Miniature Milestones

The rainy season has begun. Before this week I barely saw a drop of water fall in Ecuador, and I was beginning to think that the rain was only a myth, and that maybe tales about the rainy season were just some sort of elaborate wide-spread hazing ritual for gringos to make them more confused.  Throughout August and September the land looked parched and desert-like and felt like Arizona. This week it feels like Seattle.

Other small but significant milestones:

• I found a cleaning guy for my apartment.  Apparently our security guard also moonlights cleaning and doing odd jobs, so Berthita hooked it up so he comes twice a month and cleans until it shines, all for $25 bucks... I might as well enjoy it while I can afford it.

• The signs on the front of the city buses that explain where they go (which when I arrived did not have a lot more meaning to me that Egyptian hieroglyphics) are starting to make sense. When I read the names of the destinations, I am starting to have an idea of what places they are referring to and where they are located in relation to where I am.

• I started Spanish lessons. My teacher's name is Miriam. She's my age and hopefully will be the one who helps me go from kinda knowing Spanish to REALLY knowing Spanish.

• I answered a phone call that was all in Spanish and didn't get confused.

• I answered a different phone call that was all in Spanish and got so confused that I showed up a week early for my appointment.

• So, yes, things are moving right along. All that is left to make me feel as if I have officially settled is to arrange for water delivery, so I can stop lugging 3-liter jugs home from Supermaxi.