Sunday. Another nice day. Remember a long long time ago when I mentioned that my family had another place? We'll we went on Sunday. I always heard them say, "La Reina" which means queen, but after an hour drive we arrived at La Arena, more specifically San Juan de La Arena. Their apartment is in the closest complex to the beach. We walked along the beach and had a snack there before going back to the apartment, eating lunch, then taking naps :). After the naps we walked through the little pueblo. It was very relaxing and perfect because it rained while we slept, but it was perfect when we were outside. We came home and hung out a little. Madre started to cry, I said, "No me hagas llorar!" "Don't make me cry!"
Today. I could not sleep. I did not sleep a wink... I hope this won't mess with my traveling. Madre wanted to go for a walk, which is rare so I went with her. They got their assignment for their next student who will come on Friday! I finished errands... got a pendent blessed for mom, recycled all of my school papers, and returned, for the last time, my things from the library :(. I was a bit dramatically sad and confused the librarians momentarily, but then they just smiled and nodded. They wear lab coats here. Cool. My room is completely packed, I've written in the notebook that my madre has students write in, and the taxi is called for the morning. 12 hours until I leave the apartment. 1 day and 11 hours until I'm in CR. In my room. Bored. Freaking out about flying again. Sooo close.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Out on the town
WONDERFUL DAY. Walked around Oviedo with Landon (the guy who studied here 2 years ago) in the morning. When I came home I finished packing (ha!) and had lunch with the family! My madre always makes fresh french fries and then puts a fried egg on top. But today was extra special because she waited to call me to the kitchen until she was completely ready to serve everyone so that the french fries weren't scolding hot! AND we put tuna on top. Delicious. After lunch I said, "Vale, tengo que aprovechar el tiempo!" Ok, I have to take advantage of this weather! And my madre agreed so I just went out. I walked around for awhile- still seeing places I'd never seen before but WITHOUT getting lost. I found out that there is an aqueduct in Oviedo? Then I went to the park to read and saw a little boy chasing a peacock :) I ended up falling asleep in the sun and was at the park for 2 hours. Then on the way home I realized I have yet to see our museum of Bella Artes, so I just stopped in. I don't ever need to see another portrait in my life, but I really enjoy the sculptures and art with a story behind it. I saw a total of 3 weddings today and I just loved to look at the peoples' outfits- people go all out for weddings here! Guests had prom type dresses on and every man wore a tux. I finally got some pictures I've been meaning to get (a meat vending machine, little old ladies walking hand in hand...) and tonight I'm going out with Landon and Erica again! Oh happy day!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Chilling in Oviedo...
I hung out with my friends for their last couple of days and saw them off at the bus station because I had nothing better to do. Hopefully a couple of them are going to see me come into Iowa in 4 days :P they live in Cedar Rapids so it's no big deal. I will honestly miss them for those four days. The last to go were my very best of friends here and after seeing each other everyday for 5 months, four days alone is a long time. However, I am not completely alone. Many of those friends' families already took in students for the summer. They had the privilege of being translators and showing them around town! It's funny because we can totally tell walking down the street- 'mericans. And they can tell after a little bit too, and they stare at us because we aren't in any of their classes, so they have no idea why we're here. Another student comes to my house on the 3rd so I won't meet them, but at least I get to continue sleeping in my bed, other kids were sleeping on their couches. Additionally, I leave on May 31st with my friend with the Spanish boyfriend and then a student from UNI who studied two years ago and is visiting this week. We went out last night and probably will tonight too. It's crazy- we are all going to take the 6 AM bus to the airport, but he leaves at 7:30, she 7:40, and I leave at 8:30. All going to the US... but all at different times and ports. I packed today out of boredom. I will be seeing you all very soon.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Classes: over. UNIowans: Gone. Me:Bored. Well the middle one isn't completely true, there are 9 left in Europe besides me but 2 are in Switzerland, 2 in Tenerife, 2 are spending their last days with their boyfriends and the other 3 haven't called me and I'm doing my hermit thing where I wait to see if someone else has planned something before I get dressed. My original plan was to not blog until all of the Iowans were gone and I was REALLY bored, but I just walked 100 km, I can stay in bed a bit longer than usual. What really motivated me was stalking another friend's blog and seeing that she wrote her last Spain blog where she wrote her first... totally stealing that idea next week. I AM THE BIG CHEESE.
The end of school was an interesting experience because it felt like the last day of high school. Not even senior year, which is kind of sad, but more like sophomore year or something. You don't care, you're ready to go, you do nothing in the last class. At least that was me, there was one hard core teacher here that I didn't have that got teary-eyed and that made everyone do the same. But this really was like high school. You had the same classes with the same people everyday and there were totally cliques. This actually felt more like a movie high school than my high school experience. There was the feather club (this group of girls who were "artsy" and wore single feather earrings) the philly kids, the UMass kids, the Miami kids, the smokers, the smart kids, the Clique (so important that they didn't even have an adjective!) the cute boys, and my rag-tag friends. It was complete with people playing frisbee in front of the school every day! I left on Thursday knowing that my grades were all between 9 and 10 huzzah!
Thursday was my big day. Finally got all of my grades, went home to eat and sleep. The last time I saw my mom was 4 pm that day when she went to the doctor. At 8 I left to take my things to Jessica's house and start the night. After we settled our things we met up with everyone for our last big group outing. We took Sidra for an hour before going to a big dinner payed for by our very own... UNI! Sweet! Some girls of the group worked hard and had us all vote on a 'Most likely' list. Our 'award show' went along with dinner and was very fun. I won 'Most likely to become the next Liz Becker' (She was the girl who helped us prepare for our trip which is the job I'm trying to get...). When you accepted the award you had to say 3 things: 1. What will you miss most about Spain? Living in a city and walking to every place that I need to go. I'm going to have to pay for gas back home... 2. What was your favorite memory in Spain? The first days we were here, there were no cliques, no one knew what they were doing, and I could hang out freely in other peoples' rooms. 3. What has Spain meant to you? (Like everyone else...) It has been a transition. From little kid world to hopefully when I return, big kid world. We only had one crier during dinner, and it was the girl who's been crying for the last week.
We left and went out like Spaniards! 6 AM- we can do it! Me and Jessica's plan was to stay out until our bus left at 6:30 and sleep on the bus. At around 5 we had to go and everyone was doing one big group hug. About 5 people were crying at this point, but I still didn't feel like it. Until I heard the kind of snort that only happens when you are trying to hold back tears. My big brother Nate was crying. I lost it. Dang it Nate! I still tear up thinking about it... But then he made me do one of those laugh/cry things when he said, "This is just like that episode of Full House when the girls go to camp. It was awesome, but then Michelle stole a rabbit so they had to go back and it wasn't as cool. It was the people who made it great." Only a little laugh, it was still mostly sad.
Jessica and I hopped on our bus and slept most of the way to Lugo. We had decided that we would speak only Spanish on this trip and everyone said things to the effect of, "Didn't you say that at the beginning of your time in Spain?" Jerks. But we did it! We honestly only spoke English at albergues (hostels special to pilgrims [peregrinos] that were more like my idea of hostels-hundreds of backpackers in one room) when English was the common language. And the first moments of the last day- we were soooo out of it. As Gran Canaria was a great last trip, so was this one. The Camino de Santiago (or The Way of Saint James) is supposed to be a journey of reflection. Additionally the country looked like Iowa (Save for mountains) which made us excited for home. We decided that walking 100 km was also a good way to get rid of some Spain fat we've accumulated. We did the bare minimum in order to get a certificate but our experienced friends told us that we had enough stamps to seem like month-long travelers- yes! Uhh to explain that? You get a passport type thing and you have to get at least two stamps a day to prove that you really were walking from each place. You can get stamps in bars, restaurants, churches, museums... anywhere along the way. We met these silly Germans at the certification office who got rejected because it was evident that they took a bus one day. Durrrr. Anyways I'm certifiably a peregrino del Camino de Santiago. The certificate is all in Latin and my Latin name is Saram? Cool!
I might be typing super small posts EVERYDAY after Thursday when my friends leave me. So look forward to that. 1 Friday left!
The end of school was an interesting experience because it felt like the last day of high school. Not even senior year, which is kind of sad, but more like sophomore year or something. You don't care, you're ready to go, you do nothing in the last class. At least that was me, there was one hard core teacher here that I didn't have that got teary-eyed and that made everyone do the same. But this really was like high school. You had the same classes with the same people everyday and there were totally cliques. This actually felt more like a movie high school than my high school experience. There was the feather club (this group of girls who were "artsy" and wore single feather earrings) the philly kids, the UMass kids, the Miami kids, the smokers, the smart kids, the Clique (so important that they didn't even have an adjective!) the cute boys, and my rag-tag friends. It was complete with people playing frisbee in front of the school every day! I left on Thursday knowing that my grades were all between 9 and 10 huzzah!
Thursday was my big day. Finally got all of my grades, went home to eat and sleep. The last time I saw my mom was 4 pm that day when she went to the doctor. At 8 I left to take my things to Jessica's house and start the night. After we settled our things we met up with everyone for our last big group outing. We took Sidra for an hour before going to a big dinner payed for by our very own... UNI! Sweet! Some girls of the group worked hard and had us all vote on a 'Most likely' list. Our 'award show' went along with dinner and was very fun. I won 'Most likely to become the next Liz Becker' (She was the girl who helped us prepare for our trip which is the job I'm trying to get...). When you accepted the award you had to say 3 things: 1. What will you miss most about Spain? Living in a city and walking to every place that I need to go. I'm going to have to pay for gas back home... 2. What was your favorite memory in Spain? The first days we were here, there were no cliques, no one knew what they were doing, and I could hang out freely in other peoples' rooms. 3. What has Spain meant to you? (Like everyone else...) It has been a transition. From little kid world to hopefully when I return, big kid world. We only had one crier during dinner, and it was the girl who's been crying for the last week.
We left and went out like Spaniards! 6 AM- we can do it! Me and Jessica's plan was to stay out until our bus left at 6:30 and sleep on the bus. At around 5 we had to go and everyone was doing one big group hug. About 5 people were crying at this point, but I still didn't feel like it. Until I heard the kind of snort that only happens when you are trying to hold back tears. My big brother Nate was crying. I lost it. Dang it Nate! I still tear up thinking about it... But then he made me do one of those laugh/cry things when he said, "This is just like that episode of Full House when the girls go to camp. It was awesome, but then Michelle stole a rabbit so they had to go back and it wasn't as cool. It was the people who made it great." Only a little laugh, it was still mostly sad.
Jessica and I hopped on our bus and slept most of the way to Lugo. We had decided that we would speak only Spanish on this trip and everyone said things to the effect of, "Didn't you say that at the beginning of your time in Spain?" Jerks. But we did it! We honestly only spoke English at albergues (hostels special to pilgrims [peregrinos] that were more like my idea of hostels-hundreds of backpackers in one room) when English was the common language. And the first moments of the last day- we were soooo out of it. As Gran Canaria was a great last trip, so was this one. The Camino de Santiago (or The Way of Saint James) is supposed to be a journey of reflection. Additionally the country looked like Iowa (Save for mountains) which made us excited for home. We decided that walking 100 km was also a good way to get rid of some Spain fat we've accumulated. We did the bare minimum in order to get a certificate but our experienced friends told us that we had enough stamps to seem like month-long travelers- yes! Uhh to explain that? You get a passport type thing and you have to get at least two stamps a day to prove that you really were walking from each place. You can get stamps in bars, restaurants, churches, museums... anywhere along the way. We met these silly Germans at the certification office who got rejected because it was evident that they took a bus one day. Durrrr. Anyways I'm certifiably a peregrino del Camino de Santiago. The certificate is all in Latin and my Latin name is Saram? Cool!
I might be typing super small posts EVERYDAY after Thursday when my friends leave me. So look forward to that. 1 Friday left!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Mini-post: You can read it in one sitting!
Tuesday night was an American night at a bar and a popular kid's birthday. So everyone went out on a school night... weird. Thursday night I had the first of my finals. Fonetica was hilarious- because we had all failed the last time, I could tell our teacher felt guilty. So, once I had finished my test he said to me, "You have three wrong and all for the same reason" and so I found the three and got a 10! If I had made those mistakes I would have gotten a 9 (still an A) but everyone in the class got 10s hahaha! That night we had a photo scavenger hunt throughout Oviedo. It was really fun at first... until it took us an hour and a half. However, we stuck it out and my team won! We got a bag full of candy... and it ended up being my dinner. I DO NOT EAT THIS MANY SWEETS IN THE STATES I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME.
On Friday we found out that the bar we go to EVERY THURSDAY EXCEPT THIS ONE BECAUSE WE WERE TIRED FROM THE SCAVENGER HUNT gave out free t-shirts on Thursday. No!!!! So we went on Friday and they were doing more of the same. We all know how much I love free things, so I was a happy camper. Also- one of our teachers invited us to his friends' concert. We went and it was a strange experience. "Oh, I love seeing teachers outside of school. It's like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs."-Mean Girls
Leaving the study abroad experience is having strange affects on people. The mean girl is crying because she doesn't want to leave, the good girl is getting drunk, and everyone is giving random extended teary-eyed hugs. People are being nicer, "Gosh, I should have hung out with you more!" and we are all reminiscing. A new herd of Miami of Ohio students have come in and Iowa kids are giving them all sorts of advice (because Miami kids don't look out for each other). I feel good helping them, but then remember how long ago it was that I learned the things I'm advising them about... :( I met with my English conversation partner for the last time today. Ahhh I remember making fun of a part of our Adolescent Skills book in 8th grade, "I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster", but that is exactly what this is. I'm either dying to get home or crying because I don't want to leave. I just wish there was a way I could take a little of this and a little of that and make my own perfect Oviedo/Iowa world.
