Midterms. I'll just cover the high points and not document the lows. Political Communications-"Our highest grade in class was achieved by a non native to Spain" says my pirate teacher. I get my test back. I AM that non-native speaker...success, especially in a class ruled by democrats. Another high point- I ate at least two pb and j's every night i studied for midterms. Thank the LORD I am finally out of peanut butter, even though those second and third dinners were thoroughly enjoyed. Studying=eating=great thing I'm a communications major and not studying to be a doctor.
Also in Political Comm the "I'm gay and republican" (i really don't know his name) popped in chew. front row in class. twenty min into lecture. casual. Teacher looked semi-surprised, "Do you always chew? Don't swallow otherwise it's lights out!" Funny scenario. Tobacco is welcome in school and teachers are giving advice to not swallow. lights out. Apparently he's quitting lung cancer and moving onto lip cancer. Buena suerte.
I am in dire need of sleep after those tests. The day after my last midterm I passed out in the student lounge and woke up to spanish students singing a lullaby over me. Groggily was terrified, and then realized my hand and side of face was covered in drool. Really awkward situation as a whole. I then decided it was a good idea to say, "you guys were in and out of my dreams" (aka their conversations kept fading in and out.) but that just made the situation less comfortable. Recieving an A in social skills during midterms week.
I will not be going to Rome with my roomate and her friends. After asking, she said she needed to ask the other girls and even though "they really like me" I am not invited on their "sorry, it's a best friends trip." Roma, Roma-ma-ma can wait. Italy is a place that I think I need to go later in life and spend quite an amount of time there...
Our senora hides cookies in the oven. Sometimes when we go into the kitchen, our normal food of bread, cookies, and jam that she provides for us isn't there. Now we know where it goes. Maybe she thinks we eat too much and is just trying to help us out? Funny.
There is not a word for dating in Spanish, which I just find odd? There are no engagements and no dating. How do people get married?? People have "amijitos" or "little friends" and then I guess they turn into a "novio" a boyfriend (that doesn't take them on "dates." spanish people always say "date" as a connotation towards how Americans are-"date" is said with sarcasm/quotations), and then it just becomes known to the couple that they're going to get married and they just get married? Apparently dating is outlawed in some countries, like Iran I believe was one place said? YIKES.
We are learning the Bachata in latin rythms. Me ENCANTA. Lots of hip movement. Call me crazy or call me Shakira.
I booked a trip to Prague and Amsterdam for the first long weekend in December. Will be staying three nights in Prague and three nights in Amsterdam because we have days from school off. Booked my flights with Stephanie (of course) but there are a lot of wakeforest guys going so it should be super fun. Amsterdam was a must-see on this trip becuase let's be honest, if red light district is my scene in five or ten years I will have serious life issues. If red light district was my scene now I'd have serious life issues...you get the point.
My sorority is going inactive on Baylor's campus. It's a little sad to see it not workout how I had hoped, especially because last semester was SO great, such improvement. Apparently there has been some serious issues this semester, and I'm happy that I don't have to be there to deal with the situation, but sad that I cannot be there for my girlfriends.
Another geographical adventure: I tried to meet friends at Orange Bar on metro line Arguelles and ended up on Gran Via, a few stops in the opposite way. Alessandro, a very nice Italian, saved me and got me on my way, walked me to my right stop and made me his official facebook friend.
I hate facebook. It is a party of everyone's lives, but really is my only connection to America that is free. Nothing is true until facebook says it is. We aren't facebook friends? Who are you? Literally I asked Rudy, the twin of Stephanie's new Spanish boyfriend (not really, but kind of) what he liked to do and facebook was included in that. Rudy and Rory-moved here from Venezuela. Shy, good looking, tall, dark, blue eyed. Stephanie is in love.
It's getting very chilly, sickness season-not fun, and wearing two pairs of socks to bed with a hoodie with sweatpants is to be expected becuase apparently heat doesn't get turned on until November? Why Spainnnn?
I finally bought black boots that go past my knee and have a cute tassle on the back-been on the PROWL for a while. Every other person wears them here. Chic, trend follower? Feelin' Spanish.
Last night at dinner, senora told us about her friend from Africa oh-u-wa-i is how her name was pronounced. But this friend comes and visits her occassionally and is the most amazing woman. Always feeds the homeless children, even though she has no money and is struggling herself as a teacher. Senora and this lady speak french and spanish together and I think they met in France but have been friends for many years. In Africa where the lady lives aids is a huge problem and it is so dangerous. Senora was telling us about all of the problems of daily life there, yet whenever she calls ouwai, she always says she is great and doesn't complain. Her life is in Africa, her family is there (she has 20 brothers and sisters becuase her dad has four or five wives, meanwhile ouwai was divorced becuase her husband wanted more women-so sad!) My roomates and I decided that we want to put together a box of clothes for the children that the lady feeds every day before we leave and give it to senora in december.
