Now that Semana Santa is over, schools reopen and the real work can begin. Ive completed my questionnaires having integrated further content regarding parental choices and philanthropy. All that remains is for Rodrigo to cast a critical eye over my Spanish version at which point we will be ready to commence the pilot study. Before we can actually enter Aguablanca though we have to contact the authorities in order to obtain the necessary paperwork and inform the schools of our plans. The next few days will be about phone calls and meeting local officials and explaining, on numerous occasions no doubt, what it is Im trying to achieve.
In the meantime, Rodrigo, his work colleague Juan and myself take a taxi to the south of the city in order to meet my new landlady and cast an eye over my new digs. I say digs in the loosest sense of the word as no grubby student is worthy of this space. Lucia lives on the corner of Roosevelt and 39th street on the 15th and highest floor of the block. Her apartment is modern, spacious and absolutely spotless with eye popping views of downtown Cali and the mountains to the west. Lucia herself is an energetic middle age widow, she works in the national bank and lives alone bar the occasional visits from her daughter, a student in Bogota and her nephew, a traveling engineer. There is a very good rapport between us all and but for the odd, lo siento no entiendo, lost in translation moment, I feel pretty comfortable in my new surroundings. Lucia shows me round her flat and we negotiated a price. I say negotiate, she gave me a price and I agreed. To be honest it is relatively expensive, however for 125 quid a month I get the run of the place for almost the entire working day, I get total peace and quiet for my studies and I can give Joni and Letycia the personal space they clearly need. Everyones a winner, even the insecure cocker spaniel that growls at strangers when they leave the apartment. Having become acquainted over fresh mango chunks and several glasses of cool Argentinian White, I agree to move in the next evening. We say goodbye to Lucia and her nephew before taking a quick stroll around the local neighbourhood. Being Holy Sunday its fairly quiet but we find a panaderia/bakery and order three of the largest hamburgers youll ever see. I wont be eating again for a couple of days.