Tonight, while out for tapas, my friend Cristina told me the most wonderful thing I have heard since arriving here in Spain, 'Megan, tu estás perdiendo tu acento!' she told me I am losing my American accent, I could have died right then and there and been absolutely content! Never, did I think I would ever shake this harsh accent; the fluidity still needs some work, but after such a long week it was such a relief to hear this. The last few weeks I have really been separating myself from my American friends in an effort to spend more time with my Spanish friends, which has definitely been difficult and seemingly counter intuitive, but it is really starting to pay off!
Despite my recent improvements, I don't think I will ever be ready for my upcoming project. In my Cultural Anthropology class I'm told I have to give a 1 hour group presentation, yikes!! When the teacher began to read the names of the groups aloud, she obviously stumbled through my name, and I reluctantly raised my hand to confirm my presence when I noticed 90 pairs of eyeballs curiously staring at me. While I expected this, I had not anticipated what it would really feel like. I too have been the one to stare, and their curiosity is expected, but wow, so much for trying to blend! Anyone who knows me well, knows that attracting the attention of more than 2 people is not preferable and certaintly not 90; and now that I am literally the only foreigner in all of my classes, (my French friend had to switch classes), standing out doesn't even begin to describe the awareness of my presence in the classroom. On the plus side, being the only foreigner does wonders for my Spanish, it's amazing how quick you learn when there is truly no other option!
Although, every day brings new challenges. I can finally understand someone even when they manage to squeeze two sentences of information into what seems to be two words, I still have not mastered the difference between ser and estar, two very common verbs with the same definition but VERY different meanings. For example, during a meeting with my program advisor, José Luis, I accidentally told him that I thought my Human Geography professor was very attractive, when really, I meant to tell him I thought he was a good professor. You have to understand that José Luis is always very composed, as he is used to working with Americans who constantly butcher the Spanish language, so when he began laughing uncontrollably at my response, I knew I must have made a pretty hilarious mistake.
Overall, I have nothing but good sentiments, I have an amazing host family with whom I have decided to stay with for the entire year. I live in a great area of town where the people who work at the café down the street know me by name, and my Ducks are #1 in the country, what more could I ask for?
