Out of all of the things that i will take out of my experience here in Valencia, (My relaxing time on the beach, the amazing friendships I have built, life lessons and my new found appreciation for my health), the one thing that I take, with utmost pleasure, is Pepe.
Pepe Navarro, was one of my closest friends in Spain. He was a hilarious, beautiful and compassionate man: without a doubt, one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Pepe Navarro, my 74 year old “compañero de café” or “my morning coffee partner”, would meet with me every weekday, half an hour before work at a small café that was on my way to the university. There, we would discuss the versatility of tomatoes, his experience during the Spanish civil war or museum expos that were showing downtown.
Would he not have began a conversation about his grandfathers oranges, that lucky morning in July and would I not have taken the time to listen to what he had to say, I would never have become so close to this perfect stranger who subsequently made my mornings so pleasant.
So for that, I take Pepe: The immortal figure who will always remind me to take notice and appreciate the wonderful people who surround me and make my life so much more pleasant.
jueves, 28 de enero de 2010
Tempest or Tourist
WHO AM I KIDDING
I can't pass for a Spaniard.
I may not stand out of the crowd so much in Valencia where people tend to be of a darker completion but so many other elements me give. I walk differently, talk differently, My attitude is totally different as well.
I DON'T WANT TO BELONG
Because of the sudden influx of immigration being experienced in Spain since the last century, several anti-immigrant sentiments and chauvinistic attitudes have boiled up. Immigrants including Latin Americans are discriminated against and although I had not been subject of any racism directly, seeing it happen to others hurt me all the same. Why would I want to belong in a society that in order to assert their superiority tramples on the humanity of others with a simple snare. This everyday differentiation and hierarchicalization of "us" and "them" make is extremely debilitating to the moral of the outsider who just wants to belong and contribute.
I'm glad that I cannot pass for a Spaniard, because by clearly being of Latin American descent in the way i speak, i represent those minorities that are discriminated against and change many peoples minds about outsider on their behalf.
This is something i felt i have accomplished and will continually try to accomplish.
My room mates sister actually came out and told me: "Before knowing you, i had a completely different idea of who Dominicans were"
Mission Accomplished!!
I can't pass for a Spaniard.
I may not stand out of the crowd so much in Valencia where people tend to be of a darker completion but so many other elements me give. I walk differently, talk differently, My attitude is totally different as well.
I DON'T WANT TO BELONG
Because of the sudden influx of immigration being experienced in Spain since the last century, several anti-immigrant sentiments and chauvinistic attitudes have boiled up. Immigrants including Latin Americans are discriminated against and although I had not been subject of any racism directly, seeing it happen to others hurt me all the same. Why would I want to belong in a society that in order to assert their superiority tramples on the humanity of others with a simple snare. This everyday differentiation and hierarchicalization of "us" and "them" make is extremely debilitating to the moral of the outsider who just wants to belong and contribute.
I'm glad that I cannot pass for a Spaniard, because by clearly being of Latin American descent in the way i speak, i represent those minorities that are discriminated against and change many peoples minds about outsider on their behalf.
This is something i felt i have accomplished and will continually try to accomplish.
My room mates sister actually came out and told me: "Before knowing you, i had a completely different idea of who Dominicans were"
Mission Accomplished!!
To change or not to change
Not to change my eating habits!!!
-In Spain breakfast consists of a glass of juice or a coffee... “un cortado”, as they call it. ---This is followed at around 11AM by "el almuerzo" which in general is a baguette sandwich of some sort.
-At around 4, they would have a "merienda", (a snack): more coffee some sort of bread AGAIN.
-Finally dinner at around 9PM which is always accompanied by... you guessed it... bread.
I will not have dinner at 9PM. Spanish people may enjoy it but personally I cannot go to bed right after having eaten. I tried it and it has completely messed up my digestive system. I actually have breakfast in the morning. I have oatmeal or cereal, or and omelet or fruits... as soon as I wake up... not 3 hours after.
I never thought I would ever say this but... I'm so tired of bread. I don’t understand how people here are so freaking thin. All they eat is bread
OK, Fine. To change a little.
Isn't it funny how much your person accommodates to your surroundings. Living in Valencia, where people go out dancing at 2am and come back at 8am, just in time to wash their faces and go to work, I have to say i don't feel that I have become contaged.It must either be my gluttony for sleep or my utter disinterest in being up all night in heels. Plus, there's the annoying constant beeping sound I hate.
The night of San Juan in Valencia however was a party that I couldn't pass up. Europe best DJs and 200,000 people on the beach celebrating a day which is generally celebrated in all of Latin America. Saint John’s night, during which bonfires are lit and jumped over to take away all of the bad experienced in the previous year. But nowhere is it celebrated like in Valencia.
For this I was willing to get home in at 8am to wash my face and go to work.
-In Spain breakfast consists of a glass of juice or a coffee... “un cortado”, as they call it. ---This is followed at around 11AM by "el almuerzo" which in general is a baguette sandwich of some sort.
-At around 4, they would have a "merienda", (a snack): more coffee some sort of bread AGAIN.
-Finally dinner at around 9PM which is always accompanied by... you guessed it... bread.
I will not have dinner at 9PM. Spanish people may enjoy it but personally I cannot go to bed right after having eaten. I tried it and it has completely messed up my digestive system. I actually have breakfast in the morning. I have oatmeal or cereal, or and omelet or fruits... as soon as I wake up... not 3 hours after.
I never thought I would ever say this but... I'm so tired of bread. I don’t understand how people here are so freaking thin. All they eat is bread
OK, Fine. To change a little.
Isn't it funny how much your person accommodates to your surroundings. Living in Valencia, where people go out dancing at 2am and come back at 8am, just in time to wash their faces and go to work, I have to say i don't feel that I have become contaged.It must either be my gluttony for sleep or my utter disinterest in being up all night in heels. Plus, there's the annoying constant beeping sound I hate.
The night of San Juan in Valencia however was a party that I couldn't pass up. Europe best DJs and 200,000 people on the beach celebrating a day which is generally celebrated in all of Latin America. Saint John’s night, during which bonfires are lit and jumped over to take away all of the bad experienced in the previous year. But nowhere is it celebrated like in Valencia.
For this I was willing to get home in at 8am to wash my face and go to work.
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