WALK: You're New to Spain, huh?

Today I “completed” (or I think so anyway) my second to last appointment on my road to becoming a legal immigrant in Spain. And while I’ve lived in Spain before, living as a carefree student with a Señora that did EVERYTHING for me and living as an actual working adult, are two very different things. So far the process has been pretty straightforward though- go here, pick up this form, take it to this place, etc, but today wasn’t that easy. Today I had to register with the Health Dept. and get my health insurance information and card. Can you say CONFUSING? I barely understood my policy with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that meeting was conducted in English so you can understand how confusing my meeting in Spanish was. 
As I walked through the sliding doors my eyes met another pair of eyes filled with disdain, and I can only think of one reason why. I had entered the office 1/2hr into Siesta (and if you don't know what Siesta is I'll explain it to you another time). Let’s just say that Spaniards take their Siesta Seriously. And this woman looked at me as if I had walked into her home and interrupted her own personal siesta time. Opps.. for some reason I assumed that since the office was open during Siesta–it was actually open. But after 30min of one lady trying to explain the process and me saying “no entiendo” (I don’t understand) four times, another women entered the room and asked me “ You’re new to Spain, huh?” She then suggested to her co-worker that she might need to speak a little slower or explain it in a different way. Eventually we got through everything but I left feeling more confused than ever. I had prided myself on the fact that I’ve generally understood most of my encounters since arriving, but this one left me doubting my comprehension skills more than ever. However, on the way home I started thinking... that lady was right. I am new to Spain and there are a lot of things that I just don’t understand, and it’s not only relating to language. So similar to, but very different from Jeff Foxworthy’s “You Know You’re a Redneck When” I’ve compiled a list of you my observations called 
“You Know You’re a Foreigner When.”

5. You nod, mumble, or answer YES to every question you don’t understand. 
(Whether it’s someone asking for change or if you like playing soccer– for some reason it just comes out) 

4. You are still caught off guard when you see someone picking their nose. Police officers, children AND teachers, bartenders, EVERYONE does it. 
(Maybe I’m just too “American” or a germaphobe but it REALLY grosses me out!)

3. You carry a copy of your city map in your clutch, regular purse, back pack, anywhere it can fit. 
 (I lived in Austin for three years and I was lost almost every minute so I am determined to find my way around this city if it kills me!)

2. You expect toilet paper in restrooms; bars, restaurants, a lot of places just don’t have any. 
(I learned this one the HARD way in Granada, so now I never leave home without my own personal stash)

1. When you are describing a new potential friend, you add “they speak slowly” or “clearly” to the list of reasons they are so great!

In all I have made some great friends so far and my language skills are really progressing. So I won’t let one encounter with a  Siesta deprived woman ruin my day because Yes, I am new to Spain, but I plan to complete my assimilation and immigration into Spain and it’s culture...health insurance or no health insurance.