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Attention to detail is an important skill I thought I had learned many years ago.  As a scientist working in a manufacturing environment, as a female walking alone in the late evening down familiar or even foreign streets, as a caregiver for a senior with ambulatory difficulties, as a single mother of an active, curious child, and in many of my other various roles, I know that paying careful attention to “the little things” can make a world of difference.  Mindfulness is even more important now that we are living in a country where signs and labeling are written in a non-native tongue.  

Although I will admit, the longer I am immersed in this language, the more it begins to mesh with English in my mind.  There are so many commonalities between Spanish and English that I frequently wonder if I am even still thinking in English or if I am instead using a mix of both languages to record memories on my mental blackboard.  For example, sweater is suéter, pants are pantalones and pajamas are pijamas.  

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Our favorite flavors for gelato are limón (lemon – for me), chocolate (for Allita) and vainilla (vanilla – for mom).  In fact, the similarities between English and Spanish are too numerous to list.  At times, these cognates can be a real benefit for the novice linguist.  Still, one has to be careful with assuming that something that “sounds like” a familiar word has the same meaning.  Sometimes it doesn’t.  For example, this tintoreria is a dry cleaner and not a paint store or anything remotely related to “tint”.  

Another thing to point out is that you can really dig yourself a big hole if you are relying on your “gut instinct” as your translator.  For example, I once told someone Allita was embarazada because she was too shy (or embarrassed) to speak to in Spanish.  Embarazada means pregnant in Spanish – not embarrassed.   Since at that time, Allita was only 7 years old, I’m sure you can imagine the surprised look on that poor woman’s face.  

A similar incident happened more recently at school with Allita.  As we sat together at the dinner table discussing her thoughts and impressions from her first day of Spanish school last year, Allita shared with us that her teacher, Mr. David, had described himself as “bizarro”.  She told him that was ok because she often thinks of herself as goofy and different.  He gave her a really strange look.  Later, she discovered that “bizarro” in Spanish means gallant.  Not bizarre.  

What you might consider “logical” doesn’t seem to apply globally.  Just because you think something “makes sense” or perhaps that’s what you’re familiar with from your home, doesn’t mean that’s how it works elsewhere.  Sounds straight-forward enough, but consider this:  this papelaria sells paper (as you might expect from the word papel which means paper), cards and stationary as well as school and office supplies (including ink and pens) and even some toys, however, it does not sell the paper you need for your printer.  To find printer paper, and even printer ink, you need to go to a store advertising “impresoras” (printers).  

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The Pictum in Sarria is actually a papelaria that also offers a printer, copier, fax and scanner service for a very low price.  However, they do not print any images or pictures. Only documents. Although the name of the store includes the common abbreviation “pic”. In order to have a picture printed, copied, scanned or faxed, you need to go to a fotografía store.  They will also take photographs for you in case you need them for a passport or visa.  

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Here is another tip:  just because the name of this store is Quality does not mean that everything inside is a quality item.  This is basically a Spanish Dollar Tree or discount store so you’re getting low-priced items manufactured in bulk and likely from China.  Not the hand-made, 100% inspected, detailed craftsmanship that the name implies.  Really, the store should be called “Quantity”.  

Although some places, like Re-Read (a used book store), el Periódico (sells periodicals) and Polleria (chicken store) are exactly what they claim to be.  

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Because I am gluten-sensitive, I learned long ago to completely and thoroughly read all labeling before purchasing goods to consume. This rule applies even more so now that we are living in Spain. Thankfully, most manufacturers are excellent at including “sin gluten” (Spanish) or “sense gluten” (Catalan) to indicate the product’s gluten free status. So, it’s not the trigo (wheat) that concerns me as much as it is all the other “atypical” ingredients about which I am ignorant. It can be really challenging to determine what those ingredients are because the print on the label is so small or the image doesn’t clearly show every ingredient. Unless you read the can carefully, it’s somewhat difficult to tell that these olives are “rellenas de anchoa” or stuffed with anchovies.  

In fact, this is such a popular ingredient that all but one of this entire shelf of olives is either flavored or stuffed with anchovies.  So if you’re interested in making a dirty, but not fishy, martini, you had better read the label carefully.

We discovered last summer in Casteldefels the importance of reading all labels.  Allita and I were very excited to find what appeared to be a favorite snack, only to discover that instead of cheese, we had purchased ketchup and mustard flavor.  Not what you expect when you pop “Cheetos” into your mouth.  In fact, the two words “sabor de” (flavor of) might be the most important you will need when grocery shopping in Spain.  So, if you are in a hurry and just grab a bag of chips, you might get home with Ruffles that taste like ham and cheese or bacon-flavored Bugles.  Or, you can buy something that says it is “natural” and it is so completely natural that it has no flavor at all!  Just salt.  

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Finally, it pays to be mindful of the world around you in other ways than just food and false cognates.  In the photo below, there is a building with two doors.  Over one door is the number 3.  Over the other door is the number 3.  How do you know which door leads to the correct address since they are both labeled 3 and in the same building?  You can barely see the white buzzer and speaker on the frame of the door on the right.  If you walk up to it and look closely, you can see that this door leads to the main building entrance.  If you want to go to the 1st floor (not the ground floor but the one up the first flight of stairs) or the 2nd floor apartment in building #3, you need to buzz yourself in or use your key.  If you live in the ground floor apartment of building #3, you use the door on the left.  Makes you feel sorry for the Amazon delivery guy, doesn’t it?

Taxis are not allowed to just pull over and pick up a ride off the side of the street.  In many places, you can’t even flag one down.  If you want a taxi, you need to find where they are parked.  In every few streets, there is a specific section of the sidewalk parking that is dedicated to taxis.  They will line up there, like they do at the airport, and wait for someone to walk over and climb in.  If you are walking around town, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the little blue taxi signs in case you need a cab at a future point.  

Interestingly, the yellow recycle bin for plastic also allows aluminum cans and milk/juice boxes but not CDs and DVDs or, apparently, toys (such as rubber ducks).  You have to pay close attention even when you are taking out the rubbish!

And, last but not least, be sure to read restaurant signs!  Almost all stores accept cash, but some of them do not accept credit cards unless they have the little wifi symbol indicating they are contactless.  In fact, this was an issue for an American passenger trying to purchase lunch on a recent British Airlines flight I took from London to Barcelona. Many U.S. issued credit cards don’t have a chip inside them that allows for contactless payment (not inserting or swiping the card into a machine).  Does yours?