I am of the opinion that a typical American's view of the meaning of "Spanglish" is one of two things: a Ricky Martin song, or a native Spanish speaker mixing the use of Spanish and English words in everyday conversation.
While at one time I would have counted myself among those who share that view, "Spanglish" has come to mean something different to me.
Spanish is a language that does not share the same grammatical structure as English, nor do all the expressions translate. Therefore, when on a daily basis you are switching back and forth between thinking and speaking the two languages, their paths often cross. While my Spanish undoubtedly sounds strange to Spanish speakers when I translate from the English, my English is beginning to sound equally strange. Some examples.
"Maybe I will go..." a.k.a. "I might go..."
"We are going to take one more drink and then leave." a.k.a. "We are going to have one more drink."
"Do you want to take something?" a.k.a. "we are going for tapas, not to rob a store."
“My dad was wanting to stay at the Alfonso XIII” a.k.a. “My dad wants to stay at the Alfonso XIII.”
These, among many other equally if not more embarrassing examples have become part of my daily English vocabulary. If my Spanish is improving then surely my English is getting much worse. I also in advance ask everyone to forgive the tendency I will surely have to start speaking Spanish while intoxicated when I get back to the U.S.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
You know you haved lived in Spain when...
1. You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable. Especially at lunch time.
2. You can’t get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they’re shutting just as you should be going out?
3. You aren’t just surprised that the Spanish plumber / decorator / electrician has turned up on time, you’re surprised he turned up at all.
4. You think it’s fine to comment on everyone’s appearance. And to openly stare at strangers.
5. Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.
6. On msn you sometimes type ‘jajaja’ instead of ‘hahaha’
7. Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: ‘bueno,’ ‘coño,’ ‘vale,’ ‘venga,’ ‘pues nada’...
8. You know how to eat boquerones.
9. You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.
10. You know that after 2pm there’s no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.
11. You know you must take two days off when you have to do any official paperchasing, for cars, residence, etc.
12. You know how to change a bombona.
13. It’s not rude to answer the intercom to your flat by asking ‘Quien?’(or maybe that was just my flatmate…)
14. You know the difference between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao, pollo and polla, estar hecho polvo and echar un polvo...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!
15. On some Sunday mornings you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.
16. You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion…
17. You know that ‘ahora’ doesn’t really mean now.
18. When you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, the first person turns up at 3.30…if you’re lucky!
19. To avoid that cheap Eristoff vodka you have to ask for ‘un esmirnoff’.
20. Blonde girls actually start to think their name is ‘rubia’. If something is great, it’s ‘de puta madre’.
21. If you see someone wearing a T-shirt with something written on it in English, you can almost guarantee it won’t make sense.
22. When you go into a bank/bakery etc, it’s standard practice to ask ‘Quien es la ultima?’
23. When you have the habit of answering the above question “Ahora es Usted”.
24. Who needs a dryer when you have a washing line outside the window of your apartment?
25. You are more likely to call your friends tio/a, nena, chaval, machoor even tronco than their real name.
26. You answer the phone by saying ‘Yes’. Or even ¿Diga?
27. You prefer UHT milk.
2. You can’t get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they’re shutting just as you should be going out?
3. You aren’t just surprised that the Spanish plumber / decorator / electrician has turned up on time, you’re surprised he turned up at all.
4. You think it’s fine to comment on everyone’s appearance. And to openly stare at strangers.
5. Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.
6. On msn you sometimes type ‘jajaja’ instead of ‘hahaha’
7. Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: ‘bueno,’ ‘coño,’ ‘vale,’ ‘venga,’ ‘pues nada’...
8. You know how to eat boquerones.
9. You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.
10. You know that after 2pm there’s no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.
11. You know you must take two days off when you have to do any official paperchasing, for cars, residence, etc.
12. You know how to change a bombona.
13. It’s not rude to answer the intercom to your flat by asking ‘Quien?’(or maybe that was just my flatmate…)
14. You know the difference between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao, pollo and polla, estar hecho polvo and echar un polvo...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!
