So, does anyone remember that relatively famous picture of the Spanish basketball team in preparation for the Beijing Olympics? The whole line of players (jugadores de baloncesto), fingers pulling the skin near their eyes to imitate the Chinese eye shape, a racist motion in the United States that we may have done once or twice as kids and then grown up and felt guilty about? Well, here, its completely okay.
Infact, there is a bus ad that I see every day, advertising Chinese classes, and although it comes in various forms, the image remains the same, a Spanish child, often dressed in traditional Chinese garb, pulling their eyelids and smiling shamelessly. ¨Look!¨ they seem to say, ¨¨We´re Chinese now! hahaha!¨
Yes. Seriously, its totally not even weird. And when learning how to say almond shaped eyes in one of my classes, my teacher called on me, and I could not explain what the word meant (I knew it, but I could not explain it). So she kindly did that thing, where you imitate the eye shape!
Seriously, its shocking. Its not even offensive.
And then there are the Chino Shops, thats what they are called. Often owned by Chinese immigrants, hence the name, they line the streets of Granada and are filled with candy, soda, and booze, a bit like a 7-11. I have been maintaining a struggle with those stores because ALL of them offer a wide variety of chewy candy (and very little in the realm of chocolate minus two or three kinder eggs) that one can purchase per piece. So, you can go in, buy 50 cents worth of candy, and be very satisfied with the amounst of chewy goodness. Needless to say, I have recently quit them. I hope. They are my enemy! SO MUCH CHEWY CANDY!!!
And, the African population!? A new group of immigrants? Well, all they seem to do is sell illegally copied CDS or DVDS on the streets. You don´t see then doing anything else. And you don´t see anyone buying them. Its really upsetting.
When it comes to street vendors, it is completely okay and acceptable for them to walk up to you and sell sell sell. If you are sitting outside of cafe drinking coffee, they will come up to you and the owner will not stop you. If you are sitting INSIDE a restaurant, they will enter and sell to you and no one will stop them. Its bizarre.
And Gypsys? Well, they are randomly spread about town, performing or selling, forcefully, some palm readings. Very pricey, and useless if you don´t speak Spanish.
So, all in all, life is tough for the obviously different.
And I miss you guys! Until Next Time...aka, tomorrow
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4 comments:
I am glad that you're pointing it out that Spaniards - and i would dare to add Europeans in general - are not at all as ethically and morally impeccable as they've been lately reputed to be - at least in some self-righteous "intellectual" circles...where did this idea even come from given the history?...even if they are not racist - or at least huge bigots - per se, they are definitely very insensitive (or much less sensitive than American standards – at their best - require) and very self-centered (or much more self-centered than American value system – at its best - prescribes)...should I say ethnocentric?...enough about politics and issues - from anthropologist's perspective, which assumes that there are no good or bad cultures, these are just cultural differences....i would highly recommend though to appreciate the fact that you are an AMERICAN STUDENT in Spain, and you're there for a few months only, and hopefully, 21st century helps a little too.
About aggressive sellers - wait till you get to Morocco. Don’t mean to scare you though - you should definitely go there, just make sure to avoid eye contact at all costs with those sellers. Although avoiding eye contact does not give you any guarantees, I believe it slightly diminishes the likelihood of customer abuse. :)
Keep writing, it's so interesting!
And technology saves it for you and for our family's posterity.
LOVE YOU!!!! MISS YOU!!!
it's true, as much as political correctness may seem hypocritical or insincere sometimes, it's really kind of a great thing... and i'd also like to echo anuta and allison and say that i'd love a siesta. liza, what do you know about this bus between granada and madrid? does it leave from the madrid airport or will it be a huge hassle to find it? ok, i HAVE to go read... spanishtime seems so much better than nytime right now. let me know if you have any insight about travel between granada and madrid. i can start thinking about buying a ticket soon. can't wait!!!!! and have you really already been there for a whole month?! love you and hopefully see you soon!!
zaika
i just wanted to say "hi" for the day in writing. i know we talked and everything, but somehow i've gotten used to this channel, and - just like you suggested weeks ago when you started this whole thing - this is how i start my day. and often it makes my day, especially when it's a day at work.
...once again: no pressure or anything....:)
do you want to not forget your camera and maybe take some pictures of those graffiti, and tell us a story?
is there any way we can look at your pictures - and I mean pictures of YOU - somewhere/somehow.
Another random thought:
look at eurorail youth (for everyone under 26) passes here
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/passes/youth_index.htm
and see what you think.
It may not look that cheap but when you think of how many places you can go to, and how many trips you can take, it's really reasonable, I think.
LOVE YOU and MISS YOU A LOT!!!!
Liza,
I am glad you feel good about being yourself in Spain. I think that is one thing I would have a hard time doing while in another country. Also, I love you.
-Allison
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