Monthly Archives: September 2011

National Coffee Day

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It’s no secret: I love a good cuppa.

In honor of National Coffee Day, September 29, I’d like to encourage you to take part in a very Spanish activity – go and tomar algo. And just because it’s national coffee day, that algo should be coffee. I hate to sound demanding (no, really, I do!), but it’s imperative that you go and get and/or make a steaming hot cup of coffee. Don’t forget the sugar.

(You could go to places like Krispy Kreme to get free cups, but I am wary of their quality. For a really good cup of coffee, I prefer my French Press and freshly ground beans from Trader Joe’s. Call me a snob, but I hate bad coffee.)

In Spain, the morning break for coffee is the norm. When I told Mario’s mother I got a half an hour for lunch, she was positively appalled. His dad chimed in to say that half an hour is the morning coffee break, not lunch!

Not all Spaniards eat pastries with theirs, though. Some eat tortilla de patata or jamón. You know, whatever floats their boat.

Coffee in Spain tends to be different than coffee in the U.S., though. It’s more what we would call “espresso.” Here are the types you can usually order.

  • Café solo. (Literally: only coffee.) It’s usually pretty tiny, more like a shot of espresso than anything.
  • Café con leche. (Literally: coffee with milk.) This is my choice. There’s usually a generous quantity of milk added to this. Whole milk. Why would you pollute it with skim? It’s definitely the most popular form in Spain.
  • Café cortado. (Literally: cut coffee.) It’s like the café solo with a tiny bit of milk. It’s also served in a very small glass.
  • Leche manchada. (Literally: stained milk.) It’s mainly milk, and I know some of Mario’s friends/relatives would order that. I think of it like coffee-flavored milk. It may sound gross, but think of coffee flavored ice cream and how good that is. Yum!
  • Café descafeinado. (Literally: decaffeinated coffee.) You usually get a cup of hot water and a packet of instant coffee with this.
  • Café con hielo. (Literally: coffee with ice.) This is obviously more popular in the summer months. I personally don’t like it because you are usually given a very large ice cube with roughly the same amount of liquid as your coffee cup. Thus, the coffee tastes very watered down.
  • Café bonbon. (I don’t know how to translate this literally.) It’s coffee with sweetened condensed milk instead of regular milk. Obviously quite sweet!
Now, those are just the basic ones. Often, the shop will sell cappucinos as well as alcoholic coffee drinks, like the carajillo, which combines coffee with brandy or rum. You should try it if you’re following the “hair of the dog” method. Or if you just like depressants + stimulants mixed together.
Yum?
In Spain, coffee (or at least tomando algo) is a daily part of life. However, it’s a way to sit down, to chat, to rest, to relax for a few minutes, whereas here I drink my coffee on my way to work or walking around. It’s not a break or a time to relax, although I do wish it were. That’s not to say coffee isn’t important to us. It is; it’s just different. I found this infographic on coffee rather interesting.
I apologize for this post being a little bit unfocused, but…please celebrate with me by having yourself a delicious, freshly brewed cup of coffee! A toast (with coffee)!
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How to Improve Your (Already Pretty Good) Spanish

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When I first went to Spain in the spring of 2008, my Spanish wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. I got there and realized all the Spanish I knew wasn’t useful when trying to explain to the school why I needed to change rooms and how the shower head wouldn’t emit a normal stream of water. I struggled to understand the cashiers at the local grocery store when they told me how much the total was: “Cinco con dos.” Wait, what? Five with two? Does that mean seven?

I came back having improved, but not that much. I was determined to return and, while there, get better. I did so, thanks to a number of things that I would like to share with you all.

I used to think pisar meant “to piss.” Point taken.

But first, let me explain. This list is for people whose Spanish is already past the AP test and who don’t need me to explain how to conjugate the past subjunctive. If you do need that, I suggest other methods. However, undertaking mine won’t hurt you!

Even Barbie listens to me!

