Letters from Home : 23

12-III-93

Today started out bad.  My clock slowed down during the night, and when I woke up is said 6:15, the time I alwats get up.  So I got dressed and went into the kitchen, sat down, poured my coffee, and when I looked up, it was 5 past 7!  No one had bothered to wake me up.  So I grabbed my backpack and ran to school without breakfast, brushing my teeth, truly waking up, and my sweater.. Wen I got into my class I was all shaky and flustered.  It was horrible.  And I didn't have any money to get anything to eat at recess.  Today was the first day that I really didn't understand what was going on in school.  I tried, but I just couldn't figure out what was going on.  Sitting in a classroom all morning when you can't understand what is being said can be quite boring.  But now that I'm through complaining (for now) I'll write to remember how my day got better.  When I sat down to lunch, Edgar handed me a stack of letters (8).  I love letters.  And, in a month, I'd only gotten 2.  I got a crosscountry newsletter from Mr. D, 2 letters from Clodagh, 2 from Jesse, 2 from my mom and a beautiful card from Christopher.  I love mail, and it is so wonderful to hear from everyone.  I was mentioned in the Cross Country newsletter, which I thought was pretty cool.  I was referred to as a promising star in the '94 season, and today I ran a 8 minute mile (+10 sec) which I'm quite proud of.  I'm going to run under a 6 minute mile before I leave.  That is only cutting off 30 seconds per lap, which I know I can do with more training.  I have the desire, and I almost have the strength, it's just the endurance I need and that comes with time.  Long distance is 95% mental, and 5% hard work.  I have the time for the hard work, and I'm working on the mental.  Dad would be so proud of me if could be awesome in cross country.  I want to make Varsity.

Another thing I did today that put me in a good mood, is that I made photocopies of different pages in my book "Hope for the Flowers" and I made beautiful stationary to write rad letters on.  At least I think it's cool, and I had fun making it.  It is such a wonderful book, and this is a good way to share it with others.  I finished my day with ham and cheese empanadas.  Yummy!  Not very healthy, but they taste so damned good, I love them.  Juicy yummy good.  On Sunday I;m going to Coronel Oviedo where all the AFS kids and their families from all the surrounding cities are meeting.  Hopefully I'll see lots of kids from orientation.

buen dia