On Friday we found out that the bar we go to EVERY THURSDAY EXCEPT THIS ONE BECAUSE WE WERE TIRED FROM THE SCAVENGER HUNT gave out free t-shirts on Thursday. No!!!! So we went on Friday and they were doing more of the same. We all know how much I love free things, so I was a happy camper. Also- one of our teachers invited us to his friends' concert. We went and it was a strange experience. "Oh, I love seeing teachers outside of school. It's like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs."-Mean Girls
Leaving the study abroad experience is having strange affects on people. The mean girl is crying because she doesn't want to leave, the good girl is getting drunk, and everyone is giving random extended teary-eyed hugs. People are being nicer, "Gosh, I should have hung out with you more!" and we are all reminiscing. A new herd of Miami of Ohio students have come in and Iowa kids are giving them all sorts of advice (because Miami kids don't look out for each other). I feel good helping them, but then remember how long ago it was that I learned the things I'm advising them about... :( I met with my English conversation partner for the last time today. Ahhh I remember making fun of a part of our Adolescent Skills book in 8th grade, "I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster", but that is exactly what this is. I'm either dying to get home or crying because I don't want to leave. I just wish there was a way I could take a little of this and a little of that and make my own perfect Oviedo/Iowa world.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A lot of parenthesis (paréntesis)
So I went to Easter mass at the cathedral here with my non-Catholic friends to teach them what was going on. My one friend couldn't stop laughing when they talked about Mary Magdalene (Maria Magdalena [magdalena= cupcake in Spanish]). After mass two of my best friends pulled out huge tablets of chocolate. I died inside. Ate about half of one as we made our way to McDonalds for our McFlurries. Amazing. Had some salty french fries (Why do we call them french fries and have such a big fuss over them being 'french'? In Spanish they are just fried potatoes [potatas fritas] how hard is that? And why do we have to change city names?! Sevilla/Seville, Londres/London or Deutchland/Germany how hard is it to say the native name? Grrrr) and then went to the fancy bakery to get fancy chocolate. I forget how but I ended up staying out with my friends for 8 hours. I finally came home and was too lazy to make dinner so... I ate one of the tablets for dinner. I was literally belly aching and all Tom had to say was, "Serves you right, you had chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner..." However I can't complain because he was a wonderful boyfriend and accompanied my mom to the Easter Vigil in Iowa City! Yay Tom!! They had a great time and some Village Inn afterwards!
Wednesday I went with Jessica to Madrid to get her new passport. Our friend Deanna ended up coming too. "You guys are skipping school on Wednesday to go to Madrid? Hmm.. I haven't made it there yet and it would be a shame to say I came to Spain without going to Madrid... Can I come?" Three's a company! We took the Midnight bus so that we'd arrive around 6 am, we relaxed at the bus station for a while before separating. Deanna went to do the touristy stuff while Jessica and I found the Embassy. Jessica was a little upset with me (and I in myself) that I didn't bring my camera, because a picture in front of the Embassy would have been cool... sigh. I brought my brick named Harry Potter y el cádiz de fuego instead. It only took two hours (though my host mom scolded me when I said I'd be home at 11 pm "You need more time than that! I've had students for years and they've always spent the night!") We met some girls who were also studying abroad and also had their purse stolen.
After our appointment we cooled down with a snack in the sun and looked up what I had researched to do (that we didn't last time). I had a traditional dress of Spain museum, two parks, and a movie theater with movies in English. It was a beautiful day so we chose the park Casa de Campo. If you mention it to ANYONE in Spain they will ask, "You went to the prostitute park?". Yes, it even says so in my guide book (Thanks Chris!). But, the city has cracked down and the real problem is at night. We just soaked in the sun around the lake, it was so relaxing. A friend I graduated with, Sabrina, is currently studying in Madrid and was sufficiently disappointed in me for not visiting her when I took my Madrid trip early on. So she came to visit us in the park and we caught up while playing on the BEST PLAYGROUND EVER. It was for big kids, a sign said "12 years and up". There was a zipline and monkey bars and trampolines and THE COOLEST SEE SAW EVER. Jessica and I got on it before Sabrina showed up and I have not laughed and screamed so hard in such a long time. It was legitimately frightening at times. It was feet off the ground, so you never had the scrunched up legs, and it turned! We were on it for a good 5 minutes and this cute family with a 2 year old couldn't stop staring and laughing. We got back on the bus and watched two movies on the way back home Life is Beautiful (One of my favorite movies of all time, and of course I was crying at the end, on the bus, and Deanna and Jessica laughed at me) and Disturbia which I also screamed twice during. Luckily our bus mates found me funny and not annoying.
We only went to school Thursday and Friday of that week. That weekend Sunday was mother's day here in Spain. My madre is a great subtle hinter. She always complains about things that I do, but that other people are doing. For example, "Pedro (mi hermano)'s girlfriend's hair all over the house!" When I point out that my hair is probably all over the house or that I do the same things she assures me, "No no no, you are wonderful". Hmm... Anyways, about two weeks previous, she mentioned offhandedly that one year her student disappeared and no one knew where she went. Then she came home with flowers for Mother's Day! K, got it. Flowers on Sunday. I woke up early and went down to the market, I got her flowers and then two romantic comedies from the library. I came home and no one was home so I went to nap. When she came home she was probably the happiest I've ever seen her, reading my note and looking at all the flowers she received. She said "Hop in the car!" And I went with her and my padre to their favorite restaurant in a small town near by. She was singing in the car and I was just enjoying driving in a car! I haven't done that (save for a few taxis and when my padre picked me up the first day) since the USA! After lunch we went to the beach and it was just a relaxing day. We were going to go to a museum but I guess I fell asleep in the car so we just went home and watched Nights in Rodanthe together.
Didn't have school on Monday. I had papers due on Thursday and Friday though. Honestly, it is sooo hard to do homework when you haven't really for 5 months! After school on Friday I hopped on the bus, and then plane, and then taxi and landed in my apartment for the weekend in Gran Canaria! My group was wonderful and we had a great time! It was interesting because a lot of Germans go to Gran Canaria so people didn't assume we were American, however German. There was a lot of Northern Europe things there even though we were technically off the coast of Africa. Interesting. We pretty much just beached it up. The beach was really cool because there was no space for huge hotels to ruin the view. There were SAND DUNES all over, very cool. Saturday we were at the beach from about 12-5 and then went to the Gay Pride concert in the middle of town. Sunday we took a camel ride and then were at the beach from about 1-8 so we could see the sun set. My friend Danielle blew my mind with, "The sun isn't going down, we are just rotating around it". Ah! Mind blown! Then Monday we packed and cleaned and were at the beach from 11-2 before traveling back to Oviedo. We were very skin conscious though and finished off two bottles of sun block. We all just hung out at my apartment a lot and sat around the bed talking at the end of the day. I was able correct my friend Tyler who thought during this entire 5 month experience that my name was 'Sara Ardino' (For the longest time I thought he had a cold). The trip was similar to flying from Iowa to Miami for a weekend but it was totally worth it. We all said we were the perfect group on the perfect last trip.
Back to real life (Or as real as it gets in Spain). Jessica and I are going to do the Camino de Santiago after school ends so we need to plan that. I asked my padres if I could leave my things at their house and they said yes, but I might want to ask if I can actually stay a couple days too (my contract ends the 20th). I need to do a trial packing to see if I need to get another suitcase (doubt it). I need to finish on my souvenir shopping. I need to send my final postcards. I need to look into going to Cali in August. And I need to stopping thinking about the conversion rate (1.5 OMGOSH). These are not things to stress about right?
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Semana Santa
There is no block of chocolate in my hand, but I write to you now because I fear I will soon grow tired of telling this story of Semana Santa.
Cast:
Me, Jessica, Shelby, Katie, Erica (Beaves), Erica (Erutz)
Setting:
Andulucia (Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga)
Exposition:
I came up with the idea, days set in each city and hostels. Katie organized everything from there.
Tagline:
There are warm people in this world and cold people. The lives of those of us in the middle often depend on those extreme people's choices.
Thursday April 14th-
We leave Oviedo at 6 in the morning. Erutz forgot her converter and Katie only slept for 3 hours. We fly to Barcelona and have a 4 hour layover before everyone (minus Shelby and Katie) arrives in Sevilla. WE LOVE SEVILLA. It really felt like Spring Break because there were orange and palm trees all around. So warm. So different from Asturias. We worked together to find our hostel and were only lost about 5 minutes in the neighborhood it was in. Our hostel is SO COOL. It's this 4 story bohemian cove for tourists our age. They have a free food cupboard and shelf in the fridge and you know I took advantage of that (Eggs for breakfast and noodles for lunch!). We get settled but not for long because everyone (minus me and Beaves) is leaving for Granada in a few hours. I put Granada on the trip mainly to see the Alhambra, this amazing moorish palace. However, we did not book tickets enough in advance and we could only find tickets the during a day we were scheduled to be in Sevilla. Beaves and I didn't want to go through buying 30 euro bus tickets to sleep in a bus station, maybe lose our hostel reservations, and see the Alhambra. I figured things would work out. So they left and Beaves and I had a relaxing night walking back to the hostel and playing games. The next day we left in the morning to find her new shoes (comfort over fashion) and walk around the city. Katie had everything down to a tee and I asked her what sites that we might not be able to see, since they are losing a day. We saw some of those things (mostly plazas) and went to the Alcázar. Amazing. I did not realize how much I loved gardens until this trip. I did know that I wanted to see a hedge maze while I was here- and there is a labyrinth within the gardens! We stayed there for 2 hours. We lazed about and ended up taking siestas in the hostel. Then we went to pick up the others from the bus station. We went to a free Flamenco show that night and on the way accidentally came upon a Semana Santa procession. Cool! Eerie. Then we collapsed in our beds after. The next day we were down for business. The people who missed a day wanted to see EVERYTHING they had ever heard about Sevilla in one day. This was cause for some disagreements. Anyways... we ended the night watching the Real Madrid/Barcelona game which ended in a tie. All the while we spotted gypsies and I was often compared to them. We went to the Plaza de España, which looked different than any other plaza I've seen so far and supposedly part of Star Wars was filmed at? I have no idea, I'll have to look it up.
At this point I don't know days... Córdoba-
We get to Córdoba and walk to our hostel. It's supposed to be a 40 minute walk, but it doesn't feel like it because I am taking in all that is around me. At first I think-this isn't as cool as Sevilla. Not as much life, not as much orange. I would soon change my mind. I LOVE CORDOBA. I love it, I do, and I think almost everyone I know would too. They have 1 of the 3 synagogues in Spain, the Mezquita (Amazing mosque, with amazing history [It is now a cathedral]) and of course a mountain of Catholic influence. That would entice many people. The streets are beautiful and have awesome names! I actually took pictures here! The Alcazar here is BEAUTIFUL. I realized that something I loved about the alcazares is that you can walk through everything then pick a spot and soak in your surroundings. I felt no guilt in sitting down closing my eyes here, because I was still taking in what it had to offer- the strong scent of flowers, the warmth of the sun, and the peaceful tinkling of the fountains. Additionally- they are being used for their intended purpose. I sometimes feel bad that there seems to be NO church in Spain that is just a church, without tourists. I think it is hard enough to pay attention, but with tourists walking around and muttering during mass, come on? That would be so difficult! But people built these gardens long ago for people to relax in and people are still doing that. Anyways, Córdoba also has wonderful shops. Honestly, anyone would love it. I was a weird person here though. I showered, bought souvenirs, and took pictures. We were all confused. We saw more processions and more people. I talked to my madre about how much I loved Córdoba and she said that it is place filled with educated people. Definitely loved it.
Granada
We get to the Córdoba bus station and think our bus isn't ready yet. 'Uh, that super bus is still at our gate. I wonder when our bus will come, I hope it's not late...'. Turns out- we actually got the super bus!!!! YES! I love them. We got baggies with food and water in them, watched Princess and the Frog, and had plenty of leg room for 3 hours. Definite highlight. We got to Granada and decided to take the bus to our hostel because it would be another 40 minute walk. The bus was packed and so I was very watchful of my things, but I got separated from my group which didn't make me comfortable. This man kept trying to push through me and I said that I couldn't move, but he kept trying so I told Erutz to sit on her suitcase and let him through. It was crowded to the point that people didn't make it off at their stops because they couldn't get through. However we made it out and walked to our hostel. We start getting our money out to pay and I hear, "Wait, where's my... no not... no... where's my wallet? No! WHERE'S MY WALLET?!". Everyone scrambles and looks. Erutz understandable starts to sob. Shelby and I run outside search the streets and the bus and get the number of the bus company though we know they won't have it. When we come back we find out that she has canceled her debit and credit cards and that they tried to buy something but her dad is on top of it. There's nothing we can do now, but try to make light of the situation. She's feeling better after some comforting and some jokes. We go out that night because Jessica and Shelby's professor from last semester used to study in Granada and she said to go to this certain pub and say 'hi' to the bartender for her. We do, he doesn't remember her, embarrassing. The next day Beaves and I decided to try to get tickets to the Alhambra, we heard that they keep some everyday to sell AT the Alhambra, even if it is sold out online. The first bus to it leaves at 7 so we leave then. That was a joke. The line is 200 some people long. We get in it for a second and ask a woman in line how long she's been there and how much she's moved. 5 feet in 10 minutes. Then we hear an announcement that they are only selling 100 more tickets for the afternoon. Soo.... We ask the people at the very front of the line what time they got there: 5:30 AM. Ok, we can do that. We decide to see the free parts of the Alhambra and walk back to town (The Alhambra is on a hill overlooking Granada) so that we can know our route for the next morning. There is a wonderful but steep pedestrian path that slowly leads to the city. We start to see shops and hostels and think, "Wouldn't it be great if our hostel was right here?". We get down to the main street and Beaves pulls out the map and then I say "No!" we just passed our hostel! We DO live right here! Yay! The next day's trek would not be so difficult. When we get back everyone is still sleeping so we join them. We get up and decide to see the city. Granada is the least like Spain city I've seen. It has so much Arabic influence that it doesn't really match up to what we have seen before. The Cathedral and Palace cost money to get into so nobody (but one) wants to go in, after a while a church is a church and a cathedral is a cathedral. And after someone's money gets stolen everyone thinks a little harder about their own. The food market is just a meat market, the baths are expensive and only consist of a 15 minute massage, and the street venders are many and creepy. I am not feeling Granada. We have until 9 pm the NEXT night (because we thought we'd go to the Alhambra, and I tried pleasing someone by going to each place for the EXACT number of days that someone told them they had to be there... so I had to play with hours). I throw the idea out that I want to leave Granada as soon as Beaves and I see the Alhambra. This doesn't go down very well. We go out that night to see gypsy caves and the Alhambra lit up at night and we keep getting lost, but the person with the map wouldn't let anyone help. Moods are getting cranky. We decide to go to bed early even though Real Madrid and Barcelona are playing again. Beaves and I get up at 4 in the morning and hike to the Alhambra. We get to the box office at 4:45 after having trouble getting out of bed, walking like zombies, and getting slightly lost. We are the 4th and 5th people in line. I REALLY wanted to take a picture every half hour of the line, but she said it would be too weird and obvious with the flash on. We sit and talk and ration our cookies and chips. By 8, when the office opens, there are at least 150 people in line. I whoop when the guard opens the door and people laugh, and then he starts closing it again and people joined me in 'oooh'-ing, and then he opened it again and there was some clapping. Fun. We got morning tickets and went right in. I think this was one of those things in which I got my hopes too high. I had learned about the Alhambra in art, Chris told me I had to go, and I had talked it up in my own head. It was beautiful, it was exciting to get tickets, but I wasn't falling over in amazement. I think I was tainted by seeing the alcazares first, and the girls who came to Granada first were the other way around. We covered every bit of it and walked down to the hostel at 12. We told everyone we were leaving and they could join us if they wanted.
