Adios, USC Madrid

By Grace Carballo ‘17

If you kept up with my previous posts this summer, then feel free to skip this paragraph guilt-free, but if not, allow me to fill you in. From the end of May to mid-July, I participated in a study abroad program through Dornsife in which we took two Spanish courses and learned a whole lot outside the classroom, too.

I gave the following speech for my final project. (Others of my creative peers made a How-To Cooking Tortilla video, a rap to the tune of Fresh Prince, and a screenplay depicting a royal couple we learned about, but my speech was still relatively well-received).   

After 7 weeks in Spain, my Spanish is not perfect, but the fact that I can deliver a relatively coherent and heartfelt (though no one cried like I hoped/expected they would) graduation and goodbye speech definitely speaks to my improvement.

Please enjoy my words and if you are a fluent speaker, feel free to throw some corrections and constructive criticism my way. Also, if you feel like you want to shed a tear or two, that is not only natural, it is encouraged.

Un Discurso De Despedida

Mi objetivo en la vida es hablar Español con fluidez y para tener fluidez en un idioma diferente, tienes que entender el humor. Aquí en España, yo no entiendo.

My goal in life is to speak Spanish fluently and to have fluency in another language, you need to understand their humor. In Spain, I do not understand it.

Otros dicen que si puedes tener sueños en el idioma, estos también significan que tienes fluidez o algo cerca. Yo tuve uno sueño en español, pero era una pesadilla. Algo terrible le sucedió a uno de los otros alumnos; no quiero hablar sobre esta.

Others say that if you can dream in another language, this means you are fluent or something close. I had one dream in Spanish but it was a nightmare. Something terrible happened to one of my other classmates and I do not want to talk about it.

Es claro que necesito más practica para lograr mi meta. Pero, creo que si puedo dar un discurso de graduación en español este significa que yo puedo hablar mucho mejor de antes.

It’s clear that I need more practice to achieve my goal. But I believe that if I can give a graduation speech in Spanish, this means that I can speak much better than before.

Está foto representa mi primer día en Madrid, después de estuve perdido y lloré un poco, cuando sólo quería llamar mi hogar, como E.T.

This photo represents my first day in Madrid, after I was lost and cried a little, when like E.T. I only wanted to phone home.

Cada día en Madrid era una experiencia para aprender o simplemente una experiencia confusa. Una mañana, esta estatua tuvo un vestido nuevo sin explicación.

Every day in Madrid was a learning experience or simply a confusing experience. One morning, this statue had a new dress without any explication.

Otra día, el parque al lado del Rio estaba lleno de niños soldados.

Another day, the park (where I ran) along the river was full of child soldiers.

Aprendí, por accidente con Carolina, que los madrileños celebran Corpus Cristi con una desfila grande .Y aprendí que yo había estado usando la palabra “desfila” o “parade” en vez de “la fila” o “line” en cada baño antes. Yo decía, “¿Estás en la desfila?” a cada otra mujer en cada baño antes y cuando ellas decían “No” con confusión, yo las corté en la fila.

I learned accidentally with Caroline (my roommate) that the people of Madrid celebrate Corpus Cristi with a huge parade. And I learned that I had been using the Spanish word for parade “desfila” instead of “fila” or line in every bathroom before. I would say “Are you in the parade?” to every other woman in the bathroom and when they said “No” in confusion, I would (cluelessly) cut them in line.

En Segovia, aprendí que a veces tienes que pagar para usar los aseos. Gasté un gran parte de mi beca Del Amo en esta manera. ¡Que injusticia!

In Segovia, I learned that sometimes you have to pay to use the restroom. I spent a good portion of my scholarship this way. How unjust!

Estoy mucha más adaptable ahora porque a veces,  las tiendas españolas cierran sin explicación. A veces, tu café favorita desaparece. No hay horas de trabajo típicas.

I’m a lot more adaptable now because sometimes, the Spanish stores close inexplicably. Sometimes, your favorite café disappears. In Spain, there are no “standard business/operating hours”.

