Dinner was the Social Event of the Week

Last week I had dinner at someone's house 4 times. A good meal along with good conversation is one of my enjoyments. Tuesday night before dinner I went swimming at a gym, swimming caps are mandatory, but i decided to just jump in because I had paid for this. Fortunately no one said anything, but my friends said that he had been kicked out for noncompliance in the past. Dinner was at the house of the couple whose wedding I attended. We looked at pictures of their honeymoon in Mauritius.
The next night was a dinner party, where I decided to make salsa. We couldn't locate the food processor because it was at a house that the person was housesitting. So it was chopped vegetables mostly, but it was well enjoyed. Later when I rummaged in the bathroom for some cough drops, I found the food processor, along with other kitchen appliances (they have a small kitchen).

Another night with just two others, eating gem squash for the first time. Saturday night was back at this same house making pizzas. For pudding (dessert) we had pear and chocolate pizza.

I was having a conversation today at lunch about blogs. The director asked what a blog was and another intern mentioned that she didn't want to read about what her friend ate for breakfast, so I hope I am not transgressing too much in making my meal a news item. :)

People do eat lots of chilli here, spelled with the two l's (and maybe an e?). Last night I went to Panchos for some Mexican. I ordered the Castillanos Santa Fe, the world is becoming smaller, ne? But it is difficult to be willing to order Mexican food when the ll is Anglicized.

For the most part I feel that I am doing very well here, all the usual things of moving somewhere new and adjusting. There are a few moments where I feel my lonliness a bit more. Needing help with my car or just needing to talk with someone about deeper issues. But each time it works out well. This past Sunday I needed to talk with someone for longer than a phone call to the USA and most people back home were at church at that time. I called a woman that graduated from my same grad program and she was free for me to have tea with and then dinner and then after church I went to another couple's house for there regular Sunday night cheese and coffee. I decided to ask whether they had flavored syrups, because the local coffee shops don't carry them. Visitors have left some with them and so I had a hazelnut steamer. What a wonderful evening when I needed to spend time with people (with a few Americans thrown in).