¿What Tongue?

So, I think that I have reached a crossroads in my language learning. Yesterday I heard someone talking and understood everything they said. Usually I can only do this with English. I can hear Americans talking from a mile away. Yes, I do believe that we are the loudest people on earth. The language that I understood though was Spanish and I responded to their conversation, to myself of course, in Spanish.

I just stood there afterwards, with my hands in the air, eyes closed, taking it in. A huge smile stretched on to my face.

I walked away feeling great about myself. "I have learned so much!" I thought. Pumped, I walked around talking to everyone in Spanish. ¨Hola,¨ I said to every Spaniard, as they looked my strange overly happy smile.

I entered a restaurant to treat myself for my progress. I picked up the menu and was prepared to order my favorite tapa, tortillas de patatas, when the waiter walked up to me. He began to speak, and I swear I have never heard such rapid speech. I knew he had asked questions, but I didn´t understand one. I just sat there, mouth wide open, in awe. All I could muster, was an uncertain ¨Si,¨ but he just shook his head mockingly.

I still treated myself.

I guess I have a little more to learn.