Málaga
We changed our bus tickets for one euro and then waited for an hour in the bus station. Quick anecdote- At many bus stations there is a restaurant called 'exit'. I was walking behind Beaves and she kept turning around and trying other doors. I didn't know what she was doing until she asked, "How are we supposed to get into this cafeteria?!". HAHAHA I asked her what country we are in, and how do they say exit? Funny. We get to Málaga at 4 and decided to take a taxi to our hostel because we are TIRED. We get there and the lady asks if we are the Italians. I thought oh no oh no, she lost our reservation but then I remembered that my name is Andino and it confuses people. We laughed. So we get ready and I told her we are early, but are wondering if we could leave our stuff there or anything. She's smiling, being friendly and then stops and frowns. "You're 22 hours early. I have no room for you". What? 22 hours? If anything it's 10 hours. We're coming at 2 am. "2 am? Come on, I have to sleep at some point". You offered 2 am as a check-in time! "2 PM" (All the while she is saying mañana which can mean morning or tomorrow, but she is saying 2 in the mañana which would mean morning, but she really means the tarde....) You offered military time, so 2 in the tarde would be 1400. "No no no, regardless I don't have room for you". Crap. We ask her if she knows of any other hostels nearby. No. We ask her if we can pay the same and all sleep in one bed, or on couches. No. We are scared that all the girls will hate me. We find out that Jessica and Katie are coming one hour after we came and then Shelby and Erutz are coming one hour after that. So we are trying to come up with ideas before everyone comes. The lady lets us use her computer and we find two hostels, no one could fit 6 but each could fit two. We decided to walk back to the bus station to tell the other girls to their face because this would not be a good phone conversation. Surprisingly, Kate (the planner) doesn't seem angry, she is in her element. We are going to fix this. We will go on a day trip somewhere near hear and come back tomorrow. She and Beaves go to the 2 computers offered at the bus station and start working. I feel as though more input would just make things confusing so the four of us are standing around talking. We have all of our things on us but Jessica has her purse and bag at her feet along with the Erica's big suitcases. We are talking in a circle around our stuff and just goofing off, I'm glad that no one seems angry with me and then Jessica looks down and says, "Fudge!". Fudgefudgefudgefudgsicles. Her purse is gone. We were all right there. We look around, run around, no where. We talk to security, they have it all on tape but they won't take the time to show it to us. "They're probably gone, it happens all the time, tough luck". I ask a couple people to open their bags, knowing I'm being judgemental and rude, but I'll never see these people again. We decide we are done with Málaga and Semana Santa and cancel our hostel and instead buy bus tickets home. Jessica goes to the police station to get a form for her passport. And we wait in the bus station until our bus leaves. We suspect this guy who was sitting near us at the time and know that they often work in groups. We're just sitting around and we see two other guys walk up to him and they all have walkie talkies (same word in Spanish) and are transferring things! I run to the Security office bang on the door and say that we are seeing something suspicious! They come out and talk to those guys and say they are police. We didn't see them show any evidence and we don't understand what the police would be transferring or why they would have 'undercover police' if they don't even care if someone gets robbed.
The return
We get on the midnight 6 hour bus to Madrid. We have a 3 hour layover there before our 6 hour bus to Oviedo. I get home and am able to cancel our other bus tickets that we won't be using and I talk to my Madre about the trip. Jessica is figuring things out and I'm going to go with her to the embassy on Wednesday. Chris says she should be able to get a new passport in two weeks or so. So that was the trip. A lot of fun, a lot of frustration, and then a lot of sadness. It was comforting coming back to Oviedo, our second home where we know we are safe. But I'm sure I wasn't the only one last night wishing I was sleeping in my home in Iowa.
Cast:
Me, Jessica, Shelby, Katie, Erica (Beaves), Erica (Erutz)
Setting:
Andulucia (Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga)
Exposition:
I came up with the idea, days set in each city and hostels. Katie organized everything from there.
Tagline:
There are warm people in this world and cold people. The lives of those of us in the middle often depend on those extreme people's choices.
Thursday April 14th-
We leave Oviedo at 6 in the morning. Erutz forgot her converter and Katie only slept for 3 hours. We fly to Barcelona and have a 4 hour layover before everyone (minus Shelby and Katie) arrives in Sevilla. WE LOVE SEVILLA. It really felt like Spring Break because there were orange and palm trees all around. So warm. So different from Asturias. We worked together to find our hostel and were only lost about 5 minutes in the neighborhood it was in. Our hostel is SO COOL. It's this 4 story bohemian cove for tourists our age. They have a free food cupboard and shelf in the fridge and you know I took advantage of that (Eggs for breakfast and noodles for lunch!). We get settled but not for long because everyone (minus me and Beaves) is leaving for Granada in a few hours. I put Granada on the trip mainly to see the Alhambra, this amazing moorish palace. However, we did not book tickets enough in advance and we could only find tickets the during a day we were scheduled to be in Sevilla. Beaves and I didn't want to go through buying 30 euro bus tickets to sleep in a bus station, maybe lose our hostel reservations, and see the Alhambra. I figured things would work out. So they left and Beaves and I had a relaxing night walking back to the hostel and playing games. The next day we left in the morning to find her new shoes (comfort over fashion) and walk around the city. Katie had everything down to a tee and I asked her what sites that we might not be able to see, since they are losing a day. We saw some of those things (mostly plazas) and went to the Alcázar. Amazing. I did not realize how much I loved gardens until this trip. I did know that I wanted to see a hedge maze while I was here- and there is a labyrinth within the gardens! We stayed there for 2 hours. We lazed about and ended up taking siestas in the hostel. Then we went to pick up the others from the bus station. We went to a free Flamenco show that night and on the way accidentally came upon a Semana Santa procession. Cool! Eerie. Then we collapsed in our beds after. The next day we were down for business. The people who missed a day wanted to see EVERYTHING they had ever heard about Sevilla in one day. This was cause for some disagreements. Anyways... we ended the night watching the Real Madrid/Barcelona game which ended in a tie. All the while we spotted gypsies and I was often compared to them. We went to the Plaza de España, which looked different than any other plaza I've seen so far and supposedly part of Star Wars was filmed at? I have no idea, I'll have to look it up.
At this point I don't know days... Córdoba-
We get to Córdoba and walk to our hostel. It's supposed to be a 40 minute walk, but it doesn't feel like it because I am taking in all that is around me. At first I think-this isn't as cool as Sevilla. Not as much life, not as much orange. I would soon change my mind. I LOVE CORDOBA. I love it, I do, and I think almost everyone I know would too. They have 1 of the 3 synagogues in Spain, the Mezquita (Amazing mosque, with amazing history [It is now a cathedral]) and of course a mountain of Catholic influence. That would entice many people. The streets are beautiful and have awesome names! I actually took pictures here! The Alcazar here is BEAUTIFUL. I realized that something I loved about the alcazares is that you can walk through everything then pick a spot and soak in your surroundings. I felt no guilt in sitting down closing my eyes here, because I was still taking in what it had to offer- the strong scent of flowers, the warmth of the sun, and the peaceful tinkling of the fountains. Additionally- they are being used for their intended purpose. I sometimes feel bad that there seems to be NO church in Spain that is just a church, without tourists. I think it is hard enough to pay attention, but with tourists walking around and muttering during mass, come on? That would be so difficult! But people built these gardens long ago for people to relax in and people are still doing that. Anyways, Córdoba also has wonderful shops. Honestly, anyone would love it. I was a weird person here though. I showered, bought souvenirs, and took pictures. We were all confused. We saw more processions and more people. I talked to my madre about how much I loved Córdoba and she said that it is place filled with educated people. Definitely loved it.
Granada
We get to the Córdoba bus station and think our bus isn't ready yet. 'Uh, that super bus is still at our gate. I wonder when our bus will come, I hope it's not late...'. Turns out- we actually got the super bus!!!! YES! I love them. We got baggies with food and water in them, watched Princess and the Frog, and had plenty of leg room for 3 hours. Definite highlight. We got to Granada and decided to take the bus to our hostel because it would be another 40 minute walk. The bus was packed and so I was very watchful of my things, but I got separated from my group which didn't make me comfortable. This man kept trying to push through me and I said that I couldn't move, but he kept trying so I told Erutz to sit on her suitcase and let him through. It was crowded to the point that people didn't make it off at their stops because they couldn't get through. However we made it out and walked to our hostel. We start getting our money out to pay and I hear, "Wait, where's my... no not... no... where's my wallet? No! WHERE'S MY WALLET?!". Everyone scrambles and looks. Erutz understandable starts to sob. Shelby and I run outside search the streets and the bus and get the number of the bus company though we know they won't have it. When we come back we find out that she has canceled her debit and credit cards and that they tried to buy something but her dad is on top of it. There's nothing we can do now, but try to make light of the situation. She's feeling better after some comforting and some jokes. We go out that night because Jessica and Shelby's professor from last semester used to study in Granada and she said to go to this certain pub and say 'hi' to the bartender for her. We do, he doesn't remember her, embarrassing. The next day Beaves and I decided to try to get tickets to the Alhambra, we heard that they keep some everyday to sell AT the Alhambra, even if it is sold out online. The first bus to it leaves at 7 so we leave then. That was a joke. The line is 200 some people long. We get in it for a second and ask a woman in line how long she's been there and how much she's moved. 5 feet in 10 minutes. Then we hear an announcement that they are only selling 100 more tickets for the afternoon. Soo.... We ask the people at the very front of the line what time they got there: 5:30 AM. Ok, we can do that. We decide to see the free parts of the Alhambra and walk back to town (The Alhambra is on a hill overlooking Granada) so that we can know our route for the next morning. There is a wonderful but steep pedestrian path that slowly leads to the city. We start to see shops and hostels and think, "Wouldn't it be great if our hostel was right here?". We get down to the main street and Beaves pulls out the map and then I say "No!" we just passed our hostel! We DO live right here! Yay! The next day's trek would not be so difficult. When we get back everyone is still sleeping so we join them. We get up and decide to see the city. Granada is the least like Spain city I've seen. It has so much Arabic influence that it doesn't really match up to what we have seen before. The Cathedral and Palace cost money to get into so nobody (but one) wants to go in, after a while a church is a church and a cathedral is a cathedral. And after someone's money gets stolen everyone thinks a little harder about their own. The food market is just a meat market, the baths are expensive and only consist of a 15 minute massage, and the street venders are many and creepy. I am not feeling Granada. We have until 9 pm the NEXT night (because we thought we'd go to the Alhambra, and I tried pleasing someone by going to each place for the EXACT number of days that someone told them they had to be there... so I had to play with hours). I throw the idea out that I want to leave Granada as soon as Beaves and I see the Alhambra. This doesn't go down very well. We go out that night to see gypsy caves and the Alhambra lit up at night and we keep getting lost, but the person with the map wouldn't let anyone help. Moods are getting cranky. We decide to go to bed early even though Real Madrid and Barcelona are playing again. Beaves and I get up at 4 in the morning and hike to the Alhambra. We get to the box office at 4:45 after having trouble getting out of bed, walking like zombies, and getting slightly lost. We are the 4th and 5th people in line. I REALLY wanted to take a picture every half hour of the line, but she said it would be too weird and obvious with the flash on. We sit and talk and ration our cookies and chips. By 8, when the office opens, there are at least 150 people in line. I whoop when the guard opens the door and people laugh, and then he starts closing it again and people joined me in 'oooh'-ing, and then he opened it again and there was some clapping. Fun. We got morning tickets and went right in. I think this was one of those things in which I got my hopes too high. I had learned about the Alhambra in art, Chris told me I had to go, and I had talked it up in my own head. It was beautiful, it was exciting to get tickets, but I wasn't falling over in amazement. I think I was tainted by seeing the alcazares first, and the girls who came to Granada first were the other way around. We covered every bit of it and walked down to the hostel at 12. We told everyone we were leaving and they could join us if they wanted.
Málaga
We changed our bus tickets for one euro and then waited for an hour in the bus station. Quick anecdote- At many bus stations there is a restaurant called 'exit'. I was walking behind Beaves and she kept turning around and trying other doors. I didn't know what she was doing until she asked, "How are we supposed to get into this cafeteria?!". HAHAHA I asked her what country we are in, and how do they say exit? Funny. We get to Málaga at 4 and decided to take a taxi to our hostel because we are TIRED. We get there and the lady asks if we are the Italians. I thought oh no oh no, she lost our reservation but then I remembered that my name is Andino and it confuses people. We laughed. So we get ready and I told her we are early, but are wondering if we could leave our stuff there or anything. She's smiling, being friendly and then stops and frowns. "You're 22 hours early. I have no room for you". What? 22 hours? If anything it's 10 hours. We're coming at 2 am. "2 am? Come on, I have to sleep at some point". You offered 2 am as a check-in time! "2 PM" (All the while she is saying mañana which can mean morning or tomorrow, but she is saying 2 in the mañana which would mean morning, but she really means the tarde....) You offered military time, so 2 in the tarde would be 1400. "No no no, regardless I don't have room for you". Crap. We ask her if she knows of any other hostels nearby. No. We ask her if we can pay the same and all sleep in one bed, or on couches. No. We are scared that all the girls will hate me. We find out that Jessica and Katie are coming one hour after we came and then Shelby and Erutz are coming one hour after that. So we are trying to come up with ideas before everyone comes. The lady lets us use her computer and we find two hostels, no one could fit 6 but each could fit two. We decided to walk back to the bus station to tell the other girls to their face because this would not be a good phone conversation. Surprisingly, Kate (the planner) doesn't seem angry, she is in her element. We are going to fix this. We will go on a day trip somewhere near hear and come back tomorrow. She and Beaves go to the 2 computers offered at the bus station and start working. I feel as though more input would just make things confusing so the four of us are standing around talking. We have all of our things on us but Jessica has her purse and bag at her feet along with the Erica's big suitcases. We are talking in a circle around our stuff and just goofing off, I'm glad that no one seems angry with me and then Jessica looks down and says, "Fudge!". Fudgefudgefudgefudgsicles. Her purse is gone. We were all right there. We look around, run around, no where. We talk to security, they have it all on tape but they won't take the time to show it to us. "They're probably gone, it happens all the time, tough luck". I ask a couple people to open their bags, knowing I'm being judgemental and rude, but I'll never see these people again. We decide we are done with Málaga and Semana Santa and cancel our hostel and instead buy bus tickets home. Jessica goes to the police station to get a form for her passport. And we wait in the bus station until our bus leaves. We suspect this guy who was sitting near us at the time and know that they often work in groups. We're just sitting around and we see two other guys walk up to him and they all have walkie talkies (same word in Spanish) and are transferring things! I run to the Security office bang on the door and say that we are seeing something suspicious! They come out and talk to those guys and say they are police. We didn't see them show any evidence and we don't understand what the police would be transferring or why they would have 'undercover police' if they don't even care if someone gets robbed.
