Have you ever stared at a blank page? Really contemplated how to fill it with gripping words and fetching phrases?
Because a residency is weeks of staring at page after blank page. Like this:
Near the close of my first day in Messejana, I’ve not put a word on those pages. I flew all night and didn’t sleep. I blame my squirmy seat mate.
In Lisbon, I got into an argument with the rental car lady. She insisted a Fiat was too small for an American (though I drive one at home.) Plus, she did not believe I drive a stick. After thirty minutes of wrangling, I was finally on the road!
I teared up driving over THIS BRIDGE. I still can’t believe I’m living in a new-to-me country!
Two hours. High desert. Cows cows cows. And I found Buinho Creative Hub.
Jorje, a resident from Mexico City, showed me around the workshop. I am still floored by the 3-D printer collection. Maybe I’ll figure out how to 3-D print this novel while in residence. Ha.
I’m staying at the writing residency near the center of town. That’s my window on your left.
On my way in, I met Jennifer, a sculptor from Nebraska, Monica, one of the program coordinators, and Maria, the maid.
WE HAVE AN ACTUAL CLEANER HERE. PINCH ME SILLY.
Behold my studio:
And I have my own private bathroom!!!!! I’ve already used it five or six times BECAUSE I CAN GO WHENEVER I WANT!!!!!!!
After I organized my space, I walked to the local market with Carlos, the other program coordinator. He helped me buy a few groceries with my nonexistent Portuguese.
What would a first day be without getting lost? Because I got super-lost.
Delirious with sleep deprivation, I decided to drive to the next town’s bigger market. Well, the store was right where the Google Girl said it’d be, but the bitch erased the address for the residency. I drove around and around and around and around this microscopic town looking for my home.
That blue sky photo above? EVERY BUILDING IN MESSEJANA LOOKS JUST LIKE IT. I didn’t want to text Carlos and admit I got lost on my first day.
After multiple laps drew every resident into the streets to gape at my stupidity, I looked to my left AND THERE IT WAS.
Plumb tuckered, I found space for my groceries and collapsed in my studio. This is the only thing I’ll write on Day One.
Day Two of my Portuguese residency? ANOTHER BLANK PAGE TO FILL. Wish me luck. And sleep. Mostly sleep.
Miss my first residency installment? START FROM THE BEGINNING HERE.
7 Comments
Ah, humility. Good for the soul. 🙂
In Spain, France, and Italy, I may not know what people are saying but I can usually get the gist. Here, I HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA. None. Many Portuguese words look similar to Spanish on the page, but it sounds totally different. I’d been calling this town ‘Messehana,’ pronouncing the j and an h like Spanish. The border officer laughed his ass off and told me it’s ‘Messejana,’ with a hard j. Poor Jorje is “Georgie” here, not ‘Horhe.’
I wanted to put myself someplace utterly foreign this time. I definitely succeeded.
Yeah, like the ll in Spanish is a ‘y’ sound. In Portuguese it’s a ‘j’ sound. The name Villegas is pronounced Vee-Jay-gas. Interesting stuff. I’d be an idiot too, but an honest idiot, so don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. 🙂
I love getting lost when exhausted (see Ireland 2005) because of the adrenalin rush. YMMV But seems a good way to start a new journey of discovery. Blank pages, ho!
Ireland is a gorgeous place to get lost. ?
Love that throw on the bed. The Moon. *sigh* Place looks lovely.
It is lovely. Hot. Sometimes a little buggy. But I happily trade a few basic comforts for these adventures.
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