T Diddy :: Your Friendly Black Dentist

After only 3 days in Salamanca, one thing has really stood out about the culture. This is simply the fact that they cherish their time with their family and friends. The past two nights, I have seen more couples than I could ever count out on walks hand and hand or arm and arm. I have not seen a couple in the USA simply go out for a walk to enjoy each other time for a long time. In fact, I cannot recall when the last time was. So, I ask you all to check yo self. Do you enjoy the company of your signicant other? If you do, go ahead and ask them to take a walk with you. Even if you don´t walk for long or say a word, you will come closer by this simple action. You might even have less stress at work. Hell, damn a significant other. Just ask a friend to walk with you. Enjoy the blessing of the friendship with that person. This is my challenge to all. Get out there and walk!

Ok, I have to admit it. I am tired. Tired of Spain? No way. I am mentally tired from 30 hours of nonstop Spanish. The concentration to understand every word people say and then turn around and respond with a frase that is logical is mentally draining. In fact, I have not experienced anything quite like this before. The only break I get is from 4-5 each day as I sit at a public computer to check email and catch up on the news. After, I go home my family where I talk more Spanish. I am not complaining, I am only saying that I am tired and I need some sleep. They say the first week is the toughest. I sure hope so because it was very frustrating. Imagine yourself at 3 years old and you point to everything you see and say, "¿Qué es esto?" Being a 3 year old in a body 3/4 the size of Shaq is difficult.

One last thing, I love my schedule. It is simply amazing. It reminds me of my friend Mark´s schedule. He went back to school to study advertising. Take a look. Next week I think I will sneak in some time for a couple of workouts and runs. What do you say Monkey? Oh life without work!

8-9: Wake up, get ready and walk to school

9-3: Attend School

3-4: Eat Tapas with my new friends I have met at the school

4-5: Check email and news on the internet

5-8: Nap and converse with the family

8-9:30: Study

9:30-10: Eat dinner with the family

10-12: Watch TV or study more or get ready to go out

12-3: Go out on the town at least 1 time/week (Fri & Sat from 12-8)

One thing that I think I am good at is the ability to listen. It seems that many people associate only talking with communicating. Talking is overrated. I truly believe that we can learn things from all people. Regardless of there race, nationality, age, or where they live. They bring a new perspective.

This Saturday, I met Colum, a 50 plus years old man from LA, for lunch at a cafe. He was originally from Ireland, but moved to the US after he got into construction. This man was wise and as honest as any man I have met. After countless times of telling me throughout the week that is is dumb as rocks and that he had his own business, I learn finally got a chance to speak at length with him. He owns his own construction company in LA. Colom does not work at all. He said the smartest thing that he has done was hire smarter people to work for him. All he does is sit back and get paid. His company is no joke either. He built the hotel, the Marriot near John Wayne Airport, in Orange County. This is where i stayed when I used to work in SoCal. However that is besides the point. The conversation was really encouraging and motivating. He told me that if he can do it, then I could do. All this in a tone of a friend rather than a Dad bragging about how rich he is. I must say that if I am ever in SoCal, I will have to look up my friend Colom to talk about the week we were in Spain.

What would a trip to any country be if you do not watch the country´s professional basketball All Star game. This past Saturday was the APB, Spain´s, all-star game. What a great game. However, most importantly, I got to see one of my favorite college basketball players of all time. OK my college basketball fanatics, I am going to throw it way back on you. Does the name Lou Roe mean anything to you. That is right. The former star of UMass. Big Lou demonstrated his strong low post game, superior rebonding skills and his astute basketball acumen during the contest. All I can say is that Lou Roe is the man! Oh, I have also seen the second coming of Dr. J. However, this time he is some white boy from Argentina. He was sick. I forget his name.