The return
We get on the midnight 6 hour bus to Madrid. We have a 3 hour layover there before our 6 hour bus to Oviedo. I get home and am able to cancel our other bus tickets that we won't be using and I talk to my Madre about the trip. Jessica is figuring things out and I'm going to go with her to the embassy on Wednesday. Chris says she should be able to get a new passport in two weeks or so. So that was the trip. A lot of fun, a lot of frustration, and then a lot of sadness. It was comforting coming back to Oviedo, our second home where we know we are safe. But I'm sure I wasn't the only one last night wishing I was sleeping in my home in Iowa.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Space Between
Tom's mom likes to remind me how many Fridays I have left abroad-8 :). Eight is the answer- it's not part of some weird emoticon. The last two weekends I was able to hang out at my friend's apartment. Her mom is this 60 year old party animal haha. Their house is like a mini bodega and she's almost never home, and when Shelby is home she tells her to go out! be young! And Shelby will be like... it's midnight on a school night? Anyways... she left to party it up most likely in Madrid for a week and she specifically said- have your friends over! So we went over and I ate junk food and listened to music without my headphones and sprawled out on the couch. It was great. Again, you don't realize the things you miss until you have the opportunity to return to them. I'm not allowed to put my feet on the couch here. My family eats pretty healthily and so the cookies I take as my sweets were nothing compared to what Shelby's mom bought for us. Cookies, powdered rolls, sugary croissants mmmm. I look forward to laying about everywhere- so don't be weirded out when I come back and just roll all over your residence.
School school blah blah. I'm registered for Fall 2011!!! Honestly. Love school. I'm going to take an Intro to Professional Counseling class and Spanish Linguistics with practically everyone who came here with me. After becoming an alternate RA I decided to apply to be a student ambassador. The interview process is sneaky and difficult and I was told that I would have a lot going against me because I was not there. The first interview they have is like a 'non-required informative meeting'. It IS required and there are sneaky people pretending to be applicants but really judging you. If you pass that you get invited to interview with two groups of 5 interviewers and it's supposed to be pretty intimidating. So my application had to SHINE to be considered for interviewing. Two other girls here were applying and two others yet are already ambassadors so we worked on the application together and we all got called to interview! And now I am an ambassador wooohooo!
Last two weekends have been here. I went to a men's volleyball game and tried my darndest to heckle in Spanish. "Hay una red alli!" "There's a net there" "No puede hacer eso!" "You can't do that" "Matales! or Matadles" "Kill 'em!" and "Negado!" "Denied" were my faves (Note: Spaniards were NOT saying these things AND were really bad chanters... sigh). Afterwards we went to a cafe that I had heard about and my cheapness got us in trouble. Whenever we go to a cafe I usually get cafe con leche (with 3 or 4 bags of sugar) because it is the cheapest thing generally. So I ordered my drink and everyone else was lagging but I was like- hey, I bought my 1.20 drink we are going to stay and relax here for a bit! So we all sat down to maybe play some cards but then the lights dimmed. We asked the camarero what was up and he said that they play free movies on the weekends. Cool! Now we were really staying. The played Paranormal Activity. Still feeling the need to stay I convinced myself and others that it wouldn’t be as scary because it was in Spanish. Wrong. We all had to leave early and it took me about 3 days to recover. I asked my madre if I got too scared in the night if I could sleep with her and my padre. She laughed and said no L.
I've gone to the beach a couple times and yesterday we went to one like I've never been to before. It was really long and really shallow for a long time, there were constantly big AND small waves. The waves came in really far so there was a long bit of muddy puddy. There were boarders: surf, body, skim. Loved it. Going back. 4 euro 45 minute round trip bus ride. Some friends went to Tenerife last weekend and I was interested but now see I don't need it in my life. I'm ok with letting other people go places first and seeing whether or not I really need to- Portugal, Tenerife, and London are no's for now. However- like I said before-I want EXPERIENCES. So I AM going to the Canary Islands for Gay Pride week! My friends had no idea while they were making their plans but it is what it is so I’m joining! I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t go. So I’m in the process of setting things up for May 6-9 in Gran Canaria!!
Soo this has kind of become a bi-weekly thing. I leave on Thursday and won’t be back home until the NEXT Saturday. Obviously I was preparing you all for this separation by slowly extending the periods between updates so I’m sure you’ll be fine. If not, I have no advice for you, so… tough luck. I’m excited to have a block of chocolate in hand as I write to you about my week in Andulucia! April 27thish? It’s a date.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
2 week hiatus...
Uhhh skipped a week, sorry about that. As I have not gotten out of bed for about 14 hours (out of laziness, no sickness here) I thought it would be a good idea to type my blog. Dad- I'm sorry I didn't make you laugh last time, I will work hard on this one! There was one kinda funny thing I forgot about the Milan trip-as I walk around every day (an average of 2 hours a day) I have lists running through my head. Short term to do lists (shower, cut my toenails...) long term (apply for jobs back home, planning trips) things I have to write about in my blog, and then whatever random thoughts I get in my head. So in all of that I sometimes forget! But anyways... in the airport I beeped off at the metal detectors and so I had to get pat down and they looked at my passport and whatever. The TSA lady asked if I was spanish and I was like, 'heck yes!' But then obviously when she looked at my passport she knew I was American and she said, "Oooh Obamaland", and then the rest of the TSA staff kept saying, "ooooh Sara ooooh Obamaland ooooh!!!!" It was a strange experience.
I made it to Valencia after a few minor freakouts. I have a friend who is like our very own tripadvisor.com. She finds everything for the cheapest price and does fun things. I jumped on board with her group to Valencia and she told me to buy this bus ticket and that train ticket. So I bought the bus ticket and then went to the train station to buy my train ticket. The stapler guy from Office Space informed us that there was no train leaving at 8:25 and our best bet was to buy this 80 euro train! Ok innocent looking man who is speaking so nicely to us Americans-I trust you! I buy the tickets but then my other friends start dropping off, saying that eso no vale la pena (it's not worth it). I go home and check the train site again and see the train I originally wanted! That little turd! So I went the next day to the bus station with my friends to buy bus tickets in advanced for Semana Santa. After that I walked up the hill to the train station and started talking to a new guy.
One friend had given me cash to pay for her ticket while I paid with my card (I still haven't gotten my new pin number). I realized that I had left my card with the lady at the bus station (the mean one from Carnaval) and that the train station would be closing in about 10-15 minutes. Ah! So I bought my friend's and the guy asked 'Vuelta?' 'Return?' and I was flustered and said 'no' because I obviously would be GOING before I RETURNED right? But what any normal human being would understand was that he was asking when I was going to return. So he printed out my ida ticket (to go) and then I said, 'ok now the vuelta'. He. was. mad. 'I asked you if you wanted the return!' and I kept saying sorry, sorry, I'm really sorry (Lo siento, lo siento, lo siento mucho). And do you want to know what he said? 'Lo siento, lo siento, lo siento mucho' in a mocking voice! I almost cried. But I got the tickets and realized that if I sprinted I might be able to make it to the bus station and back in time. I ran to the bus station, got in line behind a lady who was buying like 100 tickets (!!!), got my card, and sprinted back. I made it just in time, but one man was still being helped so I got to recover my breath before getting the job done. A new guy helped me and he was SO NICE! He gave me the 16 and under discount and when he looked at my passport said, "oooh guapisima!"
Las Fallas is every pyro's dream come true. After 12 hours of bus and train we were able to walk around the city and see a bunch of the statues, markets, and people. It was slightly scary because people just let off firecrackers and you hear explosions all day. You never get used to those random ground shaking noises. At night we stood around our favorite statue (it looked like Mr. Incredible) and waited. Finally, a fireworks show, maybe the best of my life, began. Maybe it was because we were so close and were in a city square, but it was AWESOME. At one point you couldn't even tell it was midnight-everything around you was alight. Then the fireworks worked their way up our statue (taller than any building around us) and it BURNED. Not only did it burn, but it did so along side epic classical music. Wonderful. I did learn later though that someone lost an eye and two fingers.
This week was minicourse week at school. I took comics, digital media, and dance! I was only supposed to be in two, but I talked to the lady in charge and she looked both ways and then whispered to me, "Just don't tell anyone". :D Yes, I love school and am a nerd. What of it? I learned the merengue and pasa doble, did a project asking people on the streets what they thought would make a better world (one man said the elimination of Spongebob), profiled some professors, and won the comic competition! I'm actually really proud about that- I won the teacher and the popular vote! I drew 'A trip through Oviedo... for a hamster'. Spaniards didn't know what hamster balls were though. Weird.
I know I write way too long of posts as it is (sorry! You could read just one paragraph a day?) but like I said before- I have to get my thoughts out of my head or else I might lose them forever! While with Chris and Paige I told them how I often wonder if things that are different to me here are Spain things or just city things. Dog poop is just a city thing. Vending machines with meat and cheese in them is a Latin thing. Same with little old ladies walking hand in hand everywhere (I WILL get a picture of that-SO cute). Oh yea- didn't go to Salamanca. But I did climb to Christ yesterday and that was fun- a two hour hike in our very own Oviedo! The strange thing was that the higher up we got on the mountain-the more the weather was like Iowa! The grass, the farm animals, the mosquitos... weird.
I made it to Valencia after a few minor freakouts. I have a friend who is like our very own tripadvisor.com. She finds everything for the cheapest price and does fun things. I jumped on board with her group to Valencia and she told me to buy this bus ticket and that train ticket. So I bought the bus ticket and then went to the train station to buy my train ticket. The stapler guy from Office Space informed us that there was no train leaving at 8:25 and our best bet was to buy this 80 euro train! Ok innocent looking man who is speaking so nicely to us Americans-I trust you! I buy the tickets but then my other friends start dropping off, saying that eso no vale la pena (it's not worth it). I go home and check the train site again and see the train I originally wanted! That little turd! So I went the next day to the bus station with my friends to buy bus tickets in advanced for Semana Santa. After that I walked up the hill to the train station and started talking to a new guy.
One friend had given me cash to pay for her ticket while I paid with my card (I still haven't gotten my new pin number). I realized that I had left my card with the lady at the bus station (the mean one from Carnaval) and that the train station would be closing in about 10-15 minutes. Ah! So I bought my friend's and the guy asked 'Vuelta?' 'Return?' and I was flustered and said 'no' because I obviously would be GOING before I RETURNED right? But what any normal human being would understand was that he was asking when I was going to return. So he printed out my ida ticket (to go) and then I said, 'ok now the vuelta'. He. was. mad. 'I asked you if you wanted the return!' and I kept saying sorry, sorry, I'm really sorry (Lo siento, lo siento, lo siento mucho). And do you want to know what he said? 'Lo siento, lo siento, lo siento mucho' in a mocking voice! I almost cried. But I got the tickets and realized that if I sprinted I might be able to make it to the bus station and back in time. I ran to the bus station, got in line behind a lady who was buying like 100 tickets (!!!), got my card, and sprinted back. I made it just in time, but one man was still being helped so I got to recover my breath before getting the job done. A new guy helped me and he was SO NICE! He gave me the 16 and under discount and when he looked at my passport said, "oooh guapisima!"
Las Fallas is every pyro's dream come true. After 12 hours of bus and train we were able to walk around the city and see a bunch of the statues, markets, and people. It was slightly scary because people just let off firecrackers and you hear explosions all day. You never get used to those random ground shaking noises. At night we stood around our favorite statue (it looked like Mr. Incredible) and waited. Finally, a fireworks show, maybe the best of my life, began. Maybe it was because we were so close and were in a city square, but it was AWESOME. At one point you couldn't even tell it was midnight-everything around you was alight. Then the fireworks worked their way up our statue (taller than any building around us) and it BURNED. Not only did it burn, but it did so along side epic classical music. Wonderful. I did learn later though that someone lost an eye and two fingers.
This week was minicourse week at school. I took comics, digital media, and dance! I was only supposed to be in two, but I talked to the lady in charge and she looked both ways and then whispered to me, "Just don't tell anyone". :D Yes, I love school and am a nerd. What of it? I learned the merengue and pasa doble, did a project asking people on the streets what they thought would make a better world (one man said the elimination of Spongebob), profiled some professors, and won the comic competition! I'm actually really proud about that- I won the teacher and the popular vote! I drew 'A trip through Oviedo... for a hamster'. Spaniards didn't know what hamster balls were though. Weird.
I know I write way too long of posts as it is (sorry! You could read just one paragraph a day?) but like I said before- I have to get my thoughts out of my head or else I might lose them forever! While with Chris and Paige I told them how I often wonder if things that are different to me here are Spain things or just city things. Dog poop is just a city thing. Vending machines with meat and cheese in them is a Latin thing. Same with little old ladies walking hand in hand everywhere (I WILL get a picture of that-SO cute). Oh yea- didn't go to Salamanca. But I did climb to Christ yesterday and that was fun- a two hour hike in our very own Oviedo! The strange thing was that the higher up we got on the mountain-the more the weather was like Iowa! The grass, the farm animals, the mosquitos... weird.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Parades and Zoe!
