Santillana del mar, Comillas, y Semana Santa

Today was an amazing day, other than the start, but other than that I don't want to forget about it hence me writing :] 

First off, I had a regular day of school, but got out HW free for the night. LUCKY ME!!

Second, after school we had our second excursion aka giant field trip on our big fat purple bus :] 

            Our first stop on this excursion is a town called Comilla, which is close to the caves we visited that had paintings from stone age in them (super awesome btw). Comilla is famous for a palace there, which is a "summer home" for a very well known family. First off, its a palace so its awesome. Secondly, the outside of the palace is modeled off of the gothic style, which I am quickly realizing is my favorite style. The amount of detail and creativity and patience it takes to create something like that is just completely mind-blowing to me!! The inside of the palace was mostly restored and certain things were replaced with fakes because people insist on stealing things. idiots. One part that was still original was the floors. All of them. Keep in mind this palace is over 200 years old and the floors are made of WOOD!! Our tour guide said that they clean the floors about once a month and they're fine. There is also no protective covering on it. incredible. 

           Our second stop is in a little coast town called Santillana del mar. This is what I love about my art history class: we learn about a certain time period and then get to see it! In Santillana is a cathedral of the type we have been learning about (roman style, built with rock, in the form of a giant cross, etc etc.)  We got to walk around the edges of it and then got to go inside. In. Cred. I. Ble.  It had high ceilings and was possibly one of the most serene places I have ever been (other than the tourists wandering around). After we toured the church, we had a bit of free time, in which I chose to visit the museo de tortura aka the museum of nasty ways of torturing bad people. I have to admit, they were VERY creative in the medieval ages with their spikes and chains and whips and points and saws..ugh. Chills. This town is a town from the medieval ages that still has the original buildings, the original roads, and I'm assuming the original smells also haha aka HORSE CRAP. But this city was amazing and I love being able to apply my knowledge and see it in real life. Completely adds to the whole learning experience. 

         When I was on my way home, keep in mind it's still Semana Santa, every road I took to get home got louder with the POUNDING of drums. I walked down my street to my house and was met with the beginning of the procession for today, which is my mama de espana's favorite procession. So far it was my favorite too!! I have missed the past couple days because I was meeting with my speaking partner. But it is what it is. I have decided on Friday to visit a small town that re-enacts the crucification of jesus christ. But the WHOLE town participates. I think this is goign to be one of those things that may completely blow my mind, like a real- life passion of the christ thing. eek.

I have attached a video (or two, if it will work) of today's procession for semana santa. One is ground view and the other is from my view from the balcony of the apartment. Enjoy!! Miss you all!

Semana Santa, school, and everything in between

OK so I really suck at this whole blog thing. I dont even know when the last time I wrote was SOOO i'm just going to assume it was around the first week of school. 


oh school.


its easy, yet hard at the same time.  I mean, to grasp the concepts taught in spanish is the hardest part. all the homework is just busy work, which is lame when i could be laying on a beach instead. but that's all i'm gong to say about school, cuz really, that's a minor part of this trip. 


This week is Semana Santa or literally "saint week." This is by far one of the biggest holidays in the hispanic culture and I am so excited to be here for it. Yesterday we ran into the first procession of this week and it was more creepy then anything.  All the men were dressed head to toe in black. EVERYTHING covered in black, even faces, hands, let me re-iterate EVERRRYYYTHINGGG :) It was accompanied with a slow drum rhythm of snare and bass (you'll see in the video and pic I post) it was kind of a truly awesome experience. Best part is that there are processions every day!! I am going to try and get videos of all of them. They also carry a HUGE float with like a life size statue of different figures which are incredibly detailed and hand made!! 


