Look who's back... long time, no see, eh? While I should be doing my lesson planning for the rest of my life, I mean summer, I decided to start the good ole blog back up as a form of relaxation... Lately my life has been slightly chaotic and stressful and I feel like it can be best explained through my sense of direction.
So for those of you who do not know, I just recently moved to Cincinnati to work for the summer. I like to consider myself a fairly intelligent person (please do not tell me if you disagree), but for some reason I just cannot figure this darn city out. Seriously, I've found myself having to leave an extra ten minutes earlier than I already do because I get myself so turned around. I've been late for work, meeting people, lost in not-so-great parts of town, and to a grocery store that I still could not tell you how I got there. It is absolutely absurd and one of the most frustrating experiences of my life.
And I realize that this lack of direction is not just a literal lack of direction anymore. Ever since returning from my adventures abroad, I have just been kind of wandering. My job hasn't really gotten in to full swing yet and I really have no idea what to expect from that. I'm not really sure what the future holds for me in my personal life anymore either. Things that I thought I had figured out are now completely mixed up and things just keep coming out of left field. I feel like I am constantly on my toes, which is, quite frankly, exhausting.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I can now successfully get to northern Kentucky from where I live and work without the direction of any other person. And I am hoping that is what I will get out of this summer. A little more direction, even though I have an idea that it will not be nearly the direction I was thinking it would be.
What's the moral of this story? Stay tuned. I am actually going to keep this up over the summer, for those of you who care, to share my stories and hopefully find my way in life. I pray to God more successfully than I have found my way around Cincinnati.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Just Gotta Get Back Up on That Horse
Alright, I realize I've gotten in to the nasty habit of only blogging once a week, but honestly, it's because I would so much rather be in the sun and by the river than on a computer typing inside... oops. However, I will give the update on my life.
So last week was just one of those weeks. It started off on Monday which I talked about in my last entry and the rest of the week just kind of followed in the same fashion. I am not saying it was all bad, but it was just one of those things where I would be having a pretty good day and then I would just get pushed down by something. Overall it wasn't a bad week. I had an awesome time at practicum as usual, it was just kind of exhausting. I was worn down by the time Friday rolled around. But as my grandpa always says, when you get knocked off the horse, you just gotta get right back up on it. Fortunately for me, we were going to Málaga on Friday to help me get back on the horse!
Now, I am currently exhausted, so I am going to let the weekend speak for itself through pictures. Let me just say that this was one of the best weekends of my life. My friends and the Mediterranean got me out of my funk and I am completely ready to start a new week. So this was my weekend in Málaga in pictures.
So last week was just one of those weeks. It started off on Monday which I talked about in my last entry and the rest of the week just kind of followed in the same fashion. I am not saying it was all bad, but it was just one of those things where I would be having a pretty good day and then I would just get pushed down by something. Overall it wasn't a bad week. I had an awesome time at practicum as usual, it was just kind of exhausting. I was worn down by the time Friday rolled around. But as my grandpa always says, when you get knocked off the horse, you just gotta get right back up on it. Fortunately for me, we were going to Málaga on Friday to help me get back on the horse!
Now, I am currently exhausted, so I am going to let the weekend speak for itself through pictures. Let me just say that this was one of the best weekends of my life. My friends and the Mediterranean got me out of my funk and I am completely ready to start a new week. So this was my weekend in Málaga in pictures.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Granada!!! AKA Really Awesome Weekend
So much to update on... I will try not to be long winded.
So the rest of the week went fairly normally last week. I taught a little bit in my classes on Thursday, and it was really fun. I think they understood me... They told me I talk really fast which blows my mind because I am intentionally speaking slower. I think I just get nervous. Thursday night Holly, Marcy, Eric and I went out after class and that was a really fun night, but pretty laid back. On Friday, we had to be at the University at 8:30 in the morning. I was totally going to be on time, but then I left my camera in my house and of course I needed that. So then I had to take this long adventure of walking and riding the bus to the University because it is 30 minutes away from my house. I was the last one there, but it was okay because all my friends saved me a seat on the back row with them! All five of us were sitting in one row, it was precious.
On our way to Granada, we stopped at this rest area and it was complete madness. Everyone was crowded around the counter, there was no line, and you just shouted your order to the waitress. I felt really bad for everyone behind the counter, but they were obviously pros and got all the orders out super fast. After that we were on our way to Granada again! The way in to Granada was beautiful, we drove through the country side. One thing about my friends is that they all think that I live in the boondocks. Every once in a while my country accent slips and so they think I am from the middle of no where. When we were driving to Granada, there was one house in the middle of this field and Eric turned to me and said "Oh you live somewhere like that, right?" Sooooooo funny. When they come visit me, they will be shocked to see that I live in a city and wear shoes and don't eat fried chicken all the time!
Once we got to Granada, we were dropped off at the hotel and we had a little break before lunch. I took a long hot shower and did not feel guilty about it. When I'm at home I try to be in and out of the shower as quick as possible because water and electricity to heat it are very expensive here. It was kind of nice to just let the water run and not worry about how much I was costing Eva. Then we had this awesome Spanish buffet, full of all kinds of typical Spanish dishes. Of course we looked like fat Americans, but it was worth it.
After lunch, we went to Alhambra, which is the last palace of the Muslim kings in Andalusia. It is considered the last hoorah of the Muslim kings and a kind of demonstration of their art and culture before the Christians conquered them. It was absolutely breathe taking. It is up on a hill to where you can see all of Granada and the gardens were so beautiful, even without flowers. Plus, Granada is surrounded by mountains, so that added to the beauty. After we went through Alhambra, we walked back down to our hotel and that was a really cool way to see more of Granada. It was weird walking on hills again because Sevilla is so flat. We went in all of these really small shops and found some really awesome hand made gifts there. Then we went back to the hotel to rest for a bit before dinner.
Granada has this really awesome deal where if you go in to a bar, you order a drink and they bring you a free tapa with it. So naturally, we took advantage of this deal. We went to three different bars and had drinks and food until I was about to bust, and then we went back to the hotel. We were all pretty exhausted from walking around all day, thus the short end to the night.
The next morning, we got up early and had a big breakfast. We all got on the bus and we were dropped off in the middle of a historic neighborhood in Granada at the top of the hill. This neighborhood was honestly one of the coolest things I had ever seen. It had long winding streets, per Muslim city planning, and bright white buildings with all kinds of tile designs. Our tour guide told us that it is the "hippie" neighborhood now, and she was fairly accurate. A lot of dreadlocks, baggy pants, and the smell of weed all around. But it was such a relaxed environment (possibly from the weed) that you couldn't help but love it. We came upon an overlook where there were all kinds of vendors selling homemade jewelry and other things. It had a beautiful view and I did not want to leave there. But as we kept walking, we passed a convent where claustered nuns live. They bake sweets to sell to the public, but since you cannot see the nuns, the baked goods come out in a lazy susan style door and then you put the money after they give you the food. It was such a cool process to see and to see the trust demonstrated by them by giving you the food first. Also, everything was delicious, I think God had something to do with it.
We kept walking until we arrived at Capilla Real, or the Royal Chapel, which is where Isabel and Ferdinand, as in the Reyes Catolicos are buried. IT WAS SO COOL. I felt like such a nerd for getting so worked up about it, but not only did we get to see their tombs, we got to see Isabel's crown and bible and Ferdinand's septor. It was amazing to see.
After the chapel we had lunch and hopped on the bus. Once we got back to Sevilla, my friend Emily came and watched movies and spent the night with me in my house because Eva was out of town. It was really nice to have her here because I was tired and a little sad, so she helped cheer me up.
Sunday morning, Emily and I went out to breakfast and then we got to witness part of the Sevilla Marathon! The course ran down the main road right next to my house, so we got to see all of the runners suffering, I mean doing awesome. Apparently the guy who won it finished it in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Yes, you read correctly. My mind was blown when I heard that. I would be lucky to finish a marathon in 10 hours, that is if I could even finish it. But anyways, after that all of us went park hopping. We started in one park close to Emily and had our sack lunches there. Then we went exploring in Macarena, Emily's neighborhood and saw some really cool churches and plazas. Then we went to a huge park really close to me, Parque Miraflores, where we just sat and laid in the sun. It was actually warm so I finally got to wear a dress! My face is starting to get tan, but the rest of my body has been so covered in clothes that it definitely does not match. But it's okay, I'm in Spain! It was a really wonderful day yesterday, full of relaxing and not doing homework.
