Coffee Break Spanish

So my new obsession is the free podcasts on Itunes--I've discovered old time radio programs, art museum tours, excellent fiction from the New Yorker, and my very favorite: Coffee Break Spanish! Hola! Mi habla espanol! Vamos a la playa! Mira la television con mi familia! Donde esta mis llaves?!? (Hi! I speak Spanish! Let's go to the beach! I watch television with my family! Where are my keys?!?) Interestingly enough, the program originates from Scotland, so I get a two for one on the accent practice. I listen to it and repeat the words as I'm told, so the folks stopped alongside me at the red lights think I'm one of those crazy people who talk to themselves in the car. Loca en el coche.

The podcast focuses on a particular topic of conversation. They recite it in Spanish, then go back over it in English in small bits to cover new words, tenses, and slang. I minored in Spanish years ago and was immersed in it enough that my dreams were in Spanish and I was translating song lyrics as I listened to the radio. Alas, I had no one to talk to and lost a lot, so I'm happy and surprised to realize how much of the conversations I can understand right away.

(Aw, my guy just made me a PBH--a Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich. It's one of my favorite comfort foods, and he actually whips the PB and H together, like honey butter, which makes it taste EVEN BETTER. He knows I like the spread to go all the way to the edges of the bread and always remembers to do it. Note to self: learn how to say "Thanks, babe, you rock my world and look hot with your new haircut" in Espanol.)

Hey...one of my FRIENDS should subscribe to Coffee Break Spanish, and then we can CHAT! One thing, though--I've always thought it's so rude for people to purposely speak a foreign language in front of people who don't know it, (you know who you are) so we wouldn't be able to talk about somebody right in front of them (i.e. "El pelo de Hillary es feo! Bleck!" or "Si! Si! El pelo de Hillary es feo MUY feo! Ha Ha Ha!")

Speaking of talking about people right in front of them, there was a group of girls in college who adored sign language, and would sign stuff about you right while you stood there--like a person can't figure that the puffed cheeks, rounded arms, and slumping belly aren't referring to the poor fat kid innocently walking toward the bookstore to buy himself a box of floppy disks and a Butterfinger. Those girls needed a hobby, though, as sitting next to the tuba player in band was as close as they ever got to dates in college. I took Sign Language 101, but was so terrified of being identified with them in any way that I didn't continue. Besides, translating Bette Midler lyrics into sign language just ain't my thang.

A few months ago, I noticed a possible new twist on this nasty habit--text messaging about someone right in front of them. I was at a BBQ and noticed that two quiet, techie-type girls at opposite sides of the table were busily typing away, making smirky faces and sharing knowing glances. I've no idea if they were actually doing what I suspected they were, or who they may have been texting about (certainly not ME, unless they were jealously wishing they had my sparkling wit and perky party banter) but it got me thinking. Don't get me wrong, I'm not innocent in all of this, nor am I above a wickedly subtle eye-roll or a superior-feeling raised eyebrow in front of someone I consider to be as dumb as a box of rocks. I like to considerately wait until the person is out of hearing-range before I say "¿Vio usted lo que ella llevaba? (Did you SEE what she's wearing?!?) It just seems to be a more polite form of rudeness.

adiós para ahora!