We have lift off!

I spent the afternoon putting notes together, rewriting interview questions, testing the audio-recorder John lent me (I discovered mine was broke the night before I left) and just going over my general plan of attack. I finally left the apartment, determined to make some sort of progress on my first day and told myself that I couldn’t go to check my email or post to a blog unless I did SOMETHING worthwhile. So I popped into Joe’s Liquer Store to say hi (officially) but he wasn’t there. A bummer, but half-expected as it was around 5pm and he normally doesn’t work in the afternoon. Determined, I set off to see George at his carpenter/funeral shop. I even took the long way there so I could work out what I wanted to say and not look like a moron.

I turned the corner of his block and couldn’t tell if the door was open but I saw his beat-up green pick-up truck, so I knew he was around somewhere. I took a big gulp and turned into the open door and he was there. His back was to me, getting a tool off of the wall. He looked the same as the photo I took of him, except he was wearing a gray tank top instead of a blue one. He was working on a very large set of wooden doors, not unlike the ones on my own patio. I knocked and he turned around, half glancing over his shoulder, “Yes?” I said, “Hi George” and before I could re-introduce myself and give him my “You might remember me” speech he turned further, saw me, and I saw the wheels of recognition turn. “Aaah yes. Halo.” After some general niceties and inquiries I told him I was in town for a couple of months and would like to spend some time talking with him again. He gave me the same “sure, sure” with a nod and eyes downcast as I remembered from last time and was quick to tell me anytime was fine except tomorrow when he’s off and Wednesday when he’s in Malta. I suggested Thursday and asked if I should come to the shop or if I could buy him a coffee. He looked confused so I rephrased and said cappuccino – he said, “no, no” and seemed off put – I half expected this as well, as young women don’t really buy older men coffee here, but I wanted to ask as an attempt to get him out of the shop for questions. The last times we’d spoken it had been in his shop and though he was obliging, I always felt like I was interrupting his work. I backpedaled and told him I’d meet him in his shop on Thursday then. No time specified, but he never really worked that way before either – as long as I didn’t come during siesta he didn’t seem to care. I tried to ask him how his year had been but he didn’t really understand me. I retracked and said something about how it’s been a year since I saw him and his eyes recognized what I was saying, “Yes, almost exactly a year. It was around this time was it not?” He asked me if I’d been in town long, like a month and I told him just a week. Something in the way he asked me made me glad I had waited a week to talk to him, as if he would’ve been offended if I had jumped on him immediately on arrival. Maybe he doesn’t want me leaching onto him and wants to know I can make it here on my own? In any event – we parted ways with our appointment for Thursday and I felt that this deserved my internet and cappuccino.

Sitting here reviewing our conversation I’m reminded of the first time I met him through the local priest and the feeling of euphoric success I had, meeting up with my fellow students at Henry’s, then going to It-Tokk to go over our notes and share stories for the day. I feel like the wheels are in motion and I truly have lift-off!

Now, as an interesting aside, I came to the Duke for internet today – the connection is intermittent but I like this locale better than any place else. I was ordering my cappuccino and was struck by all of the oranges in the glass case that they use to make fresh squeezed OJ. I asked the French girl behind the counter (after we exchanged “ca va’s” since she now recognizes me) for an orange as well. I realized I haven’t had any fruit (other than the pear juice I’ve been drinking) since I got here and I was suddenly worried about my Vitamin C intake on top of the Calcium deficiency. Now unlike the milk, I trust the fruit here. I just haven’t stopped to buy any. So the girl looked at me like I was nuts – she’d never been asked for just an orange before. They had to consult with the manager on what to charge me for it. And then they told me that they’d sell it to me this time but they can’t do it everyday because the oranges are for the juice. She and the other girl at the counter were very apologetic and we were all laughing over the ordeal. Especially when the 2nd girl realized I wanted to eat it right away, which she thought was bizarre. She offered me a plate and a knife – you should’ve seen the look on her face when I told her I was going to peel it with my hands. She was aghast but in a funny way and I now think I’ve become something of a hit with these two ladies. I’m definitely going to come back here and see what other quirky magic I can work.

What a great day.