Today we all slept in again til lunch (i find that you might as well because there is not much to do before!) For lunch we had bean soup and salad with the leftover penne pasta. It was just the 3 of us, Cait, Marissa, and me. Ana came and ate with us. She is so sweet. She said there was going to be really bad wind storms (which is unfortunate because Cait's friends from BC just got in this morning!) today.
Since then I've just been blogging, facebooking, catching up, eating my ice cream, talking to Cait, and listening to music. Just relaxing really!
Tonight we went out with Cait's friends from BC and went to Calle Betiz first and then Buddha.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
2/26
I set my alarm for lunch and since Mary had gone to Barcelona and Suzy had gone to Portugal this weekend (We have Monday off for Dia de Andalucia) Cait slept in Mary's bed in my room so we wouldn't have to be alone! We woke up and got the most delicious lunch! Ana had made us some sort of penne pasta with a white creamy dressing that had peppers and mushrooms in it!
Since everyone has left Ana has been making spectacular food! Yesterday Alfonso had helped me make a tuenti account (its basically facebook for Spanish people, but you can only make one by invitation!). I was so excited, I spent a lot of time with him, his best friend Jesus, and Cait today. It is great for practicing my spanish and he helps me learn new words. It is also a lot of fun because Alfonso LOVES alternative rock music, and I know all the words to all his music so he loves it when I sing it (though he knows most of the words himself even though he has to look up a translation of the song to understand what he is singing!). Jesus will even ask me to translate the song for him, which I find I CAN do...albeit roughly!
Unfortunately Alfonso and Fatima (a Spanish girl from Cadiz who lives with Marissa upstairs in our residencia) both left (either tonight or tomorrow morning early) to go home for the weekend. Now it is just Marissa, Cait, and me in the entire residencia!!!!!
Tonight for dinner Ana made us little hotdogs (I think they are chicken or turkey or something), green beans, and baked potatoes without the peel. Later that night some other girls from our program came over to get ready with us to go out for a little while. We ended up walking pretty far to a section of the city called Alameda (which apparently, I wasn't aware, is a popular area for gay people). It was fun but once again too crowded for me. I'd prefer something more low key!
Since everyone has left Ana has been making spectacular food! Yesterday Alfonso had helped me make a tuenti account (its basically facebook for Spanish people, but you can only make one by invitation!). I was so excited, I spent a lot of time with him, his best friend Jesus, and Cait today. It is great for practicing my spanish and he helps me learn new words. It is also a lot of fun because Alfonso LOVES alternative rock music, and I know all the words to all his music so he loves it when I sing it (though he knows most of the words himself even though he has to look up a translation of the song to understand what he is singing!). Jesus will even ask me to translate the song for him, which I find I CAN do...albeit roughly!
Unfortunately Alfonso and Fatima (a Spanish girl from Cadiz who lives with Marissa upstairs in our residencia) both left (either tonight or tomorrow morning early) to go home for the weekend. Now it is just Marissa, Cait, and me in the entire residencia!!!!!
Tonight for dinner Ana made us little hotdogs (I think they are chicken or turkey or something), green beans, and baked potatoes without the peel. Later that night some other girls from our program came over to get ready with us to go out for a little while. We ended up walking pretty far to a section of the city called Alameda (which apparently, I wasn't aware, is a popular area for gay people). It was fun but once again too crowded for me. I'd prefer something more low key!
2/25
Did the usual phonetics, ate my delicious special k cereal for breakfast and finished off the rest of the box! I got home spent some time on my computer until Mary got home and then we had lunch. Following that I relaxed for a while more before showering and then heading out of the house by myself.
I went shopping for a bit down past Plaza Nueva and got a cute dress at Zara for only 5.99 euro on sale. I also went to a few more shops and then into El Corte Ingles. I ended up purchasing 2 more boxes of special k, more milk, more peanut butter (crunchy of course!), some bread, and 2 boxes of ice cream (strattacella ice cream and chocolate). That is my basic survival kit, PB&J, cereal, and ice cream (and I still eat as much as the guys at each meal if not more!).
I got home just in time for dinner, I was a little late. Ana had made my FAVORITE meal! Breaded chicken and french fries... :) All of the guys in our building had already left for Italy (all the people who attend Pablo de Olavide University from our program have off Thursday and Monday) as well as many of the girls who had gone to Prague who also attend Pablo de Olavide.
Everyone who was left in the residencia ended up going to Calle Alfalfa a street with bars where all the Spaniards go. We met up with a lot of other people who are also in our API program. The bars were packed so full that I decided just to stay outside with Marissa. We talked and met people. I also met some people from France who were here for their winter vacation. It was exciting to say I've been there. When it got a little later we decided to go to the discoteca Catedral just down the road. I got to dance until I was tired and then we headed home excited to sleep in the next day!
I went shopping for a bit down past Plaza Nueva and got a cute dress at Zara for only 5.99 euro on sale. I also went to a few more shops and then into El Corte Ingles. I ended up purchasing 2 more boxes of special k, more milk, more peanut butter (crunchy of course!), some bread, and 2 boxes of ice cream (strattacella ice cream and chocolate). That is my basic survival kit, PB&J, cereal, and ice cream (and I still eat as much as the guys at each meal if not more!).
I got home just in time for dinner, I was a little late. Ana had made my FAVORITE meal! Breaded chicken and french fries... :) All of the guys in our building had already left for Italy (all the people who attend Pablo de Olavide University from our program have off Thursday and Monday) as well as many of the girls who had gone to Prague who also attend Pablo de Olavide.
Everyone who was left in the residencia ended up going to Calle Alfalfa a street with bars where all the Spaniards go. We met up with a lot of other people who are also in our API program. The bars were packed so full that I decided just to stay outside with Marissa. We talked and met people. I also met some people from France who were here for their winter vacation. It was exciting to say I've been there. When it got a little later we decided to go to the discoteca Catedral just down the road. I got to dance until I was tired and then we headed home excited to sleep in the next day!
2/24
As usual I went to my three classes. In my first movie class we finished watching Belle Epoque. The movie ends with the young soldier (Fernando) marrying (there are 4 daughters--Clara, Violeta, Rocio, and Luz) the youngest daughter Luz (played by Penelope Cruz)! In the end it turns out not to be too bad, though it is strange and somewhat disgusting! As my professora said, the theme is "libertad" (freedom) in two different sentiments that were looked down upon before the Civil War: political freedom as there were many arguments between characters about the republic vs. old Spain, and "amorosa" (love) freedom as Fernando has a relation with each of the four sisters. Also, the women in the movie have a very powerful and controlling role in the movie, moving away from male dominance in politics and love.
In my second movie class we watched Pan's Labyrinth, which I have seen before already. It's set at the end of the Spanish civil war. The war has ended yet there is still a lot of fighting in the mountains and outskirts of cities. It's a bit graphic and sad yet I would definitely recommend seeing it, especially if you are willing to do the research on the movie! The movie is about a young girl Ofelia who travels with her pregnant mother to the forest outpost of "La Capitan" the captain of those fighting for Old Spain (La Capitan is the father of Ofelia's pregnant mother's baby...phew!). La Capitan is an evil corrupt and controlling man. This shows the continued struggle between the Republic and Old Spain and Ofelia's wild visions throughout the time. (I won't give away anymore!)
I'm so happy with my decision to be in two cine classes. So far it's been a fun way to learn about Spanish history and culture, and my teachers for both classes rock! In historical memory of America we got to walk around again and see more of Sevilla.
After class Mary and I went to our FAVORITE place Cien Montaditos. I got my usual 2 euro (only on Wednesdays, every other day it's 3.90!) huge caesar salad (to make up for having to eat salad with no dressing all week!) and tried the hamburger (which is usually 2 euros except Wednesday!). I always carry a water bottle that I refill at home so that saves me a little money here and there. 3 euros for a delicious and filling meal...can't beat that! Other people from our residencia ended up showing up as well as a bunch of other American people from other programs. Wednesdays is definitely a popular day since all the montaditos (little sandwiches) are only a euro each and tinto de verano (red wine and club soda) as well as beer is only 1 euro for a large glass.
When we left we walked around for a little while and went to the market in Plaza Nueva. There is a market with all sorts of odds and ends (nuts, clothes, scarves, hookahs, jewelry, and much more) until the end of February. I ended up buying something for my mom, and I wish so badly that she could come visit, she would LOVE it here!
We had dinner at 9 pm as usual, and since we were all a bit worn out from the day decided to stay in. Cait, Mary, Suzy and I all watched "Love Actually" on Cait's laptop.
In my second movie class we watched Pan's Labyrinth, which I have seen before already. It's set at the end of the Spanish civil war. The war has ended yet there is still a lot of fighting in the mountains and outskirts of cities. It's a bit graphic and sad yet I would definitely recommend seeing it, especially if you are willing to do the research on the movie! The movie is about a young girl Ofelia who travels with her pregnant mother to the forest outpost of "La Capitan" the captain of those fighting for Old Spain (La Capitan is the father of Ofelia's pregnant mother's baby...phew!). La Capitan is an evil corrupt and controlling man. This shows the continued struggle between the Republic and Old Spain and Ofelia's wild visions throughout the time. (I won't give away anymore!)
I'm so happy with my decision to be in two cine classes. So far it's been a fun way to learn about Spanish history and culture, and my teachers for both classes rock! In historical memory of America we got to walk around again and see more of Sevilla.
After class Mary and I went to our FAVORITE place Cien Montaditos. I got my usual 2 euro (only on Wednesdays, every other day it's 3.90!) huge caesar salad (to make up for having to eat salad with no dressing all week!) and tried the hamburger (which is usually 2 euros except Wednesday!). I always carry a water bottle that I refill at home so that saves me a little money here and there. 3 euros for a delicious and filling meal...can't beat that! Other people from our residencia ended up showing up as well as a bunch of other American people from other programs. Wednesdays is definitely a popular day since all the montaditos (little sandwiches) are only a euro each and tinto de verano (red wine and club soda) as well as beer is only 1 euro for a large glass.
