One of the main reasons for returning to Spain was to take a Spanish class. When I was in southern Spain a few years ago with my friend we took a few days of beginner Spanish and I was determined I would pursue learning and becoming fluent in a second language. I can understand a fair bit of French as well as read and write for the most part but when it comes to conversation and understanding what everyone else is saying. ..uh not so much. I manage to pick up a few words here and there from the different countries I have worked and travelled but it is just bits and pieces.
I had good intentions with Spanish and my knowledge of French definitely helps but I guess I am simply not as adept as some people who can pick up another language after accidentally hitting the wrong number on the satellite guide airing a foreign commercial for laundry detergent and presto! fluent in Mandarin or German…I always say I admire those types but I really loathe them. Ok I’m just very jealous. I digress…my intentions were and are still good regarding my desire to learn Spanish and I am actually quite surprised with myself over the past few days with what I have learned and actually retained. I was at the Sants train station and even asked for train tickets from two different cities at different times and the agent understood me and started responding like I was a local….then I have to stop him of course and I wonder if they are impressed that foreigners make an effort to learn some of the language or are simply annoyed. I got the tickets and all worked out for me and I gave him a little wink as I left hopefully forgiven but no doubt forgotten as ticket number 379 was waiting in line behind me with who knows what travel crisis.
I am staying with a host family for the week whilst attending Spanish classess. I chose this option to force myself to socialize. All my travels and worldly stuff??well I’m a dangerous hermit truth be told. I tend to forget we are meant to be social beings…enough of that for now. The other reason was to obviously practice Spanish and it has definitely been worthwhile in that aspect. And of course you know there has to be food in there somewhere. Reflecting on the last trip to southern Spain we also took a few cooking courses so I wanted to help cook whilst staying with my host family. As it turns out the lady actually needed someone to help for a few days and was very glad that I was coming to stay.
What I hope to learn are how different people from different regions of the same country go about preparing the same dish and specific regional dishes. Last night I made tortilla espanole which is a classic fried dish of onion, potato, egg, olive oil and salt. Easy and basic enough but whoa they each have their way of cutting those potatoes!!
A number of other family members happened to stop by for dinner and there was nothing left which is usually a good sign; I was pleased. Bon Appétit!
I am in a small class of 6 beginner students studying Spanish, all of us from different countries and all except two of us are staying for a few weeks up to one year. The other students are from France, Italy, China, Holland and Russia and the instructor is from Argentina. I have been to everyone’s country except the instructor. I am also the oldest in our class and I was actually a bit nervous thinking that might be the case and I would be surrounded by teenagers fluent in Spanish in a couple days. Not even close. We are all beginners and all learning the same stuff. It would likely be different in a few months but I feel very grateful to be in my group and most important is we have fun! We laugh a lot and simply enjoy ourselves. The classes are all taught in Spanish as well. You walk in and leave your other language outside the door (ok 99% of the time…).
Yesterday I joined a group of other students on a walking tour of the old Roman section of the city led by one of the Spanish instructors. I met a few more people and was able to explore parts of Barcelona I probably would not have done otherwise. I must say though, gotta hand it to those Romans…I have been to a lot of cities in Europe and the Middle East and there is a little bit of Roman in almost every one of them. Yup…endeavor to persevere…worked quite well for quite awhile!
I usually take photos of doors and also manhole covers. Odd yes. Interesting, very.
Hasta luego amigos!