It turns out that my Instagrammer acquaintance is well known in Bangkok’s food scene. Last night she invited a few of us over to the place where she is staying for a Thai meal. So I went to the market for fruit, met up with Vida Loca (who arrived at our meetup point late and […]
The dance of the feather
At 9 I met the Instagrammer at the spot from where one can catch colectivos to Tlacolula’s Sunday market. It was a pleasant journey, quite chatty. I told hre about my limpia, she told me about her limpia, and with this early morning exchange of innermost secrets it was easy to get along. We arrived […]
Spiritual cleansing
This morning, I and one of my housemates met my teacher in town to catch a taxi to a village near Tule, the home of the largest tree. Unfortunately, the road was very, very crowded and eventually turned out to be blocked – we would have to walk the rest of the way, about 3-4 […]
What could have been
An unexpected successful, if short, excursion this evening. I went out to get dinner and had thought I would go to Llano park for the delicious elotes from the cart one has to queue for 20 minutes for. At the last minute, as I walked towards Porfirio Diaz, I changed my mind and decided to […]
Mural barrio
On Saturday, which felt like Sunday, I went for a stroll through the barrio of Jalatlaco, just outside centro, which I’d heard was a particularly pretty little neighbourhood of Oaxaca: quite historic (formerly the leatherwroking quarter), but also pictureque, with many murals. It was a pleasant stroll, though nothing really out of the ordinary. it […]
Worst end of farmyard
It was the 14th birthday of my Spanish school and in the break there were two cakes. One, a tres leches cake, the other a jelly made with cream and with bits of regular green and red jelly suspended in it. It looked like something out of a 1950s American cookbook. Glad to have tried […]
Changing the balance
A new person joined the class today. She was supposed to sit in for half an hour, but ended staying for the full three hours. It was interesting how her presence changed the dynamic of the classroom. I quite like my other classmate, let us call her the Breaker of Chains, but also definitely resented […]
Waking, sleeping
After a couple of slightly down days, when my Spanish didn’t feel like it was going particularly well, and at work the piano seemed to rise higher overhead, and it was difficult to concentrate, today was a little better. For one, I spoke to the Gentleman Friend briefly, which cheered me up. Last night I […]
Higher level beginner
This is where my teacher placed me today, as nearly imtermediate level but not quite there. OK, I suppose, given that I didn’t really speak a word of the language until three weeks and a couple of days ago. I think I would have been more advanced had I not been working, and been better […]
Miniso, to my shame
Yesterday, I went and got a few bits and pieces for my room, including a cushion from Miniso as there is nowhere to sit in my room other than a rickety chair, and there is a lot of floor. I also bought a spoon for my avocado dinners. Then today I went again, intending to […]