Practice, practice, practice. I make this mistake with Mario a lot – I revert back to English whenever there’s something I don’t know how to say (i.e., I’m too lazy to get my butt to WordReference and look it up). In college, one of my professors espoused the idea of circumlocution. If you don’t know how to say, for example, door knob, say something like “the thing that you use to open the door” or “the round thing you use to turn.” And so on. But suck it up and forget about if you’re going to make a mistake asking the lady on the street corner how to get to the train station. She’s probably heard much worse.

This is your brain on Spanish. 

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Read. I enjoy reading the Spanish newspaper, especially certain sections like the editorials where the language tends to be a bit richer. Just yesterday I read part of an editorial that used three words/phrases I didn’t understand in one sentence (ouch!): desmemoriado, irse de rositas, estropicio. Luckily, I complained to Mario and he told me all the meanings. Great for me, right? I know, it’s annoying that I can just be lazy and ask him, but I also spend a lot of time on WordReference. The forums are a godsend!

Write. I’ve just noticed this in the past few weeks. As a part of my job, I translate a newsletter for one of the teachers. Then I ask my handy dandy personal assistant to edit it for me, just to make sure my errors aren’t too egregious. When I first received them, the red marks (thanks Microsoft Word!) were a lot more frequent. Now there aren’t so many of them. As I drove home yesterday, I began to realize just what great practice this is, translating a similarly formatted document with different wording again and again. I recommend it, even if you don’t have a Mario. There are websites out there where you can write and have native speakers correct you (LiveMocha, for one).

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Listen. If you’re a newbie, try the TV, where you’ll be able to see the people’s lips move (unless it’s dubbed, not an uncommon practice in Spain). Try the 3 o’clock news if you’re actually in Spain, too. If that’s way too easy (who are you and how can I hit you in the face?) try the radio. If you’re like, “Psh, girl,” then try a soccer game. If you can understand a soccer game, you have arrived. I congratulate and perhaps even bow at your feet. I hope they do not smell.

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 Notice errors. Spanish people do this thing called leísmo, meaning they use the “le” pronoun instead of “lo” in certain circumstances. For instance, they might say “Le veo,” when it should be “Lo veo.” Another common error is when they use hubiera twice instead of habría + hubiera. For example, “Hubiera ido si me hubieras dicho.” Wrong. It should be “Habría ido si me hubieras dicho.” It’s an error that sounds okay to Spanish ears (kind of like mixing up lay/lie/laid), but I pick up on it, and ask Mario if they’re wrong. I like understanding errors and how to avoid them. Mario, like any good Spaniard, does employ leísmo from time to time, and I’ll admit, it’s rubbed off on me somewhat. Having spent so much time in Castilla León, it just rounds right to me.

So does this. Right on!

Eat at restaurants. If you want a challenge, try to learn the names of all the meats, cuts, fishes, cooking methods, and so on. I assure you, learning what morro is may ensure that you will never, ever eat it. I haven’t—and I promise you I don’t regret it.

Pick up a book. I read the Millennium series in Spanish. It felt like the best of both worlds. I was constantly immersed in dialogue in Spanish and I learned how to say things like, “La cocina daba al comedor,” that I probably wouldn’t have known otherwise. Also, I don’t think the Millennium series was especially rich in English and in Spanish it was much the same. However, I didn’t notice it in a foreign language.

Get mad. Try using a foreign language if you’re angry. I assure you, it will be difficult to continue speaking the language of Cervantes when there’s steam pouring out of your ears. Nonetheless, you will definitely learn something. You may want to pick up a few swear words here and there. Cat recently wrote a post that I found particularly amusing. I endorse it fully. A few of Mario’s friends seem to have lots of experience in swearing. Thus, their lexicon is quite impressive. (Note: Mario is far from this.)

After all, swearing mitigates pain. What more do you need?

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

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I have blogged about my love of Pinterest before. I know my blog is supposed to be about Spain and stuff, but forgive me just this once? I love reading others’ blog entries about what they’re loving lately. Thus, my favorite pins from my favorite boards.