Today, on the other hand, was a slightly different story. I woke up this morning not feeling so hot, both mentally and physically. Apparently it was obvious because one of my professors asked me if I was okay because I wasn't smiling as much... Oh the international form of communication... Anyways, then I broke my converter for my computer at which point I just broke down and cried. Luckily, I have awesome friends here who help me problem solve when I am incapable of doing anything else, and that problem was solved. I started to feel a lot better and the day started looking up. And tonight we are going to this awesome place called Cien Montaditos where we can get two huge jars of beer and nachos for two Euro. Woo! Looks like today is looking up after all.
I think I ended up being long winded...
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| Sleeping Beauty |
On our way to Granada, we stopped at this rest area and it was complete madness. Everyone was crowded around the counter, there was no line, and you just shouted your order to the waitress. I felt really bad for everyone behind the counter, but they were obviously pros and got all the orders out super fast. After that we were on our way to Granada again! The way in to Granada was beautiful, we drove through the country side. One thing about my friends is that they all think that I live in the boondocks. Every once in a while my country accent slips and so they think I am from the middle of no where. When we were driving to Granada, there was one house in the middle of this field and Eric turned to me and said "Oh you live somewhere like that, right?" Sooooooo funny. When they come visit me, they will be shocked to see that I live in a city and wear shoes and don't eat fried chicken all the time!
Once we got to Granada, we were dropped off at the hotel and we had a little break before lunch. I took a long hot shower and did not feel guilty about it. When I'm at home I try to be in and out of the shower as quick as possible because water and electricity to heat it are very expensive here. It was kind of nice to just let the water run and not worry about how much I was costing Eva. Then we had this awesome Spanish buffet, full of all kinds of typical Spanish dishes. Of course we looked like fat Americans, but it was worth it.
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| Alhambra |
After lunch, we went to Alhambra, which is the last palace of the Muslim kings in Andalusia. It is considered the last hoorah of the Muslim kings and a kind of demonstration of their art and culture before the Christians conquered them. It was absolutely breathe taking. It is up on a hill to where you can see all of Granada and the gardens were so beautiful, even without flowers. Plus, Granada is surrounded by mountains, so that added to the beauty. After we went through Alhambra, we walked back down to our hotel and that was a really cool way to see more of Granada. It was weird walking on hills again because Sevilla is so flat. We went in all of these really small shops and found some really awesome hand made gifts there. Then we went back to the hotel to rest for a bit before dinner.
Granada has this really awesome deal where if you go in to a bar, you order a drink and they bring you a free tapa with it. So naturally, we took advantage of this deal. We went to three different bars and had drinks and food until I was about to bust, and then we went back to the hotel. We were all pretty exhausted from walking around all day, thus the short end to the night.
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| TDP Group! |
We kept walking until we arrived at Capilla Real, or the Royal Chapel, which is where Isabel and Ferdinand, as in the Reyes Catolicos are buried. IT WAS SO COOL. I felt like such a nerd for getting so worked up about it, but not only did we get to see their tombs, we got to see Isabel's crown and bible and Ferdinand's septor. It was amazing to see.
After the chapel we had lunch and hopped on the bus. Once we got back to Sevilla, my friend Emily came and watched movies and spent the night with me in my house because Eva was out of town. It was really nice to have her here because I was tired and a little sad, so she helped cheer me up.
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| Parque Miraflores |
Today, on the other hand, was a slightly different story. I woke up this morning not feeling so hot, both mentally and physically. Apparently it was obvious because one of my professors asked me if I was okay because I wasn't smiling as much... Oh the international form of communication... Anyways, then I broke my converter for my computer at which point I just broke down and cried. Luckily, I have awesome friends here who help me problem solve when I am incapable of doing anything else, and that problem was solved. I started to feel a lot better and the day started looking up. And tonight we are going to this awesome place called Cien Montaditos where we can get two huge jars of beer and nachos for two Euro. Woo! Looks like today is looking up after all.
I think I ended up being long winded...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
First Day of Practicum... Oh and Valentine's Day Too.
This week marked my first time in my classroom for my practicum!!! Before I went, I was super nervous because I am in a class of the equivalent of freshmen in high school... Yikes. I was really worried that they would know English grammar and concepts better than me, and they most definitely know how to speak Spanish better than me. I got to the school in the morning and went to the teacher's lounge, where I awkwardly sat with a few other teachers and waited for my teacher to come and get me. My teacher, Isabel, came after a few minutes, and she is super sweet. She brought me to my first class, where all of the students were leaning out the door looking and waiting for us. After we set all of our stuff down, I stood up and introduced myself in English and it seemed like they all understood. I asked if they had any questions, and there was dead silence. They were so quiet, not just for me, but for Isabel too. It blew my mind, but it also could have been because it was 10 in the morning. Who knows? But then Isabel started on the lesson and I sat and followed along in the book. They teach British English here, so I end up learning some new vocabulary too. I couldn't help but giggle whenever Isabel would start teaching in English, because she would be speaking to me in a ver Sevillano Spanish, and then she would switch to a proper British accent in English. I found it very amusing.
After that class, we had a thirty minute break where we went and sat in the teacher's lounge again. A bunch of other teachers came in and started speaking very loudly and excitedly, like most Spaniards do when in large groups. Needless to say, it was very interesting to listen too, but at the same time slightly overwhelming because it was such a confined space. I did meet one teacher who was from Ireland, and she came here to teach because her boyfriend lives here. She was really nice and was telling me how when she teaches English, it is really easy, but sometimes if she is tired or not feeling well, teaching in Spanish is really hard for her, so that made me feel a little better. Everyone at the school was super nice and made an attempt to talk to me, even though I was slightly tongue tied because of how overwhelmed I was, but hopefully they will realize I'm not an idiot after a while.
Then Isabel and I had our second class, which was very, very different than the first. They were super talkative and from the moment I walked in, they were asking me my name and where I was from and all kinds of things. I got through my introduction and then asked if anyone had questions. Four or five hands shot up with questions like "Do you have brothers and sisters?" "Do you have pets?" "Do you know anyone famous?" and my favorite, "Do you have a facebook?". I loved it though and I was relieved to see that they were actually intrigued by my presence in the class. The lesson was the same as the first class, so I was able to participate a little more since I knew what was going on. Then at the end of the class, Isabel told me the lesson for next time and said if I wanted to participate and teach part of it I could. Woo!
After practicum, I had class, which was fine. I didn't feel as stupid as I did last time, which was nice. Then after class, we all went out for pizza for my roommate's birthday, which was delicious. Then, the five of us went to our new favorite tapas place and got chocolate mousse for dessert as a Valentine's day celebration. All day I had been trying not to remind myself what day it was, just because I didn't want to miss Alex at all. But with all of my friends around me, I couldn't feel sad. Also, you know your friends know you well when they all agree to keep a close eye on you on Valentine's day in case you are super sad. I wasn't, but I thought it was really funny that they made that pact. What would I do without them? Dessert was awesome and so was conversation, so it was the perfect end to a good day.
Then today, I GOT MY VALENTINE'S DAY PRESENT FROM ALEX!!!!! I started crying happy tears in the middle of the study center I was so excited. Which that is a testament to how emotional I have become here, I have only cried happy tears probably twice in my life. It just doesn't happen. But the present was super sweet and thoughtful and it was just what I needed. He even put in some American movies, HOORAY! And shout out to his sister for helping him with some of it, Elizabeth's the best. As for the rest of the day, I will be doing homework! It feels like I have a lot here, but I know it is just because I chose to occupy my time exploring and doing things as opposed to doing my homework. Fortunately, grades don't transfer. :) (Don't worry mom, I will still pass!) I guess I just have different priorities over here, and I think that is a good thing. You can't learn everything in a book, after all.
