Lifestyle

Kiki’s Spain Writings: ‘Believe me, that mañana mañana is no joke’

By Kiki Duren | #!31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:005531#31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:00-10Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331 16am31am-31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:0010Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2023312023Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +020014101410amMonday=9#!31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam10#10-16-2023#!31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:005531#/31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:00-10Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331#!31Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam10#

Kiki Duren laughing outside in an orange summer dress

We are in the car and the smell cocktail of garbage, fish bones, and cat poop hits us in the face. Six more minutes to the landfill. The first time I was still sitting in the car with my nose wrinkled: ‘Yuck. Why is this so cumbersome here?’ But as it goes with almost every life situation: you get used to it. After three times in one week of the garbage round, I simply don’t know any better.

Well Kiek, you are temporarily living in the countryside in Spain, or not. Mutxamel to be precise. Where things are still a bit old-fashioned compared to Dutch systems. If the mountain doesn’t come to Mohammed, then Mohammed goes to the (garbage) mountain to take it away himself. You know what I mean.

These are things you don’t think about at all when you’re going to emigrate. You do read up on how certain things are arranged compared to the Netherlands, but you only really know where you end up when you are actually there. So today, guapas, some stories from my own experience, just because I am amazed every day about something from the daily affairs here. Like…

…You have NO guarantee that the plumber will come today, even though you really have an appointment with the guy today and your whole house is leaking. Believe me, that mañana mañana is no joke. Things go tranquuuuuiiiilloooo. Being in a hurry is hardly understood. Who is in a hurry anyway?

…So the Spanish life immediately calls upon your patience. Two weeks ago, my boyfriend bought a car and to this day it is still The Great Mystery When El Coche Will Exactly Be With Us. Every day the question is whether today might be the day. According to the latest updates, we bought a car that still needs to be picked up from a truck coming from the north of Spain, something that was not communicated at the time of purchase. Sander keeps asking the company every other day for an update until we got the word ‘ESPERA’ over the app and that they cannot provide us with the latest news every day. In the meantime, I see the humor in his impatience (he himself not yet, the subject of the car is already a bit sensitive) and I will let you know in 2024 if we have a car.

…Furthermore, I was called the other week around a quarter to ten in the evening. Now I find that a particularly odd time to call someone if there’s no emergency, but well, we are arranging so many things these days, maybe it’s something important. ’Holaaaa Kiki! I just wanted to let you know that your dress has arrived!‘ I have to crack a few brain cells to realize that this is the voice of that super cheerful saleswoman in Alicante who recently ordered a dress for me. The question of when I would like to come pick it up. ’Uh tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow?‘ ‘Yes, that’s fine. It’s ready here. Oh, wait a minute. Sorry. I made a mistake. The dress is no longer available. Sorry. I will contact you again when it’s here.’ You see: some phone calls leave you confused. This was one of those.

Furthermore, you don’t realize that opening a Spanish bank account can be a task that takes several weeks, there are lines at every institution that you wouldn’t believe, and English? What is that? They don’t know that here. And so, these weeks - besides being an über-enthusiastic emigrant - I also honestly come across as a bit of a fool. And then there’s that whiny voice in your head: what is happening here? Why is everything so cumbersome? How is it possible that weeks can go by here without achieving what you want? How can Spaniards live with this? HOW THEN?!?!%&$#$%$

And then fortunately the other voice comes. Dear Kiek, you are simply getting used to a new culture. Integrating. A new climate, with new customs and above all: a whole new pace. Go live in the Antilles and you will see that as a Dutch person you also need to get used to it for the first few weeks. Go learn Spanish. Poco a poco. You don’t have to be the best in the class. You are allowed to learn.

You understand: once I am out of this schizophrenic period, I will report back extensively. Until next week, guapas. Hasta la próxima semana!

Photography credits: Jade Harms