Shop Girl in Football Mania

I must’ve been to every Spanish bar in Bogotá.

La Basca full of bulls’ heads and flamenco posters,

La Tasca with its heavy wood beams,

La Puerta Grande with mosaics a la Gaudi and a white-washed terraza nicknamed ‘Ibiza’.

I wear my Spanish top with my name on the back and shout and scream at the television alongside the Fiancé.

My mother in-law bites her nails and gets as nervous as me while my father-in-law secretly supports the other side!

I’ll write my book when the world cup is over.

I’ll run off to the quiet of the country and write it word by word.

Meanwhile, I’ll wait for the octopus’s verdict while I quietly miss my family.

Because that’s the downside of the football, not being able to share the emotions with them!

I wish I could’ve seen my Dad’s reaction to those late in the game goals that got us through each time.

I imagine my Mum, walking in and out of the kitchen to watch bits and shout ‘Come on Wales!’

I want to be transported to Barcelona to see the game with my brother on a big screen by the beach.

You might not get it if you’re not into football.

So I’ll keep it short.

And when it’s over, I’ll write again.

If they win, if they lose, I’ll happily go through this all again.

Good luck to them all and Viva España!

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!