Lessons Learned.

Spain is my classroom. I came here to teach others but in reality, I've been the student, learning something new everyday.  I've seen more than I can remember and I remember more than I've seen. Welcome to Spain 101: Spain as I've Seen It.

1. It's perfectly okay to drink beer with churros at 7am.

2. It's normal to be ten minutes late... but don't arrive later than the Spaniards...

3. Dos besos when you arrive and before you leave. 

4. Spaniards think Spanish food is the best in the whole world. Spanish food is very, very good - but there isn't much variety.

5. Chinese food in Spain is different - very "Spainese" - as there is "pan chino" and rice dishes similar to paella.

6. Spaniards don't drive with air condition on in the car 24/7. You're hot then you're cold...

7. Mix your drinks!!! Drink beer with lemon "Clara/Shandy". Drink Fanta with red wine "Tinto de Verano". Drink Coke with red wine "Calimocho".

8. If you hug someone, not only will they find it strange, but they'll feel the urge to sway back and forth. Stick to kisses.

9. Doing nothing is perfectly normal. 

10. Nothing is open on Sunday; stock up on Saturday.

11. Always have a spare bombona on hand... or you'll be showering cold for a few days!

12. Friends who have cars are really, really great friends. 

13. Walking all over town doesn't mean you'll lose weight.

14. Spanish gym classes are like spending an hour in a discoteca at 9:30am. WONDERFUL!  "If I don't practice, I don't remember the routine. If I don't remember the routine, I won't burn calories. If I don't burn calories, I'll still have a huge butt." -- Sonia, our workout instructor.
15. There is a big difference between Spaniards who are university educated and those who aren't. It's a pity these groups don't intermix because they could each learn something from each other. 

16. When your clothes drys in a day, you know it's summer time.

17. What happens in the pueblo... everyone will know by the next morning. 

18. Thanks to the new smoking ban in ALL bars and restaurants, you can wear the same clothes two days in a row. 

19. Spaniards stare. [a lot.]

20. Due to the smoking ban, all bars have moved into the street [even in the dead of winter.]

21. Most Spaniards think the smoking ban is just a "suggestion", and choose not to follow it.

22. Spain knows what a "fair" is. America, let's get with the show.

23. 'El Toro Loco' is the best fair ride, EVER.

24. Black vodka and Fanta limon goes down like water.

25. Waking up with a black tongue is a common occurrence [for me.]

26. Everyone knows you're not Spanish when you start shouting the lyrics to "Only Girl".

27. Spanish overload? Watch MTV in English.

28. Just because you don't know who someone is, doesn't mean they don't know you. Chances are, in the pueblo world, most people will know who you are: you're the foreigner.

29. To make a bi-continental relationship work, you have to find someone who is ready to deal with the fact that your life [and sometimes you] is on another continent.

30. Spanish teenagers [even those who go to private English academies] don't like learning English.

31. Spanish niños are obsessed with anyone who is not Spanish. "Las Inglesaaassss!"

32. Students are scared to say say hello to you when they see you in the street or in a disco.

33. Because the drinking age is 18, it's normal to party with your students. [18 is just a suggestion, like the smoking ban.]

34. It's ok to ask "What's your favorite alcoholic drink?" in a high school classroom as an introductory question; it's like asking "How old are you?"

35. Botellon.  > Tailgate.

36. Spanish girls dress like they are 10 years older than they really are.

37. Everyone wears clothes from Stradavarius.

38. Bracero = Lifesaver.

39. Only buy food you know you'll eat; carrying groceries home isn't a fun workout.

40. Drinking beer is perfectly acceptable at any time of the day.

41. It's impossible to only have one caña.

42. Spaniards wears white shoes all year round.

43. If someone says "Rubia" - 9.8 of 10 times they will be talking to me. 

44. Four things about pig ears: 1) While they look like hash brown potatoes with ketchup, they aren't. 2) The flavor is ok. 3) The texture is not. 4) The thought of chewing on cartilage is disgusting.

45. Spanish pueblos are very different than towns in USA. 

46. Spaniards live life in the street and Americans live life in their cars. [I prefer the first.]

47. Eat honey and cheese - together.

48. If you can't roll your "R"s, it is impossible to say "chistorra" [waiters will laugh at you and call you 'la chica chistorrita' when they see you.]

49. The fish are small in the gargantas. I like swimming there.

50. Wear sunscreen. If you're blanco like me, just an hour in the Extremaduran sun will leave you as red as an apple.

51. When traveling with a large group of Spaniards, be prepared for bomb checks through airport security. [especially in London!]

52. Iberian ham is delicious. If you tell a Spaniard you don't like it, she will try to force-feed it to you... [Maria!]

53. When offered a coffee, it's easier to just drink it [with lots of sugar] than to explain to a Spaniard that you don't like/drink coffee.