I am going to Barcelona this weekend for Halloween. MOM IS COMING NEXT WEEKEND. and tonight i may indulge in either el tigre, kapital, or something fantastic. buena noche.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
GRA NA DAAAA and such...
In my art class we are required to find La Plaza de la Villa and describe what kind of arquitecture the buildings are in the area. So, today I walked from my house to La Plaza de Sol and what I thought would be a thirty minute ordeal took about three hours. I wandered into shops, stopped and took pictures in La Plaza Mayor, people watched, enjoyed the scents and feelings of fall. It smells like cold, feels brisk, the days are getting shorter, but it is so beautiful, especially at dusk, so my spontaneous three hours passed by so pleasantly. Distractions are a factor I need to start accounting for, but time is so easily lost in Madrid.
Thursday night I met up with some friends at their apartment and went to Joy. My bus to Granada left at 8am on Friday, so i figured that I should just stay out all night and then go home, pack, and head to the bus station sin sleep so I could pass out on the five hour trip to the south of Spain. Sleeping is hard to do in a 200 degree 2 ft by 2ft environment, so that plan didn't involve my best logic or go necessarily according to plan.
When we (Vladimir, Stephanie, and I) arrived to the bus station in Granada we made fun of the touristy segway tour signs and then indulged in buying tickets for that segway tour and a flamenco show. The segway tour was by far one of the most enjoyable, hilarious experiences thus far. We segwayed up a mountain all the way to a Jewish synagogue built in 1610 that overlooked the city of Granada and the famous Alhambra. Stephanie crashed into a wall. Also a site. We segwayed around the streets a bit and our neon vests kept us safe from traffic in the very tiny quaint streets. A very nice but talkative old man told me his life story and said I'd be perfect for his 31 year old son. I'd have to disagree.
Our hostel was in a great location, right by tapas bars with free food, the main plaza, and Arabic shops selling pillowcases, tea, gaudy jewelry, and smoking devices. Granada has a very large Arabic presence. After our segway tour we wandered around and were attacked by toothless gypsies who grabbed our hands apparently read our fortunes (I'm going to have a lot of babies and be madly in love and live a happy life--of course. who isn't.) and demanded money. Later, we indulged in a glass of beer and the bartender brought out three large sandwiches and papas fritas. for free. complimentary with our three euro drink. fantastic. we revisted that bar later in the night solely for the free food. college life would be made so much easier if the States decided to follow the free food with drinks aspect Spain so graciously enacts.
We had our Flamenco show later that night and it was interesting to say the least. I honestly didn't enjoy it, too authentic perhaps? Stephanie pointed out that as Americans we are so used to a grand spectacle with beautiful performers adorned in grand costumes and this wasn't the case, even though it was very cultural. Live band, four dancers, very expressive in their faces and movements. Clapping, stomping, screaming/wailing/singing? I am planning on going to another flamenco show in Madrid with my mom that I'm hoping will be more what I was expecting flamenco to be? When we got back to our hostel there was leftover paella that our hostel had from a dinner they had put on and we decided we should try it? There was octopus and other unknown things that had once been alive. Should have just let it be.
The next morning we woke up extremely early to go wait in line in the freezing cold for tickets to the Alhambra. Tickets sell out almost instantly. The morning tickets sold out which was a bummer but at least we were able to buy three for the afternoon. We went back down into the city and toured the Granada Cathedral. White large pillars, magnificent, majestic. black and white squared floor like a checkerboard. painted cielings of gold in the central chapel where the message is given. and of course, like all other cathedral I've seen, seperate rooms surrounding the edges of individual chapels that were usually owned and designed by extremely wealthy people, dedicated to a saint, or in some cases are where some rich famous person of the time was buried, etc. The plans and construction began in 1526 and was completed in 1561 which is just amazing to me becuase it is SO large.
