Necessita Practicar!

I am back in Spanish Classes, four hours a day as it is the New Year, and I realize I am not progressing like I should be.  Lazy!  And it is very easy to speak English in Antigua, as there are so many expats here and most of my acquaintenance/new friends are English Speakers.   I want to print, wear and sell a T-shirt with the following:

Hablo Espanol solamente

commigo, por favor!

Necessita Practicar!

Before I left the States I sold all my things, , or most of them, never intending to accumulate “ Stuff” again.  Minimalist, useful, items only, from here on out. I came to Antigua alone and liked it.  I moved here.  I have been here four months, with one month back in the States, selling my car.  I came back and spent the holidays here,  which for some could have been somewhat depressing.  After selling my car and visiting with friends, I was tired of mooching space and imposing on others.   I needed to be in my own place.  So I returned to Cental America.  My small quarters are comfortable, save the fact that there is no heat in my room and it is chilly in the morning and evening.  I want for nothing, really.   No matter  what, periodically, one gets hit by things, that your mind wants to seize and expand.   Negativity and sometimes, something I call  “ the lonelies.”  It takes a conscious process to overcome it.  Moving to a foreign country alone, is not for the faint of heart.   With all it’s positives, one can still find oneself,  periodically, in the early going wondering, “What have I done?”

Last night was not quite that bad, but I did take action and got out of the house.  I strolled over to Hector’s Restaurant, which I love, and find a comfort place.  It was full.  That was okay, because Hector and his American girlfriend were not there, anyway.   I rounded the Corner on Avenida Cinco and strolled along looking for an alternative.  The Indian Restaurant, was open but Felix,  a fellow resident of my complex, had left and it was not occupied.  I kept moving passing several familiar spots, finally arriving at the other end of town at JP’s Rumbar.  JP is a American from New Orleans, and he was behind the bar.  I had been there only once prior, during a private holiday party.  As I sat at the cozy little bar and ordered Shrimp Creole (Excellent and inexpensive), JP said Hello and introduced me to Mark, a fellow American, who, it turns out, has about a year on me.  He moved to Antigua with his wife and two kids, about 18 months, ago, and loves the place.  He has a great informative blog: www.guateliving.com.  We exchanged blogs and promised to get together to chat over coffee and settling-in stories.    A few other acquaintenances arrived and I spoke with Christine, from Wisconsin, in working for an NGO for a bit.  I headed home, well fed and no longer feeling alone.  Even though I spent 100Q, ($13) I had not budgeted and ate a brownie with vanilla ice cream, which I maybe should not have.  One can not sit in the problem.  You have to take action and stay positive.

Now to kick my painting back into forward motion!

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