Español

Today a telemarketer complimented me on my Spanish. I don't think that's a good thing. I dream of Spanish that no one needs to comment on at all, because they can just understand it without effort.

I've noticed that I get compliments from people I am paying or who want me to pay them (the cab driver, my Spanish tutor, the telemarketer). I get "que?" "como?" and "mande?" from anyone else (my maid who's paid by my landlord, people I ask directions of in the street, kids on the playground).