I'm sure you're all probably thinking that I have officially fallen off the face of the earth....but rest assured...I'm alive and well. I come baring bad news however. Unfortunately our wireless Internet is down in our house, and most likely will not be fixed until next week. There are tons of cafes and what not that have wireless so I am still able to check my email, but I will not be to update my blog most likely until I get back from Paris. I leave tomorrow!!!!! I was in Granada this past weekend and I have tons of stories and lots of really cool pictures to post, so sit tight and I will update as soon as I can.
I miss you all!!!!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sleep talking in Spanish...YES!!!!!
You know what they say...when you start to dream in Spanish, you're home free. Well...according to my roommates, last night I was talking in my sleep in Spanish!!!!! When they told me this morning I was so excited. Apparently, my roommate Megan sneezed and I said, "salud", and I also said, "no hay bromas en España" (there are not jokes in Spain) It's not much...I know, but I still feel pretty good about it. Of course I don't remember any of it, but it's still a start.
Its been raining for the past day or so, and today doesn't look good either. There is rain in the forecast for the entire week, and today has an 80% chance of thunder and lightning...I'm thrilled as I'm sure you could have guessed. Thank goodness I only have one class, so I can come home and get in my bed and watch a movie or something, with headphones in, turned up as load as it can go!!
Mama and I had a bonding moment last night...she was cooking dinner for us- spaghetti ( it is the best spaghetti I have ever eaten in my entire life...no offense mom- if it makes you feel any better her lasagna SUCKS!!!) but anyways...she's gotten into this new habit of blasting music while she's cooking dinner. Usually its Andrea Bocelli, or Opera but last night it was Simon and Garfunkel. She was playing "The Boxer" I love that song, and when I heard it I ran into the kitchen and was telling Mama how much I loved that song, and so we started talking about Simon and Garfunkel and music and it was pretty cool. I mean half the things she was saying and half the people she was talking about I had no clue, or had never heard of, but not to worry, I put on a big smile, nodded and through in the occasional, 'si', or 'vale' (ok). I felt pretty cool.
So I've officially been here a month. Its weird to think about it, because I still feel like I only got here a few weeks ago. I guess its a good thing and a bad thing that the time is going by quickly. I keep telling my roommates that it's all downhill from here because we have so much planned in the next weekends ahead. Paris, Ireland, Granada, Ronda, England- when does it stop!?!? We're thinking of spending a few days in a small beach town in the south for part of Holy Week. I really want to be on the Mediterranean, I mean I have the Atlantic everyday!
I learned yesterday that in Spain, Palm Sunday is a bigger deal than Easter. My professor was saying how a lot of Americans come here for Holy Week expecting a huge spectacle for Easter and are always disappointed because people here don't care the way they do in the States. I'm psyched to see all the processions for Semana Santa (holy week) Apparently people book hotels 2 years in advanced to be able to be here for Semana Santa. I feel so cool that I actually live here, and get to see it. The spring semester really is the best time to be in Spain with all the stuff that goes on.
Last weekend I bought a children's book in Spanish to try to read to practice my grammar and my vocabulary. Its a little chapter book, most likely at about a second grade readers level, maybe even third grade. Its been so fun reading and translating it. Its called, "En la luna de Valencia" (in the moon of Valencia) Yesterday I learned how to say breadcrumbs, I was pretty psyched about it. "migas de pan" Its really fun. I read it to my roommates at night...story time!!! I finished the book that I brought, and its hard to find English books here...there is a small English section in the book store here, but it doesn't have a big selection, and i figured, when in Spain, do as the Spanish would do. and I'm pretty sure the Spanish would read Spanish books so thats what I'm doing!!
Just in case anyone was wondering my computer is AMAZING, most likely because these two really amazing people I know put a lot of TLC (tender love and care) into finding me the perfect one. Thank you again so much mom and dad. I really do appreciate everything that you do for me and for giving me this amazing opportunity to study here for the semester. I know I say thank you all the time, but I really do mean it. I love you!! (DAP DAP DAP)
its almost 12:30, and I'm not even dressed yet..if mama comes in shes going to call me a disaster HAHA shes always telling us, you're creative, but your a disaster.
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!!
Its been raining for the past day or so, and today doesn't look good either. There is rain in the forecast for the entire week, and today has an 80% chance of thunder and lightning...I'm thrilled as I'm sure you could have guessed. Thank goodness I only have one class, so I can come home and get in my bed and watch a movie or something, with headphones in, turned up as load as it can go!!
Mama and I had a bonding moment last night...she was cooking dinner for us- spaghetti ( it is the best spaghetti I have ever eaten in my entire life...no offense mom- if it makes you feel any better her lasagna SUCKS!!!) but anyways...she's gotten into this new habit of blasting music while she's cooking dinner. Usually its Andrea Bocelli, or Opera but last night it was Simon and Garfunkel. She was playing "The Boxer" I love that song, and when I heard it I ran into the kitchen and was telling Mama how much I loved that song, and so we started talking about Simon and Garfunkel and music and it was pretty cool. I mean half the things she was saying and half the people she was talking about I had no clue, or had never heard of, but not to worry, I put on a big smile, nodded and through in the occasional, 'si', or 'vale' (ok). I felt pretty cool.
