I'm sitting in one of thousands of internet cafes in Oaxaca, and although the Kelly Clarkson album they are playing is less that thrilling, I am thoroughly greatful for technology right now. A friend recently asked me if I had beaten the internet addiction, since I am in a place where internet isn't accessible in the same way...and I had to say that no! I haven't. In fact, I actually spend money on in now (between 5 and 9 pesos and hour). But I have no regrets about that...it enables me to not feel so disconnected from people who are thousands of miles away. I feel like I have nothing really new to report, but I know that's not true. I just moved into a new apartment with a beautiful view of the city, and of the Iglesia Santo Domingo, which is a major tourist attraction here (although I think it's really gaudy...it's covered in gold on the inside, which was probably stolen from the precolumbian inhabitants of the valley of Oaxaca). I love my apartment, and actually spend a lot of time there. So, in comparison to the last few months, life seems tame. But then I think about the things that I've begun to take for granted, but that would be new and maybe suprising to someone who has just arrived for the first time from the states. Like the women in the markets selling "blandas, tlayudas!", which are the kinds of tortillas that are typical to Oaxaca. Or the men who wake us up at 7 in the morning yelling "agua!!!" or "gaaasss!". This morning, a truck passed by the house, selling fruit out the back. The loudspeaker the vendor was using was really obnoxious, but you can't beat 25 oranges for 20 pesos or a pineapple for 10 pesos (less than $1), delivered to your door. I can't imagine this happening in the states. Frozen dinners, yes, but fresh fruit, no. What else...yesterday, I went to this huge market, the Mercado de Abastos, which is a totally overwhelming place. I was thinking about the ways that vendors typically greet people here. You've got: "Que te vendo?", "que te doy?" or "Que vas a llevar?". Then you've got "Te muestro cualquier modelo, sin compromiso, eh." and variations of the idea. I am not making much sense right now because I just woke up from a long nap, so I think I'll pick this up later....