Getting settled.
Today was orientation, and let me assure you, it’s exactly the same here as it is in the US: a bunch of crap that you either know or don’t need to know, and an akward bunch of people trying to make friendly conversation. The former I don’t mind so much, especially in Spanish because it’s all too easy to tune out, but the latter.. oyy. I don’t mind big groups, even/especially if I’m the odd one out, because people notice you. When everyone is the odd one out, though, things get weird. They’re all trying too hard to make friends, and worse, with people as foreign and as odd-ball as themselves. Needless to say I hung back from all that and stayed just long enough to get myself a free Coke. There were a few hot guys in the crowd—the first I’ve seen yet—but I figured they’re either assholes or American, probably both.
I really thought that I was only a few months away from fluency (the optimism/arrogance I’m known for), but I fear that was a bit ambitious. I understand so little of what is said to me. It’s terrible, especially because it seems to happen most often when I’m asking for directions, when I’m talking to various officials about what I’m supposed to do, etc. Basically, all the times you really need to understand. Conversations with taxi drivers, nice shopkeepers, and my roommates (mostly) go just fine. Sometimes I even hear that my Spanish is good, and I feel better about myself, if only for a moment, knowing full well they’re only being nice. It’s like telling an ugly that she’s beautiful: she knows deep down its not true, but its nice to hear it anyway. Being fluent is like being pretty: you’ll never know what a gift it is unless you have to work for it.
A lifetime of learning has taught me to forgo the note cards, stretch my brain around “the big picture” and let it do what it does best: process and sort the information you’ve already absorbed. In other words, I’m trying to switch gears mentally and work at the macro-level aka feel better about not doing the somber work of study and memorization. I’m just letting it come to me. Plus, learning comes down to two things: exposure and observation.
Things I’m noticing about Lima:
-How absurdly people drive in Lima. They have traffic signs and stop lights, but apparently they’re more like suggestions. It seems like it would be a blast to drive in (provided you have fast reflexes and adequate insurance) because, as far as I can tell, traffic violations don’t exist and you can drive as fast as you possibly want. It is worth noting that I was literally a second or two away from being yesterday.
-How humid it is here. The air is palpably wet, and my hair is constantly frizzy. Seriously, if I would’ve known, I’d have brought an entirely different set of hair products. My skin feels great though, and there’s definitely no need for moisturizer or lotion!
-How many girls wear thongs, with pants perfectly positioned an inch or two below to expose it. It’s the thong wave of 2000 all over again; Sisqo’s “That thong thong thong thong…” must have made it down here and let lose the masses of women. It’s really not a cute look though, especially because 80% really shouldn’t be wearing them.
-How few men here I find attractive. Like, literally none. They just yell things like ‘’ay, blancita!”’ and give you the Creeper stare. But, there are quite a few really beautiful women that have everything you’d expect and hope from a South American woman. They color the streets with enough beauty to counter all the sweaty creepos.
-How much we take our safety for granted. Here people are constantly on guard against all sorts of unimaginable things. Lily was telling me about how many robberies occur in the light of day with lots of people around, and I realized how different it is. In the US, I think a good majority of people-men, especially-would try to do something. But here it’s different. She says it’s just easier to just let them go with the money and nobody gets hurt.
Ah, we going out for dinner. To be continued.
