As agreed, I arrive at the hotel at noon. Eneias is in the lobby playing his guitar. He says he's been up since six, and has already been for a walk through the city.
We walk through the town and arrive at my office. I introduce him to my colleagues. Then he and I have lunch at a nearby restaurant, where our poster is displayed, and therefore the staff know who he is.
Then we drive back to the hotel where he collects his "equipamento". In addition to his guitar he has brought an amplifier, mixing desk and microphone.
We arrive at my house and he sets up. We have a bit of a jam, going through some of the chords, checking the keys and tempos, trying out different introductions and endings.
He gives me some percussion instruments. An egg to shake and a little hand drum. He demonstrates these, and the rhythm is powerful. But mine is feeble. When I wield these items I feel puny and incompetent. He says he will help me.
Most of our conversation is in Portuguese - a big effort for me, as I have only been learning for a year. I know my accent is terrible and that I am making a lot of mistakes. But this is part of the deal when you learn a new language. I promise myself plenty of forgiveness.
He has the nicest fingernails I have ever seen on anybody, male or female. He files them frequently with very fine emery paper.
He gives me some percussion instruments. An egg to shake and a little hand drum. He demonstrates these, and the rhythm is powerful. But mine is feeble. When I wield these items I feel puny and incompetent. He says he will help me.
Most of our conversation is in Portuguese - a big effort for me, as I have only been learning for a year. I know my accent is terrible and that I am making a lot of mistakes. But this is part of the deal when you learn a new language. I promise myself plenty of forgiveness.
He has the nicest fingernails I have ever seen on anybody, male or female. He files them frequently with very fine emery paper.
There is good chemistry between us. The sound is good, and it's a great first rehearsal.
After all the trouble I experienced in putting this project together, I've hit the jackpot. He's a delightful person, intelligent, educated, friendly and patient, not to mention a great musician.
After all the trouble I experienced in putting this project together, I've hit the jackpot. He's a delightful person, intelligent, educated, friendly and patient, not to mention a great musician.
That night, we take him with us to a dinner for my husband's work, at a very good local restaurant. Despite his limited English, he interacts confidently with the doctors and their partners. He conducts himself with equanimity and good humour, showing us how a box of matches can become a percussion instrument.
The i-pad proves itself to be a useful tool for communication. In addition to the translation site, our conversations can be illustrated with photos and videos - "Here is the video clip of a song he wrote"; "Recife looks a bit like the Gold Coast - here are some photos".
We pass around flyers for our show.
My brain is fried. It badly needs a rest, but I reckon I'm going to learn a lot of Portuguese this week.
The i-pad proves itself to be a useful tool for communication. In addition to the translation site, our conversations can be illustrated with photos and videos - "Here is the video clip of a song he wrote"; "Recife looks a bit like the Gold Coast - here are some photos".
We pass around flyers for our show.
My brain is fried. It badly needs a rest, but I reckon I'm going to learn a lot of Portuguese this week.
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