A my name´s (unmentionable for privacy) and I come from Alabama

I should´ve known my saving grace would come from the sweet home, bible belt, etc-
As I was packing my bag to leave language class on Friday, I was startled to hear (in a voice that sounded like my mom when she talks to Judd, or for everyone that isnt directly related to me.. umm anyone that lives east of east coweta)- ¨Hay, are you frum America?¨ haha can you hear it?
me- ¨yeah..¨
A- ¨oh mah gawd I ahm so happy to meet you! Where are you frum?¨
¨Georgia!¨
¨Oh mah GAWD! Im frum Alabama!¨

It was the best feeling in the world and luckily I wouldn´t have to resort to meeting strangers from the internet in dark alleys, you know? A is also an au pair, 24 years old, graduated from JSU, doesnt know any spanish, and we completely relate on so many levels particulary because we have no one else to relate to. We decided immediately we were going out that night. Fast Forward to 11 pm and we see me walking to bus stop, its muy frio and although supposedly the last bus arrives at 1130 I spend one lonely hour waiting on a bus that never comes. Within that hour I talk to A and the housekeeper each appx. 4 times, and about halfway into my long wait my cheap european phone dies for no reason, rendering me incapable of reassurance and ultimately sending me home. The world works in mysterious ways because it was for the better that I returned, fixed my phone, and called a cab to meet up with A- who all the while was being followed by an older egyptian man who claimed he wore a golden band on his left hand ¨for my mother.¨ hah
When I made it to the city, we ditched the egyptian, fell in with 18 Irish men celebrating for a bachelor party, lost the group but Jimmy stayed with us and bought our drinks before we ditched him and went to A´s family´s house to crash.

Oi. my feet are destroyed, its so bad that every step, even today, is excrutiatingly painful. but my shoes were so fucking cute.

the next morning I stumbled out of the apartment, escorted to the door by the housekeeper who looked less than thrilled to find me on the couch in the morning. I walked to the bus stop, barefoot, and found a bus that had some stops I thought I recognized although in retrospect Im not sure I was even reading the correct schedule for the bus I ultimately rode. Anyway at the end of the line I was pointed in the direction of c/ arroyofresno (mi casa, ci?) and I took off, still with barefeet. I walked, and walked and finally sat down at a bus stop resigned to riding until I found a street that looked familiar. A girl walked up to the stop and after a few mintues I asked in spanish if she knew my street, she didnt but off we went- me barefooted, her asking people in spanish if they knew the street. we were given vague directions and those finally got us there, about 45 minutes, 3 kilometers, and a spanglish conversation later.
Her name is N, shes 21, lives with her family (including her brother, 23, going to massage school- we´ll get to that later), and she walked with me all the way home because ¨if I were in America, I hope someone does this for me.¨ Her english is better than my spanish and we manage to communicate with a mix of both. I go out that night with her and her friends (L, Esther, Uli, Teto, y Colinas) and all entiedes ingles, pero no habla. ah bale.
I had a fenomenal noche and we slept ín L´s flat, made gazopacho the next day and then that night had dinner at N´s and her brother drove me home. ah swoon. el en mi sueños, tu entiendes?

Today after class A, an australian girl named S, and I walked and talked and met an American named Adam who is a professional pub crawl tour guide. I know right?

The point is, things are looking up. A and I agree we can get through any family trouble as long as we have friends. I feel even more pumped to see the kids and the parents because now I have something interesting to say! finally I have a semblance of a not-so-normal-but-definitely-fun life.

woo m!ss m€