Adapting

A year ago I was writing about adapting to the local culture, but now it is time to readjust to life in Claremont.

Some parts are easier than others.

• It was great to out for dinner and have as much ice water as we want included in the price of dinner.
• I can turn a knob on the stove and flame appears, no match necessary.
• I don't have to look at my watch before going to a store. Most likely if I am awake, the store is open.
• I can enjoy fresh air while hanging laundry since my neighbors don't smoke.
• I don't have to plan what I am going to say before I go to the store/library/other.
• I can chat with the friendly people working at the grocery store.
• Each day a newspaper in English is delivered to the house.
• Having a car and knowing how to get places.

On the other hand I miss

• the immersion, the differences, the newness of everything. I suppose that would have worn off.
• the break from fund raising
• inexpensive and effective public transportation
• the solitude of my running routes
• digestive biscuits
• festivals!

It is good to unpack and get rid of things we should have not saved in the first place and savor some of the things we did save. It is good to go to the library and run into friends. It is good to cycle to the pool and swim with friends.

I am grateful for the chance to learn to love where I am.

Traditions

No post yesterday because of technical difficulties.  Here are a few tidbits to tide you over.

After A. got his haircut he said all the kids would slap the back of his neck. When I asked if they did it gently, he said most of them did. I asked if he did it gently to others, he said he did to most of them.

A classmate of mine came in with a haircut so I ran over and gently slapped the back of his neck. The teacher laughed, but said, "No, no, no!" Chicas do not slap the necks of chicos, she said. Only boys slap the back of boys' necks.

Ta da! After a very long time I added this picture.

I have not bought one of these yet, but for just over one euro you can buy a package with a few carrots, some celery, leeks, parsnips, and something I can't identify. What a deal!

I hope the problem will be resolved soon and we'll be back to our regular posts. No more drinking water while working on the computer!

A little cheese...

...To go with that whine!

"Barcelona is my favorite city!"  "Oh, I just love Barcelona!" "I was there X years ago and had the best time."

Fine, but we aren't in Barcelona and we aren't on vacation.  We are living here and dealing with the reality.  Here are the minor annoyances to balance out the other posts.

• Cleaning the entire kitchen after finding meal moths.
• Not being able to get a membership card at the office/school supply store because I didn't know the phone number (even though I had my passport and legal currency).
• Writing to the language school, being told where to go, going there, being told that registration for first level classes are held elsewhere.
• Not having a tea kettle or any measuring utensils (cups, spoons, scale).
• The heat wave.
• As my aunt would say, there is always a prior step.  And it means translating from Catalan.

Of course those things are balanced by the funny (like being told that my Spanish was better than that person's English) and the good (the school finding an entire second-hand wardrobe for A. to use as long as we return it).

• two shirts
• one pair of pants
• one sweater
• one coat
• one sport shirt
• one sport shorts
• one warm-up coat
• one pair of warm-up pants

As someone joked, they don't make him wear school-issued underwear yet.  Today we need to buy socks.