One thing I absolutly love is the slow paced Spanish culture. It definitely fits my persona. My boys know that I am Mr. Chill and here in Spain, I am freezing. Things happen here when they happen. My mom told me about mañana mañana in Santa Fe. Well mom, Mañana mañana takes on a how different meaning here. There is no rush to do anything. People walk slow, eat slow, poo slow and everything else. From about 3 to 5 almost everything shuts down for siesta. So, if I want to go buy some bath soap after class at 3 pm, I cannot do it. I have to wait until after 5 for the shops open to buy body soap. However, it is more difficult to buy 1 bar of soap than anyone can image. I cannot talk myself into leaving the park or waking up from my nap to go buy bath soap. The last thing I want to do is interupt my chill mode. So I hope hot water can clean the crevices of my body. Ok, it is time for my daily nap.

While eating dinner Saturday night with my host family, I experience one of the most hilarious dinners ever. The dinner began quite tranquil as the whole family sat down. This dinner even inlcude the oldest daugher, who normally is away at school during the week, and the younger daughter and her novio. Of course the husband and wife were present. Before going on with my story, you must know that dinner is family time in Spain. Every night a 9:30, the whole family sits at the table to enjoy dinner and each other. This is something that I really think is fantastic and really enjoy. However, that is another blog. Back to the story. I was about to sit down and I noticed Adele, the wife, made chicken hamburgers. Whiles sitting down I make a little joke, "Oh Adele, Hamburgesa de pollo. Esta is comida de Americano. Siento come estoy en mi casa!" Adele retorts, "Claro. Hamburgesas son muy bueno y el pollo es para tí" We laughed a little bit and I started to dig in. Like every night the TV is slanted toward the table to enjoy a program while we eat, but tonight was special. The Spanish Futbol championships are happening. Anyway, Barcelona was playing another team which was much better and within 3 minutes into the game Barcelona scores. Ramon, the husband, raises his hands and exclaims, "Goooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllll" Then out of no where, he pulls his shirt up over his head mimicking the player on TV. I did not know what to think. When I realize what he did, I started laughing to the point of tears. Of coures Adele was just shaking her head in disbelief and the niños where laughing. One day when I am at the dinner table with my wife and kids, I tell you that I will be just as crazy. What a great bonding moment.


Also today is the begining of Semana Santa. The holy week before Easter. Good things are supposed to happen this week. We shall see.

Many people say that family is really important to them. If you are a pious individual, Family will usually come immediately after God. Do you value your family so much that you would trade in your so called independence to live in the same household with them until 28 and hang around your whole life? Could you do it? People my age in Spain normally are living with their parents. You are not considered a "scrub" as TLC would claim if you are doing so. It is simply a culture that is build around family actually being on top of the list. Could you give up the freedom of running to your girlfriends house for some action? Could you live without the late night booty call to have you girl come over after midnight? Living with your family, you would have to give this opportunity. However, in doind so, you will be spending your precious time with those that mean the most to you. I know I have said that I would love to spend more time with my family. I could move to Santa Fe to be with my mother or I could move back to Cali to move closer to my Dad, sister, and other extended family member. Why do I not do it? What is holding me back? What is in NYC that is not in California. What the hell is in New York for me? Besides a good time and lots of people, I cannot really say. There is no question family means more to me than I could express in words, but this sense of independence from our culture must be a part of the reason why. I have always claimed that I am not independent. I depend on a lot of things (i.e. the love from my family, the many friendships, my roommate putting up with a stranger while I am gone, etc.). Without the aforementioned, I am nobody. I do not think that I could live with my family nonstop until now, although I love them with all my heart. If I did, I would not be the person I am today. This is all I know. Without trying to sound like my Dad, I am questioning the reasons why I move to NYC and why I am in Spain. I do not regret any of the decisions I have made or the course my life has taken. Nor do I feel like I am in control because the times that I think I am in control, I am really in the least control. Maybe my journeys to NYC and Spain will lead me back to my family and begining of my own. I will just depend on God, my family, and my adventures to deliver the answer for me.

