Spanish

I guess that one of the skills one is forced to learn when living abroad, is not to take oneself too seriously!

Every night, I crawl into my bed exhausted, having had to read - speak - think in Spanish all day! But I know that I'm getting there! My work notes are still in English after two years in South Africa, but I found myself scrabbling some bullet points on a restaurant napkin (yes, I know, the famous organized bullet points - even my first attempt to a travel journal was a list of bullet points ;-)) about some courses I'd love to start in Bs As - in Spanish!

Tired of the gluten- and calorie-rich lunch diet of sandwiches, Burger King (dios mios, there's one not too far from the office) and other such franchise stuff, I ventured out to find an alternative on internet - an art gallery which serves lunch specials and salads. I happily located the Hippolito, and tried to look like a local who's about to enter her favourite lunch spot (with large windows and glass door opening onto the street), when I made a total ass of myself, pushing and pulling that door, with no effect! Luckily, one of the waiters came to my rescue, and opened the door with a big smile, which is when I understood the meaning of "puerta corredera"...sliding door! After which I had a very attentive service - the young waiter doing his best of speaking Spanish in slow motion, "GA-SE-O-SA", so all in all not such a bad experience?

The other night, pride got the better of me, as I refused to ask the waiter in the restaurant to explain to me what that ingredient is which featured on 80% of the meals on the menu. Needless to explain my relief to find out that "albahaca" means basil when my order arrived!

I know, I should buy myself a dictionary - a mini version for my purse, and a big one for the office - but I'm waiting to have a spot and locker assigned so that I don't have to carry these every day on the subte...;-)