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primero cocinero leccion: SALI don't stir the rice when its cooking.
Perduna Roma for my ignorance…I have a rice cooker at home which means I do F$&! all…excuse my language there guys…I stuffed up comer today…we were both sooo hungry post training…I would of ate the rice anyway…but it was MALO (meaning BAD) according to Roma. Ok so she happened to leave me in charge of the rice while she took a Ducha…its brazilian rice!!! Perhaps I didn't understand her instructions…anybody surprised
Senor (Juan) and Senora(Anjelina) were around…they tend to float about all day…their allowed it's there holiday pad…After my pathetic effort with the rice I resorted to watching Nadal play (Juan enjoys the tennis…tennis and football so he says)…he said to me 'apprender cocinero'….they were the words I picked up on and knew exactly what he meant. Go learn to cook while watching Roma. My next move straight to the cocina…you've been told Sal…'NO manos, solo ojo's' (no hands, only eyes) haha. It all worked out in the end…we ate.
I don't think my day began on the best note. Roma knocking on my door. Still dreaming…Way too early to speak English let alone Espanol. Post training…head to the telephone shop…all I need to know about the deal for our casa is….TV, internet and telephone. 20 euro a month…'sweet, we'll take it!'
I also got in trouble because I did the washing up and that's most certainly Juan's trabajo…oops again…perduna everybody!!! A smack on the bottom from Anjelina…which I assume was a playful one…
Juan and Anjelina both have a great sense of humour…if Anjelina's impression of nadal pulling his wedgey out and Juan's attempt at a popular American colloquialism is any indication…they are both lovely people. After Roma and I returned from the beach today…they were watching a match making show and chuckling away…80 year olds watching crap like that. Ha. Me Gusto mucho ( I like a lot)…will be sure to take some fotos of them before they leave for Barcelona in a week or so…
Roma, myself, Patri and our assistant coach were given tickets to watch barca play man city last Wednesday night …the game itself was not the most impressive…but the atmosphere was breath-taking…if my shivers were anything to go by…who knows perhaps a come-back will be in order…its early days, certainly not ruling out the possibility J I really like the idea of it…got a few things to work on for that to happen.
Im finding out important things about my adopted grand-parents and my new best friend only now…for instance…senor and senora have been wed-locked for 57 years…and Roma has been married for 7years (shes only 27 mind you) …to a brazilian back home- rules are she's solo here. Apparently that's the Brazilian way. I can always tell when she has spoken to him on the telefono though, massive grin from ear to ear, which sits well with me.…if I had the capability of being my normal inquisitive self I would of definitely found out about this within the first few hrs of meeting them :-) so what if I ask a lot of questions :-)
Oh yeh at the supermarket today I was asked where the Pan (bread) was…that's right I gave her directions…that's when u know you're a local…was shot back down from my cloud at the checkout…un poco espanol :-)
My espanol is coming along….its difficult when I hear a word I am not familiar with as guessing generally results in the wrong assumption…but if I have heard a word and understand the meaning, I get by…
I have managed to communicate with some important day to day words just no idea how to really link them. DICTIONARY close at all times…have I mentioned how terrible my pronunciation is…the words as they appear do not sound the same when spoken. Hanging out for my Espanol lessons.
It's actually quite funny and I had this same experience during my time in Agerola (Italy)… I wonder if I would have this much fun if I knew the language…im not sure how to really explain it…for those who have experienced another culture like this…u may be able to shed some light on the topic…There is a huge barrier and whenever it has been broken by a common understanding between somebody who speaks un poco Espanol and nada ingles, an immense satisfaction is experienced and laughter generally follows…as the message you were trying sooo hard to deliver was so simple and should of taken seconds, not minutes…sometimes we wait till the following morning when we can use our savior, Carlotta…OUR 'translator' team-mate… ( a 16yr old who speaks fantastic English). It can be soooooo frustrating at times… but that's learning for you.
Last night Roma and I went to her Brazilian amigos for din dins at 11pm (such a different culture)…he lives in an apartment not too far away. He speaks a small touch of English (Hallelujah), but roma and he were bantering away in Portugese…So heres my battle…Catalun, Spanish and Portugese…according to a gentlemen last night…who knows 7 languages… I should learn Portugese. Hold up Mr, much respect but im going to pay some attention to my Espanol.
This whole experience has reminded me of a movie i watched before i set off from home. Titled the ¨Diving Bell and the Butterfly¨..it certainly helps when i feel frustrated with my lack of communication. If you have seen it you will know exactly what im talking about, if not then...YOU MUST SEE IT.
Namaste, Mizpah, Shalom
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