So I've officially been here a month. Its weird to think about it, because I still feel like I only got here a few weeks ago. I guess its a good thing and a bad thing that the time is going by quickly. I keep telling my roommates that it's all downhill from here because we have so much planned in the next weekends ahead. Paris, Ireland, Granada, Ronda, England- when does it stop!?!? We're thinking of spending a few days in a small beach town in the south for part of Holy Week. I really want to be on the Mediterranean, I mean I have the Atlantic everyday!
I learned yesterday that in Spain, Palm Sunday is a bigger deal than Easter. My professor was saying how a lot of Americans come here for Holy Week expecting a huge spectacle for Easter and are always disappointed because people here don't care the way they do in the States. I'm psyched to see all the processions for Semana Santa (holy week) Apparently people book hotels 2 years in advanced to be able to be here for Semana Santa. I feel so cool that I actually live here, and get to see it. The spring semester really is the best time to be in Spain with all the stuff that goes on.
Last weekend I bought a children's book in Spanish to try to read to practice my grammar and my vocabulary. Its a little chapter book, most likely at about a second grade readers level, maybe even third grade. Its been so fun reading and translating it. Its called, "En la luna de Valencia" (in the moon of Valencia) Yesterday I learned how to say breadcrumbs, I was pretty psyched about it. "migas de pan" Its really fun. I read it to my roommates at night...story time!!! I finished the book that I brought, and its hard to find English books here...there is a small English section in the book store here, but it doesn't have a big selection, and i figured, when in Spain, do as the Spanish would do. and I'm pretty sure the Spanish would read Spanish books so thats what I'm doing!!
Just in case anyone was wondering my computer is AMAZING, most likely because these two really amazing people I know put a lot of TLC (tender love and care) into finding me the perfect one. Thank you again so much mom and dad. I really do appreciate everything that you do for me and for giving me this amazing opportunity to study here for the semester. I know I say thank you all the time, but I really do mean it. I love you!! (DAP DAP DAP)
its almost 12:30, and I'm not even dressed yet..if mama comes in shes going to call me a disaster HAHA shes always telling us, you're creative, but your a disaster.
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
mi vida en Espana sin papel hygenico
my life in Spain has gotten so much more interesting now that mama is starting to ration our toilet paper. I kid you not!!! here is the story of mi vida en Espana sin papel hygenico (my life in Spain without toilet paper)
so let me take a moment to remind you that I live with 6 other girls, and we all share one bathroom. I think it goes without saying that 6 girls using one bathroom equals a lot of toilet paper consumption. Unfortunately girls are not as lucky as boys seeing as how we always have to use toilet paper. secretly I think mama wishes that we were boys so then we would use less toilet paper. Not to mention that our toilet paper consumption has recently gone up due to the fact that we're all sick with colds and constantly having to blow our noses, and for some reason we don’t have any tissues in our house so we're all walking around looking like Rudolph. Oh and another thing you need to know...the toilet paper here...it isn't exactly toilet paper- in fact I would describe it more as paper towel...so instead of calling it TP it is only fitting that we call it PT.
The best feeling is when you use the bathroom and you're the one to finish up the roll of toilet paper because then you know the next girl has to be the one to "drip-dry." its the worst feeling when your the one who has to drip dry. We're all a little scared of asking for more toilet paper because mama always makes this weird face at us and we feel like we're asking to borrow a million dollars or something. I cant describe it bust its not a good feeling...just trust me on that one.
ok enough about bathrooms and toilet paper...
yesterday I received two packages!!! it was a good day! I got a package from Gareth including all my favorite foods, and rest assured he sent me the family size jar of Skippy smooth peanut butter...THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!!! and..I received my new computer...I’m back in business...all systems are go!! THANKS MOM AND DAD!!
I went to the gypsy market yesterday with Sexton (my friend from Westmont who is also studying here for the semester) It was so overwhelming...there were so many people and so much stuff! it was fun to walk around, but we didn't get anything. Oh, that’s a lie...we did get chocolate covered strawberries on a stick. They were like kabobs. SOOOO DELICIOUS!!!! leave it to the diabetic to make sure she goes to the market and finds the chocolate covered strawberries right? good thing Dr. Ricker isn't reading this blog..I'm pretty sure she'd have some words with me when I go to see her in May when I get home.
It's raining today...I'm pretty happy about that except that we were suppose to have a picnic today with our Spanish. I’m friends. Needless to say, it got rained out. But rain is good for Spain because it never ever rains here, and I think that’s why we are all sick. I'm sick again...for the second time in less than two weeks. I really think its because the germs never get washed away and living in a city its just not exactly clean ya know? I mean I’m not a doctor but I think my hypothesis is a good one. I’ll have to talk to Miguel...he's a doctor ya know! HAHAAH oh man..no more jokes in Spain!!
Homework all day today. I have a test in Spanish tomorrow and I'm going to ace it!
On that note....I’m off to study!
