Que Casualidad?

I feel that I'm really on a streak here. I've felt creative enough to do my two of my friends' hair today AND write. Que casualidad?

So, learning Spanish is definitely harder than I anticipated. Before I came to Spain, many asked me how much Spanish I spoke, and without fail I always replied with, "I can get by." LIES!! Anyone who believes that they can "get by" with two years of high school Spanish and mission trip experiences will not survive casual, everyday conversation without looking like a complete buffoon in a foreign country.

Since I've lived here, I have had my fair share of embarrassments. I feel bad for my professors, because I do believe that at the beginning of the year they thought me to be either mute or inflicted with chronic "deer-in-the-headlights" syndrome. Every class, every conversation, every meeting, church service, vespers, etc. is entirely in Spanish. Professors, church members and/or random Spanish strangers attempted to converse with me, but all I could do was look at them as if they were crazy and agree with everything they said. Someone could have told me that my ears were made of feathers and I would have politely nodded my head and said, "Si, claro."

Learning a foreign language is not easy. I'm pretty sure that the first month or two here, I didn't understand any of my classes. How can you do an assignment when the directions are entirely in Spanish!? Google Translate?! Again, lies. While Google Translate is a helpful tool, it is also grammatically incorrect. If one were to try to discover what the word "vino" means, Google Translate with tell you that it means "wine." However, this is not completely correct. The word "vino" can also mean "he/she came." If you were to have a sentence that read, "Shelby vino a la fiesta anoche." It translates to "Shelby came to the party last night." However, Google Translate would say otherwise... "Shelby wine a the party last night." False, Google Translate.

Though a terrifying experience at first, we students have grown accustomed to hearing Spanish everyday. We are now able to converse with our professors, new Spanish friends and even each other, on occasion. The language hasn't quite clicked for me yet, I still sometimes need people to speak a little slower, or ask someone to repeat what they just said. However, I would say that I understand about 89% of what is going on. Though I have lived here for about five months now and though I can understand that 89%, I would only consider myself able to "get by." Even though I am able to carry on conversations, listen, read and write Spanish, I still feel as if I am a stranger in a foreign land.

I think realize, now, what Jesus meant by being in the world but not of it. Now, please don't believe for a second that I am trying to equate the lovely country of Spain to a horrible, sinful world, because you would be jumping to lofty conclusions, my friend. While I do love Spain, the lasting friendships I've cultivated here, the people and the new ability to speak in another language, this is still not my home. My home is where my father and mother are. My home is where I can lay in my own bed, eat my own food, breathe the fresh, Spokane air and go to my church, where I know the brothers and sisters in Christ will welcome me with a tasty casserole and a hug. Though living in Spain will be the most extraordinary event to happen in my life, in the end, I will be home. And I will love every second of it.

After these 8 1/2 months are done, I will be able to, hopefully, understand 100% and come home with an accomplished feeling. But until then, I am going to read, speak and listen to as much as possible.