Day 29

Still no luck with baptisms at the temple, but I visited the grounds for scripture study and talked to some of the sister missionaries. I was in a pretty good mood heading back to the metro station. After I went down to the platform, I saw my train was there, I quickened my pace, as a man leaving comes out of nowhere pushing a stroller. Naturally, I employ my ninja-like reflexes to dodge the stroller like a boss while stepping onto the train. Actually, the word ‘stepping' isn’t completely accurate, as my foot was never solidly planted, and I did an epic feet-in-the-air fall on my back. Some charming stranger helped me up and helped gather my watch that flew off my wrist and a couple things that my purse upchucked. I sat quietly whistling to myself until I was all too happy to get off four stops later.

I met up with Will to go to the National Archaeological Museum, but it was closed for construction. We wandered and ended up in Retiro Park exploring a plethora of booths selling books, then went to lunch at a Pizzeria. This was the most excellent pizza I had ever indulged in. The pizzas looked pretty big, and neither of us anticipated being able to finish, but they were surprisingly light, and we managed to demolish them. So good.  

Will’s host family lives way out in the boondocks, but he discovered that he can take the same bus as me to Moncloa (pretty much an underground airport) where we switch to the metro. After a wild goose chase to find a Tabacos shop since Will needed more bus tickets, I saw a Hungarian woman struggling to buy tickets in English. I was able to translate and explain to her which kind of pass she wanted for where she wanted to go. This made me feel great, since I remember my first week here being ridiculously confused trying to buy bus tickets and a kind stranger in the shop who spoke English explaining the mess to me. This also made me more grateful for the Spanish that I do have. English is not this woman’s first language, and it’s all she has to get by on here. 

Hugo wasn't too bad, no physical beating today. We went to the urba to play our favorite game that we made up that combines elements of tennis, racquetball, wall ball, and golf. I jumped rope with the neighborhood girls--I almost have the songs down in Spanish! Claudia complimented my Spanish today, and Elena said that I was doing wonderfully with the children (HUGE relief). I think I’m doing alright. Straight up dawg!