Yum. I love cooking. (Mario knows this well.) Asi que, I love sites like Tastespotting or Foodgawker. Pinterest is a good source of cooking inspiration, too. Here are some of my favorites lately:

  1. Crockpot Chile Lime Black Bean Soup. This sounds so good and so easy!
  2. Homemade Goldfish Crackers. I absolutely love the idea of the little fish cookie cutter.
  3. DIY Coffee Syrups. Who doesn’t love a good pumpkin spiced latte? (Don’t answer that.) I don’t love pumpkin as much as other flavors, but these recipes give you so many options.
  4. Strawberry Torte. This is a Martha Stewart recipe, so you know it’s fancy.
  5. Chile Lime Grilled Corn. It’s called elote in Mexico (according to the blog author) and is a Mexican street food. Street food is usually authentic and good, so I’m pretty sure I’d love this.
  6. Double Chocolate Espresso Sandwich Cookies with Peanut Butter Frosting. I think we could safely call these indulgences, don’t you agree?

DIY. I learned to knit and sew this summer. Crafty much? I don’t want to turn into a stereotype, but creating something is very satisfying. I knitted a scarf for Mario and while he hasn’t had a chance to use it yet, he does like it. Score one for me! Here are some more things I totally wish I could do.

  1. Grocery Bag Holder. I’m a sucker for tutorials. I made some pillowcases this summer based on a really awesome tutorial and they look great. This would be a fun thing to have, especially after having lived in Spain, where no one throws away their old grocery bags; they save them.
  2. Homemade Playdough. I’m pretty sure my elementary school teachers knew how to do this; however, I didn’t. One day, I’ll do this. Maybe I’ll even do it for any future children.
  3. Deep Purple Yarn Wreath with Lace and Felt Flowers. This is from an Etsy shop, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take inspiration from it, right?
  4. Basic Crochet Tutorial. I just bought some crochet hooks, so I probably better learn how to crochet.
  5. Herringbone Stitch. I wish I could knit this, but I have a feeling it won’t happen for a long (long) time.
  6. Old-Fashioned Soap. You make this in a crockpot. Soap in a crockpot? I admit, it does sound odd, but I’m okay with it.
Gifts. I love giving gifts. Now if I only had an infinite amount of money in order to buy all the fun stuff I see in Oprah’s favorite thing section of O magazine. Here are some things I wish I could buy others (or, cough cough, me).

  1. Wood Weather Station Clock. Mario’s parents have a clock that tells you the weather, barometric pressure, wind speed, etc. I like it a lot, but this one is prettier.
  2. Bon Voyage Duffel. Lululemon is one of those places where you wish you could buy everything, but you end up leaving with nothing because a pair of shorts costs $50. This is a cute bag. Buy me it? It’s only $108.
  3. Le Creuset Tea Kettle. I date a boy who, oddly enough, loves tea. Any kind, basically. Someday I’ll buy him this. It’s pretty and since it’s Le Creuset, I’m going to guess it works pretty dang well.
  4. Lemon Salt Scrub. I love bath and beauty products, but I’m over Bath & Body Works. It feels like I’m still in high school when I put it on. This, however, feels very much today.
  5. DIY Romantic Star Projector. I would love this. How fun would it be to light this up on a Saturday night, open a bottle of wine, and just lay back and observe?
  6. Listography. I love lists. I would love to buy this book to make lots and lots of lists – about me, about my life, about my goals and interests.

  1. Vera Wang Jeweled Flats. If I had $295, I’d be all over these.
  2. Portrait Collar Dress. Unfortunately, this dress seems to be sold out.
  3. A nice little work outfit. Yes, please.
  4. Green Kitten Heels. I love green and these small little heels are perfect for me.
  5. One Shoulder Dress + Rosettes. I admit, I love dresses; I have a weak spot.
  6. Wedding Ballet Flats. I like them, even if I didn’t have any weddings to attend.
I hate to end this with a cliché question, but what are you loving lately? 

Words You Didn’t Need to Know…Until You Did

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I was reading Danielle’s blog (note to self: add to blogroll) and she mentioned how you learn certain words only when you need them?

You know how you also learn lots of Portuguese words when you need them? Like how you learn that sink is pia when it breaks, or that you need to say estou rouca when you’ve lost your voice…

Estou ronca = Estoy ronca = I’m hoarse

Her post, while not focused on the topic, resonated with me because it’s spot on! I got to thinking about what words and phrases I learned in the heat of the moment because I needed them, not because I was in the learning mood. Thus, I made you a handy dandy list! Who doesn’t love lists?

