Saturday, July 13, 2013
The End
Overall, I'd give Madrid an A+. I had a wonderful host family, great teachers, and a beatiful, vibrant city to explore. It was so fantastic meeting people from around the world, navigating my surroundings in a foreign language, and just soaking up Europe. Can't wait for next summer to do it all over again! Where to next? Argentina? Equador? Paris?
The Notebook
After class, I headed out with some friends to hit the Madridian equivalent of Central Park. In the center of the park is this amazing lake, where you can rent boats and paddle around.
We all took turns, but of course, I was dubbed the best paddler. The other girls survived about 30 seconds of paddling in a circle before quitting. Regardless, it was a blast!
We all took turns, but of course, I was dubbed the best paddler. The other girls survived about 30 seconds of paddling in a circle before quitting. Regardless, it was a blast!
After Earth
Going to see After Earth in the theatre was aweseome. I understood a lot, like "señor, sí señor" (sir, yes, sir!) and "es una orden" (that's an order). Very complicated stuff going on in that movie. :)
Anyway, I was a rebel and went and sat in a seat of my choosing instead of my assigned spot. I curled up with Lemon Fanta and Spanish M&Ms and got a real kick out of it. Good times.
Anyway, I was a rebel and went and sat in a seat of my choosing instead of my assigned spot. I curled up with Lemon Fanta and Spanish M&Ms and got a real kick out of it. Good times.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Dis-Service
Yesterday, a friend and I took a double decker bus tour of the city. I decided Monday would be a good day to do this, since almost all museums and tourist spots are closed on Mondays. It was a great opportunity to see the whole city and pass various sites that we otherwise might not have seen.
After the 3 hour tour, we decided we were hungry and went to grab lunch. We found a restaurant with an enticing poster of their sandwiches. The picture was so compelling, that we had to go in and try them. The hostess asked us how many people were eating with us, and proceeded to walk us to our table. She gave us a menu, which we flipped through, and were unable to locate any sandwiches.
WARNING: All of the following interactions occurred in Spanish.
When the waiter arrived, I asked him where the sandwiches were on the menu. He told me that the section of the restaurant we were seated in did not serve sandwiches, we would have to be on the other side of the restaurant to eat sandwiches. I didn't understand how we were supposed to know that, so I told him. I'm sorry, we didn't realize that, can we please switch to that part of the restaurant. His response: I'm sorry, but you're already seated. This was not a misunderstanding, this was just straight up rude.
I tried to control myself, and my friend and I agreed to just suck it up and order off the menu - everything would be fine. When he came back to take our order, he proceeded to take my friend's order, and then collect all the menus and leave. He didn't look at me, or even stop to ask if I wanted anything. He literally blew me off and walked away like he couldn't leave our table fast enough. After lifting my jaw off the floor and regaining composure - kind of, because I was honestly enraged at this point (that is fancy for completely pissed off) - I stood up to go talk to him. Upon seeing me stand up, he called across he restroom to tell me the restrooms were down the other hall. Thank you sir, but I don't want a bathroom, I want food.
As my friend just sat their sipping beer, I went up to the waiter and asked him why he did not want to take my order. He explained that he thought I wanted to use the bathroom, not eat food. To which I had to further explain that he only took my friends order. At this point I was getting loud, and his co-workers were beginning to listen in. I explained, in plainEnglish Spanish, that I would like to order food, and would he please be so kind as to take my order. At this point, he began backpedaling and started making excuses for himself that he thought my friend had ordered for the both of us - this of course makes no sense given the size of what my friend ordered, but at least his fellow waiters relaxed a little and it bought him time to fix his mess.
From that moment on, he totally changed his character, and began kissing my feet. I found out later this is because complaint forms are standard protocol in Spain, and had I asked for one (because at this point he realized I knew what I was talking about) he could have been fired. He gave us free drinks when he brought out the check - and a free refill, and proceeded to apologize every time he came back to our table.
It was clearly a total act, and I did not give in. He was a total donkey, and his behavior was completely uncalled for. Good grief!
After the 3 hour tour, we decided we were hungry and went to grab lunch. We found a restaurant with an enticing poster of their sandwiches. The picture was so compelling, that we had to go in and try them. The hostess asked us how many people were eating with us, and proceeded to walk us to our table. She gave us a menu, which we flipped through, and were unable to locate any sandwiches.
WARNING: All of the following interactions occurred in Spanish.
When the waiter arrived, I asked him where the sandwiches were on the menu. He told me that the section of the restaurant we were seated in did not serve sandwiches, we would have to be on the other side of the restaurant to eat sandwiches. I didn't understand how we were supposed to know that, so I told him. I'm sorry, we didn't realize that, can we please switch to that part of the restaurant. His response: I'm sorry, but you're already seated. This was not a misunderstanding, this was just straight up rude.