This week in Spain is Semana Santa. In English, it is Holy Week. In Salmanca the whole town is shut down from Thursday to Sunday to observe the grace and goodness of Jesus and Mary. Each day, from Sunday until Sunday, there are processions though the town. They are really a unique and beautiful experienec. People walk the streets carrying this float like foundations on there shoulders. There are two floats that require approximately 25 people each to carry. On one, Jesus is impaled on the cross that he was crucified on and on the other is Virgin Mary. The amazing part of this is that the whole city crowds the streets in silence as Jesus and Mary pass them. What respect and a tradition? Another unique aspect is that the people are seriously dressed in Ku Klux Klan outfits. However, they are not white. They change colors each day. Unfortunately, I do not know the significance of this, but it is nice to see that such outfits do not have to strike fear in American Blacks.

This Easter, I enjoyed the company of 5 Spaniards, 1 French, and 1 Brasilian in a car of a train from Lisboa, Portugal to Spain. I decided to get out of Salamanca for the weekend because Friday I had no class. The trip started in the earlier hours on Friday morning. I had to catch a 5 AM train to Lisboa. My problem was not waking up on time, but leaving the bar earlier enought to walk to mi casa, pack my cloths, and caminar a la estaccion del tren. This 7 hour train ride was the worst of my life. Tired, hard seats, and there was no room for the big man to sleep.

I really don't have much to say about this place. Except that 2 days was way too long to spend there and I walked about 20 miles in 2 days. My friends, this is not a Nealism to prove a point. It is indeed a fact. I saw Castle to the Tower on the water. It really was not exciting, but at least I can say that I have been there and done that. I have the pictures to prove it. The highlights of the trip was my fine meal I had on Friday night. I had Portugal style codfish, a salad, bread, soup, and a whole bottle of vino tinto. I was chilling in style. The other hightlight was the Oceanário, which is the largest in Europe. Leaving there, I have a new favorite animal, the Sea Otter. They know how to chill. So, I say go to say you have been, but only do it for one day and get out of town.

I first would like to thank dragonhair networks for allowing me to post my journal on the dragonhair network. The power of the internet (i.e. email, portals, etc.) is amazing. Seriously, I feel like I never really left home. I was not going to write anything today, but I read the comments from my blog yesterday. They come from a bitter Supersonic and anti-Laker fan. Rob, I love you so much, but you really do not have to post somebody's article to articulate how you feel about the Lakers. I already know how you feel. I suppose I would feel the same way if my team sucked and the best team in the NBA for the past 3 years is in the same division. You do not know what it is like to win. You only know how to support an overweight, 10 kid having druggie and a promiscuous church going bald head thug. I do not feel sorry for fans like you. You have nothing better else to do, then copy and past other peoples words to articulate your feelings. Instead of rooting for the Kings, you root against the Lakers. You poor soul. I know you watched the game on Sunday. The Lakers looked damn good. So good, it made Michael Thomas say, "Damn, those are the real Lakers!" So when the Lakers win it all again this year, just appreciate what you have seen for the past four years - one of the greatest 1-2 punches in the history in the NBA. That is right, up their with Pippen-Jordan, Magic-Kareem, Malone - Stockton, Bird - Parrish, etc. Recognize the power and respect. This goes to all those anti-Laker fans that read this (including you Dad). This little rant of my shit talking is the perfect example of the power of the internet. I am right there in your face, and my voice is in your brain taking it all in. The great thing is that you read it all and you can only respond in email, which I will delete. One luv and Glory to the Lakers.

Last night it finally hit me. I really hated my job. Everything that Accenture stood for and the general attitude of the people was not in alignment with my being. Do not get me wrong, I met some great people during my 5.5 years at Accenture. In fact, I have met many more than I could name that are friends or those who I will be in contact with over the forthcoming years. However, generally speaking the mentallity of Accenture people is so wack! I am not even sure how to explain it. In fact Michael T, Mark, or Neal can probably explain better than I can because they have heard me bitch often. Especially Michael. I truly felt bad for Michael because every night I would come home with another story where I would bitch and moan. It was too the point I knew he wanted to say, "Shut up".

Accenture believed that work is number one in your life - above God and family. Everybody would watch me every minute of the day. What is he doing? Is he surfing the internet? It is 5 pm, is he going home? Why is he not eating lunch at his desk? Seriously, people get a life. Do not come by my desk at 5:30 and ask me if I have 5 minutes, when you really mean 1 hour, when I am about to go home. Do not just drop by my desk and ask for an impromtu meeting. Please learn to plan. Think before you act. There is no reason to come by my desk every minute of the day to ask questions. You are consultants, why cannot you not plan and solve your own damn problems. This is why you have a job.