When we left we walked around for a little while and went to the market in Plaza Nueva. There is a market with all sorts of odds and ends (nuts, clothes, scarves, hookahs, jewelry, and much more) until the end of February. I ended up buying something for my mom, and I wish so badly that she could come visit, she would LOVE it here!
We had dinner at 9 pm as usual, and since we were all a bit worn out from the day decided to stay in. Cait, Mary, Suzy and I all watched "Love Actually" on Cait's laptop.
Friday, February 26, 2010
2/23
9 am, phonetics.
To be honest, I can't really remember what happened today since I waited so long to blog it out. I think it was raining and ugly and there was not much to do!
I do remember that Cait and I went to Fundicion again (like last Tuesday) and met some others from our group which was fun, it is always nice to get out of the house.
To be honest, I can't really remember what happened today since I waited so long to blog it out. I think it was raining and ugly and there was not much to do!
I do remember that Cait and I went to Fundicion again (like last Tuesday) and met some others from our group which was fun, it is always nice to get out of the house.
Monday, February 22, 2010
2/22
Just another manic Monday.
In my first cine class we started the movie Belle Epoque. (I may not have explained this yet, but I am slowly learning that all Spanish movies are messed up!) This movie is set in 1931 when the Spanish Civil War is taking place. Spaniards are either on the side of Old Spain in favor of monarchy and Catholicism or the new republic. A young soldier deserts his duty and meets a man with 4 beautiful daughters. He pretends to miss his train so he can stay with them because he is so attracted to the daughters...(and I'll stop it there...)
In my other class we just finished watching El Sur de Granada. The movie was proving me wrong in that it was very good up until today. Today we found out that Gerald (the Englishman) leaves Juliana right after she becomes pregnant, to care for a sick friend in England. He promises her that he will return for her. Surprise surprise three years later he returns with his new wife Gamel to take the 3-year old child Elena with him to enjoy a life of sophistication oblivious of her beautiful Spanish mother. Twenty years later Juliana sees her daughter in the street and chooses not to tell her the truth.
My Historical Memory of America class was good today. When I got to the class I asked the professor if we could go outside today (he likes talking to us and asking us questions and taking us on "field trips" around the area...very interactive which I love!) It was a beautiful day and he showed us Torre del Oro (see it everyday!), Torre de Plata, Torre Naranjo, Archivos de Indias, a church that once held the dead bodies of people crowding the streets during bubonic plague, and many other things. He showed us that the weather vane on top of La Giralda (tallest spire on La Catedral) points toward Triana (the area my cousin Sarah lives in that is close to my residencia) when it is about to rain.
After class, Mary, Cait, and I went to the API (Academic Program International--the program I'm with) to finish registering for classes and take care of some other business. Then we started on our trek to find El Corte Ingles. We eventually found one, but it wasn't the one we were looking for. This one was ENORMOUS! And, very far from our house. I bought ice cream :) some raspberry jam, fish crackers, milk and Special K berries cereal, and a few other things (these are things you can't find at the local supermarkets which are...rather primitive). We decided against attempting to trek back with our bags of groceries and took the bus (cost 1.20 euro) for about 45 minutes on a roundabout way to Virgen de la Lujen a street close to our own.
For dinner we ate our usual noodle and egg soup, spanish tortilla (that potato cake with egg thing I have talked about in the past) and salad. Tonight I tried to make plans to go to the Netherlands to see Nel, but our internet was being ridiculous and skype kept closing down.
I think I forgot to mention on my post about last night what I did after dinner. Kathryn, Alfonso and I watched El Club de la Luche (Fight Club) in Spanish. Alfonso loved it, and since I have seen it other times it was easy for me to understand which was nice! After the movie Alfonso started looking up quotes from it online!
Some phrases and words to ponder:
Como boca de lobo (literally, like the mouth of a wolf)--this means "pitch dark"
(this one is for Nelson and Megan) Macedonia--fruit salad
No me lo explico--I can't figure it out
Sin aliento (literally, without breath)--meaning "breathless" (for grandpa, dad, to impress the wivies, "Cuando estoy contigo, estoy sin aliento" "When I am with you, I am breathless")
Descabellado--crazy
Desvariar--to talk nonsense
Jama's he estado alli (you can all say this about Sevilla, except dad of course in less than a month possibly)--I have never been there.
Holandesa--Dutch woman
Malcriado--spoiled
Perdonarle la vida a Marcus--to spare Marcus's life (as in what Nelson hardly ever does when he is home)
tener hipo--to have the hiccups
CARAMBA!--Good grief! (as in..."Caramba! Esto llevo' mucho tiempo a escribir" "Good grief! This took a lot of time to write")
As always love and miss you.
In my first cine class we started the movie Belle Epoque. (I may not have explained this yet, but I am slowly learning that all Spanish movies are messed up!) This movie is set in 1931 when the Spanish Civil War is taking place. Spaniards are either on the side of Old Spain in favor of monarchy and Catholicism or the new republic. A young soldier deserts his duty and meets a man with 4 beautiful daughters. He pretends to miss his train so he can stay with them because he is so attracted to the daughters...(and I'll stop it there...)
In my other class we just finished watching El Sur de Granada. The movie was proving me wrong in that it was very good up until today. Today we found out that Gerald (the Englishman) leaves Juliana right after she becomes pregnant, to care for a sick friend in England. He promises her that he will return for her. Surprise surprise three years later he returns with his new wife Gamel to take the 3-year old child Elena with him to enjoy a life of sophistication oblivious of her beautiful Spanish mother. Twenty years later Juliana sees her daughter in the street and chooses not to tell her the truth.
My Historical Memory of America class was good today. When I got to the class I asked the professor if we could go outside today (he likes talking to us and asking us questions and taking us on "field trips" around the area...very interactive which I love!) It was a beautiful day and he showed us Torre del Oro (see it everyday!), Torre de Plata, Torre Naranjo, Archivos de Indias, a church that once held the dead bodies of people crowding the streets during bubonic plague, and many other things. He showed us that the weather vane on top of La Giralda (tallest spire on La Catedral) points toward Triana (the area my cousin Sarah lives in that is close to my residencia) when it is about to rain.
After class, Mary, Cait, and I went to the API (Academic Program International--the program I'm with) to finish registering for classes and take care of some other business. Then we started on our trek to find El Corte Ingles. We eventually found one, but it wasn't the one we were looking for. This one was ENORMOUS! And, very far from our house. I bought ice cream :) some raspberry jam, fish crackers, milk and Special K berries cereal, and a few other things (these are things you can't find at the local supermarkets which are...rather primitive). We decided against attempting to trek back with our bags of groceries and took the bus (cost 1.20 euro) for about 45 minutes on a roundabout way to Virgen de la Lujen a street close to our own.
For dinner we ate our usual noodle and egg soup, spanish tortilla (that potato cake with egg thing I have talked about in the past) and salad. Tonight I tried to make plans to go to the Netherlands to see Nel, but our internet was being ridiculous and skype kept closing down.
I think I forgot to mention on my post about last night what I did after dinner. Kathryn, Alfonso and I watched El Club de la Luche (Fight Club) in Spanish. Alfonso loved it, and since I have seen it other times it was easy for me to understand which was nice! After the movie Alfonso started looking up quotes from it online!
Some phrases and words to ponder:
Como boca de lobo (literally, like the mouth of a wolf)--this means "pitch dark"
(this one is for Nelson and Megan) Macedonia--fruit salad
No me lo explico--I can't figure it out
Sin aliento (literally, without breath)--meaning "breathless" (for grandpa, dad, to impress the wivies, "Cuando estoy contigo, estoy sin aliento" "When I am with you, I am breathless")
Descabellado--crazy
Desvariar--to talk nonsense
Jama's he estado alli (you can all say this about Sevilla, except dad of course in less than a month possibly)--I have never been there.
Holandesa--Dutch woman
Malcriado--spoiled
Perdonarle la vida a Marcus--to spare Marcus's life (as in what Nelson hardly ever does when he is home)
tener hipo--to have the hiccups
CARAMBA!--Good grief! (as in..."Caramba! Esto llevo' mucho tiempo a escribir" "Good grief! This took a lot of time to write")
As always love and miss you.
2/21
I got up this morning and met up with Sarah, Carrie, and Ariel for church at Prosperidad. It was once again very full and we had to split up. I sat next to the same lady I had the first time I came! The church was extra full because missionaries from other countries had come as representatives. There were missionaries from Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentina, Salvador, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, and probably others as well that I didn’t catch. What a testimony to how far the gospel can reach!!!
One of the main readings came from Matthew 7. I was able to find it in my new Santa Biblia, and getting slightly distracted by a passage nearby this is what I read. “El que escucha mis palabras y las pone en pra’ctica se parece a un hombre sensato que ha construido su casa sobre roca. Cayo’ la lluvia, se desbordaron los ri’os, soplaron los vientos y se echaron sobre ella, pero la casa no se cayo’, porque estaba cimentada sobre la roca.” This is the passage that says that the person who listens to the words of Jesus and practices them is like a person who builds their house on the rock; when the rain and wind comes the house does not fall because it is built on the rock.
Recently my dad sent me an email reminding me of my heritage and I realized how lucky I am to be in a family that is truly built on the rock of Jesus. So few people in the world today are fortunate enough to be given this foundation or to have a family that supports and encourages their faith so diligently, and I am very thankful for it no matter how big or horribly I screw up. God uses the broken things of this world.
I started walking home and saw Mary and Cait walking to Corte Ingles (a huge department store with perfumes, appliances, everything you can think of, even a grocery—AND it’s the only place you can find peanut butter!). I decided to skip out and go home where I found Suzy heading out to meet some others at an internet café. I decided to go along and read my Spanish Twilight book. After going to Café de Indias (where I got 2 scoops of ice cream), McDonald’s, and Rodilla and no luck with the internet we finally returned home.