Ciao!
so let me take a moment to remind you that I live with 6 other girls, and we all share one bathroom. I think it goes without saying that 6 girls using one bathroom equals a lot of toilet paper consumption. Unfortunately girls are not as lucky as boys seeing as how we always have to use toilet paper. secretly I think mama wishes that we were boys so then we would use less toilet paper. Not to mention that our toilet paper consumption has recently gone up due to the fact that we're all sick with colds and constantly having to blow our noses, and for some reason we don’t have any tissues in our house so we're all walking around looking like Rudolph. Oh and another thing you need to know...the toilet paper here...it isn't exactly toilet paper- in fact I would describe it more as paper towel...so instead of calling it TP it is only fitting that we call it PT.
The best feeling is when you use the bathroom and you're the one to finish up the roll of toilet paper because then you know the next girl has to be the one to "drip-dry." its the worst feeling when your the one who has to drip dry. We're all a little scared of asking for more toilet paper because mama always makes this weird face at us and we feel like we're asking to borrow a million dollars or something. I cant describe it bust its not a good feeling...just trust me on that one.
ok enough about bathrooms and toilet paper...
yesterday I received two packages!!! it was a good day! I got a package from Gareth including all my favorite foods, and rest assured he sent me the family size jar of Skippy smooth peanut butter...THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!!! and..I received my new computer...I’m back in business...all systems are go!! THANKS MOM AND DAD!!
I went to the gypsy market yesterday with Sexton (my friend from Westmont who is also studying here for the semester) It was so overwhelming...there were so many people and so much stuff! it was fun to walk around, but we didn't get anything. Oh, that’s a lie...we did get chocolate covered strawberries on a stick. They were like kabobs. SOOOO DELICIOUS!!!! leave it to the diabetic to make sure she goes to the market and finds the chocolate covered strawberries right? good thing Dr. Ricker isn't reading this blog..I'm pretty sure she'd have some words with me when I go to see her in May when I get home.
It's raining today...I'm pretty happy about that except that we were suppose to have a picnic today with our Spanish. I’m friends. Needless to say, it got rained out. But rain is good for Spain because it never ever rains here, and I think that’s why we are all sick. I'm sick again...for the second time in less than two weeks. I really think its because the germs never get washed away and living in a city its just not exactly clean ya know? I mean I’m not a doctor but I think my hypothesis is a good one. I’ll have to talk to Miguel...he's a doctor ya know! HAHAAH oh man..no more jokes in Spain!!
Homework all day today. I have a test in Spanish tomorrow and I'm going to ace it!
On that note....I’m off to study!
Ciao!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Cranberries to the rescue!!!
Have I ever told any of you that I have the best boyfriend in the world?
This morning around 10:30 I was woken up with quite a surprise...here comes Mama holding this huge bouquet of flowers with my name on them!!! They are absolutely beautiful!!! Irises, my favorite. The card was the best part...it reads..."Did you think I wouldn't send flowers?" haha oh man!!
One class today and its the weekend!!! I don't have any special plans for the weekend, probably a lot of resting, and sunbathing in the park. Its a rough life...I know. I have a huge Spanish test on Monday, so I will be doing a lot of studying for that. Oh, and I will have to start my research of my churros project. I am so lucky!!!
Next weekend we are going to Granada, and the weekend after that I will be in Paris. I'm really excited!
My roommates friends are here for the weekend. They are studying abroad in Florence. I'm interested to see which they like better...Seville, or Florence.
Last night we went out for Arab Tea at a hookah bar near our house. It was actually a CEA sponsored event -the tea that is... It was really good...we had this Moroccan mint tea, with some typical Arab pastries. The setting was really cool too. It was all warm colors with beads and what not on the walls and then there were these little tables and we all sat on little pillows on the floor. It was a cool atmosphere. A lot of people smoked hookah as well, but my roommates and I passed.
Oh! funny story!!! So the other day mama came in and was telling us how she was having trouble peeing...too much information huh? i know! well anyways...I was like Oh mama, you probably have a UTI, you should have some cranberry juice it really helps. Unfortunately she said that they don't really have cranberry juice here and was all bummed out. So i kept thinking of ways we could help her and then it hit me. "MAMA!!! i brought you cranberry jam!!! i will make you some toast with the cranberry jam!!!" she responds with no te preoccupes (don't worry) I will make some. What a good idea." so I'm all happy that I could help and I go on doing what I'm doing...I walk into the kitchen about 10 minutes later and there is mama...sitting at the kitchen table eating the jam out of the jar with a spoon! I almost died I was laughing so hard. Shes all like "oh its delicious..its so rich and good!" I don't think I have ever seen someone eat jam out of the jar ever in my life. And then yesterday she made tea and put the jam in the tea!! she is just a crack up!! Thank goodness I brought a little taste of Cape Cod with me to Spain, who would have thunk that it would have cured mama's UTI. (by the way it did help and she is peeing regularly now. I knew you would be worried so don't fret! she's good!)
Oh mama! what a character!!!
This morning around 10:30 I was woken up with quite a surprise...here comes Mama holding this huge bouquet of flowers with my name on them!!! They are absolutely beautiful!!! Irises, my favorite. The card was the best part...it reads..."Did you think I wouldn't send flowers?" haha oh man!!
One class today and its the weekend!!! I don't have any special plans for the weekend, probably a lot of resting, and sunbathing in the park. Its a rough life...I know. I have a huge Spanish test on Monday, so I will be doing a lot of studying for that. Oh, and I will have to start my research of my churros project. I am so lucky!!!
