When someone thinks of the possible issues he/she needs to address in the US, something that will never be an anticipated worry would be having problems with Spanish. In this regard, I feel like the exception to this.
When I first got in the States and I finally leased my apartment, I rushed to the supermarket to get all the necessary things to eat and survive. Close to my apartment, it was "La Hacienda Chiquita", a Mexican supermarket that had all the supplies I needed. Also, not having a car made going to another supermarket somehow difficult.
That day I decided to buy several things. I bought sugar, coffee, meat and I bought manteca. I was surprised about how white, how soft and how tasteless manteca was. But I remembered how Americans are conscious about life and health. I thought it was just part of this consciousness that they did not use any artificial flavors or colors. My mom was also surprised when I showed it to her on Skype. However, I guess that was a little awkward.
After some weeks, on a rainy day, I wanted to make some "tortas fritas", a typical Uruguayan dish people prepare on rainy days. I went to the Mexican supermarket and I asked for "grasa", the Spanish equivalent for "lard" and the butcher told me "It's over there". When I saw the place he had indicated I realized that it was "manteca" and not "grasa". I told him about the misunderstanding and he insisted on what he had told me. In the end, he explained that in Mexico manteca is a synonym for lard and mantequilla was actually butter.
To make this story short, I ate lard instead of butter for several weeks.