Finally around 8 pm or so (I was getting really bored) two of the guys I live with said they were going to go restaurant hunting. I decided to go with them, the others stayed home. We stumbled on a Chinese restaurant near our residencia that was fantastic. I got chicken with breading and some sort of red sauce a little less flavorful than sweet and sour and fried rice. Mike got some chicken with curry and peas and Chris got beef and veggies or something similar in a wok. I definitely want to come back here!
One of the main readings came from Matthew 7. I was able to find it in my new Santa Biblia, and getting slightly distracted by a passage nearby this is what I read. “El que escucha mis palabras y las pone en pra’ctica se parece a un hombre sensato que ha construido su casa sobre roca. Cayo’ la lluvia, se desbordaron los ri’os, soplaron los vientos y se echaron sobre ella, pero la casa no se cayo’, porque estaba cimentada sobre la roca.” This is the passage that says that the person who listens to the words of Jesus and practices them is like a person who builds their house on the rock; when the rain and wind comes the house does not fall because it is built on the rock.
Recently my dad sent me an email reminding me of my heritage and I realized how lucky I am to be in a family that is truly built on the rock of Jesus. So few people in the world today are fortunate enough to be given this foundation or to have a family that supports and encourages their faith so diligently, and I am very thankful for it no matter how big or horribly I screw up. God uses the broken things of this world.
I started walking home and saw Mary and Cait walking to Corte Ingles (a huge department store with perfumes, appliances, everything you can think of, even a grocery—AND it’s the only place you can find peanut butter!). I decided to skip out and go home where I found Suzy heading out to meet some others at an internet café. I decided to go along and read my Spanish Twilight book. After going to Café de Indias (where I got 2 scoops of ice cream), McDonald’s, and Rodilla and no luck with the internet we finally returned home.
Finally around 8 pm or so (I was getting really bored) two of the guys I live with said they were going to go restaurant hunting. I decided to go with them, the others stayed home. We stumbled on a Chinese restaurant near our residencia that was fantastic. I got chicken with breading and some sort of red sauce a little less flavorful than sweet and sour and fried rice. Mike got some chicken with curry and peas and Chris got beef and veggies or something similar in a wok. I definitely want to come back here!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
2/20
I went to bed today about 9 am after a hot shower! We slept until 2 when lunch was served. We ate rice with spaghetti sauce with an egg cooked over easy on top. It seems like an odd combination but it actually tasted alright. We also got salad with pasta in it...I miss salad dressing (ranch, caesar, italian!) sooo much over here. And I have to get my own butter for the bread...they just use olive oil over here.
After lunch needless to say, it was back to bed until dinner which was a chinese egg roll, salad with rice in it, and the same soup we eat every night. I have pretty much devoted this entire day to eating, sleeping, blogging, and posting my pictures online, which I don't feel bad about at all. A day like today was much needed!
Check out these links to see some of my pictures thus far.
Madrid: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089926&id=44408426&l=4e42a29dc6
Toledo: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090551&id=44408426&l=51e7a03544
Granada: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091584&id=44408426&l=93ed15367f
Sevilla: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090086&id=44408426&l=faa72ffe99
Cordoba: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091593&id=44408426&l=7618fc36f5
Cadiz: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091597&id=44408426&l=bbdfd36fea
After lunch needless to say, it was back to bed until dinner which was a chinese egg roll, salad with rice in it, and the same soup we eat every night. I have pretty much devoted this entire day to eating, sleeping, blogging, and posting my pictures online, which I don't feel bad about at all. A day like today was much needed!
Check out these links to see some of my pictures thus far.
Madrid: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089926&id=44408426&l=4e42a29dc6
Toledo: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090551&id=44408426&l=51e7a03544
Granada: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091584&id=44408426&l=93ed15367f
Sevilla: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090086&id=44408426&l=faa72ffe99
Cordoba: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091593&id=44408426&l=7618fc36f5
Cadiz: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091597&id=44408426&l=bbdfd36fea
2/19
We left at 9:30 this morning on a bus to Cadiz, a city situated right on the coast south of Sevilla. It is the oldest city in Europe and has many of the same winding and narrow streets typical of Spain. The trip there took us a lot longer than expected because of traffic.
Just outside of Cadiz we stopped at bodega Gutierrez Colosia for sherry tasting (or as sherry is called in Spain "Vino de Jerez" because of the area it is made in--Jerez). We got a tour of the building and then were brought into a room with a video playing. There were little crackers, peanuts, and chips to clear our palettes and we tried little samples of 5 different sherrys. The last one "Pedro Ximenez" tasted just like raisins!
I grabbed some Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream on the way back to the bus (I really need to stop wasting money on ice cream but I can't stop giving into my sweet tooth). We stopped for about 2 hours at the new side of Cadiz which has the most beautiful beaches. We walked around and stopped in a few places along the beach to look.
We got back on the bus to drive to the old part of town where "Carnaval" was getting ready to begin for the evening. Every year around this time Cadiz has a huge carnival with fried foods, concerts, and partying all night long for two weeks straight. Some of the other students who live in my residencia had gone with a program called "DiscoverSevilla" last weekend on a bus leaving around 7 pm and leaving to go home around 3 am.
We walked through all the narrow streets and Lola (our program director) showed us all the plazas where the stages were being set up for the concerts, then she showed us where the bus station was. Some students had bought bus tickets to return home (so they could stay later and enjoy Carnaval). I ended up giving in a buying an 11.40 euro bus ticket for 7 am!!! (That was the earliest bus, because the buses don't run at all at night). My roommates all stayed as well. It turned out to be a lot of fun until about 3 or 4 am when the streets were thinning out, it was getting colder, and we were getting tired!
At 7 am when our bus arrived we were so happy to leave Cadiz!
Just outside of Cadiz we stopped at bodega Gutierrez Colosia for sherry tasting (or as sherry is called in Spain "Vino de Jerez" because of the area it is made in--Jerez). We got a tour of the building and then were brought into a room with a video playing. There were little crackers, peanuts, and chips to clear our palettes and we tried little samples of 5 different sherrys. The last one "Pedro Ximenez" tasted just like raisins!
I grabbed some Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream on the way back to the bus (I really need to stop wasting money on ice cream but I can't stop giving into my sweet tooth). We stopped for about 2 hours at the new side of Cadiz which has the most beautiful beaches. We walked around and stopped in a few places along the beach to look.
We got back on the bus to drive to the old part of town where "Carnaval" was getting ready to begin for the evening. Every year around this time Cadiz has a huge carnival with fried foods, concerts, and partying all night long for two weeks straight. Some of the other students who live in my residencia had gone with a program called "DiscoverSevilla" last weekend on a bus leaving around 7 pm and leaving to go home around 3 am.
We walked through all the narrow streets and Lola (our program director) showed us all the plazas where the stages were being set up for the concerts, then she showed us where the bus station was. Some students had bought bus tickets to return home (so they could stay later and enjoy Carnaval). I ended up giving in a buying an 11.40 euro bus ticket for 7 am!!! (That was the earliest bus, because the buses don't run at all at night). My roommates all stayed as well. It turned out to be a lot of fun until about 3 or 4 am when the streets were thinning out, it was getting colder, and we were getting tired!
At 7 am when our bus arrived we were so happy to leave Cadiz!
2/18
Thursday...Got up and went to my 9 am phonetics class. Following that (at 11 am) I walked around for a long time in the rain walking into shops and trying to become more familiar with street names and the area in general.
I ended up stopping by the Barclay's bank to withdraw more money (since I ran out of what I had originally started with). I stopped in at a little bookstore on my way home to buy some things. I bought a Spanish Bible for 14 euro (it is very small!) and "Crepusculo" (Twilight in English). My sister had said that she really liked the series and I wanted to read a Spanish book--something I could get hooked on! I have been reading it and have already learned so many new words and phrases from looking them up in my dictionary as I read.
We ate lunch at 2 pm as usual. The day wasn't too eventful as it was raining and nobody wanted to do much. We also wanted to get extra sleep for our trip to Cadiz tomorrow.
I ended up stopping by the Barclay's bank to withdraw more money (since I ran out of what I had originally started with). I stopped in at a little bookstore on my way home to buy some things. I bought a Spanish Bible for 14 euro (it is very small!) and "Crepusculo" (Twilight in English). My sister had said that she really liked the series and I wanted to read a Spanish book--something I could get hooked on! I have been reading it and have already learned so many new words and phrases from looking them up in my dictionary as I read.
We ate lunch at 2 pm as usual. The day wasn't too eventful as it was raining and nobody wanted to do much. We also wanted to get extra sleep for our trip to Cadiz tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
2/17
Today I got up for my long day begrudging the small amount of sleep I got, but knowing that I could make it through the day. In my first class we finished “El Otro Lado de La Cama” and saw a trailer for “Los Dos Lados de La Cama” the sequel to the first movie. Then, in my second class we watched the first half of the movie “Al Sur de Granada” which I actually really enjoyed this far. The movie is about an Englishman who moves to a small town south of Granada. It focuses on what he does and what it is like there.
In my 3-5 class we watched some short films that show the process of making paper and parchment (handmade paper, and parchment made from young cows, sheep, or goat hides). Our teacher is very nice and makes the class very proactive since it is so small. Even so, it is difficult to participate after 4 hours previously with not so much as even a 5 minute break!
Cait, Mary, and I all get out on Monday and Wednesday at 5 pm, and on Wednesdays our favorite place (Cien Monteditos—100 Sandwiches) has a special. All the sandwiches are 1 euro and the salads are 2 euro on Wednesday. I got a hotdog, a large Caesar salad with chicken, and a chicken Caesar montedito all for 4 euro! It was soo good to eat right after a long day of class.
I decided to venture off but Cait and Mary stayed at Cien Monteditos when some other girls we live with arrived. I went to the heladeria (my guilty pleasure, I can’t not stop when I see gelato…and it’s everywhere!) and then shopped at all the stores by my residencia. I didn’t buy anything at the stores but I bought some authentic handcrafted things from a street vendor as gifts when I come home.
