Meeting with the new head…

So, numero uno of living in Spain. I wanted to give myself a few days before starting work to familiarise myself with my new surroundings. And, I had a meeting with the new head before the start of term. But before that, I had arranged to meet up with someone from the Conversation Exchange site I joined in the summer. This particular exchange partner already speaks very good English and I am keen to practice my below basic Spanish!

After chatting over coffee for two hours and being introduced to some local cafes I was pretty tired. And it’s clear that I still have a long way to go with my Spanish! I didn’t expect it to come easy of course, I’m just fortunate that my language partner appears to have a lot of patience!

I head back to the hotel and its air con to chill for a bit knowing that I have a meeting with my new headteacher the following day – or so I thought it was!

I get back to the hotel lobby where the receptionist is waving a piece of paper at me. The head has been to the hotel looking for me! Bit odd! The note explains that she is at a bar waiting to meet with me! I have an ‘oh no!’ moment. I know I have my moments, but I’m not usually that scatty! Have I got the dates mixed up? I phone the number she has left and she gives me a list of directions. She speaks so fast that all I get is, ‘It’s right past C&A’ and ‘It’s only a five minute walk from where you are’ (yeah right, I’m sure it is!). I march out of the hotel as if it is on fire and head back into the city.

Thankfully, I know where C&A is as I walked past it this morning – it takes me 15 minutes! As I get to C&A I continue walking looking for this right turn. I get towards the end of the street. There is a long row of tall buildings all connected – no right turn! I get to the end of the street and decide to turn around and walk back. I must have missed it, or maybe I am on the wrong street!

My phone suddenly buzzes with a text. ‘Are you lost?’ I choose to ignore it and continue to walk back the way I came. I’ll phone in five minutes if I still can’t find it. I begin to think I am on a Spanish version of Harry Potter trying to find Platform 9 3/4! Where is this bloody right turn? By now I am extremely hot and sweaty, urg! Before I reach C&A I notice a tiny side street and wonder how I managed to miss it! I get to the table and find the head who informs me that she is on her second beer already whilst she’s been waiting for me – obviously concerned about our meeting! I am very flustered by this point, as well as hot and sweaty. So opt for water with plenty of ice! After all, this is a work meeting!

She begins our meeting by apologising for asking to meet a day early but thought it would be better to get started sooner on things. Phew!! I haven’t lost my marbles just yet!

She smirks at me and continues, ‘I’m surprised you had time to meet with me today.’

I must have that puzzled, gormless look on my face that certain family members have mentioned to me before, as she begins to laugh a little.

I ask her what she means.

‘Well, when I arrived at the hotel the receptionist explained that she saw you leaving with someone!’ Where the hell did she get that notion from? I left on my own for one thing! ‘What!!’ I reply.

My puzzled, gormless look now has a frown to go with it. She begins to laugh a little more, ‘Well, good for you if you were meeting a guy, but I did think it was a bit quick, you’ve only been here a day!’ I can feel my cheeks burning, and not from the heat of the sun! I know I’ve gone as red as a beetroot! I reply with, ‘Yes, I met with a friend earlier, but it was an amiga, not an amigo!’

Not that that matters either way of course! The point being that this is a very odd conversation to be having with your new employer! This is only the second time we’ve met, and what a way to start a meeting with another professional! It all felt quite weird and I was only too glad to get back to the hotel room again afterwards – on my own!! What a way to be meeting with your new head!