Carnaval

The honeymoon phase of my study abroad ended this week. After a month of making new friends, exploring new places, drinking legally, skipping class to travel, and getting back from the club just in time to eat breakfast in the cafeteria, I finally burnt out. I got a cold, I failed a pop quiz in economic history, and tennis was cancelled because it’s federal law that it rain at least one hour per day (plus city law prohibits sunshine in the month of February). Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I found myself homesick, irritable, and blowing my nose every fifteen minutes. As I sat down to write a 750-word essay, I thought to myself, “¿Qué me pasa?! Ya no aguanto más este estrés por dios que estoy más cansado que la…” Let’s face it, you know you’re going a little crazy when you start to moan and complain in a different language.

     After a good night’s sleep and a Skype call with the homefront, I couldn’t even remember what had me so down. As they say in the military, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” I rallied in time for the highly-anticipated Carnaval costume party organized by the residents of the on-campus dorms. Picture a high school dance, except the students are allowed to consume alcohol brazenly and unabashedly. The pre-party was held in the game room of the residence hall, followed by a bus ride to a racetrack where the unbridled Spanish freshmen proved just how untamed they can be. For the sake of decency, I’ll leave the details to the reader’s imagination.

CARNAVAL: Didn't quite get my tiger costume together in time, but hey, I did comb my hair.

     Monday night festivities have become a routine amongst the local Getafe dwellers. Eighteen of us all gathered at our friend’s apartment for tapas and drinks, and the social chemistry was just right. The only thing is, whenever I say something in Spanish and everyone laughs, I’m never sure if they’re laughing with me or at me. Either way, the Mexican girls were doubled up on the floor laughing for half the night and I learned some new slang, so really it was a win-win.

MONDAY FUNDAY: It's become my favorite day of the week!

IN THE HOT SEAT: Demonstrating how Mexican cartels deal with Gringos like me.

     One final story to conclude: In HR Management last week, my teacher was explaining that an iPhone is a status symbol, which is why people put the Apple logo on their car bumper. Then he points to me, in front of a class of 40 people, and says (roughly translated), “Take our American friend here. He’s wearing Ralph Lauren, also a status symbol. He walks around showing off the logo because it communicates the message: ‘Oh look at me, aren’t I hot stuff wearing my fancy Ralph Lauren.’” It was embarrassing being called out, I won’t lie. Even still, I laughed so hard trying to imagine this professor walking into the Moore School of Business, where Lacoste-brand socks complement the Ray-Ban sunglasses students wear indoors! This story culminated in class yesterday, when lo and behold, Professor I-Would-Never-Show-Off-Like-Our-American-Friend-Here walks in wearing a bright yellow shirt embellished with a little blue polo player. We made eye contact and I swear he adjusted his suit jacket, not sure whether he should button it, end class early, go blind or steal third. Then, without breaking eye contact, he stops mid-sentence and scratches his head. “You know what,” he announced, “I have to admit. I wore Ralph Lauren today,” and takes off his coat. The whole class erupted in jubilation, razzing and joshing the professor in their uniquely Spanish way. The joke of it all is that I got my Ralph Lauren shirt at an outlet store for $12, and having now been vindicated, I’ll be sure to tell the prof that tomorrow.