Too good to be true

All of my posts so far have been pretty positive- however I have had some challenges. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep very well in my new apartment. As I was unpacking, I found a lizard in my bedroom. Of course, I called Daniel and described it to him to be reassured it is harmless. He suggested I throw a shoe at it or spray it with bug spray to disorient it. I actually couldn't really catch up with it- speedy little thing. I learned in Honduras that these lizards eat mosquitos- so I decided to befriend him rather than kill him. The downside is that he chirps at night. I also know from experience in Honduras that I will get used to this but it may take a few nights. I mailed myself a fan because I sleep better with air circulation and I knew this would drown out noises such as other people and lizards chirping. However, after I unpacked it I accidentally plugged it into an electricity adapter rather than a converter and I blew the motor. So I tossed and turned most of the night, and am realizing that sleep is really the most important thing to functioning well.

Also the store and cooking is quite challenging. I did not recognize most packaged items in the store, and I wasn't very quick at translating the cost of things. Daniel was with me and was very helpful (often by saying- "are you sure you want to pay $5 for that?" which would remind me to look at the price and actually translate it!) I avoided the pork, fish, goat sections. These looked so strange to me at the butcher and fish counters. The fish of course, are whole fish. I am pretty much a wimp when it comes to handling meat or whole fish. I don't even know where to start. I think I will eat out fairly often but it will be nice to store breakfast and lunch things at home. I will also try to be-friend someone here who likes to cook maybe I can learn some things. This morning at breakfast I put an egg in the frying pan and then realized I do not have a spatula (only silverware and knives). I tried to flip it like a chef- needless to say that didn't work too well. Similarly, when I went to wash the dishes I realized I do not have a sink stopper. So, Ive started a running list of things I need to shop for or ask others here for extras.

Before I came here, I emailed a number of people here asking what they wish they would have packed or mailed, and they all said there was nothing they have needed and didn't have. I know this is how I will feel too. However, if someone asked me the same question today, I would tell them that anything you mail will arrive stale or melted (i.e. chocolate, moist or soft foods- even in air tight packages) so choose things like granola and granola bars or well preserved items. I would also suggest getting some Ambien or something similar. Other things I wish I had packed: my own sheets, ant/bug traps or other similar bug diversions, and an iron.

To end on a postivie note, when I arrived at work this morning my coworkers had brought me various household things including paper towels, soup, salt, pepper, tupperware. So nice! Overall I'd say I'm pretty lucky.