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Tag: spain

  • Euskera: Endangered Language

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    by

    Gracetopher
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    The language of the Basque Country is called Euskera, and it is currently on a list of endangered languages. It is slowly making a come-back thanks to nationalist sentiment but  is still spoken by less than a million people. Although it is the co-official language of the Basque Country, Euskera is actually spoken by less…

  • Languages

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    Gracetopher
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    As you may have noticed, I keep referring to Castellano instead of Spanish. This is because I have been informed that I do not speak Spanish. I speak Castellano. Castellano is the language of Castilla, a central region of Spain, but since the Castillians took over everything a few hundred years ago, everyone in spain…

  • Good Thing I’m Not One of Those People…

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    Gracetopher
    in

    You know. The people who sit around complaining “Yur in ‘Murica. Speak English” Because I’ve been in Catalunia, the Basque Country, and France without knowing the languages of said countries. I do make the effort whenever possible; at least in Catalunia and the Basque Country I can speak Castellano, but the world is a massive…

  • “Working Like a Negro”

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    Gracetopher
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    Apparently this phrase is 100% acceptable in Catalunia and the Basque Country (and the rest of Spain as well I imagine). I suppose when your country’s history isn’t marred by racism and slavery, it is easier to get away with flippancy around said issues. Anyways, I sincerely apologize to any Americans out there who take…

  • Sheep Cheese!

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    Gracetopher
    in

    Perhaps it’s time I actually talk about what I’m doing here in the Basque Country? As I mentioned in my very first post, I’m WWOOFing. WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, and it is an international volunteer program in which people are given the chance to experience life on an organic farm.…

  • So Apparently Twenty Years Isn’t Enough Either

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    Gracetopher
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    Ok… I haven’t been immersing myself in Castellano 100%…. I still write this in English for example, and I write e-mails and letters to my American friends in English. I’m also currently caught up in a fantasy novel that just so happens to be written in English. I know English. Pretty darn well. It’s my…

  • ¡Besos!

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    Gracetopher
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    I’m not in Spain…. but the Basque country does have some similarities with Spain. For example: the greetings. Everyone new I’ve met here has greeted me by kissing me. No joke(and only a tiny bit exaggerated) Ok, so it’s the whole two kisses on the cheeks sort of thing, not a full on kiss-on-the-lips romantic…

  • Barcelona

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    Gracetopher
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    Well, I’ve been in Barcelona two and a half days now. Overall… it was a lot less scary than I thought it would be, although I did definitely get ripped off by some cabbies that first day… they saw young American tourist who speaks imperfect Spanish and definitely took advantage of the easy extra money.…

  • The High Dive

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    Gracetopher
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    So, this is about how I feel on the subject of Spain right now. High dives are awesome, and I remember when I was young I was always mad that the lifeguards thought I was too little to jump, but when you get to the top of the high dive for the first time…. It’s…

  • Since When is Impulsive a Bad Thing?

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    Gracetopher
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    It’s time to admit something: my summer plans are not yet finalized. All I know for sure is that I fly into Barcelona on May 13, and fly back to Portland on August 1. The decision to spend the summer with WWOOF was a tiny bit impulsive, but then again, who would have the courage…