A continued list of things I miss from home:

-peanut M&Ms that don’t cost 2.5 euros for a fun size bag.
-to-go food and drinks
-being able to wear shorts, skirts, or dresses WITHOUT tights and not be stared at
-doing my own laundry (trust me, when something is dirty, I can expect not to see it again for well over a week).
-my own room
-American restaurant service on American time
-driving my car
-less expensive beauty products
-condiments on sandwiches and butter on bread

This entire week and next we’re staying home in Salamanca, realizing that with spring break and an excursion to Cantabria, we only have one more weekend here! Wow, I really can’t believe that.
Some of this week’s highlights include:
1) Going to coffee after Spanish Civ. with Andrea, Ally, and Allison Sachs at café Bauker off Calle Zamora. Ally had come here with a Spanish student a few weeks earlier to practice Spanish and was anxious to bring us too. I love how the people in our JMU group are constantly sharing cool new places they find in the city. At the cafe, we sat in woven-straw armchairs, Andy and Allison enjoying their coffee and ice cream, while Ally and I sipped on huge glasses of the best cappuccino I’ve ever had in my entire life…very telling.
On our way to the café we were stopped by two high school-aged Spanish boys wanting to take their picture with us. This happens far more often than you’d think. Spanish men seem obsessed with taking their pictures with American girls, even if they hadn’t said one word to them previously. The funniest part was how one of the boys chose to ask us in his broken understanding of the English language. “Please, a picture…WE (pointing at themselves) with WE” (pointing at us). We couldn’t help but laugh and shake our heads to say no thanks, but that only beckoned the stronger refrains of, “WHY?! WE…WITH WE!! WE…WITH WE!”
I can’t really make fun TOO much because I know this is probably how I sound to them everyday. It just feels good sometimes to see that we’re not the only ones struggling.
2) Yesterday after my siesta lunch and nap, I headed over to what Alex Johns and I had named “Bench Park” just down the street from our apartment. Taking advantage of the sunny weather, I stretched out on one of the thousands of rod iron benches to read some of my novel for Independent Study, Como Agua Para Chocolate. I hadn’t been there but 5 minutes when a cute old man noticed my rolled-up jeans and unbuttoned top and approached me. “Hace calor, no?” (It’s hot, isn’t it?). To which I naturally responded, “Si si de verdad.” (Yes, really). Continuing, he said “Pues, tu vas a volverte morena y bonita.” (Well, you’re going to become all tanned and beautiful). Not knowing quite how to respond myself, I guess he thought the next appropriate question was, “Tienes un novio?” (Do you have a boyfriend?). Ha! I guess age is of little importance in Spain, because the Spanish men have always got it ;)
3) Thursday night, most of our group found ourselves at one of our favorite bars, Atahualpa, where it’s only 3.5 euros for all you can drink bottled Mahou (only the classiest Spanish version of natural light). This place always plays old Brittany Spears, Outkast, Sean Paul, and others, which makes great dancing music while bringing back 8th grade memories. Taking a break to talk with a few of my girlfriends, I was startled by a man who had interjected his face a mere 3 inches from my own with no intention of moving it anytime soon. Can I help you, sir? After a minute, he said, “Eres Espanola?” (Are you Spanish?) Ha. It’s always interesting to see what pick-up line the Spanish guy will use. Was it my freckles, light brown hair, or the fact that I’m speaking in English with my friends that gave it away for you, bud? Anywho, this is how I came to meet Raul, a skinny Italian 26-year-old working in Salamanca until September. When an American guy gets your number and he says he’ll call you, he most likely won’t. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a text message saying he’s too busy to call. In Spain, however, if a man gets your number and says he’ll call, not only will he text you 4 times the next morning, he won’t stop calling you until you pick up. Yikes. Unfortunately for Raul, I will NOT be getting that cup of coffee with him this weekend.

Since I opened this blog with things I miss about home, it’s only fitting that I conclude it with a few more things I will miss about Spain.

-Hearing "hola, guapa!" (hello, beautiful!) everyday walking down the street. This isn't a creepy gesture in the least, but completely normal here. Everyone is GUAPA!

A few of madre’s famous lines:

“A Comer” (Time to Eat)…obviously at the top of my list.
“Voy a poner la cena” (I’m going to make dinner)
“Ya teneis la cena cuando quereis” (Dinner’s ready when you want it)
“Saaabes?” (you know?)
“O sea” (still not sure what this one means, but she says it a lot)

"Traela, hija!" (Take it, daughter)--hear this one at least 10 times each lunch.

And of course, the famous line of the fraudulent beggar on Calle Toro:
“Ayudame para comprar una hamberguesa que tengo hambre por favor!” (Help me buy a hamburger, I’m so hungry please!”) I hear this literally everyday on my walk to class and at this point have memorized every vocal intonation of his plea. Obviously SOMEONE is feeding him that hamburger everyday cause he’s still alive and kicking. One of the girls in our group was out with her madre the other week though and saw him in a suit, without the limp, so I really can’t feel too terrible for the man. Regardless, in some strange strange way I will miss his mantra.