Además, no hay la idea del “espacio personal” o una estigma contra las demonstraciones públicas del afecto.

There also is not the idea of “personal space” or a stigma against PDA.

En Los Estados Unidos, yo soy como un museo con carteles que dicen “por favor no toque”, pero en Madrid no es posible.  

In the U.S., I am like a museum with those posters that say “Please do not touch.” Butin Madrid, this is not possible.

Al principio, yo estaba poco incómoda, pero nada importante en vida es fácil. Mira, todos los vecinos pueden ver mi ropa interior. ¡Que lindas vistas!

At first, I was a little uncomfortable, but nothing important in life is easy. Look, the whole neighborhood can see my underwear. What beautiful views!

Hemos aprendido que es un mundo pequeño después de todo.

We have learned that it is a small world after all. (Pictured here at McDonald’s).

Y gracias a globalización, las comodidades del hogar están en el extranjero, también.

And thanks to globalization, the comforts of home are abroad, also. (Pictured here: People passing out literature about Heaven and Hell).

Aprendimos sobre la monarquía y sin duda, mi reina favorita es Juana. No voy a decir Juana “La Loca” porque si ella era un hombre, sería llamado “Juan, El Valiente” o algo similar.

We learned about the monarchy and without a doubt, my favorite queen is Juana. I am not going to call her “Juana, the Crazy One” because if she was a man, she would be called “Juan, the Brave One” or something similar.

En Madrid o Los Estados Unidos, una candidata a la alcaldía o una candidata para ser la presidente tendrá más obstáculos sólo porque ella es una mujer.

In Madrid or in the United States, a mayoral candidate or a presidential candidate will have more obstacles only because she is a woman. (Pictured here: female candidate for Mayor of Madrid with “Stop Feminazis” sticker over her mouth- which I removed. She didn’t win but a different woman did, Manuela Carmena).

Chicas y chicas, no eres loca o loco si tienes sentimientos o pensamientos.

Boy and girls, you are not crazy if you have feelings or thoughts.

Ningún país del mundo ha logrado la igualdad del genero. Pero, recuerden amigos, somos el futuro.

No country in the world has achieved gender equality. But, remember, friends, we are the future.

Si no me crees que vivimos en un mundo de hombres con diferentes estándares,  este villano tuvo el apodo “El Hermoso”. ¿En serio?

If you don’t believe me that we live in a man’s world with different standards, this villain (above) had the nickname “The Handsome”. Seriously? (His wife, whom he betrayed was the one dubbed The Crazy")

Además, aprendí que hay belleza en lo feo. (Mira a este gato sin pelo y sin nombre que yo vivía con por siete semanas. )

Further more, I learned that there is beauty in the ugly. Look at this hairless cat without a name that I lived with for seven weeks.

Y existe la fealdad en la belleza.

And there is ugliness in beauty. (The Valley of the Fallen or Franco’s tomb, a horrible monument).

No te preocupes lo que otros piensan de ti. Muchas veces, los cabrones le dan a estatuas. (como los monumentos a Colón en Barcelona y Sevilla)

Do not worry what others think of you. Many times, the bastards are given statues. (Like the monuments to Columbus in Barcelona and Seville).

Y la gente agradable, como mis héroes en Cafelito, solo reciben una “gracias” si tienen suerte.

And the good people, like my heroes at Cafelito (my favorite coffeehouse in Madrid- it will change your life), only get a “thank you” if they are lucky.

¿Porqué ser como las otras…?

Why be like the others…?

(catedrales de Toledo, Segovia, Barcelona, Granada)

… cuando puedes ser única?

…when you can be unique?!

Hay un proverbio español muy aplicable a este programa y a la vida en general, “Dime con quién andas y te diré quien eres.”

There is a Spanish proverb applicable to this program and life in general, “Tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who are you.”

En esta aventura, aprendimos con juntos a ampliar nuestros horizontes y abrir nuestras mentes.

In this adventure, we learned together to expand our horizons and open our minds.

Sí, hay magia en cada bosque.

Yes, there is magic in every forest.

