Juan returned from a two-week tour in California and Montana last weekend and today, we took advantage of the sunny weather to go for walk along the beach with a stop afterward at our favorite "churreria/cafeteria" in town. It's a family-owned business: the dad makes the churros in the back and the mom, grown son and daughter deal with the customers. They're a hard-working family- always greet you with a smile and Juan practices his French with the mom and son. The family lived in Paris when the children were growing up so they all speak French fluently and they return to Paris regularly to visit. This particular morning the son shared that Paris has changed so much from when they lived there. I asked him to elaborate and he simply said, "es una selva" (it's a jungle). I guess I wasn't ready to hear what he was saying because I didn't get it until Juan told him "don't say that, I'm going to tell Obama". I don't know if it landed on deaf ears, but I told him he shouldn't say that about other immigrants just like them who are going in search of a better life. That same morning while going for a walk, I noticed the neo-nazi swastikas graffitied on some walls along the beach, also near Esteban's school. There are many more immigrants here from Eastern Europe, South America, Argentina, in particular, and of course various African countries, than just a few years ago. Some Spanish towns are more adapted to "outsiders". The neighboring town of Nerja for example, has been home to many German and English retirees and vacationers for years. Also, the western coast of Málaga has had a similar history, apparent in the local businesses offering English products, etc. However, our little town of El Rincón de la Victoria is still adapting to the changing population, etc. One of Esteban's classmates told a young lady from Venezuela to go back to where she came from. In California, we've been hearing these remarks for a long time now. Also, the concept of "family" has changed. There are more single parents, divorced parents, grandparents raising children, more mothers working outside the home. The thing I keep in mind is that for every swastika on the wall, I see 2 others crossed out - I feel there are more people open to the changing faces of Andalucia. The schools that Juan has approached are all enthusiastic to the message he has to offer about valuing different languages, cultures and family structures.
On February 28th it was the Day of Andalucia and Pablo and David wore the traditional green and white colors to school. They were also representing the new immigrants from California.
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