No soy de aqui . . .

So two weekends ago we decided to check out some of Valladolid’s cultural offerings. A group of us attempted to go out dancing Friday night but it turns out things don’t get crackin’ until 4:30 a.m. Basically people just socialize (eat tapas, have a few drinks) and then hit the discoteca at that time. Needless to say, I did not hold out ‘til then. It was nice though to see one of the bars full of lively socializing with people in their 40’s and over; you don’t usually see people within that age bracket out and about in the states. They’ve usually self condemned themselves to withering away in their homes in isolation from their friends – that is not the social norm here. We did however meet up with an intercambio group which is a group of locals who want to meet native English speakers for conversation. We met up with the group and chatted outside of a bar while having a beer next to the cathedral, it was pretty nice. Luego, they took us to a few spots for drinks and hanging out. The bar got pretty amped up when this song came on singing and jumping when it got to the hook, "Te casaste, lo cagaste!" The next day we checked out Casa Zorrila which is a museum of the actual home of a famous Valladolid poet and playwright in the 1800's named Jose Zorilla (originator of the Don Juan character from his play Don Juan Tenorio). He achieved great fame during his lifetime and was even honored in Madrid and crowned national laureate – he was kind of a big deal. He passed away while writing at his highly prized desk that he took with him everywhere even while traveling because he believed it’s what gave him the ability to write. That's the desk in the following picture. It was really cool to learn about his life since there are monuments/statues dedicated to him all around Valladolid including a main street here called Paseo Zorrilla.

We also checked out a photography exhibit entitled VallaPeople which featured photos of Valladolid locals shot by a local photographer, DANiMANTiS/Daniel Prieto Redondo. I thought this would be a great way to get to know Valladolid a little better. The photographs featured the names, ages, cities in which they were from and jobs of the people in the photographs – I was impressed with the amount of musicians in this city. While we were there we met the photographer and he took our picture. You can see it here on his FB page if you so desire: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4584884031105&set=pb.1562130600.-2207520000.1349447108&type=1&theater

I love the picture of the dressed up old lady because this city has soooo many old people who are dressed up and just out and about all day. And if they’re too old to be out on their own, there is always either a son or daughter or grandson or granddaughter taking their parent or grandparent for a stroll in their wheelchair. It doesn’t matter how old or ailing they are. The other day I could’ve sworn an old lady was being strolled around on her wheelchair that was actually dead or about to take her last breath any second.

Afterward we went to get some tapas for la comida de medio dia (lunch) and I decided to try a duck meat shishkebob - I spit it out, me no likey, but I found this interesting little guy on my plate. Settle down, it’s a mushroom . . . or was it? :o)

On Sunday me and Guillermo were fiending for sushi, so went out for dinner around 9 pm, afterward it was still pretty early (for Spaniard time anyway) and the evening was nice so wanted to grab a drink somewhere. We asked a couple that was walking by if they knew of a place nearby to do just that, and they invited us out with them! We were happy to oblige. Diego and Eva took us to a really cute and quaint bar where they got us a round of beers (they didn’t want us to pay because we were “invitados”). Guillermo and I decided we would get the next round. Diego is a professor at a local academy and Eva is a doctor who will be moving to Barcelona to work at a hospital there. We had a good time getting to know them. We found out that Eva only gets paid 950 euros/month as a doctor! She’s able to earn double that though because she does two 24 hour shifts during the week, but her base pay is 950/mo, pretty crazy huh? I guess you have to keep in mind that health care is free for everyone here, so I guess that’s why they don’t get paid much.

Anywho, Diego and Eva decided they wanted to show us another bar, so they took us to a very old traditional bar called El Penicilino (The Penicilin). They told us it was named after a customer, who many years ago, after sipping the owners’ special secret recipe wine said, “Cono, esto esta mejor que el penicilino!” (O.k., he may have not said the cono part, jejeje) Anywho, we went in and Eva ordered us a traditional sweet wine called moscatel, that is served in a glass bottle and with little glasses to be shared amongst friends and with little cookies called zapatillas (booties) because the look like baby booties. You typically eat the zapatillas by dipping them in the moscatel, in other words, this is the adult version of milk and cookies.

When we tried to pay, Diego and Eva once again refused to allow for me or Guillermo to pay. I’m just always blown away by the friendliness here. A foreigner in the states would never get this type of treatment from strangers. Eva even drew us a map of all the places that are nice to check out in Valladolid.

As for school last week I got to do an intro to me in most my classes where I did a presentation about myself. It was fun to see their reactions regarding my Two Truths and One Lie game, most students didn't think I could put my leg behind my head, and everytime I popped up the picture of me doing it, I heard surprise blurts of “Alaaa!” which is just a sound, I think, that means something like “Oh my God!” The kids were also able to ask me questions to get to know me (these were questions typed up by the teacher) One of the questions was, “What is your favorite Spanish phrase?” I said it was, “Joder!” – I think they were quite pleased ;o) One of the questions was weird though, “What were you wearing five years ago?” What the?! Jejeje

Also, this week one of the days me and Callie went on our own daily coffee break café, Bar Herga, and as we were sitting there, the bar owner gives each of us a cute little pot as a souvenir. Her husband does pottery and has a workshop in the pueblo where he sells them. What a nice gesture! Are you beginning to see why I adore Spain/Spaniards so much?

Also, this is our daily bartender/coffee server/tapa server, a.k.a. Herga’s son, Mario. He’s a muneco, in addition to being a cutie patutie. :o)

Finally, I would like to introduce you to my two favorite people in la tienda de chino which is like a big “$1 store” run by Asians, hence the colloquial term “chinese store”. I met Angel on my first trip there. He’s a lively boisterous character that likes to speak his broken English/Spanglish with me and is just all around hilarious. In this video I asked him to show me how to use the “saca corchos” I bought. And Paula es una chica muy maja (very nice girl) from Peru. I’m on a first name basis with these two because I go here so often. (I think I secretly go there so often to see Angel and Paula – I love them!)

But also, check out the cute para aguas (umbrella) I got there for 8 euros! Alaaa!

Anywho, still feeling extremely grateful and not sure of how to redeem myself to the universe to show just how grateful I am. I was thinking of volunteering here in Spain somewhere where a need is going unmet, or just being the best me (teacher, flatmate, friend, stranger) I can be everyday. I just feel like I'm indebted to life and owe so much for this wonderful experience. We'll see. Finally, I leave you with this great little guy that made me and friends' day when we came across him while walking down the sidewalk. Hasta pronto!