Vale

Here's another random Spanish thing.

Spaniards love to use the word "vale," which means ok.

They use it at the end of every conversation.

During the beginning of our time here, when we were setting up the site, I noticed something and I developed a theory.

The number of times a Spaniard says vale indicts whether whatever it was you were talking about will get done or not.

If you get, "vale," (in the singular) the chances are pretty good that whatever your request was will be fulfilled.

If you get, "vale, vale, vale," you might as well forget that you ever asked for whatever it was that you asked for.

Here are some examples:

"Es posible recibir una copia de las actividades?"
(Is it possible to get a copy of the activities?)

"Vale."

Sure enough 10 minutes later we have a copy of the activities.

"Es necesario que nuestras estudiantes tienen acceso a los computadoras esta noche."
(It's necessary that our students have computer access tonight)

"Vale, vale, vale."

I hae nicknamed this response the triple vale of death. When you get the triple vale, you can almost guarantee that your request has fallen on deaf ears. And you had better ask again in five minutes.

I hope you have enjoyed this short insight into the Spanish daily life.