After that class, we had a thirty minute break where we went and sat in the teacher's lounge again. A bunch of other teachers came in and started speaking very loudly and excitedly, like most Spaniards do when in large groups. Needless to say, it was very interesting to listen too, but at the same time slightly overwhelming because it was such a confined space. I did meet one teacher who was from Ireland, and she came here to teach because her boyfriend lives here. She was really nice and was telling me how when she teaches English, it is really easy, but sometimes if she is tired or not feeling well, teaching in Spanish is really hard for her, so that made me feel a little better. Everyone at the school was super nice and made an attempt to talk to me, even though I was slightly tongue tied because of how overwhelmed I was, but hopefully they will realize I'm not an idiot after a while.
Then Isabel and I had our second class, which was very, very different than the first. They were super talkative and from the moment I walked in, they were asking me my name and where I was from and all kinds of things. I got through my introduction and then asked if anyone had questions. Four or five hands shot up with questions like "Do you have brothers and sisters?" "Do you have pets?" "Do you know anyone famous?" and my favorite, "Do you have a facebook?". I loved it though and I was relieved to see that they were actually intrigued by my presence in the class. The lesson was the same as the first class, so I was able to participate a little more since I knew what was going on. Then at the end of the class, Isabel told me the lesson for next time and said if I wanted to participate and teach part of it I could. Woo!
After practicum, I had class, which was fine. I didn't feel as stupid as I did last time, which was nice. Then after class, we all went out for pizza for my roommate's birthday, which was delicious. Then, the five of us went to our new favorite tapas place and got chocolate mousse for dessert as a Valentine's day celebration. All day I had been trying not to remind myself what day it was, just because I didn't want to miss Alex at all. But with all of my friends around me, I couldn't feel sad. Also, you know your friends know you well when they all agree to keep a close eye on you on Valentine's day in case you are super sad. I wasn't, but I thought it was really funny that they made that pact. What would I do without them? Dessert was awesome and so was conversation, so it was the perfect end to a good day.
Then today, I GOT MY VALENTINE'S DAY PRESENT FROM ALEX!!!!! I started crying happy tears in the middle of the study center I was so excited. Which that is a testament to how emotional I have become here, I have only cried happy tears probably twice in my life. It just doesn't happen. But the present was super sweet and thoughtful and it was just what I needed. He even put in some American movies, HOORAY! And shout out to his sister for helping him with some of it, Elizabeth's the best. As for the rest of the day, I will be doing homework! It feels like I have a lot here, but I know it is just because I chose to occupy my time exploring and doing things as opposed to doing my homework. Fortunately, grades don't transfer. :) (Don't worry mom, I will still pass!) I guess I just have different priorities over here, and I think that is a good thing. You can't learn everything in a book, after all.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
La Barbacoa
Today was an absolutely wonderful day. We woke up, got ready, and then we all packed in to Eva's car to go to the barbecue. We had it in this house with a huge back yard that Eva and all of her friends rented out. By the time we got there, Eva's mom and aunt and cousins were there ready to start setting everything up. It was a little chilly out, so we set up all of the tables and chairs in the back yard in the sun. Then it was time to get out the food. To begin with, there were all kinds of cold cuts, small empanadas, olives, and bread. I was starving by this time, so naturally I gorged on those, when little did I know how much food was to come. People started trickling in slowly and then by 2, pretty much everyone had arrived and the food was almost all cooked. There was shish kabobs, jamon iberica, vegetable casserole, tortilla, soup, sausage, hamburgers, basically anything you could want. After everyone had eaten a really good amount, the band showed up and we started dancing. I am a really terrible dancer, however I still gave it my best effort. I did know the dance that Eva and I learned earlier this week, and they played it probably three times, so that was my redemption. We danced and ate, danced and ate, for the majority of the afternoon. I even won a game that was similar to musical chairs, only when the music stopped you had to find your partner and strike a pose that someone with the mic called out. Naturally, my partner and I won (not competitive at all). That was a really good way to kind of break the ice and get people to talk to me more.
After a lot more dancing, we all sat down and started talking in our groups. Most of the people there were a lot older than me, so it was still really cool talking to them about where they were from and their lives and what they liked best about Seville. Then, out came dessert. There was chocolate cake, pound cake, and apple tart, which of course I tried all of them. There is a reason that the image of the fat American exists. Oops. Anyways, it was all delicious, not surprisingly. We danced a little more after that and then it was time to clean up and come home.
Besides the fact that the food was so amazing today, the reason today was so much fun was because of all the people I met. It was kind of hard at first to integrate myself and start talking to them, but once I opened up and they opened up to me, it was much easier and I even started to feel like myself. That is one thing I have noticed while here- personalities do not translate through language unless you are 100% completely without a doubt fluent. It is really hard to express yourself in the same way in one language as the other and I think that is part of the reason that I have been kind of frustrated while here. I feel like people don't know the real me because I am incapable of expressing the real me. But hopefully after what I saw today, it will become easier and easier to be the real me and truly express myself.
Also, as a side note, I have been here a month. It is crazy to think that it has been that long, and it is weird to think that I only have three more months left here. Better go make the best of them!
After a lot more dancing, we all sat down and started talking in our groups. Most of the people there were a lot older than me, so it was still really cool talking to them about where they were from and their lives and what they liked best about Seville. Then, out came dessert. There was chocolate cake, pound cake, and apple tart, which of course I tried all of them. There is a reason that the image of the fat American exists. Oops. Anyways, it was all delicious, not surprisingly. We danced a little more after that and then it was time to clean up and come home.
Besides the fact that the food was so amazing today, the reason today was so much fun was because of all the people I met. It was kind of hard at first to integrate myself and start talking to them, but once I opened up and they opened up to me, it was much easier and I even started to feel like myself. That is one thing I have noticed while here- personalities do not translate through language unless you are 100% completely without a doubt fluent. It is really hard to express yourself in the same way in one language as the other and I think that is part of the reason that I have been kind of frustrated while here. I feel like people don't know the real me because I am incapable of expressing the real me. But hopefully after what I saw today, it will become easier and easier to be the real me and truly express myself.
Also, as a side note, I have been here a month. It is crazy to think that it has been that long, and it is weird to think that I only have three more months left here. Better go make the best of them!
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Routine
It's been a while since I have blogged, just because I feel like everything I am doing is becoming a routine, therefore I don't have anything to write about. However, not true. So here is the weekly update-
When we FINALLY got back on Sunday from Rome, Emily, Eric, and Marcy were all waiting for me at a pizza place close to my house. It was really nice to come back to friendly faces who wanted to know all about the trip and how I was doing. Even though we didn't know each other before we came here, we are really all each other has, and I am happy I have found such a great group.
Monday, we started our regular session classes! I was actually really excited about taking classes so that I would start to be busier and I was excited to start learning again. (Nerd, I know). The classes really don't seem like they will be too bad, not like Transy at least. For the most part, each of my classes has a midterm and a final and then one paper due at the end. For one or two of them I have to turn in a weekly two page paper, which in the grand scheme of things, really isn't that bad. I tried to explain to my friends here what Transy was like, but I just found myself coming off pretentious and like I was trying to say my school was way harder than theirs, which I was not. I guess you just have to come to Transy to find out what it is really like. Anyways, I have a cuisine and culture class, which should be really interesting, we get to try different types of food that is typical in this culture, which obviously I am excited about. Then I have a literature class which seems really interesting too because it is Literature of the Margins, meaning all of the authors we are studying were from some sort of marginalized group. It seems really cool. Then I have a Methodology of Teaching Spanish class, which is already super useful. I have only had two classes and I have learned so much. I really like it because Transy doesn't really have a class like that, so it is useful and also helps me justify taking a fluff class like cuisine. Finally, I have my practicum class, and the professor is awesome. He is so animated, he is basically like a cartoon character. But he is super excited and enthusiastic about what he does and about what we do, so that really helps.
I only have class from 9-11 in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays, but then I have class from 3-9 in the afternoon Tuesdays and Thursdays. That is kind of a rough stretch, especially when you add in the fact that I have my actual practicum where I go and observe/teach from 10-12:30 in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thank God for Mondays and Wednesdays, right?
