... We arrived at the house. There were already 3 people there, the lady host, the physician and his wife. I was welcomed ever warmly.. I was offered a cup of coffee, a donut, and as expected, we quickly arrived to the the usual 'question and answer session'. Although my head was still spinning, I tried my best to answer their questions intelligibly. It so happened that the physician in the group is a graduate from my Alma mater so he asked most questions about the University and if his classmates and friends are still there. After the question and answer session, they suggested I go and have some rest in the bedroom.
When I recovered after some 45 minutes rest, I had to face the 'accommodation confusion'. It is up to me they said, whether I stay in that house or stick to the previous plan. I wanted to please everybody so I was having a difficult time deciding. To make the story short, I decided to stay.
My decision proved to be the better one. For the next "research"* and sightseeing days, I was always provided with a more-than-willing guide, driver, interpreter, and a good friend, all gratis!
* I was a self-made researcher there :-), it was not pure sightseeing, mountain climbing and drinking. It actually involved some interviewing elders, it was all fun!
For the days that followed, apart from
sightseeing, motorbiking up the mountain, down the mountain, along the coast, through narrow and steep roads, I conducted interviews. I was able to interview a 102 year jolly old man who shared the stories of the past. A slightly drunk grandmother puffing her tobacco and singing love songs, entertained us. Another giggly, charming grandmother tried hard to "appropriately" respond to my interview questions. I was also able to talk to the only Ivatan scholar (at that time, at least), Professor H.
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