Got a crazy story about handling mujeres se mas turba situations last week. Honestly didn’t even know what that phrase meant until Tuesday. My Spanish ain’t great, alright? Thought it was just noisy street vibes. Boy was I wrong.
First Try: Total Disaster
Walking downtown, saw this huge group of mujeres yelling near the metro. Signs waving, voices blasting – classic turba moment. My bright idea? Copy those YouTube de-escalation videos. Tried the “calm hands-down” gesture like some peace guru. Big mistake.
- Stepped forward slow, palms out – tried looking harmless
- Made eye contact with one lady shouting – instant backfire
- Got four women screaming at me in Spanish, waving fists
- Just froze like an idiot until security shuffled me away
Yeah. Felt like a total toolbox wasting everyone’s time.
Round Two: Actually Listening
Came back Thursday prepared. Brought Maria – my neighbor’s teen who actually habla español. Didn’t barge in this time. Stood at the back where people looked less angry.
- Had Maria listen first – turns out it was about sudden bus fares
- Waited for a natural break in shouting (over 20 minutes!)
- Asked a woman catching her breath if we could get water for everyone
- Got three “Sí” nods before anyone yelled again
Didn’t fix their problem but changed the vibe. Helped pass out six packs of water bottles. Their leader finally agreed to talk to transit staff. Small win.
What Actually Works (For Me)
Learned the hard way it’s NOT about being the hero. Notes from my scribbled journal:
- Never approach head-on like a damn tourist
- Always identify who’s breathing hardest – they’re listening
- Offer stupid simple help first (water, phone charging)
- Let locals translate reality – not dictionary apps
Bottom line? Thought I’d be teaching conflict resolution skills. Instead got schooled by abuelas with protest signs. Honestly felt like crying over dinner that night. But hey – at least I didn’t call out “calm down” like last time. Progress.