So I went to all of my classes this week and I got to tour the school I will be working in. It was really cool to finally see it and it made me so excited to start teaching! At the same time though, it kind of made me miss home and my family a lot, seeing all the little kids run around and such. But then I remind myself that MY FAMILY IS COMING TO SEE ME. They just booked the trip this week and I am absolutely ecstatic! I didn't think it would be possible for them to come, and this definitely helps with my homesickness.
On Wednesday night, my senora and I sat in the living room and watched recordings of her performing at the resort she used to work at in the Canary Islands. We also learned the dance to this really popular song that they play at the bars at least 5 times a night. I am so lucky that I was paired with her, she has really helped me feel more comfortable here and I loved learning about her life. She is fascinating and hilarious and I am so happy here.
Then on Thursday, I kind of started to hit a wall. I'm not sure, but I was just in a foul mood and everything pissed me off. We visited the school, which was great, but it also made me miss everyone as I said before. Then I went to class and it was just one thing after the other. In my Lit class, we were talking about if there were basic values or principles that everyone believes in. Keep in mind that these classes are in Spanish, so I am already hesitant to speak my mind because I don't want to sound stupid because of how I speak. But me being me, I said yes, I believe that there are some basic values, for example, don't kill. This was my hopeful, optimistic, belief in humanity side that was coming out. Well apparently the rest of the class has learned to ignore this side because literally every single one of them raised their hands to disagree with me and I didn't get a chance to defend myself. That was awesome. Then when we were in practicum, we were doing these vocabulary exercises to help us with teaching and I just could not get an answer right. It was wearing me out. Fortunately, I have awesome friends who can laugh with me, so we all went out for tapas and drinks after class. It was the perfect way to end a so-so day.
Today, I woke up later and went to the store to buy ingredients to make guacamole for a barbecue my senora and her friends are having tomorrow. However, the avocados I got were the hardest darn things I have ever worked with in my life. Needless to say, the guacamole doesn't taste quite ripe, but that's ok. I hope... Then Eva took me out to lunch with some of her cousins and they sat and talked for hours. I couldn't really get much of a word in, but I really liked listening to them. Also, I am still timid about talking to natives because I hate sounding stupid, so that kind of held me back. (I know, who ever would have thought I would be timid about anything?) After lunch, we went to check out the place where the cookout is going to be. It was kind of like a country house with a huge back yard and patio and everything. Apparently around 50 people are coming to this and it is going to be an all day ordeal. I am so excited. An entire day of eating, drinking, and speaking Spanish. What could be better? My senora and I are also planning on teaching everyone the dance we learned... that should be interesting. I am very excited for tomorrow and I'm sure I will have all kinds of stuff to blog about then!
When we FINALLY got back on Sunday from Rome, Emily, Eric, and Marcy were all waiting for me at a pizza place close to my house. It was really nice to come back to friendly faces who wanted to know all about the trip and how I was doing. Even though we didn't know each other before we came here, we are really all each other has, and I am happy I have found such a great group.
Monday, we started our regular session classes! I was actually really excited about taking classes so that I would start to be busier and I was excited to start learning again. (Nerd, I know). The classes really don't seem like they will be too bad, not like Transy at least. For the most part, each of my classes has a midterm and a final and then one paper due at the end. For one or two of them I have to turn in a weekly two page paper, which in the grand scheme of things, really isn't that bad. I tried to explain to my friends here what Transy was like, but I just found myself coming off pretentious and like I was trying to say my school was way harder than theirs, which I was not. I guess you just have to come to Transy to find out what it is really like. Anyways, I have a cuisine and culture class, which should be really interesting, we get to try different types of food that is typical in this culture, which obviously I am excited about. Then I have a literature class which seems really interesting too because it is Literature of the Margins, meaning all of the authors we are studying were from some sort of marginalized group. It seems really cool. Then I have a Methodology of Teaching Spanish class, which is already super useful. I have only had two classes and I have learned so much. I really like it because Transy doesn't really have a class like that, so it is useful and also helps me justify taking a fluff class like cuisine. Finally, I have my practicum class, and the professor is awesome. He is so animated, he is basically like a cartoon character. But he is super excited and enthusiastic about what he does and about what we do, so that really helps.
I only have class from 9-11 in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays, but then I have class from 3-9 in the afternoon Tuesdays and Thursdays. That is kind of a rough stretch, especially when you add in the fact that I have my actual practicum where I go and observe/teach from 10-12:30 in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thank God for Mondays and Wednesdays, right?
So I went to all of my classes this week and I got to tour the school I will be working in. It was really cool to finally see it and it made me so excited to start teaching! At the same time though, it kind of made me miss home and my family a lot, seeing all the little kids run around and such. But then I remind myself that MY FAMILY IS COMING TO SEE ME. They just booked the trip this week and I am absolutely ecstatic! I didn't think it would be possible for them to come, and this definitely helps with my homesickness.
On Wednesday night, my senora and I sat in the living room and watched recordings of her performing at the resort she used to work at in the Canary Islands. We also learned the dance to this really popular song that they play at the bars at least 5 times a night. I am so lucky that I was paired with her, she has really helped me feel more comfortable here and I loved learning about her life. She is fascinating and hilarious and I am so happy here.
Then on Thursday, I kind of started to hit a wall. I'm not sure, but I was just in a foul mood and everything pissed me off. We visited the school, which was great, but it also made me miss everyone as I said before. Then I went to class and it was just one thing after the other. In my Lit class, we were talking about if there were basic values or principles that everyone believes in. Keep in mind that these classes are in Spanish, so I am already hesitant to speak my mind because I don't want to sound stupid because of how I speak. But me being me, I said yes, I believe that there are some basic values, for example, don't kill. This was my hopeful, optimistic, belief in humanity side that was coming out. Well apparently the rest of the class has learned to ignore this side because literally every single one of them raised their hands to disagree with me and I didn't get a chance to defend myself. That was awesome. Then when we were in practicum, we were doing these vocabulary exercises to help us with teaching and I just could not get an answer right. It was wearing me out. Fortunately, I have awesome friends who can laugh with me, so we all went out for tapas and drinks after class. It was the perfect way to end a so-so day.
Today, I woke up later and went to the store to buy ingredients to make guacamole for a barbecue my senora and her friends are having tomorrow. However, the avocados I got were the hardest darn things I have ever worked with in my life. Needless to say, the guacamole doesn't taste quite ripe, but that's ok. I hope... Then Eva took me out to lunch with some of her cousins and they sat and talked for hours. I couldn't really get much of a word in, but I really liked listening to them. Also, I am still timid about talking to natives because I hate sounding stupid, so that kind of held me back. (I know, who ever would have thought I would be timid about anything?) After lunch, we went to check out the place where the cookout is going to be. It was kind of like a country house with a huge back yard and patio and everything. Apparently around 50 people are coming to this and it is going to be an all day ordeal. I am so excited. An entire day of eating, drinking, and speaking Spanish. What could be better? My senora and I are also planning on teaching everyone the dance we learned... that should be interesting. I am very excited for tomorrow and I'm sure I will have all kinds of stuff to blog about then!
Monday, February 6, 2012
When In Rome... Do Not Fly in to Ciampino.
Alrighty ladies and gents, buckle on up, it's going to be a long ride.
So last week was pretty much the usual, which was nice to feel like I was in a routine. I did get a job for this summer and it was the job that I really really really wanted, so I was SUPER pumped about that. I had a final and a paper due in my intensive class, so that took up a lot of my time. I also started out on a new running route/routine, and I really like all that I get to see while running. But where the fun really starts is this past weekend.