There is also a notion that you have to stay at work to 8 pm, just to be seen and get promoted. Damn all that! I guess that is why I did not get promoted while being stabbed in the butt with no vaseline. I never recieved a valid reason for not getting promoted to a Management position. I know the reason. It is because I did not perform my dues to be a member of the club. I did not stay late, I did not give oral pleasure, nor did I give the answer that would please the bosses. What I did give them was quality work, thoughtful insightful answers, hardwork, and dedication. What the hell was I thinking! These qualities do not get you ahead when you work for a company with slave master mentality. It only positions you to move to a bigger plantation to pick more cotton while recieveing the same pay. Damn Accenture! My butt has now just healed from the constant drilling in my butt.

I also could not handle the language everybody used. They sounded the same with their bullshit Acronymns. Always trying to sound more intelligent that they really are with buzzwords and words they do not even know. You punks, you are on the average only 25 years old. You do not know anything at that age, so please stop acting like you do. Another beef I have is that everybody looks alike. They wear the same style of pants, polo shirts, designer glasses, and shoes. I swear they were cut out with a cooking cutter. It still makes me sick thinking about it.

I could go on with my rants, but my point is made. However, I did learn a lot during my tenure. I learned a lot about myself, communicating with all types of people, and most importantly, what I do not want in a new job and how not to be or treat other people. One promise that I have made to myself is to never treat anybody as bad as I was treated at my company. Especially during my 2 years in New York. Although my experience was horrifying, I am glad that God put me through it because I am that much of a stronger and better person.

------Correction-----

My last rant about the Anti-Laker fans was focused on the wrong Rob. My venom should not have been spit at Mr. Elo. It should have gone to my boy in NJ. I have 1 word for you Mr. Shrop about your beloved shitty Knicks, "Lottery!". PS. You are not one of the Androids that I refer to in this blog; although I know you can point them out over your cubicle.

It seems that every day there is a reason to party. I swear, every day there is a reason to go out and party, not go to work, or go eat somewhere. The week before Easter was Semana Santa. Each day there were at least one procession throughout the entire city of Salemanca. After the nightly procession ended at midnight, many of the people would go out to the bars or night clubs to party. This was from the Sunday before Easter until Saturday. Of course, the Friday during this week, was an official holiday because there was not school or work. The town was shut down. The week after Semana Santa, there was another holiday. This holiday was for Castilla y León, a providence in España. Again, the town was shut down for the entire day and I had no school. Today, El Lunes el 28 de April, is another fiesta day. Today is El Lunes de Aguas. If you want to know more about this day look it up on the internet. Essenctially, in the afternoon, after 2, then entire town is shut down to allow everybody to eat lunch in el campo with their families. The great thing is that the holiday is not an official holiday. It is only for Salamanca and it is a tradition that everybody follows. Let me tell you that it is very difficult to even find a place to eat. Right now you must be thinking, "wow!" Salmanca has many holidays. The funny thing is that on Wednesday, it is Labor day. Again, there is now school and the town is shut down. I guess when people say, "Work to live and not live to work." they were talking about España. I enjoy the holidays, but only when I am working, not when I unemployed and trying to learn Español.

I have finally had my first thoughts about what I would like to do with my life when I get back. I think it would be sweet to move to Japan, teach English, and study Japanese for 3 or 4 years. Studying Spanish has really been enjoyable and it has opened my eyes to the joy of communicating with other people. I met this cat JD who did exactly this before he decided to come to Spain to learn Spanish. How sick would I be, a black man, busting off 4 languages. English, American Black Slang (no Ebonics, that is some BS), Spanish, and Japanese. I will be able to flow to my friend K-Ro and get him mad by spitting game to his women. Seriously, I think that it would a great experience, challenging, and fun all at the same time. Of course this cannot happen if I come back from Spain married like G-Money says I will.