15. On some Sunday mornings you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.
16. You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion…
17. You know that ‘ahora’ doesn’t really mean now.
18. When you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, the first person turns up at 3.30…if you’re lucky!
19. To avoid that cheap Eristoff vodka you have to ask for ‘un esmirnoff’.
20. Blonde girls actually start to think their name is ‘rubia’. If something is great, it’s ‘de puta madre’.
21. If you see someone wearing a T-shirt with something written on it in English, you can almost guarantee it won’t make sense.
22. When you go into a bank/bakery etc, it’s standard practice to ask ‘Quien es la ultima?’
23. When you have the habit of answering the above question “Ahora es Usted”.
24. Who needs a dryer when you have a washing line outside the window of your apartment?
25. You are more likely to call your friends tio/a, nena, chaval, machoor even tronco than their real name.
26. You answer the phone by saying ‘Yes’. Or even ¿Diga?
27. You prefer UHT milk.
Life
"I am so thirsty for the marvelous that only the marvelous has power over me. Anything I cannot transform into something marvelous, I let go. Reality doesn't impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls."
Friday, April 23, 2010
"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain..."
"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain..."
Interesting sentiment.
Unfortunately not true in Sevilla this week, seeing as I see no plains in this city and quite a lot of rain. My feet are stained black from the dye on my shoes and I have trudged through more puddles that I care to count back and forth from class. Yesterday I got caught in a torrential downpour on the way to class, and neither my raincoat nor my umbrella did much to keep my dry, and today I was stuck at CLIC for 45 minutes, unable to leave as a result of another downpour. Sevilla, apparently, is as fickle as New England, and no sooner did it stop pouring than the sun came out and the temperature escalated to about 85 degrees.
Sevilla, I would appreciate it if you would make up your mind. Or that Abril, llueves mil, becomes May flowers tan pronto como posible. Gracias.
Interesting sentiment.
Unfortunately not true in Sevilla this week, seeing as I see no plains in this city and quite a lot of rain. My feet are stained black from the dye on my shoes and I have trudged through more puddles that I care to count back and forth from class. Yesterday I got caught in a torrential downpour on the way to class, and neither my raincoat nor my umbrella did much to keep my dry, and today I was stuck at CLIC for 45 minutes, unable to leave as a result of another downpour. Sevilla, apparently, is as fickle as New England, and no sooner did it stop pouring than the sun came out and the temperature escalated to about 85 degrees.
Sevilla, I would appreciate it if you would make up your mind. Or that Abril, llueves mil, becomes May flowers tan pronto como posible. Gracias.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Jessica and James eat Spain.
I have been considering changing the name of my blog to "Jessica eats Spain," because more than anything else, that is what I have been doing: eating. Luckily, I had a visitor this weekend that was perfectly content to help me do so.
James and I ate tortilla Espanola, albondigas en salsa verde, espinacas con garbanzos, gambas al ajillo, queso de cabra con miel, a 400 gram leg of lamb that was literally falling off the bone, paella mixta, ostrich carpaccio with argula and parmesan, bacalao al pil pil, (codfish in a garlic/olive oil sauce), solomillo del toro el salsa whisky, (bull steak in whiskey sauce), and a warm salad whose ingredients were unidentifiable, yet it was one of the best things I ever ate. We also made our way through a couple of chocolate soufflés, chocolate cake with pistachios, a Venetian crepe stuffed with ice cream, chocolate con churros, and more than a few bottles of wine/cans of cerveza/glasses of tinto de verano/cups of café con leche.
Besides eating and drinking excessively we managed to tour Sevilla. We visited Plaza Nueva, Calle Sierpes and Tetuan, Plaza del Salvador, Sevilla’s Catedral and Giralda (cathedral and bell tower), Plaza de Espana, the Universidad de Sevilla, the Hotel Alfonso XIII, Sevilla’s nicest hotel, took a walk along the Rio Guadalquivir, saw the Torre del Oro and the Corrida del Toros, crossed over to the other side of Sevilla by way of the Puente del Isabel II to see Calle Betis in all of its colorful glory, walked through the barrio de Santa Cruz, losing ourselves (LITERALLY) in the narrow, winding streets, took in a Flamenco performance at Casa de la Memoria, went out for drinks with some of my CLIC friends, and even paid a visit to Sevilla’s Arabic baths, where for an hour and a half we submerged ourselves in warms pools, cold pools, hot pools, salt water pools, Jacuzzis, aromatherapy steam rooms, and topped it all over with a full body massage and some Moroccan tea. La vida es buena.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
"You say TiggAH, I say TiggER!"