On Friday, I had my exam and after that I went out with Marcy, Eric, and Emily for coffee. Then I came home and got my stuff packed to meet Holly at the train station to catch our bus to the airport to leave for Rome! (I know, a bus at the train station seems weird.) We made it to the airport pretty early and being inexperienced travelers on Ryanair, we thought we had to wait in the lobby to check in until we saw our flight pop up on the screen by the check in counter. Little did we know that that was only for checking bags in, so once we figured that out, we went straight through security to our gate. Once there, our flight got delayed an hour. Keep in mind we were originally supposed to get in to Rome at around 10. So we waited and waited until a half hour before the flight when all of the sudden everyone gets in to a line unannounced. We had no idea what this line was for, but we figured we should get in it, so we did. Turns out it was to check hand luggage and your ticket. Also, Ryanair doesn't assign seats, so when we boarded the plane it was a mad dash for who could get the best seat. Ryanair really is just a whole new experience for anyone who has not flown with them before. Holly and I decided it is like the fast food of airlines. Don't get me wrong, I love how cheap the flights are and everything, but it pretty much is you do everything yourself or we charge you for it. But I digress...
We finally landed in Rome and we were so excited! And we didn't realize that you don't have to go through customs when you are flying between EU countries, so that was kind of cool. Holly's friend, Caitlin, lives in Rome this semester, so she was letting us stay with her, God bless her. But because of where she lives and how late we got in, we couldn't take the public transportation to her apartment, we had to take a taxi. In Rome, the rule is that as long as the taxi is taking you some where within the city walls, it costs 30 euro... right. Anyways, we went outside to wait for a taxi and it was about 33 degrees and raining. And there were about forty people waiting in line for one without a taxi in sight. We just assumed that they would be there shortly, so we waited in line. In about 30 minutes, one taxi came. At this time, the rain turned to snow and it was coming down hard. We ended up waiting in line for about an hour and a half in the rain/snow. Finally, two taxis came at the same time and I couldn't wait any longer and Holly and I both were in physical pain, so I did something my father would do. I ran out in front of the taxi before it could get to the awning and asked the driver how much. He said 50 and I said deal and jumped in the cab while waiting for Holly to get there. At this point neither of us cared how much it cost, we just wanted to be somewhere warm.
The taxi got us to the apartment after a few near death experiences, and Caitlin was a saint and had tomato, mozzarella, and bread waiting for us. And after we finished that, she made us pasta. Holly and I talked about it the next day, and we have no recollection of what was said that night, that is how much shock we were in from standing outside for so long. So ridiculous. We went to bed after that and got up bright and early the next morning to go to the Colosseum! It was so cool because as soon as you get off the metro stop, there it is! And it was covered completely with snow, so that made it that much more beautiful and majestic. Sadly, because of the snow we couldn't go in, but it was still awesome to see it from the outside. As we were walking around seeing everything, there was a news station doing a report on all the snow and we walked by it. Then when we were in a cafe for breakfast, we saw the report and there we were in the background! Practically famous. And the cafe we were at had the best pastries that were completely fresh and wonderful. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. After the Colosseum, we got a call from our Vatican tour place saying that due to the snow, the Vatican was closing everything at 1 and that our tour was cancelled. So we hoped on the metro and went to the Vatican to see as much as possible before it closed. Once again, we only got to see things from the outside, but it was still super cool. We saw the Vatican sites, then we got pastries and gelato. When in Rome right? By this point our shoes were completely soaked through, so we headed for home, but not before picking up delicious panini from this precious sandwich shop that Caitlin showed us. We took about a three hour siesta while we waited for everything to mostly dry out.
Saturday night we went out for a traditional Italian dinner. We went to this tiny restaurant where we had three courses each with wine and bread. The pasta was so perfect and I had lamb chops too. In case you were wondering, the only thing we bought this entire trip was food. Just to clarify.
Sunday morning we got up early again and packed everything up. Then we went to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Both were incredible to see, even if it was freezing cold once again! After we saw those sites, we had to make our way to the metro station to catch our bus to the airport, but not before we stopped for eggplant and tomato pizza. We said goodbye to Caitlin, who was so wonderful to us, and hopped on the bus. We made it to the airport, Ciampino, fine and got through security really fast. Just to give you an idea, Ciampino airport is about half the size of the Lexington Bluegrass Airport. We are talking tiny and the only people who fly in there pretty much is Ryanair. We were supposed to leave around 3:45, but we ended up not boarding our flight until 6:45. Needless to say, it was a slightly stressful trip traveling wise, even though it was completely worth it in the long run! When we finally got back to Seville, Holly and I could have kissed the ground. This feels like home to us now, and there is no feeling like coming home after a stressful day.
And that is my story. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but it was amazing. I still am in shock that I was in Italy this weekend, it just doesn't feel real. But I wouldn't take it back for anything. And now I want to go back, only next time, maybe I won't fly in to Ciampino.
So last week was pretty much the usual, which was nice to feel like I was in a routine. I did get a job for this summer and it was the job that I really really really wanted, so I was SUPER pumped about that. I had a final and a paper due in my intensive class, so that took up a lot of my time. I also started out on a new running route/routine, and I really like all that I get to see while running. But where the fun really starts is this past weekend.
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| Waiting in Seville! |
We finally landed in Rome and we were so excited! And we didn't realize that you don't have to go through customs when you are flying between EU countries, so that was kind of cool. Holly's friend, Caitlin, lives in Rome this semester, so she was letting us stay with her, God bless her. But because of where she lives and how late we got in, we couldn't take the public transportation to her apartment, we had to take a taxi. In Rome, the rule is that as long as the taxi is taking you some where within the city walls, it costs 30 euro... right. Anyways, we went outside to wait for a taxi and it was about 33 degrees and raining. And there were about forty people waiting in line for one without a taxi in sight. We just assumed that they would be there shortly, so we waited in line. In about 30 minutes, one taxi came. At this time, the rain turned to snow and it was coming down hard. We ended up waiting in line for about an hour and a half in the rain/snow. Finally, two taxis came at the same time and I couldn't wait any longer and Holly and I both were in physical pain, so I did something my father would do. I ran out in front of the taxi before it could get to the awning and asked the driver how much. He said 50 and I said deal and jumped in the cab while waiting for Holly to get there. At this point neither of us cared how much it cost, we just wanted to be somewhere warm.
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| Colosseum |
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| Vaticano! |
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| Nutella and Chocolate Gelato |
Saturday night we went out for a traditional Italian dinner. We went to this tiny restaurant where we had three courses each with wine and bread. The pasta was so perfect and I had lamb chops too. In case you were wondering, the only thing we bought this entire trip was food. Just to clarify.
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| Making a Wish at Trevi Fountain |
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| We Hate Ciampino |
And that is my story. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but it was amazing. I still am in shock that I was in Italy this weekend, it just doesn't feel real. But I wouldn't take it back for anything. And now I want to go back, only next time, maybe I won't fly in to Ciampino.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
#homestayproblems
Ok this is something that my friends and I came up with. You might not think it is as funny because you are not in a homestay, but I think it is hilarious. And please realize when you read these that these are not complaints by any means, they are just things that we think would make a funny twitter page called Homestay Problems. Enjoy-
my room is freezing because i have no heater #homestayproblems
i make so much noise when i think im being quiet when i come home stumbling drunk #homestayproblems
my room is freezing because i have no heater #homestayproblems
i make so much noise when i think im being quiet when i come home stumbling drunk #homestayproblems
- I can't understand when my señora yells at her son. #homestayproblems
Fish again! #homestayproblems
i have to eat EVERYTHING because i'm scared of my senora #homestayproblems
i dont get 100% clean because my hot water runs out #homestayproblems
i can only shower for 10 minutes #homestayproblems
What's this weird urinal/toilet thing?!? #homestayproblems
im always hungry and snacking is american #homestayproblems
i cant get internet in my bed but i can on my desk two feet away #homestayproblems
im allergic to everything in my house #homestayproblems
If you have ever stayed in a homestay, you know these are true. But we still love our host families and appreciate them very much!!!!!
The Weekend of Jerez and Senderismo
This weekend was quite the adventure, to say the least.
On Friday night, a group of us went out to celebrate that our exams were over! So we went to our favorite street with a bunch of different bars and hung out there for a bit and as history has told us, we found very fun people. We made Australian friends, and we had a grand time talking about where they were from and what they really knew about where we were from. I kid you not, all people know about Kentucky is KFC. Every time I say I am from Kentucky, I get the same reaction from Spaniards- "Ohhhhh chee-kin!". The Australians were no different. At around 3, we decided to head back home, considering that we had to be at the University at 9 in the morning the next day.
