U.S. To Oñati Transition
Stir-Crazy — 10 Months in Euskadi!
BY: Guillermo (Bill) Yriberri
Has it been 10 months already in the Basque Country? It must be, because the novelty seems to be wearing off. I feel almost like a real citizen of this land once again (1974 - 1975). That may also be why I'm taking a critical eye to a lot I see ....
Like this afternoon. I'm cooking a dish that could use a little tomato sauce, but the cupboard is bare. "Oh, that's right," I remember, "I can open that big can of tomatoes and start using that for my tomato dishes and spaghetti."
So I take out the can and set it down on the black-granite, kitchen counter. — Pretty nice! An "old" piso, but with granite counters! Better than my house in California! This country is pretty up-to-date, I think. But just then it hits me! How do I open this can? Not the first time I've had to fight with a can here to get it opened! Why do I not remember to only buy cans with a pull tab? I need to buy a can opener on my next trip to Mondragón - Arrasate! But for now, I should be able to open it with my pocket knife's can opener. The same pocket knife I bought in '75 in Bilbao!
So I somehow manage to open the blade, nearly breaking my water-softened finger nails in the process, and try to cut into the can's lid with the opener.
Nada! The blade doesn't catch on the underside of the can's lip. ... I try again. Same story! Let's face it, Guillermo. You'll never get this can opened this way! THE CAN HAS NO LIP! ...
What? That's impossible! It HAS to have a lip! You can't open a can without a lip! Even for (or ESPECIALLY for) an electric can opener, you need to have a lip! But I swear to god, THIS CAN DOES NOT HAVE A LIP — OF ANY SORT.
I study the side and top edge of the can. To my utter amazement, there's no lip at all. In fact, if anything, the "lip" is somewhat inward, rather than jutting out a little from the body of the can! And stranger yet, there is a slight groove under the "lip," making it impossible for the opener to catch under the "lip." And I'm using my SPANISH pocket knife's opener!
For some reason this "SPANISH Can" is taking me over the edge! — I thought I was adjusting well to a new life here, despite numerous differences in the American and Basque cultures, and frustrations especially with the Spanish government. What's taking so long to renew my Residence Card? Why does the bank "block" my account (after three months) opened with my passport number? And why is the Spanish government denying free association rights to the political activists who want to demonstrate in Bilbao (during its fiestas) in favor of ETA prisoners and in general support of the organization? Yes, it's distasteful. And yes, it's "offensive to the victims of terrorism." But I thought Spain was a democracy! If you take away the right of people to express themselves, even if it is said to "support terrorism," aren't you pushing them into the same philosophy you are trying to discourage? I think the Spanish courts could learn a thing or two from our own (highly conservative) Supreme Court!
So what to do with this can? Is there some new, magical tool they've invented here to open this? If I were lost and starving in the mountains of Euskadi and came across a can of lush, red tomatoes in a refuge, would I die before getting the can opened with my pocket knife? Why does this country make some simple things SO DARN HARD?
After "la comida" I look at that infamous can again. That's strange: the bottom edge looks different from the top. I turn it over to examine it, and ... my god, there's a lip on the BOTTOM! The label was UPSIDE DOWN!!!!
ME: "What a country! This is the way they package and wrap food in Spain? Can you believe that!
ALTER EGO: What's wrong with you Americans? You want everything so
simple! Can't you take two or three seconds to look at the can? Does everything have to be made easy for you? ... You probably want your bank to be open until 6 PM too. Right?
ME: OK, Ego. I get your point! I guess I've got some more adjusting to do before I feel real comfortable here. Give me a little more slack! That can of tomatoes just about did me in! ... But LESSON LEARNED.
BY: Guillermo (Bill) Yriberri
Has it been 10 months already in the Basque Country? It must be, because the novelty seems to be wearing off. I feel almost like a real citizen of this land once again (1974 - 1975). That may also be why I'm taking a critical eye to a lot I see ....