I got home about 9 pm just in time for dinner. I just ate the pasta salad and soup as I was not terribly hungry for the fried ham and cheese after my amazing deal after class. I showered and hung out for a bit at home.
Around 10 or 11 pm some of the others who live in our building started coming up to our common room (that we share and share with the four guys…it is the ultimate hangout and everyone comes over about every other night!). Cait, Suzy, Mary, and I all decided to meet up with the espanoles that we had met at a discoteca a bit away. We took a taxi to Caramelo, it was very crowded, but we enjoyed it and hope to go back sometime! Discotecas are a great place to meet espanoles and practice Spanish turns out! Now off to bed, I need to be awake for that 9 am class!
2/16
This morning I had to wake up for my 9 am phonetics class. It was my first day in this class since I had not originally intended on taking it. In this class we read stories aloud, create summaries, and use spanish dictionaries to find synonyms for spanish words we arent familiar with (rather than looking up the english translation). The teacher left and another profesor taught our class so its hard for me to get a feel of what it will be like.
Following the class I returned home to get ready to leave for Cordoba. The train for 12:30 was full so we (Mary, her family, me, and Cait) got renfe train tickets to leave at 1:30 and get back on the train at about 6:30 pm (we were home about 8 pm).
We arrived in Cordoba and took taxis straight to the main attraction...the mezquita. It was a spectacular sight! With striped red and white arches filling the entire interior it was very distinct from the mosques we saw in Sevilla and Granada. Very unique, and my favorite. Then we went and stopped in the garden part of a little restaurant tucked about in the tiny streets for Iberian ham sandwiches and cokes. We walked around for a little while and entered some shops before heading back to the train station.
We mostly slept for the one hour and twenty minute train ride home. Mary went out to eat with her family again and we went home to the residencia to eat. Afterwards Mary came over with her brother and we went out to Inundacion for the night. It was a lot of fun and we met a lot of espanoles! I got to practice my spanish quite a lot.
Following the class I returned home to get ready to leave for Cordoba. The train for 12:30 was full so we (Mary, her family, me, and Cait) got renfe train tickets to leave at 1:30 and get back on the train at about 6:30 pm (we were home about 8 pm).
We arrived in Cordoba and took taxis straight to the main attraction...the mezquita. It was a spectacular sight! With striped red and white arches filling the entire interior it was very distinct from the mosques we saw in Sevilla and Granada. Very unique, and my favorite. Then we went and stopped in the garden part of a little restaurant tucked about in the tiny streets for Iberian ham sandwiches and cokes. We walked around for a little while and entered some shops before heading back to the train station.
We mostly slept for the one hour and twenty minute train ride home. Mary went out to eat with her family again and we went home to the residencia to eat. Afterwards Mary came over with her brother and we went out to Inundacion for the night. It was a lot of fun and we met a lot of espanoles! I got to practice my spanish quite a lot.
2/15
Monday morning...I got up for class beginning at 11 am. Mondays and Wednesdays are my worst days! I have class for 6 hours straight from 11 am-5 pm. Fortunately 4 hours of it are my cine (movie) classes :). In my movie classes we watched "El Otro Lado de La Cama" and "Carmen." I wouldn't recommend either.
In my 3-5 class our teacher Profesor Manuel literally talked about paper, clay, wood, and wax as forms of early writing for two hours!!! How can a class be so incredibly uninteresting?? But fortunately, I learned some new words that I will never end up using such as:
cuna--weird pen looking thing used to carve in clay
an acronym for Laser...Light, Accelerator, Stimulater, Eradiated, Ray
cana--reed
ladrillo--brick
carcassa--bullet
cera--wax
borrar--to erase
aguja--needle
sarcofago--tomb
a.v.m.--(in old letters from conquistadores back to the queen, we actually looked them up online and he made us read them aloud) a vuestra magistad (our majesty)
tormenta--hurricane
Following out class I went with Mary to her parents hotel. There we snacked for a bit before going out to dinner with her parents at a place not too far from our residencia. We got some tapas including chicken carbonara that I will be sure to get again. I returned home, but Mary went to sleep at the hotel with her parents and her two brothers that came along (Chuck 26, Chris 14...she has 4 brothers! Two older and two younger).
In my 3-5 class our teacher Profesor Manuel literally talked about paper, clay, wood, and wax as forms of early writing for two hours!!! How can a class be so incredibly uninteresting?? But fortunately, I learned some new words that I will never end up using such as:
cuna--weird pen looking thing used to carve in clay
an acronym for Laser...Light, Accelerator, Stimulater, Eradiated, Ray
cana--reed
ladrillo--brick
carcassa--bullet
cera--wax
borrar--to erase
aguja--needle
sarcofago--tomb
a.v.m.--(in old letters from conquistadores back to the queen, we actually looked them up online and he made us read them aloud) a vuestra magistad (our majesty)
tormenta--hurricane
Following out class I went with Mary to her parents hotel. There we snacked for a bit before going out to dinner with her parents at a place not too far from our residencia. We got some tapas including chicken carbonara that I will be sure to get again. I returned home, but Mary went to sleep at the hotel with her parents and her two brothers that came along (Chuck 26, Chris 14...she has 4 brothers! Two older and two younger).
Sunday, February 14, 2010
2/14
This morning I got up with the intention of going to church again at 11. I tried to get a hold of Sarah (the church is far from my house and I have no idea how to get to it) to go but was unable to. I walked to her house, called a few times and waited...but no response, i think she was out of town this weekend. I waited and attempted to walk to the church but failed at finding it and decided to just walk around for an hour. I was very cold, around 40 degrees.
When I returned everyone was still sleeping. I took some time to warm up in my bed with the heater on and then went upstairs to make myself a sandwich out of the supplies my senora left out for us.
A little later in the afternoon Suzy and I met up with Rachel and bunch of other girls (Meghan, Olivia, Sam, Kimmy, Carrie) to go see "Historias de San Valentin" (VALENTINE'S DAY!) the movie, however, it was completely in espanol with no subtitles! It was a bit difficult to follow but a lot of fun.
Following the movie we went to 100 monteditos for some drinks and to hang out for a little while. Around 9 pm Suzy and I met Mary and her parents and two of her brothers at our favorite place by the Cathedral (Cerveceria Giralda). We got some tapas and sangria and I got to tell them my funny stories about Mary! :)
In the end this was a fantastic Valentine's Day! Happy Valentine's Day, I love you!
When I returned everyone was still sleeping. I took some time to warm up in my bed with the heater on and then went upstairs to make myself a sandwich out of the supplies my senora left out for us.
A little later in the afternoon Suzy and I met up with Rachel and bunch of other girls (Meghan, Olivia, Sam, Kimmy, Carrie) to go see "Historias de San Valentin" (VALENTINE'S DAY!) the movie, however, it was completely in espanol with no subtitles! It was a bit difficult to follow but a lot of fun.
Following the movie we went to 100 monteditos for some drinks and to hang out for a little while. Around 9 pm Suzy and I met Mary and her parents and two of her brothers at our favorite place by the Cathedral (Cerveceria Giralda). We got some tapas and sangria and I got to tell them my funny stories about Mary! :)
In the end this was a fantastic Valentine's Day! Happy Valentine's Day, I love you!
2/13
I got up this morning (unlike the majority of the group!) to go on the tour of Granada. We saw all kinds of historical sites and Kepa gave us a detailed tour about Carlos (the last King) and all sorts of other historical information. Concluding our tour we went (in the cold rain) to a chocolateria for churros and chocolate (also paid for by Kepa!).
We returned to the hotel to pick up the others and walk to La Alhambra (the ancient Moorish palace). La Alhambra was similar to a larger Alcazar with similar water features and beautifully sculpted molds. Most of us were miserable throughout the tour because of the wet and cold. My gym shoes got soaked through from the the puddles and rain.
Following our tour of Granada we got lunch at a little restaurant. I got bocadillo jamon (ham sandwich) and then we started our (almost) 3 hour trip home to Sevilla. We arrived home at about 8 pm and were able to relax a little while before dinner at 9 pm. We had the ham cheese fried squares again, french fries, soup, oranges, and bread. I savored the french fries :). Then I went out with Rachel and Susie (my roommate) to McDonald's for Cono Kit Kat (DELICIOUS!). We followed that up with a little dancing at Lobo!
We returned to the hotel to pick up the others and walk to La Alhambra (the ancient Moorish palace). La Alhambra was similar to a larger Alcazar with similar water features and beautifully sculpted molds. Most of us were miserable throughout the tour because of the wet and cold. My gym shoes got soaked through from the the puddles and rain.
Following our tour of Granada we got lunch at a little restaurant. I got bocadillo jamon (ham sandwich) and then we started our (almost) 3 hour trip home to Sevilla. We arrived home at about 8 pm and were able to relax a little while before dinner at 9 pm. We had the ham cheese fried squares again, french fries, soup, oranges, and bread. I savored the french fries :). Then I went out with Rachel and Susie (my roommate) to McDonald's for Cono Kit Kat (DELICIOUS!). We followed that up with a little dancing at Lobo!
2/12
Granada...About a 3 hour bus ride away. Around noon we stopped along the road in the mountains. We went hiking on a wet and rocky trail. By the end everyone was covered in mud at least on their gym shoes and bottom half of their pants. Kepa is an avid hiker and went entirely too fast for half the group, but his friend Enrique who came along with us brought up the rear helping those who were slower.
At the end of the hike we all congregated for a group shot with the mountainous background. Before Kepa and Enrique got to my camera, the group was done so Kepa took some candid shots with mine on the rest of the way to the bus!
We arrived in Granada with 2 hours to kill before our 8 pm dinner. I went to my friend Brittany's room and so did our friend Rachel and we just chatted for a while. At 8 we went out to the hotel restaurant (which was a buffet!) courtesy of our program. I have never enjoyed seeing fried food so much in my life! I ate pasta with spaghetti sauce, fried fish rings, salad with RANCH (never happens here), potatoes, and tried much more! Then for dessert I got a mini ice cream in a plastic container and pineapple.
