I was drawing a sculpture of a mermaid on the steps of a lake in Retiro Park in Madrid when I was swarmed upon by a class of children on a class field trip. They must have been no more than six years old. At least twenty to thirty of them crowded about to watch me sketch. They seemed amazed at what I was working on and became even more amazed when they discovered I spoke only English. Their teacher instructed them to practice upon me. They would say "hello" and "how are you" and giggle with delight when I would reply to them. I small boy asked me what my "favorite meat protein" was. They gathered around me for at least ten minutes until scrambling off to their next sight. A small girl on the step behind me had placed her hand on my shoulder the entire time they were there.