Love and hate

[wendy]

I have been teaching English to Spanish people here for over three years and I love them, they are the warmest, friendliest and most helpful people I have met.
I love all my students!!!!!

The thing that drives me mad is not being able to do a simple task (like make an appointment with a specialist or enquire about tax/insurance) without being passed from one office or department to another. I spend ssoooooo much time chasing my tail. I hate it!!!!!!!

[Patricia]

Solamente he visitado a espana una vez por eso no tengo muchas cosas que detesto - en realidad no enojo nada de espana. Pero puedo decir que prefiero comer verduras y platos vegetariana mas que el carne y esa es dificil alla. Tambien prefiero cenar mas temprano que los espanoles. Es mejor por mi dieta cenar antes de las siete PM. Me encanta la historia del pais. Sus edificios son magnificos, el mar es hermoso, la tierra muy bonita, etc. Tengo muchas ganas de regresar alla en el futuro.

[Jan]

Y espero que un día le conozcas en persona, no solamente en línea Patricia

Wendy I´ve just finished ready a little book our neighbour leant me. Its called xenophones guide to the spanish by Drew Launay and is a satirical look at the Spanish people. It's so true and entertaining to read. It isn´t written in a derogatory way, more an affectionate type of way of how the Spanish are and the way they live their lives. I don´t know if you can get it anywhere, John got it from a charity shop in the UK, but its worth getting if you can I think.

Footnote. I´ve just looked it up in AbeBooks (on the right) and you can. Its only 50p but costs another £2.75 for delivery unfortunately.....

Jan

[Jesus]

Aquí está.


http://books.google.es/books?id=A8FDivKJNK8C&dq=xenophobes+guid...


saludos

[Liz]

I love all things Spanish and do my best on all my visits to speak as much as I can to as many Spanish people as i can in as many different scenarios as I can. I really feel it helps. In the main it is a pleasurable experience and I truly feel that the Spanish people are quite happy with my language - after all it's me that then makes the mistakes and not them - just as it should be in my opinion.
I have however had a few bad experiences where the Spanish person can speak English quite well and replies to my Spanish in English - not becuase of a desire to practise for themselves but because they can't really be bothered with the time it takes to work with me. This happens mainly in larger cities where trade is brisk and time is money !
Still, I persist and have had some great conversations in little Spanish bars - I've even been proposed to (didn't translate this bit for my hubby though!)

[Jan]

LOL. I won't tell Liz.

I congratulate you for your persistence. I have had that experience of trying to talk in Spanish and having the Spanish person speak back in English, because they are better and quicker. It was quite funny at the health centre I visited once, we carried on a complete conversation with me as an English person talking to him in Spanish whilst the Spanish receptionist responded in English. I do find it hard going though, and too tempting at times to give in and revert to English.

I find it even harder writing in Spanish, I'm so slow and un-confident with it. I know its easier to spell, but the word order, whether it should have an accent or not etc. and I do so much typng on the internet and in emails, that I simply don't have the time to take the time over it, if you know what I mean, although when I do its a great way to think through slowly the correct use of past present, future, and subjunctive tenses which I don't have time to do in normal conversations. I love to be able to slip a subjunctive in now and again and try to steer the conversation, or typing toward it.

Jan