Next weekend we are going to Granada, and the weekend after that I will be in Paris. I'm really excited!
My roommates friends are here for the weekend. They are studying abroad in Florence. I'm interested to see which they like better...Seville, or Florence.
Last night we went out for Arab Tea at a hookah bar near our house. It was actually a CEA sponsored event -the tea that is... It was really good...we had this Moroccan mint tea, with some typical Arab pastries. The setting was really cool too. It was all warm colors with beads and what not on the walls and then there were these little tables and we all sat on little pillows on the floor. It was a cool atmosphere. A lot of people smoked hookah as well, but my roommates and I passed.
Oh! funny story!!! So the other day mama came in and was telling us how she was having trouble peeing...too much information huh? i know! well anyways...I was like Oh mama, you probably have a UTI, you should have some cranberry juice it really helps. Unfortunately she said that they don't really have cranberry juice here and was all bummed out. So i kept thinking of ways we could help her and then it hit me. "MAMA!!! i brought you cranberry jam!!! i will make you some toast with the cranberry jam!!!" she responds with no te preoccupes (don't worry) I will make some. What a good idea." so I'm all happy that I could help and I go on doing what I'm doing...I walk into the kitchen about 10 minutes later and there is mama...sitting at the kitchen table eating the jam out of the jar with a spoon! I almost died I was laughing so hard. Shes all like "oh its delicious..its so rich and good!" I don't think I have ever seen someone eat jam out of the jar ever in my life. And then yesterday she made tea and put the jam in the tea!! she is just a crack up!! Thank goodness I brought a little taste of Cape Cod with me to Spain, who would have thunk that it would have cured mama's UTI. (by the way it did help and she is peeing regularly now. I knew you would be worried so don't fret! she's good!)
Oh mama! what a character!!!
Monday, February 11, 2008
If only I were a Canadian...
so..... I'm going to Paris at the end of February!!! I just booked my flight!! my flight from Madrid to Paris was only a penny!!! let me repeat...1 penny!!!! crazy huh? my pulse was definitely up when I was booking that one! Its really too bad that the French hate Americans. Maybe I should search for a Canadian flag and pin it to my shirt while we're there since they love Canadians haha!
My weekend was pretty lame...I didn't really do much but it was actually just what I needed. It was nice to just lay around all weekend and just do homework and watch movies and what not with my roommates.
The Austrian guy that is living here for 3 weeks while he is taking an intensive Spanish course is the most annoying person I think I have ever met in my entire life. All of us can not stand him! He's such a brat, yet he's 21 years old. He's digging himself a really big hole because he skipped school yesterday and mama found out about it and he lied to her so she was pissed! as she should be. She is allowing him to stay in her house, and she is cooking food for him and taking care of him and then he has no respect for her.
Last night at the dinner table he was text messaging at the table and so we were like Miguel, no cell phones at the table, and then he just mocked us, and mama saw and she got really angry. THEN...he told us how he is skipping school on Wednesday and Thursday to go to Madrid with his friends. We were like, Miguel, don't you have school? and hes all like yes, but I don't like my teachers, and I don't feel like learning verb conjugations for 5 hours. That put us all over the edge because we were like thats how you learn buddy! he is just a brat, that is the only way to describe him. Mama is really angry and she is calling his program. She told us if he doesn't want to go to school, then he can't stay here. I think she's right. He shouldn't have come here to study, if he doesn't want to go to school. oh well....hasta luego Miguel!!
I had a verb conjugation test yesterday in Spanish and you will all be happy to know that I aced it! absolutely no mistakes!!! I was pretty darn proud of myself. When my teacher corrected it he was laughing at me, and then he put A+ on the paper and wrote NERD in big huge red letters across the top. HAHA hes a pretty cool guy though. I like him a lot.
In my Popular Culture class, we're doing this project on tapas, and so we all got assigned a tapa and we have to go to different places to try the tapa and learn how it is prepared and then present a little 5 minute talk about it next week...guess what I got assigned....CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE!!!! haha i was laughing so hard and of course I was peeing my pants on the inside with excitement. I think that is the best homework assignment I have ever had in my life. Go eat churros from different places, and tell us about your experience. NO PROBLEMA!!! i'm on it!! God was definitely on my side with this one!!!
I find out on Friday whether or not we are going to get the apartment we want for next semester back in Ithaca. Keep your fingers crossed...if we don't get it I don't know what I'm going to do. I will probably have to pitch a tent on the quad. AHH!!
Well I'm off to eat lunch down by the river with my roommate before class at 2.
ADIOS!!!
My weekend was pretty lame...I didn't really do much but it was actually just what I needed. It was nice to just lay around all weekend and just do homework and watch movies and what not with my roommates.
The Austrian guy that is living here for 3 weeks while he is taking an intensive Spanish course is the most annoying person I think I have ever met in my entire life. All of us can not stand him! He's such a brat, yet he's 21 years old. He's digging himself a really big hole because he skipped school yesterday and mama found out about it and he lied to her so she was pissed! as she should be. She is allowing him to stay in her house, and she is cooking food for him and taking care of him and then he has no respect for her.