We started walking to the flamenco den which was quite a hike, especially with all the steep grades in Granada. There was a large group of Chinese people and our API group watching the show. Throughout the show some of the older Chinese people started falling asleep and the flamenco dancer would do something to try to wake them up. One time a male flamenco dancer ruffled a woman's hair violently and then tried to pull her up to dance but she adamantly refused!
The show is kind of set up weirdly. The place really was shaped like a cave with chairs (that we sat on) lined up on either side in a long row. Being on the end, this made it a little difficult to see at times. The flamenco dance was surprisingly similar to tap dance! I could name all the tap moves and think I could pick up flamenco quickly...I do have a dance minor afterall (ok, kind of kidding, though I do, I'm not that good).
After the show Kepa and Enrique walked us back near to the hotel where some tapa bars were. We went into one called Central. Brittany and I shared some sangria and got free chips, cheese, and salami with ours.
At the end of the hike we all congregated for a group shot with the mountainous background. Before Kepa and Enrique got to my camera, the group was done so Kepa took some candid shots with mine on the rest of the way to the bus!
We arrived in Granada with 2 hours to kill before our 8 pm dinner. I went to my friend Brittany's room and so did our friend Rachel and we just chatted for a while. At 8 we went out to the hotel restaurant (which was a buffet!) courtesy of our program. I have never enjoyed seeing fried food so much in my life! I ate pasta with spaghetti sauce, fried fish rings, salad with RANCH (never happens here), potatoes, and tried much more! Then for dessert I got a mini ice cream in a plastic container and pineapple.
We started walking to the flamenco den which was quite a hike, especially with all the steep grades in Granada. There was a large group of Chinese people and our API group watching the show. Throughout the show some of the older Chinese people started falling asleep and the flamenco dancer would do something to try to wake them up. One time a male flamenco dancer ruffled a woman's hair violently and then tried to pull her up to dance but she adamantly refused!
The show is kind of set up weirdly. The place really was shaped like a cave with chairs (that we sat on) lined up on either side in a long row. Being on the end, this made it a little difficult to see at times. The flamenco dance was surprisingly similar to tap dance! I could name all the tap moves and think I could pick up flamenco quickly...I do have a dance minor afterall (ok, kind of kidding, though I do, I'm not that good).
After the show Kepa and Enrique walked us back near to the hotel where some tapa bars were. We went into one called Central. Brittany and I shared some sangria and got free chips, cheese, and salami with ours.
Friday, February 12, 2010
2/11
I woke up about 9:30 and decided to get out of the house just before 11 to go for a run. I allowed myself to go down whichever road or little street interested me and eventually got lost! Along my way however I found a little bakery with the most delicious chocolate filled croissants that I have ever had! They are about 12-14 inches long too!
I also found a little shop selling fresh fruit, I picked up about 1/4-1/2 kilo of strawberries, 5 oranges, and 2 apples for 4.02 euro. What a find! But then unfortunately I carried this heavy load around while searching for the right roads home. I asked about 6ish people where La Catedral was! I made it home, showered, and ate lunch which was rice and pork as well as a salad containing the penne pasta leftovers from last night.
I was going to go to my 3-5 class but my roommate convinced me to take a Tues/Thurs class from 9-11 to make it easier to travel and leave on Thursdays. I bet many of you are surprised since I said I wouldn't do that. But, I was pretty excited about checking out the little market in Plaza Nueva that pops up on weekends in February with my roommates. We went to the market but all the stuff there didn't look like it was from Spain at all, even some of it looked native to India! At some point, I will probably buy something off the little street vendors that sit on the sidewalk everyday. Next we walked over to Plaza del Salvador to check it out.
I went home for a break and to eat before the symphony at 8:30 tonight. It was awesome! All of the musicians were incredible.
I also found a little shop selling fresh fruit, I picked up about 1/4-1/2 kilo of strawberries, 5 oranges, and 2 apples for 4.02 euro. What a find! But then unfortunately I carried this heavy load around while searching for the right roads home. I asked about 6ish people where La Catedral was! I made it home, showered, and ate lunch which was rice and pork as well as a salad containing the penne pasta leftovers from last night.
I was going to go to my 3-5 class but my roommate convinced me to take a Tues/Thurs class from 9-11 to make it easier to travel and leave on Thursdays. I bet many of you are surprised since I said I wouldn't do that. But, I was pretty excited about checking out the little market in Plaza Nueva that pops up on weekends in February with my roommates. We went to the market but all the stuff there didn't look like it was from Spain at all, even some of it looked native to India! At some point, I will probably buy something off the little street vendors that sit on the sidewalk everyday. Next we walked over to Plaza del Salvador to check it out.
I went home for a break and to eat before the symphony at 8:30 tonight. It was awesome! All of the musicians were incredible.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
2/10
I woke up early (a bit before 8 am) this morning (didn't need to wake up til 9:30 to get ready for my 11 am class) since I fell asleep so early last night. I went to my 11 am Contemporary Spanish Cinema class. The teacher is Monica Barrientos and she is a great teacher! She has so much...gusto! Her energy level is pretty much the only thing that keeps me awake in that cozy classroom. Today we focused on Flamenco and watched fragments of a few films portraying Flamenco in various aspects including "El Amor Bruja," "Bodas de Sangre," "Carmen," "Flamenco," and the longest clip was from "Sevillanas." I had not realized before watching "Sevillanas" how similar Flamenco is to Ballet. It was so beautiful to watch I started to tear up.
My second class of the day I took for the first time as a recommendation from my roommate Cait. It is a high advanced level class so I had not even considered taking it or looked at the syllabus. This class is called "La Imagen de Espana a Traves de Cine" which basically translates into "The Image of Spain as Portrayed Through Film." I chose to go to this class to replace the Flamenco class (I had tried to Flamenco and one literary and had not liked any of them) I originally planned to take.
This second class was great! The teacher was lenient (I ate my lunch during the class since it lasts from 1 pm-3 pm) and good at explaining th movies we watched. The topic today was "The Romanticist View of Spain" (La Imagen Romantica de Espana). This included musicals and Flamenco as well. We learned particularly about Carmen a literary myth and common symbol of Spain. We watched "Carmen, La de Triana," "West Side Story," "Gilda," "Cantando Bajo la Lluvia (Singing in the Rain)," "La Nina de tus Ojos ("The Girl of Your Dreams" which tells the story of Carmen and stars Penelope Cruz)," and "Bodas de Sangre (a completely different part than we had watched in the class before)." Finally we watched some movies that showed Carmen from different points of view.
We started with the 1938 film "Carmen, La de Triana" by Florian Rey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rYvZ0mQb4k&feature=PlayList&p=BBBA75FC04A70FF2&index=26
And ended with the 2005 film "Carmen Hip-Hopera" by Robert Townsend (TERRIBLE! My teacher said it is "muy divertido"--very fun, it stars Beyonce Knowles!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=For2VLjjoHo
Following my four hours of classes I went to Starbucks for some refreshment while I waited for my roommates to get out of class. I headed over the the school just before 5 when their classes were getting out. I saw Mary wandering around in the rain with some other students and her professor! He was showing them all the carvings and symbols around the school! The teacher was very nice and invited me to come around with them as well as join the class! I might switch into that class and drop my Anthropology class which I didn't really enjoy.
We went back to Starbucks for a bit to plan a trip to Italy and then came back to the residencia.
My second class of the day I took for the first time as a recommendation from my roommate Cait. It is a high advanced level class so I had not even considered taking it or looked at the syllabus. This class is called "La Imagen de Espana a Traves de Cine" which basically translates into "The Image of Spain as Portrayed Through Film." I chose to go to this class to replace the Flamenco class (I had tried to Flamenco and one literary and had not liked any of them) I originally planned to take.
This second class was great! The teacher was lenient (I ate my lunch during the class since it lasts from 1 pm-3 pm) and good at explaining th movies we watched. The topic today was "The Romanticist View of Spain" (La Imagen Romantica de Espana). This included musicals and Flamenco as well. We learned particularly about Carmen a literary myth and common symbol of Spain. We watched "Carmen, La de Triana," "West Side Story," "Gilda," "Cantando Bajo la Lluvia (Singing in the Rain)," "La Nina de tus Ojos ("The Girl of Your Dreams" which tells the story of Carmen and stars Penelope Cruz)," and "Bodas de Sangre (a completely different part than we had watched in the class before)." Finally we watched some movies that showed Carmen from different points of view.
We started with the 1938 film "Carmen, La de Triana" by Florian Rey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rYvZ0mQb4k&feature=PlayList&p=BBBA75FC04A70FF2&index=26
And ended with the 2005 film "Carmen Hip-Hopera" by Robert Townsend (TERRIBLE! My teacher said it is "muy divertido"--very fun, it stars Beyonce Knowles!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=For2VLjjoHo
Following my four hours of classes I went to Starbucks for some refreshment while I waited for my roommates to get out of class. I headed over the the school just before 5 when their classes were getting out. I saw Mary wandering around in the rain with some other students and her professor! He was showing them all the carvings and symbols around the school! The teacher was very nice and invited me to come around with them as well as join the class! I might switch into that class and drop my Anthropology class which I didn't really enjoy.
We went back to Starbucks for a bit to plan a trip to Italy and then came back to the residencia.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
2/9
Today was my second day of class (first day to go to the classes I have today). Our classes are all Mon/Wed, or Tues/Thurs. This morning at 11 am I had Anthropology of Andalucia! My professor is short with a high voice! Today we had to do an ejercicio (=exercise) where we wrote three answers to questions about todays lecture! Each class is two hours long which is miserable!
I am living with a bunch of Americans (about 20 of which are cared for by my senora and her husband, Ana and Enrique). In our floor alone there are 8 of us all sharing one bathroom (4 guys, 4 girls). One guy I talked about earlier is Spanish (Alfonso). He just came in my bedroom and interrupted my typing to ask if he could borrow my blow dryer! It seems that Spanish men are very particular about their appearance. The other day I saw Alfonso at school and we greeted each other and all my friends were jealous! I had to tell them he's basically one of my roommates!!!