We left off before the second round of Carnaval. Went to Gijon and it was NOT as cool as Aviles. There was a parade, but parades are different here- no candy, less floats. Meh. There was one stage for music and we danced for a little while but didn't know the songs. The most exciting event that night was the mob on the bus. There were hundreds of people in line at the bus station to go back to Oviedo. We were probably behind 50 people. So one bus loaded and left. The second bus pulled up to the front of the line and started loading the next in line. Well, the third bus driver just started letting people nearest to his door in line in. That help me and my friends board then. But when both buses finished loading at the same time the people at the front of the line who missed the second bus freaked out. People were hitting the bus and standing in front of it-madness! But we all got out of it alive.
I only went to school Wednesday and Thursday. I got the results for my fonetica and gramatica tests. I did great on my gramatica and not so great in fonetica. Everyone in the class failed except for one girl who got a perfect. The teacher and I joke around a lot and I asked how we did on the test and he said horrible and I laughed. Then he said, 'No, really. Horrible'. :/ It's just frustrating because I did fine in class! There'll be more tests though.
Friday I took a bus to Santander to fly from there. I took the first class bus because that worked with timing- it was awesome. First class seats, I watched Definitely, Maybe in Spanish, and free snacks! I came into Milan around 7pm and found out that the Metro wasn't working because of a strike and that I would have to pay to go to the bathroom at the train station. So I fidgeted in a line for a taxi for 20 minutes. Two people asked me questions as if I knew anything. I came to Neil and Francesca's (Chris' friends) house and met up with everyone (great people!), started dinner, and saw Chris, Paige and Zoe! Ahh!
Zoe is such a giggly baby now. She wakes up with a smile and laughs with her big open mouth. Ah I love her so much. Saturday we went to the Duomo and the Galleria, and figured out that it was Carnaval in Milan that weekend. Aviles fills the streets with foam, but Milan fills the streets with confetti- only don't say that in Italian because confetti is like sweets and that will get peoples' hopes up. I got attacked with foam and confetti by some teenage boys and an old lady. The parade here was actually very fun to watch so we did that for a while. There were dancers and some throwing of things to the crowd. Sunday we went to the castillo, but the majority of our trip was spent eating and talking-which are two of my favorite things! But my favorite memories of the trip were waking up from a nap and seeing Zoe next to me. She's so great.
I came home Monday. The Milan airport made me laugh-to get to your gate they have arrows pointing this way and that way. I followed and it took me through the airport mall- if I had been there before I would have known that I would only have to take my first left and avoid the mall. Today I caught up with everyone at school and tried to buy my tickets to Valencia this weekend. I know that people told me that life would be less stressful here- but I think it's a different kind of stress. Booking flights and hostels etc. is stressful stuff. Anyways... hopefully I will be able to tell you next time that Valencia was great and I made it into the school Salamanca trip!
I only went to school Wednesday and Thursday. I got the results for my fonetica and gramatica tests. I did great on my gramatica and not so great in fonetica. Everyone in the class failed except for one girl who got a perfect. The teacher and I joke around a lot and I asked how we did on the test and he said horrible and I laughed. Then he said, 'No, really. Horrible'. :/ It's just frustrating because I did fine in class! There'll be more tests though.
Friday I took a bus to Santander to fly from there. I took the first class bus because that worked with timing- it was awesome. First class seats, I watched Definitely, Maybe in Spanish, and free snacks! I came into Milan around 7pm and found out that the Metro wasn't working because of a strike and that I would have to pay to go to the bathroom at the train station. So I fidgeted in a line for a taxi for 20 minutes. Two people asked me questions as if I knew anything. I came to Neil and Francesca's (Chris' friends) house and met up with everyone (great people!), started dinner, and saw Chris, Paige and Zoe! Ahh!
Zoe is such a giggly baby now. She wakes up with a smile and laughs with her big open mouth. Ah I love her so much. Saturday we went to the Duomo and the Galleria, and figured out that it was Carnaval in Milan that weekend. Aviles fills the streets with foam, but Milan fills the streets with confetti- only don't say that in Italian because confetti is like sweets and that will get peoples' hopes up. I got attacked with foam and confetti by some teenage boys and an old lady. The parade here was actually very fun to watch so we did that for a while. There were dancers and some throwing of things to the crowd. Sunday we went to the castillo, but the majority of our trip was spent eating and talking-which are two of my favorite things! But my favorite memories of the trip were waking up from a nap and seeing Zoe next to me. She's so great.
I came home Monday. The Milan airport made me laugh-to get to your gate they have arrows pointing this way and that way. I followed and it took me through the airport mall- if I had been there before I would have known that I would only have to take my first left and avoid the mall. Today I caught up with everyone at school and tried to buy my tickets to Valencia this weekend. I know that people told me that life would be less stressful here- but I think it's a different kind of stress. Booking flights and hostels etc. is stressful stuff. Anyways... hopefully I will be able to tell you next time that Valencia was great and I made it into the school Salamanca trip!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Near death experiences? Of a computer, long hair, and me...
Hmm... this week. My computer battery died so I can now only use it if it is plugged in. This is mostly a good thing- I will be on it less and walk (30 minutes) to the cafeteria and hang out with people more often. Schoolwise, I had two tests and a field trip. Before my two tests I had pretests which I rocked, but then after I took my grammar test I kept thinking of my mistakes so we'll see the results soon. The field trip was to Oviedo's cathedral. I've been waiting to go there because I figured we might for school sometime. It was one of those things that I pass everyday and take for granted and then I walked inside and thought, wow this is just as cool as those big name cathedrals! I got a haircut at a La James type place on Friday. They cut off a little more than I would like- but I looked at the ground when they finished and it didn't seem like it! Well it looks cleaned up so that's good.
This week is Carnaval which is a big celebration here before lent. I don't have school today or tomorrow. I did not make it to Tenerife or Lisbon, but I think I had/ will have more fun here with friends. We went to Aviles on Saturday because we heard that they fill the streets with foam. We got there and just hung out until it was foam time and started walking where we saw the majority of people walking. And the majority of those people were wearing rain gear, so we stopped and got some 60 cent ponchos. We found the street and saw foam cannons, but no foam only kids playing with bubbles. I thought that maybe we had gotten our hopes terribly high. But we just took the Spaniards' lead and stood around talking in the street. Then, after an hour, people started to pack up against us. It was foam time. We were all ready after waiting and faced the cannon full on.
As the foam began everyone screamed as if to say, "Woo bring on the foam!" but the screams soon turned to, "Noo! Not the foam!!!". I thought I was going to die. At a foam party. From facing the foam straight on it got in my eyes which I tried to wipe off with my hands- but they were foamy too so I just made the situation worse. Then I inhaled it. I'mgonnadieI'mgonnadieI'mgonnadie. And no one would realize for about 5 minutes because the mob would keep me standing. I had to get out. I tried yelling 'ayudame' but the foam prevented me from being loud enough. I just started hitting people on the head in the direction furthest from the cannon (I thought) and finally waded my way to the other side. There were barriers so that the people who didn't want to be foamy didn't have to but I was joined by many escapees and they broke down the barrier. I escaped to a bar and they gave me free water (which is really surprising here). I settle my heart down and decided to make my way back to my friends.
I still had the remains of foam in my throat for hours but I was able to have fun. The next time the cannon went off I put my back to it and breathed slowly through my nose. We played in it for hours and it was like warm snow! At one point the foam was as high as my waist (though that might not being saying much considering my height). Then the parade came through the foamy streets. Very fun. But this will be one of those things that I will make sure to warn future students about. Wear rain gear and maybe a medical mask. After we were foamed out we went to our lockers at the bus station to change into our costumes. My 75 cent costume was me being a French man. I just bought a facial hair kit, wore all black, and stuffed my hair into the beret Tom gave me. We walked back to the foam area where two stages were set up and danced all night! I loved it! They played a lot of American oldies and then songs we've heard here in the clubs so we knew almost every song.
Sunday was a hermit day. I still haven't seen any of my family- so I'll have to get out of here soon and say que tal to my madre. Off note- has anyone ever heard of a 'Hamster day'? My friend (American) said that she was having one the other day and explained that the day before hamsters die their eyes get all crusty and they don't do anything? So she was tired and just walking around half asleep and having a 'hamster day'? Anyways... I got my first package from friends today and that was SUPER excited. Got some peanut butter and that will be nice because I'm giving up chocolate for Lent- so now I can snack on that! Tonight we go to Gijon for our second round of Carnaval, but I don't know when. I'm going to Milan on Friday-Monday to see Chris, Paige, and Zoe! Skipping our group cabin excursion, but I think I might have more fun :D.
Important things will happen before I write again so I will wish you well before then: Happy Fat Tuesday! International Womens' Day! Ash Wednesday! Spring Forward! π day! and Beginning of Spring Break you crazy Iowans!
This week is Carnaval which is a big celebration here before lent. I don't have school today or tomorrow. I did not make it to Tenerife or Lisbon, but I think I had/ will have more fun here with friends. We went to Aviles on Saturday because we heard that they fill the streets with foam. We got there and just hung out until it was foam time and started walking where we saw the majority of people walking. And the majority of those people were wearing rain gear, so we stopped and got some 60 cent ponchos. We found the street and saw foam cannons, but no foam only kids playing with bubbles. I thought that maybe we had gotten our hopes terribly high. But we just took the Spaniards' lead and stood around talking in the street. Then, after an hour, people started to pack up against us. It was foam time. We were all ready after waiting and faced the cannon full on.
As the foam began everyone screamed as if to say, "Woo bring on the foam!" but the screams soon turned to, "Noo! Not the foam!!!". I thought I was going to die. At a foam party. From facing the foam straight on it got in my eyes which I tried to wipe off with my hands- but they were foamy too so I just made the situation worse. Then I inhaled it. I'mgonnadieI'mgonnadieI'mgonnadie. And no one would realize for about 5 minutes because the mob would keep me standing. I had to get out. I tried yelling 'ayudame' but the foam prevented me from being loud enough. I just started hitting people on the head in the direction furthest from the cannon (I thought) and finally waded my way to the other side. There were barriers so that the people who didn't want to be foamy didn't have to but I was joined by many escapees and they broke down the barrier. I escaped to a bar and they gave me free water (which is really surprising here). I settle my heart down and decided to make my way back to my friends.
I still had the remains of foam in my throat for hours but I was able to have fun. The next time the cannon went off I put my back to it and breathed slowly through my nose. We played in it for hours and it was like warm snow! At one point the foam was as high as my waist (though that might not being saying much considering my height). Then the parade came through the foamy streets. Very fun. But this will be one of those things that I will make sure to warn future students about. Wear rain gear and maybe a medical mask. After we were foamed out we went to our lockers at the bus station to change into our costumes. My 75 cent costume was me being a French man. I just bought a facial hair kit, wore all black, and stuffed my hair into the beret Tom gave me. We walked back to the foam area where two stages were set up and danced all night! I loved it! They played a lot of American oldies and then songs we've heard here in the clubs so we knew almost every song.
Sunday was a hermit day. I still haven't seen any of my family- so I'll have to get out of here soon and say que tal to my madre. Off note- has anyone ever heard of a 'Hamster day'? My friend (American) said that she was having one the other day and explained that the day before hamsters die their eyes get all crusty and they don't do anything? So she was tired and just walking around half asleep and having a 'hamster day'? Anyways... I got my first package from friends today and that was SUPER excited. Got some peanut butter and that will be nice because I'm giving up chocolate for Lent- so now I can snack on that! Tonight we go to Gijon for our second round of Carnaval, but I don't know when. I'm going to Milan on Friday-Monday to see Chris, Paige, and Zoe! Skipping our group cabin excursion, but I think I might have more fun :D.
Important things will happen before I write again so I will wish you well before then: Happy Fat Tuesday! International Womens' Day! Ash Wednesday! Spring Forward! π day! and Beginning of Spring Break you crazy Iowans!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
This is one of those weeks. Those weeks in which I could not possibly convey all of the feelings, events, and thought processes. On one hand I wish that I always have weeks like these. On the other, when I get to typing my blog, I feel bad. I'm stealing John Mayer's words with: Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way with words. Honestly, we are saving myself from carpal tunnel and you all from serious eye damage. I will try to give you the highlights.
-I'm not a RA
-We renovated both of our bathrooms. AT THE SAME TIME.
-I will not see Carla at the house again.
-I was afraid to ride a plane?
-Barcelona > Madrid. x ∞. Full stop.
--Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, La Catedral, Bosque de los Fades, Estadi Olimpico, Camp Nou, Font Magica, el mar.
--Catalan is not difficult to understand.
--Skipped school and was there Monday.
-I am going to live with a friend I've made here next year in Rider (the same dorm Tom is a RA in)!
--We are going to have a strictly Spanish room.
-I've forgotten my debit card pin number.
-I am re-inspired and trying to go to Canary Islands!?
-EVERYTHING IS GOING SO FAST. carnaval(canaryislands).twomonthmark.weekendinthemountains.lasfallas(valencia).minicourseweekatschool.belle&sebastianconcertingermany.rest?semanasanta(sevillecordobagranadamalaga)rest?3dayweekend.rest?finals.becomehomeless?dosomethingwithmyextraweek.
Thus I end, stealing Ferris Bueller's words: Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.
-I'm not a RA
-We renovated both of our bathrooms. AT THE SAME TIME.
-I will not see Carla at the house again.
-I was afraid to ride a plane?
-Barcelona > Madrid. x ∞. Full stop.
--Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, La Catedral, Bosque de los Fades, Estadi Olimpico, Camp Nou, Font Magica, el mar.
--Catalan is not difficult to understand.
--Skipped school and was there Monday.
-I am going to live with a friend I've made here next year in Rider (the same dorm Tom is a RA in)!
--We are going to have a strictly Spanish room.
-I've forgotten my debit card pin number.
-I am re-inspired and trying to go to Canary Islands!?
-EVERYTHING IS GOING SO FAST. carnaval(canaryislands).twomonthmark.weekendinthemountains.lasfallas(valencia).minicourseweekatschool.belle&sebastianconcertingermany.rest?semanasanta(sevillecordobagranadamalaga)rest?3dayweekend.rest?finals.becomehomeless?dosomethingwithmyextraweek.
