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Work 4 Peace,Hold All Life Sacred,Eliminate Violence! I am on my mobile version of the door-to-door, going town-to-town holding readings/gatherings/discussions of my book "But What Can I Do?" This is my often neglected blog mostly about my travels since 9/11 as I engage in dialogue and actions. It is steaming with my opinions, insights, analyses toward that end of holding all life sacred, dismantling the empire and eliminating violence while creating the society we want ALL to thrive in

Thursday, November 11, 2010

mi primera espanol clase

6 to 8 this evening I am immersed in Spanish! I like Rebeca a lot. She has a folder for me, some exercise papers, and a sheet of verbs to conjugate in the present.

We do conversation. She speaks slowly so I can understand her. I take a long time to put together the words to make sentences. She is very patient - most likely bored out of her mind - but kindly says nothing to hurry me along.

In the morning, I have class with her esposo Ismael and two other students, both from China, who are also trying to learn Spanish.

We talk about my need for veggie oil, used, and she tells me these students work at a restaurant.

At this news, I have visions of all the oil I need dancing in my head!

The truth about Mexicans: like any american city but nicer...

Pedro is my new 'friend' at the coffee shop. Yesterday, he and the other barista took pictures of themselves in front of my truck - the beautiful mural side. He gave me detailed instructions how to reach the university - and went on google earth to show me how to get there.

Today, they both welcome me warmly. Pedro asks where he can direct me to today!

Hermosillo is a very large city, 850,000 people, I've read. A modern city. Today I will try to find more/some veggie oil. I will visit El Centro also. I've read there is a gay/lesbian bar "Secrets" there that I want to check out! Tonite I have my first espanol lesson with rebeka. yeah!

Everyone here is very welcoming and helpful. Yesterday morning, a womon stopped her little white truck across from where my truck parked for the nite, and said something over a loud speaker. When I got out of my truck and went to talk with her, she proudly shows me her mike. Her eyes sparkle when I tell her "hablo espanol un poquito y mal". She laughs freely and says "mi ingleis poquito & mal".

I notice she has several dozen white eggs on the seat next to her. I ask, as I point to the eggs, her "hueves"? You sell hueves? She nods, laughs again, gently says "huevos" and reaches for them. I tell her no huevos, only vegetals por mi!

We both laugh and off she goes, announcing her eggs loudly over her loud speaker as she drives down the street.

I read on the internet the road I took from the border to Hermosillo is dangerous for americans. UFB. It was a beautiful, calm, stark ride. Even the road blocks were painless.

Who starts these rumors? How many major roads in the U.S. have been scenes of crimes? Yet does the Chronicle say don't go on 101 south because someone was robbed there? hmmmm

Nite 2, Day 3...

I survived! A second nite in Hermosillo! I found parking in a neighborhood close to the university so I'm not far from my first Spanish lesson, but this time the night was not as smooth as last nite.

The calle (ca-yah = street) is suddenly heavily trafficked shortly after I first get settled. Just when I am seriously considering moving, the cars stop. But then shortly after I fall asleep, I hear a police officer outside – sounding disturbingly close to u.s. police officers, talking into some kind of mike with those canned radio noises in the background.

I keep quiet until he starts rattling the propane cage under my truck but by the time I jump up, find and put on my shorts, he has taken off – most likely a greater emergency then my truck.

Once again, I seriously consider moving the truck in case he returns but then... why not face the Hermosillo police if I have to and get it over with?

So I stay put and before I know it, the sun is coming up, birds are singing in the palm trees and I could be in any little desert city, Tucson, Los Angeles, etc.

The internet café I found yesterday and return to this morning, Cafénio, is apparently the Star Bucks competition here so I’m triply glad I found it. Plus they have organic café!

My one week of 20 hours of español lessons will cost me $166 american. I think I will do it although it will deplete my funds greatly. I’m hoping sales are going well back home as I write – and estudiante español here.

My plan/budget is to spend less than $10 american dollars a day in order to make it for one year. I have crossed the border with $700 even though I left home with $1000.

Staying in the states cost me. I had to give $100 for fuel, although I received 60 gallons of pristine, filtered wvo! And then camping with the Daboo was almost another $100; plus I spent $18 on the veggie fuel filters Gloria bought and gave her $22 to cover tolls, gas, and her trouble.

The other money went on last minute things like hydrogen peroxide and I splurged on a coffee cup so I don’t have to keep using paper, etc.

So far, I’ve spent $1.00 at the internet café in Carboca, about $4 on coffee so I can sit for hours on the internet; $22 for my visa to stay in Mexico for 6 months; $2.00 on guacamole waiting for the profesor last nite and I believe that’s it. So I’m staying within my $10 per day – until I do the lengua escuela (language school)…

This morning I cook my steel-cut oats with apples, raisins, and cinnamon - yummy! I eat what's left of my pomegranate.

Theoretically, I do not have to buy food for a long time - if I can do without fresh veggies and fruit. I still have apples, sweet potatoes, and kabocha fresh. We'll see.

And if I can find veggie oil - which I should be able to as soon as I figure out how to ask in español - once I fill the tank, I should be able to drive for several hundred miles without having to purchase diesel.

And if I can still find places to park without bringing too much attention to myself, i.e. free places, I don't have to spend money on housing.