A simple blog with the humble ambition of keeping in touch with friends scattered around the world, as "home" is more and more a vague concept. Motto: If-I-am-ever-in-your-neighbourhood-lets-go-for-a-beer!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Good news (for a change...)
Yesterday ETA announced a "permanent cease fire" regarding it's terrorist activities. This was a surprise for the whole country given that little signs were sent previously that could lead to this outcome. This was obviously the main headline in all news channels here, "celebrating" the hope that this might be the beginning of the end, but simultaneously many comentators sharing some concerns about "having seen this movie before"... I naturally tend to the optimistic side! It was also good to see that the whole society and political spectrum is united behind this intention. Some causes can still unite opponents...
This has reminded me of the fact that I have been living for 6 months in a country with a higher than normal probability that a bomb might blow up next to me as I cross any street. Although this is not something one thinks about every day, this is a definitely a change versus living in my quiet Portugal (hey! one of the key advantages of my country!). Is it an act of courage to live here? Definitely not! But it is something that gains a different meaning when one lives here.
Last year this would have been for me just another report in the newsflash... Today, after living in this country for 6 months, and after counting with many basque friends, it is definitely a reason to celebrate! Hopefully, others will follow suit...
This was a cool weekend that clearly marked the beginning of better days in many fronts, specially the weather in Madrid! It started with a "return" to AIESEC conferences... NO! I did not Chair a conference!! Actually I just showed up in the spanish LDS to do a couple of soft skills sessions, in my usual chilled out way (hopefully not too chilled and unfocused!!). Given the rumours of a non-party-friendly hotel on the AIESEC front (haven't we heard that before...) Mr. M (a very good friend whose identity I will protect) suggest to join him and his friends on a night out in Segóvia, a brilliant small city 100 Km north of Madrid, crashing there after a potentially heavy drinking night (the fact that one of them is a bartender and another an apprentice will make a difference...) I obviously decide to go! And off we went to Segovia... The main ingredients for the night were again a beautiful city surrounding us, fantastic wine to start the night and a cool bunch of people, recent-workers-still-with-student-spirit. At this stage I was glad I came with Mr. M, as clearly the mood was rising, as we were meeting more people, students and non-students... good stuff! And off we went from bar to bar until we reached the final disco-destination... Then...
4:30 AM - I call it a night and move to the friends friend place, occupying a bed (good stuff!)... I had slept only 4h the night before preparing my first influence training, delivered at 9 AM in the conference... (Second time I woke up on a Saturday before 12:00 since I am in Madrid... AIESEC still motivates me...) 4:31 AM - Looking around I see the usual scenario of a drunk bunch of people scattered in different areas of the disco... They'll be fine! 7:30 AM (estimate) AM - Someone walks in the room, tries to close the window covers while on a bench... fails... tries... fails... gives up... jumps to bed and sleeps...zz.zzz...zz... 8:00 AM (estimate) - The dude (latter I realised it was Mr. M), stands up from the bed (with his back to me)... unbuckles his belt (no, not a brokeback mountain scene coming...) ... and then I start hearing the unique... unmistakable... obvious sound... water flowing... while still sleeping... Unbelievable... 8:01 AM - after the surprise effect I realise that if he is sleep walking it might be dangerous to wake him up... so I wisely decide to withdraw from that scenario, not interrupting anything, and move away to a sofa, fortunately still free in the living room. 1:00 PM - Only after someone opens the window I realise I am actually with the same bunch of people I left Madrid with... Mr. M shows up in the living room, reasonably fu@#$d, and after a few minutes I realise I wasn't dreaming, as I see the result of the drinking night on the room's floor... Obviously he does not remember a thing as the reigning theory in the room is that it is water :)))
After the clean up and a few laughs as I share the true story, we went on a very lazy Sunday afternoon program with good food and relaxation, surrounded my white covered mountains in a sunny day... which unfortunately led me to miss the Jack Johnson concert in Madrid :(
But hey, he'll be back!! Mr. M & friends were clearly a good choice!
Carpe Diem!
PS 1 - Before you start wondering, this post is CORRECTLY written in the 3rd person and not in the 1st...
PS2 - Going to Lisbon this weekeeeeeeend to meet my new niece!
Quick post to let you know that yesterday, the Cruz family New Generation has officially been extended!
Her name is Rita, she was born yesterday afternoon and she is a healthy and (I am sure!!) beautiful new addition to my family, with (for now...) 50 cm of height and 3,5 Kg of weight... My 11th niece!!
I can't help feeling a bit :( about not being there to share this moment. It is already the 3rd birth I miss, definitely one of the disadvantages of my current options... Still, in a week and a half I will hop over to Lisbon, with the very exciting twist of meeting my new family member!
Carpe Diem!
PS - slightly late posting as yesterday I had to go out and have a couple of Caipirinha's in her behalf to celebrate ;) Thanks for the company T.!
Monday morning 6:30 AM... The pilot takes the microphone and starts talking in dutch to the passengers... I can already imagine... malfunction in the airplane, snow in Madrid, impossible weather to travel etc.
The he turns to english and announces that there are 32 passengers missing from a connecting flight, that their luggage is already being loaded and they should be arriving within 15 minutes. So, all this fuss about a 15 minutes delay?!?!?!?! Yep!Afterwards, he comes through the cabin answering questions from the passengers... cool stuff! Good reminder of some advantages about living in northern "developed" Europe!
