La Plaza Candelaria

The little fat kid in the plaza needs a good kick in the head.

Sometime in the last year, for unknown reasons, many members of the Cadiz youth were transformed into roving gangs of annoying, obnoxious, rude little bastards.

The Plaza in front of the student residence is the favorite playground of many of these punks. The kids in our program have been taunted by these kids, who sometimes curse at them, try and look up their skirts, throw water balloons at them, and generally annoy the hell out of everyone.

They are harmless, but as I said before, they need a good kick in the head.

Some of the girls in the program have a plan. They are going to carry a pair of scissors with them from now on, which they will use to cut off the mullet or rattail of any offensive little boys.

I think that it is a fine idea.

Besides the presence of these ankle biters, Cadiz is much the same, and just as attractive as always. Locals continue to lisp their way through the Spanish language, and still call each other by the same strange and friendly terms as last year.

Walking the streets, caressed by the sea breeze that flows through the city, one hears the shouts of "oye, picha" and "que pasa chocho?" Truly, what could be sweeter than referring to your friends with vulgar terminology for male and female genitalia?

Nothing, as far as I am concerned.

My friends from last year are all still here, and work in a cafe right around the corner from the residence. Nearly every free moment that I have is spent sipping coffee with these guys and planning how exactly I will get the beautiful Moroccan waitress to fall in love with me.

My friends Raul, Vanessa and Natasha have returned to Cadiz this year, and we are joined by two newbies, Raquel and Christy.

OK. That's it for now, duty calls. Back to work I must go. I hope that all are doing just fine.