So a couple nights ago our crowd of American students, those who have been here since September and those of us who just arrived, all went out together to a local irish pub. The year-long students had been there before and there was supposed to be live music. The music was actually more funny and it was hard not to smile at each other with that "you've got to be kidding" look. It was a two person bad, with the speakers up way too loud for a small bar, and these were Spaniards singing random American and English songs with heavy accents.
Anyway, the real story takes place after a pint of beer...and a tequila shot...okay two tequila shots but that was all. Needless to say, my parents, if reading this, probably aren't too happy right now--and it gets better. The two-man band ended their loud, funny interpretations, exited the "stage" and almost immediatly the bar owner turned on American dance music. Of course, all us students are having fun, dancing, getting to know other students and so on. Now, from what I've been told of the Basque men, I've gathered that they are very shy, so I was surprised when two guys began to dance with a couple of us--me being one of those lucky choices. We went a couple rounds and then Ruth, god bless her, pulled me away declaring, "You're so welcome right now!"
A little later, Ruth and I were joined by the woman who had been hanging around the two men. At that point, everyone is just having a good time, so who cares who joins your dancing space? Suddenly Ruth disappeared to find a bathroom and the next thing I knew, this woman wanted to buy me a drink. Immediatly I was confused. I didn't know this lady. But she was incredibly persistent so finally I was like, alright, get me a small beer. She got one for herself, so me, not wanting to be beholden to anyone, offered to pay for hers--a gift to me, a gift for her. No, no, no, esta bien. This was all in Spanish, too. She didn't know English. She didn't even pay--which then had me even more confused.
At that point I tried to pull the whole, "Well thanks for the beer, gotta get back to my friends now..." thing, but she wanted me to go to this little seating area behind some foggy glass windows--NOT part of the main dance/bar area. And she was persistent. I freaked a little at that point and ran to Ximena, my amazing-speaks-spanish-natively roommate. "Dude, this lady bought me a drink and now I don't know what's going on and I'm really confused!"
"Its okay, she's cool, she's cuban, don't worry about it," was my answer. More confusion. Okay...so Ximena knows this lady? Maybe its a common thing for her to buy students free beers. This was bothering me but then I got led behind the foggy glass...
And was very joyously introduced to her SINGLE brother in law, Hasan. Yep, the guy who had danced with me earlier apparently took a liking to me. My panic ebbed and changed more to, great, how do I get out of this one? This might have been a different experience if the guy was like, I don't know, at least in the region of my age. I think he had to be late thirties. The woman, whose name I learned was Marteca, and her husband, whose name I don't recall, suddenly brought up the new law here-to-fore unheard of in Spain outlawing smoking in public spaces, and asked if I minded that they go outside and smoke. I could't care less--until I realized they wanted to leave me alone with Jasan, like it was some big set up to get us together. Unbelievable.
This is supposed to happen when your friends set you up with some cute guy and the two of you are left awkwardly alone to shyly get acquainted in some meet-cute sort of way. This is NOT supposed to go down between a college kid, some older Cuban man, in an Irish-Spanish pub with me slurring as much coherent Spanish as possible. But he was completely nice and very polite. He didn't speak one word of English and I have to admit that I am very proud of my ability to speak and understand that night, despite the tequila that was fogging my thoughts. I think the fear sharpened it all a bit. But I talked with him for quite and while, and even outright asked if he was looking for a wife (Si), if he preferred Bilbao or Cuba (Bilbao, mejor que todos). I learned he owns three bars in the local area. All he wanted to know was if I had a boyfriend (No), did I live in the local area (No, infact I'm leaving this coming week with my mom), could he have my phone number (Gosh, I don't have a phone here.) I didn't give any true details, not even my real name. And I never touched that free beer. (Although I'm certain there was nothing in it, you just never know.)
I told him he'd find the right girl someday, that I was flattered but that it just couldn't work out. Some things did have us laughing because neither of us had a clue what the other was attempting to say. Anyway, when finally I managed to stand up, saying I had to get back to my friends, we walked out--and the bar was empty.
Yep. I got left alone at the bar, after two tequila shots and a pint, with a Cuban admirer.
Panic mode returned full force and immediatly I was explaining that I had leave ASAP. He was totally polite, gracious, and truly appeared sad that I wasn't interested. I felt bad and told him buena suerte (good luck), but not bad enough to linger anylonger. I didn't even know where I was and he still wanted my number! I thanked them one last time and fled down the street, close to tears at being left all alone. I almost pulled out my phone to text Ximena before rememberign that I told the Cuban I had no phone, so waited till I turned the next corner--and I recognized exactly where I was. I got home in probably five minutes, I walked so fast.
And, when I entered the apartment, Ximena jumped out of the shadows to shout, "Boo!"
Like I said, funny in retrospect. I am now a full supporter of the buddy system, no one's leaving me anywhere again. And I'll be much more careful about who I let dance with me from now on!
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