Day 18: Holidays in Medellin, Colombian Manners

Yesterday was a holiday so everything was closed- it's funny how they call them holidays and no one really knows which one it is. My guide from Sunday said a bank holiday, but it was actually a religious holiday. Anything to have the day off, right?

Anyways, yesterday was full of much of nothing. Met a new guy from Atlanta during breakfast across the street- he wanted to meet up later but I had too much to catch up on. Went to get my hair retie'd down in Envigado and talked to my loctician a lot about the move- she came from Texas and Tennessee with her husband and 6 year old. Got a lot of insight from being an expat and natives here. Then headed to the Sante Fe mall (photos below) to return the ear buds, which all of a sudden, now work! Anyways, did more shopping although I like the Premium Plaza sooooo much better.

Came back to being light headed and ate at Tacos al Tigre which was close and covered- it rained so much yesterday and my umbrella is now broken - it is super hard to find one here and I ended up finally going to the grocery store and got one. Had a drink at Tacos al Tigre, studied a little then fell asleep.

This morning, started my new school - it's in Manila, a hostel neighborhood set up like mine, but apparently it's a little more cautious to be there- last night some tourists got robbed by a guy with a knife. Anyways, this school focuses on JUST conversation and no workbooks which I thought was great. Do 2 weeks with workbooks and get prepared, and then just talk.

Unfortunately, I cannot understand a word the teacher is saying, so much I want to go down a class just to have a different teacher. The 2 guys in the class are cool - apparently they knew what he was saying, although they told me after like WTF was that? Good advice from one person here was that if you can learn to hear and understand this particular instructor, everyone else should be super clear. One guy actually did 2 weeks at Total too and came here because of the same teacher I had a private class with once - she focuses so much on the workbook and grammar and no speaking. I love Viviana at Total and hope to stay with her for my last classes. The other guy just got here and is interested in many of the classes the two of us are in. Might see him tonight at Bachata.

Went to piano class, he finally took out a workbook or whatever you call them so I can try to play actual notes verses DO RE MI. I am considering buying a cheap piano now just to continue and finish the basics, but I also need to start finding events and meet ups to speak Spanish weekly when I get back home. Maybe even a restaurant that only speaks Spanish.

Now private class at Total and Bachata, then back to study.

I do want to touch on the manners in Medellin really quickly.

Medellianos, don't really have them. So if you are walking down the street- whether you are passing by someone or they are just standing, they know they are taking up the sidewalk, and they don't care. You can say PERMISO and they hardly move if any. Going in 2 different directions? Well, pick a side, because it is not move to the right. They would rather you move into the street. So I got real New York again while I am here and do the same, move or you will run into me - I will just slightly curve and you will get bumped if you are just standing there and DON"T move when I say PERMISO. Now when you are not so much a stranger, like in a hotel or a restaurant, they will greet you. Just remember, they come to you when you ask, not periodically to check up on you.

Video: Taking Public Transportation

Video: Sante Fe Mall