Last night at the dinner table he was text messaging at the table and so we were like Miguel, no cell phones at the table, and then he just mocked us, and mama saw and she got really angry. THEN...he told us how he is skipping school on Wednesday and Thursday to go to Madrid with his friends. We were like, Miguel, don't you have school? and hes all like yes, but I don't like my teachers, and I don't feel like learning verb conjugations for 5 hours. That put us all over the edge because we were like thats how you learn buddy! he is just a brat, that is the only way to describe him. Mama is really angry and she is calling his program. She told us if he doesn't want to go to school, then he can't stay here. I think she's right. He shouldn't have come here to study, if he doesn't want to go to school. oh well....hasta luego Miguel!!
I had a verb conjugation test yesterday in Spanish and you will all be happy to know that I aced it! absolutely no mistakes!!! I was pretty darn proud of myself. When my teacher corrected it he was laughing at me, and then he put A+ on the paper and wrote NERD in big huge red letters across the top. HAHA hes a pretty cool guy though. I like him a lot.
In my Popular Culture class, we're doing this project on tapas, and so we all got assigned a tapa and we have to go to different places to try the tapa and learn how it is prepared and then present a little 5 minute talk about it next week...guess what I got assigned....CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE!!!! haha i was laughing so hard and of course I was peeing my pants on the inside with excitement. I think that is the best homework assignment I have ever had in my life. Go eat churros from different places, and tell us about your experience. NO PROBLEMA!!! i'm on it!! God was definitely on my side with this one!!!
I find out on Friday whether or not we are going to get the apartment we want for next semester back in Ithaca. Keep your fingers crossed...if we don't get it I don't know what I'm going to do. I will probably have to pitch a tent on the quad. AHH!!
Well I'm off to eat lunch down by the river with my roommate before class at 2.
ADIOS!!!
Friday, February 8, 2008
we got our groove on
Something you should know...people in Spain don't eat peanut butter...its a sad, but true fact. Another sad, but true fact...I hit bottom on my peanut butter jar. I packed a jar of skippy smooth peanut butter you know for those moments I was in dire need of a little taste of something good, well friends...those days have come to an end. The skippy smooth peanut butter jar now resides in la basura (the trash). Lets all take a moment of silence.......................................................
I only have 1 class on Tuesday/Thursday so I normally sleep pretty late, and then go meet my roommate by the river to eat lunch, and then we go to class. Yesterday, it was BEAUTIFUL out and megan and I got sunburns when we were sitting down by the river :) I'm loving it!-sunburns in the beginning of February!! So my immigration class is BORING! it is the definition of boring actually, so instead of falling asleep, i decided I would make a list of the things that are different in Spain that I have noticed so far:
`Spaniards wear their wedding ring on their ring finger, but on their right hand
`standard paper, like computer paper, is longer than ours...i dont know the measurement but its not 8x12
`not peanut butter
`milk is hardly refrigerated, they use it at room temperature for cereal and coffee
`people are OBSESSED with coffee...more so than dad and uncle jim (if you can believe it!!)
`there are no dryers for clothing (told you mom!!)
`when driving, people DO NOT obey traffic symbols regarding pedestrians (can't even being to tell you how many times I've almost been hit)
`no one drives SUVs, and there are scooters, or 'motos' EVERYWHERE!!!
`salad consists of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and onions...thats it
`they don't use salad dressing, just oil and vinegar
`beer/wine is cheaper to buy than soda
`ketchup is not refrigerated
`notebooks, like the kind you would use for school, are not lined paper, they are graph paper
`Spaniards are ALWAYS dressed to the 9s
`everything closes at 10pm
`NOTHING is open on Sunday
`Spaniards take siesta (nap time) so things close in the middle of the day for lunch and a nap and then re-open at 5:30
Yesterday we went to a Flamenco Show. It was the coolest thing EVER!!! the dancers are so incredibly talented. It was at this pavilion called "El Patio de Sevillano." the best part was that we didn't have to pay because it was put on by CEA (my program.) gotta love free flamenco shows in Spain!
Last night all my roommates and I went and bought bottles of tinto (red wine mixed with orange, or lemon fanta) and went down by the river to drink. Drinking in public in used to be completely legal, but now its more frowned upon, but even still, you have to be like wasted in the street or causing a problem to really get in trouble. Despues (after) we went to a discoteca called Buddha. The drinks at the clubs are super expensive, hence the bottles of tinto down by the river :) brilliant no? The disco was SOOOOO much fun!!!! we all had a great time, minus the fact that it was a million degrees and there were tons of creepy Spanish men, but we took care of it. Every time one of them came over and tried dancing with us we just all danced together and shut him out of our space. it was great. At one point I was fanning myself off with my hand because it was so hot and then this gross Spanish man starts blowing on me. I looked over and was like uh..NO GRACIAS!!!! it was so sick. Nonetheless, we danced the night away and definitely got our groove on until about 3:30 AM and then walked home. I love the Spanish life!
