MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
I write this story to continue to “document the days” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain . . . lest we forget . . .
“Can we go out for tapas tonight?” Robert, our 21-year-old son, asked. “We never do anything.”
“I know,” I replied. “COVID. This too shall pass. One day, I hope and pray, that life will get back to normal.”
For now, we continue to live under restrictions in Spain. Although the city borders within our region lifted a few weeks ago, we still are not allowed to travel beyond our regional border.
We are stuck!
We are still not allowed to have anyone in our home. The maximum amount of people allowed together indoors is four. We are a family of six, so I guess we live in a state of permanent illegality.
When gathering outside, you can be in groups no larger than 4 non-household members.
Yes, life is still quite limiting. And masks? Required everywhere!
For now, all four of our sons are still living under our roof. The two youngest for obvious reasons. The two oldest for COVID reasons.
Until things change, going out for tapas as a family is as good as it gets.
No More Than Four!
We all got showered and “fixed up.” It had been a long time since we had gone out to dinner as a family. We were all looking forward to it.
After driving to the mall, we walked in and sat down at one of our favorite tapas bars. It was Sunday, so tapas were “1/2 price.” When you are a “familia numerosa” (considered a “large family” in Spain, with more than two kids), you have to look for ways to save money.
All the tables were spread apart with only four chairs.
“Can we move two tables together?” our son, Timothee, asked.
“Sure!” I said. “They may say something to us, but because we are one nuclear family, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Timothee scooted two tables together, and we all sat down, hungry and eager to eat.
I saw the mall security guard look at us like a hawk.
The server behind the bar then came over and told us that we could only have four to a table.
“But, we are one family, one household. We live together everyday,” I pleaded.
“It doesn’t matter. That’s the law,” she replied.
I was so upset. We had two choices: separate into two tables at least six feet apart or leave.
“What should we do?” I asked everyone. “It’s a shame if we can’t sit and have dinner together.”
We all agreed to leave. If we couldn’t be together as a family for dinner, what was the point?
Needing Another Option
“Let’s try McDonalds,” one of the younger boys suggested. “They won’t be strict.”
We walked back to the car, disappointed.
A few minutes later, we found ourselves ordering a chicken dinner at Popeyes instead. In the cheap, fast-food establishments, they didn’t seem to care about obeying the law of “4 people per table.” They didn’t say anything.
At least we could all sit together and have dinner, although it was definitely more expensive than “1/2 price” Spanish tapas. For the six of us to eat, it cost a whopping 55 euros (US$65.36)! That’s how expensive it is to eat fast food in Spain!
Hopefully soon, our family of six can go out and eat “1/2 price” Spanish tapas TOGETHER!
And, you never know . . . maybe you could even travel to Spain to join us!
—The Cultural Story-Weaver
MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
Let’s Weave Cultures!
What are restrictions like in your country? Can you freely go out to dinner with friends and family?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
