1-0!

So the college football season started a few days late down here, on Monday. That was when Stew and I were able to get to Valera to watch the first Auburn game on the internet. We were lucky to get a ride in the back of a friend’s pickup truck for the hour-long drive. At the time Stew remarked that it is a different way to get to the game, although now I realize that traveling via truck bed isn’t that unusual in Alabama. Anyways, at least watching the game in an internet café is a different way to watch. The game had been over for 2 days, but I had no idea who had won. I managed to get the game playing even though I was shielding 95% of the screen so as not to accidentally see the score. About 10 seconds later, the final score scrolled across the bottom of my screen. I spent the next three hours pretending to be really tense for Stew’s sake. Even though the surprise was ruined, I was really glad to be able to watch the game. I’m also glad to be in a place where I don’t have to hear what I can only assume is a ridiculous amount of over-optimism by the bama fans.

Ok, on to the more important stuff.

• I never thought I’d see it, but it is possible for a man to wear a white denim jacket and be a cool guy.

• Every time someone here wants to get on a public transportation vehicle, they first open the door and peer inside as if they are asking themselves, “is this thing full already?”. Then, every single time, they crawl in. I understand them getting in, but what’s with the curious gaze? Come on people, you’re not fooling anyone.

• Acceptable going-out attire for guys here includes capris, a sweatshirt, and a fannypack in case the pockets of the capris aren’t large enough. Also acceptable is a nice shirt tucked into adidas soccer shorts.
  

• One day I tried to take a shortcut from my friend Alexandro’s house back to my house. Within those 150 yards, I was attacked by one dog that fortunately was chained up, I fell in the mud, and then I was attacked by another dog who was also tied up. Thanks to everyone who was pointing and laughing.
  

• The other night I was sitting around talking with some friends when one girl made some kind of dumb comment. Then, without any hesitation, another girl looked at her and told her to set it out. At least now I know that I’m giving something back to the people here.
  

Ok, thanks for reading, I´ll write again soon.

-Coop-