There is going to be a big discussion on Monday with the director, that is all I can say for now about it. I could type up pages of frustrations and concerns, but for now I think it's in THE best interest of everyone to wait and see how things unfold.
This week has been a definite challenge for me, and I'm physically and mentally exausted. Also, with the parallel exchange rate recently going down, I'm going to have to rebudget my month.
Arqui got accepted into college in Florida, so he'll be leaving for Spring semester this January for sure. We are going to celebrate this weekend, and I am getting the hell out of Anaco, I need to get out and clear my mind.
On the plus side, I'm getting the first massage of my life today, the lady is coming to my house, and it's only going to be 20Bs, which is about 4 dollars. Since I cannot cook yet, I've been really trying to work with what I have, and here is a masterpiece until this day unbeknownst to the world!
Just wait until you see what I made in memory of Elvis Presley...
Since I did not go to the city this weekend, I went out to a place called Canaima with Arqui and his girlfriend Juli, and two of Julie's friend, one named Julbrasca, and the other Mary. A couple of their other friends showed up later, and we all shared a bottle of horrible vodka. Remind me never to drink vodka again, it makes me sicker than Adam Dyet's kickflips.
Ballin'
After the bar, where I tried communicating with my lack of vocabulary in a overly-loud environment, we went to Julie's housing complex and sat outside, there are a couple pictures, so you can just look and see.
It was good to be out, and not have to worry about not being able to go home at the end of the night. I enjoy my free time of doing nothing in the mornings, cleaning, taking Spanish lessons, and sitting out in the sun. I don't know why nobody has told earlier, how relaxing it is to just sit outside in the sun with a nice breeze. I think I should have switched majors in college, and tried it for a career. Maybe it's a sign I'm getting old?
One last thing, nothing quite like getting home late at night and finding a spy infiltrating your foodstuffs. And I thought things with the iguanas were finally calming down...
I can't believe it's already the 18th. Got some bad news, the parallel exchange rate went down from 6.4 last month to about 5.2 this month, meaning I'm going to be spending much more money. The problem with this is, that the prices are going to stay the same, making everything more difficult for everyone. I can't imagine how anyone could live here off the minimum wage salary of 800Bs a month.
I hope this guy isn't venomous, this is the second one I found in my house yesterday.
We met with the other school nearby called El Tigre. By nearby I mean an hour and a half, and it's an "American" school. Here is our combined faculty.
I'm sick and because of so, decided not to go out for the weekend. I still may go out tonight and hang out with Arqui, but nothing too serious. Last night, Marshall, Jason, and I, went to a place called Bungaloo and danced to the horrible Reggaetone, it was good to get out. It's been a long week.
I had to stay home sick yesterday, I've been feeling a cold for weeks. Luckily I was able to get the staff to cover and finagle their breaks to coincide when I needed coverage.
There were only 6 power outages yesterday, a nice hot humid room really helps a poor boy sleep.
Tonight we have an open house and in the morning I have a presentation to parents, perfect timing to get sick!
I need to be consistent with my dates. It's crazy to think that school has been in session for an entire month. Things have been going very smoothly thus far, time has been flying by.
Today my oven stopped working, and I found there is a leak in my ceiling. Just some other wonders of Venezuelan fail that will never get fixed.
"I always tell people I learned Spanish in the streets and the sheets..."
-Guy Gray
I e-mailed a friend of mine who is currently residing in St. Louis, liked the quote, he gave me some good advice as well. Debating whether or not to go to Puerto La Cruz this weekend, or take it easy. Supposed to be planning right now, but Imma be up late, FB chattin' u no how I do.
OH MY GAWD, I JUST STUMBLED ACROSS THIS. This is from the Rosamond days, nostalgia soared in like a bald eagle leaving Mexico for Texas.
I am slightly amused by the date.
I am almost finished reading Beneath the Wheel, and I stumbled upon a paragraph that I really found interesting.
"In this way he discovered---perhaps too soon---his share of the secret of love, and it contained little sweetness and much bitterness: days filled with fruitless lamentation, poignant memories, inconsolable brooding; nights during which a pounding heart and tightness around the chest would not let him sleep..."
Seems, or seemed, relevant for a period of time.
Below is real live footage of the vicious beasts of which I live in fear. This happened yesterday, although a disclaimer, it is not for the weak.
Monday night we stayed out a little too late BBQin over here at Escuela Anaco. Jason, Marshall, and I were out till about 3. Arqui left around 1ish.
These are leafcutter ants, they had a trail of carrying leaves about 60 feet long, that literally looked like a highway.
This is my 2nd ally against the criminal iguana gangs. Ground owls see all.
Marshall Mcgrillin'
Jason and Dylan working hard
Here are a couple of links of my final day skating in the US. Me and Matt.
First, I found an alliance in my plight against the iguanas. Another pic. He's young, but in time he'll be a powerful friend.
I think I'm getting creative, but in reality, I just throw rice and cheese at my problems.