This week is my first paper assignment, but we only have class 3 days, which is awesome, and then a 4 day weekend. We actually have two 4 day weekends in a row!! how awesome is that?! bad news of that is that we have to make up the days we have off :\ 


Lots of changes are happening and they're all amazing. This trip so far has forced me to learn some things about me and make some hard decisions. Overall, this is the best experience of my life and I wouldn't change anything. I miss all my friends and family so much, but this trip has really helped me grow as an individual so far so I can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of the 6 weeks!! 


hasta luego!!

voy, vas, van, vamos, vais, va...oy, clases!

Ok so it's official: classes have started. We took a placement test and I'm in the "leon" group aka those who need a bit more "special" attention, to put it nicely. The people in my class are really fun and the teachers are a hoot.

This morning we had this profe by the name of Monolo. He is the one we have been hearing about since way before we left and they were right, he's CRAZY, but in a good way. He is super "out there" but he is a REALLY good profe! Actually, all of the teachers are good! They actually seem excited to teach us and have us learn, rather than the american teachers who drag ass into the classroom and watch the clock more than the students (except you, mom).

After classes it's home for almuerzo, lunch, and then siesta. Thus far I have been waking up at the crack of dawn (I saw the sunrise yesterday, that's how early) and not napping so I usually crash around 11 or 12, which is still REALLY early in this culture. Then after siesta, the town kind of wakes up and a group of us will meet up at the carousal in the local park right by my apt and go out for Sangria (which is incredibly delicious and also potent) or yesterday we celebrated a birthday and went out for a dietary staple : churros con chocolate.

When I say churros con chocolate I mean freshly fried breaded goodness which are rolled in copious amounts of sugar and then dipped in hot chocolate that has the consistency of a pudding that hasnt quite settled yet. SO FREAKING GOOD.

I'm finally starting to think about venturing out on the weekends. I think I want to take a bus to Bilbao for a weekend. The guggenheim museum is something i just cannot get out of my mind. Also, I got in contact with Germana, a distant cousin who lives in Italy, so I'm trying to figure out if I can visit her on a weekend. Also, a friend from oregon who is from England said she would like to meet up so that would be AMAZING  to see her!!! So many places, so little time!!

This weekend should be interesting, first weekend out after classes!!! Hasta luego

My Family, My City, My Dog

This trip is already flying by. I have almost been in Spain a week and I cannot believe it!! I have seen so many amazing and, literally, monumental things since I have been here. Let's Recap:

Wednesday:
       Arrival in Barcelona, Spain. Check in at hostel. Wander aimlessly like a zombie from close to no sleep        while travelling. Eat lunch at a French restaurant in a SPANISH speaking country. Go back to hostel and pass the F out for a couple hours. Wake up, meet with Megan, who I haven't seen in a YEAR, go to dinner, come back to hostel and chill for a bit, and finally, pass the f out. Until 6am.

Thursday:
     Wake up early, meet with megan, get breakfast, wander to Las Ramblas, Take the metro to La Familia Sagrada, Take metro to Gaudi's Park, Take metro to beach, eat at local restaurant that's INCREDIBLE, sit at the beach with blistered feets, get food for dinner, return to hostel to be told that they're making us dinner (some sort of soup with chorizo (sausage) in it) go to bed

Friday:
     Wake up REAL early and get ready, get breakfast, check out of hostel, take taxi to the bus station, get looked at like a RA-TARD when asking which bus is ours (apparently i didnt do it right?) find bus, get on, and cue 10 hour bus ride to Santander.
     Meet family and friends of the family I will be living with for the 2 and a half months I'm here. Have I mentioned they're AWESOME?!

OK, here some info about my family. I live with a woman, Inma, and her mother, Maria, in an apartment  on the 6th floor of a building RIGHT down town. It has 2 stories and I have the whole upstairs to myself: my own bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Her apartment is very good size and I feel so at home it's amazing. We have a balcony that has an amazing view of the city. I forgot to mention I have a dog, Mori, who has an adorable pink sweater she wears out on walks  :)

The city of Santander itself is astonishingly clean and well kept. The buildings are riddled with amazing detail and its really hard not to be awe-struck every time I walk outside. I am so lucky to be here.

