12 October 2007 · Comment [1]
Nurr de durr durr!
So I just learned something really interesting/awful from my newest language partner (whose name is David and who prestalked me by googling my name and found this blog. Hi, David!!): the little tiny chilluns at the top of the human castles only started wearing helmets this year because last year a child fell down and died. And even after that, there was still a debate over breaking the helmet-free tradition and having the children wear helmets. David compared it to football players knowing that there’s a chance they could get seriously hurt, but it just seems so different when the people in the most danger are like, four. I’m pretty sure I didn’t have a good concept of death at four, but maybe that was just me. But I guess it’s a cultural thing so it’s not my place to criticize? That is one of those things that I was hoping travel would teach me but it hasn’t really at all. Or maybe I am more open-minded than I was before traveling, but I’m clearly still not all the way there on account of how much I still like to judge. For something so wrong, it feels so right!
Today was the Saint Day for Saint Pilar and also El Día de la Hispanidad, which translates to Hispanicity Day or something? But basically it means that everything was closed except a couple bars and cafes, so I just colored all day at a cafe. By which I mean McDonald’s. But it’s okay! Because I’m vegetarian so all I can have is a salad and an amaaaazing fruit and yogurt thing which better be just as awesome in America and also the security guard, Mohammed, is really nice and likes to practice his English with me.
But yes, back to the Saint Day thing. My first language partner was Pilar, who by the way is awesome, so this was her Saint Day and I asked her to explain the significance of someone’s Saint Day and she was completely flabbergasted that America doesn’t celebrate them. Then we decided it makes sense because America is a secular country and Spain is super Catholic, but I think that might be the opposite of the truth? Because abortion rights are disappearing right before our eyes and the death penalty and stuff and stuff.
Okay, bored with talking and thinking. Pictures! Oh but first, I’ve been thinking about these videos all day. They came out when we were freshmen in college and Suzanne and Tatianna and I used to watch them obsessively and I miss being a freshman. A little. Okay let’s be honest, this is way better. Okay, videos! Also, OMG Ashley Tisdale is a big deal now? How long have I been gone for? Also, would quite like to punch Avril Lavigne in the face. Just saying is all.
A facey-looking thing from La Pedrera! Which is an apartment building by Gaudi and it is amazing. The roof terrace has all these crazy stone sculptures on it and me likey. Okay, I gotta go because I want to talk to Suzanne before the internet/call place closes. Umm, yesterday I taught my first English class and it went really well and I made 15 euros for just talking to someone in English for an hour! That’s like three hundred American dollars nowadays. And then I was waiting for my evening language partner outside the metro station when this guy came up and started making conversation (in Spanish, so I only understood like 80% of what he was saying) and being all friendly and then he pointed out that I was wearing sandals and I thought it was because it was entirely too cold to be wearing sandals but then he started telling me all about the differences between European and American shoe sizes and then he asked to see the soles of my sandals? Or something? It was confusing and he kept saying something about the soles and then I realized he meant he wanted to see my feet without the soles on? So I was all confused but as I started to take my sandal off he bent down to grab my foot and I ran away and it was really really really creepy and icky. I feel icky just writing about it, but I’m sure it was seem quite hilarious in a little while. But still so icky. Okay, later everyone!
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OMG he pre-stalked you?? you have found your language partner match.
— Jovanna · Oct 14, 06:49 AM · #