The word of the day is “Sanction” : to make valid or binding usually by a formal procedure. 2: to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to.
Today, I got sanction from Paco, the owner of Bar San Francisco to substitute green olives for papas fritas, or french fries. Per usual, I ordered carne con tomate. Paco’s is pretty popular--the same old men go in everyday and usually sit in the same spot by the television. He is the only owner in town that has a menu in english and spanish, quite helpful. However, I still am disheartened because there is nowhere to eat and nothing really appetizing to eat. I’m still slightly put off by the prawns (gambas) that came out with eyes...staring at me.
Tonight there was quite a commotion because Paco was replacing the TV that sits perched by the window with a TV that looked pretty much the same. One of the regulars commented that he could not tell a difference, I just smiled in approval. Paco likes to call me guapa. Will does not have a nickname, I think that makes me the favorite. Also, a couple from Germany who had lived in Texas, and then moved to Spain came into Bar SanFrancisco. It was very exciting to talk to other people in english--the regulars (a few old men) just stared suspiciously.
After sleeping in for majority of the day, still totally exhausted from my haphazard trip--I woke up and got motivated by A to eat something; I am so happy that my mom decided to send oatmeal with me, it is much better than tostada con mantequilla (sourdough bread with butter). I watched Spanish television for a bit, the amazing race was on--I noticed that Rebecca from workout was on the show. Pretty random. I can’t really understand what the contestants are saying since it is dubbed over in Spanish--but it’s still pretty entertaining. They were in Iceland. Sometimes I wonder if they feel as isolated as I do, I know I feel as challenged as they are. Like this teaching extravaganza is the amazing race. I talked with A about coming home in early April (I’ve been feeling this whole thing is interminable, that I will not survive it) and I realized that Will is doing the London marathon on April 26th, it’s 15 weeks away. We are going to start training for it next week before he goes to Washington D.C for Obama’s inauguration. I borrowed his book, “Dreams From My Father” but have yet to get passed the first page. I just want to know if he actually wrote it. Anyways, it is laying next to me. I smell like cigarettes, not as much as last night, but it is still pretty damn annoying. What would be more annoying is attempting to shower right now. I have to turn on the flame to the butano, move the lever over to the middle, turn the water and push in the button at the same time, hold it until I have a feeling it’ll flare up, then if I do succeed, move the lever all the way over the right side and turn off the water. It’s quite the process.
Then, if I am going to shower...I move the small spaceheater into the bathroom and turn it towards the dresser, I open the top and bottom door and than stagger my clothes/towel on the handles so that the heater will warm them up for when I get out of the shower. The shower head is broken, so majority of the hot water oozes from the top and never makes it out to sprinkle on my head. I’m not quite sure how to say it exactly, but there is very little water pressure. I would like to use the other bathroom, because we think that shower head works better in that one, but the smell is pretty prominent. The landlord claims that the odor is from the stale water and that we need to run it more often. Easier said than done, it smells like a dead animal. So for now, taking a shower is more laborious than the stench of cigarettes on my clothes and hair. Dios mio.
On the positive side of things, When Austin comes we are going to go to Italy and Greece. I am so excited! It’ll be the most amazing experience to lay on the beach and take gondola rides through Venice. That will be in early March. I also might be going home for Valentine’s Day.
Ps: I took down Jesus and put him in the hallway by the bathroom. Not having a mirror in my room is definitely worth it. Se busca somewhere else.
No comments:
Post a Comment