¡Sopréndame!

Day 7, Wednesday, July 4^th

So... I’m still tired when I wake up this morning. Is it ever going to go away? I am starting to think not. I drag myself around the room and to breakfast, where I hardly eat. This is new – I think my abuela tica thinks I am sick, but she says nothing. She is part right. Today I am homesick. Big time. I think it is partly because today is the Fourth of July! And I guess it is partly because I just miss people.

I make my lunch (yay! No necesito pagar por este hoy.) and take the bus with Alicia. This morning in class we discuss all sorts of fun stuff: racism, life in CR, Ronny’s life, the fourth of July. It is a great morning for discussion, and despite my tiredness, I join in. Thankfully though, it is mostly Ronny talking. The Independence Day talk turns the convo to customs and family and then, with little sway, to boyfriends. I turn bitter and sullen and suddenly want our fun chat time to come to a close, and fast.

I am still upset at lunch and glad I do not to brave the long line for an uncooperating stomach. Instead, I slowly eat my sandwich and make sure our plans for the weekend are solidified. I really cannot wait. I want to call my parents but run out of time. So now I am antsy – I have to call them after school.

This afternoon we study nominal clauses and do a listening activity before immersing ourselves in a torturous game of taboo. If you ever wonder whether you know much vocab, play some taboo. It is great for destroying confidence. Somehow, Hannah and I still win – we’ll say it is because we are smart... and not because we have Ronny on our team. :)

I bolt as soon as the bell releases us, and I get to the phone booths with nadie waiting. Unfortunately, I cannot get the card to work, and I am forced to leave to find help. Bethany’s friend Dinah gives me the international code and tells me what to do, but now all of the booths are full. We want to see Ratatouille today, and I do not want to make us late, so I decide to wait and try to call at the mall.

At the mall, we buy our tickets for an hour later and walk around. I find a pay phone and am suddenly desperate to talk to someone in my family. BUT, the phones here won’t work with the code. I am crushed. Despite the ice cream I bought with the girls, my mood is not one I like. I apologize to Beth and Hannah and try to snap out of it (what Bren would tell me to do). I do my best to ignore the pangs of homesickness that dart at me.

In order to see the movie, we have to wait in a line that stretches from one side of the mall to the other. Due to the length, we are not sure we will get seats, but soon we are in the theater, settling in on the first couple rows for the cutest movie I have ever seen in Spanish. I will just say that I love love love Ratatouille. Maybe I am just craving movies (true). Maybe I am just missing people, and this movie makes me think of them (true too). Maybe I just love animated films (another verdad)! Whatever the reason, this movie is phenomenal. I hate rats, but this movie almost had me empathizing with them. Almost. Quotes from the film: “¡Sopréndame!” and “Nopity, nopity, nope.” I want to see it again in English. :)

I am sick of my hair. I said this when it was long, but the constant battle I am having with frizz is bothering me. I want to straighten it tonight for tomorrow, but I have been saying that for days. Entonces, vamos a ver.

In order to celebrate the Fourth properly (supongo), we go out to Fridays. Everyone is dressed up, but as the girls and I just came from the movie, we are pleasantly casual. Everyone from school is there, so our movie group splits from the others and gets a small table. Dinner is nice – hamburgers. Everyone has a great time, but I notice Hannah being a bit quiet. I ask her what’s up, and she tells me that James would really like this place. She misses him. I understand... too well. We just sit there for a bit, thinking. Then we try to make light of the situation. After all, what good does it do to wallow in it? None.

I find a way to insult Bethany before the night is over, which is the highlight of course (sarcasm alert). Sometimes I wonder if my thoughts even make a stop in my brain before jumping to my mouth. Here, Bethany said that she didn’t care for some of the girls at the other table. Well, I like most of those girls, so before I know it, I am spouting “well, some of those girls don’t like you either.” What the hell? As soon as the words are out, I feel like slapping myself. And now Bethany won’t leave me alone. I feel like a donkey and refuse to discuss it further.

Thankfully, a rousing rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” coming from the balcony cuts short any inquisition that might have occurred. Hannah and I enjoy the song, but some of the girls at the table find it offensive. On the one hand, I get that. On the other, it is a tourist restaurant and it is freaking Independence Day. Let them sing. The only thing that gives me pause is when we are paying and the guy who started the serenade is talking to us. It sounds suspiciously like he has a British accent... now I am confused. But cualquier floats your boat kid.

Bethany and I take a cab home, and she once again tries to pry names from me. I tell her that it was only one person that expressed any dislike for her (true), and that I don’t remember what she said, so I can’t talk about it (sorta true). But I hate drama. Hate it. And here I have started it. So I divert until I can crush it. Ugh drama.

Once home, I wash my underwear. Sorry if that’s too much information, but this is a big deal to me. I put it off until I have none, and it is the one thing my family won’t wash (something about hanging it on the line). So I have to... and I am way tired. But after that is done, I journal for a bit and get in bed.

I have un ensayo to write en la mañana, but I find myself unable to concentrate. I just lay in bed staring at the ceiling, wishing I were at home. I know it is only a temporary thing, but it still sucks. And so, thinking about my loved ones, I slowly drift from consciousness.