Mucho Gusta!

I LOVE THIS LEARNING MALARKY!

Seriously, after the rest of my journey being pretty uneventful (post Home Alone post....geddit??) I have settled in and had my first lesson.

First of all, what is this country like...?

Well, not as rural as I supposed. I wasn´t surprised to see the large Macdonalds, or even the HSBC but my heart dropped a teeny bit when I saw the TGI Fridays. Yes, really. People seem fairly affluent here (in a contextual sense). I think (seriously) that any country which has garden centres and puts flowers on verges and roundabouts is quite well to do, because if you´re stuck in poverty you just don´t bother - do you? Roads are good and the infrastructure seems secure. People are friendly and, in Boquete, seem a bit shy when you say hello but they smile and say it back.

I suppose I could illustrate how polite people are with the 4am stop by the police during my bus journey. Bus stops, police officer (immigration) gets on and turns all the lights on. He asks to see everyone´s id. They get it out (no grumbling). He goes down the bus, and before getting off there´s a strange exchange which consists of him thanking everyone and them thanking him. He thanks then again, they thank him, he says´de nada´(its nothing) and thanks again. ´De nada´ reply the people. Has anyone seen the Father Ted episode where Mrs Doyle and her friend get arrested because they are both trying to pay for the tea and they end up fighting in the teashop´? It was like that.

Cultural reference: whilst I´m typing Daft Punk´s Get Lucky is playing.

So, arrived fine and got a taxi to my host family. Oh my goodness, they are SO NICE. Properly kind and lovely. The lady of the house, who I think is called  Talicia, really took time to talk to me and understand my really, really bad Spanish. I forgot how difficult it is to start a new language and how easy it is to feel disuaded in learning it (there´s only so many blank looks I can manage in on ten minute discussion - and before you say it Michael Evans .. yes, you´d think I´d be used to it by now ;-) ). I also met hubby and son who are equally nice but less talkative. The room is clean and private, I have my own bathroom and the house is a good size.

I had a couple of hours sleep this am before going to school, then I got learning. I just LOVE it! I love learning and trying to get all the pieces of Spanish to fit together in my head so that I understand it. There are two other people in my class (the second most basic), there was a twelve year old boy but they moved him up to the next class because he was just too damn good and we were holding him back.

The teacher; Abelardo; is very good, doesn´t speak English and can´t say my name. ´See-an, Shan, San, Sy-an and Show-an´ have all been options today. Hilarious. He thinks it really funny that I keep throwing French word s into the conversation and when I get anything wrong I counteract it with ´merde´ (no idea why). After the 12th repetition of the word he asked, ´Do you actually know what you are saying?´

Hmmmm #bringingcluelesstothenextlevel

Anyway, safe, happy and having a good time concisely describes me at this moment but boy, I´m going to sleep tonight!

Hasta Lluego.

A man, a plan, a canal - Panama*

Arrived earlier in Atlanta airport and managed to bag myself a 'Home Alone' moment, you know the one..when that annoying kid realises no one is home and he clutches his face and runs round screaming whilst the camera pans towards his miserable mug in quick spurts. That was me.

Thing is, when I got here I looked on the departures board (adviseable) and discovered to my actual horror that there is a place in Florida called Panama City. OMG. Glanced at my ticket  and boarding card to find written 'Panama City' with no mention of country. Gulp.

Realistically it would only be a small thing - what with me being on the right side of the Atlantic and all - but I didn't want to go to the wrong place. The departures board wasn't acting in a helpful manner (ie my flight not listed) so I approached the Delta desk.

The queue was huge but being British I clung to the familiarity of a good old wait in line whilst the chunky chap at the desk did a lot of smiling and talking. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Eventually I reached the front.

'Hello' I garbled. 'I want to ask you a question but I am quite embarrassed because it sounds daft.'

Embracing his most professional demeanour Chunky Chap regarded me benevolently and said.  'There ain't nothing much I aint heard so y'all can just go ahead and ask, ma'm.'

Cute. He actually chose those words.

Me..'Erm, well, here's my ticket, could you tell me where I am flying to please?'

Judging by his reaction this question falls into the category of stuff 'I aint heard'. Looks at ticket. Maintains straight face. 'Panama City, Ma'm.'

Me...'and where is that?'

He...'In Panama, ma'm.'

Me...'Oh, phew! Thank you very much!'

So there, I was just panicing over nothing, am not as much of a numpty as I think I am (evidently). Anyway, just had a beer so am feeling in holiday mode. Its 4pm here, so I think that makes it 10-11pm at home. Next step Panama City, PANAMA.

* From my new book: Well-loved palindromes of the world...

'Taxi for one'...

...is a cry oft heard when I am in a bar or other place of merriment and today has been no exception...

I am a third of the way through a trip which entails:
Taxi. Tram. Train. Tube. Taxi. Bus. Plane. Plane. Taxi. Bus. Taxi.

And all is well.

With this blog I thought I'd add a dimension hitherto unexplored during previous blogging experiences ergo clothes which I have brought with me.

I know, I know, there will be those of you out there thinking, 'she has finally lost it' but you need to understand that certain individuals are keen to know. I speak of those bastions of good taste, the stalwarts of the meticulously planned outfit who won't leave the house without a check in the three-way mirror.

Even now they are sitting by the computer exclaiming, 'Ok, ok, so you're on a trip across the world, exploring new places, meeting new people and having an amazing time but WHAT are you wearing?'

I speak of course of Phil Oliver, John Campbell, Jon Brown, Gordon Smith and - King of Planned Attire Mr James Dempsey, who refuses to leave the house unless his pants and sweatbands co-ordinate (allegedly).

So for all these individuals I tell you: Anatomie Skinny Skyler trousers (seriously amazing, check them out ladies - link below), a Next lace jacket and Quecha walking shoes (grey and black).

Taxi for one...?

Hablo Español!

I speak Spanish!

Or I will do once I have mastered it.

Oh come on, how hard can it be?

I already have a few words for starters: hola, adios, paella (do they eat that in Panama?), hasta lluego.

There.

Michel Thomas (look him up) says that we only actually need about 400-600 words to operate at a functional level in another language.

So...I have....5 which means only....395 to go.

Hablo Español!

Adios

(Practice makes perfect)

Panamanian facts from 'Barefoot Panama'...

• Panama is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic.
• The canal generates fully one-third of Panama’s entire economy.
• “A man a plan a canal panama” is a palindrome.
• Panama was the first Latin American country to adopt the U.S. currency as its own.
• The population of Panama in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 3,120,000, which placed it as number 129 in population among the 193 nations of the world, and the smallest population in Central America.
• The cargo ship Ancon was the first vessel to transit the Canal on August 15, 1914.
• The lowest toll paid was $0.36 and was paid by Richard Halliburton who crossed the Canal swimming in 1928.
• Seven out of ten Panamanians haven’t heard of the song “Panama” by Van Halen.
• Senator John McCain was born in Panama, in the Canal Zone that was, at the time considered U.S. Territory.
•  The Panama Hat is really made in Ecuador.
• In Panama, you can swim in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in the same day.
• The oldest continually operating railroad is in Panama. It travels from Panama City to Colon and back.
• Panama City is the only capital city that has a rain forest within the city limits.

http://www.barefootpanama.com/travel-resources/panama-facts-figures/