This week, apparently, we are having 3 French teens stay with us until Friday, who speak very little Spanish. This should be interesting haha.

Classes start tomorrow mornign and wil normally go from 9-2:30 or so which is perfect timing for el almuerzo (lunch) at 2 which is the biggest meal. Yesterday for lunch we had paella, which is a traditional rice and meat dish. but dont get me wrong, its not JUST rice an meat, its full of flavor and texture and deliciousness.

ok, this is super long so enough for today, I'll update more tomorrow after classes

La Primero Dia en un Ciudad Nuevo

so. I'm finally in ESPANA!!! Man, what a trip. The travel itself really wasn't as bad as I anticipated, but the lack of sleep and sheer exhaustion is what nearly got me today. I was cranky-mc-crankerson and trust me, we all knew it. We got to our hostel with really no problems, which was nice, except for the fact that we couldn't go straight to bed. This worked out for us over al though because we ended up wandering to Las Ramblas, which is pretty much the center of the city to my understanding.

One thing I have noticed about almost all hispanic countries are the smells: men ALWAYS wear WAY too much cologne, women ALWAYS wear WAY too much perfume and the streets will always send whiffs of sewage your way.

Then there's the mercados or markets.  God, where do I even begin. I have been in mercados before but for some reason the one today just really has stuck with me. I saw meat  in its whole form, like skinned baby piglets, and then there were barracudas, and squids, and sausages, and candy, and fruits I have never seen before!! It really is incredible the variety of foods available.

I was thinking today and I have come up with one goal: I want to try everything once. This applies to food, experiences, dancing, clubbing, talking, etc. No matter what it is, I want my initial answer and attitude to be open and YES, I WILL TRY IT. lol at least for now :)

I also want to really document my trip well with pictures. from people to places and monuments, but mostly people because those are the memories that will be held onto for a lifetime.

ok. bed time. or something.

Last Day in the Ole USA

so today, March 21st, is my last day in the US. I'm currently in Portland chillin with my girl, Talya at her house. This past weekend was a BLAST. A group of us went out to her beach cabin and had a couple of rowdy nights and beach walks and other sorts of shenanigans. Needless to say it was the PERFECT way to kick off spring break; you never really realize how tense you are until you finally get a couple hours to hunker down around a fire with good friends and great jokes to just laugh the stress from the past term away. And this last term was a DOOZY, not so much because of school but of other life events, like my grandfather passing away. 

ANYWAYS,

tomorrow.

I.

Leave.

For.

ESPANA!!!!! AYAYAYAYAYAYYYY!

I get to wake up at the butt crack of dawn and venture to the airport to travel with two girls I"ll be studying abroad with, one who has never travelled through customs, let alone much out of state so this should REALLY be interesting. BUT I"M SO STINKIN EXCITED. anyways, that's it for now... i'll probably write again when we have our layover in NY. 

LOVE, <3

Let The Countdown Begin!!

So. As of today it is OFFICIALLY two weeks until the day I leave for Spain!! I have packed a little but let's be honest, I work best under pressure so I'll probably pack most of my stuff up the night before I have to leave. I'm really working on my procrastination issue though. I have my travel folder packed and as far as finals are concerned they can beat it and I'll just scoot off to Spain.


I have been in contact with my host family and they seem REALLY excited to have me stay there over the next 10 weeks. They have a little dog (which I'm pretty jazzed about seeing as I haven't seen my puppies for over 3 months)and they speak absolutely no English. I'm living with a 50 year old woman named Inma and her mother. I'll be right down town in the commercial district close to bars and the marina. I'm 300 stairs and a 20 minute walk up a hill to class every day and about 30 minutes walking from the beach. 


Lately I have been a tad scared about my ability to communicate, but I'm sure once I get there I'll find a groove and pick up the language relatively quick.