Happy Sábado ☕
Today we are in Medellín, Colombia.
A small panadería, 7am, the kind of place that smells like butter and sugar before you even open the door.
One woman is learning to make pan de bono for the first time. She is not having a great time. And the baker behind the counter is about to say exactly the right thing.
THE SCENE 🖼️
Doña Carmen: Ay, no. Se me cayó otra vez.
Oh no. It fell apart again.
Valentina: No se preocupe. Mírela, así.
Don't worry. Look, like this.
Valentina works here on weekends. She is patient. That "mírela, así" is gentle. She is not taking over. She is just pointing.
Doña Carmen: Es que yo no sirvo para esto. Mis manos no hacen lo que yo quiero.
I'm just not good at this. My hands won't do what I want.
Valentina: Eso le digo yo cuando intento bailar salsa. Y llevo cinco años intentando.
That's what I say when I try to dance salsa. And I've been trying for five years.
That landed. Doña Carmen almost smiled. Valentina just made herself the example, not Doña Carmen. That is a small, kind move.
Doña Carmen: Cinco años y todavía no sabe?
Five years and you still don't know?
Valentina: Más o menos. Depende de con quién me estén mirando.
More or less. Depends on who's watching.
Doña Carmen: Ja. Bueno, eso sí lo entiendo.
Ha. Okay, that I understand.
The conversation just got warm. Two women laughing at themselves instead of at each other.
Doña Carmen: Pero el pan es diferente. Uno tiene que saber.
But bread is different. You have to know how.
Valentina: Por qué?
Why?
Doña Carmen: Porque mi mamá lo sabía. Y su mamá también. Y yo soy la primera que no.
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