Random bits, #33 (some of which is normal news, but lazily recounted as a list)

1. Not so random, but update: I didn't end up signing up for the 12-week program after all. I thought I had, but that was some sort of misunderstanding and then I changed my mind once I learned that there were more restrictions that didn't suit me.

2. At this point we frequently hear parades. I still get a little excited though I am not going to go down from my home to see them. We were at a restaurant when we heard one recently and I went running off to see what it was. It was a small parade with two military h.s. bands, a group of traditional dancers, and men on horses with small clear boxes on their backs that were carrying small saints (baby saints?). One girl carried a banner with the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also, we hear firecrackers about daily, or maybe the cannon. It is December, after all, and the Dia de la Virgen (her appearance, that is) is Saturday, and then there's that other holiday coming up...what was it called again?

3. Speaking of the Virgin of Guadalupe, I have become pretty enchanted this trip with her image and story.

4. We are hosting a small Hanuka party on Sunday. It is possible I will be the only Jew at it, but my teacher's girlfriend is invited, and she's also Jewish (from NY, and I have not met her). I will make latkes!

5. Peter is ingratiating himself to the local dogs. He carried treats with him and tosses a couple up to our neighbor roof rottweiler, as well as to the other dogs on our street.

6. Our landlady left us a poinsettia last week, which was sweet. In Spanish, they are called "Noche Buena" or "Good night" which is also the name for Christmas Eve.

7. I have started collecting different languages' versions of "What am I, chopped liver?" Upon arrival, I already knew that in Hebrew, one says, "What am I, a goat?" My teacher Alejandro told me that in Spanish the phrase is, "What am I, painted on the wall?" Today our new Norwegian friends could not think of anything beyond, "What am I, invisible?" but they loved the chopped liver one. Tomorrow I plan to ask my classmate from South Korea if they have a version, and maybe my other classmate from Germany. Any of y'all know of any others?

8. Perhaps, if our ignored parades could talk, they might ask if they are painted on the wall. Or if they are made of chopped liver or goat.