Christians...and crispy m&ms

Before I start relating any sort of semi-amusing anecdote I would like to set the scene for all you readers. I am seated on a white leather bench in an Italian ice cream shop/coffee house on my iBook. I just downed a "mokachino". I recognize the perfection of this situation. Too bad I'm not in Starbucks-but their WiFi costs 9Euro an hour PLUS an over-priced drink and I just don't roll like that.

Today, Saturday, I decided to get my lazy self out of the house and walk around a bit. Pan and I planned to go to the Palacio Real but my lunch date at 3pm with the family for traditional cocida madrileña, a type of stew, got in the way. So I decided to walk around a bit. In front of the Palacio Real a huge screen was set up and hundreds of chairs were in front of it. Opera was being shown on this screen. A tape of an opera. And there were people in opera-dress milling around with pamphlets. Seeing as opera kinda makes me tear up the majority of the time, and I was relatively happy today I decided to pass on this.

I kept walking. And encountered human statues. You know-people who dress up all in one color and stand really still and when people put money in the box they slowly (creepily) wave their thanks? There was one Golden Angel. And one, dirt man. Dirt man is really the only way to describe it. He was kinda taupe colored, with dust. And he was smoking, slowly of course. Because that's the only way statues can smoke. Clearly. And then after these two people, I encountered a group gathered around something. And that something was another street show thing. At first glance it was a dwarf man with a mutated face and a large camping backpack. In plaid pants. Upon further inspection it was one of those costumes where the person's legs are the dwarfs legs, but the person's body is hid in in large backpack. Think Gelman's ostrich costume for all you Wes people. It was creepy.

Pictures of all that here: (the last page, but you can look at it all)
http://wesleyan.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019270&l=4f10a&id=4203383

Oh-and last night I sat in the Plaza Mayor writing in my journal and just taking in the atmosphere. And this consisted of watching people set up a large stage for a Cuban music concert this afternoon (that I'm going to after I finish writing this), and a group of people singing. I heard their voices from a distance at first and could only make out the word "revolución". There were a couple acoustic guitars, and it seemed a bit like some peace rallies I've been to. I wasn't quite sure why they would be having a peace rally because they're not a war constantly, unlike us. **AAAH THERE IS A SCREAMING BABY RIGHT NOW!!** Eventually, my curiousity got the best of me, and I wandered over closer to see what it was all about. And I hear the words "Jesus Cristo". No, maybe I heard wrong. But then the music stops and a skit begins. This skit involves a man with a devil mask, a black cape, and a black belt of "sin". I think. And someone trying to save him. Or saying something about how the devil can't have him because he believes in Cristo. I'm not entirely sure. After the skit there is a speech from one of the guitarists. About how God saved him from drugs, alcohol, many things. And how I too can be saved, if I just open myself up to God.

And then there is more music. A fairly repetitive song with the chorus of "Busca, busca, busca Dios". Look for, look for, look for God. And some semi-rap in the middle. The music was good, kinda catchy. I had nothing better to be doing. Might as well observe the people. And the a fellow comes up to me. He has small white square pieces of paper in his hand. I should have ran the other way. But again, I was kinda curious. And I have a friend in Madrid who might be interested in what this paper holds, so I let myself get into conversation with him. One of the first questions was (in Spanish) "You believe in God, right?" To which I shook my head, and said not really. And he was shocked. And then he asked "really?" And I said yes. And then he proceeded to show me what was on the paper. It was an invitation to services and more sing-alongs and the like. And I asked if it was focused in a certain religion. And he kinda skirted around the topic, but admitted that yes, this was Christian. To be fair, I wasn't exactly certain. The speech guy had said something about everyone. But that's what they say...And I told this man "well, I'm Jewish". And again, he seemed kinda taken aback. And said "Well, Jesus was jewish". And I agreed that yes, Jesus was jewish. But to me Jesus is just another Jewish man. Not anyone special. And we reached an impass. A standstill. And he told me I was invited anyways, and I told him I had a friend who might be interested. And I walked away and couldn't help grinning to myself.

On another note: I don't know how many of you have had a hankering for crispy M&Ms lately and realized that they are no longer sold in the US. This saddened me when I found out. But here, in Spain, they exist. And they are delicious. I'm taking requests.

There's more, but I need to go listen to music.

j

Back in action

The cable for my computer arrived today. I am in my room using the free wireless that I am stealing from an unsuspecting neighbor.

I have downloaded Skype. My name is jacqui.stavis
For those of you who aren't familiar with this wonderful service, visit skype.com and download it now. I have 10 Euro of Skype Credit just waiting to be used up at the phenomonal rate of .02/min. But if you get Skype then it will be free, leaving me with more money to talk to the lazy people who don't want to get it. If your computer doesn't have a microphone (all macs do, I'm pretty sure) then you'd have to get a headset. Is it worth it? Is it?? I think so, but that's my humble opinion.

This is mostly because my móvil is ridiculously expensive. I have somehow gone through FIVE euro in...a day and a half. I hate you pre-paid phone system.

I like my classes. I'm in Colloquial Spanish which should be way fun.

j

family shock, culture shock. its all the same.

Okay, last night was Carnaval. And I went to Chueca, the gay district of Madrid. And what followed was Andrés asking me if I was scared. And Vicky telling me that she was all for gay marriage because everyone's life is their own. But that homosexuality is a mental problem usually the cause of sexual abuse as a child, at least in the case of men. I didn't know if it was worth it to argue. I meekly mumbled something about how I didn't think it was a problem, I wasn't scared, and...that was about it.

Andrés is conservative. I'm living with a conservative. One who doesn't believe in gay rights and views the Yankees as evil leftists. We like the same music. It's a strange world.

He asked if I had a blog. I said yes without thinking. And then said that I never write it anymore and it's not worth looking at. And I got away with not telling him any address at all. I would be ruined if the family read my blog.

Ok, well off to the Prado. A more exciting in depth post later.

Oh, my computer died in its sleep yesterday while I was in Toledo. I need that cable. The magic cure of electricity.

j