A Few Things I've Learned

in Puerto Rico.

1. I am now doing bigger and better things at work than worrying about making coffee. I was in the accounts/client services department for about 5.5 weeks, and they have since moved me to public relations--official title, "Medios, las relaciones públicas." Here I have to speak Spanish more than usual because one of the girls I work with does not speak a lot of English. Anyway, one of my assignments was to enter in the names, addresses, phone numbers, and target information for almost 500 clients. I finished a lot faster than my boss was expecting me to because I stared at my computer 7 hours a day, typing that dang information. I moved only for lunch and bathroom breaks. During this time, I learned that if I stretch my arms back way over my head, my shoulders pop . . . every few hours. I love popping my shoulders! I didn't know I could do that.

2. My mom had a friend here in Puerto Rico named Beatriz. Beatriz and her husband have since left Puerto Rico. They were going to move back to her hometown in Guatemala but then decided to move to Dubai. I learned that the islands of Dubai (part of the United Arab Emirates) are in the shape of the continents of the world. Somehow they pumped the bottom of the ocean up (bear with me here. I don't know how to describe it.) to make islands that are in the shape of the continents. Oh yeah, and there's a palm tree, too.

I hear they have an indoor ski resort there, as well as an indoor beach complete with waves. Sounds like they have a lot of money. I think that each person originally from Dubai gets a cut of the money made from oil.

3. I have learned that the Spanish translation for the English "umm" is "este." I hear this about 50 times in the office on a given day. Este . . . esteeee, este this, este that. You don't realize how many times people say "um" until they say it in a different language! Every other minute! They also say "entonces" a lot, meaning "so."

4. I have learned that I love fried plantains and quenepas. Plantains look like bananas, but oh baby they are not. I haven't had fried plantains a lot, but eating more of those is on the to-do list before I leave.

These are plantains. And the following are fried plantains. Yum-may.

Check these out. These are quenepas. To eat them, you puncture the skin with your nail (or some people break it with their teeth), peel off the skin, and suck the quenepa. Most of the fruit is the pit in the middle, which you spit out.

5. I have learned that I love teaching. I am the Primary music person, and I love coming up with games and activities, making the crafts that go along with them, and then getting the kids excited about what we're doing. Last Sunday I ended up saying, "Are you ready to learn a new song?!??!" and I saw a sea blank faces staring back at me. I just said, "O o okay--let's go!" I'm sure they think I'm nuts. I also teach violin lessons here to a little girl named Sarah. She's my second violin student; how and why do they keep coming to me for lessons? I'm not even that great!

6. As I talked about in #1, I had to type a lot of names and addresses into a spreadsheet. This would be fine and dandy if they weren't Spanish names, complete with accents and multiple surnames. For example, we have the following names: José Luis Martínez Maldonado, María González Piña, Agustín Díaz Quiñones. Hello! Time sucker! I copy and paste this áéíóúñÁ every time and then delete the letter I don't need.

Here's Rodríguez > RodráéíóúñÁ > Rodráéíóúñ > Rodráéíóú > Rodráéíó > Rodráéí > Rodráí > Rodríguez. Step. by. step.

7. After making the aforementioned spreadsheet while listening to Pink Floyd for about an hour straight, I felt straight trippy. Pink Floyd makes me feel weird. I like their music, though--very talented.

Hey! Teacher! Leave your kids alone.

I've learned a lot more, but I can't think of anything in particular right now. If you find the time and have the means, visit Dubai. On the way there, eat some fried plantains and quenepas. It's a long flight, so don't forget to pop your shoulders regularly. Practice writing Spanish names, and if you have a question along the way, call the stewardess on the plane and ask her as much as you wish. Feel free to say "este" a million times throughout the course of your conversation. Relax and listen to your iPod that is tuned in to Pink Floyd. I'll be here all day to teach you something new.