At 9, we all hopped on a bus to the south of Spain, almost near the coast, to a town called Jerez. It is a super cute town, a little smaller than Seville, but the coolest part of it was that there is a winery there that makes Tio Pepe wine. Apparently this is a very good kind of wine, I wouldn't know since I can't drink in the US... or at least can't afford to drink good wine. Anyways, we got to tour the winery and it was actually really fascinating! They make sherry and brandy there too, and I had no idea how either of those were made, so it was really cool to see. There were so many famous people that had visited there and had barrels of wine dedicated to them. New life goal- get to sign my name on a barrel of wine because I am so famous.
After the tour, we stayed in Jerez and ate our packed lunches (so cute) and then we walked around looking for a brand of wine for one of my friend's senoras. We did not find the wine, but we did find ice cream, so that was almost as good! We were with a Spanish man who came on the trip with us and we were talking to him about how hard it is for him to get a job without knowing English very well and it was really sad. He said that he wanted to study in an English-speaking country, but he couldn't get a scholarship because his parents "had too much money", but they still couldn't afford to pay to send him. He was also appalled by how much it cost to go to school in the states. Here is only costs 800 euro a year, since their taxes are so high. I couldn't imagine that! Anyways, Jerez was a very cute town, but I think I like Seville a lot better. It was definitely a good day trip though!
We got back last night, dead tired. I don't know why, I mean it's not like we didn't get our full four hours in the night before... But since my senora was out of town this weekend and I didn't want to cook for myself, my friends were troopers and went to get tapas with me! It was a really good time! We had delicious food and we basically laughed the entire dinner. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I have met the most incredible people here so far. They are all really inspiring and all have an interesting story. After tapas, we walked around the city to see the night life, but we were all too tired to partake at that point.
Then this morning, we did it all again. We got on a bus at 9, but instead of going to Jerez, we went to this tiny little town in the middle of the country called Los Marines. There, we met up with three guides who took us on this incredibly beautiful hike through the farms and country, to another small town, then back to Los Marines. All in all, it was an 8 mile hike, but it was totally worth it. The scenery was beautiful and I got to talk to my friends and become inspired even more. I talked to one of the tour guides also and he has made this pilgrimage in the north of Spain called the Camino de Santiago del Compostela. I have been interested in eventually doing this for a while now, but talking with him made me decide that I definitely want to. He has done it three times and he said it is completely life changing. Now, obviously I'm not looking for a huge life changing experience, I just think it would be really cool to say I went on a pilgrimage. But if my life does change because of it, so be it.
This weekend has really made me think about what I want to do in life and it has made me realize that I cannot put limits on myself. I know it is stupid and cliche to say that I can do whatever I put my mind to, but for the first time I actually believe it. I mean, I am here in Spain studying, which is something I have dreamed about for years. So if I can make a dream this big come true, why can't I make my others come true also? It's a pretty cool feeling to think the sky is the limit!
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| Aussie Friend! |
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| Royal Casks of Wine |
At 9, we all hopped on a bus to the south of Spain, almost near the coast, to a town called Jerez. It is a super cute town, a little smaller than Seville, but the coolest part of it was that there is a winery there that makes Tio Pepe wine. Apparently this is a very good kind of wine, I wouldn't know since I can't drink in the US... or at least can't afford to drink good wine. Anyways, we got to tour the winery and it was actually really fascinating! They make sherry and brandy there too, and I had no idea how either of those were made, so it was really cool to see. There were so many famous people that had visited there and had barrels of wine dedicated to them. New life goal- get to sign my name on a barrel of wine because I am so famous.
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| Jerez |
After the tour, we stayed in Jerez and ate our packed lunches (so cute) and then we walked around looking for a brand of wine for one of my friend's senoras. We did not find the wine, but we did find ice cream, so that was almost as good! We were with a Spanish man who came on the trip with us and we were talking to him about how hard it is for him to get a job without knowing English very well and it was really sad. He said that he wanted to study in an English-speaking country, but he couldn't get a scholarship because his parents "had too much money", but they still couldn't afford to pay to send him. He was also appalled by how much it cost to go to school in the states. Here is only costs 800 euro a year, since their taxes are so high. I couldn't imagine that! Anyways, Jerez was a very cute town, but I think I like Seville a lot better. It was definitely a good day trip though!
We got back last night, dead tired. I don't know why, I mean it's not like we didn't get our full four hours in the night before... But since my senora was out of town this weekend and I didn't want to cook for myself, my friends were troopers and went to get tapas with me! It was a really good time! We had delicious food and we basically laughed the entire dinner. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I have met the most incredible people here so far. They are all really inspiring and all have an interesting story. After tapas, we walked around the city to see the night life, but we were all too tired to partake at that point.
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| Senderismo! (Hiking!) |
Then this morning, we did it all again. We got on a bus at 9, but instead of going to Jerez, we went to this tiny little town in the middle of the country called Los Marines. There, we met up with three guides who took us on this incredibly beautiful hike through the farms and country, to another small town, then back to Los Marines. All in all, it was an 8 mile hike, but it was totally worth it. The scenery was beautiful and I got to talk to my friends and become inspired even more. I talked to one of the tour guides also and he has made this pilgrimage in the north of Spain called the Camino de Santiago del Compostela. I have been interested in eventually doing this for a while now, but talking with him made me decide that I definitely want to. He has done it three times and he said it is completely life changing. Now, obviously I'm not looking for a huge life changing experience, I just think it would be really cool to say I went on a pilgrimage. But if my life does change because of it, so be it.
This weekend has really made me think about what I want to do in life and it has made me realize that I cannot put limits on myself. I know it is stupid and cliche to say that I can do whatever I put my mind to, but for the first time I actually believe it. I mean, I am here in Spain studying, which is something I have dreamed about for years. So if I can make a dream this big come true, why can't I make my others come true also? It's a pretty cool feeling to think the sky is the limit!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Procrastination... I Mean a Very Important Entry
As you probably noticed from the title, this entry is more for me as a break from my studying than for anyone who might be reading it. So much for that American work ethic...
Alright, so today has been a pretty awesome one! First I woke up early and went to study in our classroom building, but before I did that, I went to this tiny hole in the wall cafe for breakfast and it was really good. I really like the way that they do breakfast here, it is very simple and not a ton of food, but it fills you up enough to get you through to lunch. Then I was actually productive and made an outline for my test tomorrow and went to class. Then during our practical part of class, we went to the Cathedral of Seville. This cathedral is massive, and it is third largest in the world, if I heard correctly in class. Anyways, it is huge and it was originally a mosque, but after the Reyes Católicos came in to power, they tore down the mosque to build the cathedral. The only part of the mosque that they left standing was the patio and the tower, or the Giralda. The giralda initially was a minaret to make the call to prayer for the muslims who lived in Seville. Once the mosque was torn down, the designers wanted to keep it, but they didn't want it to be the same giralda, so they just plopped a bell tower and a cross on top of it. Whatever works I guess. We climbed all the way to the top of it, which it is about 35 stories tall. Fortunately, there are only ramps on the way up, because horses used to carry people up to make the call for prayer. It was gorgeous from up there because you could see the entire city and then some.
As a fun fact, Christopher Columbus and his son are both buried underneath the Cathedral. I think this is SO COOL. I don't know why, but I think it is so neat that the person who made known to Europe that North America existed was right under my feet. Nerd, I know.
After la Giralda, I went home and had a wonderful lunch with my senora. I don't know if the food is really that much better here or what, but I can't get enough. Fortunately I walk about 80 miles a day, so I'm not too worried about gaining a million pounds. Then two of my friends helped me film myself teaching a lesson for a second interview for an internship this summer. I am so excited about this opportunity, but I don't want to get my hopes up yet. I'm nervous too. After the filming, we got churros and chocolate, again. Alright, I might gain some weight at the rate I am putting back churros and chocolate. But you only live once, right? And we certainly don't have this in the U.S. I've been studying pretty much ever since, with the exception of dinner.