54. Spanish children win the award for 'best dressed kids'. 

55. Extremadura is Spain's best kept secret. 

56. If you go to Tenerife and visit El Teide, go on the Teleferico if it is open. If it's open, it's your lucky day. 

57. Casetas are one of the best party locations. Ever.

58. It's impossible to find all the songs you hear in the bars online. 

59. The United States needs to take notes about Spain's public transportation system.

60. You're never too full for postre. 

61. Salamanca has the best Plaza Mayor in all of Spain.

61. The Valle del Jerte has some of the best cherries I've ever tasted.

62. Sometimes bars give you candy tapas instead of nuts; those are good nights.

63. "Mercaaaadooonna, Mercadoooonna." It's the cheapest grocery store.

64. You don't see too many drunk Spaniards; I think this has something to do with the low drinking age. Unlike Americans, Spaniards drink socially vs. drinking to get drunk. 

65. Sangria isn't a staple drink at a Spanish meal. It's the touristy drink. [and man is it good!]

66. Not all Spaniards like/support bullfighting. 

67. [Most] Spanish teenagers have no respect for their teachers. 

68. What's up with all the graffiti, Spain? 

69. You can't blame everything on the "crisis"...

70. Telepizza no longer has pollo asado.

71. "Sorry, this video is not available in your country." 

72. When going to the countryside [and you're told there will be a fire] don't expect to roast smores.

73. Americans and Spaniards party for the same amount of hours during the night; Americans start earlier and Spaniards finish later. 

74. Spanish persianas (blinds) are one of the best inventions ever. Total black out.

75. All Spanish kids spell the number "20" like this: Tuenti. [Thank you Spanish Facebook.]

76. "Last weekend I went to THE Party." -- every Spanish teenager in Monday morning classes.

77. Spaniards cannot avoid saying an "E" in front of English words that begin with "S". "I'm from Espain."

78. Eating outside on the terrace is more expensive...and more fun.

79. Everything closes in the afternoon from 14:00 - 17:00 for siesta. 

80. Spanish life isn't just about siesta and fiesta.

81. In Extremadura, when you enter a store or restaurant, you greet the other people by saying hola! or buenas! and when you leave by saying adios! or hasta luego!.

82. Always walk in the shade.

83. No Spaniard will be seen in the streets during siesta - especially during summer.
84. Los albanicos (hand held fans) might be stereotypical to Spain, but are used all the time. In the summer, everyone carries one.
85. If you want good seafood, go to Punto Umbria, Huelva. The seafood is so fresh, you can taste the sea.
86. Every Spanish woman wears wedges.
87. A wise Spanish woman told me: "que no permitas que nadie te haga daño, vive el momento que estás aquí lo mejor que puedas y no te agarres a nada que te haga daño."   
88. Always read the fine print or ask for a full translation of important papers. People may (and will) take advantage of you because of the language barrier.
89. Rebajas are always a good excuse to go shopping.
90. On finding friends: good amigos are hard to find, but when you find them, don't let them go.
91. Post-it notes are awesome and look great on car windows.
92. Spanish DJs rock.
93. When possible, buy train and bus tickets a day in advance to avoid someone saying "esta lleno".
94. Being someone's cousin seems to have more importance here. When you date someone, their cousins call you "prima".
95. Spanish weddings are super dressy--prom like--and there is no such thing as a bridesmaid.
96. Spanish people don't put too much importance on on their cars - most are scratched from driving on narrow streets or other cars bumping into them while parking.
97. When it's your birthday in Spain, you pay for everything. No one pays for you; you're expected to pay.
98. Chino stores have everything; they are like Walmart.
99. Being in Spain legally is such a pain. Solicit paperwork. Pay tax. Wait. Pick up the paperwork. Wait. Solicit more paperwork, Pay tax. Wait. Pick up the paperwork...... Wait some more.... If I never go back to the Extranjeria in Caceres, that would be ok with me.
100. Getting mail from friends and family doesn't happen near enough. [If you need my address, ask.]

AND the 101st thing I have learned: It's not where you are or what you're doing, it's who you're with. I think this is the most important thing I learned this year. While I'm so far from home, I couldn't feel more at home.  I experienced this in Salamanca and Malaga too, but living in a village really makes you appreciate the people around you more. When you have lots of opportunity to do exciting things, in big cities for example, you are focused more on "doing" things rather than "experiencing" things. This year, I learned to do nothing and be completely happy.  Whether it was a simple conversation, a car ride, walking down a new street, having a cana, listening to a song... the littlest things, it was always more fun with friends at my side. It's all the times you say "you had to be there" that make this experience worth while.

Muchas gracias a todos mis amigos, mis companeras de piso, y la gente de Jarandilla de la Vera y Navalmoral de la Mata para darme una buena bienvenida!  Me alegro por conocer tan buena gente. Ya os echo de menos. Me llevo conmigo buenos recuerdos de nuestro tiempo juntos. Ven a Vallladolid a visitarme!!!!!!!! No me diga adios! Hasta pronto!