In the US, we tend to associate Mardi Gras with NOLA, of course, and then various areas around the country have less famous but still relevant celebrations. Historically stemming from getting out all of our party before the Christian season of Lent, other parts of the world also have grand celebrations. For me, I always associated Carnavale with Rio de Janeiro, just because those are the images I had seen before this year. However, Spain generally and Galicia particularly have Carnavale celebrations such that we have a break from school to partake! Here in Galicia the word is Entroido, and so that’s what I’ll use throughout this.
As an earlier post mentioned, I went to Xinzo de Lima with some Fulbrighters to partake in early Entroido celebrations – they last for quite awhile in the Ourense province! I returned the week after MidYear to celebrate a little more before my parents came, so I got to spend the second half of Entroido with them.
After MidYear, it was a good couple of days at school. The students are always upset with me when I am gone for some reason, which is both a little funny and a little sad. However, this time the excitement for Entroido was building so I was off the hook from their displeasure for my absence. My school community is so supportive, and they have been so kind in checking in on me and asking about my family since GK died. Again, I am so lucky to be working here! Something really exciting – I am officially scheduled to go with my 3rd ESO (14-15 year olds) to Catania in Sicily after Semana Santa. I am so, so excited!
That Thursday, after getting through the rest of the week, I made my way to Ourense. I took the train to Vigo to catch a BlaBla car, and Elena graciously let me crash at her apartment once again. I dropped my stuff off and changed into my costume, and then we were off to meet the others and catch the bus. I don’t have my costume box – or honestly my college house’s group costume options, so I went ahead and bought a kangaroo onesie. I knew it would be cold at night, and it’s so warm and comfortable. We’re throwing around the idea of a Winnie the Pooh costume for a night in Pontevedra, but we’ll see where it all goes. Anyway, I tagged along with the Ourense Fulbright group and we made it to Verín. The bus ride was wild and funny, and we thankfully all arrived in one piece. It was a really fun night, and we were delighted to find mini bands in the street (they are impossible to describe tbh) that led us to the main square where a large concert stage was set up. At one point, the traditional masked and costumed dancers took the stage; later they took to meandering through the crowd, holding belts or whips to enforce the tradition of having an acceptable costume. Somewhere a little before 6am we caught a bus back to Ourense and made our way towards sleep. I went home the next day/that day around 5, and BlaBla car once again came through for me.
The next day, Saturday, was the big parade in Pontevedra. I rested for most of the day and then headed over to Caroline’s to eat dinner and get ready. Our friends Valerie and Lauren joined us and Caroline’s roommates, and it was great, great fun. We made sure to eat as many orejas and filloas as we could, as they are desserts that are most available during Entroido. The parade was fascinating, and the floats were incredibly creative and tended to incorporate much more political messaging than in the US. Something not cool about this time is that with costumes in Spain, things such as cultural appropriation and blackface as part of costumes are commonplace…it’s a big cultural difference, and I hope to be able to engage in dialogue with my students about it again now that I’ve seen just how prevalent it is.
dinner at Alex and Lindsay’s 
I rested and recovered, and prepared for my parents’ upcoming visit. I am so excited! Entroido has been great, and it has given me something to look forward to during a ridiculously difficult couple of weeks. I will be missing Pirate Day, with is Pontevedra’s Entroido pride and joy, as well as a couple of other regional specialty celebrations, but they are a tiny price to pay to get to be with my parents soon.
Sunday afternoon Syd, Amanda, Caroline, Lauren, Valerie, and I went to Vigo. We had delicious snacks – and I found a chai latte?! – and were able to walk around for a bit before watching the sunset. I had to get back early to be ready to get up and travel the next morning, but it was a blessedly relaxing afternoon/evening.
BONUS:
I found my bike! for a second time! Literally on the day of GK’s funeral, I decided to walk to my favorite comfort food café (they have really good bocadillos) and get lunch there. I take a different way than usual to get there, and lo and behold, something about a bike tied off to the side caught me eye. It was my bike! I didn’t know what to do so I took it to the nearest police station, and then went and got it a couple of days later after the paperwork was filled out and such. I will be selling it and replacing it asap.
my fulbright year 