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
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, March 21, 2011
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
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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.
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.
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