Today we're all just taking it easy, probably some homework, and a lot of relaxing because tonight we are meeting up with our Spanish friend Pablo to go out for dinner. He has had exams all week at the University, so tonight should be fun.
unfortunately it looks like it is going to be a no-go for the Seville vs. Barcelona futbol game. Tickets are sold out right now, and we're thinking of going down to the stadium on Saturday to maybe try to scalp tickets or get in after the game has started, but since Barcelona is the second best team in the league its not looking to promising. Plus, I'm not sure how i feel about scalping tickets in a foreign country HAHA we'll see though...but even if it doesn't work out for this game, there are others. I really want a futbol jersey. They are so sweet!!
I hope everyone is doing well, and all you east coasters are staying warm. I have heard reports from the meteorologist in my family (a.k.a. my mom) that its been pretty nasty weather the past few days. My thoughts and condolences are with you! I will try to send the Spanish sunshine your way!!!
CIAO!!!
I only have 1 class on Tuesday/Thursday so I normally sleep pretty late, and then go meet my roommate by the river to eat lunch, and then we go to class. Yesterday, it was BEAUTIFUL out and megan and I got sunburns when we were sitting down by the river :) I'm loving it!-sunburns in the beginning of February!! So my immigration class is BORING! it is the definition of boring actually, so instead of falling asleep, i decided I would make a list of the things that are different in Spain that I have noticed so far:
`Spaniards wear their wedding ring on their ring finger, but on their right hand
`standard paper, like computer paper, is longer than ours...i dont know the measurement but its not 8x12
`not peanut butter
`milk is hardly refrigerated, they use it at room temperature for cereal and coffee
`people are OBSESSED with coffee...more so than dad and uncle jim (if you can believe it!!)
`there are no dryers for clothing (told you mom!!)
`when driving, people DO NOT obey traffic symbols regarding pedestrians (can't even being to tell you how many times I've almost been hit)
`no one drives SUVs, and there are scooters, or 'motos' EVERYWHERE!!!
`salad consists of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and onions...thats it
`they don't use salad dressing, just oil and vinegar
`beer/wine is cheaper to buy than soda
`ketchup is not refrigerated
`notebooks, like the kind you would use for school, are not lined paper, they are graph paper
`Spaniards are ALWAYS dressed to the 9s
`everything closes at 10pm
`NOTHING is open on Sunday
`Spaniards take siesta (nap time) so things close in the middle of the day for lunch and a nap and then re-open at 5:30
Yesterday we went to a Flamenco Show. It was the coolest thing EVER!!! the dancers are so incredibly talented. It was at this pavilion called "El Patio de Sevillano." the best part was that we didn't have to pay because it was put on by CEA (my program.) gotta love free flamenco shows in Spain!
Last night all my roommates and I went and bought bottles of tinto (red wine mixed with orange, or lemon fanta) and went down by the river to drink. Drinking in public in used to be completely legal, but now its more frowned upon, but even still, you have to be like wasted in the street or causing a problem to really get in trouble. Despues (after) we went to a discoteca called Buddha. The drinks at the clubs are super expensive, hence the bottles of tinto down by the river :) brilliant no? The disco was SOOOOO much fun!!!! we all had a great time, minus the fact that it was a million degrees and there were tons of creepy Spanish men, but we took care of it. Every time one of them came over and tried dancing with us we just all danced together and shut him out of our space. it was great. At one point I was fanning myself off with my hand because it was so hot and then this gross Spanish man starts blowing on me. I looked over and was like uh..NO GRACIAS!!!! it was so sick. Nonetheless, we danced the night away and definitely got our groove on until about 3:30 AM and then walked home. I love the Spanish life!
Today we're all just taking it easy, probably some homework, and a lot of relaxing because tonight we are meeting up with our Spanish friend Pablo to go out for dinner. He has had exams all week at the University, so tonight should be fun.
unfortunately it looks like it is going to be a no-go for the Seville vs. Barcelona futbol game. Tickets are sold out right now, and we're thinking of going down to the stadium on Saturday to maybe try to scalp tickets or get in after the game has started, but since Barcelona is the second best team in the league its not looking to promising. Plus, I'm not sure how i feel about scalping tickets in a foreign country HAHA we'll see though...but even if it doesn't work out for this game, there are others. I really want a futbol jersey. They are so sweet!!
I hope everyone is doing well, and all you east coasters are staying warm. I have heard reports from the meteorologist in my family (a.k.a. my mom) that its been pretty nasty weather the past few days. My thoughts and condolences are with you! I will try to send the Spanish sunshine your way!!!
CIAO!!!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
churros con chocolate
churros are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! today it was so nice out. Megan and I got sunburns but it felt so good! after school my roommates and I went to the park to do our homework, which only turned into us playing frisbee and soccer. No homework was done. After we stopped at the chocolateria (the chocolate shop) and had churros con chocolate (churros with chocolate). It's like a little taste of heaven! MMM MMM good!
Tomorrow we have our first sevillana dance class. It should be pretty entertaining- and on Thursday we are going to a Flamenco Show. I'm sooo excited! I decided that I want to be a pro flamenco dancer. HAHA
I'm not going to Madrid this weekend. Things just didn't really work out, and since I'm still fighting a cold I thought it would be best if I stayed home to rest. Madrid is so easy to get to that I'm not too worried about getting there ASAP. But on Sunday its the Sevilla vs. Barcelona soccer game. Barcelona is the second best team in the league, second to real Madrid so it should be a really good game. We are all trying to get tickets so hopefully it works out. I mean i don't even like soccer, but its the European thing to do right? oh man, if only my brother could see me now!!
