So, of course, when you’re a foreign language student it’s always funny to learn a few swear words to giggle about and use with your friends. Heck, I know 4 German phrases and yes, one includes a swear. But here my first language is everyone else’s second language. Therefore, I think swearing in English here is a little more prevalent than I’m used to.
Not by the people…in the music. Yes, the music is in English, but where the swear-filled music is played makes my ears perk up and my eye brow raise (if I could raise one eyebrow).
First example: the gym! Now yeah, I guess I expect the gym to play pumping music to get people going. But really, the song being played in the co-ed area had about 5 f-words in one minute. Just by watching Hollywood movies I’m sure every English as a 2nd language speaker knows that’s a swear. Maybe it doesn’t carry the same weight when it’s in your foreign language. Ok, the gym is one thing.
me. stunned.
But the health food store was worse!!! This song had all sorts of f, n, and c words floating around. Whoa. Ah, do you know what is being said??
Parents Latina! Yay! I feel like a poser because hey, I’m clearly not Latina, but I played one onstage in a musical once so there… No really , I didn’t convince anyone in that musical that I was Latina. But my kids are in a Latino culture and I thought I’d gain some insight. See what it’s all about. Actually, the articles are for everyone anyway. This first issue had a great article about kids who are of mixed heritage. While mine aren’t (German/Hungarian/Romanian mix isn’t what people are talking about, right? They are Wisconsinite through and through) The magazine is in English, but with Spanish words sprinkled in. It’s a thinner edition than the non-Latina Parents magazine. But the coolest part was that as I was reading along, I skimmed this ad (above) and it wasn’t until the next page that I realized it had been in Spanish. My brain read it right along without flinching. Way to go brain!
It was time to find a better salsa venue. I wasn’t digging La Naza anymore. There had to be another. With feelers put out, I heard there was a dance. Tonight. Like, 10 minute drive away. Time to muster up some more courage venture out at night by myself. It had been a while. I fell into the rut of meeting people at my destination. But I had to go. Support network or no.
Here’s the highlights:
K, so I totally sat in my car a few minutes again before going in. I didn’t see anyone dancing yet. And it was pouring. I was just waiting for a break in the rain…
Went in. Paid my $3 entrance. Moseyed to the bar and not wanting look lame with just ordering water, I ordered a Blue Moon beer. Then I remembered I only had $2. Beer cost $4. Nice bartender gave it to me for $2. Hm, maybe I should try that more often… j/k
No one dancing. Me gazing around bar trying to look nonchalant. See another solo girl. Well, she looks nice. I go sit next to her and chat her up. She speaks really fast Spanish. Have I mentioned that I can’t understand Spanish shouted over blaring music? I have. But we chat a while. She’s in a salsa class. The lady with ‘legs up to here’ sitting by the door is the salsa teacher.
necesito zapatos de baile como eses
Someone asks my new friend to dance. She asks me to watch her purse. Sure. Immediately a guy asks me to dance. Eh, her purse will be fine. Vamos a bailar!
Well, I just love surprising my leaders. Don’t tell them, but salsa is much easier than lindy hop. My guy tells me his name and I forget it immediately and dance with some one else.
As the night boogies on, I realize this is the dance scene I was hoping for. Everyone danced with everyone else. People there to social dance and have fun. Ah yes, I’ve found my new home. They just don’t know it yet. Haha. Unfortunately they only have dances like once a month.
I did know this guy from La Naza
There was the token guy who couldn’t find the beat but at least smelled great.
The token beginner guy who tried to impress the teacher (who had the look on her face of ‘huh?’)
The token old guy on the scene. Thankfully, not of the creepy variety. He was from NY, and said “Wisconsin’s in the house” to me. He was wearing sunglasses the entire time mind you.
Beginners, rock stars and everyone in between.
But no token guy in shorts! I thought every dance scene had one of those! Haha
My ears were ringing on the way home
I got the inside scoop from the teacher as much as I could. (Shouting Spanish over blaring music, remember?)
Here’s a 9 second video of me dancing!
Maybe next month I’ll bring Trevor.
UPDATE: I returned to La Naza last night and had a blast. I guess I always left too early in the past. Made a new dance friend too. And saw my babysitter dancing on the middle of the band. Ah, to hang out with 20-somethings makes me feel younger. Haha
I drove my neighbor and my mom to Maricao for the End of the Coffee Season Fiesta. My first time!