Following a lunch of soup and pasta salad I went to my 3-5 class Spanish Semantics. Strangely, this teacher is also short with a high voice. I am excited for this class however because in it we learn common Spanish expressions and sayings. After class I went with some other girls and stopped at the heladeria (ice cream shop) to get chocolate gelato in a chocolate dipped cone and then go to Starbucks. A bunch of people are planning a trip to Italy for Feria de Abril (our spring break). I'd really like to go, and it seems promising.
My roommates Mary and Cait met us at Starbucks and we went shopping with Sylvia and Alex until about 8 pm. Mary, Cait, and I walked to the grocery right near our residencia where I got some apples, oranges, Lay's potato chips, and a 1.5 liter water bottle. Dinner tonight was the best yet--and it came just in time! I've been insanely missing my typical fattening American meals full of flavor! Tonight we had pasta salad and battered chicken. I ate three whole chicken breasts! (In addition to two servings of pasta salad, a yogurt, a bowl of soup, and probably 3 or 4 pieces of bread). I thought I ate a lot in the U.S.--but since I've been here I eat about twice as much! This is probably due to the large amount of walking and large spaces between meals!
I am living with a bunch of Americans (about 20 of which are cared for by my senora and her husband, Ana and Enrique). In our floor alone there are 8 of us all sharing one bathroom (4 guys, 4 girls). One guy I talked about earlier is Spanish (Alfonso). He just came in my bedroom and interrupted my typing to ask if he could borrow my blow dryer! It seems that Spanish men are very particular about their appearance. The other day I saw Alfonso at school and we greeted each other and all my friends were jealous! I had to tell them he's basically one of my roommates!!!
Following a lunch of soup and pasta salad I went to my 3-5 class Spanish Semantics. Strangely, this teacher is also short with a high voice. I am excited for this class however because in it we learn common Spanish expressions and sayings. After class I went with some other girls and stopped at the heladeria (ice cream shop) to get chocolate gelato in a chocolate dipped cone and then go to Starbucks. A bunch of people are planning a trip to Italy for Feria de Abril (our spring break). I'd really like to go, and it seems promising.
My roommates Mary and Cait met us at Starbucks and we went shopping with Sylvia and Alex until about 8 pm. Mary, Cait, and I walked to the grocery right near our residencia where I got some apples, oranges, Lay's potato chips, and a 1.5 liter water bottle. Dinner tonight was the best yet--and it came just in time! I've been insanely missing my typical fattening American meals full of flavor! Tonight we had pasta salad and battered chicken. I ate three whole chicken breasts! (In addition to two servings of pasta salad, a yogurt, a bowl of soup, and probably 3 or 4 pieces of bread). I thought I ate a lot in the U.S.--but since I've been here I eat about twice as much! This is probably due to the large amount of walking and large spaces between meals!
Monday, February 8, 2010
2/8
Ah the first day of school. I kicked off my morning with a muffin I bought from SuperSol (the closest little grocery) and a banana and then headed to class with Cait and Mary (who both also have 11 am class on Mon/Wed). Mary and I are taking Contemporary Spanish Cinema (that was ridiculous I had to pause a second and try to remember how to say that in English). Today our professor (Monica Barrientos) let us see a short fragment of each movie we will be watching through the duration of the course (there are 12 movies!). In one of them, there was a man in boxers and an apron with an older woman. A bee flew in the house and landed on the woman's hand and she started screaming. The man ripped off his apron and pulled the bee off her hand and ate it! Then he sucked on the woman's hand, it was the most grotesque and odd movie clip I've ever seen! I'm so excited to see that movie.
I went home for lunch and we had lentil soup and salad. I returned to school to attend 2 flamenco (talking about it, not learning how to dance or music or anything) classes and a literature class to try them out and see if I would like them. I was there from 3 pm-almost 9 pm straight and I disliked all of them! So instead I think I will take another cinema class titled "Espana a traves de cine" which means Spain as portrayed in cinema or something similar to that. Apparently the first movie they are watching and discussing is Pan's Labyrinth which I have seen and really liked.
When I home for dinner last night we ate soup and the same potato cake things we had had the first night here. We were bored last night and didn't know what to do so we asked our roommate Alfonso what there is to do on Monday nights. He told us "nothing" so we ended up reading poetry aloud and discussing it! Then we walked around outside for a little while and eventually ended up just going to bed.
I went home for lunch and we had lentil soup and salad. I returned to school to attend 2 flamenco (talking about it, not learning how to dance or music or anything) classes and a literature class to try them out and see if I would like them. I was there from 3 pm-almost 9 pm straight and I disliked all of them! So instead I think I will take another cinema class titled "Espana a traves de cine" which means Spain as portrayed in cinema or something similar to that. Apparently the first movie they are watching and discussing is Pan's Labyrinth which I have seen and really liked.
When I home for dinner last night we ate soup and the same potato cake things we had had the first night here. We were bored last night and didn't know what to do so we asked our roommate Alfonso what there is to do on Monday nights. He told us "nothing" so we ended up reading poetry aloud and discussing it! Then we walked around outside for a little while and eventually ended up just going to bed.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
2/7
Esta manana fui a la iglesia con mi prima (Sarah) y su amigas. This morning I went to church with my cousin and her friends. It started at 11 am and is about a 20-30 minute walk from my residencia (about 15-20 minutes from Sarah's senoras apartment). It was about 2 hours and 15 minutes long! I enjoyed it a lot and the people there are very sincere about their faith (fe=faith, in spanish). For the first hour we sang and people in the congregation randomly interjected with comments, prayers, and song choices in between the songs.
We sang some familiar songs (in spanish of course) like "Tu Eres Mi Respirar" (You are the Air I Breathe), and "Este es mi deseo" (This is my Desire). The church was very small (in the side of an apartment complex) and completely packed! None of us got to sit next to each other.
The woman I sat next to was very nice, she gave me a mint during the sermon and kept patting my leg! The people were welcoming and nice. At one point the woman behind me (very old!) was trying to stand up and she grabbed the back of my seat to do so. She pulled so hard she almost pulled my chair back flat on the ground. It surprised me because I almost fell over backward, guess I didn't weigh enough!
The sermon was an hour long alone, and was titled "Espiritu Santo en los creyentes" which essentially is beliefs about the Holy Spirit. I was able to understand the sermon (and the verses were all on a projector in front--very helpful!) though it was difficult to pay attention for so long. The church seems to be completely biblically based, every statement had a verse to back it up. The pastor discussed mostly how the Holy Spirit fills us (Lleno=full), the requirements for the Holy Spirit, the evidence, and the results of possessing the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I met Sarah's friend from UT Austin at church today as well. When I got back to the residencia everyone was awake and ready for lunch (Sunday is the only day we don't get fed each week). We walked over to a place called Cien Montaditos where they have mini subs (literally tiny!) for 1 euro each. I got one chicken caesar, one salmon caesar with onions, a brie cheese one, and a ham one. After that we walked around for about 2 hours near the cathedral and fountains. Everything is closed down on Sundays except restaurants. Then we stopped in the Lecheria (leche=milk) and got some ice cream.
For dinner we just got tapas at a local recommended restaurant called "Cerveceria Giralda." It is near the part of the Cathedral named "Tower Giralda." We tried salad with smoked salmon, avocado with prawn and orange sauce, and some sort of potatoes. Everything was very good, I'm sure we will be going back.
Around midnight we headed to Phoenix to watch the game. It was completely stuffed with American students. We made it to halftime (2 am) before going home to sleep before our first day of school.
We sang some familiar songs (in spanish of course) like "Tu Eres Mi Respirar" (You are the Air I Breathe), and "Este es mi deseo" (This is my Desire). The church was very small (in the side of an apartment complex) and completely packed! None of us got to sit next to each other.
The woman I sat next to was very nice, she gave me a mint during the sermon and kept patting my leg! The people were welcoming and nice. At one point the woman behind me (very old!) was trying to stand up and she grabbed the back of my seat to do so. She pulled so hard she almost pulled my chair back flat on the ground. It surprised me because I almost fell over backward, guess I didn't weigh enough!
The sermon was an hour long alone, and was titled "Espiritu Santo en los creyentes" which essentially is beliefs about the Holy Spirit. I was able to understand the sermon (and the verses were all on a projector in front--very helpful!) though it was difficult to pay attention for so long. The church seems to be completely biblically based, every statement had a verse to back it up. The pastor discussed mostly how the Holy Spirit fills us (Lleno=full), the requirements for the Holy Spirit, the evidence, and the results of possessing the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I met Sarah's friend from UT Austin at church today as well. When I got back to the residencia everyone was awake and ready for lunch (Sunday is the only day we don't get fed each week). We walked over to a place called Cien Montaditos where they have mini subs (literally tiny!) for 1 euro each. I got one chicken caesar, one salmon caesar with onions, a brie cheese one, and a ham one. After that we walked around for about 2 hours near the cathedral and fountains. Everything is closed down on Sundays except restaurants. Then we stopped in the Lecheria (leche=milk) and got some ice cream.
For dinner we just got tapas at a local recommended restaurant called "Cerveceria Giralda." It is near the part of the Cathedral named "Tower Giralda." We tried salad with smoked salmon, avocado with prawn and orange sauce, and some sort of potatoes. Everything was very good, I'm sure we will be going back.
Around midnight we headed to Phoenix to watch the game. It was completely stuffed with American students. We made it to halftime (2 am) before going home to sleep before our first day of school.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
2/6
Today has been the best day yet and that is simply because I got to sleep in finally! When I did wake up, I slipped quietly out of the house (every one else was still sleeping) and went running across the bridge and along the river until I came back to the park we went to on our bike tour yesterday.
It is a lovely day, sunny and pretty warm. I ran around the park a little while and when I returned showered and got ready for lunch. Lunch was delicious. Ana cooked penne pasta with spaghetti sauce and made traditional spanish salad with fish on it.