We ate Kebaps which are fantastic arabian sandwich deals after window shopping for a bit and then went up to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex built in the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers in Granada. BREATH-TAKING gardens and palaces with waterfalls/ fountains and exotic flowers and walkways made of bushes and elaborate detail covering the palace walls and cielings. Overwhelming man-made beauty. The Alhambra may have been the most beautiful site I have seen in my life. Walking through the gardens, breathing in the aroma of thousands of flowers, I truly wondered what the Garden of Eden must have looked like. If this was man-made, wow, what is God-made?? The fortress overlooked the city of Granada, gorgeous views, interesting to see war-type architecture because I have been learning about "flechas" (small windows to shoot arrows out of) among other things and it was awesome to see them in person versus on a slide in class. Canon balls casually laying around. There was a maze inside the fortress but it was only about three feet tall so I'm not quite sure how protected that is or what the point was? The palaces were stunning and the walls were covered with detailed engravings. The court of the lions was underconstruction becuase the fountain is being refurbished. The fountain is made up of 12 lions of white marble. A different lion shoots water out of its mouth every certain time period, maybe every hour- not sure. They had the lions in a special room that you weren't allowed to take pictures in, but people could still go see them. haha why? The gardens the the Palacio del Generalife was by far my favorite. Fountains, walkways formed by a tunnel of shrubs and bushes and vines and colorful varieties of plants all overlooking the fortress and palaces and cities. Pictures do not do justice and I cannot describe the bliss, romance, breathtaking views.
The bus ride back included air conditioning, a rather large piece of chocolate cake, and a bus driver who was so fast that he got us back to the station in Madrid about an hour before scheduled arrival-my kind of driving. Apparently someone was throwing up in the front seat the whole time--that's what 200 km per hour in the mountains will do to you.
The Columbus day parade last Tuesday was quite elaborate. I went with my roomate Lindsey, who literally is one of the most enjoyable, genuine persons I have met in my life. Very inclusive of everyone, friendly, intelligent, happy, makes anyone feel fantastic just by being around her. I met her mother this weekend-hilarious woman, and I see where she gets it from. The parade--every military unit was there, navy, army, many others dressed in uniform, there were planes that flew in the air emitting colorful smoke, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, horses.... it was quite a site from what i saw but I kept my two week contacts in for way over two weeks, a few nights included which results in bloodshot, sensitive to light vision. My senora gave me eyedrops one night at dinner,so motherly, and my dance teacher said I looked terrifying and asked what was going on. self esteem boost. i look like a normal human being now.
mid terms last week were draining, i have two more this week. midterm week=sweatpants season (which no Spainards own) so I will be boldly being american in my elegant midterm attire.
Thursday night I met up with some friends at their apartment and went to Joy. My bus to Granada left at 8am on Friday, so i figured that I should just stay out all night and then go home, pack, and head to the bus station sin sleep so I could pass out on the five hour trip to the south of Spain. Sleeping is hard to do in a 200 degree 2 ft by 2ft environment, so that plan didn't involve my best logic or go necessarily according to plan.
When we (Vladimir, Stephanie, and I) arrived to the bus station in Granada we made fun of the touristy segway tour signs and then indulged in buying tickets for that segway tour and a flamenco show. The segway tour was by far one of the most enjoyable, hilarious experiences thus far. We segwayed up a mountain all the way to a Jewish synagogue built in 1610 that overlooked the city of Granada and the famous Alhambra. Stephanie crashed into a wall. Also a site. We segwayed around the streets a bit and our neon vests kept us safe from traffic in the very tiny quaint streets. A very nice but talkative old man told me his life story and said I'd be perfect for his 31 year old son. I'd have to disagree.
Our hostel was in a great location, right by tapas bars with free food, the main plaza, and Arabic shops selling pillowcases, tea, gaudy jewelry, and smoking devices. Granada has a very large Arabic presence. After our segway tour we wandered around and were attacked by toothless gypsies who grabbed our hands apparently read our fortunes (I'm going to have a lot of babies and be madly in love and live a happy life--of course. who isn't.) and demanded money. Later, we indulged in a glass of beer and the bartender brought out three large sandwiches and papas fritas. for free. complimentary with our three euro drink. fantastic. we revisted that bar later in the night solely for the free food. college life would be made so much easier if the States decided to follow the free food with drinks aspect Spain so graciously enacts.
We had our Flamenco show later that night and it was interesting to say the least. I honestly didn't enjoy it, too authentic perhaps? Stephanie pointed out that as Americans we are so used to a grand spectacle with beautiful performers adorned in grand costumes and this wasn't the case, even though it was very cultural. Live band, four dancers, very expressive in their faces and movements. Clapping, stomping, screaming/wailing/singing? I am planning on going to another flamenco show in Madrid with my mom that I'm hoping will be more what I was expecting flamenco to be? When we got back to our hostel there was leftover paella that our hostel had from a dinner they had put on and we decided we should try it? There was octopus and other unknown things that had once been alive. Should have just let it be.
