Hola!
We are getting settled into our apartment. I’m getting more accustomed to how some of the things work here. The windows are single paned and have aluminum frames so sound comes right though and there isn’t much of an insulating factor to them. Most people where we are staying keep their windows open so it probably doesn’t matter much. 12 floors up and the sounds of the city are still on the loud side. We may have to visit Boca Grande (big mouth) and see how the construction is over there. It’s a ritzy area. Ours is probably working class.
The temps here are upper 80s but the humidity is also close to 80% so I walk outside and if there isn’t much of a breeze I seem to bead up with moisture. The locals and Emily do not. There is a breeze fairly often though here on the coast so it isn’t bad.
Yesterday we went and did our testing in the morning, I should have skipped mine and just automatically said “I know nothing!” (Old time reference who knows from what show?) the test did not ask much of what I already learned on DouLingo. Our lessons are at 2pm until 5. Mine were very basic, they may have given me the most qualified person to teach me. Her name is Karen and she speaks several languages and is a linguist. She must’ve started early, guessing she is under 30 y/o. She said she was born in the US but also says she is Colombian.
I was definitely on the struggle bus yesterday! The second worksheet I did went a lot better than the first. I’m going to have to study before class today because I’m sure she is going to ask me who I am, where I am from and what my nationality is. Bill is the only word I am fairly certain I pronounce correctly!
A big storm rolled though here yesterday while we were in class, lots of rain. Karen said that the Caribbean gets the back side of the storm hitting New Orleans. The rain was over by the time we got out of class and went to pick up some things at the Exito (Walmart type place). After that we walked around some trying to get back to where we had been the night before but never did find it. We stopped and ate dinner by the light of Emily’s phone since the power went out after we got our lemonades. The food was good and it was interesting to have dinner by phone light. It was quiet.
After dinner we walked to get a taxi and there were few buildings with generators. In the walled part of the city I was surprised there were so few as it is a popular place. Things did not seem to be affected by no power, people were still out and about. As it was getting dark the street sales people were closing up though. I think they probably would have been anyway.
We got a taxi relatively easy, they are all over the place. Some have better A/C than others. They are also well used. They don’t have meters and you are supposed set a price with the driver before you take off. They also don’t like to make change.
We were wondering if we were going to be so lucky as to have a building with a generator, we are. I’m not sure how often the power goes out here. I’m sure it was related to all the rain in a short time yesterday. I think at one time our building may have been pretty high end. Currently they are working on a new coat of paint which will help a lot. There was a guy out swinging from some ropes yesterday and again this morning. It’s going to take him a while to paint a 18 story building! Job security!! There was a group of guys down at ground level doing some work with the stucco by the garage. They must not like rope work.
We are going to go do some swimming this morning in the ocean. The ocean is nice to listen to, interesting to swim in.
Traveling with Emily! 