This just reminded me of a huge argument I had with all the members of my host family in Ohio...and it started playing Trivial Pursuit!

They claimed that England was a country/nation in itself, I explained that; no, England+Wales+Scotland+Northern Ireland was indeed a country/nation, the name being United Kingdom or Great Britain....it got pretty bad because they were so adamant and stated that they were sure to know better, because, after all, they shared the same language, so in the end, I had to say that I shared the same continent (with the Brits)! :p (Something that wasn't very clear for some schoolmates, btw, who were surprised at a Southamerican or African with fair hair and skin! )

England is a country in itself, as is Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but they are all part of great britain/United kingdom (not really that united unfortunately.)

How I wish that simple statement could be understood in Spain. How much suffering will it cost to my country to get the point.

Think of great britain/United Kingdom as a Nation/Alliance rather than a country.

The Spaniards are a proud, pleasantly congenial people for the most part. But I would be careful of doing or saying anything in any way touching negatively upon their pride. That way lies trouble.

ONLY the Spaniards???!

Last summer when I stayed with a spanish family, my friend and her close friends knew I was American because she had told them. I have fair skin but brown hair so her friends parents and strangers confused me for a spaniard! I consider that an honor! lol but they always called me "la americana" and when they asked where I was from, I would reply with my state, not the country.

But to go back on topic: try not to be shy! I learned the hard way that being shy is considered very rude!

lol @ pim, No, not just spaniards!!

Jo, I do remember you trying to substitute Compeed for Bimbo. (and she was rolling compeed bits into balls)(on the train back to Madrid from Alcala de Henares).

Do's & Don'ts?....
Don't try and leap over the barriers in the metro, the guardia civil will chase you and cart you off. Jo-anne tried it. I saved her.

Do’s and don’ts of Spain . Read this news from Sevilla ABC paper. In Spanish. Personally I dislike the way Spanish youth spend their free time. I cannot imagine this in the States !!

http://sevilla.abc.es/sevilla/pg050319/prensa/noticias/Sevilla/Sevilla/200503/19/SEV-SEV-034.asp