Today in Spain...
My madre said I'm going to start having homework aka doing errands where I have to go practice my Spanish. Hooray! Today's was quite simple: I just had to buy 2 baguettes. When I didn't understand how much it cost, I asked "cómo?" and she answered in English. Jo! So I explained "estoy tratando de practicar" (I'm trying to practice), so that she repeated in Spanish. Mission accomplished, anyways. Apparently by the end of the semester I will be able to ask for a precise type of meat at the butcher's. Vamos a ver...
Also today, somebody asked me where the correos (post office) is. He asked in Spanish, which clearly means that he thought I was a local! Victory! I guess I have the Basque pale skin, dark hair. Plus, I was able to direct him pretty well. :D
Since this is the week before San Miguel's feast day, it's called el veranillo de San Miguel--St Michael's little summer. Accordingly, the weather has been stupendous. We're making the most of it by going to the beach daily. Not swimming (perhaps mañana), just lounging around. Yesterday, I bought a 'tattoo' from a couple of little kids. They asked really fast in Spanish so I told them we don't speak it that well. Then they slowed down and I understood that they were selling stamp tats, little entrepeneurs!
Yesterday for lunch I had a cheesburger...and 2 hotdogs with a huge piece of bread. I could never eat so much back home, but here it is possible apparently. My hermano made it, and I commented that it was like an American meal since we have hotdogs and hamburgers at summer gatherings. I think he took it the wrong way though, because he said his mom was the better chef. Ah well. One of my favorite dishes thus far is ensaladilla rusa, essentially tuna salad, potato salad, and egg salad combined. Mmmm.
Hasta la próxima. Agur!
