Day #4

Hi Everyone!! I didn't write yesterday because I didn't have a free minute in the whole day. I woke up and had corn flakes with fruit for breakfast. I had my placement exam in the morning. It was fine, and the interview was really easy. I have been feeling that my writing got worse as my conversations were better. Well, yeah thats kind of true. The woman who did my interview was really nice and said I did really well. I only had to say, "what?" once, and i understood it all. Her accent was pretty easy to understand. After the exam, I went home for lunch. We had rice, beans, a great green salad with cucumbers and tomato with thousand island dressing, sweet plantains, avocado, and fresh pineapple juice. Then back to campus to meet the Estudientes de apoyo (student volunteers to take us around). They gave us a campus tour, and then a tour of the city. It was pretty cool. We saw all the stores, popular streets, museums, bus stations, and the mall. At 6 we were finally done. I went home with Sarah and her host sister (who speaks english). After that we went back to the mall to activate our phones (we didn't do it earlier because we didn't have our passports). I got home around 8:30 and ate soup for dinner. Annette and Melina were here so they kept me company at the dinner table, then helped me clean up after dinner. We played cards until about 9:30 and then bed. TOO long of a day!!
Today I got french toast for breakfast (and mandarins). Off to class at 8 am until about 10:30. We discussed having class here in this country. Apparently, students here are allowed to 'cheat' during test. However, its not 'cheating' to them. It is only helping them, so the teacher sits there. haha. They were telling us that we could be marked absent if we are more than ten minutes late, however the teach is allowed to be 15 minutes late for every hour that the class last (ex: 2 hour class, 30 minutes late). If a teacher misses a class, he/she reschedules it (w/student consensus) for whenever they want, even saturdays! FUNNY STUFF, really. After that class, we went with the estudiantes de apoyo to the dance studio. They taught us bachata, merengue, and salsa. So fun, but extremely hot in there. I had to change when i got home for lunch, and Sedenia braided my hair so it was out of my way. Lunch today was rice, beans, something that i've never seen before and can't remember the word but they taste like potatoes kind of, salad, and meat. Afternoon class was about "Living and Learning in the DR." We talked about issues and generalizations of Dominicans (tardiness, religion, etc.). We were there for 2 1/2 hours, then left. I've been chilling at the house since them. Sedenia is at the clinic keeping her sick friend company. It's nice to have the house to myself so I can just chill, watch english tv, and not talk to anyone so I don't feel rude.
I can't wait for tomorrow. It is the first day we can sleep in past 6!! I don't have to be on campus until about 11. I am going to the discoteca (club) tonight because my gay friend, Angel, works there (I met him last summer). Tomorrow we only have interviews, and a class at night (I think). Friday evening we have a progressive dinner with 4 other people. We have one course at each house...kinda cool. Afterwards, we have tickets to the local baseball team's game. I can't wait. Saturday we are spending the day in Santo Domingo. Sunday is our first free day:) I think i am going to spend it with old friends that i made last summer. I can't wait!
On another note, my new cell phone number is 829.80.2999. I still have pictures that I haven't posted, so I will try to get those up soon. I think I will go up to campus early tomorrow and bring my laptop for all to see!