first few days

So this week I'm taking a spanish class, 4 hours a day, and its definitely starting to come back to me. Some of the grammatical rules are pretty complex and can't be translated into English . . so I'll probably never use em myself (conditional, imperfect). I understand the teachers perfectly well, b/c they purposefully speak slow and clear, but when I talk to other people on the street etc, they talk too fast for me!

Went to campus yesterday . . the campus is beautiful! there's a creek running through it and it feels like being in the middle of a rainforest! Some of the walkways are covered (b/c of the heavy rains) and we'll see how crowded they get when classes start next week.

I'm teaching a grad class, mostly chemists and some physicists, and there's a total of 6 or 7. It starts next Tuesday, will let you know how that goes.

I bought a tv, and the cable is amazing! i'll get to watch all my fave US shows, including sytycd tonight . . . mmmm just got a whiff of a neighbor cooking some garlic. 'Glee' is on in spanish right now . .

I live a few blocks from the main street, its a very quiet complex (no kids allowed!) and I've met a few Americans already (1 of whom is finishing his time as a visiting Physics prof at the same place I'll be working. random.). Apparently no one goes out after 7pm ish and they recommend not to walk alone (but i'll need to find out if that's an exaggeration or actually true.) . . so i'll need to tweak my daily schedule to get up early (ugh) and go to sleep early . . so I won't be out late running errands or going to the gym. Also, since its rainy season, people like to get inside earlier, it also gets dark around 5/6 ish. The rain hasn't been too bad yet, it rains every afternoon, with thunder/lightning every few days and probably everyday in Sept! luv it. I put up some netting over my windows so I can leave em open and not worry about bugs, but can still hear the rain and storms. Definitely need some rainboots but can't find waterproof boots anywhere!! Everyone I meet that knows I'm new here asks if I have an umbrella!

Well I had plenty to say earlier but now can't remember what I wanted to describe/say . . but i did put some pics up on fb!