The next morning we woke up extremely early to go wait in line in the freezing cold for tickets to the Alhambra. Tickets sell out almost instantly. The morning tickets sold out which was a bummer but at least we were able to buy three for the afternoon. We went back down into the city and toured the Granada Cathedral. White large pillars, magnificent, majestic. black and white squared floor like a checkerboard. painted cielings of gold in the central chapel where the message is given. and of course, like all other cathedral I've seen, seperate rooms surrounding the edges of individual chapels that were usually owned and designed by extremely wealthy people, dedicated to a saint, or in some cases are where some rich famous person of the time was buried, etc. The plans and construction began in 1526 and was completed in 1561 which is just amazing to me becuase it is SO large.
We ate Kebaps which are fantastic arabian sandwich deals after window shopping for a bit and then went up to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex built in the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers in Granada. BREATH-TAKING gardens and palaces with waterfalls/ fountains and exotic flowers and walkways made of bushes and elaborate detail covering the palace walls and cielings. Overwhelming man-made beauty. The Alhambra may have been the most beautiful site I have seen in my life. Walking through the gardens, breathing in the aroma of thousands of flowers, I truly wondered what the Garden of Eden must have looked like. If this was man-made, wow, what is God-made?? The fortress overlooked the city of Granada, gorgeous views, interesting to see war-type architecture because I have been learning about "flechas" (small windows to shoot arrows out of) among other things and it was awesome to see them in person versus on a slide in class. Canon balls casually laying around. There was a maze inside the fortress but it was only about three feet tall so I'm not quite sure how protected that is or what the point was? The palaces were stunning and the walls were covered with detailed engravings. The court of the lions was underconstruction becuase the fountain is being refurbished. The fountain is made up of 12 lions of white marble. A different lion shoots water out of its mouth every certain time period, maybe every hour- not sure. They had the lions in a special room that you weren't allowed to take pictures in, but people could still go see them. haha why? The gardens the the Palacio del Generalife was by far my favorite. Fountains, walkways formed by a tunnel of shrubs and bushes and vines and colorful varieties of plants all overlooking the fortress and palaces and cities. Pictures do not do justice and I cannot describe the bliss, romance, breathtaking views.
The bus ride back included air conditioning, a rather large piece of chocolate cake, and a bus driver who was so fast that he got us back to the station in Madrid about an hour before scheduled arrival-my kind of driving. Apparently someone was throwing up in the front seat the whole time--that's what 200 km per hour in the mountains will do to you.
The Columbus day parade last Tuesday was quite elaborate. I went with my roomate Lindsey, who literally is one of the most enjoyable, genuine persons I have met in my life. Very inclusive of everyone, friendly, intelligent, happy, makes anyone feel fantastic just by being around her. I met her mother this weekend-hilarious woman, and I see where she gets it from. The parade--every military unit was there, navy, army, many others dressed in uniform, there were planes that flew in the air emitting colorful smoke, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, horses.... it was quite a site from what i saw but I kept my two week contacts in for way over two weeks, a few nights included which results in bloodshot, sensitive to light vision. My senora gave me eyedrops one night at dinner,so motherly, and my dance teacher said I looked terrifying and asked what was going on. self esteem boost. i look like a normal human being now.
mid terms last week were draining, i have two more this week. midterm week=sweatpants season (which no Spainards own) so I will be boldly being american in my elegant midterm attire.
Monday, October 11, 2010
"Que comes, un piedra o una postre?"...."una piedra?"
"What do you eat, a rock or a piece of cake?" my art history teacher asked me during class today when I said I think I understood what she was saying about the historic building in question. I answered a rock. I would eat a rock. My Spanish is really coming along.
I have a test in this class that is taught solely in Spanish this Wednesday. I'm expecting a solid "A."
Last week in Salsa i punched a girl in the face. We were learning a new step. I was really committed to the movements I was making and somehow my closed fist collided with this girl's cheek. Audibly hard. Aggressive. Impressed with my strength, appalled at my grace and dancing ability.
