#5 TikToks and Transylvania
You know those people who you meet and you’re just like WOW. What an incredibly unique and beautiful soul? Well I met one of those humans and I am using this blog post in an attempt to share her high on freaking life energy with the world.
I first met Leire week one in Getxo while laying belly up on the physio table trying my best to explain my knee pain in Spanish to the head physio who didn’t speak much English. She had on a huge smile, got REAL close to my face, and excitingly proclaimed, "Hello!! Welcome Dana!!! Don’t worry, he is going to give freedom to your ankle!” This has absolutely become my new favorite way to say adjust or crack. Leire’s energy was undeniably electric in the 2 minutes I spent with her in the physio room. Fast forward 3 months and I was moving into the same building as her for the week - if you read my last blog post you’ll recall my sudden move to the sports complex housing. When the club manager told me Leire would be there I was relieved to know I would have a friend - even though we had only met for maybe a total of 5 minutes before, she is one of those people who just makes you feel like you’re the cat’s pajamas.
This is what I mean:
If you’re not THIS excited to be my neighbor, I don’t want it.
In my few days living with Leire I feel like I have SO MUCH CONTENT to work with. I would need a professional writer to capture her true essence but I’m going to do the best I can.
Here are a few of my favorite moments:
I was putting my dish away in the kitchen where Leire and some of her friends from the residence were sitting and talking. Leire asked me, in a confirmation sort of way, where are you from? I said Pennsylvania and everyone just kind of tilted their head and looked at me except Leire who turns to her friends and goes, “SEE! I TOLD YOU!” One responded wait, where? I said “Pennsylvania” and he responds “Pennsylvania Leire, it’s a state, not Transylvania.” Leire had told everyone that I was from Transylvania. Transylvania - home of Dracula, vampires, and me. Honestly this has been a CLASSIC mix up. One of the most common responses I get from people here when I say I’m from Pennsylvania is, “Oh! like the vampires?!” It always makes me laugh.
The next day there I was again putting my dish away in the kitchen. Leire was ready for the next topic of discussion and she was not holding back, “Do you use satisfiers in the United States?” I was confused, “satisfiers?” She responded with a hand motion circling her coochie and a mrrrr sound. “OH! a vibrator?” I cackled, "You call them satisifers? That’s amazing.” She then proceeded to show me online that it was not just any vibrator, this was a Satisfyer. I’m not shy, so next thing I know we get into an in depth conversation about personal and societal norms around vibrators and masturbating. Apparently I’ve been missing out because the thing that makes this vibrator so good is the suction part at the top. In case anyone is interested:
Ok so come on now, go buys yours today! (No affiliation lmao).
After following me on Instagram, Leire discovered from my dance to the "Git Up” that she had an enthusiastic, committed, TikTok dancing partner at her disposal. And by following Leire on Instagram I found out she runs through snowy mountains in shorts, is truly unapologetically herself in all aspects, is sponsored by red bull, and is kind of famous??? Check out her instagram @gr.leire and I’m sure you will be HIGHLY entertained. We spent that Wednesday night dancing in the hallway until around 1 am when I gave in and decided I should probably go to sleep.
Red Bull picked the perfect sponsor because this woman acts as if she’s chugged a full pack 24/7. My last weekend in Getxo, Leire and some of the residence had a little get together so we could all hangout before I left. Leire doesn’t drink alcohol but there she was up until 5:30 am hoisting her hot tea up in the air and dancing like me my freshman year of college 10 tequila shots deep.
For some reason my go to party trick has been teaching people the WAP and this night was no exception. Leire was creating her own lyrics singing along as she learned the dance. I have to admit I was impressed by the performance of our 3rd dancer - an incredibly tall basketball player and one of Leire’s best friends (in my opinion lol).
Unsure why but I thought the WAP would be a well known song abroad but nobody seems to know it. I taught Antonela and after recording it and sending it to her whole family I realized she probably doesn’t know what WAP stands for. I remember asking her and she said of course I don’t know! I didn’t know how to translate WAP into Spanish so I went with el sur mojado, or, the wet south and some suggestive hand motions. We both erupted in laughter.
I’m writing this blog post about a week after arriving in Sevilla. I’ve gotten to see friends I haven’t seen in 4 years! I can’t even begin to describe the happiness I’ve felt being reunited. People come in and out of our lives but the memories are ours. And although for the time being I won’t get to experience Leire’s wild energy first hand, I am incredibly thankful that I got to meet her. I hope to channel her loud, enthusiastic love of life in my own life. And if we meet again I have no doubt it will be like no time has passed just like I’ve felt this past week in Sevilla. :)