During lunch, Nacho's mom informed me that they wouldn't be able to have our lesson after school. She apologized quite a bit, but there was no need - I was ecstatic! A day off!? Fabulous!!
I tralalaed the whole way home on the bus and on foot. I burst through the apartment door and quickly realized I was the only one home! I started laundry and ate Oreos and drank horchata in celebration! Ten minutes later, Aaby and Katie were home and their jaws dropped when they saw me standing in the kitchen. "What are YOU doing home!?" they squealed in unison. :) Tee hee.
And so the three of us hang out, snacking and giggling (toot clap!). I adore those two girls!! A little while later we left to go on a walk in the center of town, and then it was time for Abby's lesson and for me to continue the walk alone. Spring colors are finally coming out in stores and my favorite color is everywhere!! Yay mint!!
In the morning, on my way to the bus stop, I saw a beautiful scarf in the window of a little boutique on our street. And so, my last stop of my perusing walk was to that shop. I've always wanted to go in it, but I've never been brave enough because it is so small and I knew I'd have no choice but converse with the lady working inside, and it just seemed like too much stress! But you don't understand how gorgeous this scarf was! I went in and sure enough she starts talking to me right away.
"¡Hola! ¿Puedo ayudarte con alguna cosa?"
"Sí - ¿cuánto cuesta... or, um... cuánto vale esa... bufanda?
"Do you speak English?!"
"Pues, sí - los dos."
But it was too late. Everything from then on was in English and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.
See, thing is, it's basically impossible to speak Spanish while living in Madrid. Either people can tell that you're clearly a foreigner speaking their language by your accent and mistakes, and so they want nothing to do with you and your shitty use of their language... OR they quickly figure out you are an American and all they want to do is use the few moments they have with you to practice their English. >_< RAWR!!!
I've decided that as of February 1st, I will try an experiment of only speaking Spanish when possible - with the teachers at school, with my roomies at home, when I'm in stores and they keep talking to me in English. Anytime. It's a "pesdado" (obnoxious thing) to live in a foreign country but never speak the language! Sheesh.
Anyway, the lady was so very nice despite this annoyance. She asked where I was from and when I said Colorado, she could hardly contain her excitement.
"Where in Colorado?!?!"
"Denver."
"I lived in Colorado Springs!! My husband is American and was in the military there!!"
"Oh! My half sister lived on that base because her husband is in the military, too."
"Wow!! I have friends who live in Aurora... They work at Buckley Air-force Base."
"Huh! Yeah, I actually last lived in Aurora."
"Really?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"
"Mmhmm..."
"You know what I miss a about Colorado? Cherry Creek."
"OHMYGOD I LOVE CHERRY CREEK!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Ooh I know! I love Park Meadows, too."
"Haha. I used to work at Park Meadows."
"Really?!?!?!?!?!"
It was way weird to be talking about home to a lady who has a store a block away from my current home in a very far away continent and country! Wat a small world! The lady continued talking, while I tried to pay. Ha. When she finally took my money she said if I had any problems with the scarf or just got sick of it and wanted a new one, to come right back and it'd be no problem. She told me to come back and visit and clearly did not want me to leave! It was really cute, but a little bit overwhelming! Haha.
Rest of the night was spent giggling and telling more stories with Abby and Katie, before I finally cleaned a little of my room and went to sleep.
XOXO
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