once a day

While not an intentional part of my routine, I can count on certain things occurring every day in Garly. Here’s a taste:

-At least five times a tiny yet brutal “death star” will stick in my foot and I will pluck it out while saying “I’m dying” in Pulaar. (Death stars are little plant pods all over the ground- they are as small as a seed but serve no obvious purpose.)
-I will summarize my day’s events on a homemade calendar that I’ve created out of Sharpie markers and cardboard.
-The Moor boutique owner will remind me that we’re not friends anymore, since I stopped teaching him English. He ends our friendly chat in careful English, “Thank you very much.”
-I will grit my teeth at a baby crying in my house and fail at trying to think nice thoughts about babies.
- I will say “I don’t know” or “I don’t understand” about something concerning Pulaar.
-I will think about the food I ate in Paris.
-I will lie about somewhere I have to be in order to leave a house where I have run out of conversation topic.
-I will accurately guess the temperature and feel smug as I check the thermometer hanging on my clothesline.
-I will laugh about something no one else thinks is funny. I will say, “That’s sad, funny, good, scary…” (just insert any adjective) when no one else agrees. This shows despite my best efforts to integrate, my viewpoint refuses to conform.