Representin’ the Lone Star State

After the hottest, driest Texas summer since 1980-something, I did not board the plane for Spain making any promises to move back. I felt guilty, but spending two years in a country of everlasting spring summer and only returning to Texas for two months of hundred degree heat did not make me look favorably on my home state.

However, since coming to Spain I’ve been talking about Texas a lot- and always with a smile. For the first week of school, I introduced myself and my home with a slideshow about the Lone Star State and tried to offer an overview without reinforcing stereotypes. Because apparently Texas is a complete desert and synonymous with rodeos.

Lone Star Cooking

If there’s one stereotype I can’t deny, it’s that Tejanos are proud of our country state. In fact, when I taught geography in the DR I always taught the term “nationalism” by showing off the Texas clipboard I used while teaching. My clipboard didn’t fit into my bags this year, but I did bring the Texas apron my grandmother made me. I just don’t know anybody that would care to sport a Nevada flag apron. (No offense, Nevada.) After showing off my apron, remembering the Alamo, and bragging to my class about being from the only state that was once its own country, I realized my accent had gotten quite thick. You can always count on a Texan to represent.

With the end of October approaching, the teachers wanted me to present information about Halloween. I started a slideshow with very little enthusiasm for the topic, but it quickly turned into a powerpoint of all my favorite things about fall in Texas: pumpkins everywhere, school fall festivals, hay rides, bonfires, smores, candy corn, pies, and apple cider! With a sunny palm tree paradise minutes from my door I should have been content, but now I was longing for orange leaves and sweaters. I was anxious to leave Texas this summer, and here I was in Spain wishing for the opposite.

The good news is that unlike my former tropical home, Spain’s Costa Tropical does experience seasons. I returned from a wonderfully chilly weekend in Jaén trying to mentally prepare for presenting my autumn slideshow amidst summer sunshine, but I discovered that Motril had transitioned to fall as well. It’s not New England or anything, but it’s like home. Cooler air, clouds and storms, boots and sweaters- now all I need is some chili and cornbread. And marshmallows! The s’mores are calling my name.

I Heart Fall