I'm Stuck in the 80s

My computer got toasted the other night. I'm praying that the only problem is that it needs a new power source.

I lost my debit card last week. I've got to get it de-activated, but I wouldn't lose much if someone found it anyway. I honestly think the ATM ate it.

I lost my cell phone a few weeks back.

All of this to say, I only have a house phone. Even a nifty car phone would be nice, but here I am.

I probably won't be around much for a while. I'll update as I can.

Love, always,

-Buster

PS. The key line from the last post was "I guess it's the price I have to pay." Some days we forget to count our blessings when things are rough. But you know, there's a price to pay for being happy.

A video, because I'm too tired to update.

Try to find what I want to say here, but don't make huge assumptions.

Love,

~Buster

Updating is for Nerds

Since my alarm didn't go off today, I'm at home at 1:50 PM. I despise missing work, but it seems to happen a lot lately. It makes me feel ridiculous, but I guess that's a good sign. If at some point I stop caring, I suppose I should start thinking something's wrong.

There are things to write about, but then again, I don't really feel like they're worth the time. I'm very busy all the time, but I'm also experiencing quite a few things that are new to me.

My new classes are going well, when they actually happen. The position at Lexis is keeping me sane as far as financial worries go, and I've managed to give one class to a co-worker.

Tips for people moving to Mexico to teach languages...

1) DO NOT try to get a full-time job. Go for individual classes a few hours at first. You'll make roughly the same amount.

2) Stay with someone until you've gotten settled in. Try to live close to your work. (Especially true in the city) Traffic is a nightmare.

3) Organize yourself before you take on the job. I was sort of plopped into a class with the introduction, "Okay, here's your group, and then you go here." Find out as much as you can first about what's expected of you. I tried, but was pretty unsuccessful due to my schedule.

4) Find a place that will help you get your worker's visa! That's tough to do at times...

I am figuring these things out as I go, and at times, I experienced sleepless nights and constant fears because of not knowing these things first. I have a fair number of friends who want to become teachers in other countries, so I hope that this can help them.

Other than writing about tips for people wanting to do what I'm doing, I am trying (desperately) to find a book to teach my new German classes with. At the moment, I'm doing everything in the order I think my student should learn them, and the good thing is, he's fast. I like teaching a fast class more, because he's already mastered basic "Hello! How are you?" stuff and can talk a bit about his weekly schedule and describe himself and family...after two classes, I might add. His name is Juan, and he's 15, and I love teaching an interested (and smart) student. Teaching large groups makes it hard to narrow out the ones who are just coasting and the ones who want to learn.

I've picked up "Love in the Times of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and that's on my current reading list. After reading "The Razor's Edge," I sort of lost track as far as reading goes. I managed to read a book of poetry by a monk who lived in Bardstown, KY and a book about Mexican culture and traditions, as well as some poetry by Federico Garcia Lorca, but I think I need novels in my life. haha

So, that's all for now. I'll try to get back into updating for you.

Love, always,

~Buster

Se me salio uno con premio

I really have nothing to write about. It was a busy week. I found out I'll have all the time I need to go home for Christmas (now it's just getting the money, which should happen soon)

Yesterday, Carlos made some really good food. Unfortunately, it caused me some problems to me. A big shout out to Mexican food for ruining my night out.

On a related note, I leave you with a video for today.

Love, always,

~Buster

Versuch es

A song from "Das Leben der Anderen," based on the poem by Wolfgang Borchert.

This week I'm starting to give a few more classes and will make a bit more money. I'm thankful for that.

I'm thinking of starting some projects soon. More on those when I get started on them.

I'm sorry, I don't really have a lot to say right now. I'm mostly busy with work, but if everything goes well, I'll be home for Christmas. :) If not, then I'll be in Brownsville for Christmas (to renew my visa haha)

~Buster

Una Noche Desvelada

Desvelar - to stay up all night. That's what I did, though I can't explain why. It gave me a headache today, and I didn't go to work. I despise these days, but what can I do? I slept maybe 2 hours last night. At one point, someone's car alarm was going off half the night. At another point, there was a weird bird chirping a chirp that bordered on a sonar radar sound. Its chirps literally bounced around in the buildlings here.

I slept until around 12 today to get over it, but I'm not feeling 100 % energetic, and I hope that that will make me sleep tonight.

There's really nothing new to say. I didn't do much of anything over the 4-day weekend except work on organization. I organized school papers, my closet, apartment things, etc. It was a very productive time, and I'm thankful for it, but I think that sometimes long weekends can also bring out the worst in you.

I've decided to keep my comments on the election to myself, but I'm dying to write about that.

And that's it for today. Nothing new, nothing exciting.

Love, always,

~Buster