Things have gotten a little more itchy since my battery hit 8% and I stopped writing. It was 10 then, and I hustled over the the LAN counter because that is when they were opening check in for the Quito flight. LAN was its typical 45 minutes late which I didn't mind. I'm reading Gary Schyngart's Super Sad True Love Story which I really like so I was just sitting on the ground chillin. Of course, I also took an hour nap between 430 and 530 on the floor of gate C8 in BWI, so its not like I'm one for ceremony. I have this little beanbag pillow but its in a normal sized pillow case, so I can sleep on that and wrap the excess fabric around my eyes. I clutch my backpack and put my passport inside the front of my pants. Hobo 4 lyfe.
Anyway, I checked in and all. People (namely, the LAN clerk, the Dunkin Donut's clerk, and this silly Argentinian family who almost forgot thier passports in security, have been speaking to me in Spanish and nodding and giving me coffee with milk when I ask for coffee with milk and generally not laughing at me or slapping at me for cultural apropriation or anything. It's very satisfying to feel like I retained some semblance of fluency. Of course, I don't think I could say "It's very satisfying to feel like I retained some semblance of fluency" in Spanish, but we'll get there. I can ask for coffee with milk and that's a lot more useful.
One thing that is not useful at all is the pay phones in the Miami airport. I need to call two people:
1. my grandparents. I really need to do this, and I am feeling guilty and stressed that I am not. I know I could send them an email or call them tomorrow, but I feel like they are really depending on this for thier happiness or something. This might be one thing I need to let good
2. My mom to see if Pilar wrote on my wall saying she was coming to the airport or not. So, if there was a damn intternet cafe in this place, I could do that myself, but that is apparently too passe in this world of iphones and äppärät (thats a Schyngart reference for you).
I have tried to use numerous payphones. Twice, they have eaten my dollar that it now takes to make a long distance call. Twice for my Grandparents and twice for my mom I've gotten the busy signal which seems oddly coincidental unless they are talking to each other. I'm so hesitant to try again because its very hard to get change and I don't have my many dollars in quarters on me. I keep going into these recursive magazine and candy stores and asking for change from these grouchy cuban ladies and of course they say no. Of course, I don't want to buy chips or magazines, I've got too much already, calories and stuff to carry. I bought some chapstick with a 20 and that got me like 17.50 in change, but it's down to a five and a ten now, and I'm back where I started. I'm so hesitant to use those phones. Did you know the little coin return cover has a lip that catches quarters? That is a manufacturing feature that is just evil. Why would they design something that is supposed to return your money to catch your money? Its impossible to get out if you have fingers of normal lenght, too. Believe me, the passengers on the 12:40 to Ottawa as my wittness, even if you jab your middle finger in there (the longest and most brash finger), you can't get those quarters out, even if you squat and mutter to yourself. Not even that helps.
Well, I've got two and a half hours before my flight leaves and an hour till I board. The next conundrum: buy a 7$ fancy ass sandwhich that will probably be bad or a 2$ McDonald's sandwhich which will also probably be bad. I do not even know in this situation.
I'll try calling each family member once more and then give up. Ma and grandma and grandpa, if I do not make contact with you, I sincerely apologize. I am safe in the Miami airport, keep on keeping on.
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