So I'm not sure if i have mentioned this before, but I'm going to say it again regardless. But Seville is crawling with old people. THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!! I mean any of you who know me, you know how obsessed I am with old people. I miss Longview (the senior citizen facility I work at in Ithaca) SO MUCH! But there are old people everywhere here and they are so cute. I'm trying to get Mama to hook me up with some place so I can play BINGO with them or something, but the difference in Spain compared the the U.S. is that most elderly people live with family members, they don't usually go to senior homes, or nursing homes. Nonetheless I love going to the park and watching all of them. AHH they're so great!
what else, what else...
Mama is making the best dinner tonight. Its my favorite. I think its lamb...or maybe its pork...no I'm definitely going with lamb. anyways..its cooked in this sherry sauce with onions and apples. OH MY GOSH it is so delicious. And usually she makes french fries or mashed potatos (she calls them patatas puree) with it. its my absolute favorite meal! YUM!!!! thank goodness I'm feeling a little better today and I can taste my food. Last night I couldn't taste anything. I mean for all I know I could have been eating bull testicles (which is a delicacy here...NO THANK YOU) and I wouldn't have known.
Tonight is the beer pong tournament and free sangria for chicas. Its every Tuesday night at this one bar. Unfortunately I have an early class tomorrow morning and I haven't finished my homework yet so I will not be participating esta noche (tonight).
Tomorrow in my history class we are going to the Alcazar which is this palace near the cathedral. I don't know much about it, but soon I will!!!
I hope everyone is well, and enjoying these posts. Please leave me comments or email me about how you're doing! i miss everyone so much and I want to be kept in the loop!!!!
in the words of mi mama "don't worry be happy!" she says that in english all the time and it always makes me smile!!!
adios!!
Tomorrow we have our first sevillana dance class. It should be pretty entertaining- and on Thursday we are going to a Flamenco Show. I'm sooo excited! I decided that I want to be a pro flamenco dancer. HAHA
I'm not going to Madrid this weekend. Things just didn't really work out, and since I'm still fighting a cold I thought it would be best if I stayed home to rest. Madrid is so easy to get to that I'm not too worried about getting there ASAP. But on Sunday its the Sevilla vs. Barcelona soccer game. Barcelona is the second best team in the league, second to real Madrid so it should be a really good game. We are all trying to get tickets so hopefully it works out. I mean i don't even like soccer, but its the European thing to do right? oh man, if only my brother could see me now!!
So I'm not sure if i have mentioned this before, but I'm going to say it again regardless. But Seville is crawling with old people. THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!! I mean any of you who know me, you know how obsessed I am with old people. I miss Longview (the senior citizen facility I work at in Ithaca) SO MUCH! But there are old people everywhere here and they are so cute. I'm trying to get Mama to hook me up with some place so I can play BINGO with them or something, but the difference in Spain compared the the U.S. is that most elderly people live with family members, they don't usually go to senior homes, or nursing homes. Nonetheless I love going to the park and watching all of them. AHH they're so great!
what else, what else...
Mama is making the best dinner tonight. Its my favorite. I think its lamb...or maybe its pork...no I'm definitely going with lamb. anyways..its cooked in this sherry sauce with onions and apples. OH MY GOSH it is so delicious. And usually she makes french fries or mashed potatos (she calls them patatas puree) with it. its my absolute favorite meal! YUM!!!! thank goodness I'm feeling a little better today and I can taste my food. Last night I couldn't taste anything. I mean for all I know I could have been eating bull testicles (which is a delicacy here...NO THANK YOU) and I wouldn't have known.
Tonight is the beer pong tournament and free sangria for chicas. Its every Tuesday night at this one bar. Unfortunately I have an early class tomorrow morning and I haven't finished my homework yet so I will not be participating esta noche (tonight).
Tomorrow in my history class we are going to the Alcazar which is this palace near the cathedral. I don't know much about it, but soon I will!!!
I hope everyone is well, and enjoying these posts. Please leave me comments or email me about how you're doing! i miss everyone so much and I want to be kept in the loop!!!!
in the words of mi mama "don't worry be happy!" she says that in english all the time and it always makes me smile!!!
adios!!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Ireland in April
My roommate Rachael and I just booked a trip to Ireland for April 3-8. I'm going back to my roots!!!
It was really random actually...she was just searching stuff on her computer and stumbled across a really cheap flight and asked if anyone wanted to go- I said yes...we talked about it for a bit, and BOOM! we booked it!!!
Of course what do you think the first thing I did after I booked it...called the old man of course..."Dad..guess what I just did...I"M GOING TO IRELAND!!!" of course he was excited- i mean how could he not be right?
Tonight is the Super Bowl, and all the bars in the city are charging people to come in and watch the game- there are so many Americans in this city the bars going to make bank off of tonight. As for me...i'm not going for two reasons. 1 I'm still fighting off a cold and since I will be traveling to Madrid next weekend, I want to rest up so I'm not sick anymore, and 2...lets be honest- we all know who is going to win this game. I mean the Red Sox already kicked NY around once this year...why not let NE do it again right?
