Day Four, Antigua

Volcano Agua from the streets of Antigua

On the fourth day in Antigua, Tuesday the 30th, we have the day off before classes start on the 1st of September. Gloria and I had discussed going to the gym in the morning then perhaps going to a local relaxing spot before we start digging in to classwork. However, our alarm was set for PM instead of AM, so we woke up just in time for breakfast, and, unfortunately, I also woke up sick. I do not have a stomach bug, which would have been concerning considering bacteria in the water here in Guatemala, but I was congested, headache-y, and I had a day long runny nose.
Gloria and I took it easy in the morning by hanging out in our room getting better acquainted, getting a good amount of the reading due on the 1st done, and we made plans to go to the gym after stopping by the Casa when it opened at 8:30am. Unfortunately, in an attempt to feel better, I took a small amount of cold medicine and by the time we arrived at the Casa I as too drowsy to feel comfortable at the gym. When I got to the Casa I set up my studio space in a back room in the Casa and worked a little on e-mailing and blogging (we have to pay for internet at our home stay so we are doing all internet related things at the Casa). After a while Gloria went to the gym alone (it was daylight so we were comfortable with that) and I took a nap to try to sleep off the drowsiness in the student's lounge. When I woke up I worked on my art piece; The Boston Codex, which I will be working on periodically throughout the semester. I also did more of the reading, which I finished before going to bed.
Later that afternoon Gloria, three other students and I went to a cafe near the Casa to practice Spanish and also get some coffee and tea. Practicing Spanish at meal times is very helpful to learning the language. Conversation is light and there is time to think and formulate replies and question in an unhurried manner. At restaurants in particular, you practice with the waitress what the names of foods are and you can eavesdrop on some conversations at other table to learn to listen and interpret as well as taking part in the conversations at your own table.
On the way back to our home stay for dinner I bought some Manzanilla Te (chamomile tea) in the hopes that I could ward off the cold by the next day; the first day of classes.