El Llanto

Today was a pretty nice day. It was about 60 degrees so that's really nice weather for us. After class I went to grab a quick bite with my roommates Natalia and Michelle. We went to a small sandwich chain and I ordered un Bocodillo con bacon y queso. So that caused all kinds of hilarity because I said "baah-cone" y queso. Natalia and Michelle were laughing and laughing at me because they said I said it wrong. This is because in Mexican Spanish there is a different word for bacon, but here bacon is actually a type of ham steak thing. So when I got home I asked my resident Spaniard, Josune, and she said I was right. I was right! Hahaha Natalia still refuses to accept it so I walk around saying it as much as I can.

After spending a few hours at school for my precious internet I headed back home. Natalia and I grabbed a quick café con leche to get our caffeine boost and then actually had a pretty serious study session for our literature class which was a first for this trip. At about 7:30 we headed out to meet some of the others to go see a play called "El Llanto".

The play was based on a poem by Lorca that is about a young man who dreams of becoming a matador and an aging matador who does not want to continue fighting bulls. As we walked to the theater thunder and lightning started getting pretty intense and next thing we knew it was pouring rain. We all partnered up to huddle under each other's umbrellas and ran as quickly as we could to the theater. By the time we actually got inside my pants were soaked and my shoes and socks were actually leaking water. The theater was actually very small; it had about 100 seats, so it was interesting to see a play in such an intimate setting.

The play was fascinating. Full of Flamenco dancing and singing which was amazing to watch. I absolutely loved how passionate the performers were. The entire cast consisted of three actors and one piano player. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and it didn't hurt that the young Spanish man was very easy to look at.

Once the play was over we all stood up to leave, I turned to edge out of my row and the man who was sitting next to me stood up as well. A woman from the other side of theater came over and started arguing loudly and very passionately with him. They continued to yell and the argument got very heated very quickly. Meanwhile, I was directly behind him with no idea what they were saying and no way to get passed them. Eventually they settled down and I was able to leave. I asked some of the others what the fight was about and it turns out that the man had been shushing people throughout the play whenever they clapped. The woman was offended and came over to tell him so; he told her that the only thing good about the play was her because she made him laugh. She told him to respect Lorca and he said basically … Lorca. Not good. Then talking to my teachers they said this was because Lorca was killed by the Francoists and by cursing Lorca the man was showing that he was a follower of Franco. It was a very interesting discovery and my first glimpse into the serious turmoil between Spaniards over the civil war.

We eventually made it home and finished our homework.