Tonight my senora taught us how to make home made empanadas, with ham, dates, cheese, and a meat called chucos (I think), that is a lot like ham. It was so delicious and I cannot wait to try to make them at home. And this was the first night that I had started to feel like everyone in this house is a family, not a family and then a couple of intruders on their lives. It is kind of a hard feeling to explain, but when we were all in the kitchen, it was a nice feeling of connectedness and that everyone wanted to be there learning how to make this together. Whatever it was, it made me happy.
Alright, I guess I should get back to studying... or maybe I will go watch Vampire Diaries with my senora instead. Also, below are some pictures pertaining to the last entry. Better later than never, right?
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| La Giralda |
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| Inside La Catedral |
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| View from La Giralda |
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| Just hangin with Chris Columbus |
As a fun fact, Christopher Columbus and his son are both buried underneath the Cathedral. I think this is SO COOL. I don't know why, but I think it is so neat that the person who made known to Europe that North America existed was right under my feet. Nerd, I know.
After la Giralda, I went home and had a wonderful lunch with my senora. I don't know if the food is really that much better here or what, but I can't get enough. Fortunately I walk about 80 miles a day, so I'm not too worried about gaining a million pounds. Then two of my friends helped me film myself teaching a lesson for a second interview for an internship this summer. I am so excited about this opportunity, but I don't want to get my hopes up yet. I'm nervous too. After the filming, we got churros and chocolate, again. Alright, I might gain some weight at the rate I am putting back churros and chocolate. But you only live once, right? And we certainly don't have this in the U.S. I've been studying pretty much ever since, with the exception of dinner.
Tonight my senora taught us how to make home made empanadas, with ham, dates, cheese, and a meat called chucos (I think), that is a lot like ham. It was so delicious and I cannot wait to try to make them at home. And this was the first night that I had started to feel like everyone in this house is a family, not a family and then a couple of intruders on their lives. It is kind of a hard feeling to explain, but when we were all in the kitchen, it was a nice feeling of connectedness and that everyone wanted to be there learning how to make this together. Whatever it was, it made me happy.
Alright, I guess I should get back to studying... or maybe I will go watch Vampire Diaries with my senora instead. Also, below are some pictures pertaining to the last entry. Better later than never, right?
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| Basilica de la Macarena |
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| Muralla that surrounded Seville |
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I really need to write more often... I am having difficulty remembering everything I have done since the last entry!
Well let's see, Monday my class started! I was super nervous about this class because this class is only two weeks long, but we take it for three hours a day. And yet we still have two tests and a paper in the span of two weeks. I guess that is why they call it the "intensive session". But so far, so good! My class is called The Cultural History of Spain, so we spend on half of the class in the actual classroom learning about the history and then the next half we walk around Seville and go to different historical landmarks. For instance, Monday we went to these columns that had been there since the Romans had been in Spain. They were from a temple of Hercules, who is supposedly the founder of Seville, along with Julius Caesar. So that was really cool to see because the columns were directly next to this apartment building. Then Monday night, we went to another park and a few of us all had coffee at a cafe and chatted and caught up on our days. Most of the day we spend speaking in Spanish, but usually by the time night rolls around, we are all exhausted from speaking in Spanish, so we start with English again... oops. My senora really likes American TV shows about witches and vampires, and so Monday night we watched a show called "The Secret Circle", which I thought was comical for the bad writing, but it was nice to sit and watch with her. I really like her and she is really great for having me in her house.
Tuesday, my class went back to the Mirador and the Plaza de Encarnación that we went to before. What was cool though was that we went underneath the mirador and saw all of these Roman ruins from houses that had been there before. What had happened was that back in the 70's, there was a market in the plaza, but it was really old, so the government tore it down and was going to build a new one. But during the excavation, they found the ruins and had to halt construction for almost thirty years. Once they found the ruins, they wanted to build something to protect the ruins but at the same time be able to house a market. Thus the Mirador was thought of. That is one thing that I love about Seville, you are constantly seeing the old mixed with the new. Just like the columns next to a new apartment building and the ruins underneath the huge modern mushroom-looking thing. All of this is representative of the Sevillano spirit to remember the past and keep moving on and progressing in to the future. I love it.
Also last night, I had churros con chocolate. I'm sure this seems like it is turning in to a food diary, but oh my goodness it was so delicious. It was hot chocolate that was so rich and then you dip the churros in and it was perfect. Then after that I did homework and watched the first few episodes of Vampire Diaries that my senora gave to me. I am watching more American TV here than I did in America...
Then today we went back to Alcázar, which was ok because our professor told us a lot more than we learned on the tour. And plus some of my Islamic Religious Traditions knowledge was coming in handy... holla! Then a few of us went to see the massive wall that used to surround the city, but now there are only a few parts left. At the end of the wall, there is this basilica, the Basilica de la Macarena, and inside it is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Everything is so ornate and elaborate, I couldn't help but start to pray in it. There were people all around the chapel sitting and praying and taking it in, it was so cool I cannot even begin to put it into words. It was wonderful.
Tonight we are going to this party put on by our program in order to meet our intercambios, or Spanish students who want to learn English and who want to help us learn Spanish. Mine is a 27 year old male, and that is all I know about him... this could be interesting.
Also, sorry there are no pictures in this one, for a couple different reasons. One, I don't really have that many from the past couple of days, and two, the ones I do have I am too lazy to upload right now. Perhaps later!
Well let's see, Monday my class started! I was super nervous about this class because this class is only two weeks long, but we take it for three hours a day. And yet we still have two tests and a paper in the span of two weeks. I guess that is why they call it the "intensive session". But so far, so good! My class is called The Cultural History of Spain, so we spend on half of the class in the actual classroom learning about the history and then the next half we walk around Seville and go to different historical landmarks. For instance, Monday we went to these columns that had been there since the Romans had been in Spain. They were from a temple of Hercules, who is supposedly the founder of Seville, along with Julius Caesar. So that was really cool to see because the columns were directly next to this apartment building. Then Monday night, we went to another park and a few of us all had coffee at a cafe and chatted and caught up on our days. Most of the day we spend speaking in Spanish, but usually by the time night rolls around, we are all exhausted from speaking in Spanish, so we start with English again... oops. My senora really likes American TV shows about witches and vampires, and so Monday night we watched a show called "The Secret Circle", which I thought was comical for the bad writing, but it was nice to sit and watch with her. I really like her and she is really great for having me in her house.
Tuesday, my class went back to the Mirador and the Plaza de Encarnación that we went to before. What was cool though was that we went underneath the mirador and saw all of these Roman ruins from houses that had been there before. What had happened was that back in the 70's, there was a market in the plaza, but it was really old, so the government tore it down and was going to build a new one. But during the excavation, they found the ruins and had to halt construction for almost thirty years. Once they found the ruins, they wanted to build something to protect the ruins but at the same time be able to house a market. Thus the Mirador was thought of. That is one thing that I love about Seville, you are constantly seeing the old mixed with the new. Just like the columns next to a new apartment building and the ruins underneath the huge modern mushroom-looking thing. All of this is representative of the Sevillano spirit to remember the past and keep moving on and progressing in to the future. I love it.
Also last night, I had churros con chocolate. I'm sure this seems like it is turning in to a food diary, but oh my goodness it was so delicious. It was hot chocolate that was so rich and then you dip the churros in and it was perfect. Then after that I did homework and watched the first few episodes of Vampire Diaries that my senora gave to me. I am watching more American TV here than I did in America...
Then today we went back to Alcázar, which was ok because our professor told us a lot more than we learned on the tour. And plus some of my Islamic Religious Traditions knowledge was coming in handy... holla! Then a few of us went to see the massive wall that used to surround the city, but now there are only a few parts left. At the end of the wall, there is this basilica, the Basilica de la Macarena, and inside it is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Everything is so ornate and elaborate, I couldn't help but start to pray in it. There were people all around the chapel sitting and praying and taking it in, it was so cool I cannot even begin to put it into words. It was wonderful.
Tonight we are going to this party put on by our program in order to meet our intercambios, or Spanish students who want to learn English and who want to help us learn Spanish. Mine is a 27 year old male, and that is all I know about him... this could be interesting.
