I Have Arrived

Well, I'm here. Sitting at desk, in my room with my new roommate Ben Fincher, in Montevideo Uruguay. It is still too surreal to think that this is my home until May. Even after unloading my bags, hanging clothes in the closet and taking a shower in a new place my mind is just in vacation mode. I feel myself unconsciously thinking, "Oh, this will be a fun week or so" all the while facing the truth that unless I learn some Spanish I am lost in this country for the next few months. The house seems great, the Walkers have welcomed us right in and we have been going nonstop since we arrived. I think I will do alright here.

Now, the events of the trip. It all began with a Nalgene, a cooking pot and a microscope. The day before departure (Tuesday, Jan. 18) I had agreed to take a cooking pot for the cooks at Casa ACU and a microscope for Professor Hernandez (from here on out, known as Tia Patti). I had room in my carry-on bag, so this was no problem. Wednesday I had all my bags packed in the bus and filled my Nalgene water bottle for the ride. Turns out, I wasn't thirsty. I did not realize I had not drank any of the 32 oz until I was next in line for security at DFW airport. I stepped to the side and allowed those behind me to move past as I stood there chugging the water. After a good minute of gulping down water, I took a breath and drank some more. Once I finally removed my laptop, camera, shoes, wallet, change, belt, spleen, watch and phone from my bags and person I had to wait while my carry-on was defiled by x-ray camera. My bag attracted about 5 security personnel who were up for the guessing game. The cooking pot and microscope through them for a loop and took a while, but I was ok with it. They probably need some excitement. After a tasty Jack Daniels Burger at T.G.I. Fridays with the MVD Gang, the wait terminal went by pretty quick. That's because that flight was on time. Miami is another story.

We landed in Miami ahead of schedule so we had some to walk around and stretch our legs. We easily made our boarding time of 10:00pm, but Miami had some other plans. After not hearing any announcements about boarding at 10:45 we were informed that plane was about to make its way to the gate. Then delay after delay after delay out final boarding that was actually met was 1:15 with a 1:45 take off time. We even got as far as backing away from the gate only to hear a boisterous, "Psych!" over the intercom. Not really. but that is what might as well had said. Apparently the hydraulic pumps were not fully functioning, so we rolled back up to the gate and let the mechanics on to do their thang. And their thang they did and we FINALLY took off at about 2:30. Now, because of our delay we had dinner at about 3:00am. Of course I stayed awake for this. Then the rest of the flight I had sessions of "sleep" that lasted as long as I could unconsciously balance my head and break fast at about 11:30am. However, the whole experience was made worth while because our flight attendant was a sassy black woman. fake nails, gold bracelets and all. She laughed at me for accidentally pushing the flight attendant button and remembered that I wanted coffee with breakfast.
We landed and the Walkers were there ready for us and we took a bus the scenic route to Casa ACU. From there we had a meal, a scavenger hunt in the city and went out for dinner. All of which reminded me how little Spanish I know.
It is late here and we have another full day tomorrow, starting with a 9am breakfast. Curtis out.