Yall know me, impatient, needing to take care of "bidness" immediately and fretting if I don't get a response immediately. That has its benefits: I never pout and get over things almost before they are over. Anyway, I did finally hear from the school who reported they were getting back all the emails sent to my address. Problem was solved and they sent me this note, along with much other information, about my stay and my homestay family: We have made arrangements for you to stay with the Perez-Junco family. Ana Maria, your hostess, is a homemaker. She lives with her husband Ricardo, retired, daughter Ana Cristina (1983), employed and her husband Pablo (1982), a sales agent. Daughters Patricia with her son David as well as Laura visit her occasionally. The family lives in Lourdes, a short bus ride to the school. Their phone number is 2234 1266. That phone requires a country code in front of it and I'll get that before I leave. I think it is 0 for the US but ask my resident World traveler, Daniel, for verification. Please use this information if you need to find me while I'm gone.

Thoughts keep running through my head about what I can expect so that I can make plans to avoid anything I might not like. If the mattress I am given to sleep on is a bad one will I have aches and pains for a month or should I just go out and buy one and give it to the family when I leave. Would that be seriously insulting to them or would they see it for what it is- a way for me to assure myself of a good night's sleep. My age brings with it some issues that I would not have had 40 years ago or 30 or 20. I think I'm even older than I was this time last year. My joints and bones aren't what they use to be and a good night's sleep is really important to my mood along with food at regular intervals. Don't make me wait too long to eat- it isn't pretty.

Another thought: I like to talk, I mean I really like to talk, and there might be times that the only conversation I'll have is a struggle since I don't speak Spanish yet. Will I be really lonely if I can't verbalize every thought in my head like I usually do? Any suggestions?