Adventures?

I can’t begin to express what it feels like to move somewhere without being able to communicate. We have some wonderful friends who have helped us not be completely lost in the world around us. One of the fun things we have been doing from the beginning is to venture out on our own. We have picked up a lot of language quickly….okay, not a lot, but the necessities. We are becoming quite efficient in getting around and doing things on our own. (with only a few calls to our friends to help translate) I will share a few of my adventures with you.

On Wednesday we signed the contract for our new apartment. YEA!! So, on Tuesday my friend took me to the paint store to buy paint so we could paint the whole place before we move in. We took a bus from where we are living, which is also the place our new apartment is located, and ended up at a great home improvement department store (no other way to describe it….kinda like Home Depot and Dillard’s all rolled in one) On the bottom floor were about 5 different paint stores to choose from. We found the one we were looking for and bought paint….they have free delivery which is good when living on the 6th floor. Wednesday we signed our contract and 2 hours later the paint was delivered. We got to work and started cleaning walls. Rob decided we needed to see about getting our internet service ASAP, so he sent me out to go to the phone company which is also where I would get DSL. I got in the taxi and told the driver to take me to the closest phone company office. (they are little shops all over town where you pay your bill and change your service….think AT&T stores) After driving what seemed like a long way, we end up at the corporate headquarters….big skyscraper…..of the phone company. (not where you go to get a phone number and DSL) I slowly walked into the lobby area and told the security guard there I wanted a new phone number and DSL….keep in mind this is all I know how to say. He says something to me and I repeat that I want a new phone number and DSL and then ask if this is the place. IT wasn’t. Finally a nice man who speaks less English than I speak this language, steps in to try and help. He tells me to come with him, and takes me around the block to the actual place to get phone numbers…YEA…..we go in and he tells the lady at the front to see if there is anyone who speaks English. Once again, no one really does. So….I tell the lady I want a new phone number and DSL….show her my new apartment contract and the old phone number…..more drama. Apparently our landlord’s phone number is a “special number” so we can’t add DSL to it, but we can get our own number and have DSL. (Great…I think that is what wanted in the first place.) We were having such a communication barrier; I called my friend and handed the phone to the lady helping me and apparently the biggest concern was if I was going to call America, it would really be a hassle to set that up. I assured them there would be no calling America, just set up the phone. Then comes….which DSL did I want. I told them, but they didn’t think I knew what I wanted….so they called my friend back…..and sure enough I wanted what I said I wanted in the first place. Crazy how that works. By this time I have been there for about 2 hours. It is after 6 pm, the place is closing and finally she starts drawing up my paper work. This took another half hour, but…..after much ado, and a nice man who left somewhere in all that process…..we had set up a new phone number and DSL which will hopefully be installed tomorrow!! Thankfully, I knew where I was in the city, there was a McD’s across the street, so I brought home dinner!

On Thursday, we decided we needed one more can of paint. So, Rob sent me out on another errand…once again, I have better language at this point, so off I went. I was headed back to the Home Depot Dillard’s. Feeling brave, I thought I would attempt the bus. I thought I knew which bus to get on, so I jumped on. 30 minutes later I realized I had chosen poorly. When finally I saw part of town I recognized, so I jumped off the bus at the next stop and called a friend to get the local name of the place I was going. Another 15 minute taxi ride and finally I arrived. I got more paint, no problem. Feeling brave again, and realizing the correct bus number I should’ve taken, I carried my larger than a gallon paint can and hopped on the bus. Two stops later…..the bus driver says “Everyone off”. We were at the end of the route. So me and my paint can hopped back off the bus. I walked down the street awhile looking for a taxi, and finally found one who took me quickly back home. It only took about 2 ½ hours.
Every day is an adventure. But….this is how you learn. Tonight, just the 4 of us ventured out to try a new restaurant. We were able to tell a taxi where we wanted to go, order food, pay, walk down the street and buy ice cream, go to Wal-Mart, and get home…..all by ourselves!!