After lunch we went out over the river. It was siesta so all of the shops were closed down until about 5 pm. We sat in the warm sun for a while and then got ice cream, I got a huge Sunday, it was 4 euro (6$)!! I enjoyed it thoroughly! Afterward we shopped til we dropped. I got some leggings since I hadn't brought any from home and every one here wears leggings and boots.
We left the shops about 8:30 pm (it was extremely crowded in the streets with many street performers!) to get home in time for dinner at 9. Dinner was cooked spinach with chickpeas, (soup, bread, and fruit as always), and some fried things that looked like mozzarella sticks--except unfortunately there was not cheese inside, but some sort of potato.
After dinner we sat around for a while and then went down to Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) by the river where a bunch of other Americans were hanging out. We went out to Big Ben (an American bar) which was completely stuffed! (Literally, there was nowhere to stand or walk and getting up to the actual bar area was impossible!)
I went to bed about 2 am (which was early considering most everyone else stayed out til about 4:30) and enjoyed a good night of sleep! :)
It is a lovely day, sunny and pretty warm. I ran around the park a little while and when I returned showered and got ready for lunch. Lunch was delicious. Ana cooked penne pasta with spaghetti sauce and made traditional spanish salad with fish on it.
After lunch we went out over the river. It was siesta so all of the shops were closed down until about 5 pm. We sat in the warm sun for a while and then got ice cream, I got a huge Sunday, it was 4 euro (6$)!! I enjoyed it thoroughly! Afterward we shopped til we dropped. I got some leggings since I hadn't brought any from home and every one here wears leggings and boots.
We left the shops about 8:30 pm (it was extremely crowded in the streets with many street performers!) to get home in time for dinner at 9. Dinner was cooked spinach with chickpeas, (soup, bread, and fruit as always), and some fried things that looked like mozzarella sticks--except unfortunately there was not cheese inside, but some sort of potato.
After dinner we sat around for a while and then went down to Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) by the river where a bunch of other Americans were hanging out. We went out to Big Ben (an American bar) which was completely stuffed! (Literally, there was nowhere to stand or walk and getting up to the actual bar area was impossible!)
I went to bed about 2 am (which was early considering most everyone else stayed out til about 4:30) and enjoyed a good night of sleep! :)
Friday, February 5, 2010
2/5
Hola! Today has been very productive. We had orientation at 9:15 and took another look around the university to prepare us for finding our classes on Monday. Following that around noon we took a two hour bike ride around Sevilla.
The bike ride was probably one of my favorite parts of being here thus far. The day warmed up to mid-60's and in the sun it felt like the 70's. We rode over 2 bridges and at the end through the jardines maria luisa (jardin=garden). This garden is full of beautiful pathways, numerous creative fountains, gazeebos and other architecture. I want to go back soon.
Susie and I went back to the residencia to eat lunch which consisted of salad and soup with beef and potatoes. It was very thick and delicious. I went with Susie and changed my U.S. dollars into Euros. On our way to the large fountain on San Fernando to meet some others I was speaking in English to Susie. A man behind me said "No entiendo" which means "I don't understand." I laughed and said in Spanish that we were speaking English and were from the U.S. We talked for a while in Spanish and then he wanted a picture with us by the fountain!
Following that I went to a little ice cream vendor by the middle of the city and got a chocolate ice cream cone!
I went home for a while to rest up and get on my laptop. For dinner Ana made us 3 tiny hot dogs (without buns, one girl said they were chicken dogs), a baked potato (pre-peeled), and canned green beans. We had soup prior to that as well. Ana is a wonderful cook, though I still feel that the food here is much more bland than other countries! I quite often crave fatty foods and sweets. Maybe I will make a trip to the McDonald's a few feet from Sarah's (my cousin who is also here) school!
The bike ride was probably one of my favorite parts of being here thus far. The day warmed up to mid-60's and in the sun it felt like the 70's. We rode over 2 bridges and at the end through the jardines maria luisa (jardin=garden). This garden is full of beautiful pathways, numerous creative fountains, gazeebos and other architecture. I want to go back soon.
Susie and I went back to the residencia to eat lunch which consisted of salad and soup with beef and potatoes. It was very thick and delicious. I went with Susie and changed my U.S. dollars into Euros. On our way to the large fountain on San Fernando to meet some others I was speaking in English to Susie. A man behind me said "No entiendo" which means "I don't understand." I laughed and said in Spanish that we were speaking English and were from the U.S. We talked for a while in Spanish and then he wanted a picture with us by the fountain!
Following that I went to a little ice cream vendor by the middle of the city and got a chocolate ice cream cone!
I went home for a while to rest up and get on my laptop. For dinner Ana made us 3 tiny hot dogs (without buns, one girl said they were chicken dogs), a baked potato (pre-peeled), and canned green beans. We had soup prior to that as well. Ana is a wonderful cook, though I still feel that the food here is much more bland than other countries! I quite often crave fatty foods and sweets. Maybe I will make a trip to the McDonald's a few feet from Sarah's (my cousin who is also here) school!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
2/4
After surviving a freezing cold night, we ate regular white bread with strawberry jam for breakfast with water. Very simple, I was so hungry I ate 4 pieces of bread, and still could have eaten more. We met across the river at 10:00 am to see where the API office was located and tour the school. It was not like anything I expected, there were no closing doors to the school so it was basically outside! There is a fountain in the middle of the school (inside) and it is very beautiful. There are orange trees everywhere. I love this city, it is gorgeous!
Following that, we visited the Cathedral of Sevilla (in the Guinness Book of World Records for Cathedral with the largest area). It is 126.18 meters long and 82.60 meters wide as well as 30.48 meters high. It was very intricate and somewhat like the Cathedral in Toledo but not quite as detailed. Inside we also saw the Mausoleo de Cristobal Colon (Tomb of Christopher Columbus). We climbed to the top of the Giralda Tower inside to get an amazing view of the city (it reminded me of my view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower...though not quite as high :) ).
We returned to our residencia for almuerzo (lunch). Ana made a sort of chicken and rice concoction that was really good (or maybe it wasn't chicken? It had bones cooked in it!). We also have french bread and a side salad with every lunch/dinner. The salad has a sweet dressing that is purple on it. The oranges that Ana gives us taste amazing!!! The are so juicy I eat like 2 every meal, I just can't help it!
After lunch we went to Alcazar, the royal palace in Seville that was built by the Moors (Muslims). It was my favorite place we have visited so far. In the gardens they have a hedge maze :)
Right after my tour of Alcazar I met up with Sarah (my cousin) at the Starbucks on San Fernando. I was with my friend Susie and she had brought along Carrie (her best friend). We walked by and saw their "school" which is actually just a part of the strip of restaurants and stores (I guess it is technically an apartment).
Sarah and Carrie came with me to the residencia where the got to meet my roommates and I gave her the face wipes I had brought to help her get through the cold mornings. Then we walked to her apartment where she grabbed her bags and then we walked back to the bridge. It was nice to talk! I went home for dinner which consisted of a fried ham and cheese sandwich, soup, and potato salad. It was all very good. I went out with a large group of other students in the residencia tonight and just not got home (early! everyone else was going to a club, but I'm opting to shower and sleep because we have orientation and a bike tour tomorrow). Goodnight!
Following that, we visited the Cathedral of Sevilla (in the Guinness Book of World Records for Cathedral with the largest area). It is 126.18 meters long and 82.60 meters wide as well as 30.48 meters high. It was very intricate and somewhat like the Cathedral in Toledo but not quite as detailed. Inside we also saw the Mausoleo de Cristobal Colon (Tomb of Christopher Columbus). We climbed to the top of the Giralda Tower inside to get an amazing view of the city (it reminded me of my view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower...though not quite as high :) ).
We returned to our residencia for almuerzo (lunch). Ana made a sort of chicken and rice concoction that was really good (or maybe it wasn't chicken? It had bones cooked in it!). We also have french bread and a side salad with every lunch/dinner. The salad has a sweet dressing that is purple on it. The oranges that Ana gives us taste amazing!!! The are so juicy I eat like 2 every meal, I just can't help it!
After lunch we went to Alcazar, the royal palace in Seville that was built by the Moors (Muslims). It was my favorite place we have visited so far. In the gardens they have a hedge maze :)
Right after my tour of Alcazar I met up with Sarah (my cousin) at the Starbucks on San Fernando. I was with my friend Susie and she had brought along Carrie (her best friend). We walked by and saw their "school" which is actually just a part of the strip of restaurants and stores (I guess it is technically an apartment).
Sarah and Carrie came with me to the residencia where the got to meet my roommates and I gave her the face wipes I had brought to help her get through the cold mornings. Then we walked to her apartment where she grabbed her bags and then we walked back to the bridge. It was nice to talk! I went home for dinner which consisted of a fried ham and cheese sandwich, soup, and potato salad. It was all very good. I went out with a large group of other students in the residencia tonight and just not got home (early! everyone else was going to a club, but I'm opting to shower and sleep because we have orientation and a bike tour tomorrow). Goodnight!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
2/3
Yes, here i am finally at the residencia! Everyone here is American and sooo nice. There are so many people staying here and Ana and Enrique are taking good care of us.
This morning I made sure to get up early and get a good breakfast in. We left for Toledo about 9. It was so amazing, I wish you could all see it!!! The cathedral was so breathtaking I cant even begin to explain. Following our tour of the beautiful city of Toledo we got back on the bus to Sevilla. We stopped for lunch and I ordered from "Menu Del Dia" (which includes a first and second dish, a drink, bread, and dessert or coffee). I ate sopa de cebollas, jamon y queso (onion, ham and cheese soup), and pechuga de pollo empanada (chicken breast empanadas, breaded chicken). I slept on the bus most of the rest of the way.
We ate dinner at 9 and Ana made up soup that was really good and this potato cake and salad. SEVILLA IS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!! It has only been dark when we got here but it is beautiful. We live across the river from the school. I had to cart my bags all the way from the meeting point to the place we live and then up two flights of narrow marble stairs!!! Some of the other girls have calluses on their hands from pulling their bags.
