Well, today was my first cry in Spain. Yup. I have another horrid hilarious Erin story. I'm guessing you're thinking "if that first story (when I woke up at the time we were supposed to meet for Madrid) didn't do it, what could've happened today?" Well, it wasn't quite THAT action filled, but its feeling inadequate and well... I'll just tell you now
So I go to a daycare called Pitufos for my internship every Wednesday and another one of my friends here goes too. I'd been told that I need a bus card so I don't have to pay a euro every ride, but only a few cents and I can just swipe it. Anyways, so I'd been meaning to get one and never did but todayI was fully prepared (I thought) with my passport I was told I needed. So I asked my friend after class today, finally deciding to stop delaying it and just do it. "You've asked me like three times Erin!" she laughed, but I never really understood where it was and still didn't after she pointed to the street on a map. Graciously, she agreed to go with me and after I sat down and she helped explain what it was I wanted to the man sitting there, she left. I gave him my passport copy and he started filling out the paper. His next question is where things started going wrong. My address. He wanted my address. Here? ummmm I had no idea and started thinking frantically. I knew I lived on Santa Catalina street so I told him that at least and he looked at me and prompted for more. uhh..... well this is awkward. After struggling for entirely too much time, I finally got out "I don't have to know my address do I?" Duh I needed to know my address! I don't even know why I asked. I was just desperate. He had already started the process and I had no idea what to do now. I explained I didn't know it and he shot me a look of distain. "You don't know your address?" He was not impressed. "No! I've only lived here for a month!" I tried to extract some sympathy- (and I think I got it, but not the kind I wanted. It was pity for this poor stupid American) He had no idea what to do with me and quickly thinking I decided that I could look it up on the internet because I had my laptop in my bag! Humiliating, but I could suck it up I figured. So I asked him "does this place have wifi?" He thought I was really somethin' else-The look he gave me this time. Honestly, I don't really know what he said but I think he said yes (there was a girl behind me who conferred with him) and I awkwardly got out my laptop after telling the girl, who looked about my age or maybe a senior in high school, that she could go in front of me. Next obstacle: which network? I waited for a lull in the conversation between him and the girl (who was getting a bus pass too) and asked him (well.... unsuccessfully TRIED to ask) which was the correct one. He looked at me like I was a nutcase and the girl quickly came to my rescue. "You want to look on the internet?" "Yes!" I exclaimed! She handed me her iphone to use with a smile and continued her business. Angel. This girl- I love her. So it took entirely too long (as things often do when you need to do them quickly) I finally found it. She helped me write down the information in the correct places and assured me "it's ok I have time" (again-she's an angel) and when she took her leave, I awkwardly apologized and gave the finished paper to the man. Next was the picture. I had seen what the girl did so thankfully I knew what to do. What I didn't know was when he was taking it. I glanced over a few times to see if he was going to take it and when he showed it to me, I saw that it was one of the times I was looking down with a really awkward expression. (like this) ug- *facepalm*
So I go to a daycare called Pitufos for my internship every Wednesday and another one of my friends here goes too. I'd been told that I need a bus card so I don't have to pay a euro every ride, but only a few cents and I can just swipe it. Anyways, so I'd been meaning to get one and never did but todayI was fully prepared (I thought) with my passport I was told I needed. So I asked my friend after class today, finally deciding to stop delaying it and just do it. "You've asked me like three times Erin!" she laughed, but I never really understood where it was and still didn't after she pointed to the street on a map. Graciously, she agreed to go with me and after I sat down and she helped explain what it was I wanted to the man sitting there, she left. I gave him my passport copy and he started filling out the paper. His next question is where things started going wrong. My address. He wanted my address. Here? ummmm I had no idea and started thinking frantically. I knew I lived on Santa Catalina street so I told him that at least and he looked at me and prompted for more. uhh..... well this is awkward. After struggling for entirely too much time, I finally got out "I don't have to know my address do I?" Duh I needed to know my address! I don't even know why I asked. I was just desperate. He had already started the process and I had no idea what to do now. I explained I didn't know it and he shot me a look of distain. "You don't know your address?" He was not impressed. "No! I've only lived here for a month!" I tried to extract some sympathy- (and I think I got it, but not the kind I wanted. It was pity for this poor stupid American) He