Also, sorry there are no pictures in this one, for a couple different reasons. One, I don't really have that many from the past couple of days, and two, the ones I do have I am too lazy to upload right now. Perhaps later!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Just Going With The Flow
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| Nuevos amigos |
Then on Friday, we got to sleep in, thank goodness, and then we went and enrolled in all of our classes. Fortunately, I got in to all of the classes I needed! Success! It is probably hard to believe, but I did not feel like doing anything that night, so I just went home and stayed in and rested.
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| Gardens of Alcazar |
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| Palace in Alcazar |
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| View from Torre del Oro |
I really do love it here, but there has been quite a bit of culture shock. In America, we are all about being busy and getting our work done and if we slack off we feel kind of bad about it. Here, that is not the case. Pretty much all of the shops close from about 2-5 in the afternoon so everyone can take a break and have a nice long lunch and such. Then they come back to work until about 9 at night. You will never see a to-go cup of coffee in someone's hand walking down the street, because everyone stays at the cafe to sit and talk and enjoy their coffee. It is so different, and it takes a while to get used to. No one is ever in a rush to do anything and many times, people will be late to meet with friends and it is no big deal. I'm starting to get used to it, and I really do like the attitude. I just worry about when I come back and no one else has the same attitude as I do... Then we may run in to problems. I guess I can deal with that four months from now!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Primeras Aventuras
I have finally moved in with my homestay!!!! And my señora is awesome to say the least. She is very young and has a little girl who is three years old. The little girl is precious and loves princesses and understands English surprisingly well. The apartment is kind of small, but I'm not really here that often so it is ok.
I am continuing to love the city. It is so cool and diverse. There are several different barrios, kind of like the different parts of Manhattan. And each one is completely distinct and beautiful. The people here are also great. Obviously it is easy to tell who is an American here (I know it is hard to believe, considering how tan I am), but everyone is super nice and helpful whenever we need something or get lost. Which is a lot. But it's ok because we get to see more of the city this way!
As my readers, I am sure that you have been asking yourselves, "So what have you been up to, Brianna?" Well I will tell you, because a lot has happened since my last entry. On Tuesday night, we went out for tapas and they were incredible. There is this dish called Patatas Bravadas (at least I think that is what it is called) and it is potatoes with this delicious red sauce. But everything here is good, at least that I have tried. The most different thing that I have noticed here is when they eat and what they eat. For example, the Spaniards wake up and eat a light breakfast, like a piece of toast or something. Then around 11 in the morning, they have a coffee and a tostada, which is like toast with cheese or ham. Then around 2, they have a huge meal for lunch, usually at least three courses. Around 6, they have what is called a merienda, which is a snack that can be anything. Finally, around 9:30 or 10 pm, they have dinner and it is very small, like tapas. Yesterday I made the mistake of not taking a merienda and I thought I was going to fall over because I was so hungry by 10:30. But I digress... After tapas, the entire group went out to a bar, and for those of you who don't know, that is legal here! Woo! It was very fun and the beer here is very good. Then we went to a club that was having a welcome party for all the study abroad kids. Touristy, right? Well it was super fun, so quit judging. After the club we wandered down to the river and it was so beautiful at night.
Yesterday, we had a lot of information sessions because classes haven't started yet. I also met my host family, whom I have already talked about. There are two of us Americans in the house, so I have to sleep in the daughter's room. When she came in from school yesterday and I was here she came running into her room and saw me and say "Ay mi cuarto!!!!". She got over me being here... I think.
After we hung out at home for a bit, we went to a Flamenco show. That was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Their feet move so incredibly fast that I don't know how they do it. I am already rhythmically challenged, so it would be impossible for me, but it was still pretty amazing.
Today we had more information sessions and we learned about the practicum we will be doing in the schools here. It sounds really cool and I am so excited about doing it here! We got lost in the Centro, for probably about the fifth time, but that's ok. It was a very good adventure. Then we had to buy phones, which I am still unsure as to how it all works, but I like to think I am a smart girl and that I can figure it out.
As always, I miss everyone at home, but life here is very fun too!
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| Church we found while lost! |
As my readers, I am sure that you have been asking yourselves, "So what have you been up to, Brianna?" Well I will tell you, because a lot has happened since my last entry. On Tuesday night, we went out for tapas and they were incredible. There is this dish called Patatas Bravadas (at least I think that is what it is called) and it is potatoes with this delicious red sauce. But everything here is good, at least that I have tried. The most different thing that I have noticed here is when they eat and what they eat. For example, the Spaniards wake up and eat a light breakfast, like a piece of toast or something. Then around 11 in the morning, they have a coffee and a tostada, which is like toast with cheese or ham. Then around 2, they have a huge meal for lunch, usually at least three courses. Around 6, they have what is called a merienda, which is a snack that can be anything. Finally, around 9:30 or 10 pm, they have dinner and it is very small, like tapas. Yesterday I made the mistake of not taking a merienda and I thought I was going to fall over because I was so hungry by 10:30. But I digress... After tapas, the entire group went out to a bar, and for those of you who don't know, that is legal here! Woo! It was very fun and the beer here is very good. Then we went to a club that was having a welcome party for all the study abroad kids. Touristy, right? Well it was super fun, so quit judging. After the club we wandered down to the river and it was so beautiful at night.
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| Flamenco dancers/singers |
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| And who says all that wander are lost? |
Today we had more information sessions and we learned about the practicum we will be doing in the schools here. It sounds really cool and I am so excited about doing it here! We got lost in the Centro, for probably about the fifth time, but that's ok. It was a very good adventure. Then we had to buy phones, which I am still unsure as to how it all works, but I like to think I am a smart girl and that I can figure it out.
As always, I miss everyone at home, but life here is very fun too!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Just Flew In... And Boy Are My Arms Tired...
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| Seville Airport! |
Anyways, the trip was long but good. I started out in Lexington and saying goodbye to the fam was no fun, but I will be back soon. Then I got to Chicago, where nearly the entire flight was full of kids who were studying abroad. It was really neat to see how many people get this opportunity. But the thing that stuck out most to me was that half of them went to the same school, but they had never met each other! I guess I am not familiar enough with large-school culture, because the idea of me meeting someone my age in the airport and saying "Oh, you go to Transy too??" was completely foreign to me. Oh the life of a private liberal arts school kid... Anyways, the flight from Chicago to Madrid was a good one, except for the fact that I could not fall asleep to save my life. I sat next to a Spanish man who was really nice and fortunately did not want to talk the entire time. He did snore though, however it really had no effect on me since I couldn't sleep anyways. Due to the sleep deprivation, I did something that I hadn't done in a very long time- finish an entire book. OH MY GOODNESS. If you have not read the Hunger Games, go do it right now. Stop reading this and read that. SO good. After I got off that flight, I hung out in the Madrid airport for a little while, which is super cool. It's very modern and the roof is shaped like a mustache. Whether that is on purpose or not, I'm not quite sure, but it looks cool. I met some even more cool people while I was waiting for my flight to Seville!
Seville is awesome. There are palm trees everywhere and the skies were just clearing up from the rain. Everyone here is super friendly and genuine and it's great. The people in my program seem really fun too, so I think they will be a great group to spend my time here with. :)
I miss everyone at home terribly, but I know the home sickness will pass here soon! I can't wait to start in on the actual adventures tomorrow! Stay tuned!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
Only eight more days until I say "Adios" to the U.S. and "Hola" to Spain! Obviously, this is super exciting and I cannot wait. However, at the same time, it is slightly nerve wracking because I am going to be gone for so long and I have to say good bye to everyone. This next week is going to be filled with packing, so-longing, celebrating, and general frenzying. But that is okay, because I know I am setting out on an awesome adventure. (Let's just hope I survive. Mom seems to think it might not be likely). So if you are reading this, be sure you catch me before next Sunday, because I am sure I will want to say see you later! Catch ya on the flip side! By flip side, I mean four months from now! :)
...And if you are interested, keep reading this blog, because I will be updating it throughout my trip with my many excursions and adventures!
...And if you are interested, keep reading this blog, because I will be updating it throughout my trip with my many excursions and adventures!
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