An un-Ordinary 24th December at Spanish San Juan del TELDE, Las PALMAS de GRAN CANARIA.
Is the 24th December and I’m visiting friends of my family at San Juan del Telde, magnificent white buildings, intact colonial architecture and a old village just about 6 km east form Las Palmas International Airport. I found and got to know Lina Gaviria, her husband Carlos Rey Martinez, and their smart kid Alejandro.
Lina has been working in Spain as a cleaning lady for about 5 years, which of the last 3 she has lived in Telde and working in several underpaid jobs; Her husband Carlos ‘Rey’ as she addressed him, is a construction worker, as well an underpaid position.
Both of them struggle every month to have a living, pay school, rent and so on.
This is not an uncommon story, actually is a common place for immigrants at the
In reality they have taken underpaid jobs, bad work conditions, and sometimes discrimination, but why is this happening? Are the
In general terms, all of the above; Extent tourism industry is gaining jobs and good pay opportunities, Restaurants, Hotels and cruises buzzing with central and north Europeans tourist that come here to visit, or happened to choose this latitudes to spend their winter retirement.
Tourist industries offer jobs for multicultural and multilingual workers, and this is not the case for average Latin-American speaking immigrant who in most cases had chosen
Different issues surfaced talking with Lina, first of them is the overwhelming feeling of home sick; even if she has been here for such a long time, and her son is Canarian born, she felt not belonging to the place, but neither thinks Colombia has something back to offer. So she’s in a cross road of encountered emotions linked to her actual position within
So does ‘Rey’ whom has been saving money and bought a property in Colombia where he still have family and friends; “this is possible to do so in Colombia, but here for us it is almost impossible to buy a piece of land” he clarifies.
Alejandro name himself as a true “Canario” loving his school, and enjoying the playground at the Kinder Garden, he is a fascinating creature with bright eyes, and a playful mind as any other kid of this age, ‘4 soon to be 5’ as he clarifies. Able to count until 10 in English, his mother keep high hopes on him.
As a visitor I pay special attention not to disturb the delicate balance that they have; but sometime are difficult subjects and I touch strings that make them talk.
Under the peaceful atmosphere of the Christmas Eve, they served octopus salad meanwhile the veal is being grilled and Lina prepares some canapés.
Shortly the guests will arrive, another family, the woman is from Colombia and her husband is from ‘Las Palmas’ they have two kids one of 7 year-old boy and the little baby daughter with just 10 weeks, they are a lovely couple, another universe to think about.
I take pictures, as they prepared the grill and the rabbit, duck and beef, as well they have prepared stuffed Veal, and chicken sticks.
The night goes fast, and they leave early as the baby needs to go to sleep. As soon as the midnight arrives we prepared ourselves to go to bed.
As the Guests said bye and I go off to bed, I feel that this familiar calm is imposed and might be more lying on the quiet looks of Lina and Rey.
I’m happy to have spend together with them this Christmas eve; I’m happy to be with them and share their stories and I guess that Listen is the best gift I could offer since my chances to help their situation are slender, I just hope for their well being, and to their wealth to grow in the future.
As these are my Christmas wish for them; I said Good night and I go off to sleep.
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