The final hurrah..

For this term.

Last night was the last Spanish class of the year – Sad but good as it means its almost Christmas.

Our teacher explained some of the traditional festivities that happen at this time of year in Spain which are quite different to here.

To begin with, their ‘big night’ is on Christmas Eve and its called Noche Buena meaning the good night. They have a big feast with family etc and it kicks off the Christmas festivities.

Traditionally, presents don’t actually get exchanged until el Dia de Reyes which is on the 6th of January. Although these days its not unusual for kids to get presents on both Christmas day and January 6th – lucky kids!

It’s so interesting to hear how other countries spend their Christmas. Just like its funny when people from the northern hemisphere spend Christmas in Australia and we have a BBQ in the sun instead of hiding away inside from the snow.

Today I am all ready to visit my family for Christmas and I have made the cutest gifts – Little ‘noodle boxes’ filled with Rum Balls, Chocolate Tarts and Choc-Chip Cookies. Yum!

Can’t wait to give it to them. They look so cute.

Feliz Navidad

Excuse the bad photo taken with my work phone

A mouthful of success

The pastel vasco was a success!

My teacher, who is from the Basque country, even said it was delicious!

And despite my last minute cramming I managed to remember most of the variations of comer and dar – the latter being almost impossible.

It’s just such a strange concept to get your head around as a native English speaker – The idea that a verb changes depending on who is doing it.

So if I’m playing, or you’re playing, or he’s playing, or they are playing – It’s different!

Anyway it’s slowly starting to make sense and stick.

There is only 1 more Spanish class for the year and then it’s up to me to practice over the Christmas/ New Year break. That’s the challenge!

I wonder if baking more basque cake counts as homework..

Pastel Vasco / Basque Cake

Wednesday Guilt

Well it’s Wednesday again and what a surprise – I still haven’t done my Spanish homework.

It’s not like I’ll get in trouble, it’s an adult education class. But I won’t get any better at this rate.

In just over 5 months I’ll be back in Spain and I need to get my shiz together.

So I’ve decided to start this blog about my attempt to learn Spanish in the hope that it will make me accountable and I will actually practice.

Well that’s the plan anyway.

I’m also mildly obsessed with Spanish food and culture so there will also probably be the occasional recipe to break things up.

Last night I made a version of Pastel Vasco or Basque Cake – YUM!

There are possibly a million different versions of this cake, it can pretty much be customised to suit your tastes.

This time I opted to go with the cherry version and it was delish! I’m going to take some to my Spanish class tonight.

But first, I must memorise the verb comer in all its forms. Whoever said Spanish is an easy language to learn doesn’t speak English as their first language!