to join

wtf. Today in class I had to do a dictation for the bilingual kids. Before I start, this one kid in the back calls my name, hoping that I'd go over there without the teacher finding out. The teacher called him out on it, though: "Qué quieres?" "Nada, le llamaba a Arturo." "Es mi clase. Qué quieres?" Damn. Anyway, I know this kid, and he probably just wanted to say "joint," pretend to smoke a joint, and laugh. He always does that. srsly. Well, the kid gets reprimanded, and so afterwards, I begin the dictation. I get to, "Spain joined the European Union in 1986," and the kids are having trouble understanding 'joined.' So I pronounce it slowly and emphasize the ending so they know it's in the past tense. Joined... joint... the guy in the back starts giggling. Then the teacher comes up behind me, laughs, and whispers, "Joint. Como un porro!" Ay, ay, ay.

bottles and cans

I was thinking about this today, so I thought I'd make a quick list of things I've gotten accustomed to in Spain:

cheap produce
lighters with removable flint tubes ;)
looking like an idiot in everyday situations
cheap flights
cathedrals
cold, cold beer
giving missed calls
pay-as-you-go cell phones
text messages
fifteen-minute commercial blocks on tv
not running errands from 2pm-5pm
everything being closed on sundays
mullets

There's definitely more, though! I just don't feel like thinking too hard right now.

More of Texass

I've got a pretty bad habit of biting my hangnails off. It caught up with me while I was in Austin because I developed this huge blister-like thing on my finger. It was so, so gross. So I tried to pop it with Christina (and La pequeña Amy Winehouse):



I also had a lot of fun driving while I was in Texas, but it sucks getting stuck at a railroad crossing.

Texass

I've just spent more time in an airport in one week than anyone ever should. srsly. My flight to Austin was last Saturday, and the second leg of the trip was delayed three hours. Which meant I had to be given a different flight to Austin. Anyway, it sucked, but Austin was great. The department went way out of their way for me. I sat in on two classes, got tours of different centers and libraries, met with professors and students. I visited the school for three days, and then I had time off until Friday. My parents came up for two nights, so I hung out with them for a couple of days. It's always fun to go out to eat with them because they'll pay the bill, haha. I love it. At the end of the trip, I signed the acceptance letter and mailed it. Here I come, atx.