Casa Internacional/Casa de David

Casa Internacional is a condo in Playacar Phase 1 where I will be staying for 2 1/2 weeks (from April 8-April 24, 2007) while learning how to speak Spanish.

It has a rooftop solarium and access to the Beach Club at the Reef Club Playacar.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

David Parrish, the condo owner was very nice prior to my arrival. He totally made the condo out to be something that it´s not and it could be nice if he was a better Landlord. I will not recommend this condo to anyone in the future.

Luckily, I brought my own cell phone because the International phone he told me that I could rent from him was lost by his daughter. He never even bothered to tell me prior to my arrival.

He also said that he would take me to the store, but I just walked to Wal-Mart myself. He smokes so much, I think I would die of smoke inhalation in his car!

IH Riviera Maya

IH Riviera Maya is the language school that I will be attending for my Spanish Immersion class. The Web site is www.ihrivieramaya.com.

It is located on 14th across the street from ¨Hot¨Baking Company and right next door to Byblos restaurante. It´s pretty much in the middle of town.

The Things I Like Most About the School

1. We have free use of the Internet 24/7 and a printer too.
2. The bathrooms are kept very clean (now if I can just remember not to throw the toilet paper down the toilet!). It´s a nice change to go in a bathroom that´s well-maintained (unlike the one´s at Hewitt....especially stall number 3!).
3. The gardens are very pretty.
4. The man who runs the cafeteria and the tours is very friendly.

Things I Disliked About the School

1. Our Teacher did not know how to speak English or to even comprehend it.
2. The Secretary would harrass me for my last week´s payment. Their credit card machine broke and she tried to get me to pay cash. I told her that I would wait until it was working or that I could pay online. I guess it happened for a reason, because since I hadn´t paid for my final week, I was able to enroll at a new school for my second week.
3. There was no structure and we didn´t know what to do. Every night I would walk around and try to talk to people, but the teacher never gave us suggestions on what we should be doing next. I don´t think he really knew.