Unfortunately we have to share one bathroom with ourselves (4 of us girls) and 4 guys!!! IT SUCKS! I am very glad I brought that warm blanket and heating pad, its not too cold but I am always cold at night anyway. The other students in the residencia with us are from other programs (besides 5 of us girls).
Well, it is about 11:30 pm now and I'm about to get a shower in and then go to bed. We have to be up at 10 am! Well good night and talk to you all tomorrow! <3
This morning I made sure to get up early and get a good breakfast in. We left for Toledo about 9. It was so amazing, I wish you could all see it!!! The cathedral was so breathtaking I cant even begin to explain. Following our tour of the beautiful city of Toledo we got back on the bus to Sevilla. We stopped for lunch and I ordered from "Menu Del Dia" (which includes a first and second dish, a drink, bread, and dessert or coffee). I ate sopa de cebollas, jamon y queso (onion, ham and cheese soup), and pechuga de pollo empanada (chicken breast empanadas, breaded chicken). I slept on the bus most of the rest of the way.
We ate dinner at 9 and Ana made up soup that was really good and this potato cake and salad. SEVILLA IS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!! It has only been dark when we got here but it is beautiful. We live across the river from the school. I had to cart my bags all the way from the meeting point to the place we live and then up two flights of narrow marble stairs!!! Some of the other girls have calluses on their hands from pulling their bags.
Unfortunately we have to share one bathroom with ourselves (4 of us girls) and 4 guys!!! IT SUCKS! I am very glad I brought that warm blanket and heating pad, its not too cold but I am always cold at night anyway. The other students in the residencia with us are from other programs (besides 5 of us girls).
Well, it is about 11:30 pm now and I'm about to get a shower in and then go to bed. We have to be up at 10 am! Well good night and talk to you all tomorrow! <3
2/2
Lunch was simple today. We picked up some fruit (strawberries, clementines and a baguette) from "El Corte Ingles" a major department store over here. We walked to El Prado Museo about 15 minutes from our hotel where many famous Spanish artist's works are. Works of Rubens, Dali, Velasquez, etc. We had the same guide we had yesterday and she is EXCELLENT! Then we went back to the room for a 3 hr nap :) We had stayed up late the night before!
About 9 some of the other girls started coming to our room and we talked and got ready for dinner. We wanted to go to Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world, but none of us have a good sense of direction and we failed completely at finding it! Then we ended up eating about 11 pm (our dinner---i was STARVING! and oh so cranky!) at this fancy restaurant. My roommate ordered a salad and got tomatoes topped with fishy fish that was utterly disgusting and some onions. It was the grossest salad I've ever smelled, seen, or tasted.
I got ricotta something boletos something (it was a super long name half of which I didn't understand, and I only got it because they ran out of salmon). It turned out to be this stuff that basically looked like oatmeal or grits. It was rice and mushrooms with a cracker of parmesan cheese sticking out the top. Very odd, but surprisingly good. Then we went to the 'Chocolateria' where we got churros and dipped them in a coffee mug of melted chocolate.
When we finally returned to the hotel about 12:30 or 1 am, the other students (a HUGE group of them) were going out again to a discoteca! I went with them (my roommate and other friends stayed behind for a while) looking forward to dancing with the others. We went to the Palace where we got free admission and a free drink. I danced with this girl who goes to UNT and is from Brownsville and is Mexican (though you wouldn't guess it) and she is fluent. I danced with two Spanish guys too.
Me and a bunch of the other girls finally left about 3 am. My roommate and the other girls i am closest to left as soon as I got back! We have to be on the bus to Toledo packed and ready by 8:45 tomorrow so I took a shower and went to bed.
About 9 some of the other girls started coming to our room and we talked and got ready for dinner. We wanted to go to Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world, but none of us have a good sense of direction and we failed completely at finding it! Then we ended up eating about 11 pm (our dinner---i was STARVING! and oh so cranky!) at this fancy restaurant. My roommate ordered a salad and got tomatoes topped with fishy fish that was utterly disgusting and some onions. It was the grossest salad I've ever smelled, seen, or tasted.
I got ricotta something boletos something (it was a super long name half of which I didn't understand, and I only got it because they ran out of salmon). It turned out to be this stuff that basically looked like oatmeal or grits. It was rice and mushrooms with a cracker of parmesan cheese sticking out the top. Very odd, but surprisingly good. Then we went to the 'Chocolateria' where we got churros and dipped them in a coffee mug of melted chocolate.
When we finally returned to the hotel about 12:30 or 1 am, the other students (a HUGE group of them) were going out again to a discoteca! I went with them (my roommate and other friends stayed behind for a while) looking forward to dancing with the others. We went to the Palace where we got free admission and a free drink. I danced with this girl who goes to UNT and is from Brownsville and is Mexican (though you wouldn't guess it) and she is fluent. I danced with two Spanish guys too.
Me and a bunch of the other girls finally left about 3 am. My roommate and the other girls i am closest to left as soon as I got back! We have to be on the bus to Toledo packed and ready by 8:45 tomorrow so I took a shower and went to bed.
Monday, February 1, 2010
2/1
HOLA!
I'll give you a short warning: If you ever have a roommate who can't handle gluten and then persists to eat it, you should be aware what might happen that night. At 4 am this morning my roommate Mary got out of bed and starting screaming, then she grabbed my arm and yelled "Who are you? Who are you?" I sat up and said, "Uh, I'm your roommate, Katie." Her eyes were open and after I said that her face changed and she woke up! It was hilarious! She felt so bad, but I just thought it was funny.
Our directors called us on our hotel phone at 8:45 am to get up and out of bed. I went to breakfast at 9:45 and ate a croissant and clementine in the breakfast dining area of the hotel with the other students. We split into two groups to tour the Museo Reina Sofia, one (my group) was in Spanish and our tour guide was very good at explaining the art work in Spanish (she used a lot of body language). We saw "La Guernica" and many other famous works of Dali, Picasso, and others. She walked us through two parts of the city, the part of the Bourbones which includes gardens, wide open streets, and enormous fountains, then we walked through the old section, the Hapsburgs, where there were buildings sandwiched side by side, narrow cobblestone streets, and little shops.
We went to lunch near the plaza mayor where I tried a bogedilla calamares and a montedito lomo de la plancha (calamari sandwich and a little pork loin sandwich). They were both on baguettes and were very good.
Following lunch we went to find out about our location in Sevilla and classes. We have a two week period where we can attend any class we want and then sign up for the ones we choose at the end. It is a really clever way to sign up because then we can see which classes interest us and which teachers we like before we choose. I found out that I live across the river from the university but it is only a 10-15 walk.
Mary and I took a long nap and then went to corte de ingles, which is a HUGE department store with a supermercado (grocery) in it. We got a couple things and then came back to the apartment.
One weird thing here that is inconvenient is the fact that there are no fountain drinks. When you order a coke it is very expensive because it comes in a small glass bottle, and water is always bottled. Today I brought my own water bottle to lunch (I had bought a 1.5 liter bottle and had been drinking it throughout my stay) and the waiter gave me an unapproving look for it. But I have decided it is better to save money and get unapproving looks than to spend more than is necessary to avoid them!!!
Tonight we went out to a couple places for tapas and drinks. First we went to Lateral, followed by Magister. We returned to the hotel and on our way received free tickets to Joy. We went to Joy until 4:30 am. Unfortunately we have to be up at 9 am. I am worried that I am going to be extremely tired in a few hours when i have to wake up...(Don't say "I told you so..." Mom!!) :)
I'll give you a short warning: If you ever have a roommate who can't handle gluten and then persists to eat it, you should be aware what might happen that night. At 4 am this morning my roommate Mary got out of bed and starting screaming, then she grabbed my arm and yelled "Who are you? Who are you?" I sat up and said, "Uh, I'm your roommate, Katie." Her eyes were open and after I said that her face changed and she woke up! It was hilarious! She felt so bad, but I just thought it was funny.
Our directors called us on our hotel phone at 8:45 am to get up and out of bed. I went to breakfast at 9:45 and ate a croissant and clementine in the breakfast dining area of the hotel with the other students. We split into two groups to tour the Museo Reina Sofia, one (my group) was in Spanish and our tour guide was very good at explaining the art work in Spanish (she used a lot of body language). We saw "La Guernica" and many other famous works of Dali, Picasso, and others. She walked us through two parts of the city, the part of the Bourbones which includes gardens, wide open streets, and enormous fountains, then we walked through the old section, the Hapsburgs, where there were buildings sandwiched side by side, narrow cobblestone streets, and little shops.
We went to lunch near the plaza mayor where I tried a bogedilla calamares and a montedito lomo de la plancha (calamari sandwich and a little pork loin sandwich). They were both on baguettes and were very good.
Following lunch we went to find out about our location in Sevilla and classes. We have a two week period where we can attend any class we want and then sign up for the ones we choose at the end. It is a really clever way to sign up because then we can see which classes interest us and which teachers we like before we choose. I found out that I live across the river from the university but it is only a 10-15 walk.
Mary and I took a long nap and then went to corte de ingles, which is a HUGE department store with a supermercado (grocery) in it. We got a couple things and then came back to the apartment.
One weird thing here that is inconvenient is the fact that there are no fountain drinks. When you order a coke it is very expensive because it comes in a small glass bottle, and water is always bottled. Today I brought my own water bottle to lunch (I had bought a 1.5 liter bottle and had been drinking it throughout my stay) and the waiter gave me an unapproving look for it. But I have decided it is better to save money and get unapproving looks than to spend more than is necessary to avoid them!!!
Tonight we went out to a couple places for tapas and drinks. First we went to Lateral, followed by Magister. We returned to the hotel and on our way received free tickets to Joy. We went to Joy until 4:30 am. Unfortunately we have to be up at 9 am. I am worried that I am going to be extremely tired in a few hours when i have to wake up...(Don't say "I told you so..." Mom!!) :)
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