I slept very well in my new bed in my new room. Well, not entirley true since I had nightmares but I figure that´s what happens in a new place. I was somehow a part of a war against terminators... Wonder what I did during the day that inspired to such dreams...
Just spent another day buying stuff. Esteban took us to the local market and boy was it local. It is difficult to describe but I guess anyone who has ever been to a Chinese or Thai market or bazaar in the Middle East knows what I mean. Dead whole animals mixed with local crap and cheap stuff. In this one there was also alot of madonna-figures and other religious artdefacts.
Then it was off for yet another round of shopping. Today we bought blender, pots and pans, more food and other usefule things like soap, antiseptics, rum and ofcourse many cervezas. On the stove we have a soup cooking, me and Magda are kicking back with a beer waiting for Esteban and Eliza to get back from Walmart, then it is Margharita-time!
måndag 31 augusti 2009
Río Pánuco 2185, Departemento 422, Col. Roma
..is my new address! Yesterday was crazy with getting everything fixed before moving in. We were supposed to meet at the apt at 6 pm to get the keyes and to sign our contracts. That did not happen for three reasons;
first, it started to rain. And I don´t mean 'light-autumn-drizzle-that-you-laugh-and-dance-around-in', I mean hardcore tropical raining. Apparently when it does rain here, that is the kind we get. That made everything take a liiiitle more time, especially with traffic.
Secondly; we spent almost three hours (!) at Walmart finding everything we might need for the place. Bedding, cleaning, food, staple groceries, towels, kitchenware, you name it. I spent about 1300 pesos on my stuff, and then another 300 pesos on mutual things. We looked like boat refugees running accross the parking lot (well Magda does not run with her foot, she limpses but you get the picture) towards Estebans small but adorable fiat and try to pack four shopping carts filled with stuff. We did make it and then went back to the hostel to get a cab for our actual luggage.
Thirdly there is this thing called mexican time. Basically it means that if you say you meet at six, no one shows up before 6:30. I find myself having alot of problems with that because I hate to be late and I hate people that are late (fifteen minutes exempted of course) but here it is all good. Apparently. But even the mexicans was a little bit angry with us when we showed up one and a half hours late with a taxi full of suitcases and a fiat stuffed with walmart bags. But who cares, we now have an apartment! Things that are not working:
- my toilet
- magdas shower faucet
- water preassure in the kitchen
- one pair of blinds.
As you can see only minor details =)
Oh, i did get my second piece of luggage yesterday. That was the good news. The bad news is that the bag obviously had been left out in Atlanta rain and all my clothes subsequently was wet. Me no likey. Me complainy to Delta and will settle for nothing less than money. Or an upgrade to business on my flight home. I´ll let you know what happens.
Hasta pronto!
first, it started to rain. And I don´t mean 'light-autumn-drizzle-that-you-laugh-and-dance-around-in', I mean hardcore tropical raining. Apparently when it does rain here, that is the kind we get. That made everything take a liiiitle more time, especially with traffic.
Secondly; we spent almost three hours (!) at Walmart finding everything we might need for the place. Bedding, cleaning, food, staple groceries, towels, kitchenware, you name it. I spent about 1300 pesos on my stuff, and then another 300 pesos on mutual things. We looked like boat refugees running accross the parking lot (well Magda does not run with her foot, she limpses but you get the picture) towards Estebans small but adorable fiat and try to pack four shopping carts filled with stuff. We did make it and then went back to the hostel to get a cab for our actual luggage.
Thirdly there is this thing called mexican time. Basically it means that if you say you meet at six, no one shows up before 6:30. I find myself having alot of problems with that because I hate to be late and I hate people that are late (fifteen minutes exempted of course) but here it is all good. Apparently. But even the mexicans was a little bit angry with us when we showed up one and a half hours late with a taxi full of suitcases and a fiat stuffed with walmart bags. But who cares, we now have an apartment! Things that are not working:
- my toilet
- magdas shower faucet
- water preassure in the kitchen
- one pair of blinds.
As you can see only minor details =)
Oh, i did get my second piece of luggage yesterday. That was the good news. The bad news is that the bag obviously had been left out in Atlanta rain and all my clothes subsequently was wet. Me no likey. Me complainy to Delta and will settle for nothing less than money. Or an upgrade to business on my flight home. I´ll let you know what happens.
Hasta pronto!
söndag 30 augusti 2009
Monterrey in six days...
So here I am, at the breakfast table last day at the hostel. I have been asked about possibilities to share a little of my life (thank you for being interested) and again thought it best to do so in a blog. Being an international student, obviously I need to do so in english. Perhaps in a month or two, I´ll be able to write in spanish... Whishful thinking.. In any case; feel free to comment in any preffered language.
