Housing assignments and how my aunt and uncle probably think I have an eating disorder

I got my housing assignment today. My host "parent" (and I use the term loosely, because this person hardly seems like a parent by her description) is named Katja. She is a twenty-something student who enjoys jogging and the tango. She leaves in an apartment near a park and the building has a trolley (?) station in front. Another student will be living in that same building. She also has a cat, so I hope my allergies are okay.

She seems cool and a athletic and I hope that she doesn't mind if I join her for a jog, because I don't want to gain weight from the German pastries and beer. I think I've gained some weight already this summer. Usually, I lose weight without even trying over the summer because I go to Colombia and I could write page upon page on how unhealthy American eating habits are but I'll spare you the drivel. I love my aunt and uncle, and I think they are amazing, but honestly, meal times with them is a total pain.

Basically, my aunt and uncle serve huge portions that I am completely unable to eat (and most normal people shouldn't eat, either). My aunt will make a comment on how I eat like a bird and then I'll feel really guilty. My aunt and uncle are extremely religious, and believe that throwing any food away is a sin. However, I was never raised to believe that I had to eat everything on my plate - I was taught just to eat until I felt full and I'm honestly physically unable to eat more than that. I have a really sensitive stomach (just ask anyone I've been out drinking with, jaja) and I'm also lactose intolerant, so I'm really wary of eating too much because I get sick so easily. Anyway, my aunt will ask me how much spaghetti I want. "A scoop", I answer. "A scoop? Only that? Here, have a little more" and she scoops about twice as much as I am physically able to eat and inevitably asks surprised when I eat exactly half of my portion.

So with all these habits, I think I've given my aunt and uncle credible evidence to think I have an eating disorder:

1. They already think I don't eat enough.
2. I don't eat at regularly scheduled hours.
   
3. One of the signs of bulimia is that the bulimic often goes to the bathroom after finishing a meal (to throw up). I do the same thing...for totally different reasons. If you've ever lived with me, you'd know that I brush my teeth more often than anyone else I know. I'm extremely obsessive about dental hygiene. I can't stand the feel of dirty teeth or the taste of food in my mouth. My instinct to go brush my teeth kicks in before I've finished swallowing my last bite. It's that strong of a habit. Mock me if you must - but I've never had a cavity.
   

So anyway, I won't be surprised if they make awkward comments about it.

On a final note, I've been watching Mexican soap opera classic La Usurpadora on one of the Latin channels. This one has everything...evil twins, alcoholism, hot guys, Gaby Spanic's hysterical overacting even for a Mexican soap - it's ripe for a spoof on The Soup. I used to LOVE this soap back in the day. However, I've been really disturbed by the blatant sexism it spouts! It's not an uncommon trend in Mexican soaps or Latin TV in general, but it's really sullied my memory of it and I find it very hard to watch now. Wednesday's episode left a really bad taste in my mouth and I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it again.

I still love Gaby Spanic though.