h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, I've been living in Zaragoza, Spain, for some weeks now and I must, no, am happy to admit, it's like having a ball!

My last spanish class was 10 years ago, back in high school. So, apart from this tremendous first brief contact of three semesters, having arrived here, I had to do an intensive course.
There was this placement test I took part in. I must add, as an engineer, I've learned how to pass exams. So, on the other day I've found myself in "grupo no.2", with una profesora that welcomed us to the "grupo mas alto" saying we surely have had the knowledge of about six to eight years of spanish.
Now that the course is over, I've received a sheet of paper, telling that I can speak spanish in the highest level that non-spanish chicos like me can achieve - I hardly believe it for myself!

However, entering a new language, you find yourself in a situation when, right away after you finished a phrase people expell a thundering laughter.
It might happen when you are about to say business-like things, such as "...to buy this company...". But what you've just said sounds "comprar esta compresa". (empresa would be the right word, compresa is used by women at some days each month...)
So you discover, it must be a good thing to learn to distinguish in your brain-stored dictionary similar sounding words. What about, let's say, ...erem,... sporty (deportivo) and funny (divertido), and you go and build and speak out a sentence with a sports team that fits in both adjectives obviously, like Atlético Madrid here recently.

Sure you'll earn lot of admiration quick and soon, when you keep on stepping in as many traps in your new language as you can find!

To be continued...

Am just earmarking this one in case something happens. Can't think of anything to add, but a week in Spain would probably give me enough anecdotes! (I lived there for a year way back and was fluent-ish when I left, but Franco has died since then and I expect lots of other things have changed too!)

Yes, things do have changed since 75.
I can't tell anything about the time you've been to this country (too far away and too young). It appears to have been just like a dry sponge that has been refilling with water. Better: a dry county that has been receiving enough water again and shows its splendid nature and life.

May be your kids would rejoice to join you, once you visit the country again. As you live in my country, I assume they sooner or later will show up at our common #1 holiday island. I hope you can convince them that Spain is something else than that...

Siggi

Back in 73, a girl was in trouble if she kissed/got kissed by a boy. That meant that was it. For ever. I got sent home because I was on the Pill and a bad influence on the simple Spanish girl - the maid - who I shared a room with.

One of the maids, who was my age - about 19 - could still remember when electric light was introduced and how her little brother had fun switching them on and off. I think they came from somewhere around Avila.

I lived in Madrid. Very rich area called Puerto de Hierro. The tennis club at the edge of the residential area backed on to a shanty town. Beyond that was the area called Tetuan, which was almost as poor but at least the people lived in proper houses.

You went shopping at Corte Ingles or Galerias Preciados and everything was so cheap and a metro ride cost 5 ptas within the main part of the town. I went to the Prado every week, but still can't get worked up about Art I'm afraid. Neither could the Louvre or the Uffizi inspire me.

I met some students and enjoyed real deep student type discussions (in Spanish) in the Cafeteria at the University.

That year my (then) German boyfriend (now my husband) visited me in Madrid at Easter. We were wandering round the streets, nibbling our Tapas, and knocked on a friend's door. It was the night of the Eurovision Song Contest and there we sat, Spanish, English and Germans, watching it. It was rubbish even then, but it's a nice thought. No idea who won - or even who took part.

I certainly should come back and see what it is like now.

And if my kids want to see Majorca, who am I to stop them?

WOW!
Interesting to know. Now it's way different. Not to say the whole opposite.
I assume very much for the situation you described.
The parejas today take their time for an extended version of their siesta: the students are lying under a tree passionately caressing each other.
Furthermore every chica likes to show she's a guapa of her own style (not a copy of the "MTV-idols").

Prices have changed, but money or people's salaries is not considered to be talked about. However, there's a huge gap between prices in Spain generally and let's say, ...errm... London, Munich, SF-Bay...

Of course, still everybody longs for tomar un cafe...

I'm preparing a Guide Entry about the life here of today.
There's one word, thar appears to me as a good description for it: disfrutar!

Mein Spanisch ist etwas rostig, aber wenn es Probleme macht, kannst Du ruhig Deutsch schreiben. Siehe meine Beteiligung an div. dt. Stammtische , nö, ich glaube zur Zeit nur an einem, in der Bulettenbude - Hereinspaziert zum Zweiten (und zum Ersten).

Bist Du Dozent in Spanien, oder als Ingenieur in einem Konzern tätig?

I'm glad you referred to the translation spanish/german. Which I understand as my english is not too bumpy. Et liest ei kenn evoid se feimes dschoermen ekksent, wenn ei reit in inglisch, jess?!

siesta=Mittagspause=lunchbreak
guapa=Schneck'chen (auch Fackel, etc besser bekannt als extrem gutaussehende weibliche Person)=gorgeous looking female person
disfrutar=geniessen, beguenstigen, ... = to enjoy, to benefit from
chica=Maedel=girl
algo mas?

Right now I'm doing some project work for the department of fluid mechanics. After that I might slide into a PhD program, which I currently intend to do.

Your Stammtisch sounds like a must-visit!

Ok ... also ich schätze mal, wenn du hier als Ing. zu tun hast, dann hängst du sicher auch im CPS rum und die Möglichkeit das wir uns schon über den Weg gelaufen sind ist ziemlich gross ... naja auch sonst nicht so gering in Zaragoza

Ich hab auch schon einige Ideen zu einem Zaragoza Eintrag ... vielleicht können wir zusammen was machen ...

!Hasta pronto!

AXR

Danke für die Übersetzung. Ich hatte schon verstanden, nur fühlte ich mich (frustration!!!) nicht in der Lage, was auf Spanisch selbst zu schreiben.

Freue mich auf die Beschreibung von Zaragoza.

Bingo!
Weisst Du wo das Litec ist?
Das ist der grüne Kasten nach der Baustelle (vom CPS aus), wo heute geteert wurde.

Ich bin noch hier und hab grad Dein Posting in der Bude beantwortet.

Ich glaub, wenn Du auch am CPS bist, treffen wir uns eher hier, oder?
Prontissimo!

Wann, wo?