Thursday, October 29, 2009

Yo estoy esperando una amiga.

Two neighbors of mine like to communicate. At night when we are all studying...or whatever we all do on Seris, the night is interrupted with a whistle. After a pause there is an answering whistle. And then a relay of call-and-answer begins. It used to happen a lot, and then after one night when there was no answering whistle the ritual stopped for awhile, but the other night I smiled to hear the nonsensical exchange of tones resume.

In class our seats are numbered on the back. Attendence is taken by Norma who enters the class and marks on a sheet of paper the seats filled and those empty. Classmates not interested in class that day stand outside and chat. We all know when Norma comes because everyone floods into the room at the same time. The other day she came earlier than normal to our first class of the day, so of course not many people had arrived yet and were marked absent. Norma had given the sheet to the Doctor so at the break those who had come in late went up to the front and marked their seat themselves. The next day Dr. Montial addressed our class and reprimanded those who had done such. He said that he hopes they don't get a residency placement as such dishonesty is not a trait a doctor should have. He also said that such behavior had made him feel stupid. yes, he used the word stupid. In Mexico stupid carries with it a grave insult. You don't call someone stupid unless you want them to come after you with 10 of their friends all with guns. Two things: I was very thankful to not have been part of the cause of such disrespect, and I was very sorry that he had felt such disrespect. Not many people like Dr. Montiel because he's not the best teacher, but he's older, slower, quiter, whiter-haired, reminds me of a grandpa and I can't help but like him.

Sis. Kyann Ruefner is currently spending two months in Mexico City teaching English. She's coming to visit the great city of Guadalajara today. Always exciting to have visitors!

Hasta!

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