I tried to control myself, and my friend and I agreed to just suck it up and order off the menu - everything would be fine. When he came back to take our order, he proceeded to take my friend's order, and then collect all the menus and leave. He didn't look at me, or even stop to ask if I wanted anything. He literally blew me off and walked away like he couldn't leave our table fast enough. After lifting my jaw off the floor and regaining composure - kind of, because I was honestly enraged at this point (that is fancy for completely pissed off) - I stood up to go talk to him. Upon seeing me stand up, he called across he restroom to tell me the restrooms were down the other hall. Thank you sir, but I don't want a bathroom, I want food.
As my friend just sat their sipping beer, I went up to the waiter and asked him why he did not want to take my order. He explained that he thought I wanted to use the bathroom, not eat food. To which I had to further explain that he only took my friends order. At this point I was getting loud, and his co-workers were beginning to listen in. I explained, in plain
From that moment on, he totally changed his character, and began kissing my feet. I found out later this is because complaint forms are standard protocol in Spain, and had I asked for one (because at this point he realized I knew what I was talking about) he could have been fired. He gave us free drinks when he brought out the check - and a free refill, and proceeded to apologize every time he came back to our table.
It was clearly a total act, and I did not give in. He was a total donkey, and his behavior was completely uncalled for. Good grief!
A Little Bribery goes a Long Way
My host-sister finished up with school this past Friday. Ever since then, she and her best friend have been hanging around the house, completely glued to any and all types of screens. Phones, televisions, computers, video games etc. For the majority of the world, I realize that's what summer is about...but it was clear that they both needed to get some fresh air when I came home yesterday to find them playing on screens in completely different parts of the house.
Anyway, I asked them both if they wanted to come with me to go see one of the big Spanish malls. They reluctantly agreed to do so, but in a, "I'll agree to go if you just stop talking to me right now sort of way." While they were waiting for me to change and grab my bag, they re-glued themselves to their screens in the living room with the rest of the family. I was concerned they were lost for good into the world, and completely oblivious to their surroundings. To test my hypothesis, I said in English (because the parents don't speak a word of English) "Anyone out the door in the next two minutes gets a free ice cream." BAM! All the remotes dropped to the floor, and what ensued was an all out spring to the door. Amazing.
Anyway, I asked them both if they wanted to come with me to go see one of the big Spanish malls. They reluctantly agreed to do so, but in a, "I'll agree to go if you just stop talking to me right now sort of way." While they were waiting for me to change and grab my bag, they re-glued themselves to their screens in the living room with the rest of the family. I was concerned they were lost for good into the world, and completely oblivious to their surroundings. To test my hypothesis, I said in English (because the parents don't speak a word of English) "Anyone out the door in the next two minutes gets a free ice cream." BAM! All the remotes dropped to the floor, and what ensued was an all out spring to the door. Amazing.
Manners - Lost in Translation
As I've written about before, there were originally three Chinese and three Americans in my Spanish class. This has changed from week to week as people come and go, but there is still a core group of students in the class who have been there as long or longer than myself. One of the very quiet Chinese boys invited us over to his apartment for dinner on Sunday. He's super sweet, and it was impossible for us to say no - plus, he was very insistent about it, and followed up 18 times with each of us, both in person and via email or text.
We decided as a class to eat earlier than Standard Spanish Dinner Time, since none of us are actually Spanish. As such, we agreed to be at his apartment at 5:00 for dinner. When we got there, nothing had been cooked. There was raw meat and unprepared vegetables in the kitchen, as if they had just finished shopping for the party. The two Chinese girls, who had met the Chinese host only 7 weeks prior, spent the entire next three hours in the kitchen making dinner. We (the guests) were not allowed to help, and the host did not lift a single finger to help them. Literally, he had invited the other girls over just to cater his party - can you imagine? He would go check on them, and then shut the door to the kitchen and come sit awkwardly in silence with his guests.
When the girls finally finished cooking, they emerged from the kitchen with literally 10 different plates. It was phenomenal. I've never tasted food like that in my life, and is now completely clear to me that American Chinese food is as far from Chinese as Papa John's is from Italian. I mean seriously, it was amazing - I'm considering putting in a vote for an authentic Chinese food Thanksgiving this year.
Anyway, the most notable discomfort I experienced during our stay, was the behavior of my fellow American. Oh good grief. The girls had actually cooked 9 plates. The host came out of the kitchen, worried there wouldn't be enough food (even though there was enough to feed an army) and asked us if he should order duck. Everyone, except for my fellow American was like, "oh no, there's plenty, don't worry about it, etc." My fellow American? "That sounds good to me!" So no joke, our host got on the phone and ordered more food via Chinese Delivery. After that, when offered coke, the American inquired, "Was that diet I saw earlier in the kitchen?" - of course, the nuance of that questions wasn't fully understood by the other cultures at the table, but my skin was beginning to crawl.
