I am experiencing one of the curiosities of having lived deeply in multiple locations. I love my life here. I love sending text messages without thinking about vocab or regard for how much each text or minute spent on the phone costs. I like driving, I like speaking comfortable English and being able to have conversations about more than just differences between my culture and another, I like eating and doing whatever I want (which has much more to do with the face that I am blissfully unemployed than anything else). I like being so connected to the story that has always been mine. It is comfortable. It feels nice to be comfortable and comforted. It feels nice to not have to think so much and put as much effort into things.
At the same time though, I get a little restless. The restlessness reminds me that this season cannot last forever; nor do I want it to. Challenge creates growth. Recently, my friend Amanda and I went to a paletería. For those not up on their Mexican Spanish, that is a popsicle/ ice cream shop. And yes we have at least three in KC; also they are as delicious as they sound. We walked in and the woman said to us "Pasen, pasen." I was like YES. Spanish rain on my parched linguistic soul. (Wow, that was poetic. Or cheesy. Not sure.) We proceeded to sample more little spoonfuls of ice cream than I was aware was legal; meanwhile, I conducted the entire conversation in non-regional Spanish with the exception of one little "vale." that escaped my non-lisping mouth. It was awesome. Ever since that day, I have realized that I need Spanish. I need my life to contain two idioms. (hehe, poor translation for languages) I looooove Spanish. Lo quierooooo. I miss Spanish. I miss being immersed in it; I miss that challenge. (but only a little bit) I miss tapas bars, potajes, the beach, my students, and Jerez. This is good. I like it when the bad sifts away and I am left holding only the diamonds in my memory.
Total tangent- The Iberian peninsula played each other today AND I FORGOT TO WATCH IT. I started painting instead and the game that had felt so crucial two hours before simply slipped from my memory. I did just watch the highlights here and the way the Portuguese goalie blocks the Spanish goal attempts will break your heart. I have never said that about any sporting event, by the way. Both teams played really well (I am obviously an expert from that two-minute video) but Spain pulled through and will play again! Maybe next time I can watch it on Univision and get my Spanish fix.
1 comment:
If I had been in the paleteria alone I think I could have ordered in Spanish...eventually. I also think that kind woman may have offered me a taste of every kind of ice cream in the case, and I probably would have accepted, finally settling on the tequila that was so very tasty...in a waffle cone Can we go back?
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