Day 5 - April 12, 2006

I just finished my homework assignment before class. I´ve been staying up till about midnight every day and getting up around 7:00 a.m. (that´s usually what time I am at work every day).

Some people are going to Tulum today, but I´ve already been there and it is going to be super hot. I´m going to go to the beach.

Starbuck´s in Paseo Del Carmen is putting me to the test. Yesterday they got my order wrong and today they gave me something different than yesterday. All I asked for was a light leche´. Today they gave me two and I never said ¨dos.¨

Class
Three of the girls were up till 4:00 a.m. at la residancia, so they were not really into class today....a little too much Tequila (and I thought that I stayed up late. LOL).

The class nominated me to ask for a new teacher. I always have to do the dirty work. After talking to Bernardo last night, and some of the girls talked to other students about Arturo, we decided that it would be in our best interest to get a new teacher. I spoke to Gina this morning and we have to finish out this week with Arturo, but next week, they will assign us a new teacher.

Now I know what Denver must have felt like when he got his certificate in dog training, but didn´t really deserve it.

Hopefully next week will be better. This will be my new philosophy:

"Don't give up at half time. Concentrate on winning the second half."
--- Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant

A New Word
The three girls who stay at la residencia learned about a word called ¨Nacos,¨which is pronounced like tacos. Apparently, this describes guys in Playa who just want to have sex. You learn something new every day!

Bernardo
I ran into Bernardo on 5th Avenue on my way back to the condo. He invited me to go to the Blue Parrot with the gang, but this old one can´t stay out as late as they can when I have class the next day.

After Mexico, he is going to travel around the U.S. for a while. He will be gone a total of 3 months. I want to be European!

The Reef Club
Through the condo, I have access to the facilities at the Reef Club. Since everyone went to Tulum, I went to the pool. Not sure why the Reef Club gets a bad reputation. It´s really well maintained and authentic Mexican style. I really liked it and they played good music at the pool. The beach was destroyed pretty much by the hurricane, but they have two pools and canopy beds and it´s very nice. I brought my Spanish book and newspaper and got a little sun.

There were some men from Spain in the pool near me, so I tried to listen to their conversation even though the dialect is a little different.

Afterwards, I went to the shopping center in Playacar. By that time I was starving.

Five of us can use the facilities there, but if we want the official day pass that includes all of our food and drinks from 9:00-6:00, that is $40 per person.

Dinner
I went to Rolandi´s for dinner because it was close. I ate so much. They have that yummy puffed bread with garlic butter and I had Fettucini Salsa Rolandi. I also had a glass of Sangria, which went straight to my head.

After dinner I went to the school to use the Internet and Tabatha was eating at Byblos (she eats there every night through the school meal program) so I sat and had coffee with her.

Today was my fat day because as I was walking back, I decided to stop and have dessert at Ajua Maya. I had the flaming Bananas Foster.