{A Few Interesting Stories}

So naturally, being in a foreign country will lend itself to some funny and interesting stories of which I am not lacking in the least bit. So the first very interesting thing that happened to me actually occurred last summer. While flying home from Madrid, I happened to sit by this Kung Fu team from Sevilla. I began talking to these two guys sitting by me, Erasto [back] and Pedro [next to me]. We talked for about 5 hours and I told them I may be moving back to Spain this year...although at that time I thought I would be in Madrid. Sevilla was not even on my radar!! So we ended up swapping emails and talking a little during the year. In March, I found out I was moving to Sevilla, so I immediately emailed them!! Since I got here, we've been hanging out some and they have come to a lot of our Connexxion activities. Definitely NOT a coincidence that I met them last summer and now I live here. This is something only God could do, so please pray that we continue hanging out and God works in their lives!

So another funny foreigner story. In Spain, when you greet people and say goodbye to them you kiss them on both cheeks. So one night we were watching a movie at my apartment with some students and after, Danny and I [the guy next to me below], began talking. The conversation was kind of ending and he leaned in to me a little, so I assumed he was coming to kiss me to say goodbye. I leaned in and gave him two kisses then he backed away really quickly, looked very confused, and said "Why did you do that?" I told him I thought he was leaving, and he just started laughing and said, "No, I was just reaching for my bag." Everyone in the room saw and started laughing, and of course I felt so stupid for kissing him for no reason. Well, at least I'm learning the customs here!

Another night, we were in town and went to Starbucks to grab some coffee. So it's fall and in America I always get pumpkin spice lattes, so naturally I assumed Spain would have them too. I walked up to the counter and confidently asked for a pumpkin spice latte. The lady just stared at me like I had just asked if they had octopus. So I looked at my friend and asked what the word for pumpkin was in Spanish. He told me, so I proceeded to tell the lady. She began laughing at me, and acted like I was crazy for asking this! Come to find out that pumpkin spice lattes DO NOT exist in Europe and once again felt like a foreigner...oh wait, that's because I am! I'm grateful though that now I've got a treasure chest full of embarrassing stories to share the next time someone asks me about the most embarrassing moment in my life.

So Germans are known for being very blunt apparently and telling you exactly what they think. I think I would fit in well in Germany because I'm typically a very blunt person also. Anyways, one day at the conference I recently attended in Braunschweig, Germany, I was talking with this guy, Sebastian. We were talking about fast food and how Americans are known for being overweight. Then he looked at me and said, "I was really surprised when I found out you were an American because you are so skinny." Haha I guess this was a compliment?! [Sebastian and me below]

More to come I'm sure!