Like this afternoon. I'm cooking a dish that could use a little tomato sauce, but the cupboard is bare. "Oh, that's right," I remember, "I can open that big can of tomatoes and start using that for my tomato dishes and spaghetti."
So I take out the can and set it down on the black-granite, kitchen counter. — Pretty nice! An "old" piso, but with granite counters! Better than my house in California! This country is pretty up-to-date, I think. But just then it hits me! How do I open this can? Not the first time I've had to fight with a can here to get it opened! Why do I not remember to only buy cans with a pull tab? I need to buy a can opener on my next trip to Mondragón - Arrasate! But for now, I should be able to open it with my pocket knife's can opener. The same pocket knife I bought in '75 in Bilbao!
So I somehow manage to open the blade, nearly breaking my water-softened finger nails in the process, and try to cut into the can's lid with the opener.
Nada! The blade doesn't catch on the underside of the can's lip. ... I try again. Same story! Let's face it, Guillermo. You'll never get this can opened this way! THE CAN HAS NO LIP! ...
What? That's impossible! It HAS to have a lip! You can't open a can without a lip! Even for (or ESPECIALLY for) an electric can opener, you need to have a lip! But I swear to god, THIS CAN DOES NOT HAVE A LIP — OF ANY SORT.
I study the side and top edge of the can. To my utter amazement, there's no lip at all. In fact, if anything, the "lip" is somewhat inward, rather than jutting out a little from the body of the can! And stranger yet, there is a slight groove under the "lip," making it impossible for the opener to catch under the "lip." And I'm using my SPANISH pocket knife's opener!
For some reason this "SPANISH Can" is taking me over the edge! — I thought I was adjusting well to a new life here, despite numerous differences in the American and Basque cultures, and frustrations especially with the Spanish government. What's taking so long to renew my Residence Card? Why does the bank "block" my account (after three months) opened with my passport number? And why is the Spanish government denying free association rights to the political activists who want to demonstrate in Bilbao (during its fiestas) in favor of ETA prisoners and in general support of the organization? Yes, it's distasteful. And yes, it's "offensive to the victims of terrorism." But I thought Spain was a democracy! If you take away the right of people to express themselves, even if it is said to "support terrorism," aren't you pushing them into the same philosophy you are trying to discourage? I think the Spanish courts could learn a thing or two from our own (highly conservative) Supreme Court!
So what to do with this can? Is there some new, magical tool they've invented here to open this? If I were lost and starving in the mountains of Euskadi and came across a can of lush, red tomatoes in a refuge, would I die before getting the can opened with my pocket knife? Why does this country make some simple things SO DARN HARD?
After "la comida" I look at that infamous can again. That's strange: the bottom edge looks different from the top. I turn it over to examine it, and ... my god, there's a lip on the BOTTOM! The label was UPSIDE DOWN!!!!
ME: "What a country! This is the way they package and wrap food in Spain? Can you believe that!
ALTER EGO: What's wrong with you Americans? You want everything so
simple! Can't you take two or three seconds to look at the can? Does everything have to be made easy for you? ... You probably want your bank to be open until 6 PM too. Right?
ME: OK, Ego. I get your point! I guess I've got some more adjusting to do before I feel real comfortable here. Give me a little more slack! That can of tomatoes just about did me in! ... But LESSON LEARNED.
Views: 21
Comment
-
Comment by Stan Davidson on August 21, 2009 at 9:02pm
-
Bill,
The cans are made that way so that they STACK better in the stores! (And on your grnite countertop, too).
I hope that la comida was good anyway.
Stan
-
Comment by Rob and Anne Johnson on August 21, 2009 at 1:53am
-
We having a few of those same kinds of experiences here in Bosnia. Frustrating at times but part of the adventure in living abroad. China was even crazier! Any idea if there are any flights into Bilbao from our direction?
About
© 2024 Created by Michael Brunelle.
Powered by
You need to be a member of The San Lorenzo Times to add comments!
Join The San Lorenzo Times