Bye Bye May

June 1, 2009

WOW June already!

I could not sleep last night. I told myself that I was not going to take the Tylenol PM, but I woke up feeling sore throughout the night. I woke up at seven twenty but then five minutes later Joyce, the keeper of the hotel, knocked on my door to deliver breakfast. See one thing that is different from the United States is that you get your food when they get done making it. So yesterday I got my breakfast at 8:30 and today 7:30. I also think that I did not sleep well because I am a little nervous about my hair. It is going to be longer and more colorful. They say that I could have this in my hair for months. Do not worry mom they are not dying my hair a color. I do not understand how it works but it does. So everyone pray.

I did not mean for my blogs to be so far spaced. I am unable to connect to the internet from the hotel. Do you know what a broken African electric plug makes? A ghetto American plug in! It is a random act of kindness from God that I am able to get a charge. I found a phone that worked and I unplugged my computer last night to go try the phone thing. It did not work. So I came back discouraged. When I came back to the room and plugged my computer into the same plug it did not work. I was so scared that I had lost power. I plugged my phone in to see if it would work, it did, and just my computer did not. Obviously I was able to regain power but it was quite a scare because I still have a week left and with no power would have made typing my blog very difficult.

It is hard not getting to share this experience with anyone. All my great adventures I am alone. It has been a little difficult not being able to call home and share! It is definitely a good thing though, because one of my first thoughts were to get on facebook if I got a connection. O Lord!

I sat down in the chair to get my hair braided at 10:30 and at 10:00pm I was finished. It took three ladies and nine and a half hours. In the beginning I was shocked at the transformation that has taken place on my head. The more I walk by a mirror the more I like it. America is going to freak out! I have always wanted my hair dark and now it is. I have also always wanted it long and now it is a little past the middle of my back. I used to be really close to someone who always wanted to see me with long dark hair but I said I could never, if that person and I were still close he would be in for quite a surprise. I believe that when we see each other he will be because I do owe his brother a trip to Noodles and Company. His brother is my brother, so for once I might look like family LOL…not! Anyways, I cannot even begin to explain what my hair looks like. This is initiative for people to come see me when I return to the United States, if I return that is. Just joking, bad joke, I should not be kidding about such things. However, the down part…I cannot get any part of my hair wet for six weeks! So if I want to teach private lessons my head has to stay out of the water. (Teresa if you could get ahold of the Serafinis and ask them if they still want to do lessons for June if I cannot get my hair wet that would be amazing. I would call them myself but, I cannot and my first lesson is the day after I get back.) I also feel like my head weighs a couple of pounds and squinting is out of the question. I have had my hair braided before but this is not a braid, it is some sort of weave/extension thing. Anyways, it was the most painful nine and a half hours and three minutes of my life. I did not want to insult them so I clenched my book. Then at the end they told me that I had a very tough head because it usually hurts people. I just laughed. I think the thing that I am going to need to get used to is that it is like any other hair. As long as I do not get it wet I am not going to mess it up. Manny is going to flip when I have to come and bring him his stuff…actually everyone is going to take a double take. Like I said, it takes some getting used to, but all I can do is smile. I look way different, but change is good and this hair is not forever…so smile away loved ones and use your imagination!

The ladies tried to teach me how to count…well I gave it my best shot. I am learning…slowly. First question they asked me, “Are you married?” Then they asked how old I was then they told me I was little. I knew they meant young, but this was a humorous comment to me because these women are tiny compared to me…I did not notice it until I stood up, but wow I am gargantuan. Also they asked what I was studying in school. I told them and Sarah asked me about Jenny. Jenny is mentally handicapped but she functions within society because there is nothing else for them to do. I do not know why I was surprised to see Jenny in Africa, but it shows mental disorders happen all over the world, and in some places they cannot be treated.

Tomorrow we have to leave before six in the morning to go site seeing. As much as I enjoy it here, I am alone a lot. I am having all of these new experiences and I cannot share it. I am confined to my own mind. You guys know that I am a person of sharing, I have no problem telling you about myself and how I feel. So this next week of solitude is going to teach me something.

Here is a chance to have your input…Suppose when you are away from it all and certain thoughts enter your mind. Is it because you have no outside influence so it is purely your own thoughts OR is it a moment of weakness, wanting something because it is safe and you are lonely? Especially if you think about it A LOT. That is all I am going to say…It will give me something to read when I get to check my blog.

In one week I will be home…I am curious how I adjust.