What change might happen

THE CRISIS

Back at Spanish school after the weekend. Grette and I in our different classes (Grette is intermediate I'm a kind of middle beginner) both ran through what we did on the weekend, twice, once with each of our teachers. So we are well practised at summarising the conversations, meals, shopping and walking of the past few days.

Anyway, on top the weekend walk in the very extensive park Caso del Campo (photo of lunch below), where I think one of the feral animal problems is raccoons; and a fine evening meal in one of those twittering conversational Spanish public spaces; we visited friends of my brother and talked about the problem of Spain.  I am grossly oversimplifying the argument here, but our Spanish host seemed to be arguing that there is a deep division in Spain and one side will always look out for themselves at the expense of the other. His Irish partner thought one of key issues is that too many of the population are happy to pursue an easy life. They both agreed that the emerging generation of young adults have no sense of building a better Spain. And those whose parents are doing OK particularly don't seem to be in a rush. If they are still in Spain.

When we were in Morocco, towards the end of the week, it was pointed out to me that the Royal Family there owns the big supermarkets, the biggest real estate businesses, and so on.  Here in Spain, it is perhaps a slightly wider crowd of people who benefit the most. But there is certainly a strong sense that circumstances, as always, suit the most comfortable. I was impressed with the Socialist-led government of Andalusia offering to provide students at public schools three meals a day.  I was advised not to believe what I read in the papers. And not to expect any change.

Very frustrating this not-expecting-change thing.  We  listened briefly to ABC Radio this evening, and learnt that Chrissy Amphlet has died (she was great); but then turned off RN breakfast because we couldn't bear any of the same old same old.

My little intellectual struggle on this trip is to try to get sense of where the real resistance and positive vision for social change will come from. I kind of romantically imagined that Spain with its history of passionate politics and the hard times that are affecting so much of the population might be a good crucible for  that. But then you think, when you see the pleasures of the good life that still available to many, and the undoubted economic problems that no one seems to have articulated a believable response to, that there's no reason to EXPECT Spain to lead the way. And,as we all agreed over our cup of tea on Saturday, that when you look it from here, Australia is still in the box seat to carve out a better path.

EATING

Finally tonight, my friend Jonni has suggested all the blogs are about eating. well yes, that seems to be the challenge of the ChilliWorldTour.  I reckon I'd be investigating the actual presence of food with chillies here in. Madrid if I wasn't so focussed on learning Spanish. And also, if I  didn't actually like Spanish food so much. Anyway - I'd appreciate a few comments (Jonni, et al) if we are to braided the conversation away from all that meat and all those roasted peppers.