Hi all! So my third week in Spain is coming to a close. It is really amazing how time flies. I am going to be receiving six visitors here in Sevilla in the next six weeks which I’m sure will make it go even faster. Not as though I am lacking in ways to spend my time. It seems as though every day I meet someone new. My beautiful friend Maria Kristina Kolmos Liokouras (how’s that for a name?) is back from vacation in Greece and since she has been here for a while she already knows lots of people whom I am also getting to know. Friday night she had a party at her house and I met a lot of British guys…hence the title of this blog. One of Maria’s roommates had a Tigger stuffed animal, and they kept calling it TiggAH. And I was like, it’s TiggER! It’s really fascinating to be here spending time with people from all over the world. How often can you go to a party and there is a girl from Poland, a girl from Germany, a girl from Lichtenstein, two girls from Denmark and a bunch of British guys in the same room? I was the lone American and the Brits were having a grand old time mimicking the tendency for Americans to say “Oh my God!” and “You’re SO annoying!” I also learned that the Brits don’t say “to hook up,” to indicate a sexual encounter. They say “I pulled a girl last night.” Colloquial language is fascinating. Thursday night was also amazingly fun, as a large percentage of students at CLIC met at the bar Corral del Esquivel in the Alameda de Hercules to drink and talk. I met a Spanish couple around my age who were really awesome that I hope to befriend during my time here. After Corral del Esquivel we went to a discoteca called Buddha Bar and stayed there until 5 in the morning. This schedule I’m on is going to be the death of me. My French friend Michael Verdier ya ha salido from Spain. He arrived back in France yesterday. But most of the people I am now spending most of my time with are going to be here at least as long as I am, perhaps even longer.
Basically I just love it here. I wake up every day not knowing how the day is going to go, which is refreshing. Just yesterday I had promised Maria that I would tutor her in the subjunctive in the Alameda at 2, and it turned into somewhat of a party when she brought her friend, Melisssa, another classmate passing by the Alameda joined us, and then later Melissa’s boyfriend and Michael showed up and we just sat in the sun, eating, talking and laughing. I’m not really sure how I’m going to manage going home after living this idealized life for 2 months, but I’ve been weighing my options. The British guys I spoke about are all teaching English here, and some of them are teaching it to adults, which I obviously prefer compared to teaching children. I’ve asked one of the guys to e-mail me information regarding the program he is doing so that I can at least secure some work out here if I were to come back for 6 months to a year. But I am getting ahead of myself, because I have something at home that is too special to leave…
Monday, April 5, 2010
I knew when we collided, you’re the one I have decided is one of my kind…
For the first time in a long while I feel like the world is speaking to me, and this time I am listening, really listening. I ask you, my dear readers, have you ever returned to a place after a time and seen it in a completely new light?
I ask because that is what Sevilla has been for me. I left this city 4 years ago and the entire time I was gone from it, Sevilla sought me. In a way I feel that it was calling to me, beseeching me to return, to understand it in a way that I had not been able to the last time.
I hope, Sevilla, that now we are beginning to understand each other.
I did not appreciate the narrow sidewalks and even narrower streets, the abuelas walking slowly arm and arm down the street, the siesta, the smell of freshly baking bread in every corner bakery, the fresh fruit being sold on the street, the fact that you cannot get your waiter or waitress to bring you the check at a restaurant anywhere near the time when you actually finish your meal, or the colorful beauty of a country whose people are equally colorful and beautiful.
But now I look at things a bit differently. I peer down those narrow streets curiously seeking adventure unafraid of whatever moped may come my way, imagining a day when I might also waddle down them, arm in arm with my oldest friend, a midday break, a solace for those of us who rely on coffee to get us through the day, the comforting aroma of homemade bread, the colorful stacks of boxes filled with everything from strawberries to eggplant, the lack of a need to collect money as soon as possible from people enjoying their dinner and the delicious diversity of a culture so full of energy that you can’t help but be uplifted by it.
