Buenos Dias mi muchacho's

This morning it was time to drop off my washing at the local launderette, while having it weighed and sorted the owner who has always made time to say hello asked me how long I had been in Colombia and what I worked at. I explained I had been in Colombia for 10 months and that I was a teacher in the English School on the 170. The unusual thing is the whole conversation was in Spanish (Still not very good Spanish but at no time did I stop to try to find a word in English). On leaving I headed to the Unicentro its a decent walk and the weather early on was lovely. On arriving I headed to the cafe area, sat down asked for the menu, ordered my Roast Beef sandwiche and a latte again all in Spanish and when I had finished called the waiter over and ordered another latte all the time surfing the web on my Palm to read the news (local Scottish and UK) from the BBC web site. Leaving I headed back as the weather looked like it was changing I stopped off in the Palatino a shopping Mall thats small but close to the area I live in. I went into the Arturo Calle Clothing Store one of the best thought of in Bogota. I was met as you always are by a prompt and efficient assistant who I greeted and then explained i wanted to buy some shirts but not with buttons but able to take cufflinks, he spirited me off to the back of the store where he showed me 5 different coloured shirts and then excused himself to go find some more from the back room all this after measuring my neck to make sure he got the right size. I chose 3 and we went to cash desk where I stopped him and explained I also wanted to get 2 pairs of trousers we went to a different area and I told him the colours I was interested in and he quickly picked various ones out in my size and I chose 2, a grey and black pair. these he measured to fit my leg and they will be ready tomorrow (yes they will be ready for uplift tomorrow a Sunday.) I then went and paid for the items and the whole event was once again carried out in Spanish. For those fluent in Spanish you can now stop laughing but for me it was indeed a landmark day as it is without doubt the first day I have felt truly comfortable and not having to reply on my "I am sorry I only speak English" routine that has really annoyed me and in truth I feel is disrespectful to the Colombians after all WHY should I expect them to speak my language - when in Rome as they say....

Needless to say the shirts are a far better quality than I would usually buy from Exito and they have been packed in my case for travelling back, the trousers will be the same once picked up tomorrow, they will be packed for use in the new school. Tomorrow when I go back I am going to look at the sleevless jackets I bought one when I came out and its been great but is beginning to show its age through fair wear and tear... It is worn almost every day unless really wet.

So for a Saturday its been a great day ...

Catch you all tomorrow...