Learned English grammar habits & Ivan's visit!!

Ok so I wanted to share with you a sample of the things I've started saying as a result of speaking with so many people of whom English is their second language. It's not at all intentional but I've started to mirror the people I'm with and especially when I speak with them, I find myself using a different syntax, diction, and intonation.

Top 5 words I've started to really abuse:

• "Maybe" - Beginning a sentence with maybe when I used to use any of the following, "Could, should, might, possibly, perhaps" Now, it's just this one word. Every time.
• "Arrive" - Who says this, right? I sound like I'm speaking to a senior citizen but I can't seem to stop using it. 
• "This" - For sure a common word before living here, but the way I use it now is so very foreign sounding, for instance: "Why did she say this?" or "I really like this" Basically, in instances where you probably would say "that, these, or it" I've picked up saying "this."
• "Don't worry" - (Yes- thank you, that's 2 words.) The Spanish are always saying "Don't worry" for the smallest things in the most precious accent, and I surprise myself by saying it for the smallest things too and hearing the precious accent in my head. 
• "Really" - Definitely started using this differently. Where as I used to say, "I'm really excited to go there" I now would say, "I'm excited to go there, really."

All around, my English has become oversimplified most of the time, and it's hard to break out of it sometimes, so don't judge me when we speak. OH, "speak", thats a bonus one, since I've said it like 19 times in here already instead of "talk" and I'm forever saying it in conversations. Anyway, this was a little taste of 2 month's influence on the mother tounge.

Ivan's visit:
Amazing!! We had an incredible time in Madrid together and he really loved the culture and people. He spoke Spanish with a lot of people and could communicate, for instance, with my room mate better than I've ever been able to in English. We spent all of his 10 days in Madrid, except one, which we spent in the mountains, an hour train ride from here. It was beautiful and great to be in a complete change of scenery. But in all seriousness, I have so much pride in Madrid, I could have been born here. I could write a book about things I love about this city and all of Spain. But I'll save that for another blog.

Highlights of Ivan's visit: (We's doing another list, get ready)

• The Rastro (huge outdoor market with hundreds of vendors that literally sell everything imaginable every Sunday.) Ivan was all about it and bargained to get amazing prices =] 
• 100 Montaditos (If you don't know, you need to know. But stay tuned because a future millionaire will bring the franchise to the St. John's Town Center)  http://www.100montaditos.com/ Everything is 1 Euro on Wed. so we lived that up
• Parque de Retiro (Central Park status) Napping in the sun!!
• Botin (World's oldest restaurant) We were surrounded by Americans ha so touristy, but really good.
• Templo de Debod (Egyptian temple and park overlooking the city) Beautiful sunset! 
• Fiesta/ discoteca and him getting to meet and know my friends here
• The ability to just hang out and spend quality time together after 2 months <3

So, that's what it is here in Madrid. There's always tons more but I've gotta end this. At this rate, I'll blog in another month!! (Ha, funny, but really.) Hope you enjoyed =]