July 7, 2010

I think we found our simple restaurant that we really enjoy going to. It is a chain, but also located at the food court in the mall. Even though they do serve you your food, you have to go to the counter to order. I am getting really brave in my attempts to pronounce the meal from the listed choices on the wall behind the counter. But I am completely clueless as to what might be in the meal, since I haven’t any idea what is listed other than the main dish. It is rather fun to order, and then be surprised as to what is actually served. I have not been disappointed yet. Speaking of the mall, what a shock to see some of the mannequins in the windows of the stores. Let’s just say I don’t understand how they stand up without toppling over. Never in my life have I seen mannequins that were so “top heavy”. I would take a picture of them to put on my blog, but then it might be X-rated if I did.
Now that the “pain” of waiting for the internet is over, I can enjoy my new life so much more. It is just so much fun here. I love my little part time job. The three kids that I have are adorable. One is from Italy, one from Jamaica, and one from Panama. Palalo, from Italy is fluent in 3 or 4 languages. And here I struggle with a few key phrases in my 2nd language. They are the sweetest kids in the world and laugh at their attempts to teach me some Spanish each day. Marie comes in daily with a new word for me to tackle. Then she actually expects me to remember it the next day. This place is really a melting pot. Every place you go, there are just so many nationalities. What fun to be in that kind of mix.
Wayne had an appointment this morning, so I had to navigate my way to my little class by myself. I had the opportunity to walk in the rain to where there were some cabs and try to negotiate with the cabbie myself. In my pocket was the name of a close-by landmark. Since addresses and street names are pretty nonexistent, you have to give the cab driver a landmark. Since I figured no one would understand me, I wisely had the landmark written on a piece of paper in my pocket. Yep, I needed it; the cab driver didn’t have a clue what I was saying. I really felt secure in that cab. The entire radio panel had been ripped out and wires were hanging everyplace. And every red warning light that could possibly be on was brightly shining. I couldn’t even fasten my seatbelt in the backseat because they had been removed. Prayer life increases during such moments. But hey, I did it! And by myself too! Wayne had a similar experience going downtown to his appointment. Three different cab drivers could not understand “Marriott Hotel” (the nearest landmark to where he was going), because apparently he did not roll his “rr” enough (we think). Finally, he wrote out the name and then everything was alright. Tomorrow, he gets to deal with the government bureaucracy here for the first time. Let’s say it is little like going to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles office for your license or car title, but exponentially worse.