The region around Maricao has a lot of coffee farms. People were promoting 100% Puerto Rican coffee
It wasn’t too busy on Friday afternoon. Pretty flowers hanging from bamboo trellis
Our first coffee
Over a coffee vendor.
He made my Mom’s frappe
My Mom and her frappe. In the rain.
We bought her lotions made with red wine!
There was a one room museum with posters about the coffee growers, the history of coffee, and Puerto Rican coffee facts.
I thought there would be more info/demonstrations/products involving coffee. The festival was mostly a big arts and crafts show with food vendors. Perhaps on Saturday and Sunday during the main event there is more like this. No coffee soap? Totally woulda been on that. 🙂
I bought a t-shirt from this nice guy
these are cute!
The bathrooms were the kind in my reoccurring childhood bathroom dreams. yuck. I even walked into the men’s bathroom. No better. Porto potties near the parking area helped. BYOTP.
Look at my friend’s smile!
My friend and her cutie patooty baby
Did the artist use the force or was he a gifted one from the Matrix? My bended fork bracelet was made by a guy from Connecticut. But he was so nice to speak slow Spanish to me I didn’t guess that he was a gringo until he told me. How nice of him to let me practice Spanish!
Just walk down this creepy street from the paid parking lot to the fiesta. Every one of these houses was empty. It felt like an abandoned neighborhood after a nuclear blast. Or at least that’s how I imagined it!
My hubby gets a massage in Cabo Rojo every Wednesday. (Insert recommendation here: Iris on the plaza is the best!). My dad is in town and is decided to drag him to the Museo de Proceres in Cabo Rojo while Trevor did his thing.
Trip advisor gave the museum mixed reviews but I’m glad we went. It was airy and spacious and nicely put together. Not to mention free! The signs were all in Spanish but hey I am working to be bilingual so it was OK. Besides a lot of it’s art and old photographs.
School projects
Anti-slavery fighter
Music room
The people were nice and we learned a little bit of history. But here’s the funny part: they couldn’t give us a pamphlet for the Museo because it had the mayor’s name on it. And since this is an election year and the mayor is running again, nobody can give out anything with his name on it because it would be considered propaganda. Which is guess there are strict rules about…odd! Just give us the pamphlet with his name cut off!
Afterward we hit the nearby Cabo Rojo tourism department. Which was two dudes in a tiny office who weren’t expecting visitors. haha. But they gave us frisbees, stickers, pamphlets (no mention of the mayor) and were impressed with Dad’s Spanish. Well done Pops!
The concepts of snow and cold sum up winter for most people. And yes, those are the essential elements.
But living in Puerto Rico has shown me that changes in latitudes results in more than simply differences in thermometers and precipitation. Here are some observations about winter that are often overlooked.
1). Twilight lasts incredibly long. When the top sliver of sun sinks below the horizon, orange and yellow play on the sky for another solid 40 minutes. Closer to the equator, after the sun disappears there’s really only light for what feels like maybe 15 minutes more.
2) The air is so clear! With such little humidity in the air, you can see so much farther. ?
3) dry air = dry skin
Nothing revolutionary but I’m glad I get to experience both. But I was relieved to get back home. Winter coats are so bulky!
While you’re decorating your house for Christmas, just add a little pizzazz to the stop sign too
I always keep my machete with my shoes too, naturally.
The giant Santa is coming down the street! RUN!
Wait, placenta??? At first I thought it was a Spanish word that must mean something different. Nope. On the back it bragged real animal placentas! oh boy Walmart you’re killing me
Your front bumper works just as well in the back seat.
Creepy nutcracker
Dude, if you look like that please DO enter without a shirt, thankyouverymuch
Lisa, who used to write on this blog, recently posted on her own blog her experience in NYC this winter. We went this summer and just now I’m organizing our photos into a book to print. Looking at Trevor’s photos, I see just how hard I/we worked with the kids on this vacation. Anyone will tell you vacays look tons different with kids, and I’m no different.
Actually, I preferred Trevor’s unposed photos of me. I can’t see for myself how hard I work schlepping and carrying, planning and anticipating. But these photos show it. I love seeing myself this way. I really do.
So here’s to the parents who dare to take vacations with kids. It’s worth it. I just looks a lot different than pre-kid vacays.
Calling the taxi at the airport
Giving some important instruction no doubt
Holding Ms. P outside the library. We DID have two strollers
Holding her in the Big Gay ice cream shop
Around the back ice cream feeding technique
Constantly evaluating risk
kneeling down to attend to something. always something