Thus I end, stealing Ferris Bueller's words: Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Covery
Dis:
Don't ever try to erase anything on your blog, because it will erase everything. Spanish SIM card + US phone ≠ function. Good test grade in art, decent in translation and that correlates with my studying/preparation so I'm ok with it. My Spanish partner is not going to respond to me, so I e-mailed the program to ask for another. This weekend I hung out with my friend's partner, but she just spoke English the whole time! I don't want that. My umbrella doesn't cover my back that well (If I'm not paying attention). Must. Protect. Contents. Of. Backpack. I don't like Two and a Half Men in English, so why would I in Spanish? I learned more about the people who came here with me as we did a Faith Forum on Tuesday. For those who don't know (which I think is everyone) Faith Forum is an event put on regularly at UNI by UNIFI (UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers, it's a mainly a group for those not practicing any religion). I've only been to one actual one at UNI and the topic was, "Coming home for the holidays atheist". Two active members are here and decided it would be fun to have one (in English). This Tuesday the topic was "Can science and religion coexist?". For once in my life, I didn't try to control the conversation and just got to hear a group of 8 of my peers discuss their beliefs. Very fun and interesting.
Re:
Got a new phone. Went to the library to get new card and got lectured. "A library card is very important, you can't just handle it all willy nilly! You are costing us money!" "Uh, I'm so sorry! You know I lost my phone too- I wasn't singling out the library!" He grunted, didn't look at me and angrily produced my new card and handed it to me. "I'm so sorry, I will NEVER lose this again. It's going in my wallet and only coming out when I check things out." He smirks, "Don't worry, it's not that bad." WHAT? It was a rainy weekend, so I just hung out at home for the most part, sleeping and taking advantage of the TV when my family left.
My parting consejo- don't lose your library cards kids!
Don't ever try to erase anything on your blog, because it will erase everything. Spanish SIM card + US phone ≠ function. Good test grade in art, decent in translation and that correlates with my studying/preparation so I'm ok with it. My Spanish partner is not going to respond to me, so I e-mailed the program to ask for another. This weekend I hung out with my friend's partner, but she just spoke English the whole time! I don't want that. My umbrella doesn't cover my back that well (If I'm not paying attention). Must. Protect. Contents. Of. Backpack. I don't like Two and a Half Men in English, so why would I in Spanish? I learned more about the people who came here with me as we did a Faith Forum on Tuesday. For those who don't know (which I think is everyone) Faith Forum is an event put on regularly at UNI by UNIFI (UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers, it's a mainly a group for those not practicing any religion). I've only been to one actual one at UNI and the topic was, "Coming home for the holidays atheist". Two active members are here and decided it would be fun to have one (in English). This Tuesday the topic was "Can science and religion coexist?". For once in my life, I didn't try to control the conversation and just got to hear a group of 8 of my peers discuss their beliefs. Very fun and interesting.
Re:
Got a new phone. Went to the library to get new card and got lectured. "A library card is very important, you can't just handle it all willy nilly! You are costing us money!" "Uh, I'm so sorry! You know I lost my phone too- I wasn't singling out the library!" He grunted, didn't look at me and angrily produced my new card and handed it to me. "I'm so sorry, I will NEVER lose this again. It's going in my wallet and only coming out when I check things out." He smirks, "Don't worry, it's not that bad." WHAT? It was a rainy weekend, so I just hung out at home for the most part, sleeping and taking advantage of the TV when my family left.
My parting consejo- don't lose your library cards kids!
Monday, February 14, 2011
I am a loser.
It actually started last Saturday. We went karaoking and I offered up my red pen to write down the songs we wanted to sing. It was left at the bar. That's what I used to correct my Translation homework! Ah well, I still have another pen. I realized on Monday that I didn't know where my phone was. Ah well, it will show up. It didn't. Friday to top everything off, I lost my only pencil and my last pen (I only brought what was in my backpack at the time... didn't really think ahead) AND my library card. WAHHHHH. Also- I count how many times people pick up dog poop (9). Anyways, I'm going to go to the mall today and see if they'll just give me a new SIM card and it might fit in my real cellphone that I brought here? Because I got a really good deal that they were offering at the time so I hope I can keep it! Also, I'm going to get a new library card? Or just see if I can just give them my number to check things out. Then I'm going to study for my Art test this Wednesday. Right now I'm just keeping in my room because my madre is yelling...
Living in an apartment is weird. People can hear everything, doors are kinda pointless. So at the beginning I thought my madre got in fights every night, but then I realized it's just her voice. It is also many times just our neighbors. Then last week I heard my padres fight, and I don't think they knew I was home. He left and slammed the door and she eventually went to her room to call and complain to a friend. I bolted so I wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Today she's fighting with mi hermano. When I first came and she told me that he was my age I got excited and asked, "Oh are you at the University too!?", "No"... awkward pause. And I guess I never asked him directly if he had a job. His girlfriend does so I guess I just assumed he did too? But he doesn't, and through my door for the past half hour I've heard all about it. We are painting our apartment and I think eventually getting carpet? I thought it was to make things prettier... but I guess it was a ruse to get him to work, and he wasn't doing it.
Last week I had my first exam in my Translation class, hopefully I will find happy results tomorrow. Remember how I said I would keep an ear out for tutoring jobs? I GOT ONE! WOOO! I meet her tomorrow at 10. Friday my friend and I went to Tangled in Spanish and I understood just about everything! And cried... twice. I am a movie cry baby. Today is Valentines day and I got a great surprise in that Tom ordered flowers for me :). What a great boyfriend! That's all I can think to tell- I hope everyone has a lovely V-Day!
Living in an apartment is weird. People can hear everything, doors are kinda pointless. So at the beginning I thought my madre got in fights every night, but then I realized it's just her voice. It is also many times just our neighbors. Then last week I heard my padres fight, and I don't think they knew I was home. He left and slammed the door and she eventually went to her room to call and complain to a friend. I bolted so I wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Today she's fighting with mi hermano. When I first came and she told me that he was my age I got excited and asked, "Oh are you at the University too!?", "No"... awkward pause. And I guess I never asked him directly if he had a job. His girlfriend does so I guess I just assumed he did too? But he doesn't, and through my door for the past half hour I've heard all about it. We are painting our apartment and I think eventually getting carpet? I thought it was to make things prettier... but I guess it was a ruse to get him to work, and he wasn't doing it.
Last week I had my first exam in my Translation class, hopefully I will find happy results tomorrow. Remember how I said I would keep an ear out for tutoring jobs? I GOT ONE! WOOO! I meet her tomorrow at 10. Friday my friend and I went to Tangled in Spanish and I understood just about everything! And cried... twice. I am a movie cry baby. Today is Valentines day and I got a great surprise in that Tom ordered flowers for me :). What a great boyfriend! That's all I can think to tell- I hope everyone has a lovely V-Day!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
"Es mio!" (This is what my sobrina is saying to me while I'm typing this. "It's mine!" as she's holding up my things.
So..... you can send me stuff and I don't have to pay! Yahooooo! I had clearly written on my Spain notes that I would have to pay. Maybe I meant that it would cost a lot for me to send YOU stuff. I know already it costs 1.80 euro to send a letter. Updates: My psychology trip to Barcelona/UK has been officially canceled by the study abroad program :(. It's sad but it's also nice to know for sure what is going on. School ends on May 22nd. I know a bunch of people are staying until the 26th and I think at least 2 people are staying a bit longer yet. My flight isn't set to leave until May 31st. So.... I wasn't going to go to Barcelona before my program, but now I just hopped on some of my friends' plans for Barcelona in two weeks. Jon and I talked and it doesn't look like he'll be able to come visit, again sad but nice to kind of know better what's going on.
We have almost finished planning Semana Santa. We are now only staying in Malaga for 2 days. The flight would be cheaper if we stayed two days later, but my friends didn't want to miss any classes soo here we are. I don't think I'm going to Lisbon during Carnaval anymore, I'm just going to stay around Oviedo, and bus to a different city in Asturias everyday with some friends, way cheaper and on our own terms.
Found a new sweet- Neopolatins. I think we have them in the states? Half the price of a bueno bar and twice as big. It's just sweet bread with a chocolate center, but it's amazing. I don't think there will ever be a time when no one is sick. It's just one big cycle. Ciao for now.
We have almost finished planning Semana Santa. We are now only staying in Malaga for 2 days. The flight would be cheaper if we stayed two days later, but my friends didn't want to miss any classes soo here we are. I don't think I'm going to Lisbon during Carnaval anymore, I'm just going to stay around Oviedo, and bus to a different city in Asturias everyday with some friends, way cheaper and on our own terms.
Found a new sweet- Neopolatins. I think we have them in the states? Half the price of a bueno bar and twice as big. It's just sweet bread with a chocolate center, but it's amazing. I don't think there will ever be a time when no one is sick. It's just one big cycle. Ciao for now.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Corrections, plans, and loitering
Having a sore throat inhibits your ability to spell. Dog piles stepped in: 2. Pooperscoopers witnessed: 8 1/2- I could tell that there was effort but the stuff just didn't quite pick up. Also- When I told you to say "Haber" I learned this week that you actually say "A ver" but its pronounced the same here. The meaning is, 'Let's see'... used interchangeably with 'um'. I make people laugh in classes (either at my jokes... or just at me- whatever pleases them) and I guess the professor had just explained this and then I just shouted out, "SO THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE SAYS ALL THE TIME!" The class erupted. My friend Nate said that he can't take me anywhere.
I skipped school on Monday in order to not talk for a full day and rest and eat a lot of honey. I have now found the most dangerous things in the house: my padre showed me the cookie jar, my madre showed me the honey, and after seeing some nutella on bread for mis sobrinas I searched and found the off brand Nutella. I don't know what it is about Spain, but I just want sweets all of the time. And having a sore throat didn't help matters because whenever I passed an ice cream place I'd convince myself that I needed it for my throat. Also- McFlurrys are crazy delicious here. They add chocolate and/ or caramel. Thanks to *Abigail I knew about 'Bueno Bars' before I came to Spain and got one on the first night- got everyone in the group addicted. We can't all be together without at least one person saying they need one. Additionally- the first Thursday here I found myself at McDonald's eating a McFlurry and I have now been there for many people's first, probably of many.
I continue to love my classes and family. Grammar has finally become challenging and Hispanoamerica has gotten slightly more interesting-we watched a documentary the other day! Final exams here go on for a month- and Saturdays! So we hadn't really seen actual University students before. Monday the Campus was PACKED. And I received the name of my conversation partner, but we haven't met yet. My madre spoon-fed me honey the other day and explained that it might not taste as good as the other honey we have- but it will actually help me.
I've been here a month? It is so weird! I don't think I'll do the actual internship thing with kids just because it seems pretty difficult to keep in touch with the coordinator. I am going to keep my ear out for private English tutoring- my friend speaks with a little girl in English once a week and gets paid 70 euro! Jeez louise. This past weekend I booked my flight to, and 3 hostels for Semana Santa (Spring Break) we still have to book the last hostel and the flight home- but I have the information, I just want everyone to be together when we do it so there is no confusion. We are going to miss one day of school before the break and fly to Sevilla, spend 3 nights there and then bus to Cordoba. Spend two nights in Cordoba and then bus to Granada. Spend 3 nights in Granada and then bus to Malaga and stay there 4 nights before flying back. Malaga is a beach town and the birthplace of Picasso. I thought it would be nice to hang out on a beach after a week long of hectic traveling. However, two of the girls coming are very white and have a rational fear of the beach. So I've found places around there that they/we could visit- A 'Western' town, a Buddhist temple on a mountain, a natural spa. It was hard pleasing everyone- but I had planned most of it and I think it will go well.
Semana Santa is from the 14th-26th of April and will be my big trip. However, I think I might be traveling every weekend in March. The first weekend to Lisbon with the school during Carnaval (Marti Gras) I had wanted to go somewhere crazy, but no one else was up to making plans and I have wanted to go to Lisbon anyways so... The next weekend Paula and Luna are taking the UNI students to a cabin for the weekend! After that is Valencia for Las Fallas. I overheard someone say that it might be cheaper to bus there during the night, sleep, and wake up once you arrive. Then stay all day and leave early the next morning by bus and sleep then. As opposed to trying to get a hostel. We'll see how that goes. Then, hopefully, I will meet up with Chris? I threw out Athens as an idea, we've just got to make a sure decision on date and location.
I didn't realize it until the day, but yesterday was the first Sunday I had spent at my house. It was weird. It's kind of the cleaning day and then everyone left for a long time. They only go to church when they feel like it, so I don't think that's where they went. I still can't understand my padre well, and I swear it's because he has a beard. I can understand everyone else in my family, and mi madre is nice when she doesn't understand ME and just gives me a quizzical look until I get it right. He just says- I have no idea what you are saying.
Anyways... I was a trouble maker this weekend and got kicked out of McDonald's and a pub! McDonald's is crazy busy on Saturday and if you have a birthday party there you get a waitress- who brings out GIANT hamburgers to play with! My friend and I went to get McFlurry's and play cards and then the manager told us we had to leave because people needed seats AT MCDONALD'S. Nuts. Yesterday we had planned in advance with the owner of our favorite cafe Favorit to let us watch the Superbowl there at midnight. People did it last year and we had made an agreement with him. So we showed up at 11:30 and he said, "Nevermind, I'm gonna close at 12". WHAT? So we frantically looked for other places and couldn't find anything. We found wifi outside and considered taking turns watching it on people's computers but then a fancy restaurant saw us and offered us inside. SWEET. People ordered drinks to be polite and we watched the National Anthem. So this was about 12:30. At 12:40 a waitress came up and said they were closing at 12:45. We asked, "So in five minutes?" and she responded, "Ok, make it 12:50". Thanks, I will savor the extra five minutes we get to watch the game that you offered us to see, seemingly in full? So we had to leave there but some watched through the window until they actually turned off the restaurant lights.
People were slowly dropping off and walking home. But I had told mis padres that I was going out and not coming back til at least 3 in the morning and I was going to take advantage of this time out! My friends and I talked and had a quick dance party before we got a call from a group who found a pub on the way home that was staying open until 2:30! We went in and watched until the Stealers got 17 points, and then our time was up. So, at 3, I ventured home- keeping up with the game through an online blog. So, really, I wasn't a trouble-maker at all- It just sounds cool to say I got kicked out :P
I have told many of you in the past that I think I will have to pay to pick up packages if you send them- it's what I heard before I came here. A lot of people are confused about this so I'll try to find out if it's true/why in the coming days.