¿Dónde está la embajada? One time, back in 2008, I went to Barcelona. It was a fun trip, don’t get me wrong, but while there, my traveling companion decided to take a photo. With his tripod. Thus, I set my purse down, inside his backpack. I was carrying my passport? (Yes, yes I know - I also want to slap my 2008 self silly.) They took it. The purse, not the backpack. Of course. Luckily, there was no money / credit cards in there. But when you’re traveling around Europe, your passport comes in pretty handy, especially when you don’t have a NIE. Being the “estudiante de español” that I was, I didn’t know how to say embassy. Thank goodness for guide books. Thank goodness for nice taxi drivers.Right before the passport was taken. Also, not coincidentally, the last photo taken.

Estoy constipada / resfriada. The first time I got sick in a foreign country, I had to go to the school doctor. Luckily, I had my directora with me to help me. I learned something, though – constipado/a does not mean what you think. It’s what you say when you’re all stuffed up. So when your intercambio tells you he’s constipado, do not giggle. You’ll have to explain yourself.

Household vocabulary. When I first got to Spain, I had no idea how to say the following: doorknob, light bulb, faucet, shower head, drain, handle, hanger, comforter, blinds, and many more. Just, ya know, your basic vocabulary when talking to your doorman (which we had at our residence). I mean, I did know how to say some things, don’t get me wrong. Those things included: door, sheets, bed, shower, sink, toilet, floor, etc. However, when your light bulb needs change you can’t just keep repeating “light…light” to the confused maintenance man.

Te quiero. I don’t want to get all sappy on you, I swear. But I used to really not get the whole te quiero/te amo thing. Like, when do you use each one and why? Can you say “I love pizza?” in Spanish? (Yes, you just say “Me encanta la pizza.”) I didn’t like saying what I saw as “I want you” to mean “I love you.” However, with time, I came to understand and appreciate the Spanish way of saying I love you. While it is a phrase I would only utter to one person (guess!), it has been most useful to me.

Gratuitous photo of my favorite person. Oh, and me.

What are some words/phrases you learned in the heat of the moment?

Shut up, Spain is Better

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This post title is harsh because I am angry. (Okay, not really. Just irritated. Sometimes.)

A lot of people romanticize Europe. It’s cool; I did it, too. I used to think of Europe as all cobblestoned streets, cafés filled with a low yellow light, and freshly baked bread carried under your arm. It paints a pretty picture, doesn’t it?

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But the reason why I’m – grrr – angry frustrated is that most people, when they think of places they want to go, do not think of Spain. I admit it, I’m jealous. Tengo celos. (I said it in Spanish so you know it’s goin’ down.)

When I say wine, do you think Italy? France? California?…Spain?

I think of Spain, now and forever. It has great wine, and heck, if you’re actually in the country, it’s cheaper than water (the house wine, that is). I never liked red wine until Spain and now I’m very partial to it indeed.

My dad, however, may never really get wine. And that’s okay. But he gets it – Spanish wine is tops.

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If I say delicious European food, what do you think of? Italy? France? Greece? … Spain?

You should. I mean that. I know, I know, it’s easy to go to a restaurant with the menu in English that serves you greasy fries and dried out pork. It’s not good. But guess what? That’s not true Spanish food. True Spanish food is fresh, delicious, made from the very best ingredients.

So sorry so yellow. Again, Dad looks odd. Sorry Dad?

If you want the good stuff, I suggest making a Spanish friend (boyfriend / girlfriend works too – ahem) and going to his or her house. Usually, almost always in fact, the food is good. My favorite meals were the simple ones – lentejas being one of them. It was hearty, delicious, and good for you. Cha-cha-ching!

When you think of a beautiful country, do you think of Spain? I do. Spain has it all – the climate in the north is like Ireland’s (rainy and green), the climate in the south is more like the southwest of the U.S. (dry and hot), and in the middle you have a temperate climate like where I’m from, the Midwest. Oh, and you also have beautiful beaches. And some islands thrown in for good measure.

Best Beaches  Canary Island Beaches

When you think of nice people…you should think of Spain.

