On my way to meeting Sam and Olivia today at Libélula cafe, I made friends with an older woman named Matilde. She was just a complete stranger walking in front of me, but that all changed when all of a sudden she looked back, saw me, and proceeded to enthusiastically carry a conversation with me for the next 15 minutes, speaking to me with great excitement as though we were long lost friends!
The conversation wasn't so much of a conversation as it was her talking about random subjects, everything from the impending rain to her family, rapidly in Spanish, and me agreeing and nodding to her periodically, but I enjoyed it immensely. She was one of those people that are perfectly content with carrying on a conversation with anyone who is willing to listen, and I was glad to have a companion during my walk.
Funny enough, she complimented me on my Spanish five minutes into our conversation, even though I hadn't said much more than "Si" a few times. I guess my excellent skills at saying "yes" indicated Spanish speaking proficiency to her.
Also, the difference between walking alone and walking beside an older women when strolling the streets of León is fascinating: Matilde was like an awesome magical charm that repelled unwanted attention. Whereas before I met her on my walk, I had the great privilege of hearing several strange pickup lines, such as "Mmmm I love Chinese people" (probably one of the weirdest things I've ever heard) and being whistled at by boys who looked like they were about 10 years old (....just plain awkward), walking with her was a breeze. Apparently, nobody wants to hit on you while you're walking with an elderly woman.
Funny enough, she was very persistent about having me remember her name, who she was, and where she lived. She told me about SIX TIMES that her name was Matilde, she was a teacher, and that she lived "over there" (she would point towards where she lived and give me instructions on how to find her). I was starting to think she had amnesia, because it really didn't seem like she remembered telling me the same exact information multiple times...but who knows?
Anyways, definitely made for an interesting experience, to meet this eccentric and talkative woman named Matilde! It goes to show how something as simple as walking around a city can open up unique encounters with people you might not have known otherwise. It makes me think about the connections I make with strangers every day - a brief second of eye contact, a quick smile, an averted gaze, a wolf whistle, the occasional weird pickup line, a polite "buenas" or "hola". These interactions range from pleasant to unpleasant, hilarious to discomforting, and sometimes, like today, they can turn into meaningful but brief connections with unique individuals, making you ponder the beauty and diversity of human relationships. We have the potential to meet so many interesting people throughout our lives if we simply open ourselves up to the opportunity. Maybe like Matilde, we should strike up conversations with strangers more often.
Oh, and we also took a picture together! She was very excited when I asked her permission to put it on my blog.
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