Yes, Sevilla, I think I am starting to get it.
That is not to say this country does not sometimes frustrate me. Machismo is rampant; I can hardly go anywhere without getting hit on. Stores close at odd hours and on random days. People try to navigate their cars, bikes and mopeds down the street and since they are truly so narrow, this usually means that you must stop walking, press yourself up against a building to avoid the oncoming traffic and wait until it passes. Beer and alcohol are cheaper than water (good or bad, depending on how you look at it), and overall you just must understand that things just take longer here; you must never be in a rush. I waited 15 minutes at the dry cleaners yesterday because the lady working there could not find my very expensive and very beloved black Theory blazer. At some point you have to tell yourself, this is not the USA, there are things they are going to do differently. Some will be worse, and some will be better. Don’t judge. Again, easier said than done, but I’m getting there.
But truly, truly, at the end of the day I go to sleep and I am happy to be going to sleep in Spain, and I wake up and I am happy to be waking up in Spain. And unlike my last trip, when most of the time I eagerly awaited the day I could return home, each day that passes makes me a little sad, because it is one day closer to the day I will be leaving Sevilla.
Being back here has taught me a lot and I’m sure the life lessons will continue. I’ve quoted a Rob Thomas song in the blog before, and listening to it reminds me that these little discoveries every day are what really matter: “Our lives are made, in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate, time falls away, but these small hours still remain…”
I ask because that is what Sevilla has been for me. I left this city 4 years ago and the entire time I was gone from it, Sevilla sought me. In a way I feel that it was calling to me, beseeching me to return, to understand it in a way that I had not been able to the last time.
I hope, Sevilla, that now we are beginning to understand each other.
I did not appreciate the narrow sidewalks and even narrower streets, the abuelas walking slowly arm and arm down the street, the siesta, the smell of freshly baking bread in every corner bakery, the fresh fruit being sold on the street, the fact that you cannot get your waiter or waitress to bring you the check at a restaurant anywhere near the time when you actually finish your meal, or the colorful beauty of a country whose people are equally colorful and beautiful.
But now I look at things a bit differently. I peer down those narrow streets curiously seeking adventure unafraid of whatever moped may come my way, imagining a day when I might also waddle down them, arm in arm with my oldest friend, a midday break, a solace for those of us who rely on coffee to get us through the day, the comforting aroma of homemade bread, the colorful stacks of boxes filled with everything from strawberries to eggplant, the lack of a need to collect money as soon as possible from people enjoying their dinner and the delicious diversity of a culture so full of energy that you can’t help but be uplifted by it.
Yes, Sevilla, I think I am starting to get it.
That is not to say this country does not sometimes frustrate me. Machismo is rampant; I can hardly go anywhere without getting hit on. Stores close at odd hours and on random days. People try to navigate their cars, bikes and mopeds down the street and since they are truly so narrow, this usually means that you must stop walking, press yourself up against a building to avoid the oncoming traffic and wait until it passes. Beer and alcohol are cheaper than water (good or bad, depending on how you look at it), and overall you just must understand that things just take longer here; you must never be in a rush. I waited 15 minutes at the dry cleaners yesterday because the lady working there could not find my very expensive and very beloved black Theory blazer. At some point you have to tell yourself, this is not the USA, there are things they are going to do differently. Some will be worse, and some will be better. Don’t judge. Again, easier said than done, but I’m getting there.
But truly, truly, at the end of the day I go to sleep and I am happy to be going to sleep in Spain, and I wake up and I am happy to be waking up in Spain. And unlike my last trip, when most of the time I eagerly awaited the day I could return home, each day that passes makes me a little sad, because it is one day closer to the day I will be leaving Sevilla.
Being back here has taught me a lot and I’m sure the life lessons will continue. I’ve quoted a Rob Thomas song in the blog before, and listening to it reminds me that these little discoveries every day are what really matter: “Our lives are made, in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate, time falls away, but these small hours still remain…”
Thursday, April 1, 2010
La vida es una gozada.
For my non-Spanish speaking followers, I have just learned that "una gozada" is a colloquial expression for "A very pleasant experience," and I am pleased to report to you all that Spain has finally become just that!
