So I can't say I wasn't warned. Many base 'veterans' tried to prepare me but there is no preparation for this type of sight. I bought 1000 pieces of candy at the advice of our friends. It was also discussed to set tables out in the driveway so no damage was done to the house or the car as people passed through the driveway since kids aren't always careful.
So, imagine hundreds of people on your street at once. That was our night. Joe, his cousin Ryan who's deployed here from Norfolk for 6 months and I set up a table outside in the driveway. I had my candy separated into two tins.... 'sweet stuff' and 'chocolate stuff'. And yes, I counted it. I wanted to be sure I had enough.
Our base trick-or-treating hours were from 6-8 p.m. We set up about fifteen minutes before and within minutes had kids running up to the table. It went on for 2 and a half hours from there. Ninety percent of the kids that came to the house were local Spanish kids who are allowed on base tonight. They were dressed up, as is custom. They even tried to say "trick or treat" and "happy halloween" in English, which sometimes was really cute. What wasn't so cute was the differences in customs.
In Spain, they don't wait in line. Though it's their culture and it's not "rude" in Spain, it's still something I have to get used to as an American. At some points I literally had 20-30 kids pushing to get candy. They would run right up and stick their bags out. Some kids reached behind me after I gave them candy and grabbed more for themselves. Some would stay and ask for more. Some would just keep coming back 4 and 5 times. Some even negotiated for more, saying "mas" or bartered to get the "chocolata" instead of the sweet stuff. I had one kid beg for M&M's. I guess he doesn't get them often? I've seen "American" brands of candy in Spanish stores but there must be something different about it because giving them chocolate was like giving them gold. I wonder if chocolate is worth more Euro than American dollars.
So after 2 and a half hours, we got rid of about 700 pieces of candy. INSANE. I don't think I've handed that out over the past 10 years combined. It was truly a sight. There were people everywhere for those two hours. When the kids came, they came in SWARMS. The Spanish parents were very grateful and we got a ton of thanks, sometimes in very broken English. We did manage, in all the chaos to give candy to a few American kids too but we really didn't see many. All the kids were dressed up and some of the little ones were just adorable. It was interesting to say the least.
So, imagine hundreds of people on your street at once. That was our night. Joe, his cousin Ryan who's deployed here from Norfolk for 6 months and I set up a table outside in the driveway. I had my candy separated into two tins.... 'sweet stuff' and 'chocolate stuff'. And yes, I counted it. I wanted to be sure I had enough.
Our base trick-or-treating hours were from 6-8 p.m. We set up about fifteen minutes before and within minutes had kids running up to the table. It went on for 2 and a half hours from there. Ninety percent of the kids that came to the house were local Spanish kids who are allowed on base tonight. They were dressed up, as is custom. They even tried to say "trick or treat" and "happy halloween" in English, which sometimes was really cute. What wasn't so cute was the differences in customs.
In Spain, they don't wait in line. Though it's their culture and it's not "rude" in Spain, it's still something I have to get used to as an American. At some points I literally had 20-30 kids pushing to get candy. They would run right up and stick their bags out. Some kids reached behind me after I gave them candy and grabbed more for themselves. Some would stay and ask for more. Some would just keep coming back 4 and 5 times. Some even negotiated for more, saying "mas" or bartered to get the "chocolata" instead of the sweet stuff. I had one kid beg for M&M's. I guess he doesn't get them often? I've seen "American" brands of candy in Spanish stores but there must be something different about it because giving them chocolate was like giving them gold. I wonder if chocolate is worth more Euro than American dollars.
So after 2 and a half hours, we got rid of about 700 pieces of candy. INSANE. I don't think I've handed that out over the past 10 years combined. It was truly a sight. There were people everywhere for those two hours. When the kids came, they came in SWARMS. The Spanish parents were very grateful and we got a ton of thanks, sometimes in very broken English. We did manage, in all the chaos to give candy to a few American kids too but we really didn't see many. All the kids were dressed up and some of the little ones were just adorable. It was interesting to say the least.
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