The "Tree House"

As many of you already know, I have been living in a host family for the last few months, focusing on language learning and learning culture (the details of which to be discussed in a later post). I had a great time with them, and really got to bond with the family over the little time I was there.

As the summer has started winding down, it became time to start looking for an apartment to live in for the next four months or so until Pam and I get married in November. So, my future roommate, Chino, and I set out to look for a two-bedroom apartment to live in. After about six hours of knocking on doors like Jehovah's Witnesses in three different "barrios" (Or neighborhoods...they are really more like large sections of town rather than neighborhoods, but they don't consult me in the translation) and finding absolutely nothing, I have to admit, I was a bit discouraged. Chino and I had just about had enough looking around for a day, so we both decided to call it quits and go grab a bit to eat, when we noticed another apartment complex, so we decided to give it a look.

The landlady told us that she just had one small room available (remember we were looking for a two-bedroom apartment), but we figured that it couldn't hurt to see it. She walked us over to a tight spiral staircase and we climbed the steps whereupon I hit my head on the roof of the little balcony that comes about up to my eyes. We walked in the room, and the first thought in my head was that it looked exactly as if I was in the coolest tree house that I had ever been in. It had thick wood plank floors, with different cubby holes and a desk built in the wall. The ceiling was about two inches taller than the top of my head, and there was a thick wooden beam that ran across the top of the ceiling in the middle of the room, which I had to duck under when I crossed the room. It smelled a lot like what I imagine your grandma's house might smell like, which I have come to the belief is due to mold as I have yet to find a hidden bag of potpourri. And, to top it all off, there was a door in the wall that opens to nowhere...it just drops off the the ground 10 feet below. So, if you have been reading, I know I need not say that I promptly rented the room and moved in the next day, and will be staying there for the next few months.

I know there's a chance that the women who read this will not see the beauty in a house that you have to duck in, cubby holes, and a door that leads to nothing (or a trapdoor, if you will), but if you allow me to enjoy my tree house, I promise to let you enjoy your tea party.

...Oh yea, I hung a hammock in the middle of the room...it's pretty awesome...