ah, so this is how the other half lives

What a cliche, but you only truly understand the meaning when you have one housekeeper (Ernilinga) cooking the meals and the other (Roli) bringing the food and plates and silverware (a different plate for each course).

They love art. I was so amazed/shocked/awed/dying when she gave me the house tour and showed me their original Andy Warhol. YES a motherfucking original Warhol painting. Unbelievable. But it's nothing compared to the (at least) 50 other pieces in the house- sculptures, paintings, even a neon light piece. Of course they have a pool with no deck and a beautiful marble terrace. I have two closets and two beds and two sinks. Its all very strange. There are three floors, the kitchen and dining table are on the bottom- also laundry and the two housekeeper's rooms as well as a playroom, but the main floor is the second (with the warhol), a massive living room, and a dining area that seats 8 and looks out onto the backyard. The third floor has all the bedrooms. The houses I have seen thus far are all enclosed. It feels very isolated and they have an alarm for the second floor so if I want water in the night I must take the elevator(!) down to the first floor- in the elevator the floors are numbered -1,0, and 1. Everyone is wonderfully nice. Casilda seems overjoyed to have an older girl in the house- we painted nails today.

The food is different but not at all bad. Its meat mostly and veggies raw with a sauce. Thats excrutiatingly vague but I have only eaten three meals. I slept till two today- I know my mom is going to be annoyed when she reads that. I'll go to the city tomorrow briefly which I am excited about. We leave for Soto Grande Friday and I'm glad to be going as they've told me all about it and it seems fantastic.

Everyone in Ireland really does have red hair- its incredible. I couldn't believe it and for those of you that know me well, you know I would have been in heaven, except of course all the red heads were women and children. sigh. I suppose it's not meant to be, but since staying in the dublin airport, the voice in my head is speaking with an Irish accent. I know thats completely ridiculous but it's true and I had to share it with you.

I don't know what I was expecting them to sound like, but both Almu (the mom) and Casilda (the seven year old) speak with a combination of English/Irish/Scottish accents. Its so odd. She says "mum" and its so weird to hear that one minute and then spanish the next.

Im going to come home with an Irish accent, mark my word.

miss me,
Jessie