The Flood

All the buckets and bowls are collecting water

Yesterday at 6:50AM, I woke up to a high-pitched alarm. I pressed my ears because I thought that maybe I was just imagining the sound. I lethargically stumbled into the kitchen, following the noise. The hot water heater was apparently going berserk and spraying water everywhere. Of course, I instantly thought it was my fault...had I left something on? Was I supposed to turn the hot water heater off at night?

After much debate, I woke up my landlady. She came over and helped me mop, explaining that her hot water heater was screaming too, but she had no idea why. We decided everything was okay, so I went back to sleep.

I went to class from 11-1pm, then returned to a flood in my kitchen (not even where the hot water heater is)! I panicked, before scouring the kitchen for buckets to place under the various goteras (leaks). I called my landlady (who was of course, at work). She came home and helped me mop again. She called various friends and fontaneros (plumbers).

Fellow building-mates showed up at random points during the day. Luckily, Monday is my short day so I was done at 1pm.

Huge holes in the ceilings

The last guest was Fulgencio, who I later learned is the presidente of the building. He was a handsome, older gentleman (mid-sixties?) with a neat, white beard. He was dressed in a suit and very professional looking; super friendly and charming.
After examining my predicament and chatting with Maria Jose (my landlady) he introduced himself and asked where I was from. He told me to call him Ful, but not with two 'l's, like Full. He asked what Full meant in English, and I said it's like "lleno." He explained that his wife is learning English and that I could help her if I wanted; apparently he lives right through the wall on the other side of the building. He said to knock if I ever need him.


Side note: since I have come to Spain, I have fallen in love with the older folks. They seem to be so different from many of those in the US. Elderly couples, in particular, are absolutely adorable. They are rarely seen with unlinked arms or unclasped hands.

Just the other day, I saw an old man standing in a plaza trying to zip up his jacket. His wife, several feet ahead, turned around and came back for him. She zipped up his jacket then they linked arms and continued on.

During our last day in Cordoba this weekend, we admired a 60-something couple cuddling near a fountain. The woman had her arms around her husband and the man was playing with her hair and holding her arms. If this is what it takes to be happy when I am old, I'm moving to Spain as soon as I can get my senior discount!

My workstation while the power was out...

Overall, the day was filled with various setbacks: no hot water for my much-needed shower, no electricity at points, no water at all for most of the day. Luckily, I really had no plans for the day other than to catch up on my blog and load my pictures from our Sevilla-Cordoba trip this weekend.

I did get to study when the power was out (no WiFi)!

Today, the plumber never showed up but I'm banking on tomorrow!