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As the semester begins to come to an end, one can not help but wonder how our friends abroad are doing. Junior Mendy Slaton gave us an idea of life in Spain…
Oh Spain... what can I say? I’m livin’ the vida loca. Spain is rich in culture and filled with tons of amazing ways to occupy your time. Walking the streets is one of my favorite things to do. I get a lot of attention around here (positive and negative), which is hard to get used to. I’m blonde and American (many have their opinions about that and some feel they need to let me know), so I can’t go anywhere unnoticed. The infamous question I get asked: “Obama or Hillary?” However, I just laugh and avoid the question. They tend to have a stronger opinion than I do on the subject and feel the need to enlighten me on my own country’s political situation. Other than that, I just go to school everyday. It takes me about an hour each way—walking and taking metros and trains that go to the outskirts of Madrid. I take five classes all in Spanish, including two Spanish literature classes. I don’t even understand English literature entirely, so how can I possibly understand it in a different language?! For those interested in coming to Spain someday, it’s absolutely worth it. This country is amazing and something I think everyone needs to experience in their lifetime. I do, however, have a few things you must know beforehand: 1. If someone on the underground metro asks you if you’re getting off on the next stop, they aren’t curious or trying to strike up a conversation. They mean “get the hell out of my way because I am.” 2. Everyone says Americans are always in a hurry but if you’ve ever seen 30 people transferring metros run and jump onto the train a millisecond before the door closes, you’d know we aren’t the only ones. 3. If you want a job teaching English, make sure you know the tenses (present simple, continuous, perfect, past continuous, perfect, etc.) so that you aren’t getting paid $25 per hour to only know how to speak the language and not be able to explain a darn thing. 4. Cigarette company executives are living large thanks to their Spanish supporters. There is no such thing as second-hand smoking here. It’s all first-hand--if you don’t have a cigarette in your hand you’re still suffering the consequences since everyone else around you is. Lastly, a couple words of the day:
It’s not gracias in Spain... it’s grathias.
It’s not WiFi internet... it’s Wee-Fee (I laugh every time I hear it).
It’s not Burger King.... it’s Boorger King.
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