It was while we were trying to learn a Spanish song ahead of our Spanish class Freshers’ Party that I suddenly saw a hand pushed in my direction and the face that was attached to the hand had an infectious smile which jubilantly cried, "Hola, soy Juliet. ¿Cómo se llama usted?" (Hi, I am Juliet, what’s your name?)
That’s how my friendship with Juliet, a Spaniard, began. She was one of those rare individuals for whom boundaries dissolved instantly and circle of friends grew quickly. If not for her skin colour nobody would ever guess that she was a foreigner in a strange land. India - a strange land? Of course, where else would you find buffaloes walking majestically on the road, while buses try to invade the territory of pedestrians? Or garbage strewn on roads as if it’s the place to throw? Or the erratic, puzzling traffic flow. Yet, she never let out a whimper or a hint that India is a shabby place with lot of things that could irk a foreigner easily.
But then it was her nature that anybody would fall for - bubbly, fun-loving, above all, helpful to those around. From a large group that arrived on an exchange programme from different parts of South America like Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala and Brazil and Spain to CIEFL (A university, which is now called EFL), she was the only individual who was always found with Indian students. Discussing, learning, and seeking answers of the land which is perennially mysterious to the westerners.
One Friday evening our Spanish lecturer gathered students around and without mincing words said, “Spanish is not just about learning the language, it’s about getting to the roots of Spanish culture, tradition, heritage and all. You got to know everything that is remotely connected to Spanish.” She hasn’t even finished saying that when someone screamed, “Then, how come we are only learning Spanish and not salsa which is an integral part of Spanish culture?”
That brought the house down, but not the professor’s interest in teaching everything intricately interwoven with the Spanish language. That’s how learning salsa dance became a part of our Spanish classes.
And guess who taught us? Yeah! Juliet.
Nobody knew she could dance, but when she did, she blew our minds away. Frankly, salsa dance songs have a rhythm that could make a paralytic get up and dance. I mean it’s so lively and full of life. The way two individuals move like one, it’s absolutely electrifying. With Juliet as our salsa teacher, we, around 12 of us: six boys and six girls, soon learned to dance to her tunes. We practiced every day for the grand finale -- the Freshers’ Party. During the practice, we unconsciously lingered around munching on spicy samosas, sipping hot chai in paper glasses, discussing Spanish sitting on the building ledges late into the night -- an experience that will remain frozen in hearts for long.
The Spanish class Freshers’ Party was both mind-blowing and sorrowful. Mind-blowing because we discovered new friends, hidden talents, above all a greater love for Spanish language! Sorrowful because Juliet had to leave to Spain just a day before the Freshers’ Party and couldn’t see how we fared at salsa! But we all did great, I mean, as per the class feedback!
Many years have rolled by, since I stopped learning Spanish. However, a couple of days ago, I had an opportunity to meet an old Spanish classmate at EFL. We had a chat about the good old times in the canteen while the music system there belted out an old number by Bryan Adams, “Summer of 69”. My mind froze, when Bryan Adams, as if reading my mind, sang the lines…“Those were the best days of my life…”
That’s how my friendship with Juliet, a Spaniard, began. She was one of those rare individuals for whom boundaries dissolved instantly and circle of friends grew quickly. If not for her skin colour nobody would ever guess that she was a foreigner in a strange land. India - a strange land? Of course, where else would you find buffaloes walking majestically on the road, while buses try to invade the territory of pedestrians? Or garbage strewn on roads as if it’s the place to throw? Or the erratic, puzzling traffic flow. Yet, she never let out a whimper or a hint that India is a shabby place with lot of things that could irk a foreigner easily.
But then it was her nature that anybody would fall for - bubbly, fun-loving, above all, helpful to those around. From a large group that arrived on an exchange programme from different parts of South America like Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala and Brazil and Spain to CIEFL (A university, which is now called EFL), she was the only individual who was always found with Indian students. Discussing, learning, and seeking answers of the land which is perennially mysterious to the westerners.
One Friday evening our Spanish lecturer gathered students around and without mincing words said, “Spanish is not just about learning the language, it’s about getting to the roots of Spanish culture, tradition, heritage and all. You got to know everything that is remotely connected to Spanish.” She hasn’t even finished saying that when someone screamed, “Then, how come we are only learning Spanish and not salsa which is an integral part of Spanish culture?”
That brought the house down, but not the professor’s interest in teaching everything intricately interwoven with the Spanish language. That’s how learning salsa dance became a part of our Spanish classes.
And guess who taught us? Yeah! Juliet.
Nobody knew she could dance, but when she did, she blew our minds away. Frankly, salsa dance songs have a rhythm that could make a paralytic get up and dance. I mean it’s so lively and full of life. The way two individuals move like one, it’s absolutely electrifying. With Juliet as our salsa teacher, we, around 12 of us: six boys and six girls, soon learned to dance to her tunes. We practiced every day for the grand finale -- the Freshers’ Party. During the practice, we unconsciously lingered around munching on spicy samosas, sipping hot chai in paper glasses, discussing Spanish sitting on the building ledges late into the night -- an experience that will remain frozen in hearts for long.
The Spanish class Freshers’ Party was both mind-blowing and sorrowful. Mind-blowing because we discovered new friends, hidden talents, above all a greater love for Spanish language! Sorrowful because Juliet had to leave to Spain just a day before the Freshers’ Party and couldn’t see how we fared at salsa! But we all did great, I mean, as per the class feedback!
Many years have rolled by, since I stopped learning Spanish. However, a couple of days ago, I had an opportunity to meet an old Spanish classmate at EFL. We had a chat about the good old times in the canteen while the music system there belted out an old number by Bryan Adams, “Summer of 69”. My mind froze, when Bryan Adams, as if reading my mind, sang the lines…“Those were the best days of my life…”
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