> In the Spanish version of Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger says "sayonara, baby" instead of "hasta la vista, baby"
>Milk and eggs are not refrigerated in the supermarkets, only once you bring them home
>If you don't look someone in the eye when you cheers (when you say salud) you have bad luck for 7 years, according to legend. Also, another popular cheers is "arriba, abajo, a centro, a dentro." This means "up, down, middle and inside." It is said with a drink in hand, following the commands (a centro is when everyone's glasses meet and a dentro means DRINK!)
>When you want to say cool in Spanish you say guay (amy: my teacher also did mention mola, but said it was more from her generation, which is about your age)
>No one here will ever understand the concept of central New York, no matter how many different ways you explain it. Anything relating to New York will always and forever be the city. oh well.
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Hey Michelle,
I also teach Guay and Chevere. I don't know if Chevere is Spain or Latin America though. The "Sayonara" quote is great. How funny is that!
I'm enjoying your entries. How are the classes going? Are you starting to think in Spanish yet? Is the grammar class easy or tough? Have you learned anything that contradicts things your teachers in the US taught you?
What's harder for you? Listening to Spanish or speaking it?
Te hablare luego,
A
Classes are going pretty well. Although, my least favorite class is definitely my grammar class. Not necessarily because of the content, but the teacher. We all have specific questions about everyday use of Spanish, but she gets flustered if we ask her because it messes up her schedule. But, its not like her schdule is very intense. For example, we play a lame, time consuming games almost every day. It's just frustrating because she could be a really helpful resource. Also, I have heard from my friends that the other grammar classes are more geared towards the practical application of the language, which would have been nice.
As for learning anything that contradicts my teachers in the states, I can't really think of anything major. Thats a good question though... Well there is the vosotros subject. In the states I learned it only at the basic levels, but over time my teachers have just stop mentioning it. However, its very common over here. As for usted, my teachers were right in saying it is rarely used anymore. If I think of or encounter something else I'll let you know.
The thing about listening and speaking Spanish is interesting. My listening ability is consistently pretty good and is definitely improving as I am getting to know the accent. But my speaking ability goes in and out. Some days it rolls off the tongue and others I feel helpless. My speaking improved a lot in the first few weeks, but it has plateaued a little. Several Spaniards have told me that I speak well, but I think that is just because I have mastered the basics. Conveying complex thoughts is still pretty tricky. My roommates and I are trying to speak to each other is Spanish a little more, but its obviously hard because we are all native English speakers. But I still have over two months, so hopefully it will pick up again!
P.S. the Obama song was very funny!
Michelle,
Cuanto me encantan las fotos del pais vasco! It's so different than the parts of Spain I've seen. If you get time, add more commentary. The pictures are so much more enjoyable with your narration. :-)
Tengo tantos celos!
Amy
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