Real Life Telenovelas
Written by Bessie on Wednesday, February 06, 2008 in Guatemala
Feelin' thoughtful
If any of you aren´t familiar with a telenovela, they´re everything amazing and horrible in life. They´re the hispanics´ version of soap operas, but so much more indulgant. The basic formula is a passionate love story between two beautiful people, and there´s always major drama: fights between families, corruption in a business, illigitmate children, you get the gist. They´re more exciting than American soap operas because the plots are so juicy, and they only last about a month, so they really cram a lot into each episode. Feelin' thoughtful
So I bring up telenovelas because I´ve encountered a number of central american women over the past few years that have real life stories, but that to me sound like they´re straight out of a telenovela, but I know them to be true. It´s also been a window to help me understand why telenovelas are so dramatic - because to compete with the real life stories of love affairs and illigitimate children, tv show writers have to have even more dramatic story lines.
Sometime soon, take a few minutes and flip to Telemundo or Univision and watch a telenovela. I guarartee that whether or not you know Spanish, you´ll catch the gist of the plot, and really want to know more about the elaborately woven plot. If you want to know what might be going on, imagine the storyline below.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent. If the people involved with these lifestories ever read these tales, know that I don´t mean to offend and that if any telenovela writers come to be to buy the storyline, I promise to give you all the earnings.
Note: The following story is true to the best of my knowledge. Only the names have been changed.
Susana
Susana was a kind soft spoken woman that lived with 5 children in a city in Costa Rica. She worked in an office, and herself enjoyed many a telenovela. Her 5 five children were from atleast 2 different men, but I can´t say exactly how many. The youngest two children, now about 7 and 9, were from the same man, let´s call him Alberto. Although Susana and Alberto had separated a few years before (infidelity is assumed), they still lived together, likely for financial reasons. As in many hispanic, largely catholic countries, you don´t divorce, but infidelity is widely accepted though not really approved.
As the story goes, about 2 years ago, Alberto moves to the coast, gets an apartment, and runs a restaurant there, and for the most part sends money to his children, and visits them, as he´s able, every few weeks.
Then Alberto openly has a girlfriend, we´ll call her María. María lives in the same city as Susana and the children, so Alberto returns more often to stay with her and visit his daughters. The odd part here, is that Susana and Maria become friends. They begin talking about Alberto, sharing stories and complaining about his odd habits. For a few months, the women talk more and more, and Alberto and his girlfriend Maria begin to have problems in their relationship, and he visits and she doesn´t want to see him, but alas this smooth talking son of a gun, talks his way back into María´s heart.
One weekend, Alberto drives from the coast to visit, and his girlfriend, María is adament about him not visiting. I imagine the dialogue as, ¨I don´t want you here to visit! We´re through! I´m sick of your smooth-talking, lying, cheating ways!¨
Alberto respond, ¨ But my love, you fill my heart with kisses from heaven and warmth like the volcano´s lava (those sorts of things actually win women over here). I must come to see you!¨
This part I know for sure, and you won´t believe it. Alberto is driving into the city to see his girlfriend María, and she knows he is coming, and gets on a bus to get away, so a friend´s or somewhere. As she is getting on the bus, he sees her, and she knows she must get on the next bus. This bus happens to be crowded, and here, you pack literally more people than humanly possible onto the bus. María is hanging somewhat out of the bus, and she FALLS OUT OF THE BUS, and got hit. Sadly, after a few weeks in intensive care, her forearm and lower leg are amputated.
Sad, I know, but there´s a silver lining in this story of the rain cloud: Alberto still loves María, and visits her at least once a week in a hospital many hours from his beach home. The two are happy. Susana, who was in touch with María and that has Alberto´s children, is happy that the two are happy, as it keeps him out of her hair.
Comments on "Real Life Telenovelas"
I don't THINK I should be laughing.... but I simply can't help it. That is quite a tale! And if the accompanying street photo complete with buses and all is part of that story, it is no wonder why poor Maria was hit!! Darn that Alberto!! -As for the TV viewing? Now y'got me curious! --And you keep punching out those soaps, girl!!! 8 ^ ')
Such talent we have in our family!!!!!! HEHEHE
I love telenovas! Believe it or not they had them in Kenya (crazy huh) but they were dubbed with horrible english subtitles...it was the greatest and worst tv experience i have ever had! I love your blogs. I am glad to hear ya'll are having a great time!
i laughed. that was funny =]
Oddly enough!! this story reminds me of a real life situation between parents in the district in which I taught......except for the amputation!! The kicker however is that the girlfriend and the wife, who became friends, ALSO BECAME LOVERS!......leaving Alberto to fend for himself....with the five children....one of which was in my class. Alberto got his just two-timing payback, and Susana and Maria lived, to the best of my knowledge, happily ever after with occasional visits from the 5 kids........in the same neighborhood. Parent conference days were always QUITE interesting!
Great photos from Xela. Looks like you are both well and having a blast. What in the world is pica pica and why does one want it on the street and in your hair?! P.S. Hola, Estoy cerca la snow storm GRANDE falling to about 1 foot deep! AND... MUE BIEN BEATLE LEMONE! You will see many of them in Puerto Vallarta with their roofs removed zooming down the streets in many pretty colors. DADDIO
by DADDIO at February 06, 2008 05:24 PM