had no idea what to do with me and quickly thinking I decided that I could look it up on the internet because I had my laptop in my bag! Humiliating, but I could suck it up I figured. So I asked him "does this place have wifi?" He thought I was really somethin' else-The look he gave me this time. Honestly, I don't really know what he said but I think he said yes (there was a girl behind me who conferred with him) and I awkwardly got out my laptop after telling the girl, who looked about my age or maybe a senior in high school, that she could go in front of me. Next obstacle: which network? I waited for a lull in the conversation between him and the girl (who was getting a bus pass too) and asked him (well.... unsuccessfully TRIED to ask) which was the correct one. He looked at me like I was a nutcase and the girl quickly came to my rescue. "You want to look on the internet?" "Yes!" I exclaimed! She handed me her iphone to use with a smile and continued her business. Angel. This girl- I love her. So it took entirely too long (as things often do when you need to do them quickly) I finally found it. She helped me write down the information in the correct places and assured me "it's ok I have time" (again-she's an angel) and when she took her leave, I awkwardly apologized and gave the finished paper to the man. Next was the picture. I had seen what the girl did so thankfully I knew what to do. What I didn't know was when he was taking it. I glanced over a few times to see if he was going to take it and when he showed it to me, I saw that it was one of the times I was looking down with a really awkward expression. (like this) ug- *facepalm*
After a small laugh of protest, and a received look of "really?" from the guy, I decided to just suck it up. "You just scan it. The bus driver doesn't even look at it and you'll only be here for 2 more months!" I assured myself. (So this picture part wasn't super horrible, it just adds to the general horrible awkward situation.) He made the card and set it on the table. "Siete euros" he asked for. I grabbed a 5 out of my purse and (sure that I had two 1euro pieces) I kept digging. I didn't, I only had one. So 6euros. Well shoot.... this is awkward.... ummmm hmm one glance at him, and I decided to just try for other sufficient change. Nope. No such luck. Just a bunch of little coins I frantically counted. He asked for the rest and when I told him I didn't have it, I'm not even gonna try to describe the look on his face- You can just imagine. "Well, how much do you have in your hand?" He asked. In a painfully awkward moment I handed him my pile of change which he proceeded to count on the desk and then, feeling guilty, decided to just (literally) lay it all out on the table and handed him my pile of 2cent and 1cents. In the end. I was missing 7. SEVEN STUPID CENTIMOS!!!! ah! Why mee?! (were my thoughts at the moment) and by this time there was ANOTHER girl behind me. The guy was like "ok this girl is missing 7centimos" and she (another lovely person-thank you God!) gave me a 10cent. After offering her the change and receiving a look of pity as she shook her head, the man told me "venga, anda!" Which basically means ok get out of here. (Literally anda means "walk") So by this time, trying to communicate in Spanish, feeling like a complete idiot, inconveniencing and annoying so many people- my friend, and the man, and both girls (which is I think for me is what stresses me- feeling like people aren't happy with me) I was just barely holding it together as I booked it down the street trying to take a deep breath and assure myself "It's ok! You did it! It's over! Only 3 people, that's not bad! You'll never have to see them again!....probably" I heard someone call my name and turned around to find my friend again. "How did it go?" She asked. "I'm going to cry" I responded, not actually thinking that I would but as soon as I started talking the tears just came and in the middle of the main street too. Fantastic. I told her what happened and she went back to shopping. When I got home, same thing. Started leaking the second they asked how my day was! My mom looked at me like I was going to die and I laughed (which probably freaked her out more) and said I was ok and tried to explain. Which is another thing. Its hard to get the words out when you're feeling really emotional, but it's so much harder when you have to translate in your head first. So. Much. More. Effort. When you just don't want to take the effort. Anyways, after laughing about how funny it actually is when you think about it and how it would be another good story for my blog (yup), everything was alright. I'd never depended on my family here for emotional support before, but it feels really good knowing that they're here for me. It was just like a family is supposed to be. You come home and vent and then it's all better aaaand you eat a delicious Spanish meal afterwards :) So through this, God showed me another blessing I have here. A family who cares and can be there for me emotionally. What a gift of God! And I also got some great experience and a story out of it. God works through our weakness and shows us his goodness when things are awkward, painful, and downright uncomfortable. He shows us that he's always holding us- no matter the situation.