Things I've Learned (and will now impart to you)

The socialist party is currently in power in Spain. Zapatero is the president.

All the laborers wear bright blue jumpsuits to work.

I live in 1950s or ’60s high-density socialist housing. (As you might be able to see from the picture).

Cataluña, the province in the North that contains Barcelona, is the richest part of Spain and they want to pay fewer taxes to the Spanish government and have more independence. Negotiations are ongoing.

There is a drought in Andalucía, the province in the South that contains Sevilla. If we’re not careful now, there won’t be enough water and electricity in the middle of the summer to accommodate all the showers that people want to take when it’s 100+.

Spain, with all its smokers, just passed a law effective 1.01.06 that prohibits smoking in public places. Small bars and restaurants, however, are given the option to choose whether to be smoking and non-smoking. All of the places in Spain are small, and they all choose smoking. Se permite fumar. The college students rebel and smoke in the halls and the university bar anyway.

President Bush went to the University of Seville the other day because apparently one of his daughters wants to take cursos para extranjeros (classes for foreigners) there. Rumor has it he spoke to the director of my program and said it was the best program for students studying abroad in Seville.

Europeans like their baptisms. The big celebrity news this week? The baby of the prince of Switzerland (?) was baptized and named. Last week? Baby Leonora (child of the prince of Spain) was baptized. HOURS of press coverage.

Spanish people listen to a lot of American music. In English.

They also tend to watch a lot of T.V. And everyone has the same 5 or so channels.

Tall boots, festive tights, and red shoes are muy de moda for women.

“Hasta luego” is widely used in place of “Adios.”

A kiss on each cheek is a common greeting and parting gesture, even if you don’t know the person well or they’re a friend of a friend.

“Vale” used like a period at the end of each sentance. Its meaning is very vague and transient to me, but my dictionary says it means valid.

Instead of saying “um,” Spaniards say “eh” when they can’t think of what to say.

Analucians often drop the “s” at the end of words and say “th” instead of “c.” “Gracias,” therefore, becomes, “Grathia,” and “autobus” becomes “autobu.”

No one can say my name. My señora calls me “Issy.” On the other hand, I have three Anna/Anas in my phone. Once my señora gets a phone, there will be four.

In fact, the way the Spaniards speak and the phrases they use are all very interesting to listen to from an outsider’s point of view. The way Americans say “like” incessantly and jumble and combine all their words is probably also ridiculous to an outsider, but we don’t notice it because it’s just how we speak. As I try to imitate the Spanish accent and pronunciation, I’m uncomfortable and self-conscious using “vale” to punctuate every sentence because I feel like it’s a Spanish cultural convention that I’m not a part of. ¿Vale?