I heard awhile back that Octavio Paz had written an article about the word ‘chingar’. So I just read it and it’s very interesting. It’s one of those words in Mexico that kind of intimidates one because it has so many subtle meanings. After reading the article I’m no more likely to use the word, partly because it’s mainly a swear word. It’s fascinating it’s roots and explanation though. And how it’s meaning differs in South America for example. Octavio writes well and makes you realise just how much culture is embedded in words. And the more culture a word has the more intimidating it is to use. Because the more likely you are to understand because it’s harder to translate. Words with culture are more about mood and vibe.

There is this cute girl who lives across the street (about 10 metres from our window) who likes to shout out the window after her mum.

“Te quiero mucho, que te vaya bien.” Over and over. It’s kind of quaint. One of those things that reminds me I’m at home. Like the smell of bread cooking. I had thought the bread smell was the people downstairs, but they moved out on the weekend, as well as the people downstairs downstairs and the smell is still here to torment me all my days.

Que-te-vaya-Bien. She says it real slow too. Hehe

Banda is the funniest style of Mexican music. We went to this bar tonight with Banda music. People just bop from side to side with much feeling and it makes me laugh a lot.

Cara and I had a good passionate conversation about passion today. About how good it is and how much apathy sucks. We don’t have time in life to be apathetic. It’s just crappy. And we were passionate about being dags. That’s something that I am passionate about not caring about.

If you aren’t going to care about something, at least do it with passion…not with apathy. Out with the apathy!

Sweet chilli sauce
Microwave brownies
Bagels
Chinese stir fry noodles
Water chestnuts

The past 3 days I have been attempting to attend university, but generally found it a hard experience. They generally haven’t existed. Today I finally had my first class.

I’m one too get pretty scared of doing things like walking into rooms where you don’t know anyone. And so going to classes in a foreign university when you speak Spanish as a second language is undoubtedly going to be even more scary. I have been trying to convince myself not to be scared, and to be brave. I think I even managed to fake not being scared pretty well. Cara’s theory of ‘fake it til it’s real’ kind of really came into play.

Today, without really thinking my Nahuátl class would actually happen considering my previous luck. But this morning there was some students waiting at the door. So I told myself I couldn’t leave without having asked them if they were waiting for the same class. And so I did with my bravest face, walk straight up to them and ask them in my best Spanish if they were waiting for Nahuátl. And why, they were. And as I’m learning of people, rather nice and didn’t think I was stupid for asking. Why how I have been practicing my confidence these days.

So eventually the teacher came and I had my first proper uni class in Mexico. And it was cool. And fun. And hard. And confusing. And normal. And filled with Mexicans. Oddly I met this American girl who has Mexican parents (but was really cool). I even asked a question in class today. Nahuátl is hard. I was sitting there laughing at myself. Wondering what I was thinking. Learning a friggin indigenous language in Spanish. But I think Spanish isn’t the problem, just that the sounds are so foreign and so unlike Latin sounds.

Pialli means hello.
Timomelawa means goodbye

After I dashed to my screenprinting class. Alas it still has not come to be, but my teacher is really cool. And I am really excited to learn some cool Mexican ways. And be inspired by their colour. The great thing is, he is very accommodating to my Spanish comprehension and tries to explain things really well for me. Bloody ripper!

I’m enjoying this Mexican university thing. And I think I’ve enrolled in the subjects where the hippies and the dags (and dags are cool) will be. So that makes me happy.

And even when I’m falling down
My heart says follow through
I’ll just take one step closer to you.

-Michael Franti

So the plumber is meant to be coming today. He was supposed to be here at 2pm. It’s only 3.30pm now so I reckon we’re in with a pretty good chance. But what joy a working sink would be…and even more…a toilet that doesn’t smell like rotten drain.

Otorrinolaringologia.

I didn’t feel bad not knowing that word in conversation today. I don’t even know it in special English. I’d just say eyes, nose and throat doctor.

It reminded me of my other favourite…archirrequeterrecontrarico which means pretty friggin good. For example, this sweet chilli sauce is archirrequeterrecontrarico. And we all say yes.

I have a stupid ear problem. Gab decided she’d try internet diagnose me. The ‘eustachian tube blockage’ as one possible culprit has the remedy of drinking lots of cups of hot tea. I like this diagnosis, however, I think it highly unlikely that I could ever even get a problem like this with the amount of tea I drink. I’m ruling it out, but still going to use the remedy.