Friends

Ann and I are pretty much hermit types.  We’re socially functional hermits, but I don’t go out very much and don’t have much of a need to be around lots of people all the time.  Still, it’s good to have friends and sometimes it’s really rewarding.  Saturday was one of those times and I felt like I was back in college with the amount of socializing I did.

As you already know, I spent a good part of Saturday afternoon at the Christmas fair.  I actually tried to get out of there just after noon, but then I saw a friend whom I was going to meet later that night and stopped to chat with him.  Another friend then came over with multiple beers in hand and passed them around (remember the 5-beer rule?).  Well, as we talked, other folks would come over and more rounds would come my way.  It happened yet a third time with yet another friend before I could manage my escape.

I wound up remembering that I’d forgotten to buy one last present.  As I got it, I walked out of the tent and ran into another professional colleague (not USAID) that works on land issues, who introduced me to another land guy who just got into country.  We were joined by a 4th and, next thing you know, we’re sitting at a table having another round of beers talking land shop.  As we finished our beers they mentioned that they had just arrived and were ready to shop, so I went to make my escape.

As I was walking out I looked over at the Club tent and saw a bottle opener.  “Hey, can I buy one of those?”  “No, but  if you buy 5 beers I can give you one!”  I looked around and, low and behold, a group of 5 friends were sitting around a table drinking . . . beer.  So I bought 5, pocketed my bottle opener, and walked over to the table and set down 5 beers!  I told them Merry Christmas and walked away!  Sure, two of them were guys who had bought me beers so it was just payback, but still, I was in a giving mood (especially considering I wasn’t about to drink any more!) and treated three others.

So here is what I pocketed for $5.00:

So later that day, early in the evening, my friend Jennifer, who works on community forestry issues, had a get together at her home for a moderate-sized group of people who work on various land issues.  It was a good opportunity for me to get to know some key people at the IMF, the World Bank and UN Habitat, as well as other people involved in forestry and natural resource uses.  After having the afternoon I did, I was very careful and conservative in the amount of wine I had cuz I knew I wasn’t done for the night.  The conversation was good and the new people engaging.  Best of all, it wasn't all conversation about work!

A short three hours later, the get-together ended and I walked across the street to the Mamba Point Hotel bar - my usual place to watch soccer!  The bartender got me my usual Franziskaner weissbier and, starving for real food, I ordered a pizza.  A bit later Alex and his wife Natalia came in and sat down next to me and we watched the Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid.  Natalia was rooting for Athletico because their striker Falcao is Columbian and so is she.  But alas, Real won 2-0 in what was pretty much a romp!

All in all, Saturday was a pretty good day - friends, friends and more friends!