Sunday= fun day?!

I should know better! Really, I should! It's a Sunday in Southern Europe- why would I expect the grocery store to be open?!

It's interesting. Today at church, the priest talked about being more the people in your life and less about things. I sat there nodding my head "yes, yes...that's it. We need to be about making memories and sharing our time with the people we care about." Not more than 30 minutes later, I was saying " don't the people we care about need to eat too?". 

I do like the idea of stores being closed on Sunday - as long as I'm prepared! And, it wasn't just the grocery store that was closed, even the large general merchandise retailers were closed. 

I appreciate that the Spanish are committed to Sunday as a day of rest, I just wish that they would have told me before I ate my last two eggs this morning! I'll get used to the "no store Sunday" routine. I will have to find another way to pass the time and I will probably even like it! 

I have learned when traveling that I need to be flexible so I will stop at McDonald's for breakfast. There are just some habits that can't be broken :-) 

“Thou hast seen nothing yet.”

“Thou hast seen nothing yet.” - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 

A perfect quote from the most important Spanish writer. I'm no stranger to international travel. I've been many places and have had many great experiences from climbing to the top of Mt. Etna and the Great Wall of China, taking tango lessons in Argentina and salsa lessons in Mexico, cooking classes in Italy and enjoying a Sunday roast in England. However, I am sure that nothing that I've experienced so far will compare to being able to work and live in Spain for a few months. 

As I anticipate what I will experience on my extended stay in Spain, I imagine that the experience will change me for the better. I am hopeful that I may be able to unpack some of my biases and that I will be more open-minded to different customs and cultures. And, that once and for all, I can say without hesitation "yes, I am fluent in Spanish" and not have my fingers crossed because I know there are certain areas (like the subjunctive) that I have to talk around :-) 

Overall, I'm hopeful that my time in Spain will make me a better professor and a better person!