Now, at first glance you may think to yourself, these people are not so nice (unless, of course, you are in Andalucía where they are a bit more, shall we say, exuberant). They don’t usually say anything as they shove past you in the grocery store. People don’t smile at strangers. Waiters don’t coddle you.

But, but, but…if you take the time to get to know – really get to know them – you have friends for life. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through the past year without Mario’s parents to take care of me, feed me, worry about me. How would I have known about getting my hair appointment for the wedding? Who would have made me endless bowls of soup and worried way too much about me when I ran outside in the freezing temperatures? I am blessed. But there are so many Spaniards like Pepita and Jesús.

I came off as rather negative at times about Spain this past year and by writing this I wanted to clear things up – it was my problem, not Spain’s. Right now, Spain’s problems do not include any of the following: wine, food, beauty, people, or lack of stupid things to do with bulls.

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They do, however, include unemployment. Boo.

But back to the title – Italy is cool; France is all right; but shut up, Spain is better.

They Still Speak Spanish at Home

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I talk a lot to my fellow teachers, and many of them comment to me, “The family only speaks Spanish at home,” and look disapproving. They then glance at me, as though to elicit a similar disapproving response from me. I admit, I don’t give it to them.

The advantages of being bilingual are well documented.

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I won’t reiterate what these articles say, except to emphasize that being bilingual is an advantage. No bones about it.

foca

A funny bilingual cartoon I enjoy.

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So, I get frustrated when the teachers insist to me that a child not speaking his/her native language with his/her parents is detrimental. What good do they expect to come of it? They will probably not learn English any faster from non-native speakers who do not benefit from 6 hours a day, 5 days a week language instruction like they do. Instead, the child spends time building up his/her skills in another language, exercising his/her brain synapses, improving many skills: multitasking, listening, speaking, etc.

The sad thing is many new immigrant parents insist on not speaking Spanish with their children, fearing that their children will not learn English. This is patently untrue and a bit disheartening. Every time a child loses the ability to communicate with relatives in their native language, it’s a loss. They can no longer hear the oral histories, listen to their relatives in their comfortable language. This is upsetting to me. However, I understand their motivation, as many English speakers here in the U.S. insist on the superiority of the English language. While I understand that immigrants should learn English, I don’t think anyone comes to the U.S. without that intention – it’s life circumstances that get in the way (work, exhaustion, third shift, etc.). One student recently commented this his mother didn’t go to free English classes because she couldn’t drive there (no license) and, um, I doubt she was going to walk upwards of 8 miles round trip when she has a family to look after.

I wish we could reach some middle ground where English was important, but not the be-all, end-all. I wish the kids I work with would learn both languages – reading, writing, speaking, and listening. I wish they would get the opportunity to hear their grandparents speak of their home countries in Spanish. I wish they would grow up loving both, understanding both, living both.

Updated Blogroll

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It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve been trying to do something new (i.e., more fun) with my blogroll. If you head on over there, you’ll see that instead of just boring words, we have pictures! I tried to capture the header image of each blog and sort of modified if I couldn’t do exactly that. If you click on the pictures, you’ll be taken to that blog. Let me know if something is off, or if I forgot you. (Please do not be offended, as I’m running on adrenaline now. I still love you!)

P.S. Guess who’s coming to see me from October 25 to November 29! I’ll give you three one guesses. I’m not excited or anything. (Please excuse me while I dance excitedly in the corner.)

Travel ABCs

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Christine from Christine in Spain tagged me in this travel ABC survey and I thought it would be fun to participate! Also, it means I get to tag 5 people I want to know more about, which satisfies my nosy side. So, without further ado, here I go.

A: Age you went on your first international trip: I didn’t really go on an international trip until I was 17, a senior in high school. We went on a cruise and visited Jamaica, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands. I don’t consider it too international, though; cruises are less about travel and more about leisure.

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where: I don’t like beer, but the beer in Belgium was superb. I really liked Chimay.


C: Cuisine (favorite): Hmm, that’s so tough for me because I love so many different types of foods. However, my favorite foods include hummus, yogurt, and lamb, so I’ll agree with Christine and say Greek. However, I love Mexican, Indian, Thai, and – of course – Spanish, especially if it’s made by Mario’s mom, the best cook ever.