A ver... I guess I'll write at you soon!
Monday, January 31, 2011
ARRRRRRGGGG.
I just wrote about 2 pages worth of my week. Somehow I deleted it all. Here is the summary:
-SOAR THROAT
-MI SOBRINA SAYS "TE AMO"
-CAN'T TALK
-MADRID
-Best places=Palace, Museo Reina Sofia, Temple de Debod
-Overrated=Plaza del Sol, Plaza Mayor, El Prado, El Rastro, Tapas in Madrid
-Hostel= dirty, nice random roommates (who accidentally stole my brown leggings)
-WON FOUR CARD FLIP, AND LEARNED TWO NEW SOLITAIRE CARD GAMES
-MI MADRE SAYS DON'T TAKE ON ENRIQUE AS CONVERSATION PARTNER
-SOAR THROAT, CAN'T TALK AND NO SCHOOL FOR ME TODAY
If you want to make it interesting you could write your own story of my week, but you have to keep in those bullet points. Knock yourself out
-SOAR THROAT
-MI SOBRINA SAYS "TE AMO"
-CAN'T TALK
-MADRID
-Best places=Palace, Museo Reina Sofia, Temple de Debod
-Overrated=Plaza del Sol, Plaza Mayor, El Prado, El Rastro, Tapas in Madrid
-Hostel= dirty, nice random roommates (who accidentally stole my brown leggings)
-WON FOUR CARD FLIP, AND LEARNED TWO NEW SOLITAIRE CARD GAMES
-MI MADRE SAYS DON'T TAKE ON ENRIQUE AS CONVERSATION PARTNER
-SOAR THROAT, CAN'T TALK AND NO SCHOOL FOR ME TODAY
If you want to make it interesting you could write your own story of my week, but you have to keep in those bullet points. Knock yourself out
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thoughts and tapas
Hmm... not remembering too much of this week. Well, almost everyone was sick. One of my best friends got the mumps (or some strange strain, because we were all immunized as babies?) Two others had fevers. Mi madre and sobrinas were sick all week. So I guess it was kinda a drab week. I made some friends outside of UNI though, so that's encouraging. Two people I've met came to Oviedo on their own- I can not even imagine! Another girl goes to Miami of Ohio and I found out that those Ohian(?) kids have an opportunity to do 'internships' while they are here. One opportunity being working at daycares! So, I'm going to try to get on that. My last friend is the best though. So I officially have my library card (first rented book... Harry Potter duh. and then Slaughter House Five- in Spanish!) Well, I was there reading a magazine one night across from a little old man named Enrique. He saw that I had my dictionary out and asked where I was from. Turns out he used to be an engineer and traveled all over, and he loves the US. We talked for like a half hour, until the library closed. (I don't think I've been at a library when it closed in the US- but here they just turn off all the lights, and then turn them back on and you have 5 minutes to get out- Is it the same?) Anyways, the next time I returned he was there again and we had some coffee- my new conversation partner!
I looooooove my translation, art, and phonetics classes. Love. Translation truly the best Spanish class I have ever taken-I am learning so much. On a side note... I kinda cheated on my last piece of homework for that class- but it was a bonding experience! We had a page to translate English quotes to Spanish (Winston Churchill said brilliant things). After I did it- I asked mis padres if my translations made sense. Only one did completely haha, but they helped me correct, and so did my brother. So many times mi familia just watches TV, or at night we sometimes have talks, but they always turn into mi madre on a soap box. Anyways, it was really fun and I could tell that mi hermano enjoyed it. Art is great and is making me hungry to travel. We are learning about so many old Spanish structures and I just want to SEE them. Phonetics is the greatest. I feel like all of the work for the class is like one big Sunday newspaper puzzle. My other two classes are just ok. Grammar is going by really slowly right now, but I hope to feel challenged some time soon. Hispanoamerica is impossible. I mean, the class is easy and we don't get homework, but the teacher does not know what she's doing and it's very hard to stay awake. I've started bringing in food to do so. The first day we played hangman. And since then we have just gone through readings and asked about words we didn't know. I have not learned anything about Latin America yet.
Yesterday I started my second trip with the school. It was a little disappointing. Out of the 6 museums/churches we planned on visiting ONE was open. Our bus driver didn't follow directions, and we therefore got lost. I don't know if I'll go with the school again, it is just hard to travel in such big groups. We did, however, get a personalized tour from this old man in Astorgas. He was really excited to see a big group and showed us around the town. He was one of those people who found things that most people don't pay attention to beautiful. We ended up at his retirement home looking at a mechanical nativity scene and he was SO excited. So that was pretty fun. We ended up in Leon and had tapas. For those who don't know- you can buy one drink for 1 euro and then get free food. My friends and I got 'mostos' which was non-alcoholic wine... grape juice with some pizza, homemade potato chips with ham, crepes, and sausage within a bun. MMMM.
New pooper scooper count- 3 woo! I found another reason that the streets are cleaned nightly-Sidre. Sidre is the drink of Oviedo/ Asturias. It's like a combination of cider and beer and there is a special way to drink it. You go to a sidreria and sit down and order a bottle sidre and appetizers. A waiter makes his way around every once in a while and pours your sidre- you can't yourself. So here's what they do: hold the bottle has high up as they can and pour it into your cup that they hold in the other hand waist high- and they don't look. So, there is a lot of sticky sidre in the street after the weekends. After the waiter pours your sidre you are supposed to drink it slowly, but never putting down your cup, and you must leave some in the bottom of the cup. It's just the rules. You wait around and talk for another 5, 10, 15 minutes until your waiter returns.
It is very cold here, I know I'm not in Iowa, but still. Which is why I'm amazed to see teenage girls in the street at night wearing thigh high socks and shortie shorts. This is one of the main distinctions in age here! Adults dress sensibly, and teenagers don't. Teenagers look older, and middle aged people look and act younger. We met a guy during tapas that we thought was our age and it turns out he was 31! Madness. Another observation- quick tips to being a Spaniard. All you have to do is say these words often: "Vale" and "Haber". Vale means ok, and haber means a multitude of things and people use it like we would say 'um' I feel like. Also, don't say adios, thats for big time good byes. Hasta luego or hasta pronto are the ways to go. *Gabi remember when we were talking about, "NIGHT!" Hasta is similar. You can just say hasta, which only means 'until'-just like we say 'morning' or 'night' dropping the 'good'. Or mi hermano comes home and says 'buenas' sometimes instead of 'buenas dias' or 'buenas noche'.
During our bus ride home I was told by two girls who originally came as study abroad students and now live here that I NEED to get on planning my travels. I'm going to Madrid with friends next weekend and I really want to go to the Canary Islands for Carnaval, Valencia for the bonfire festival, Sevilla for holy week, and maybe tour Granada, Jaen, and Cordoba during Spring Break... let's see how much of this actually happens...
also
the lisp is for c's and z's not s's. And you can say 'tio' or 'tia' interchangeably with 'hombre' por ejemplo: Vamos tio! (Let's go man (dude) ) slannnnng
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Living in another country?
I need to stop pretending that I know what's going on. In a perfect world, I wouldn't speak English here and I wouldn't be on the computer. But, it's going to take longer to adjust than I thought. I do plan on Monday (Monday Musings? I think that's copyrighted) being my English sabbath when I get to that point. My madre was right the first night I stayed here (and the last time I posted) I DID need rest and continued to recover all this week. I've only been here about 10 days! Here is what I DO know after my 10 days:
Oviedo is known to have the cleanest streets in all of Spain, maybe even all of Europe? My professor told us this before and students told us that they never felt alone walking home at night because the cleaners were out. They spray down the streets everyday. This means that the ground is ALWAYS wet, being from cleaning or from the constant drizzle. I'm sure during some part of his life, Edward Cullen lived in Oviedo. But... by noon the streets are dirty with cigarettes and dog poop. So the cleaning is understandable, but seemingly a waste of water... Now, for the dog poop. I blame the owners, I've seen ONE person with a poop bag in all of Oviedo. The dogs just do their business because they can, but these dogs are phenomenal dogs. I've been wondering if Cesar Milan is secretly the mayor of Oviedo because these dogs are just incredible. Few people use leashes, their dogs just stay with them. One day a guy was whistling for his dog so I tried whistling for him too, and the dog only responded to its owner's whistle! And I've seen more than one dog sitting in the lobby of a restaurant or a shop, not begging, not trying to get in, but waiting for their owner- without a leash!
Eh hem, anyways, this brings me to my first day of school. On the first day we were supposed to arrive at our building at 9 am. I left my house after accidently saying I didn't want breakfast (I did) at 8:30. I had google mapped previously and read that it should take 18 minutes, but I left room in case I got lost. Not enough room. I was wandering the street until the point that I could see the snowy mountains south (north? I do not know directions here) of Oviedo. They are beautiful... but also a scary indication that I had no idea where I was going. Now, when you have no idea where you are going, you often look up for street signs (rare in Oviedo) or when you are in a hurry (I was power walking into the unknown) you look straight ahead. For these reasons, when you are lost, and most likely then in a hurry, it is probable that you will step in dog poop. Yep. I Asked multiple people where to go and they all told me the same place, but I knew it wasn't my building! Finally, one lady just led me to the bus stop and two others shoved me on the bus. This was at 9:30. They told me to get off at the 5th stop. So I sat on the bus for a couple of stops and at one, one of the ladies popped up behind me and said, "Get out, get out quick!". It was the 5th stop and I hadn't been paying attention. In the end I made it to the school and found out that I'm in Intermediate 3 and that my classes didn't even start until 11 that day!
I'm really excited for all of my classes, I'm taking translation, phonetics, grammar, art, and hispanoamerica. I'm also excited in a nerdy-school sense because I found the Oviedo library! Even if you don't love libraries like I do- I suggest a visit, the temperature of the building is ten degrees warmer than any other building. Everyone (me included) is adjusting right now, so no one really has a routine. For the most part I've woken up, gone to my classes, come home for lunch and then maybe had something going on? I don't really know, the week has been a blur. My head doesn't hurt so much from the Spanish anymore though.
I've been writing things down that I wish I'd known for future students. Two being that you should start walking on incline machines in a gym about 3 miles a day for maybe 2 weeks before you come, and that you should practice eating at Spanish times. I have been a tired woman after walking up and down all of the hills of Oviedo, and I've spent money I shouldn't have because I was too hungry to wait until my family ate to eat! I go to class from around 10-2 and my family often isn't up when I leave, they don't have lunch until 3, and dinner until about 9:30! My first couple of days I couldn't even stay up that late after my mind running and my feet walking!
Another thing is to know you're way around Oviedo FROM the cathedral. After my disastrous first walk to school my madre told me that the last student she had would always walk through the cathedral. You can see it from almost everywhere and I feel like less of an idiot asking people where the cathedral is than asking, "Can you tell me where I live?". There are too many parks and fountains to be sure that the person you are asking knows what you are talking about, but everyone knows the cathedral. Oh! and someone asked me for directions one day! and since I was by the cathedral I was able to tell her! That was so cool! But between students we just reference statues. Mainly, "books and hat", "La Gorda (Fat Lady)", and "The butt". Pictures will be coming soon.
Yesterday, we got a group together to play some ultimate frisbee and that was pretty fun. TODAY we were going to Covadonga, which is the most beautiful place in Austurias (my providence). My family was so excited for me and my mom packed my lunch. We stopped at this church on a cliff, with a chapel made out of a cave on the side of another cliff on the way there. It was so cool! One of my Luther friends said, "It's things like these that make me wish I was Catholic". Woo! Two points for Catholicism! But we were told we couldn't see Covadonga, with its lakes and mountains, because there were patches of ice on the roads ahead. Instead we stopped at two small towns on the return ride to Oviedo. I got a dozen churros for 2 euro with my friends in the first town and then fell in love with the second. My friend Deanna put it perfectly, "This place has everything that humans find beautiful- the ocean, mountains, and green land".
We walked to a look out point on top of a cliff, which also had a small chapel and just sat and had a picnic lunch for an hour, while watching surfers. After that we walked into the town, which proved that this place is truly utopia. They had a few outdoor cafes and a panderia that we stopped at twice. We tried to go to a candy store that was just called, "Chocolate" but it was closed because today is a Sunday. We walked to the beach and collected rocks, shells, and ocean softened glass. After playing my usual, "Run towards the waves... run away from the waves!" game a wave crashed on me and my legs were wet up to my thighs... woops. But the water wasn't even cold, we are definitely going back to that place. Again, pictures will be coming soon.
I still feel like I'm just at camp, like I haven't been gone that long. I hope it stays that way because I don't want to slow down enough to think about how much I miss people. I should probably blog more often so they're not all this long, but again I can't say anything for sure here. Until I blog again- hasta luego!
Oviedo is known to have the cleanest streets in all of Spain, maybe even all of Europe? My professor told us this before and students told us that they never felt alone walking home at night because the cleaners were out. They spray down the streets everyday. This means that the ground is ALWAYS wet, being from cleaning or from the constant drizzle. I'm sure during some part of his life, Edward Cullen lived in Oviedo. But... by noon the streets are dirty with cigarettes and dog poop. So the cleaning is understandable, but seemingly a waste of water... Now, for the dog poop. I blame the owners, I've seen ONE person with a poop bag in all of Oviedo. The dogs just do their business because they can, but these dogs are phenomenal dogs. I've been wondering if Cesar Milan is secretly the mayor of Oviedo because these dogs are just incredible. Few people use leashes, their dogs just stay with them. One day a guy was whistling for his dog so I tried whistling for him too, and the dog only responded to its owner's whistle! And I've seen more than one dog sitting in the lobby of a restaurant or a shop, not begging, not trying to get in, but waiting for their owner- without a leash!
Eh hem, anyways, this brings me to my first day of school. On the first day we were supposed to arrive at our building at 9 am. I left my house after accidently saying I didn't want breakfast (I did) at 8:30. I had google mapped previously and read that it should take 18 minutes, but I left room in case I got lost. Not enough room. I was wandering the street until the point that I could see the snowy mountains south (north? I do not know directions here) of Oviedo. They are beautiful... but also a scary indication that I had no idea where I was going. Now, when you have no idea where you are going, you often look up for street signs (rare in Oviedo) or when you are in a hurry (I was power walking into the unknown) you look straight ahead. For these reasons, when you are lost, and most likely then in a hurry, it is probable that you will step in dog poop. Yep. I Asked multiple people where to go and they all told me the same place, but I knew it wasn't my building! Finally, one lady just led me to the bus stop and two others shoved me on the bus. This was at 9:30. They told me to get off at the 5th stop. So I sat on the bus for a couple of stops and at one, one of the ladies popped up behind me and said, "Get out, get out quick!". It was the 5th stop and I hadn't been paying attention. In the end I made it to the school and found out that I'm in Intermediate 3 and that my classes didn't even start until 11 that day!