As of Monday my classes changed and new people arrived or moved up. This was una cosa muy buena because a Swedish girl named Marushia and a French guy named Michael (pronounced Meek-hail) became my classmates and we almost instantly became friends. Michael is unfortunately only here for 2 weeks, but Marushia has been here for 2 months and is staying at least until May and perhaps longer. She has been a great resource for where to go to "ir de tapeo" and "tomar copas". The three of us have also taken a Japonese guy named Sato..."under our wing," so to speak, as he speaks hardly any English, unlike most of the CLIC students, and being around him forces Marushia, Michael and I not to speak in English. In our class there is also a Korean girl, Han-Mi, who seems really nice. Classes go from 9 until 1 every day with a 20 minute break in between, and during the break our class usually goes and has a coffee. After class though, it's usually time for some vino or cerveza and some tapas, and the weather has been beautiful so we sit outside and enjoy the sun and the breeze. This week is Semana Santa...Holy Week...and as today is Holy Thursday and tomorrow Good Friday, Sevilla is more or less CERRADA. For this reason, tomorrow I shall either be off to the beach in Huelva, to stay at Maria and Antonio's house there until Sunday, or I will go once again to Granada to visit the Alhambra, a really old Moorish palace that I had the displeasure of getting lost in for over a hour last time I visited. Nevertheless, Michael is going and I have been considering accompanying him. So, it'll be either the beach or the palace. What terrible choices I have in this life.
So, although I didn't really mind passing my first few days in Sevilla sin amigos, its really nice to have somewhat of a social life at this point! And now, since I know you all are curious, I describe to you the tapas we consumed last night:
baby artichokes wrapped in bacon (not like American bacon), deep fried
asparagus and zucchini gratinee
roasted peppers with tuna in olive oil
seafood salad
warm goat cheese served over honey and nuts with crudites to spread it on (heaven on earth)
ANDDDDDDD....mucho vino tinto!!
So for those of you who are coming to visit me, I apologize in advance si he puesto gorda como un globo when you all arive.
Much love until next time.
XOXOXO
As of Monday my classes changed and new people arrived or moved up. This was una cosa muy buena because a Swedish girl named Marushia and a French guy named Michael (pronounced Meek-hail) became my classmates and we almost instantly became friends. Michael is unfortunately only here for 2 weeks, but Marushia has been here for 2 months and is staying at least until May and perhaps longer. She has been a great resource for where to go to "ir de tapeo" and "tomar copas". The three of us have also taken a Japonese guy named Sato..."under our wing," so to speak, as he speaks hardly any English, unlike most of the CLIC students, and being around him forces Marushia, Michael and I not to speak in English. In our class there is also a Korean girl, Han-Mi, who seems really nice. Classes go from 9 until 1 every day with a 20 minute break in between, and during the break our class usually goes and has a coffee. After class though, it's usually time for some vino or cerveza and some tapas, and the weather has been beautiful so we sit outside and enjoy the sun and the breeze. This week is Semana Santa...Holy Week...and as today is Holy Thursday and tomorrow Good Friday, Sevilla is more or less CERRADA. For this reason, tomorrow I shall either be off to the beach in Huelva, to stay at Maria and Antonio's house there until Sunday, or I will go once again to Granada to visit the Alhambra, a really old Moorish palace that I had the displeasure of getting lost in for over a hour last time I visited. Nevertheless, Michael is going and I have been considering accompanying him. So, it'll be either the beach or the palace. What terrible choices I have in this life.
So, although I didn't really mind passing my first few days in Sevilla sin amigos, its really nice to have somewhat of a social life at this point! And now, since I know you all are curious, I describe to you the tapas we consumed last night:
baby artichokes wrapped in bacon (not like American bacon), deep fried
asparagus and zucchini gratinee
roasted peppers with tuna in olive oil
seafood salad
warm goat cheese served over honey and nuts with crudites to spread it on (heaven on earth)
ANDDDDDDD....mucho vino tinto!!
So for those of you who are coming to visit me, I apologize in advance si he puesto gorda como un globo when you all arive.
Much love until next time.
XOXOXO
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