Dancing Country, bacon, and forgeting English!

As I sit back and think about this last month, all I can say is that it has been a serious whirlwind! Getting here was difficult, and really stressful, but I realized yesterday that before I got here I had had acid reflex all semester, and I haven’t had it at all since I got here. And its strange, cause in some ways I feel like a completely different person, and in some ways I feel like I am exactly the same. Its been equally amazing and wonderful as it has been hard. I do feel lonely sometimes, but its been great to live with Belen and Clara, because I really feel like I am a part of their family now. The other day Belen asked me what kind of music I like, and I told her country (you try to explain to someone in a different language what Indie and Emo music is) and she got a huge smile on her face. She told me she loves country, and asked me if I knew how to dance to it. I said yea, not really thinking about it, and when we got home she insisted that I bring my computer, play some country, and teach her to dance. Now, for those who have had the “pleasure” of dancing with me, you know that it is quite a sight and there probably isn’t much else like it. Despite this, I decided line dancing would be the easiest, and put on some Kenny and showed her. She loved it! (granted, she also loves saying the English word washing machine)

Cultures are so amazing, and its insane how we constantly walk into different ones thinking that our way is the best. The washing machine is in the kitchen here in Spain, which I just think is crazy, but its completely normal for people here. And they eat this ham…ugh…its called jamon Serrano, and I swear, its raw. I mean, its not, but its really see through, and it has a texture that I cant bite with my teeth! I feel like a cave person when I eat it, because it wont tear! So the other night I decided that this is our bacon, and Im not sure what they do with it, but all I have to do is fry it up a bit and Ill be set. Well. Lets just say Clara and Belen ran into the kitchen wondering what I was cooking because smoke filled the house. I didn’t burn anything, but I don’t think they are used to things being fried. (sad, I know!!) then Belen fell over laughing when she found out I was frying the ham. To her, it was like I took a piece of deli meat and fried it up (something we would not usually do). Anyway, it was bomb, and they both loved it, and I put it on some bread with some chicken (of course, mom) and cheddar cheese. YUM-O! Belen then proceeded to tell me that yes, they have bacon, and that this is normal ham and im not supposed to fry it up. She was like, if you want bacon, ill get you some bacon! It was pretty funny, but now I don’t know what to do cause I have 2 packets of that ham stuff and I cant eat it the way it is! It even has sections of white fat on it… and is cut length wise. Seriously…its bacon.

I watch Spanish tv, and even though I understand about 2% of it (they talk way too fast) I have found one show that I really love. It’s a Spanish cooking show, and the old man on it wears white crocs, silly decorated pajama pants, and the white coat with the really tall hat on. Imagine it! And he sings when he cooks. Its great. Well, I guess I was loving it until the other day when he brought out the meat of a rabbit, which was still in the shape of a rabbit, and then cut off its head. I changed the channel, and will watch again when hes making tortillas or something.

I cant believe that its already June! Its crazy. Time has gone by really fast here, and when I think about leaving, I already miss this place! I put up some pictures from this past weekend when my friends and i went to a festival, which was basically a fair. Except instead of corn dogs and french fries, they have buckets of cold vegetables that have been soaking in vinegar. ick. But, they also have churros which are really really yummy.

The last thing Ill tell you is that I am having a hard time thinking in English! My friend was asking me about the expression ¨better now than never¨, and i knew what he was saying, but for the life of me I couldnt say it in English. I couldnt remember how the words went! It was ridiculous! And even now as I look at it Im not exactly sure that thats how you say the phrase.

I hope you are enjoying the summer! Hopefully the sun will come to Madrid, I still have not worn shorts once!

ps, and dad, they have the same saying here once on the lips forever on the hips!!!

Beso!