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| The Champs! (next to guy in blue shirt) |
Spain has an institution very similar to the Internal Revenue Service which is called the Hacienda. I got to go visit them on June 15th to see if I could get back any of the taxes taken out of my "ayuda" (help?) in 2011. We are technically not getting salaries because we are "visiting scholars" and receive "grants"; all this has to do with getting a visa. Anyway, I got my appointment and went...where my name was called by the tallest woman I have met in Spain! Of course, I had to comment and we thus were friends from the start! She helped me and I got the amount I expected with one little issue: I was at the Galician Hacienda but she told me since I had no contract, only an "ayuda" I would probably be called by the National Hacienda and would have to go and present some of my papers there...either before or after I leave Spain. If it's after and I don't go, I don't get my substantial refund! So, this week I'll be visiting the National Hacienda and pleading for them to take my papers earlier or finding out if I can have a designated representative appear for me? Bureaucracy is alive and well in all countries!
As those of you who read my blog know, hiking is a favorite pastime here...I think it's because 30 minutes outside of the city and you're in beautiful rural landscapes AND it's never too hot to hike here. On June 16th, my friend Sole clued me and Teresa in that there was a hike in Pontevedra ("county" capital 30 minutes away) led by members of the University biology and environmental departments. We walked along the Lerez River for about 7.5 km in each direction...it was often shaded and fairly level so we had some youngsters along, including a 1 year old who rode in a backpack on her mother's back the entire way. Mom was the biology professor! The neat thing for me was that the environmental prof was an Englishman married to a Galician woman (with 3 totally bilingual kids!) who could tell me the names of things in English so I could finally make the correct translations in my mind instead of just guessing! After 10 years in Spain, he spoke perfect Spanish and Gallego so there is hope for me, too! We had a wonderful day, including a picnic stop by the dam that the salmon climb up each year. And even got back to Vigo by 6 PM with time for a nap before the swim team dinner that began at 10 PM.
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| Along the trail by the river |
Ah, the swim team dinner...fortunately it was walking distance from my flat so I arrived on time and ready for the fun and action that always accompanies the reunions of this group of fun people. We are very diverse in age (I'm one of the oldest) but I am now the only American because the other has returned to the US since she was a university student. After dinner was over, at midnight, we (about 15 of the original 24) headed out for a nearby disco where the fun began!! Needless to say, I haven't been to a disco since forever but with a group such as this, I had to uphold the honor of Americans' ability to dance...especially older ones! Much to my daughter's shock and surprise, I was told that they thought American and English had no rhythm but that I had blasted that myth!! Her response was that they must all need glasses!! I haven't danced so much in years and since my legs were a little tired from the hike, I amazed even myself. But, we all were in more or less a circle and took turns entering the center so the pressure was on! Finally, at 4 AM, Sole and I decided it was time to head for our respective homes. I literally couldn't get out of bed until after 1 PM the next day! I hope we go dancing in Valencia, too!
June 22nd, Friday, was the last day of classes at school...a bittersweet day. Fortunately, after classes I could go help my friend, Teresa, who was moving into her new flat that day. I helped pack garbage bags full of clothes, brought us a sandwich for lunch, and generally assisted in the move until 9 PM when we celebrated the completion with an ice cold beer! The next day, Saturday, my swim team was having their first practice of the year in the sea at 10 AM. I headed out by bus to the beach and actually was picked up as I hiked along from the last bus stop by my coach! A friend had a spare wetsuit so I entered the 60-65 degree water along with the others...including 3 without wetsuits!! I had never tried to swim distance in the sea in a wetsuit before and it was lots of fun - once I could catch my breath after putting my face in the COLD water! Afterwards, we all sprawled on our towels on the beach trying to warm up with the sun. It was a beautiful 75 degree day with water so clear that I kept thinking I could stand up as we swam in but I couldn't! The colors of the sea as you sat on the beach were absolutely fantastic shades of greens and blues with the view of the Ria beyond. Finally, at about 2 PM, we all decided it was time for lunch and enough sun for the day. In typical Spanish fashion, they wouldn't hear of me taking the bus back and "fought" over who got to take me home.
Last night, after a healthy nap post-swimming, I was invited to a party celebrating Noche de San Juan, the celebration of the summer solstice and Night of the Witches "la meiga" from Celtic times. The tradition is to eat "sardinias" grilled outside (small fish, but not our sardines) on corn bread and later go to the beach for a bonfire. It was with the group of friends from Cristina and Fernando and we were about 25 in all. One couple has a small, cute house built near Sole's, near the beach, on a large piece of land. I rode out with Cris and Nando about 10 PM - during halftime of the Spain v. France European Cup game - and we arrived in plenty of time to watch end of the game, help grill and explore the gorgeous gardens. Of course, I kicked myself all evening because I forgot my camera!! It didn't get dark until after 11 PM. We were seated along a long makeshift table loaded with food: sardines, chorizo, salad, empanadas(basically large 2 crust pies) of scallops, squid ( 2 types), octopus, bacalao fish, and the guacamole I brought which was a big hit, I'm happy to say! Oh yeah, all of this was accompanied by white and red wine made by one guest in his home. Then, all of that was cleared and the desserts were lined up down the middle (no camera, grrrr!): Macedonia (fruit, all cut up and in some sort of marinade), brownies, 2 flans, bizcocho (pound cake?), cheese cake made by Cris and topped with plum jelly (that I gave her that was made by my friend Chiara's sister in Italy!), tira misu and I think that was "all"! So much fun and I realized how much my Spanish has improved as I could follow all the conversations and even contribute! After the meal, the tradition is to walk down to the beach and see all the bonfires...so we did! We left the house at 1 AM and returned about 3 AM. What a sight it was to see the beach covered with people, DJs playing music, people cooking, many drinking lots!, mainly younger people on the beach and our age walking along taking it all in. My hosts explained that the young people would camp out there all night. I even saw several of my students who greeted me! Definitely the big night here and the only one fires on the beach are allowed. The walk was wonderful after all the eating and I enjoyed my chat with Beatriz who happened to be next to me and was herself an immigrant from Argentina. There seems to be a strong tradition of Galicians to Argentina and then back after they "make their fortune". I've noticed that before with other acquaintances.
So passes June....more beach trips on the radar and continuing to search for a job in Austin...let me know if you hear of anything? Chao for now...
