Alone in Mallorca - Blogging to Stay Sane

First evening alone - a good start!

What do you do when you move to a foreign land and you don't know anyone? 

Obviously you go get your nails done. At least that's where I went to seek out emotional support. I had hoped for a lively woman my age who would chat easily, invite me out for a drink that evening and within days become a really great friend. Too much to ask from a manicure? Yes. 

The reality was a surly, middle-aged woman who wasn't interested in talking, but did say I was bound to meet other Brits soon enough. I felt a bit miffed. For the record, I haven't moved to Mallorca to seek out an ex pat community. I've come to meet all nationalities. Technically I'm not even an ex pat anyway, as I'm half Spanish, though evidently my accent needs a polish. 

The woman only softened when it was time to pay. Did I seem too desperate? I hadn't spoken to anyone in two days and I have no reliable internet connection at the moment. In fact if this blog goes up, it's because I've found an internet cafe*. (*The noughties called, it wants its internet cafe back!) 

As I left the nail salon, a treacherous voice whispered: Why did you leave the country where all your friends are? But another voice, who has been through this once before, replied, Patience, it will all be worth it... 

Since my time at the nail salon had failed to fulfill my emotional needs, I embraced retail therapy instead. There's a brilliant Chinese shop beneath our flat. In Spain, a Chino shop sells everything under the sun; from mops and buckets, to earrings and dog food. I LOVE CHINO SHOPS and I started to feel more upbeat as I wandered up and down the aisles finding things on my list. 

My Trainers' First Outing in Mallorca

Lists, I feel, are key to survival while alone in a new place. Well, they are for me. Maybe you're unfazed by being alone. My husband is arriving in 4 days and I'm really looking forward to his company. Meanwhile I'm writing lists to focus myself and not succumb to a strange urge to just sleep. 

My list ranges from going for an exploratory run (TICK) to buying rubbish bags (TICK) to writing a blog (TICK) and buying a cork board to carry on plotting my novel (TICK). 

I feel much better for writing all this down. It was either blog or start talking to myself. Thanks for reading lovely people. 

Right, next on my list is finding an internet cafe... found one!

Football and Nails

The World Cup is very distracting and I love it.

Here in Bogota everyone is watching.

Colombia may not have classified but there are plenty of other exciting Latin teams to support.

Thank God I’m staying in a home that’s embracing the tournament!

My very first day with the in-laws involved shouting at the telly as Spain played Switzerland.

Despite our enthusiastic support from the sofa sidelines, Spain lost.

I rang my dad feeling distraught.

“It’s part of their strategy,” Papa assured me.

My in-laws are brilliant and not just because they get emotional about football.

They are everything I could hope for: Caring, generous, open, relaxed, good-looking, funny, affectionate…

Did I mention affectionate?

My Mum sometimes calls me ‘Flower’ which is lovely. Over here, they take it a step further.

Mi vida, mi amor, mi lindo Corazon…(my life, my love, my beautiful heart…) My Fiancé’s family don’t speak without uttering some loving term. I reckon they couldn’t resist even in an argument. Even in a football match.

Pass me the ball, my life.

I’m fast getting used to being here.

It’s been special seeing my cousin too, who turned up in Bogota on the same day, as part of her world travels.

We went for a manicure and pedicure together. My first ever!

The women assigned to me fell quiet as she realized how much work lay ahead.

I winced as she scraped and chopped at my cuticles with a tool not too dissimilar from the wire cutters back in the shop.

All these years of moaning about horrible finger nails, well finally Shop Girl has nice nails.

Unfortunately wearing open shoes is a bit of a no-no in this city so I can’t show my toes off. Instead I have to make do with walking around the apartment bare foot so I can enjoy looking at them.

That’s enough now.

Spain is playing in 2 hours and I’m already nervous.

Yesterday my mother in-law bought a special Spanish supporter snack pack, of chorizo, jamón Serrano and Manchego cheese.

What more could I want?

Ah yes, a goal!

And if not?

Well there are plenty of Latin teams to cheer for!