Journal
Tuesday,Feb 5 2008, 05:01:43 PMFirst Days in Segovia
First days in Segovia have been great although frustrating as hell. I´ve never felt so tongue tied before. It´s like I´m constantly standing in front of a pretty girl trying to find the words, but instead it´s some 30 year old guy who I´m asking how to use the internet. The city is absolutely beautiful. The only time I´ve ever seen things as old as these is when I go to the mountains.
I have a few key players in my life. The first is the family of Pilar, the woman who runs this show. She has two kids, Miguel, 9, and Irene, 7. They love me, I love them. Pilar and her husband both work at the university here. They´ve both studied in New York and the states. The husband went to Columbia for undergrad and Chicago for Phd. I attended his birthday at some place that was built in 1426. Yikes. They introduce me to all of their friends and force me to practice Spanish. Sometimes I think in Spanish, which isn´t hard b-c I have very simple thoughts. The problem is when I talk.
Then there is Piluka and her brother Herman. Piluka teaches me Spanish every morning and Herman takes me out to party and talk. He´ll be the guy that teaches me the microfinance bit. He works in that area here and is getting his masters in Madrid where he commutes to Friday and Saturday.
Then there is my host mom. She doesn´t speak a lick of english and sometimes our meals are awkward. I´m getting pretty good at using the same vocabulary and trying to make the conversation sound new. She makes me three meals a day. These people know how not to stress themselves out. Most places don´t open until 10. Then they have a break from 2 to 4... at least. This is when they have their big meal "Comida" and then take a nap. Then back to work until 7 or 9. The best is they have three different types of bars. The ones open until 12, the ones that are hopping from 12 to 4 (or 6?), and then the after hours bars. Last weekend I went out with Herman (26 years) and his friend until 2. We were just scoping it out. Apparently, this weekend, Herman has a Columbian and Peruvian friend coming in and we´re supposed to party fuerte. I´m not supposed to expect to be in until 6 or 8 am. I don´t know if my old body can handle that. I hope I don´t pass out by the Roman Aqueduct that´s 2000 yrs old. However, I´m sure I wouldn´t be the first.
Best timing. I´m hear in the middle of Carnaval. It´s like Mardi Gras but more kid oriented and apparantly not as hardcore as other parts of Spain. However, I enjoy walking around the old streets and seeing the kids with their costumes on. I´ll try to get pictures but I don´t want to get beaten for stalking. We´ll see. Well that is it for now. I´m using some ladies internet who is a family friend of Pilar´s. Their kids are the same age and we just played some futbol. The house is beautiful. A lot of art, the house backs up to a mountain hill. Dog just had puppies. I feel like I´m one of the family. But don´t worry Mom and Dad, I like you more.