Clearly, most of my posts between now and July 5th (when I start my job in the E.R.) will be pretty worthless and unexciting. After that, I can also make no promises.
My life these days consists of living alone (until my dear living partner returns from Ecuador), wishing I was not living alone, taking MANY group exercise classes, going to the beach, and flirting with Customer Service men named Jemel over the phone while they help me fix (read: plug in) my internet.
A snippet from my life lately: My next door neighbor fell into my arms sobbing because she misses her son. The story goes like this:
January-ish
Me: Hi neighbor lady – I haven’t seen your son around (note to reader: the son is about 15) – is he OK?
Columbian neighbor-lady: Oh yah – suuure – he OK. I just send him to Columbia.
Me: Columbia? You sent him to Columbia?
Columbian neighbor-lady: Oh yah – he bad so I send him away so he work in Columbia and send me money.
**Discussion point: I am very familiar with the trend of people from developing countries sending their relatives over to the U.S. to earn some U.S. dollars and send back to the home land. The whole exchange rate thing works in their favor. Noooow. Why exactly is 15-year old neighbor-son sending Columbian money here? What sort of job does he have there that is so much more lucrative than a U.S. job? Hm?
Yesterday
*This conversation took place in Spanish because we communicate much better that way.
Me: Hi neighbor lady (petting her 100lb. made-of-solid-lead-pipe English Bulldog while he slobbers out of his garbage face) – How’s it going? Oh – Thanks for that phone card you gave me the other day – I called John and he is doing great in Ecuador.
Columbian neighbor-lady: You tell John be careful – Ecuadorians are all thiefs and the country is very dangerous (In my mind: no offense, but I would think Columbia would be slightly more dangerous than Ecuador, but who knows). John be careful because those Ecuadorians – woooo! (wild hand slapping and eye covering that I don’t understand).
Me: Thanks for the advice. If I can do anything for you – just knock. I could walk Elmo (the aforementioned dog) during the day this month because I am home all day doing nothing.
Columbian neighbor-lady: Gracias – I give you keys but close you eyes when you come to my apartment because . . . (long pause) . . . because . . . (SCREAMING NOW): I SO DEPRESSED I NO CLEAN NO MORE! I MISS MY SON SO MUCH – MY APARTMENT IS FILTHY AND I MISS MY SON (a great deal more wild hand slapping and eye covering with a little chest beating for good measure).
*At this point, the collapse into my arms took place and I akwardly rubbed her arm mumbling, Todo esta bien – todo esta bien. Me gusta limpiar (Translation: It’s Ok- everything is OK. I like to clean). My spanish is pretty rough and for whatever reason, I wanted to express that I would help her clean her apartment . . . but all I could say in the heat of the moment -with all the body movements and yelling – was that I like to clean.