So, what have I been up to. Shortly, these days have been all about two things; finding an apartment and finding my luggage. I instantly knew something was going to go wrong with my flight - two airlines and three routes, and surprise surprise, I find myself alone in Monterrey with my bags still in Atlanta. One ventured on a trip to Detroit with AA and made it back thursday, but the other one is still at large in Atlanta. Perhaps he found employemnt at Coca-Cola? In any case I am seriously annoyed since my charger for cellphone and camera, hygiene products and most of my clothes are gone. Seeing as how it is sunday, let us all pray for the safe return of my bag please!
Finding an apartment has been a struggle but finally it seems to have worked out. I will be moving in with Magdalena (from CBS) and Esteban (local really nice Mexican) in a three bedroom apt above Téc de Monterrey. He speaks basically no english so we see it as an extreme crash-course in spanish. But I am confident it is going to be just fine, aren´t we all a little linguistically confused now and then? I will write more about the apt as soon as we move in (which we will by 6pm tonight)
Monterrey as a city is warm and filled with cars. I am not kidding, everyone has a car. The entrance to EGADE (our business school) is throught the garage (!). You get by fine as a pedestrian in the city center but otherwise you need to take a taxi. Luckily taxis are quite cheap. The temperaturesvary between 25 degrees to almost fourty. It is however not too bad becaus the heat is dry. The drawback is that you get really dehydrated and subsequently we drink ALOT of water.
So, have there been any adventures as of yet you might wonder. Indeed it has.
Two days ago we (me and Magda) was invited by our host here at the hostel, José Juan, and two new acquantancies from the hostel to go to a club outside Monterrey called Woodstock Plaza. It is situated about fifteen minutes outside the city and is a big, partialy outside club, with live bands and 60´s 70´s memerobilia, like the beatles in neonlights. The band for the evening was called 'Mysterious ways' and was an U2 coverband from Austin Texas. Not quite like the originals, especially not since I saw U2 live at Ullevi about four weeks ago, but I do admire their spirit. The club itself was super fun and we had a great time.
Yesterday we also had our first run-in with the Mexican healtcare system since Magda, very unfortunately, fractured her big toe while jumping into the pool. Accidents do happen, the staff at the hospital was very nice and experienced, the painkillers are strong so it could have been worse. Not too much fun having to walk with a bandaged toe in a special orthopedic shoe for a month though...
Ok, now I really have written too much. From now on I will try to follow the advice of my teacher in Business Administration; he said that for the written exams not to over-extend ourselves with writing but to 'KISS' - Keep It Short Sweetheart.
/JZ
So, what have I been up to. Shortly, these days have been all about two things; finding an apartment and finding my luggage. I instantly knew something was going to go wrong with my flight - two airlines and three routes, and surprise surprise, I find myself alone in Monterrey with my bags still in Atlanta. One ventured on a trip to Detroit with AA and made it back thursday, but the other one is still at large in Atlanta. Perhaps he found employemnt at Coca-Cola? In any case I am seriously annoyed since my charger for cellphone and camera, hygiene products and most of my clothes are gone. Seeing as how it is sunday, let us all pray for the safe return of my bag please!
Finding an apartment has been a struggle but finally it seems to have worked out. I will be moving in with Magdalena (from CBS) and Esteban (local really nice Mexican) in a three bedroom apt above Téc de Monterrey. He speaks basically no english so we see it as an extreme crash-course in spanish. But I am confident it is going to be just fine, aren´t we all a little linguistically confused now and then? I will write more about the apt as soon as we move in (which we will by 6pm tonight)
Monterrey as a city is warm and filled with cars. I am not kidding, everyone has a car. The entrance to EGADE (our business school) is throught the garage (!). You get by fine as a pedestrian in the city center but otherwise you need to take a taxi. Luckily taxis are quite cheap. The temperaturesvary between 25 degrees to almost fourty. It is however not too bad becaus the heat is dry. The drawback is that you get really dehydrated and subsequently we drink ALOT of water.
So, have there been any adventures as of yet you might wonder. Indeed it has.
Two days ago we (me and Magda) was invited by our host here at the hostel, José Juan, and two new acquantancies from the hostel to go to a club outside Monterrey called Woodstock Plaza. It is situated about fifteen minutes outside the city and is a big, partialy outside club, with live bands and 60´s 70´s memerobilia, like the beatles in neonlights. The band for the evening was called 'Mysterious ways' and was an U2 coverband from Austin Texas. Not quite like the originals, especially not since I saw U2 live at Ullevi about four weeks ago, but I do admire their spirit. The club itself was super fun and we had a great time.
Yesterday we also had our first run-in with the Mexican healtcare system since Magda, very unfortunately, fractured her big toe while jumping into the pool. Accidents do happen, the staff at the hospital was very nice and experienced, the painkillers are strong so it could have been worse. Not too much fun having to walk with a bandaged toe in a special orthopedic shoe for a month though...
Ok, now I really have written too much. From now on I will try to follow the advice of my teacher in Business Administration; he said that for the written exams not to over-extend ourselves with writing but to 'KISS' - Keep It Short Sweetheart.
/JZ
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