Languages

I have found that the Spanish I learned in HS is much different then the Spanish that is spoken in Mexico. I have a cousin who is from Venezuela and he speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English. He has told me that Mexican Spanish is much different with the use of slang, exactly like you said. If you look at British slang compared to slang used in USA it is easy to understand how one might not understand or misinterpret what is being said to them based on which version of the language they learned as a non-native speaker or even if you are speaking the same language... "needs a good rogering" might not make sense to most Americans.

I am sure one of our British friends will fill you in. (hint...needs a good f@#$ing).I work in construction and deal with mostly Spanish speakers and it amazes me how diverse the use of Spanish is in central/south America.My grandmother was French Canadian and the version of french she spoke was different from what I learned also.