Sunday, December 5, 2010

Bienvenido Joakim Andersen "2 the 'meddle' of the world"

We got ready early in the A.M. to go to the airport.  Carlos went to the Liga game so Adri, Juanjo, Yonseili and I went.  We made a sign that said:

Bienvenido
Joakim Andersen
"2 the 'meddle' of the world"

Yonseili drew a chiva on the right hand corner and we all signed our name and the country we are from.

First Adriana was told he'd be arriving at 9am... then 10.  But when we were over there waiting Paty called her to let us know he'd be arriving at 10pm because his flights were cancelled due to bad weather.  Since Yonseili had to leave early because she had to meet with her host mom, Adri, Juanjo and I went to the internet cafe to try to print out some clipart I helped them out with for his homework.  Freakin' document didn't wanna open so I had to go home and then returned later with Yonseili.

Oh yeah!  The nerve some taxi drivers have... correction - a lot of them have.  We took a taxi from the airport home instead of walking outside the airport so of course the ride was not cheap.  Adriana told the driver where he'd be taking us and he said $5.  I guess because she didn't wanna waste too much time she accepted and we got in.  We arrived to the internet cafe and she was short ten cents.  The driver shook his head in such huge disapproval and almost took off with the door open.  I took my time closing the door.  What a jerk.  He overcharged us at least $3 and he still gets mad for ten cents.  Laaame.

We just stayed indoors until night time when Adriana and I went to the airport for Joakim.  We knew he's 20 and that he was coming from Europe, but had no idea what he looked like.  I now know what my host parents have been through every time they wait for a new student.  You gotta wave the sign at everyone who fits the sex and age you are expecting.  It was funny.  We were there since 10ish and he came out at about 12:15 since several flights came in at the same time.  The airport staff don't help, everything looks disorganized.  Adriana asked one of the guys if all the people who flew in Continental already left, and he said yes JUST so that he didn't have to go back there for us to ask for Joakim with the sign of course.  Good thing we waited because he definitely came out a bit later.

*I've decided I really like airports.  I like seeing the different people that arrive and even more the reunions of families.  We saw Cubans arrive and actually in the morning we saw a reporter waiting for (and) the Olympic team of Ecuador.

After waiting and waving the poster at different guys, we waved it at one guy who (is) skinny, tall, white and was looking at all the signs people were holding up.  He saw ours, nodded and smiled at Adriana.  Then I said hi and we headed out.  He speaks very little Spanish right now but I'm sure he will learn a lot in this first week.  He seems cool, is willing to talk the little Spanish he knows, and was very tired.  He said his flight was cancelled twice in Denmark.  That is where he's from.  When we got home I was translating everything and it was funny when we were 'all' having a conversation at the top of the stairs he said "Yo no entiendo," and laughed along with us.

Highlight of the day:  Welcoming Joakim.  Being at the airport gave me a weird feeling.  I imagined Joakim was feeling the same thing we felt when we arrived.  And I can't believe we're leaving in two weeks.  Will be a bitter sweet day that day.

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