I'm really excited for all of my classes, I'm taking translation, phonetics, grammar, art, and hispanoamerica. I'm also excited in a nerdy-school sense because I found the Oviedo library! Even if you don't love libraries like I do- I suggest a visit, the temperature of the building is ten degrees warmer than any other building. Everyone (me included) is adjusting right now, so no one really has a routine. For the most part I've woken up, gone to my classes, come home for lunch and then maybe had something going on? I don't really know, the week has been a blur. My head doesn't hurt so much from the Spanish anymore though.
I've been writing things down that I wish I'd known for future students. Two being that you should start walking on incline machines in a gym about 3 miles a day for maybe 2 weeks before you come, and that you should practice eating at Spanish times. I have been a tired woman after walking up and down all of the hills of Oviedo, and I've spent money I shouldn't have because I was too hungry to wait until my family ate to eat! I go to class from around 10-2 and my family often isn't up when I leave, they don't have lunch until 3, and dinner until about 9:30! My first couple of days I couldn't even stay up that late after my mind running and my feet walking!
Another thing is to know you're way around Oviedo FROM the cathedral. After my disastrous first walk to school my madre told me that the last student she had would always walk through the cathedral. You can see it from almost everywhere and I feel like less of an idiot asking people where the cathedral is than asking, "Can you tell me where I live?". There are too many parks and fountains to be sure that the person you are asking knows what you are talking about, but everyone knows the cathedral. Oh! and someone asked me for directions one day! and since I was by the cathedral I was able to tell her! That was so cool! But between students we just reference statues. Mainly, "books and hat", "La Gorda (Fat Lady)", and "The butt". Pictures will be coming soon.
Yesterday, we got a group together to play some ultimate frisbee and that was pretty fun. TODAY we were going to Covadonga, which is the most beautiful place in Austurias (my providence). My family was so excited for me and my mom packed my lunch. We stopped at this church on a cliff, with a chapel made out of a cave on the side of another cliff on the way there. It was so cool! One of my Luther friends said, "It's things like these that make me wish I was Catholic". Woo! Two points for Catholicism! But we were told we couldn't see Covadonga, with its lakes and mountains, because there were patches of ice on the roads ahead. Instead we stopped at two small towns on the return ride to Oviedo. I got a dozen churros for 2 euro with my friends in the first town and then fell in love with the second. My friend Deanna put it perfectly, "This place has everything that humans find beautiful- the ocean, mountains, and green land".
We walked to a look out point on top of a cliff, which also had a small chapel and just sat and had a picnic lunch for an hour, while watching surfers. After that we walked into the town, which proved that this place is truly utopia. They had a few outdoor cafes and a panderia that we stopped at twice. We tried to go to a candy store that was just called, "Chocolate" but it was closed because today is a Sunday. We walked to the beach and collected rocks, shells, and ocean softened glass. After playing my usual, "Run towards the waves... run away from the waves!" game a wave crashed on me and my legs were wet up to my thighs... woops. But the water wasn't even cold, we are definitely going back to that place. Again, pictures will be coming soon.
I still feel like I'm just at camp, like I haven't been gone that long. I hope it stays that way because I don't want to slow down enough to think about how much I miss people. I should probably blog more often so they're not all this long, but again I can't say anything for sure here. Until I blog again- hasta luego!
Monday, January 10, 2011
En addición
Mi familia esta encantando con la telenovela 'El Clon' que es sobre un hombre que es un clon y la drama que sigue. Es necesario por mi madre mirarla en la computadora hoy porque no puede durante el día :). Es confuso en español, so es muy confuso para me! También, en mis intentos cubrirme con español, yo leyendo el diccionario. Todo es serio.
Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes...
Didn't go to church... DID explore more. We met our contacts here Paula y Luna at 9 and ate dinner (just tapas) and then went to a bar that their friend owns, meaning that they opened just for us :). We all talked, requested 70s/80s American music, and played cards until 1 in the morning. Today we took our placement test in a group of over 100 study abroad students from across the US and maybe some Asians? It was a front and back page of fill in the blanks and then an essay "Please write a letter to the post office saying that is not your fault that your dog attacked a letter carrier" I had fun with that :). The carrier had meat in his pants and lost a leg. I suggested that he become a doctor instead and that snail mail is on the outs anyways. Then I placed blame on the post office for not assigning suits of armor for the carriers. My last line was: well maybe I shouldn't teach my dog to attack people who trespass. Then our oral test was just conversing with a professor. They suggested that I be in the advanced level! But then said that if I'm drowning to just go down to intermediate haha. But I'll find out my exact results tomorrow at 9!
After the tests we returned to our hotel, waited an hour... and then parents started coming in! I was sooooo anxious, especially because my mom never responded to me. But my mom didn't come for me- my dad did! We talked and drove home. I live in an apartment maybe a mile off campus. We parked underground and rode the elevator up to our apartment. You walk in and to the left is the laundry room and a patio. To the right is the dining room and living room. Straight on is a kitchen, from there you take a right into the long hallway. It has my brother Pedro's room, a bathroom, a sewing room, my room, my parents' room, and another bathroom. MY FAMILY AND LIVING SPACE IS PERFECT.
The apartment is relatively big for here and the family is exactly what I requested. My brother is 21 and has a girlfriend so eventually they can take me out to meet other people our age. My parents have a daughter who is 26? 36? I forget, but she has 2 daughters, 5 and 2! I kinda wanted someone my age to go out with, but I also wanted young children to talk to (they're more at my level) and possibly babysit *However Mom, I totally wound them up like usual :/ Also, they had a dog (which I wanted) but he actually died a week ago :( we were able to commiserate as I talked about Mickey. My family has had study abroad students for 10 years and my mother prides herself on being the best mom out there. She makes every student write in a book she keeps before they leave. She was reading me some entries and She talked in depth about one student and cried while reading another's entry, I hope I can be one of those students for her.
When I first arrived and started speaking my parents were saying, "No this can't be you, no. You wrote so well in your letter. No, no, you aren't Sara. Oh you're Sara? You must be tired... but you write so well!" Oops. You know that paranoid feeling when you think people are talking about you? That feeling increases tenfold when they are speaking you're second language. I kept thinking I was hearing, "Ella no habla nada... no entiende nada, y pensamos que... porque la carta..." However it's been raining hugs and kisses and I'm accepted by the granddaughters so I think I'm in.
Because she's had so many students for such a long time she had a lot of advice to give me. One being- DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. "You're boyfriend doesn't speak Spanish? Ditch him." *Don't worry Tom, me cariño (as they call me in girl form). I've realized this myself over the weekend- my brain was working double time speaking Spanish half of the time and English the other. So, I've decided that I'll give myself a "sabbath". One day a week, I'll allow myself to write (not speak) in English. For this reason my updates will be infrequent, but I might make some in Spanish and ya'll can google translate. She also offered her home as a place for other study abroad students to visit, and told me that they have a house near the beach and we will go there later in the semester (AND as a group we are going with Paula y Luna to a cabin in Feb.!)
My brain is fried and I find out my official placement and have classes tomorrow starting at 9. I may go to H&M after because my Mom just asked, "You don't have anymore clothes?" Now, its time for cena. We are having good ole' Hamburger Inns.
Besos!
After the tests we returned to our hotel, waited an hour... and then parents started coming in! I was sooooo anxious, especially because my mom never responded to me. But my mom didn't come for me- my dad did! We talked and drove home. I live in an apartment maybe a mile off campus. We parked underground and rode the elevator up to our apartment. You walk in and to the left is the laundry room and a patio. To the right is the dining room and living room. Straight on is a kitchen, from there you take a right into the long hallway. It has my brother Pedro's room, a bathroom, a sewing room, my room, my parents' room, and another bathroom. MY FAMILY AND LIVING SPACE IS PERFECT.
The apartment is relatively big for here and the family is exactly what I requested. My brother is 21 and has a girlfriend so eventually they can take me out to meet other people our age. My parents have a daughter who is 26? 36? I forget, but she has 2 daughters, 5 and 2! I kinda wanted someone my age to go out with, but I also wanted young children to talk to (they're more at my level) and possibly babysit *However Mom, I totally wound them up like usual :/ Also, they had a dog (which I wanted) but he actually died a week ago :( we were able to commiserate as I talked about Mickey. My family has had study abroad students for 10 years and my mother prides herself on being the best mom out there. She makes every student write in a book she keeps before they leave. She was reading me some entries and She talked in depth about one student and cried while reading another's entry, I hope I can be one of those students for her.
When I first arrived and started speaking my parents were saying, "No this can't be you, no. You wrote so well in your letter. No, no, you aren't Sara. Oh you're Sara? You must be tired... but you write so well!" Oops. You know that paranoid feeling when you think people are talking about you? That feeling increases tenfold when they are speaking you're second language. I kept thinking I was hearing, "Ella no habla nada... no entiende nada, y pensamos que... porque la carta..." However it's been raining hugs and kisses and I'm accepted by the granddaughters so I think I'm in.
Because she's had so many students for such a long time she had a lot of advice to give me. One being- DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. "You're boyfriend doesn't speak Spanish? Ditch him." *Don't worry Tom, me cariño (as they call me in girl form). I've realized this myself over the weekend- my brain was working double time speaking Spanish half of the time and English the other. So, I've decided that I'll give myself a "sabbath". One day a week, I'll allow myself to write (not speak) in English. For this reason my updates will be infrequent, but I might make some in Spanish and ya'll can google translate. She also offered her home as a place for other study abroad students to visit, and told me that they have a house near the beach and we will go there later in the semester (AND as a group we are going with Paula y Luna to a cabin in Feb.!)
My brain is fried and I find out my official placement and have classes tomorrow starting at 9. I may go to H&M after because my Mom just asked, "You don't have anymore clothes?" Now, its time for cena. We are having good ole' Hamburger Inns.
Besos!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Cambia de las lenguas
Now, my computer, google, and facebook (which I will NOT be on... soon) are changed to Spanish woo¡ (oh and my computer includes a change of keyboard settings :) so expect some strange symbols because I;m lazy, until i get used to it.) Yesterday I got to know the other UNI students a bit better. We walked around (found a H&M and a doner kebab shop¡¡¡) I seriously died eating the kebab... one of the main things I was looking forward to for Spain (anyone have one before?) And made friends with the owners... could this lead to free kebabs?¡?¡?¡ We got back from walking and played games until 2¡ Today is Sunday so we will probably do more of the same because most of the town is closed, but I am searching for church times currently...
Saturday, January 8, 2011
CHRISTMAS EVE/ DAY!!!
I passed the test, whatever it was. After three hours of staying by my bags, not going to the bathroom, trying to conserve computer power, and literally holding my eyes open with my fingers a hotel man asked me if I was ready to go to my room. "THANK YOU! I'm so excited! Thank you! I'm so tired! Thank you! You are my best friend! Thank you! Oviedo is beautiful! Thank you!" The wait did help me get on track with my sleeping though. I took my meds, got into my nice queen size bed, watched some tv (college students dressed like flinstones in a kitchen?) and fell asleep at 8. My room was my first Christmas present
I lay in my bed half-listening for my friends, like a the kid I wasn't, listening for Santa. I woke up at 12:30 to my friend Erica's voice! I opened my door and three of the friends I left at Chili's were there! They weren't so lucky with their delays. Their delay in Barcelona caused them to arrive past 11, so the buses had stopped working. They took a taxi here, we talked and decided to have breakfast today (with computers). I went back to bed. I needed to read first because I had woken up a bit while talking to them, yes I am reading Eat, Pray, Love, don't mock. I read and just as I was about to fall asleep I heard more English and the last of the Chili's eaters +1 were here!
We are all up and eating now (after starting the fire alarm with an adapter... oops) and are planning on walking around Oviedo soon! I need to find a Chinos store (cheap chinese product store... the cashiers will soon know me by name) and I'd like to stalk my apartment and main university building also today. I just learned that I missed Spanish Office on tv! And on a happier note- that a student who returned this semester is going to give us a tour at 11 tonight!
I cheated yesterday with getting on facebook on speaking English, it was my first day and I was tired. I am not going to anymore I swear! I get e-mailed when someone leaves me a message or tags me in a photo, but I'll only be checking the e-mail and not the book itself. Today has become Spanglish with my friends- we usually start in Spanish and once one person responds in English it switches over. Soon it will be all Spanish I swear.
Adios por ahora!
P.S. Everyone needs to stop wasting gas driving so we can keep flying! Am I right? Am I right? Yes, yes I am.
I lay in my bed half-listening for my friends, like a the kid I wasn't, listening for Santa. I woke up at 12:30 to my friend Erica's voice! I opened my door and three of the friends I left at Chili's were there! They weren't so lucky with their delays. Their delay in Barcelona caused them to arrive past 11, so the buses had stopped working. They took a taxi here, we talked and decided to have breakfast today (with computers). I went back to bed. I needed to read first because I had woken up a bit while talking to them, yes I am reading Eat, Pray, Love, don't mock. I read and just as I was about to fall asleep I heard more English and the last of the Chili's eaters +1 were here!
We are all up and eating now (after starting the fire alarm with an adapter... oops) and are planning on walking around Oviedo soon! I need to find a Chinos store (cheap chinese product store... the cashiers will soon know me by name) and I'd like to stalk my apartment and main university building also today. I just learned that I missed Spanish Office on tv! And on a happier note- that a student who returned this semester is going to give us a tour at 11 tonight!
I cheated yesterday with getting on facebook on speaking English, it was my first day and I was tired. I am not going to anymore I swear! I get e-mailed when someone leaves me a message or tags me in a photo, but I'll only be checking the e-mail and not the book itself. Today has become Spanglish with my friends- we usually start in Spanish and once one person responds in English it switches over. Soon it will be all Spanish I swear.
Adios por ahora!
P.S. Everyone needs to stop wasting gas driving so we can keep flying! Am I right? Am I right? Yes, yes I am.
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