Friday, I ran up to the major school in Puerto La Cruz called CIPLEC(?) to observe how things work there. I was amazed at the resources they had there. A full time ESL teacher, 1st and 2nd grade teachers, parent volunteers, full time music and art teachers, and not to mention tons of funds. I was really impressed by the facilities, and although they don't have yards, they are provided housing, and make more than us Anacoans. Not to mention they live in Puerto La Cruz, which I came to find out is a really amazing and diverse place.
I ate a seafood mix hoping not to get food poisoning for lunch. I had seafood for nearly every meal this weekend, and somehow missed out on the food poisoning train, I got lucky to say the least.
Immediately after school, we headed out to Puerto La Cruz for the weekend. We being Marshall, Jason, Dylan(Jason's son), and Tanya, a girl paid to watch Dylan for Jason. We all split up at different hotels, me choosing one that cost about 15 dollars a night. You get what you pay for. The toilet was leaking, there was no hot water, and I could hear every noise creaking throughout the lobby. Including the employees partying.
In the morning we headed out on a crowded boat to go out to an island(of I forgot the name). Jason and Marshall getting ready. Here Marshall and I are getting serious.
When we arrived at the island, it was pretty much desolate. Only about a 20 minute boat ride from the lush Venezuelan border, it reminded me of the Mojave desert thrown into the middle of the ocean. With as much as it rains, it really was surprising.
In the morning, I ran into this jerk. Have no idea what kind of bird he was, but an interesting character to say the least.
I feel I have to take a picture of every fried fish I eat.
Marshall and I decided to hike up the mountain, and look down upon the Venezuelan people. We ran into some beautiful cacti on the way.
Some models with some facebook advertising showed up on the beach. You gotta love it. Maybe not as much as this fat guy.
Went back home, ate at Hai Gang City again. Tried to take a nap, but my leaking toilet and noisy hotel employees didn't really allow that. Since there was a celebration of some "virgin" going on in the city, I grabbed my skateboard and skated down to see what the fuss was about. I met a couple of mongo pushing skateboarders, who I tried to talk to. I found out there are two skate shops in the area(not mine), so I'm going to have to check those out and see what they have to offer. I was told there are some spots around, and the police don't care. Maybe once I can pick up enough Spanish I'll go around one of these weekends.
Then I met up with Marshall and Jason, Marshall got sun stroke and wasn't able to go out. We took his advice and headed out to Lecheria to a club called Bambuddha, or something of that nature. At first it was pretty empty so we took off to a concert a few blocks down the road. It was just overly loud Reggaeton, which has now equaled the iguanas as far as my pure and utter hatred goes. It is my arch-nemesis. One thing I really do miss about the United States is the music, I can't stand it here. Hopefully I'll find some people who enjoy some music with meaning.
We decided to go back to Bambuddha, and it filled up fast. Apparently you have to a specific type of person so get in, so all we had to do is speak English and they zipped us right on in. Being from the US can have its perks. In that club, there literally was the highest amount of attractive women I've ever seen in a place ever. It blew my mind, Lecheria was a completely different place than I ever expected. I didn't know places like this existed here. Tall rising apartment complexes, nice buildings, and lots and lots of attractive women. Vanity seemed to be really high in this club, as with any other of its kind I suppose. Not exactly what I'm into, regardless, I'm going to make it back there pretty soon.
By the time I got back to my hotel, I was exhausted, and luckily for me I didn't get any sleep this night either. I went out and skated in the morning, met up with everyone, and ate some Paella in dedication of a certain special Ashely.
This weekend was really eye opening to me, and really made me envious of those who can work up in Puerto La Cruz, or any other major city for that matter.
The fail of Venezuela finally got to me today, when I realized that my computer was running with it's electric current because my power isn't grounded in my house. That means I can't get on my computer at home, I brought it to my classroom, but I can't just come up here for personal reasons all the time. Plus, I was practicing Spanish nightly on my computer. I can't see this getting fixed, so I'm not sure what I can do about it.
Had plans to go to Puerto La Cruz for the weekend, but realized it's the world anti-Chavez protests tomorrow. Probably not too safe to go out.
My computer is literally shocking my as I typed, it continues to pulsate with electricity, and really really really hurts. I'm not sure if it's the outlets or what.
I skated for a bit, and played some ball with Arqui tonight. I'm happy that he's into it. I'll upload some video later if my computer decides not to explode on me. He beat me in a 1 on 1 match, but I gotta come back for the U.S.A and prove who the best in the world is.
It's Thursday morning, and I'm half ready for the day. I've decided to compile a list of things that I want that I can't(or is difficult) get here. I know there is much more, and I'll continue adding to the list.
-Peanut Butter
-Skate shoes
-Dress shoes
-Pants
-A skateboard
-A pan to cook brownies
After dealing with the iguanas for quite some time, I've decided to really make a stand for myself. They sent an army of ants to invade my house, and quite frankly, I just can't take it anymore. I think I'm going to try a Yojimbo on them. Or Fistfull of Dollars, whatever you'd like to call it. I just didn't want to hear some elite bastard tell me that Fistfull of Dollars is a remake, showing my movie cred right now.
