After Skyping with my parents in a bar last night, I took the Metro to la Plaza Moyua to meet with Alex (a friend from my ISA group) and our two new intercambios. This is a program where English-speaking students and Spanish-speaking students meet together periodically to practice both languages. Curiously, I was on the same train as my intercambios, but of course we didn't know it because we'd never met each other. In fact, they thought that they were supposed to meet guys because Alex is just a boy name here and they've never met a Bailey (and everyone always looks confused when I tell them my name until I explain that it's just like the drink, then they laugh at me).
Our intercambios' names are Naiara (Nie-RAY-a) and Irata (Ay-ROT-ah). Naiara is 26 and a pharmacist, and Irata is almost 22 and attending la Universidad del Pais Vasco in Sarriko which is really close to where I live. They're sisters, really pretty, and very nice girls.
I'm SOOOO excited that they're our intercambios! They took us to a quiet bar and bought Alex and I cafes con leche to enjoy while talking. We talked in English and then in Spanish both for half an hour (more or less). They both speak English really well, which makes me feel even more inferior that I've been studying the language but still can't speak it that well. But I guess that's why I've got my intercambios, yeah?
Anyway, I'm really excited to hang out and get to know the two of them more and I can't wait to see how much they can help me improve my speaking!
It sounds like you all will have a good time together and be able to help each other learn the others' language.
ReplyDeleteWho knew your name would be such a curiosity when we picked that more than 20 years ago!
Dad.