Necesito practicar mi español

           Language Class Day 1. Classes were posted this morning at 9:30. Meredith and I woke up and left the house to go see which level we were placed into and at what time we had to go. Meredith- 10 to 2. Kimbo- 3 to 7....Dang it! I made it all the way there to find that I have to come back later!? AND I had to ride the metro home by myself. I think it's time I get a cell phone.

Riding the Metro alone isn't hard, just boring. I came home and waited until I had to leave again. I arrived back on campus and was asked by a student for the directions. (Yes he asked me in spanish, and yes I gave the directions in spanish). Another boy was following us and asked for help too. Look at me, just your everyday tour guide barbie. Ha ha just kidding. Anywho, I found my class and Meredith was bumped up to the same class! YAY! She had already made friends with some french girls from the beginners class that didn't speak any spanish, probably the class I should be in, and she made friends with a very talkative but very sweet little Italian girl. (I can say little because she was shorter then me). The only friends I made today were the two boys. One was from France and the other Finland. They seemed very nice but "you never know when someone might be a cannibal" - Virginia. Mer and I were the only Americans in our class. I'm sure there are more but I didn't come all the way to Spain to make friends with Americans. I have plenty of those already ;)

The class was fun. For the most part my comprehension was good. I followed along pretty easily, but when it came to me having to turn around and spit it out I clamed up. Which I know means I just need to practice, practice, practice. No lie I am a little afraid and intimiated. Maybe that's why I wanted to study abroad so badly. To face my fears head on and conquer them. I need to work on my confidence in my spanish speaking abilities. I know I can do it because my brain speaks spanish to itself every night. Ha Ha

I have made some observations around this place; so I'm going to clear things up for you at home. Myths about Spain.... 1. They don't have things you need like tampons, colgate toothpaste, etc. Wrong. They have name brand "American" stuff too. Tampax, Starbucks, Colgate, Coca-Cola, Mcdonalds, KFC, Burger King. Spain is right there with you America, no worries. 2. If you wear tennis shoes they'll know your American. This assumption is also False. Everyone here is OBSESSED with shoes. I'm more then positive that when they're getting dressed in the morning they pick out what shoe they want to wear and then dress accordingly. Not the other way around which is typical in America. I've seen so many different types of boots, heels, flats, and TENNIS shoes. 3. (This one is for all of you secretly wishing this upon me) I will gain weight from all of the food here. IMPOSSIBLE, sorry. You have to walk around everwhere! Even if I ate like an elephant all three meals of the day it would still be hard to gain any pounds. You have to walk to the Metro. Change stops...which involves walking. Then walk to where ever you're headed. And then you have to do it all over again to get home! Plus here they do not really believe in breakfast or dinner. It's all about a big meal at lunchtime and siestas. Breakfast here is like grabbing coffee and toast on the way to work and dinner.... well we haven't really found anything besides tapas, which are little finger foods. Guess we're going to have to start cooking. Oh and 4. Spaniards are not punctual. TRUE. I had to find this out on day one unfortunately.

The feedback I've gotten about the blog helped. I'm going to try and keep up with it daily for now. Once school starts it might be a different story.

Your Spanish Learning Señorita,
Kimee Paige

 

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.”

-Edward Vernon Rickenbacker