Final Goodbyes

Tango Class

During 5 months, Rosa continued to mention “Las Alpujarras,” which is a series of pueblitos (villages) in the mountains where she has a house. Finally, for our last weekend before leaving, we went! We stopped for a café con leche on the way, and ate lunch in the tallest village in Spain which is famous for its jamón (ham, like prosciutto). Rosa’s house (think townhouse, pueblo style) is in a village of 80 people, no stores or cafés, and every building is white stucco—absolutely precious.

My church!

I said goodbye to our church family, my tango class, last chocolate and churros, and had to say one last goodbye to classical music concerts. It was completely perfect; Barto, our conductor friend, had his symphony play music imitating New York in “The Big Apple,” so great to listen to a piece about the US in Granada—almost as if it was saying goodbye to us.

Rosa, Lupe, Barto, Ronnie, Katherine and Antonio

The entire semester we had been promising to make an “American” dinner (if you think about it, what IS an American dinner? We have stolen everything from every other country…but, no complaints!). Ultimately, Lupe (Rosa’s 67 year dance instructor who dresses like a teenager, complete with a blonde hair scrunchy), Antonio (Rosa’s brother) and Barto and Ronnie (the conductor and his wife—such a fun couple!) came for a dinner of baked potatoes, salad and strawberry shortcake. You have to try caramelized onions on baked potatoes! The salad did not have raw onions or garlic (for once!), but rather I made a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, the lemon peel, rosemary, oregano and basil. It was a sweet night of fun conversation, great food and dear friends.

Our final dinner with everyone in our program was held at a 4 star hotel, in a grand ballroom with a glass ceiling and fountains. After two plates of calamari, jamón and cheeses for appetizers, we realized we had not even begun the evening’s menu. Salad, a meat dish, a lemon sorbet with hierbabuena (do not remember which spice that is) for a palate cleanser and dessert of a gourmet ice cream, encrusted in almonds, with hot chocolate poured over it was accompanied by 5 glasses. White wine for the salad, red wine for the meat dish, cava for the dessert, and of course water and soda—wow! We were out until 1 am eating, trying to suppress our nerves for our official language exam the following morning.

ILACA final dinner

Katherine, my roommate had to leave immediately following the exam (tough goodbye), so Rosa and I decided to go for our last round of tapas at Los Diamentes with calamari, shrimp and bacalao (type of fish), a plate of fried eggplant (which is usually covered in a sweet molasses sauce), and ice cream at Los Italianos.

The next day was my day to say goodbye to Granada and Rosa. How many tears were shed at the bus station! I love that woman—she may love to repeat stories, be the owner of the ugliest dog known to man, interrupt study sessions with stories about her recent purchases and tell me about every friend of hers that has had plastic surgery (and its success or failure!), but she opened not only her home to me, but also her heart and family. We will always have a connection despite the 5400 miles that separate her and me; she will never stop being my “Rosa,” nor I her “niña.”

Extremadura was my next stop, to visit my precious friends, Sharon & David. To breathe in the fresh air of the countryside, work in their garden and be in the olive groves was the perfect transition between my Spanish and American life (plus, I probably ate my weight in fresh strawberries and raspberries J). Their village provided me the idyllic Spanish ending; after going with Sharon to her choir practice, a few friends stopped by to say hello to me that I had met during Semana Santa, and I also took a little walk through its cobblestone streets. While admiring its doors that are practically as old as the US, an elderly gentleman kindly stopped me, asked me if I was from the village (ok, somewhat questionable to ask a blonde with a camera if she is from the village of 2000 peopleJ), and then proceeded to show me where his home was in the case I ever needed anything, have a question answered or simply to chat.  Later, after the practice, Nanda, Josefa and María Carmen (three women I had met when I visited in 2012, also the committee of the choir), Sharon and I went to tapas. They were discussing the choir’s final celebration dinner, when they saw the owner of the local restaurant. Rather intimidating to have those 3 women order a man to the table to negotiate prices of a dinner—poor guy never stood a chance. These are the moments I will miss with all my heart.

Extremadura

Finally, I headed to Madrid to stay with a friend of David and Sharon’s the night before my flight. Such a kind couple and a precious 3 year-old son! Loved playing blocks and trains with him, just thinking of the few hours that separated me from my own 5 (soon to be 6!) nieces and nephews, and also conversing very easily with everyone in Spanish.  

Dr. Seuss has said, “Oh! The places you’ll go!” –Belgium, Norway, Spain…and the list continues. I will come back in the near future, still have not completed my two final goals of visiting Portugal and País Vasco (located in northern Spain), but nothing could ever beat being with the greatest blessing of my life: my 2 parents, 4 brothers and sisters (in-laws are not “in-laws,” they are siblings), and 5 (practically 6—just somewhat excited to see my sister’s baby bumpJ) nieces and nephews and 1 Nana, oh, and my dog and horse (practically family, and are more spoiled than I am). 

Final thought: No matter the culture, language or distance from my family, one thing remains unchanged: God continues to prove Himself in the most humorous and spontaneous ways as the only god and the definition of truth, love and justice.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”

--Hebrews 10:23-25