Original

So the original reason I started this blog was to write out letters I received while I was in Puerto Rico. I guess I kind of got caught up in the song of the week thing. I thought I would type out another letter because right now I am just sitting around trying to let my leg recover from a contusion I got while trying to kick my co worker during Khmer Boxing.
So here is another letter for you:
Hey Katie,
How are you? Thanx for calling, I just wish I had more to say. I'm sorry I haven't written. I have no excuse I'm just a lazy bum. That's what I feel like these days lying around , no job, no school, a bum. When are you coming back? I miss you so much! You should be in no hurry to come home. Santa Cruz Sucks! It's so boring here, only depressing things happening. There are so many sleazy men in Santa Cruz. They're everywhere. It's even worse than before. Well, I'm excited about getting a job and going to Cabrillo "C is for Cabrillo and that's good enough for me!" Ha Ha! I so many plans for my future that I'm over whelmed. Everyone is doing good here. I'm still worried about H and B. But I hope she will wisen up soon. R seems happy with J. A and A are a cute little couple. I think that A1 is in a sense rebound and A2 is an experience. That's okay though, they're happy right now. How about you Kate, how's the dating scene. I am jealous of you, you're away from Santa Cruz surrounded by new people, free from your parents and all this on a beautiful island! Live it up baby! Have fun while you can, we'll all still be here when you get back. We're the unfortunate ones without you around. I wish I had a walkman so no matter where I am I can listen to music and be happy. The sky is so beautiful right now. The stars have been so bright and powerful lately. I know I'm getting random here but it fits the letter since I'm writing to Random Girl! Once again I apologize for it being so long since I've written. I'm so bad with this stuff. Okay I'll go now and write you again another day, I promise!
I miss you-
I love you-
I envy you-
C

A few notes about this letter. Until I just read it I did not realize my friends were jealous of my trip. While I was in Puerto Rico I viewed it as something I just had to do like going to second grade is something you just have to do even if you don't want to. Also how cool is it that she wanted a walkman to listen to music all the time. Now that I have an I Pod I forgot what it is like to not have music all the time.

Watch List

This weekend I was on my way to an ultimate tournament with the high school team I am helping out. The mom who drove asked me all these questions about Puerto Rico and then I remembered that is what this blog is supposed be about not my taste for sad indie rock. So I am still going through the letters and I will post more as soon as I get them in some sort of order. But before I do that I thought I would give you an idea of why I was an exchange student since this mom who was driving me to the ultimate tourney asked me that and most people want to know. I think the best way to explain why is to say that my family is big on exchange students.
Here are the kids who have lived in my parents house:
Michiko- Japan
Noelia- Argentina
Jackie- Italy
Vicky- Argentina
Louise- Canada
Ricky- Mexico
Geovanni- Italy
and
Henrik- Greenland

And those are just the ones I remember and not counting cousins from France who would come to visit. If the FBI knew about this list they might put my parents on some sort of watch list.
Also both my brothers have been exchange students.
You know how alcoholism runs in families in my family it is exchangism so I had no choice I had to go to Puerto Rico.
Oh yeah and my parents rock for letting all these kids come live at our house. I can't wait till I grow up so I can be a host parent.

Letter 1

Dear Katie,
Hola. (The extent of my spanish vocabulary). So, how's P.R.? And where's that postcard you promised, huh? Well, I understand, you're probably pretty busy. And so am I, but I just happened to get motivated today (Sunday) so it's 4:30 and I already finished my homework. It's so nice to have a public school amount of homework - only 1 1/2 hrs. Well, I turned 16 last Wednesday (finally) not that it means anything. But I finished driver's ed, so I think I might actually take my licence test in a couple of weeks. Not that I have a car or anything, but at least I'll be able to borrow my mom's and have a little more freedom. Ow! My hand hurts. too much writing. So now I'm using my left hand. I'll forgive you if you cant read this. My history class is boring this year- no kirbistas to spice it up. Well, enough of that it takes me so long to write with my left hand that my right hand had a chance to rest. Well, I guess that is all.
Please write back!
TC
p.s. here's my dorky school picture for you! Lucky duck!

Answer All These Questions

So at some point during my stay in PR I wrote a letter to my neighbor and friend D. But the letter never got to him because I addressed it like this: D Scotts Valley CA 95066. No street address, I guess I thought it is such a small town they would find him.
Here is the letter:
Dear D,
I was so happy to get your letter, thank you vary much. So how is your life going? I am doing good. I am just prity much going to school and sleeping. School is really eazy her, there is no homework and if a teacher does not come there is no class. I have not been surfing yet I hear it is pritty nice there in California. I hope that when I get back we can go surfing together. N took my board other wise I would say you could barrow it. But itf you want anything of mine like C.D.s or whatever. Just go to my house and tell my mom. So write me back and answer all these questions
1. Do you have a girlfriend?
2. Do you have a job?
3. Where are you going when you graduate?
4. Did you or Do you babysit for B?

Love your friend,
Katie

P.S. Write me back!

Cleanliness

A week before I left for Puerto Rico, AFS provided me with an orientation booklet. It included this little bit of advice:
"As we are a tropical country you will sweat a lot; this will require you shower every day. Use of: deodorant and antiperspirant every day, perfume every day and shaving under your arms and legs (only for girls) is not optional, you will need it. Changing your clothes and under wear every day, and not using the same set of clothes more than twice before washing it is necessary."
What I like about this is that you know someone complained that they had a stinky student. I always thought personal hygiene was just general knowledge when it came to tropical locations but I guess not. Puerto Rico was so hot and humid that I had to shower twice a day and changed clothes 3 or 4 times a day. I feel sorry for the families who got the students who were rebellious and thought, "I don't need to shower today, I don't smell."

Why This

Ten years ago when I was fifteen I decided to spend a year abroad as an AFS exchange student. I ended up in the small town of Moca, Puerto Rico. Recently, I was cleaning out my old room at my parents house and I found the letters friends and family had sent me while I was abroad. I decided to start this blog and type up the letters.