Y con la imaginación, sí, hay sirenas en cada playa.

And with imagination, yes, there are mermaids on every beach.

La risa (ja ja ja) es realmente la mejor medicina.

Laughter really is the best medicine.

Pero a veces, tenemos que ir a la farmacia, también.

But sometimes, we have to go to the pharmacy, as well.

Si tienes que ir a la comisaría como yo, no te preocupes. Aquí en España, he aprendido mi nueva filosofía para vida. “No pasa nada.”

If you have to go the police station like me, don’t worry. Here is Spain, I have learned my new philosophy for life, “Nothing has happened/Don’t worry about it.”

Tenemos que disfrutar de todas las lindas vistas.

We have to enjoy all of the beautiful views.

Hay belleza en todo, especialmente en Toledo.

There’s beauty everywhere, especially in Toledo. (our beautiful tour guide is pictured)

Porque, a veces, tus enemigos o tus obstáculos más grandes no son gigantes. Solo son los molinos del viento, si te prestas atención.

Because, sometimes, your enemies or your greatest obstacles are not giants. They are just windmills, if you pay attention.

También, tenemos que prestar atención a los menos afortunados (como Sorolla).

Also, we have to pay attention to the less fortunate, like Sorolla did.

Porque hay injusticia en cada país y los ciudadanos tienen la responsabilidad a cambiar esta, como mi hermana madrileña, quien está protestando La Ley Mordaza.

Because there is injustice in every country and the citizens have the responsibility to change this, like my homestay sister, who is protesting “The Gag Law”.

Como Suarez dijo, “Puedo prometer y prometo” que ahorra, en lo sucesivo, voy a estar más informada.

Like Suarez said, “I can promise and I do promise” that from now on, I am going to be more informed.

Aprendí que muchas veces, mayores son mejores, y conocí el hombre de mis sueños aquí. Debemos seguir el consejo de los sabios.

I learned that many times, older is better, and I met the man of my dreams here. We should follow the advice of our elders/the wise.

Sí, debemos respetar nuestros ancianos, pero también tenemos que respetar nuestros profesores. Porque es posible que uno pudiera ser el presidente (como “la coleta”)

Yes, we should respect our elders, but we should also respect our professors. Because it is possible that one could become the President (like “The Ponytail”, leader of political party, Podemos).

Recuerden, amigos, no somos turistas (en Madrid. En Barcelona, si yo estaba).

Remember, friends, we are not tourists… (in Madrid. In Barcelona, yes, we were).

….Y no somos “Americanos Feos.”

And we are not “Ugly Americans” (We studied how other countries and people might perceive us and different stereotypes).

Somos Americanos atractivos. Mira.

We are attractive Americans. Look!

Y para concluir, los recuerdos de estas últimas 7 semanas durará para siempre, como este acueducto en Segovia.

And to conclude, the memories of these last seven weeks will last forever, like this aqueduct in Segovia.

Though I’ll be the first to admit these ideas are a little sporadic and maybe not quite considered literate to Spanish scholars or native speakers, you have to cut me some slack. 

You see, I wrote this after snacking on a fruit provided by my host Mom that I’d never tried before, whose name in Spanish I can’t quite recall, and I somehow unintentionally ate the pits in it as well, and wrote this entire speech under the impression that I may be dying for the arsenic in said pits. Carmen, my host mom, and Caroline, my housemate, really got a kick out of me explaining in broken Spanish and a shaky voice “Pienso que voy a morir” or I think I’m going to die.

Obviously, I lived to tell the tale and lived to retype it and the speech here, and I like to think I’ve lived more fully than I ever have up until this point. I couldn’t be more grateful to my amazing professors, Ana Tere, Sam, and Paco, all my hilarious classmates, my unbelievably supportive host family, and of course, my biological family for encouraging me and funding me in this voyage. The Del Amo scholarship, which I encourage all who want to study in Spain to look into, (https://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-and-outside-overseas-scholarships/)  a huge role in making this unforgettable summer possible. 

Fight on forever and muchas gracias por todo,

Grace ‘17