Good Food and Good company.

So today we had a little potluck at the apartment. I made enchiladas and spanish rice. it gave all of us roomies a chance to chat a bit and relax from our busy lives. Well not mine, I have not started school at the moment and so I have plenty of time. Rachna a friend from Nebraska is also here in Louisiana and I had a chance to catch up with her about her move and her life.
So some interesting things...
*I was at a meeting and bieing from California, people tend to not pray in public places. So this meeting begins with, "can we all bow our heads." My first thougth was who died? What happened. I quickly learned that we were just simply praying for the meeting. Even though I knew that this was going to happen here in Louisiana, it still toook me off guard. I went to a catholic college, and we still never prayed before class. I know that this is going to happen in some of my classes, and I am going to a public college. This just seems so wierd to me. But anyhow that is how things are.
*So I had an empty water bottle, and out of instinct was looking for the recycle bin in my apartment. Well it turns out that no one recycles here in Louisiana. I know this is a very California thing, but still, come on people.
*So I went to the supermarket today and realized that there is not a way to tell who the employees are. They have no uniform, like what i am used to. I mean they were all African-American, so I guess that is how people tell, but still. I think I am used to the work force being Latino in Cali, and it is the same story here in Louisiana, but with the African American community.
*So we are setting up a Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) alter in the apartment. Once it is complete, I will post pictures!


In other news...
I leave tomorrow for Nebraska to visit friends and to attend the National Federation of the Blind Nebraska Convention. I am really excited to see many people there and to have a good time.

And the Learning begins

So nothing terribly exciting happened thus far, but I did learn a great lesson. So I went to sit in on a class that I will eventually be taking. The topic was about teaching Orientation and Mobility to blind children (basically teaching blind children how to use a cane, navigate on their own and do other such things). The professor was talking about who the children are that suffer the most from the current way that the educational system teaches blind children. So basically it turns out that 85% of blind children have some sort of vision, the other 15% are totally blind.. So I was one of that 85%. These students are the ones who are cheated the most out of the educational system. For example, children who are totally: blind learn braille, how to use a cane and methods to get around being totally blind (these are called alternative techniques). Children that have some vision are encouraged to use their vision and are rewarded when they can visually identify things, and scolded when they cannot. They are taught to hide their blindness and many try to pass as sighted. They are never told about braille as an option, or about using a cane. The ones that really lose out are the children that are exceptonally bright. They are performing at an average rate, but they are capable of so much more, and are not given the opportunity to show it.

I am not trying to be a victim, but I think that is exactly what happened to me (not that I'm trying to say I am really smart, but yeah ha ha). During elementary and so on, I was performing 'well' in my classes. But I missed so much information. If I would have had the tools that I have now, I could have done so much more. I don't regret anything in my life, but I do feel that this is unfair and that this should not happen to children. Imagine if we limit the next great minds. just because we are lowering our standards for them? We are going to miss out on a whole lot of talent. This my two cents.

Karaoke, and gay bars

So Karaoke was super fun! When we first got there, there were tons of people, but later we had the whole place to ourselves. Students in the Louisiana Canter for the Blind went as well as my roomies, Cindy, Stacy and Jedi. We sang like a million songs and then I showed people how to dance salsa. We had a blast, and I got to meet other people.

So we decided we were going to go line dancing at this one place in town, it turns out not too many people were there. So we decided to go to Monroe. Cindy's boss owns a bar there. It was a gay bar, and if you have ever been to one, you know that they are the most fun! We had a blast dancing and watching Jedi dance with one guy after the next. Overall we had a great time. After the bar I got to try my first chicken from Canes. The chicken strips were great, but the sauce was amazing.

(picture caption: Stacy my roomate and myself singing Karaoke)

So funny stories time...

*At night they turn off the traffic lights in the minor streets to save money and because there is not that much traffic!

*You cannot buy alcohol on a Sunday anywhere in this town! What! I know and.... they stop selling at 12 midnight! And no I am not an alcoholic, just this is new to me. Don't judge me! ha ha

*I just want to say that I love southern accents! And knowing myself I am probably going to pick it up and start talking that was as well.

Day One: In the Life of Ruston!

Day One: It's my frist day in Ruston, Louisiana and so far so good. Louisiana is definetively not Cali, but I am sure I will learn a lot, eat good southern food and meet many people. So I moved into my apartment and it is so cute. i have my own room and bathroom which is always a plus. My roomates are great and yesterday we just mostly hung out; we played Rummy which turns out is Conquien (who would have known we play the same games in English and Spanish? lol) I love that game! Of course Cindy always winds, but nonetheless it was really fun. We also watched Letters to Juliet which was really cute, but the typical romantic comedy in which we knew the ending of the movie in the first five minutes.
Today we are going to go Karaoke and line dancing (I meant is the south.)
So far Tuston seems to be a small town, and not a California small town, but really small town! This is just the beginning.
If you know me, you know I have to have this:

So funny storis thus far....

*You know it's a small town when... I arrived at the airport in Monroe (which is the next town over to where I live in Ruston) and I start talking to a man working as a doorman. it turns out he knows many people that I know! How does that happen? Don't know, but I like it.
*So a college student came to our door today selling magazines for some cause. He was a real southern charmer and of coarse I love to talk. So after a while he tells me, "If you have a boyfriend, his name must be Lucky." I thought this was hilarious! And I couldn't agree more. ha ha.