D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why: Favorite would have to be London. I think it was partly because I was with this guy, but also because there is so much to do, so much to see. You could spend days and days there, just sightseeing. Plus, all the museums are free, which I love. Least favorite would probably be Jamaica and only because I had a bad experience, so please, I know Jamaica is probably wonderful; I just didn’t have that experience.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”: Holy Week in Zamora. Everyone makes a big deal about the Holy Weeks in the South (a.k.a. Andalucía), but they take their Holy Week seriously in Zamora. I was overwhelmed by the people’s willingness to wait hours upon hours to see the processions, even if they weren’t religious.

F: Favorite mode of transportation: Trains are the best, even though they are relatively expensive. (I hate buses. Ugh.)

G: Greatest feeling while traveling: The freedom to just be, to experience another place and not worry about having to do certain things or see certain sights.

H: Hottest place you’ve traveled to: The Grand Canyon was pretty hot, but I barely remember – I was 13.

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where: Not in Europe…the best service is generally in the U.S., but there’s a reason for that: they work for tips. In Spain, however, the waiters are actually paid a living wage and are generally adequate, but nothing too over-the-top. I can’t say I miss the whole, “How is everything?” every 5 minutes, though. I like being left alone.

J: Journey that took the longest: My parents, brothers, and I drove from Indiana to Yellowstone (Wyoming). They took over two days, although we split it up by visiting places in South Dakota along the way (Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore).

K: Keepsake from your travels: Mario. Does he count? Oh…well, I don’t really treasure things like that too much, so it was impossible for me to think of anything.

L: Let-down sight, why and where: Madrid as a whole. I don’t like hating on it, but I think other parts of Spain are way more interesting (and yes, I’m including Mario’s hometown, Zamora!).

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M: Moment where you fell in love with travel: I guess it would be after coming home from Spain in 2008. I spent the whole next year wanting more, wanting to see more and experience more before I ultimately settled down.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone. It’s historic and really fun.

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O: Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?: I don’t think anything? Me in famous places, I suppose.

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where? You know they don’t stamp your passport when you travel within the European Union? So disappointing. Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Portugal, France, Belgium, U.K., so 9. It sounds so little compared to some of you all’s!

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: Wall Drug. For some reason, this drug store in Wall, South Dakota, attracts a lot of visitors and spends something like $400,000 on billboards a year. Wow. According to Wikipedia, “Wall Drug earns much of its fame from its self-promotion. Billboards advertising the establishment can be seen for hundreds of miles throughout South Dakota and the neighboring states. In addition, many visitors of Wall Drug have erected signs throughout the world announcing the miles to Wall Drug from famous locations, treating it as a geodesic datum. By 1981 Wall Drug was claiming it was giving away 20,000 cups of water per day during the peak tourist season, lasting from Memorial Day until Labor Day, and during the hottest days of the summer.”


R: Recommended sight, event or experience: I recommend talking to the locals, as cliché as that sounds. I learned so much more about Spain – about tapas, eating, paseando, cafés, etc. – when I met Mario. He let me in on the real deal, and for that I am eternally grateful.

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling: Sights I’ve always dreamed of seeing – the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, etc.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done: I’m not ashamed of doing touristy things. I get annoyed when people claim to be so anti-tourist that they don’t take tours. You can learn a lot from those! I’ve gone into the Alhambra, visited the Chocolate Museum in Brussels, and eaten in touristy restaurants in Lisbon. I’m not ashamed.


U: Unforgettable travel memory: The day I first set foot in Spain (and thereby in Europe). It was surreal for a long time, like was I really here? I think I wore a silly grin for days.


V: Visas, how many and for where? I got one when I was a Conversation and Language Assistant last year. But that’s it for me. Maybe the future has more in store for me, though…

W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where? Spanish wines are the best, no doubt about it. I love wine from the Toro region, where Mario’s family is from. For a good everyday wine, I adore (!) Elias Mora. I did have a Gran Reserva Marqués de Cáceres that was phenomenal. However, Mario has had a several hundred dollar bottle of wine. (I mean, he had a glass, not the whole bottle!)


