Last week, the little family from the East and I looked at an apartment, and for 6 days the owners hemmed and hawed about if they were going to help a family in distress or not. The answer finally came, no.

I put out feelers, distress SOS, someone I've only spoken to on the phone in smooth Granada Spanish in a deep voice sent me a voice message, Jamie, call Maria Angeles, she's got a place.

The little family of four, and myself found ourselves yesterday on the sidewalk outside a tall building. Good location, lots of shops, cafes, bars, parks, buses and metro. 15 minutes walk to the cafe they are running. And before the family joined us, I knew the owner was open to having immigrants.

We saw the flat, 2 baths, 4 bedrooms, big living room and a little balcony/terrace to stretch out in after a long day of running the cafe. Heat to keep them warm, aircon to cool, not as much light as would be nice, but everything was well kept. I knew it was theirs when Maria Angeles said, do you need a mattress for the double bed? Do you need a tv? I'll get them for you.

We talked briefly details and five minutes in my car home, Igor called and said, yes, we want it.

Later, when speaking with Maria Angeles, I expressed my gratitude and she said, "We have forgotten that the Spanish were immigrants once too." And she is old enough that probably her family went to Germany with nothing but luggage to make a way when France had Spain in a stranglehold of poverty.

Today, picking up the money for the deposit, I drank coffee with Igor and Andrew (Andrei the dad made food in the back) and I called for another client while we sat there. I explained I was calling for clients who didn't speak Spanish and the bile I received in return was enough to make me feel physically ill.

She cursed at me for not reading the add that said she wanted to rent directly and when I tried to explain it was for clients that didn't speak Spanish, she told me to basically go to h e l l and that she wouldn't take clients that didn't speak or read Spanish. I hung up on her.

In complete horror, Igor and Andrew made me repeat everything she said, and rolled their eyes so loud, the other customers heard. It was nice to have the two guys feel for me.

So in less than 24 hours, I have had the worst experience and the best experience. I have helped a little family find their home in Granada, even if just temporarily and I have been cursed out by someone who didn't even want to use Tu to talk to me and used usted as a weapon rather than as a sign of respect.

Life can be simple, love your neighbor as yourself, and today I saw both this carried out in action as well as completely and utterly rejected. When hate is accomplished, it is so evil, all you can do is feel the bile inside. But when love and compassion win, there is nothing greater.