Rain, rain GO AWAY!

Well today certain wasn’t my favorite day ever, but I did accomplish what I needed to get done.

After missing the bus I came home, dried off a little and pulled my hair back (wasn’t going to bother re-doing it after standing in the rain), then headed down to Rincon de Maxi for a café con leche, and so I could be right next to the bus stop. I was the only girl there, which was a little awkward. I drank my coffee and then headed to the bus stop at 7:45am. It was still windy and unlucky for me I was downwind. I’m surrounded by cigarette smoke all the time now, but the smell of these cigarettes made me nauseous. I felt a little sick the entire bus ride…all 4 hours of it. When on the bus I got a call from Ben and Ava saying they had already finished up with their appointments but they would wait for me so we could take the bus back together.

When I arrived at the bus station in Jaén it was sprinkling but not too bad. I started walking to the extranjeria but the rain just got worse and worse. The wind was blowing too. I didn’t buy an umbrella because I was already soaked, so it wasn’t going to do any good. Plus the wind was just mutilating other people’s umbrellas…also not doing them any good. I was a drowned rat by the time I got to the office. I’m not homesick yet so I don’t appreciate the weather trying to “make me feel more at home here” by raining buckets. Getting stuck in a storm like that also doesn't help me get over this stupid cold. I definitely feel like I've been set back a few steps with that.

Behind me in line at the extranjeria was a guy named Andy from Bellingham who just got placed with the auxiliares program…and I thought *I* got placed late!!! I was seen almost right away, got my finger printing done, then headed out to get coffee with Ben and Ava and another auxiliar. We decided to get Mexican food for lunch, but drank our coffee while we were waiting for it to open. We exchanged stories about life in small towns and teaching and then went to lunch. We had enchiladas for lunch and they were really good, but way too much food. We signed the restaurant guest book then headed for the bus station.

The next bus that I knew about was at 7:30pm and it was only 3:30pm but we thought we would check to make sure there wasn’t an earlier bus, or to double check that the evening bus was going to leave at 7:30. Luckily for us there was a bus getting ready to leave right as we got there. It wasn’t going all the way to Siles, but it was going to La Puerta where Ben and Ava live. We figured I could find a bus to Siles from there, or worst case scenario stay at their apartment until the 7:30 bus made its way down to La Puerta.

I listened to music and dozed on and off throughout the entire bus ride. I was cold. I was drying out…but spending that many hours in wet shoes is not fun, especially when I am already trying to get over a cold. We arrived in La Puerta at 6:40pm and the bus driver said there would be a bus to Siles coming at 7:05 or 7:10. We ran to their apartment really quickly so I could see it, and then saw their usual bar hangout. After that I walked quickly back to the bus stop in time to catch the bus to Siles.

Now, I generally like the fact that I’ve been placed in Siles. Even though it’s a small town, where everyone is in everyone else’s business and there aren’t many places you can go out at night, I think it’s a good place for me to be. My one frustration right now is how difficult it is to get in and out of the town using the buses. La Puerta is a less than 20 minute drive from Siles. However, on the bus it takes an hour! It doesn’t take that long because we make frequent stops. We just have to take all the side roads to get to all the other tiny little towns and make sure no one needs to be picked up there. I saw signs that said “Siles: 13km” approximately every ten minutes but we weren’t getting any closer! Not even the Celine Dion CD the male bus driver was playing could make me want to stay on that bus any longer. After such a long day it was such a tease to be sooooooo close and have it take soooooo long to get home. I couldn’t wait to get back to my apartment, get into some warm clothes and climb under the covers.

I finally arrived and had a heck of a sweet tooth. I tried going to the grocery store but apparently they decided to close at least 15 minutes early tonight. None of the other stores were open either. Blast! No sweets for me. Siles, I thank you for improving my eating habits…but I don’t always like you for it!

I can’t believe tomorrow is Wednesday, my busy day. I don’t know why it is so tiring to sit on a bus all day, but it is. I am totally wiped. I’ll definitely need a nap tomorrow.

All my paperwork in Jaén is done now. All I have to do is go back sometime after December 20th to pick up my actual residency card. Inés called me when I was on the bus back to Siles to check up on me and see how things went. I told her I would probably have to wait until the second week of January to pick up my card because it wouldn’t be ready until the week of Christmas. She said people would be in the office until the 24th, and that I should go get it, but I don’t think she realizes that the 20-23rd is a Monday-Thursday and I work everyday. Oh well…I’m not really concerned about it. Ben and Ava already got paid and they don’t have their residency cards in hand yet, and I already opened a bank account…so I don’t really need my residency card in hand for anything urgently.

I feel like I had more to say, but I can’t remember right now. I’m headed to bed…if I think of it later I’ll add another post.

Good night all!