My feet were itching to travel again, so this weekend I decided to head out to a little town called Buitrago del Lozoya. The draw? Small town, medieval ruins, surrounded by nature. I was looking forward to a quiet, relaxed weekend getaway…but there were a few obstacles to overcome first.
So far in Spain, I’ve encountered nothing but friendly professionals, whether I was at the doctor’s office, the emergency room, the bank, or even government offices. And then I finally came across…a gilipollas.
In my quest to become a true Spaniard (in heart, if not in government documentation), I have not only been learning the language (grammar, syntax)—I’ve been learning how to speak like a Spaniard. And that means learning Spanish street slang.
From storing eggs to making out, from direct communication to yellow lines on the road, here are some of the differences between Spain and the USA that I’ve been either enjoying or trying to understand.
After living in Spain for five months, I finally started dating — in Spanish. The language I am not fluent in. But who am I in Spanish if I can’t fully communicate and am reduced to simple thoughts and broken sentences?
In the U.S. you usually ask for a glass of wine by the grape, and in Spain you order it by the region. But if you don’t know the regions, how the hell do you order wine in Spain that isn’t just taking a stab in the dark?! Let me take you through my learning process.
I’ve written about all the ways I’m practicing the Spanish language in order to achieve my goal of becoming fluent. But I’m also practicing another language: the social language of Spaniards. So here are a few ways that I’m learning to be Spanish.
I found myself in Urgencias (the “ER”) after moving to Spain. But because of Spain’s universal healthcare, I walked out without paying a dime. This made me think about difference between the Spanish healthcare system and the U.S. healthcare system.
From the small Lope de Vega Casa-Museo tour to the enormous Royal Palace tour, from an artistic flamenco show to a spooky Halloween wine tasting, take a look at how I show my visiting family a good time in my new city Madrid!
They say that the best way to learn something is to teach it. So when I recently had my very first visitors come stay with me in my new country, I got to put my newly acquired knowledge of Madrid to the test!
I don’t expect to become fluent in Spanish just by living in Spain. So from reading familiar books in Spanish to changing my phone’s default language, from taking private Spanish lessons to simply refusing to speak English, here’s how I’m improving my Spanish.
From calamari and the ruins of a 16th century monastery in Xinzo de Limia, to chupitos at a restaurant near Montalegre Castle and the "Fiesta in Honour of Seafood" in O Grove, my first trip to Galicia, Spain is everything I'd hoped it would be.
After writing about trips to historical monasteries, after-hour tours of the Prado, and trying to meet people in a new country, it’s time to write about something really important. Where the hell do I find all my favorite products in Spain?!?!
Still fresh from a recent weekend trip out of town, I eagerly plan my next adventure: I’m taking a day trip (from Madrid) to El Escorial to go on a guided tour of the 16th century Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, commissioned by King Philip II.
I start to notice a lot of statues around Madrid. But not your typical statue of royalty, historical figures and other famous people. From the Curious Neighbor to the Reader to the Street Sweeper, these are tributes to regular, working-class folks.
The first time I really feel like I live in Spain and not just visiting is when I take a weekend trip out of town. La Adrada is a small pueblo that knows how to celebrate big. With music, dancing, booze and church, this festival is fun for everyone.
From sushi to tapas, from Hemingway's favorite sherry bar to an international blues bar, my new friend helps me celebrate my first birthday in Spain like a madrileña as we make our way through Madrid's historic el centro.
Still looking for things to do in Madrid where there’s a good chance of meeting new people, I soon find a wine tasting that declares: “each bottle is a story and each visit a new friendship.” Couldn’t be more perfect. Sign me up!
How do I meet new people in Madrid, Spain? I can only frequent bars and cafés so much, so I sign up for a language exchange meetup. Not only do I meet other like-minded people, but I get to practice Spanish – after the two-drink minimum.
Having just moved to Madrid, the only way I’m going to meet new people is by going out. A major task for an introvert. I start by hitting up cafés and tabernas to enjoy a drink and chat up the waitstaff — hoping they'll understand my Spanish!
