Have you got a rubber?

I have been discovering a new pet peeve that is growing stronger and stronger as time goes by- having to always distinguish between the United States and Great Britain. This includes: comparing and contrasting the English (theirs is obviously much better, because it originates from England, right?), correcting geographical errors, and just putting up with general ignorance about the two countries. 


For example, I had one of those “did that conversation just happen?” moments the other day. I was in class with about 6-7 students at the end of class. We were chatting about random cultural aspects of the United States. Everything was good until one girl told me that she wanted to go to the United States because she wanted to go to Oxford. Hmmm… I let that one slide while rolling my eyes on the inside. However, it was impossible to ignore when only 2 minutes later the same girl asked me if the meat smelled bad where I live. At first I thought it was just a weird question, and began to say, “no.. I have never really noticed that the meat smells bad in our supermarkets…” She than begin to explain the reasoning for her question.. She has a friend from London who told her that the meat smells bad there. Ahhh THAT explains it. Totally logical. If the meat smells bad in London, then it must smell bad in Albuquerque also. We both speak English, so that is a totally logical connection. 


I respect the fact that England probably is a very nice country, but I honestly wouldn't know! I do know that while there are some differences in language ("Have you got a rubber?" vs "Do you have an eraser?") it is the same language and British people, Americans, Canadians, Australians, Irish, etc are all equally qualified to teach it. The next time somebody 1. Asks me about British culture,  or 2. Trys to explain to me that they can't understand me because I'm American, I might just cry. Or sigh and do what I always do: smile while rolling my eyes on the inside. 

Que te han regalado los Reyes? Holidays in Spain

 Although I was away from home this holiday season, I enjoyed seeing the differences and similarities in how people celebrate- and when. 

Christmas Day, December 25, is celebrated far less here. Christmas Eve –“nochebuena”- is typically recognized with a family dinner, and maybe a present or two. If the family is more westernized (and/or more wealthy), Santa Claus might bring the children a present or two the next morning- something simple and probably practical like socks... or an umbrella. I was told by a few different people that they didn't really like giving gifts on Christmas Day because it is more of an American tradition, but that they gave their children small gifts simply because the way culture has been changing almost requires it. 

Los Reyes Magos arrive!

The big day- or BEST DAY(!!!) is actually the 6^th of January, when all the good children are brought gifts by Los Reyes Magos, or the Three Wise Men. This is in honor of when The Three Wise Men brought the baby Jesus gifts in the stable and is celebrated by all, religious or not. However, the festivities of this day actually begin the afternoon of Jan 5^th with a big parade of floats and celebrations of Los Reyes Magos “arriving” into the city. Every village, town, and pueblo has a huge float of their own where the Reyes ride through town throwing candy or prizes to the audience. After the parade everyone returns home and the children go to bed early that night, giving the kings plenty of time to stop by with the gifts before the morning.

For breakfast, a cake called a Roscon is eaten. The roscon is a round (bundt) shaped cake that has two surprises in it: a hard uncooked bean, and a little miniature porcelain king. Pieces of cake are dished out, and whoever has the misfortune to bite into the bean has to pay for the cake, while the finder of the king guaranteed a lucky year! I ate an obscene amount of Roscon cake in a span of 2 days, but never received either the bean or the king. Wonder what that says about my luck….