Oct 16, 2009

Why? Oh why do Spanish boys in their late 20s still have all weekend long slumber parties?


Last weekend I had the flu. I had the chills, a fever, a cough that tasted of blood, congestion and a runny nose. I share an apartment with a quiet guy in his late 20s from Granada, at least i thought he was a quiet guy... until he and 4 of his buddies stayed over in what ended up being a weekend slumber party for boys. He told me one boy was going stay but he arrived with four. Then he told me not to worry, they would party on the street, but they were home by 11 pm and sat around chatting and drinking in the living room until 2 am then they left and I fell asleep. At around 4 am they returned and began chiseling ice for more drinks and giggling in the kitchen (which shares a thin wall with my bedroom). My patience and good will ran out.... but I let it go... ah the joys of sharing I told myself, they'll be gone by morning... Turns out that's not quite how it works here in Spain. Your friends don't just spend the night, they spend the weekend! Aiyee!

Next day, I felt better so I went out for a while with a friend for a drink, then I caught a parade, then I had more drinks but was back in bed by 1 am. Again at 4 am, the boys returned drunk, blabbered in the kitchen for a while, left all the lights on (and shining into my bedroom) then stumbled off to bed. Next morning I awoke to discover fat "chorizos" heavy at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Apparently, someone didn't know how to flush. This vile surprise tipped the scales and I had had enough. ya no puedo mas!! When I saw my roomie later, while I was sweeping and mopping the floors, I told him we need to talk. I told him it was demasiado para mi. too much. too much. He apologized and promised this wasn't normal practice. The last of the boys, who all live in Madrid, by the way, finally left on Tuesday...

When I shared this story with different groups of my students during the week, we all had a good laugh over it. "Typical Spanish" they told me, especially with boys from Andalucia. "Preparate", they told me. Prepare yourself. Now, I have several amigas españolas but I've never heard of this type of weekend slumber party. Perhaps it's because they are in their 30s but a one night sleep over after a night of drinking is common, but several days? This is news to me... but I guess this has all been a cultural learning experience... The Spanish, after all, love to do everything in big groups, so I suppose these slumber parties that continue far into adulthood is to be expected, even understood(?). I told my students that where I'm from slumber parties are for children and teenagers and they don't usually last for days... and typically, the only adult slumber parties we have, are the sexy ones for two. My students were surprised by this and insisted on extolling the virtues of adult slumber parties, namely, they're fun. But my question is why? Why would you want to spend ALL weekend with your friends and sleep on their couch? Wouldn't your own bed be more comfortable? I don't get it. Maybe one of my Spanish readers can explain it to me better than my students could... Why? Oh why do Spanish boys in their late 20s still have weekend long slumber parties?

8 comments:

Te said...

Very odd. Boys are strange worldwide, but Andalucian men...

..I mean, wasn't the point of sleep-overs so that you could stay up late without your mother or your friends mother having to drive round to pick you up late at night?

Shehani said...

exacto! and it was an tiny step towards independence from the parental units... but these guys are already living away from home... i guess they just really like hanging out together... ALOT.

How are you finding the men out there in Cordoba?

Te said...

The men here...hmmm, well! There is a program of American exchange students at one of the unis here at the moment, and we're friends with a couple of the guys...turns out when the girls go out it's like a stampede of Spanish men charging towards the 'sluttily dressed' girls and attaching themselves to said girls' faces.

So...whenever we go out the guys hear us speaking English and are suddenly fighting over buying us drinks. Which we happily chug and then trot home alone.
...oh, and their accent is WACK.

Shehani said...

excellent, gotta love those macheesy beaver hounds who ply "slutty English speaking girls" with booze!! jaja.. take full advantage OF THEM, i say.

Unknown said...

Hi! I enjoyed your writing! You've got talent! ;)
Alex

Shehani said...

Thanks!! ;)

The Dreamer said...

Hola chica! This post is absolutely hilarious! I just found your blog, and I love it! I lived in Sevilla Spain for quite some time, (heading to Seoul next!) and I am in love with everything that is the country of Spain. Haha. I can however relate to some of the bizarre behavior from the men in Spain!

I always had Spanish men friends who would invite me and my friends over for weekends at their house, or plan weekend long parties. It is definitely odd for an American as we tend to like to go back to our own beds after a night of drinking and partying. As I prefer sleep-overs for two as well, these 'abstract' sleep-overs if you will are sometimes fun to experience. Few and far between that is!

Can't wait to read more of your blog, and follow your adventures through Madrid in the future. I am hoping to make it back to live in Spain as well!

Shehani said...

hola! cheers for the corroboration on this odd chico behaviour! I'm glad you had the odd fun all-boy weekend sleepovers here! :) Thanks for stopping by!
hasta luego!

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