Just a Regular White Girl

That's what I've been dubbed by the people I work with. Yes, I know, I live in Miami, where most of the population seems to be Hispanic. But why do I just have to be a "Regular White Girl" (RWG, from this point forward).

A lot of people come into work who only speak Spanish. I understand that living here, knowing Spanish would make my life easier. Wait, no it wouldn't. It would make other people's lives easier. Sigh. We're in America- we speak English. I have WAY less of a problem with customers who don't speak Spanish (let's face it- we've all been to other countries and didn't speak the language) than I do with store employees who don't speak English. (recall my Target story?)

Anyway, climbing off my soapbox.... I was in the breakroom the other day, and one of my co-workers was talking to another coworker about how when he first met her, he thought she was "just a RWG" then he shortly found out she was Hispanic, which made her cooler, apparently. So I asked- "What exactly is a RWG?" To which he seemed to have no answer. I suppose I'm being descriminated against because I have no blatently obvious heritage... as my mom always says, I'm European American. That always gets questioning looks.

Regarding the Hispanic culture in Miami, I've now been here for three months and I have a few observations.

1. Their coffee is tasty. And strong. And cheap. Forget Starbucks, I hit up the coffee places around me and can get amazing coffee for $1. Put it this way- if it's more than $1.50, you're getting taken advantage of.
2. They like to kiss you. Weird. I have personal space issues, so when I first meet people, I extend my hand for a nice handshake. Nope- that doesn't work here. People love hugging and doing the two cheek kiss. Took a while for me to not be totally heebed out by it. It's beginning to grow on me... but I'm still not 100%
3. They call women "mama." It's not just the dudes that do it either- it's girls too. I have NEVER been called mama in my ENTIRE life, and suddenly, it's like my new name.
   
4. Back to the coffee... a lot of times, when you buy a Cuban coffee (just espresso and loads of sugar) they give you these little plastic "shot glasses" to share it with your friends. How fun. I suppose they think that you would have to be nuts to finish the whole thing yourself... I've done it. Many times.
   

Alas... I've had enough of my Miami observations... I'm sitting in the Fort Lauderdale airport (thanks, free WiFi!!!) waiting for my flight to NYC... I'll be there soon! Stay tuned for a trip recap and pictures.

I'm no longer unemployed!

Woohoo! I have a job!

I've actually had one, effective October 24, but that was just when we started training for the new Apple store. We had the grand opening on November 8- it was nuts how many people were there. I wasn't scheduled to work the morning opening shift, but since we live across the street from the mall, Jon and I decided to go witness the festivities. There was a line out the door of the mall... hundreds of people there, waiting for the opening. It was exciting! I took this video of the opening.... It was slammed all day, and has been since then. It's nice to have people my age around to work with and hang out with... and to actually be making money :)

My $0.02 about the election

Whether you like him or not, Obama winning the election last week is historic for our country. Even though he's just as much a white man as he is a black man, it's still historic that anything but an old, rich, white man is elected our new leader. I had no extremely strong feelings about either candidate, I thought they were both qualified and would do a good job, I'm just anxious to see if Obama's change platform will materialize. Let's hope so.

In other news, I'm quite embarrassed by California and Florida in their votes on the Gay Marriage laws. It's pretty pathetic.

Rather than go all political about it, I'll let Kieth Olbermann's speech from earlier this week say what I want to say.

So, this election, we saw one step forward for one group of people, and one step back for another. Again... hopefully the change platform really means something.

:::hops off soapbox:::

I'm a lousy blogger

Yea, I need to be better at actually writing... so I will attempt to do some catching up over the next couple days.

Two weeks ago, we had some visitors- Mom, Dad, and Sarah!!! It was great to have them all here for the awesome engagement party that Jon's mom threw for us.

Since Sarah has 1209843094 days of vacation every year, she flew down on Thursday to play with me. We hit up The Big Cheese, home of $9 meals for 2 and the most delicious garlic rolls on the planet. We had some good, quality lazy sister time... it was perfect!

We spent Friday shopping, including buying Christy her Emmy dress- a fabulous purple ballgown. I can't wait till Emmy #1 has some company! Mom and Dad got here at about 6, and we went to Taverna Opa for dinner. Opa is a great restaurant, one where it's not only acceptable, but expected, to dance on tables- and sometimes with the belly dancers!

We spent Saturday hanging out on South Beach, and going to Versailles, home of cheap and delicious Cuban coffee and pasteries. On Saturday, it was also home of a bunch of politically charged Cubans making a last ditch effort to get John McCain elected president. Evidently, the old school Cuban Americans see Obama in roughly the same light as Castro... They even had shirts that said "Cuba wanted change in 1959- be careful what you wish for."

Jon's mom put together a fabulous engagement party for on Saturday night. She had huge pictures of us in Israel and Japan, and pictures of Paris, hanging on the walls. Dinner was sushi, middle eastern food, and crepes made by the French crepe chefs. It was great to actually meet her friends that she's been talking about for so long and so much. We even got to see baby Unay, who has easily tripled in size since the last time I saw him. That is one cute baby.

Dad had to leave Sunday morning, so the ladies plus Jon spent the day shopping and visiting with Jon's cousin. Monday, we went to Ikea, and Mom left. Sarah left Tuesday morning, after I went to vote.....

It was a fabulous weekend!