mi casa es su casa

so it has been over a week and a half since i've spoken english with someone. i would've thought that i would've been dying for some conversation by now, but somehow, im okay with it.

i dont know if i could accurately describe the house that im staying at. its so far from normal. sometimes i feel like im on the set of a sitcom or something. everyone around me has such character and expression. i love it.
we have a very busy home. many visitors coming and going. i was introduced to many, but never properly explained to, who lived at our house. who was a friend or stranger. everynight, it would be getting later, and i would be expecting people to leave, some would, but some would say good night and head upstairs to bed. sonia, is the woman of the house, and she would cook a little, but her friend would be up early every morning washing my clothes and cooking my breakfast. eventually i gathered that sonia runs some sort of guest home you might call it. kids stay sometimes, and other colombians who are staying in town. one of her friend runs a salon out of one room a few days a week, and all these woman come and go with these awful tatooed eyebrows.
i do love living here, though. in the evenings different woman stop by and sit around and share the days happenings, sometimes sing an old song, and cook up some plantanos y queso. i dont know if im learning the culture, or the ways of an old lady; but either way, it suits me fine. for the time being at least. it humors me that we sit in red plastic lawn chairs and drink tinto from mis matched cups and saucers that were served to us on a plater by the maid. oh yes - and the woman who's up in the morning - carmen, is the employado domestica. right, i have a maid. she's so cute, she talks to herself, makes little jokes, and sings little songs all day while she goes about her chores. one man that's been staying at the house the last few days, albert, is a big black man who trys to help my spanish by yelling his limited english vocabulary, and explaining things i already understand with overexagerated hand gestures.

i have learned much these past two weeks. i have learned that you can still fog up the bathroom mirrors with a cold shower, i've learned that you can walk all the way in the shade if you dont mind crossing the street a lot. i've learned the art of not appearing lost. i've learned an old spanish love song. i've learned that sometimes its easiest just to smile and nod.