la caravana y cosas

this past month has been a royal blur. no trips of the conventional sort.
But who likes conventional, anyways?
I participated in the first ever “Caravana por la movilidad sostenible”: a project organized by a bunch of enviro activists/bici (bike) enthusiasts which involved a week long bicycle trip around the province of Madrid to promote the bicycle as a mode of sustainable transportation. We traveled to the 6 public universities in Madrid, stopping at each one for a day and doing activities to engage the community and later sleeping in the gyms and or tennis courts. It was kind of like a big week long Critical Mass, but with a more deliberate purpose of coloring the bici as a mode of transportation (rather than just sport) and engage people in thinking about sustainable choices. The group consisted of a core of 20 caravaner@s (gender neutral version…) and about 40 or so others who came in and out. Definitely some of the coolest people I’ve met in Spain. Everyone was eager to share the incredible experience. The group was mainly Spanish, but had a large international presence: Brasil, Mexico, Denmark, France, Germany, and me from the US -I was the only one except on Friday when Maya and Rebecca came for the final stretch! It was organized by some wonderfully enthusiastic people who work at Goteo, the new sustainability-bici shop-environmental group at the Autonoma, who were inspired by last year’s Spain-wide Caravana por el clima, which involved a traveling car of climate activists who stopped at many of Spain’s major universities.
I borrowed my friend Aurora’s bicycle, which was a big ol mountain bike. She was so kind to lend it to me, and luckily she found another one to use so we could ride together.
The first day was the hardest, with a 40 km ride. I was also feeling ill and hadn’t slept much. We rode on the highway (‘autopista’), along side monstrous trucks and rolling hills. I must say I wasn’t as scared as I thought I would be. We were a tight unit, and some of the more experienced bikers had practice in autopista defense. Our pace wasn’t very fast, since we had some tuk-tuks (rickshaws) and a tandem with us. We rode through fields and dusty dirt paths and through little villages where we received quite the astonished looks from the ciudadanos. We slept in gyms, on mats, and on a ‘padel court’ under the stars. Food was donated, which was lovely, and thankfully most places had vegetarian food. (there were 4 of us…which is a lot for Spain).
The enthusiasm was truly contagious. We sang ridiculous songs ( “chi chi chi chi gua gua”) and jumped around in silly costumes and were received with drum circles. It’s been awhile since I’ve been on a sports team, but the same sort of spirit was present, with an activist tint.
The last day the university honchos and the press came for the grand finale, when we completed the circle to the Autonoma, and there were 50 or so of us. The suits were taken for a ride in the tuk-tuks. Everyone seemed impressed. Tears were shed. Hugs all around. I signed up back in the day because I felt a little disconnected from my enviro activism life that I usually have, and also as an opportunity to meet more people and experience Spanish activism. I didn’t think I would be so readily absorbed into the community, especially given my lack of athleticism haha, but I really felt (and feel) like a part of it. That’s pretty much what I ask for in life. To be part of something worthwhile. So, mission accomplished.

In the midst of this experience, I had 4 lovely visitors: Sasha, Bekka, Mark and Rebecca. I felt pretty proud in my capabilities to show them the best of la vida madrileña: tapas, sangria, Plaza Mayor, late nights, flamenco guitars, churros, Marcela’s cooking and chasing down the Buho (late night bus). It was wonderful having people from other parts of my life here. Kind of surreal, but nice.

The BU kids who study at the Instituto Internacional are leaving tomorrow. I’m sad to see my good friends go, and I can hardly believe that they are already leaving. I can’t imagine leaving now. I still have 2 months left in Europe!

Nest on my list: Oh right, school! I finish my classes in two weeks. We are severely behind schedule in all my classes. Ahhh Spanish school system. I really have sunk into the relaxed Spanish attitude in terms of school, which will not serve me well in the American system. But for now, está bien. I have papers and an exam and I will be done on June 19 (with a big chunk of time in between).

Other things: Leah Sussman is coming to stay with me on June 1st! Huzzah!
Tomorrow is la Fiesta de San Isidro, the patron saint of Madrid. City goes wild.

OH! I am officially WWOOFing (working and living on an organic farm) in Asturias, the north-central coast of Spain, with my friend Maya for 2 weeks after we finish exams. Rural life, here I come!

I will put up more photos soon. I am quite behind. For now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/weilthing
I won’t make this post any longer. I should start working…