Matches

11/11
I decided to revisit some old materials from the ethno methods class I took since I have them with me and since I’m feeling a bit frustrated and stymied in my work here. I got through an article by Boas, Clifford, and was knee deep in Kaminsky’s analysis of Meyerhoff’s “third voice” when I heard Ted’s voice on the stairs in the apartment. He was showing someone who was speaking English with an accent though I couldn’t place where it was from. He said “and this is where your friend would be staying” as he passed my apartment on the landing. I braced myself as I knew it was only a matter of time before he knocked on my door. He continued upstairs to show the apartment and then sure enough after about 10 minutes he came down to knock on the door. He asked after some matches and I thought he’d introduce me to the new tenant but he did not. A short while later he knocked again to return the matches and said I might need them tonight if the power goes out. It’s been rainy, cold and storming off and on all week so I gratefully took the matches back at his suggestion.

It occurred to me that I didn’t have any candles to go with those matches. Oddly I had thought about purchasing candles when I was at Arkadia the other day but decided against it as a waste of money for the remaining time I have left here. Once I realized that I’d be SOL if the power went out and that it gets dark at 5pm now I figured it was more a matter of safety and preserving my own sanity than anything else. I also took about 2 seconds to congratulate myself on going with the 6 hour computer battery instead of the four and for keeping it plugged in/charged when I’m at the apartment. If I lost power at 7 at night at least my computer would be a source of entertainment and light for a good six hours.

Speaking of "matches" I think I got hit on by Paulu….but not in a gross way. I passed him at Gangus as I was walking for candles so I stopped to say hello but since there’s not much else to say when the person you’re talking to doesn’t share your language I moved to keep going. He asked how much longer I’ll be here – I think – and so I told him 3 more weeks. He said, “drink”? And motioned with his hand like he was drinking something. I said “no…I have to go.” He said “boyfriend?” and I said yes. (I didn’t know what else to say.) He said “ah! And bit on his finger like the news of it was hurting him. I feel terrible. He’s a big softie and if he spoke English I’d be glad to have a pint with him but I’m not going to sit there awkwardly in silence while we drink together.

I ventured to the stores down on Palm to try to find a cheap candle and found a 2€ store. Kind of like our “Dollar Stores” except…everything here is 2€. I found some candles that were TWO for 2€ which was perfect for a girl on a budget who will only be in town a couple more weeks. I decided to head up the street “Moments” was on and pay my now weekly visit to Anna. We spent a good deal of time talking about Gozitan weddings again and she said she will try to bring in photos from her daughter’s wedding so she can explain things in more detail.

After talking to Anna I took the long way around to come back and decided to stop at the confectionary across from Maji’s to see if they were still open. I was in luck and after purchasing 2 chocolate cannolis (sp?) for .60€ I asked how long they are open. The man said they usually remain open until 9pm. It’s the second time I’ve been there and the man is very friendly. He and a woman run the shop and sometimes it’s so busy that they have two cash registers going. They sell mostly homemade pastries but also have snacks, chocolates, candies, beverages and beer. Good to know because they are cheap and sometimes I want something quick and don’t want to walk all the way to the Duke for it which is the only other place I know that is open past 7 p.m. The other night I realized I didn’t have any soda and paid twice as much for it over at It-Tokk. I didn’t really mind the cost because it’s still nice to patronize a local business but still…if I can save some cents here and there it helps. Like I bought water from the place across from Gangu’s that has the olive bar…I think it’s called It-Tokk produce. You can tell that the place is frequented by tourists who will pay anything for it…I think he charged me 1.50€. But if I buy from Joe’s Liquer shop which is more of a local place it costs only .47€ for the same size bottle! Now Joe – that’s the super sized cheap stuff I’m talking about! You're practically American!