So, it turns out Madrid, is not San Diego. For one, they have weather here. Flip flops then are not a fantastic idea. I speak from experience, because I've been out sick from school for the last two days (here she hacks into a tissue for a few minutes before continuing to type). I've watched Sucio Harry (Dirty Harry) and Desayuno con Diamantes (Breakfast at Tiffany's) and drunk my weight in leche caliente con miel (hot milk with honey-the Spanish cure for a sore throat). And I'm a little bored now, so I thought I'd use this opportunity for a few blog updates. So brace yourself, because here they come.
School wise, I'm proud to say I no longer think i'm in history class when i'm actually in philosophy! (which is what i thought the first two days) I also understood something in World Lit the other day, my teacher said "Yo soy tu padre," (why he was quoting Star Wars I have no clue). So, with school being a little impossible for me, not to mention the fact that I'm not asked to do any tests (My math teacher being the exception, I of course attempted to answer the questions, but it's really difficult when you don't know what the questions are asking. So, I wrote "i'm sorry, i don't understand" at the top and left it at that) My main goal at school then, is to make friends (although my doodling is much improved. I guess all I needed was 6 hrs a day of practice to unleash my inner Picasso) and attempt to understand what my teachers are saying.
Now, back to making friends. It's a bit of a challenge for any new
kid on the block. But take a new kid and factor in a new language and you've got
the makings of one hilariously embarrassing teen movie.
An exchange student friend in Rome recently told me about her experience with making friends. "Well, during class a guy came up to me, emptied my entire purse, turned it inside out and put everything back in it. Apparently, that means we're friends....I feel like I'm explaining a strange custom done by animals." It does sound like it right?
My friends here in Madrid meanwhile have their own...ways of showing me were friends. Yafil, for instance, my first friend here at San
Juan Bautista, thinks Americans speak like they're on Jersey Shore. So every
morning he comes into class, turns to his friends and says "wuz up my insert MTV like phrase here. Then he winks at me. I think this is an attempt at making me
feel at home...
Meanwhile, in my Advanced English class the issue
of besos (kisses) has once again come up. Two girls (whose names I've
completely forgotten-this is a trend for exchange students. Meet 40 people,
remember none of their names) Well, they asked me "how do you greet each
other in the U.S.? You (and here she mimed shaking hands) right?" Me:
"NOOOOO. We really don't shake hands I swear! In fact we're really okay
with touching. Besos? Absolutely okay!" Her: "But what do you do when
you meet someone for the first time?" Me: (mind you this whole conversation
is going on in Spanish) The first time, we just (here I waved) and say
'hola!'" They thought that was pretty hilarious. Me: "The second
time, you've probably decided you're going to be friends, or at least friendly
so, you hug." (Here I had to mime hugging the kid next to me).
I've no doubt earned a reputation as that crazy American girl, primarily because I get a little over enthusiastic whenever I'm finally able to understand a conversation. For instance the other day, my friends during lunch were talking about what I thought was a concert. So, I asked what type? They said the name, but I had no clue if that was a band name or what. Suddenly, I was worried maybe they hadn't been talking about a band at all, maybe I'd gotten it all wrong. "Que?" I asked. They said it again. "Um, lo siento, pero (i'm sorry, but) que?" She says it again. A few minutes of awkward silence. Then, Me (timidly): "Simple Plan?" Her: "yeah." Me: "OHHHHH oh my god Simple Plan! Yeah!" Them: cracking up.
I have had one other problem here at school besides well, this one
Which has led me to respond with this one,
all the time. (A few other catch phrases: no entiendo (I don't understand), no lo se ( i don't know), vale (okay), and my favorite, madre mia which I think is basically oh my god?
(photos curtesy of the Foreign Exchange Student memes page on Facebook)
(photos curtesy of the Foreign Exchange Student memes page on Facebook)
My problem though is that during class, I look too engaged. My teacher's think I understand something. I don't. But I set them straight every time they ask me a question, and I give them big deer in headlights eyes and look at my classmates like "save me."
Yesterday (Friday) though, was National Day here in Spain, so no school for me! In the morning Mari Carmen and I went to the military procession held near the Plaza Calon. The procession was much smaller than in the past (it used to feature a big air show), but the soldiers marching with their sabers and guns, some on horses, some in jeeps, and some with... a goat (Spain's mascot) were a sight to see.
Yesterday (Friday) though, was National Day here in Spain, so no school for me! In the morning Mari Carmen and I went to the military procession held near the Plaza Calon. The procession was much smaller than in the past (it used to feature a big air show), but the soldiers marching with their sabers and guns, some on horses, some in jeeps, and some with... a goat (Spain's mascot) were a sight to see.
Asi hasta mañana