Today a guy from Austria arrived to stay here with us...he's staying for 3 weeks while he does an intensive Spanish language course. Its so funny because he has to live with 7 girls! He speaks pretty good english, but his Spanish is not so good. All in all we're able to communicate with him. We usually speak in Spanish and then ask if he understands and if he doesn't we translate it to english. Hes super nice, but we can tell hes overwhelmed. I would be too if I was him. He brought this AMAZING pastry from Austria as a gift for mama and we all ate it today at lunch. It was DELICIOUS! it tasted like Christmas!!
It rained a bit today, and its suppose to rain tomorrow as well, but later this week it is suppose to warm up a lot and be beautiful, so I'm really looking forward to that.
well- back to the homework for this chica!!!
hasta luego
It was really random actually...she was just searching stuff on her computer and stumbled across a really cheap flight and asked if anyone wanted to go- I said yes...we talked about it for a bit, and BOOM! we booked it!!!
Of course what do you think the first thing I did after I booked it...called the old man of course..."Dad..guess what I just did...I"M GOING TO IRELAND!!!" of course he was excited- i mean how could he not be right?
Tonight is the Super Bowl, and all the bars in the city are charging people to come in and watch the game- there are so many Americans in this city the bars going to make bank off of tonight. As for me...i'm not going for two reasons. 1 I'm still fighting off a cold and since I will be traveling to Madrid next weekend, I want to rest up so I'm not sick anymore, and 2...lets be honest- we all know who is going to win this game. I mean the Red Sox already kicked NY around once this year...why not let NE do it again right?
Today a guy from Austria arrived to stay here with us...he's staying for 3 weeks while he does an intensive Spanish language course. Its so funny because he has to live with 7 girls! He speaks pretty good english, but his Spanish is not so good. All in all we're able to communicate with him. We usually speak in Spanish and then ask if he understands and if he doesn't we translate it to english. Hes super nice, but we can tell hes overwhelmed. I would be too if I was him. He brought this AMAZING pastry from Austria as a gift for mama and we all ate it today at lunch. It was DELICIOUS! it tasted like Christmas!!
It rained a bit today, and its suppose to rain tomorrow as well, but later this week it is suppose to warm up a lot and be beautiful, so I'm really looking forward to that.
well- back to the homework for this chica!!!
hasta luego
good advice
i received some good advice tonight (you know who you are) I thought I would share it because I think its pretty gosh darn good advice.
"Approach each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."
It was just the advice I needed. I haven't had the best couple of days...it all started with me getting sick. I have been fighting a cold for the past couple of days and when you're in a foreign country and chicken noodle soup doesn't really exist, and you don't have your mom...it can be pretty tough. My mom here is great...I really like her...but no one in the world could ever replace my mom. On top of having a fever Thursday afternoon, my computer crashed. GREAAAAAAAAAAAAT
long story short, I went with my mama to the computer store and the guy said there was nothing that could be done. The hard drive has crashed and thats the end of it. He said my computer is a ticking time bomb...I will be able to get files off of it if i do it fast but within a few days my computer just wont turn on anymore....hasta luego ordenador!!! (see ya later computer)
the good thing is that we have this wonderful thing called air mail, and i have these wonderful parents who are always looking out for me. Need i say more?
on a brighter note- I visited the city of Italica on Friday with my Architecture and Painting class. Italica is about a 20 minute bus ride outside of Seville. It was the first roman town founded outside of Rome in 206 BC. I saw roman ruins from 206 BC!!! it was one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my entire life. I will post pictures soon. There's not a whole lot going on this weekend...I'm laying low still trying to fight off my cold because next weekend I will be traveling to Madrid and I don't want to be sick while I'm there.
sorry this is so short...I will update more within the next few days!!
I hope everyone is well- know that I am thinking of you, and I miss you all so much!!!
ciao!
"Approach each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."
It was just the advice I needed. I haven't had the best couple of days...it all started with me getting sick. I have been fighting a cold for the past couple of days and when you're in a foreign country and chicken noodle soup doesn't really exist, and you don't have your mom...it can be pretty tough. My mom here is great...I really like her...but no one in the world could ever replace my mom. On top of having a fever Thursday afternoon, my computer crashed. GREAAAAAAAAAAAAT
long story short, I went with my mama to the computer store and the guy said there was nothing that could be done. The hard drive has crashed and thats the end of it. He said my computer is a ticking time bomb...I will be able to get files off of it if i do it fast but within a few days my computer just wont turn on anymore....hasta luego ordenador!!! (see ya later computer)
the good thing is that we have this wonderful thing called air mail, and i have these wonderful parents who are always looking out for me. Need i say more?
on a brighter note- I visited the city of Italica on Friday with my Architecture and Painting class. Italica is about a 20 minute bus ride outside of Seville. It was the first roman town founded outside of Rome in 206 BC. I saw roman ruins from 206 BC!!! it was one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my entire life. I will post pictures soon. There's not a whole lot going on this weekend...I'm laying low still trying to fight off my cold because next weekend I will be traveling to Madrid and I don't want to be sick while I'm there.
sorry this is so short...I will update more within the next few days!!
I hope everyone is well- know that I am thinking of you, and I miss you all so much!!!
ciao!
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