Some may say that Spaniards drink too much coffee....

As I sat down for my 3rd coffee of the day a few days back, the thought crossed my mind that I am drinking too much coffee. In the United States, I was a registered Starbucks card holder. (don’t judge please) My point is that I thought I drank a lot of coffee back home. I had a Starbuck’s in the same hospital I worked in. I worked with people who made sure there was always a fresh pot of coffee available in the break room. I had weekly coffee dates scheduled with Jena and Erin on Tuesdays and Laura on Sunday afternoons. And I won’t drone on about all my other coffee sources. My point: I think coffee is great. Great for the feeling of energy I get from it and also for the fact that it is always a great reason to get together with friends.

In Kansas, if I took 3 coffee breaks...like sit down with friends in a coffee shop 3 separate times throughout the day....well, I wouldn’t do that. Coffees in Kansas (at a coffee shop) are going to cost you a minimum of $2 just for a coffee. My drink of choice in KS was usually a latte. A shot of espresso and like 6 oz. of milk. Or maybe a few shots of espresso and 10 or so oz. of milk. Regardless, there was quite a difference in the proportion of milk to coffee, ahem, espresso. I generally paid a little over $3 for my cherished latte. But, on most days, I just had a cup of coffee. Always a little artificial flavored cream and usually a little sugar. Free for me straight from the breakroom at work. I’d get my fix in the morning and usually (unless I got really bored) didn’t drink any more coffee throughout the day. (unless I had a coffee date planned;))

In Spain, Madre mia! If I have to wake up before 8am, you can be assured I will make my own coffee here at the house. Most every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I meet with a friend for a morning coffee around 10am. After lunch, I will often take a coffee with Inma and her friends. Sometimes, I’ll drink a coffee at the house and then I will get an invite for a coffee with someone. I know I don’t need the extra caffeine, but I can’t pass up the company. And I’ve got to learn this language somehow! So, in recap, my normal coffee hours: 10am and 3pm and whenever I get an invite in between. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but on those days when I take 3 or 4 coffee breaks, I worry that I’m drinking too much coffee!

Oh and the coffee over here....the important part. In America, espresso is strong. But, your normal coffee is a couple scoops of coffee grinds place in a filter. Hot water leisurely soaks through the grinds to make what most Spaniards would consider a weak cup o joe! Here, their everyday coffee, to me, is more like espresso. Coffee grinds packed into a metal filter with tiny pin holes in the bottom for the coffee to soak through. The water is then forced through the grinds to make a very small but powerful cup of coffee. Some people drink this stuff plain. I can. But, I prefer a little milk and a little sugar. Or my new found favorite, a Bombon! Coffee and a shot of sweetened condensed milk. (this will not be a regular choice for me, but YUM!) In comparison, the coffee here is much stronger but the size of the coffee is significantly smaller. Oh, and the price! 1 euro...equivalent of $1.30 more or less. They think it's incredible that we will easily spend $3 on a latte in the states. Oh and you don’t see people walking down the street with their TO-GO coffee around here. You sit down, drink your coffee, and go.

The dangerous, but oh so delicious, "Bombon"! (that's a little sugar packet on the side....i think you're crazy if you add that to this concoction!) Isn't is pretty?

This all leads to my biggest fear (in the coffee realm of things).....will I become addicted to coffee in the short time I am here in Spain?! I know many many people deal with this addiction daily and it is very manageable. But, I think that an addiction would totally take the fun out of coffee! It’s fun when it’s optional. Make it necessary and it’s not fun anymore. I feel like drinking coffee is like a part of the culture over here. Plus, look at all these fun coffee date photos I have! And these are just from this past week! I wanted you to see that I really am making friends over her. I really am taking a lot of coffee breaks. And, minus the healthy fish and fruit and daily walking.....I’m still the same ;)

Coffee with Brittany (From Indiana), Inma and one of their classmates:

My friend, Anna! She studied English in England for a while but doesn't have many friends to practice with here. So, she and I meet weekly for "Intercambio". And she lets me hang out with her Spanish friends on the weekends for more practice for me :)

Coffee after Sunday Mass with Lourdes. She introduced me to Donas Kaffe. It is the Spanish copy of Dunkin' Donuts. Like I needed to find the donut shop in Spain!

Inma, Pilar, y Ana. I will be spending one Thanksgiving dinner with Pilar and Ana and their family. They are some of the sweetest people I have met over here. But, that's really not fair because I have met a lot of amazing people! (forgive the photo quality-it is difficult for me to explain how to take a photo with an iphone in spanish :-/ )

In other news....
1. I went to Beauty and the Beast in Spanish this week. I love musicals!
2. I caught my first bug this week and ended up losing my voice this weekend. And I had to miss the “American” Halloween party here. I hate getting sick.
3. I made my first glass of fresh squeezed orange juice from the oranges from grandma and grandpa’s garden and it made me very happy.
4. I went to a basketball game today. Real Madrid vs. Murcia.....professional teams. It felt much like a college basketball game. A lot of people, but much less than you would see at an NBA game. Fun fact: I met Joe Ragland (the former WSU player)....he’s playing for Murcia’s team. Maybe he and I can take a coffee? ;) (For the record, meeting him after his game was not my idea, and I was totally embarrassed. But, the kids were so excited for me that I had to play along!)

5. I have been invited to 2 different Thanksgiving Day dinners! I want to make pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Now, to look like I know what I’m doing....Mom!! Can you fly over for a few days?!
6. My Spanish....November 5 is 2 months here. I’m understanding more and more. But, I have so much to learn. And I feel like an idiot when I speak. I have a whole new respect for people who learn a second language. It’s not easy!
7. Grandma and Grandpa closed their pool in La Huerta this week. I’ve got to hang around till April I think to see it re-opened.
8. I retired my Chaco’s this week. (If you know what these are, you know me well) I am quite sure I was the only person sporting them in Spain for the past 2 months. But, the people here are now only sporting boots, and the Chaco’s just stuck out a little too much. I will miss them.
9. I found out my baby brother is moving to San Diego this week. I don’t know why or for how long. But, I am a little jealous...maybe I’ll move there next!
10. Cousin Shea, I stole this idea from you but don’t know if I can continue it....10 things a week. It was pretty tough there around number 7!

And in conclusion, I still think Spaniards drink too much coffee!