my roommate's straightener, I was joking around with them about being a guy. Those of you who know me know I spend little time in front of the mirror putting on make-up, fixing my hair, etc. My girls were asking me why I don't straighten my hair, and I jokingly said "It's because I'm a man."

One of the girls continues to joke with me, while the other one falls silent for a few minutes. Finally, she looks at me from the mirror and goes:

"Naomi, are you really a man?"

...I don't think my sarcasm will ever come across in Spanish. That's what I get for having an American accent and not speaking fluently.