As I wrote yesterday, it was a little suspicious (call it “cognitive dissonance”) that the “homestay” shared an address with the school. Turns out this is hardly a “home stay” – when I did this in Paris for French, I was ensconced in an apartment with a couple and their kids, and traumatized for life the morning I came from my room unexpectly to find “the man of the house” doing a handstand — naked — in their living room. I expected the same here (the school contact said “you will stay with… at the school… I a sure you’ll enjoy the time with her and her family”. Not so much the naked-husband part, but the shared quarters.
Well, I have met my Temp Mom (“Sra Magdalena Giron Villalobos”) and was promptly escorted to my own apartment. Had I know this I could have been spared the angst of sharing a living space (at age 62) again. I’m pleased it is not so. Turns out that his property has probably 10 apartments, some support the language school, others are just AirBNB.
The apartment is basic but modern: a round table at which I am typing at the moment, a small faux leather couch, double bed. Only a fan for cooling, the good news there is we’re at 1515m (about 5000′) elevation, and while it’s likely to be toasty in the daytime, it does cool down at night. The bed is on the hard side, but I’ll get used to it. It’s $20 a day, including breakfast.
So: simple, clean, basic.
Took an evening walking. Breathtaking, not particularly due to scenery but elevation; it’ll take a while to get use to this. Slept OK with “Breaking out of Beginner Spanish” and another like book at my side. I’m embracing this! From the airport up until breakfast this morning I spoke no English and most of my Spanish was understood, and I understood most of what was heard.
Breakfast is included with the stay but I had no expectation about it. Tasty: quesadillas with Oaxacan cheese and a salsa and a mole). Coffee, bread and pastry. There I met my “classmates”: two from Quebec, one from Australia, three from Tacoma, WA, and one from Washington DC. Of course I’ve already forgotten their names but tomorrow’s another day. One of the Tacomans is named Scott. I’ll remember him, but he’s leaving tomorrow. The Australian and I (a woman – a bit older than me) will tour one of the markets this afternoon. Kind of her. Alas, she didn’t show. Waited for about 40 minutes. Either I got the time wrong, or she spaced it out. Silver lining – it’s unusual for me to linger (“relax”) period, so “chilling” to an ice coffee was kind of refreshing. I finished wandering, netting about 6 miles of walking in 80 degree heat at 5500′ elevation. If I can keep this up I’ll be in better shape when I get back to Tucson!
Class starts tomorrow. The lessons are one-on-one, and may take place here at the school or around town – coffee shops… wherever.