This was our first Monday of not looking for an apartment, not running around taking care of the necessary requirements to become residents and of not going to Spanish school. We both looked forward to a week free of the stresses this move to Spain has had on us. Believe me this is NOT easy or stress free to make a move like this. And we've been very fortunate with the help we have received along the way.
As I think about the time effort and stress we went through to make this journey a reality, I think some of our family and friends wonder WHY are you moving to Spain for a year. Life is not just good for you but really it is GREAT. You are close with your family that you love and you have close and very dear friends who you love that are like family to you, so WHY leave?
For me, it's about stimulating my brain by learning a new language. For Beth, it's about that and fulfilling a dream of living overseas again. Learning Spanish will make us feel more comfortable in California and feel like so many throughout the world who know at least 2 languages.
However, I should point out that this week was not Spanish school free, we did have two private teaching lessons (also with Kersten) scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday this week but at a much more reasonable time, 12:00 to 1:30pm.
On Wednesday (5/25) we met our Spanish school friend from Germany Kersten and her friend Veronica for a beer at the IVAM and lunch at a small restaurant before going into the Museum of Prehistory and Valencia's Cultures.
The aim of the Valencian Ethnology Museum is to house permanent exhibitions that provide a comprehensive insight into traditional Valencian society. I might have mentioned this when we visited the IVAM (Modern Art Museum), which just happens to be right next to this museum is that it costs so little 2 euros to get in, you can go for a short time and enjoy one exhibit and focus on that and not feel you need to take in everything.....as we know we will return to many of these museums during our stay.
I should digress for a moment, when we ordered lunch Kersten and I had beers and Veronica ordered white wine. Beth ordered water....the look on our waiters face was either one of confusion, disbelief and or wonder....he could not comprehend not have a alcoholic beverage at lunch. And as life would have it he "accidentally" brought Veronica red wine.....so he just moved it over to Beth. The other funny thing happened when he told us his name Paco and Beth called him Poco, which means little...it was such a funny moment for us all we had a great laugh.
Thursday, (5/26) before Spanish class we went over to the Central Market to shop for the food we would need because tonight is our first night of having people over for dinner. We are having our Guardian Angel, Jorge, his wife Ferni and their nephew Luis over.
They arrived at our agreed upon time, 9:00pm after two bags of potato chips with mayo, some cheese and bread and of course olives we sat down to eat around 10:00pm. We made one of Beth's favorite meals from home breaded baked thinly sliced chicken on a bed of arugula with Gorgonzola cheese with a "salsa" of tomatoes, Basil, and garlic. It was delicious....after a few local cookies and coffee they left at 12:30 pm and we rejoiced in how wonderful it was and how lucky we are.
Friday, 5/27 tonight in the Jewish calendar is the 20th of Iyar, the anniversary of my fathers death, called yahrzeit. The yahrzeit is a time of remembering the dead, especially a parent, by reciting the Kaddish, lighting a 24 hour candle and honoring them in memory. So I wanted to go to Temple tonight to say the Kaddish and honor my Dad. I found 4 Jewish Synagogues listed in Valencia ...but no address only phone numbers. So I called one and the man Israel. could speak English so I met him for coffee before he would tell me where the "temple" was and invite me to services (protection I imagine). I was "approved" to join the services tonight.
After this we met Dani, the daughter of Kathy Schugg - a former work colleague of mime at Hyatt Resorts Hawaii. Dani is teaching Spanish to 3rd and 4th graders in Madrid and she came to Valencia to met a former roommate of hers It was neat to meet her.
Later, I was met Israel and 3 other men at 7:45pm for a beer before the temple service at 8:30. The synagogue was actually in an apartment (flat). One side was designated for the bimah, etc. the other side was for breaking the bread and saying the blessing for the wine. BEFORE the service started we all had just a little Annis alcohol. As you could imagine I was loving this and also a bit intrigued. So it turns out this is a Orthodox temple, but not a Chabad. So there were 7 men (including me) and 6 women, who of course sat on the other side of the temple. And they all just start reading and chanting Hebrew right from their prayer books....no "real" leader just everyone together. I think that since they only have Friday night and not Saturday services their service is like a combination of both days. When they called me up to the bimah I knew they would ask for my Hebrew name (Chaim) and Heschel but they also asked for my Dad's mom's name, which I did not remember her name in Hebrew so they used her English name which is Elsie.....which just so happens to be the name of my 3 month old Grand Niece....it was cool
Saturday, 5/28 we sent the morning and early afternoon packing for our trip to Kenya. At 3:30 we took the Metro to the beach as it was the hottest day yet 30 or about 86 degrees. We love how cool the sea water is and how many people enjoy the beach. I have to admit no where in the world I've every been to the beach has there been so many topless women.
Sunday, 5/29. Off to Kenya - So soon after arriving in Valencia? Beth is on the board of the Gnu Foundation. - an organization that makes micro-loans to support families in the poorest corners of the world. The founder, Jim Sempere, who planned a trip to visit the Kenya partners followed by a safari, invited us to join him. We jumped on the opportunity - after all, we were half way there already. ....5:00am wake up alarm....Warriors are down by 8 points in the 4th quarter of game 6, down 3 games to 2 on the road in Oklahoma......by the time we got into the cab at 5:40 they were up by 5 points 106 to 101 with 14 seconds to play. Our departure flight was at 7:00am and I knew they had won before our 2 hour flight to Paris and then on to our 7+ hour flight to Nairobi....we made it safely.
No comments:
Post a Comment