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Well, I don't have much news, but I have been thinking of things that I wanted to tell everyone but I just kept forgetting to mention them! So, here are a few things that caught my attention throughout the last week:
1. EVERYONE will ALWAYS know I am an American. Even before I open my mouth, they somehow know I am American and they try to talk to me in English. If i ask for something in Spanish, they usually respond in Spanish, then in English too. (I hope its not because my Spanish is THAT bad!!) :) I must work on concealing my identity....
2. If it sprinkles, you open your umbrella. After living in Seattle all my life, I am surprised I don't use an umbrella more often. Everyone here whips theirs out if there is a slight drizzle! It makes you realize how much it rains, when normally you might discard the drizzle, the umbrellas serve as a constant reminder that its raining!
3. I can see my breath....in my house! It is absolutley freeeeeezing in my homestay. I wear three layers, a sweatshirt, jacket and a bufanda (scarf) everyday while in my house, and then I get under the covers of my bed - sometimes its STILL cold! I came home today from school, and the door in my room was opened up to my balcony....letting more cold air in! I can't tell you how happy I will be when it warms up! ;)
4. It is easy to forget sometimes where you are until something very small and simple brings you back. The other day at school I went to use the bathroom after class. I was going to wash my hands when I noticed the faucet handles said F and C. It took me a second to figure out which was hot (C - for caliente) and cold (F - for frio)! It's the little things like that that I never paid any attention to at home, but here I have to think about!
5. My host mom is very good at her job! She gave us clean sheets to put on our beds the other day and so we did just that. My roommate put her top sheet on backwards, with the print facing upward. So it doesn't look pretty - not a big deal. When we got home later that afternoon....what did we find?! Camille's bed sheet was switched around so that it was on the right way! I don't know how much time she spends in our room while we are away, but she definitely notices the small things!!
6. Comfort food does not exist here. Yesterday for lunch we had a seafood feast! I don't actually know if you can call it a feast if you don't enjoy it!! haha JUST KIDDING! It just wasnt my favorite meal while here. We had seafood soup - like chicken noodle but with shrimp, calamari and full squids - tentacles and all! We also had some rendition of mussles, and cold calamari covered in olive oil. It was a shock when I stuck the calamari in my mouth, because I thought it was some sort of vegetable - it looked like eggplant. Today's lunch was much better - grilled chicken, potatoes, and peppers.
7. I thought I was living in a trick house until yesterday. There is a small closet area at the back of our room with a moveable armoir (SP) in the back of it. Behind it is a black hanging curtain - which we didn't see till about week two. We discovered this curtain after we realized we could hear the neighbors just a LITTLE too well! The curtain separates our room from the apartment next door!!! CREEPY!!! Camille and I didn't know what to think - we didn't know if they could hear everything we do in our room or what!! UNTIL yesterday, when Loli's daughter Jarra was home and we heard her leave our apartment and open the door next to ours. We then could hear her through our room - sewing on a sewing machine!! When we saw her later, she told us that she hoped she didn't bother us with the noise of the sewing machine. Apparently, Jarra has a little work station next door that is connected to our room!! Let's just say we were very pleased to find out there weren't some people we didn't know behind our closet!
8. The Spanish American Idol - "FAMA A Bailar!" This is a dancing competition show that my host brother and I watch every day after lunch during our siesta! I have come to enjoy it very much, as do many other kids in my program who say their host families watch it too
9. OLIVE OIL! I went to the store today and bought some lettuce mix for my dinners. I was searching high and low for salad dressings until I asked someone for help. It didnt help that I don't know the word for dressing, so I managed to come out with something like "do you have something that goes on top of my salad that is liquid - in different flavors?!" haha The lady got my point and led me to the "dressings." It consisted of olive oil, more olive oil and apple flavored olive oil! So, I will have to continue my search for dressing somewhere else!
10. Si, si, si. When talking with people in Spanish, my go-to word is Si. Even if I don't fully understand, Si just pops out!! Its not helpful that this is the word I rely on! Si has become my Ummm. And when I am asked a question, and respond with Si I don't look too bright!! ;) I am working on fixing this, asap!
Well, That's all for now! I am headed off to my Literature class. I might have mentioned this already, but my teacher is Spanish and learned to speak English in England. So her accent is pretty entertaining! Her 'R's come out as 'DRE's!! I try to contain my laughter as best as I can! After that class, I am going to a cooking class! I get to learn to cook traditional Spanish dishes by a well known chef here in Granada! Maybe I will discover SOME cooking talents!! If not, I just might feel at home again!! :)
Hasta Luego!!
oxox
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