Primer Dia!

Ok so new things I have discovered thanks to orientation. You are not supposed to flush toilet paper here ie the waste basket in the bathroom. I now call them glorified porto-potties haha. Also I have invented a new way of showering it goes something like this: 1. Turn on water; 2. Jump in; 3. Shut water off/soap everything; 4. Rinse FAST. I was shaking so hard the water is absolutely freezing. I think I have figured out how to fix the problem for next time but if not the thirty second shower is my new best friend and forget shaving the legs haha.

After experiencing my first shower, my host mom taught me how to take the bus to la Universidad Latina where my classes are held. Luckily I live only 5 minutes via bus away from the campus and it is only a 10-15 minute walk. I honestly have never had so many people stare at me before in my life...and it only got worse as the day progressed. The whole way to the bus men on motorbikes were stopping and honking haha awkward.

During orientation they did a wonderful job of sufficiently scaring me to death! OMG they make it sound like this place is super frightening and the one girl who was a student here last semester shared the most ridiculous story and was like "That was a FUN night"????WHAT ???The night you and another girl got jumped by like 4 guys and robbed was fun??? Ok our opinions are quite different. After sitting in the classroom for many hours they loaded us onto passenger vehicles and took us to lunch.

Lunch was hysterical! So the food was delicious and they had something I could eat...HOORAY! The conversation was really good when Alex came up and then it turned to religious beliefs and I had to explain to the whole table what is was like being a member of the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon). I then made everyone at the table go through and tell what religious beliefs they held. I think Andres (one of the ICDS directors) was absolutely shocked at how open and forward I was.

After lunch we walked through downtown to the Teatro Nacional. On the way over there a bus

driver stopped in the middle of the road so all of us girls could cross the street. Andres was completely shocked and quickly informed us that is unheard of. I have never felt so stared down in my life wow like could they be any less obvious...Anyways the Teatro Nacional is absolutely gorgeous. It is a composite of different artistic styles including Baroque/Rococo. It was built in the 1800's and from its inception has been wired with electricity. I had an absolute ball admiring all of the original art in the building and listening to some women practice the harpsichord.

I am now safe and back home with my family here and although everybody is going to frequent the bars tonight I would feel much better staying inside. I feel it is not worth having something happen I would rather have a quiet night in.