I had an adventure on Wednesday :)
The great thing is that it started out with something ridiculous like me wanting to get acrylic nails again (since I'm not a practicing nurse anymore!! Wahoo!) ... and a student at the English center was going to take me to 'her' nail place.
Now- Zee is an amazing lady. I think she's in her late twenties, maybe early thirties. She's a very intelligent, busy chemical engineer- and she decided after a vacation to the Canary islands this year she needed to learn English ASAP so she would be able to communicate at least a little bit on her next vacation... so she returned and immediately signed up for English classes. That's the kind of dedication this girl has. But... unfortunately for us... her dedication does not translate to ability. :) And- since I have also failed in finding the fountain at which I can drink and automatically speak her language- we have... Well, we have a lot of FUN when we communicate! he he...
Anyway, back to my story about Wednesday.
I met Zee at a bus stop and she took me to a sketchy apartment building, and up one of the dirtiest stairwells I have seen here, into a tiny apartment, and into the even tinier kitchen of this miniscule apartment. And there... yes... there was a table set up in the corner. A nail salon if you will. UV lamp and everything! So- I got these fantastic nails - and at 4:10pm I congratulate myself on that accomplished vanity AND that I had also spent some time with Zee (which is what I was aiming for).
However, the real adventure started at 4:20pm when we left the nail lady's place. Zee asked me if I would go home with her to pick up her books and, "maybe drink some tea." I had to teach at 5pm, but figured she probably did not live far from the English center. So I said, "Sure! Let's go!" (Which, by the way, is the one thing I do know how to say in R.!) So- we get on the bus- and we go... :) We get to her house at about 4:40pm. At this point I'm thinking I'm just gonna look around her place, she's gonna get her books, and we'll go. I'll barely make it to the English center, but... I'll be only a few minutes late. That should be fine.
But no.
Zee lights up her gas stove... I think it's maybe she's just heating up water for tea. Hmm, okay. I take a deep breath. I'll only be like, 10 minutes late for my class. Culturally it's okay to be late here... so my student's will understand. "I'll be fine," I think to myself.
Oh.... it get's better though. Zee proceeds to heat up a soupy, spicy kind of noodle and chicken dish. Washes and slices fresh cucumber and tomato. Cuts up brown bread. Slices some fish pizza she had set aside. Makes this amazing green tea from loose leaf tea (and raspberry leaves that she picked and dried herself at her mother's country home). AND then serves me chocolates and dried apricots.
I was floored.
And desperately trying to be cool...
I don't like being late... but I've been working on it... (Well, since my college best friend was always late meeting me for coffee- I've had some training. But, it goes against my natural instincts to be late.) So this... this incredible display of hospitality was... trying.
Oh- I appreciated it. I truly did. All the details and generosity blew me away.
But the whole time I was thinking, "Don't show that you're concerned with being late. Appreciate the moment. Just... breathe... smile... breathe... You're okay. It's okay to be late. ... Even if you're the teacher. This is so great, but I'm late! It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay. (smile)"
He he...
So - even though I have a family who is willing to 'kill the fatted calf' when guests come over. (I mean, my grandmother has four sets of dishes... and my mother buys event themed appropriate napkins every time guests come over...) ... I still have a lot to learn in the hospitality department. I could NOT whip up a full three course meal for an unexpected guest (in 20 minutes)!!
Oh- and I was 30 minutes late for my lesson. And my students didn't mind. :D
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