Mi lucha con el idioma

It’s been quite an exciting week here in Spain.  I just came back from a weekend in Madrid with the group.  What a beautiful city.  We saw El Prado and La Reina Sofia.  I loved the Reina Sofia—modern art just strikes a chord in me. 

I went to my first discoteca while in Madrid- Joy.  I usually hate to dance, but the energy in those places is infectious.  I had a blast!  The Spanish men here are pretty aggressive, which is comical.

The only thing that I’m not really digging is the fact that my Spanish is not my English.  I feel ill equipped to be walking around Spain- like I’m walking through a mall without a wallet.  What if I find a great dress?  Can’t buy it.  What if I find an adorable Spaniard?  Can’t talk to him (or do and look silly).  It’s hard. 

After the short few weeks here, I realized how much I actually talk in English.  I don’t stop!! Now when I’m forced to only speak Spanish, there is much more silence.  I now stand there waiting for Mati or Luiqui (or a teacher or a Spaniard) to initiate conversation.  It’s SO not me at all to do that, as you all know.

I was in a cab going back to the hotel one night in Madrid.  I was SO bummed about my Spanish- I had such a hard time communicating to people at a bar.  The African cab driver (literally from Africa) was consoling me- telling me that I will learn “poco a poco.”   I guess you can say that Madrid was my low point, linguistically.

Aside from that, I am completely loving this place.  Belen came over for dinner tonight and gave me and Kirsten a list of cool Spanish songs.  I showed her my a cappella group videos on youtube and she kept saying “que guay!” (how cool).   After I showed Mati, she said something along the lines of “I didn’t know I had an artist living under my roof!” I miss the Touchtones SO much.  I want to sing, but I don’t think I’m going to try out for a group here.

In other news, it was very difficult to not be at the AEPhi house for rush this year.  As of last night, I am officially no longer president.  What a strange feeling of both complete joy and utter sadness.  Throughout this week, I have been BBMing everyone at the house, asking how rush was going.  I stayed up until 1 am last night waiting for the list of new members.  One of my favorite Touchtones, Chelsea, is in the newest pledge class and I could not be more thrilled.  Literally everyone on my program knows that this week was rush week because I couldn’t stop talking about it.  I even tried explaining what a sorority was to Belen- but she didn’t really get it.  To go from president, knowing everything about everything AEPhi, to being in Spain, where I am completely isolated from everything familiar, has been a difficult adjustment.  Knowing that when I come home I'll have a new little little and 50 new members to get to know makes me super excited though!

Today I bought a hair dryer from a store across the street because the one I brought from America doesn’t work.  I showed Mati and she approved.  We sat in the family room and I told her all about my day.  It’s FREEZING here at night (that's why I need a hair dryer- If i didn't have one, my hair would literally turn to ice).  Kirsten and I have a hard time moving because it’s so cold.  Our room is a freezer.  We bury ourselves under thick blankets at night, which makes it so difficult to get out of them in the morning. 

I didn’t even realize that my birthday is on Friday.  Mati reminded me.  How crazy is that?  I thought it was Saturday.  “No me digas!” (you don't say!) I replied to her when she told me it was on Friday.   Veinte uno, por fin! (21, finally!)