It's a nutso time to be in Spain

Another big strike today in the province of Andalucía. This time it was in the education sector (teachers, all university and high school students over the age of 16, and most students under the age of 16 too) protesting deep budget cuts in education and teacher's pay. So for the second time this spring, I had a day off because of a strike. I slept in late, went to my private classes in the afternoon, and then grabbed The Mister and headed over to watch the protests raging in the streets.

I'm not sure what the number was, but it was several thousand, by far the biggest protest we've seen in Málaga this year. The central arteries through town were cut off to traffic when protestors flooded the streets, although it was peaceful (they are mostly schoolteachers, after all).When everyone began marching, the mass of people was at least two miles long.

  

We kept running into people we knew: Málaga is a small place already, and since we've collectively worked in four city schools over the past two years, we have lots of friends at the education protests. Below are some shots of us with our coworkers (also, the official color of the protest was green, hence the matching color palettes).

Crazy times.

Spain, 2012 = America, 1966?

I'm a fan of the TV show Mad Men and lately I keep thinking about how living in Spain in 2012 is kind of similar to living in America in the 60s and 70s:

• Total economic upheaval. In America in the 60s the economy was shooting through the roof and in Spain in 2012 it's smashing through the floor in a race to the depths of the Earth. 
• Racism is alive and well and it's still okay to say things like "Be sure to check for cleanliness before you eat there, it is an Asian restaurant after all. You never know about them." (actual quote)
• Political upheaval. Spaniards roundly distrust and dislike their politicians. They voted out the ruling party in huge numbers last fall and now they're equally as furious with the new guys. Their political system is shockingly corrupt for the first world.
• New technology. Back then in America it was the television that was the real cultural revolution, but nowadays Spain is just starting to warm up to the internet. People use email and Facebook, but shopping online is a relative novelty, and trying to find an updated website for any non-national company is a nonstarter.
• People are really annoyed about anti-smoking measures. Smoking was just banned indoors in public places last year - last year. And people are angry about it still, because here it seems like everybody smokes (Mad Men, cough).
• People, kids especially, are starting to get fat because of the wonder of processed foods. We gorged ourselves on TV dinners with abandon when they were first available a few decades ago, without a real sense of the health drawbacks. Spain's love affair with processed stuff started later than ours did and is now in full bloom. Their child obesity rates have doubled in the last 15 years.
• People are mad. Furious. There are protests in front of town hall on a regular basis here in Málaga. Last week there was a general strike in all of Spain, including teachers and transportation workers. Last year there were thousands of protesters in Madrid and other cities. With a deepening recession and a terrible economic outlook (much worse than the one in the U.S.) people are angry and they're making themselves heard.
• People dress nicer. I mean, they don't wear top hats or anything, but Spaniards are currently experiencing a generational fashion divide a bit like I imagine it in the 60s in America: the senior citizens wear skirts, nylons, dress slacks and blazers, even for a walk in the park, and the young people wear jeans and other informal gear.

I can't decide if I'm onto something here or if I've just been watching too much Mad Men.

    

Stormy Skies in Spain

Well, my friends, the Arab Spring has worked its way right up to the lovely shores of Spain.

I'm sure you've read or seen a bit on "los indignados", those pesky young Spaniards who want ridiculous things like non-corrupt politicians and a youth unemployment rate lower than 45%.  Those entitled Millennials, jiminy christmas, what are we going to do with them?

Joking aside, I've got to say, I'm pretty proud of my generation.  I think most generations think the next one is going to be the one that finally sends the whole thing down the toilet, but in our case I just don't think that's true.  Whereas you Baby Boomers and Xers, well...let's just say you have a lot to answer for. Kidding. Sort of. I think.

Anyway, I haven't had my camera on me when there have been protests here, but I promise that if I can snap some pics and give a little insider's view, I shall. For you.