WHEN IN SPAIN-SPEAK SPANISH...

...and if you can't speak Spanish, be prepared for troubles. Most Spanish people don't speak English. This means that if you want to survive you have to adapt. So I'm adapting. I had my first language exchange meeting with other international students and a couple of local people who are amazingly kind and offered to share their knowledge.For know, I mostly learn language chunks and it's still difficult for me to create my own sentences. I can order food, drinks, ask for the way and introduce myself, so I think I can survive. If you find yourself in Spain without any knowledge of the language, then probably the best thing you can do is miming. Just mime everything.

One question I get asked a lot: Why Toledo?
Toledo because it is in Spain. At my University back in Warsaw, we only had two possible destinations in Spain: Toledo and Grenada. There were a lot of people applying for Grenada so I applied for Toledo and I got in. Why I wanted to go to Spain? Because I am determined to learn Spanish. And to get to know Spanish culture. Why? Because of my roots. My grandfather, the dad of my dad, was half Bask and half Spanish. I never met him, and for what I know he never spoke to his children in Spanish. I have Bask last name. And having a Bask last name while not speaking Spanish is no paradise. But you've been warned, in two months I will write my first post in Spanish. Pinky promise!

(The view from our balcony. Convento de Capucinas.)

Our landlady promised us WiFi on Monday. It's Friday and I still visit this lovely cafe near my place to check email. The cafe is called 'Legendario'. Interior design here is breathtaking and coffee is good and cheap. Have I mentioned they have free WiFi? The place is heaven. Anyway, here in Spain, everything is tomorrow. Manana, siempre manana. Someone very wise, I don't remember who, wrote once:  If you don't like something-change it. If you can't change it-embrace it. I decided to follow this advice and thanks to that I feel even more local. Do I have something to do today? Nah...manana! Procrastination feels so good but I'm also aware that the day will come when all the deadlines were yesterday, and then it will be trouble trouble trouble. Note to myself: be Spanish but keep a bit of responsible me alive.

(Cafe Club Legendario)