After that, the American proceeded to eat serving upon serving upon serving of food. At one point, when we had run out of food, he began eying the unfinished soup of his neighbor. She offered him her soup, to which he responded "I couldn't possibly - I don't want to draw too much attention to myself." My response - and yes I said this out loud - "Too late."
Anyway, after dinner we all tried to help clean up, but for the most part were turned down. However, when the American offered to clean the table, our host (not as naive as one might have originally thought) proceeded to bring out a broom, a dust pan, a mop, and a bucked of water. I literally almost died of internal laughter. It was truly the icing on the cake.
All in all, it was an amazing meal. I have no idea how to express my thanks to the two girls who prepared the meal. It was truly out of this world.
We decided as a class to eat earlier than Standard Spanish Dinner Time, since none of us are actually Spanish. As such, we agreed to be at his apartment at 5:00 for dinner. When we got there, nothing had been cooked. There was raw meat and unprepared vegetables in the kitchen, as if they had just finished shopping for the party. The two Chinese girls, who had met the Chinese host only 7 weeks prior, spent the entire next three hours in the kitchen making dinner. We (the guests) were not allowed to help, and the host did not lift a single finger to help them. Literally, he had invited the other girls over just to cater his party - can you imagine? He would go check on them, and then shut the door to the kitchen and come sit awkwardly in silence with his guests.
When the girls finally finished cooking, they emerged from the kitchen with literally 10 different plates. It was phenomenal. I've never tasted food like that in my life, and is now completely clear to me that American Chinese food is as far from Chinese as Papa John's is from Italian. I mean seriously, it was amazing - I'm considering putting in a vote for an authentic Chinese food Thanksgiving this year.
Anyway, the most notable discomfort I experienced during our stay, was the behavior of my fellow American. Oh good grief. The girls had actually cooked 9 plates. The host came out of the kitchen, worried there wouldn't be enough food (even though there was enough to feed an army) and asked us if he should order duck. Everyone, except for my fellow American was like, "oh no, there's plenty, don't worry about it, etc." My fellow American? "That sounds good to me!" So no joke, our host got on the phone and ordered more food via Chinese Delivery. After that, when offered coke, the American inquired, "Was that diet I saw earlier in the kitchen?" - of course, the nuance of that questions wasn't fully understood by the other cultures at the table, but my skin was beginning to crawl.
After that, the American proceeded to eat serving upon serving upon serving of food. At one point, when we had run out of food, he began eying the unfinished soup of his neighbor. She offered him her soup, to which he responded "I couldn't possibly - I don't want to draw too much attention to myself." My response - and yes I said this out loud - "Too late."
Anyway, after dinner we all tried to help clean up, but for the most part were turned down. However, when the American offered to clean the table, our host (not as naive as one might have originally thought) proceeded to bring out a broom, a dust pan, a mop, and a bucked of water. I literally almost died of internal laughter. It was truly the icing on the cake.
All in all, it was an amazing meal. I have no idea how to express my thanks to the two girls who prepared the meal. It was truly out of this world.
In Uniform
My collectors item of choice on my travels is soccer jerseys. I've been trying to find one here - either for Real Madrid or for the Spanish national team - but unless I'm willing to part with my first-born child, it is next to impossible. These people say they're in an economic crisis, but they're all willing to pay out the wazoo for what they call "official" jerseys.
As it happens, I was at a big and very famous outdoor market on Sunday. It's called the Rastro. There were almost a thousand different stalls, altogether selling everything you could ever imagine. You have to be careful at this Sunday market, because it is just as famous for its offerings as it is for its pickpockets. Anyway, when I was there, I was able to find a jersey to remember my trip by. I am know totally clear on what "unofficial" jerseys are. Super crappy, uncomfortable material. Lucky for me, I fit into kids sizes here, so I was able to get it for about $20. Funny to me how there is no middle ground when it comes to the soccer jerseys here....but I guess it's like the fans. You're either a fanatic, or you're not. There's no such thing as a person who kind-of follows soccer here. As it's been described to me, futbol is basically a religion.
As it happens, I was at a big and very famous outdoor market on Sunday. It's called the Rastro. There were almost a thousand different stalls, altogether selling everything you could ever imagine. You have to be careful at this Sunday market, because it is just as famous for its offerings as it is for its pickpockets. Anyway, when I was there, I was able to find a jersey to remember my trip by. I am know totally clear on what "unofficial" jerseys are. Super crappy, uncomfortable material. Lucky for me, I fit into kids sizes here, so I was able to get it for about $20. Funny to me how there is no middle ground when it comes to the soccer jerseys here....but I guess it's like the fans. You're either a fanatic, or you're not. There's no such thing as a person who kind-of follows soccer here. As it's been described to me, futbol is basically a religion.
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