X: eXcellent view and from where?: Mirador de San Nicolas in Granada, Spain.

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Y: Years spent traveling?: Well, if you count staying put in Spain, cumulatively around 16 months.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?: Um yeah, European soccer fans are definitely what one could call “zealous” and probably even “overzealous.” Things can get scary/violent. I went to Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid plays, with Mario and his brother last October. We sat up in the nosebleed seats. It was fun to see how they watch soccer – everyone brings a bocadillo for the break. Also, we weren’t allowed to bring in closed bottles of soda, only open ones because, as Mario explained, they’re a lot more dangerous when closed (they’re harder).

And yes, to all my readers, Mario and his family are Madrid fans. Thus, so am I. So no hatin’.

I would like to tag the following people because a) they’re all awesome and b) they’re all Spain people, like me. Okay, ladies, now it’s your turn!

My Dog Speaks Spanish

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My dog speaks Spanish better than you do.

Okay, that’s probably a lie…the majority of the readers of this blog know/speak Spanish, at least somewhat. However, in my life, the majority of people speak very little Spanish. My dog, however, responds quite well to Spanish commands.

She also drinks water from bottles. What, you don’t?

I sometimes fear that I am losing “it” – the ability to speak Spanish well. I know the key to speaking well is to just speak - make mistakes, the whole deal. My dog is the perfect object of this endeavor. She is nonjudgmental and she is cute.

And maybe a bit crazy.

When I say “Sit!”, she doesn’t always sit. She’s rebellious like that. When I say “Lay down!”, she doesn’t alway lay down either. Ugh, Molly, seriously?  However, hand motions plus language usually elicit some sort of response from her. Thus, I decided to speak Spanish to her. Exclusively. I’m like that.

“Siéntate!” I demand of her, signaling viciously. She sits. I smile and pet her while she wiggles around me, shaking her butt because her tail is lacking.

I admit, such short commands are ultimately unsatisfying. I began to relate whole stories to her in castellano. She listened, head cocked to the side, while I blabbered on and on, perhaps for five minutes or more. It’s a length of time that exhausts most human listeners. “Molly, es que me siento muy estresada por…” You get the drift. Molly gets it. She doesn’t judge. She prefers to listen, to snuggle up close to me, to yawn with her mouth wide open. I totally understand.

Distance

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I calculated it once, and the distance between us was around 4,084 miles or 6572 kilometers.

When others write about their long distance relationships that are four hours away by car, I get a bit jealous. I get it. I do – any distance is hard. Any distance sucks. But when you have to drive to Chicago (three hours), wait around in security and at the gate (at least another 3 hours for an international flight), ride a plane for 8 hours (if there are no layovers), wait to go through customs and pick up your bag (another hour), just to see your boyfriend, well, it’s another story. Plus, air travel is just plain annoying, don’t you think?

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The obvious solution would be for one of us to move to the other place…I know – I did do that for a year. Well, did you know the jobs situation kinda really sucks right now? Did you know there’s 46.2% unemployment for young people in Spain? Finding a job isn’t easy without all the obstacles; right now, it’s nearly impossible.

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Okay, you say, can’t you, like, get married or something? We could, you’re right. But who wants to get married for a visa? How unromantic. This post on Matador delves into that.

Plus, we’re not necessarily ready to get married right now, so why do we have to do it before we’re ready? Oh yeah, we’re not the same nationality…there’s that. Even if we did decide to get hitched, we’d have to go through the whole rollo of the so-called fiancé visa, the K-1 visa in the United States. Don’t worry, all they want is the following: a payment, a cover letter, Form 129-F, declarations from both of you of how you met, statement guaranteeing you will marry within 90 days of the fiancé entering the country, proof of having seen each other once in the past two years, form G325-A filled out by the U.S. citizen and then the foreigner, passport photos, and a copy of my birth certificate. Not much, eh?

Oh yeah and there’s the afterwards part, too. (See above flowchart.)

I’m exhausted just thinking about it. And anxiously awaiting the day in which teleporting is invented. Beam me up, Scotty.

Please?