Africa Meets America

After our Teleferico experience Trey and I were craving some good ol fashion tapas so we went to a typical spot here in Madrid called Tapas 44. We had such a lovely experience ordering. They brought out two menus a Spanish and and English version. It was helpful to see the different tapas in both languages so we could familiarize ourselves with alot of the foods and dishes. Trey and I have yet to be disappointed with the food here in Madrid. It is always fresh and made to order. As we looked around we noticed the restaurant was not busy, and we thought how unusual it was normally packed. Then we remembered it was too early for the Spanish to eat at 8pm. We glanced over our shoulders and noticed a man sitting behind us. He was by himself and looked out the window and in Spanish said, "Wow the women are beautiful here in Spain." I turned around looked at him and nodded my head agreeing with his statement. He smiled and in English asked me if I understood him? I said yes! He asked where Trey and I were from. And I said Estados Unidios. He  was very excited to hear this and asked to join our table. He was from Angola Africa but was living in Germany now for nearly 27 yeara. We had fantastic conversationthat, was not just surface conversation but meaningful and eye opening. It was fascinating and refreshing to carry a conversation with someone with a totally different perspective anyone walking in on our conservation could tell we were all passionate about learning about others!
During our discussion on politics, policies, and procedures he mentioned two things he said about our country that left us speechless...one that all over the world they play American music, have technology from America, dress in clothes like Americans, however he felt he didnt know the American people. As we continued our conversation he thanked us repeatedly for allowing him to talk with us. Little did he know we were just as grateful to have met him.
 Sitting there with Roberto and talking about his country, Angola, and what we thought his country was like... is not at all what we had imagined it to be! It was fascinating talking with someone who was very proud, passionate, and diplomatic about his country. It was an experience I don't think we will ever forget because it was such a genuine, engaging conversation amongst 3 people from totally different backgrounds sharing our thoughts and point of views!
The other point he brought up was his desire to come to America but he was a little scared. Scared we thought why?
He made a hand gesture for guns...and Trey and I both said Ohhh at the same time. We didn't have much more to say on that topic nor did we know what to say really! We just shook our heads and agreed with his statement about all the shooting were very sad. It was interesting to hear a man from Africa say he was scared of America....how times have changed?!
All in all this encounter left Trey and I both thinking about other cultures, people, and places and wanting more conversations and encounters as we had just had with Roberto.  After all that is exactly what we were set out to do. 
Our evening was coming to an end so we exchanged phone numbers and email addresses we shook eachother hands and went our separate ways with a new appreciation and understanding of other cultures.