Two weeks ago I finally made the trek to the very north of Spain to see my Spanish family in Pola de Lena. Pola is the very first “pueblo” after crossing the border from Castilla y León into Asturias. This is the only reason I can think of as to why there is a direct train between there and Valladolid, because it’s a very small town (only about 7,500 inhabitants). But, luckily for me there is, and on Friday afternoon I hopped on it. After three hours in the train (and three years of anticipation!) I was greeted by my beaming Spanish papás who are still as cute as ever J We quickly caught up over coffee at a café en route from the train station and then it was home to see Marta. I cannot tell you how ecstatic I was to see her! And when I finally embraced my “hermana” it was as if not a day had passed. We quickly got up to speed on each other’s lives (although we always stay informed of the larger details). Then Carlos got home from his day of studying law and coaching hockey. It was the same with seeing him, as if we had just been hanging out yesterday. Unfortunately Juan, the youngest Garcia sibling, couldn’t be around for my visit (he was in Portugal for a gig with his rock band….!!!) but I doubt it would be the same with him, since the last time we saw each other he was 15 and now he’s “todo un hombre,” studying psychology at the university and busy being a rock star on the side. Oh well, all the more reason for me to go back for another visit soon I guess J
After the amazing Asturian dinner I went out with Marta to meet some of her friends at a bar they frequent. It was so cool going back to Pola because literally nothing has changed. Marta and Carlos still have the same friends, who all remember me. Even Cristian, the bartender from Ecuador was like “oh hey Katie, what’s up?! It’s been a long time!” Haha awesome. So, needless to say, it was great to see all these people.
Both nights I hung out with Marta and her friends at the bar, playing Spanish card games and chatting and then later with Carlos and his friends (we got back at 6:00am both nights!).... Marta can’t stay out very late these days because even though she finished law school this summer, she is studying a great deal for the state exams to become a notary like her father (a position in Spain which I will never understand; it’s very important, however; thus, the difficult examinations).
Some other highlights were cooking and having girl talk with Marta and her mom. We reminisced a lot about her summers in Eau Claire, even whipped out the photo albums (and berated our parents for having ever let us leave the house in the clothes we used to wear back when we were fourteen). I got to speak on the phone to Marta’s boyfriend, Joaquín, who is studying abroad in Poland this semester and to one of her uncles and his family who have always taken kindly to me, especially because they absolutely love the USA and travel all the time. They made me promise to come for more days next time so I can make it to Gijón to compare travel notes on Chicago and Chile, their latest adventures (and obviously near and dear to my heart).
On Sunday afternoon Carlos and his parents took me to the train station. I was SO SAD. I think it was mostly a Pavlov’s Bell-type conditioned response, given that all the times we’ve said goodbye in the past it’s been for at least a year. Even though I was aware of this, I couldn’t help but cry nearly half the train ride home.
I think a lot of my emotion had to do with the nostalgia that came from returning to a place that has remained practically unchanged for the last three years. It really made me think of the person I was the last time I was there and how much has changed since then. Also, they are practically my family and I was so happy to be with them that returning to “Fachadolid” was nearly unbearable. Carlos Sr. is from Castilla y León however, and he gave me some good advice as to not “desesperarme” (lose hope). He said that Castilians may be dry and a bit cold but once you get under the surface, they’ll be your friends for life. Let’s hope that this proves to be true—I’m to the point of thinking of taking up smoking to meet people (“hey, got a light?”—JUST KIDDING, Mom) and I’ve already started wearing way too much eye make-up when I go out, in sad attempt to blend in better with the women my age. LOL.
Even though I am still struggling to meet people outside of work, at least the people I work with are great. Today I had literally four separate Thanksgiving celebrations. The first was during "recreo" (the free period we have everyday at school... like recess, but for high schoolers). A bunch of teachers threw me a sort of surprise Thanksgiving party, complete with cookies, American coffee, apple cake and Spanish omelet. It was the farthest thing from a traditional Thanksgiving day meal but it was very nice. Then the kids in my last hour class also threw me a surprise Thanksgiving celebration. They all brought a "dish" to pass from home (chips, candy, cookies, etc. hehehe) which I thought was so sweet. After school I went to the house of another English teacher, Teresa, for lunch (which is like dinner at home, the big meal of the day). She said to me earlier in the week "I want you to come to my home for Thanksgiving. Is a very important holiday and you can not miss it!" Needless to say she is a lovely woman with an equally wonderful family who I had the pleasure of meeting. My fourth Thanksgiving celebration was when I went in to work at the English Academy. My boss studied at an American university, as did her parents, so she had always celebrated Thanksgiving until she moved here. She said "my first Thanksgiving in Spain I cried so I brought you this to make you feel good!" And the she proceeded to hand me a bag of chocolate truffles. It was such a wonderful gesture. I missed my family a lot today so it helped to have someone to share roast chicken (Teresa's substitute for turkey!) and junk food with. Luckily for me, some of my family is coming tomorrow! My sister, Leah, is arriving with my neice and nephew tomorrow afternoon to visit for a few days. I'm so excited! They are my first visitors so I will be practicing my tour guide skills out on them. I'll let you all know how it goes...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Love,
Katie
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