¡sigue!

the days begin to fill...church meetings, discussing various issues, spending time with new acquaintances, and especially checking my email to keep in touch with old friends. starting to find a bit of the rhythm...but still looking for opportunities to share hope with the people i am meeting. often see my students on the streets and sometimes stop to chat. still struggling with them not shutting up in class...not sure i will ever win that battle (as the other teachers seem to have just as much trouble). learning to accept the besos...although it stretches my pacnw upbringing. thinking this week of the wonderful family gatherings i will be missing...and missing friends and family as i try to communicate to my classes the importance of thanksgiving (a holiday i have always enjoyed as it means a lot less stress than christmas, and a lot of good food). keeping on keeping on. enjoying a book called _watching the english_ by kate fox on the cultural practices of the english. want to share this poem which hopefully captures a bit of life here in vélez.

vélez

a crowded bar
a football game
streets marked by dogs
but with no name

men on a walk
siesta time
ignoring lights
is not a crime

the bells for mass
for all to hear
but saints are dead—
the gods they fear

an empty pool
a pesky fly
the noisy cars
a baby’s cry

this lazy sun
has taken life
and lulled to sleep
the will to fight

the white-washed walls
like open graves
surround the lives
of those unsaved

inertia kills
with apathy
the hearts of those
who cannot see

but He who vowed
will faithful be
and call the few
eternally

an interesting occurance

something happened the day before yesterday that continues to puzzle me. i was on my way to lunch at my friends´house at about 1.30 and as i was walking on the sidewalk a car was driving very slowly in the opposite direction. almost as if it were a slow-motion scene from a movie, the passenger in the car (there were about 3 or 4 20ish guys) took a long drink of water and spit it at my feet. also as if in slow motion i swept my right foot up but still was splashed. the car continued on its way and i said (incredulous, it was the only thing that i could think to say) <> and continued. no raucous laughter at a good joke greeted my ears, which makes it all the more strange. everyone here that i have told about the story can´t think of any cultural reason and i am left with only two thoughts:
1. they were thinking, <>, as immigration is a sore issue in parts of spain
2. they were wasted/high/drugged, as the part of town they were coming from is a drug center.