Friday night I went out with Stephanie, Jaime, and Jonathon to this DELICIOUS restaurant called Ojala. We ate downstairs and there was sand all over the floor and pictures projected on the walls of beach scenes. We sat on pillows on the ground and a low table with our feet in the sand. We had DELICIOUS tapas and mojitos and vino. They are SUCH funny guys! I impressed everyone with my new learned Spanish expressions that I just had a test over. "Hace buen migas" -we are good friends, basically- was my response for being late as always. We could write on the bathroom walls, so i indulged in that activitiy. Luego, fuimos a discotecha, Joy, and had an interesting night meeting Swedens, attempting to learn French, and watching dancers wearing diamonds and not much else in giant champagne cups onstage. I gave someone my autograph who swore I was his true love.
The next day it rained allll day and Stephanie and I went shopping. All i bought was socks, after hours of shopping. That's just really sad. My shoe broke so I was walking around barefoot the whole time. That is literally the 5th shoe that has broken this month. Luckily(?) I brought hundreds of pounds of luggage so that's not really a problem.
That night it was raining and so I confess to having my first "lame" night in Madrid. I went to Burger King and left with a beer to go (in a to-go cup from tap? Burger Kind beer wasn't bad?), bought ice-cream and Notting Hill, and sat in my bed listening to rain, eating my body weight in healthy food, and watching Hugh Grant. Now that I went to London and visited the Notting Hill area and the market that Grant lives by I recognized all of the places in the movie...
Rastro market Sunday morning did bad things to my wallet but great things to the people I will be giving gifts to upon my return. I DID buy black boots without heels for six euros and had to flat iron the tassles with my straightener so they didn't look like a wild animal (6 EUROS). Excellent purchase.
Tomorrow is a National Holiday in Spain celebrating when Columbus first set foot in America. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS. being American and all. I will most likely have celebrity status tomorrow.
I have a stalker at my gym. I believe he eats small children and has lost his neck somewhere. He follows me everywhere I go and breathes really loud. It's absolutely TERRIFYING. I'm missing running in the mountains by my lonesome. I would rather catch a rainstorm on a back road than someone's eye and body odor. My abdominales teacher recognizes me now and asks me how I am. I've reached "regular" status. Yes.
Fiesta tonight, discovering AMERICA tomorrow.
I have a test in this class that is taught solely in Spanish this Wednesday. I'm expecting a solid "A."
Last week in Salsa i punched a girl in the face. We were learning a new step. I was really committed to the movements I was making and somehow my closed fist collided with this girl's cheek. Audibly hard. Aggressive. Impressed with my strength, appalled at my grace and dancing ability.
Friday night I went out with Stephanie, Jaime, and Jonathon to this DELICIOUS restaurant called Ojala. We ate downstairs and there was sand all over the floor and pictures projected on the walls of beach scenes. We sat on pillows on the ground and a low table with our feet in the sand. We had DELICIOUS tapas and mojitos and vino. They are SUCH funny guys! I impressed everyone with my new learned Spanish expressions that I just had a test over. "Hace buen migas" -we are good friends, basically- was my response for being late as always. We could write on the bathroom walls, so i indulged in that activitiy. Luego, fuimos a discotecha, Joy, and had an interesting night meeting Swedens, attempting to learn French, and watching dancers wearing diamonds and not much else in giant champagne cups onstage. I gave someone my autograph who swore I was his true love.
The next day it rained allll day and Stephanie and I went shopping. All i bought was socks, after hours of shopping. That's just really sad. My shoe broke so I was walking around barefoot the whole time. That is literally the 5th shoe that has broken this month. Luckily(?) I brought hundreds of pounds of luggage so that's not really a problem.
That night it was raining and so I confess to having my first "lame" night in Madrid. I went to Burger King and left with a beer to go (in a to-go cup from tap? Burger Kind beer wasn't bad?), bought ice-cream and Notting Hill, and sat in my bed listening to rain, eating my body weight in healthy food, and watching Hugh Grant. Now that I went to London and visited the Notting Hill area and the market that Grant lives by I recognized all of the places in the movie...
Rastro market Sunday morning did bad things to my wallet but great things to the people I will be giving gifts to upon my return. I DID buy black boots without heels for six euros and had to flat iron the tassles with my straightener so they didn't look like a wild animal (6 EUROS). Excellent purchase.
Tomorrow is a National Holiday in Spain celebrating when Columbus first set foot in America. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS. being American and all. I will most likely have celebrity status tomorrow.
I have a stalker at my gym. I believe he eats small children and has lost his neck somewhere. He follows me everywhere I go and breathes really loud. It's absolutely TERRIFYING. I'm missing running in the mountains by my lonesome. I would rather catch a rainstorm on a back road than someone's eye and body odor. My abdominales teacher recognizes me now and asks me how I am. I've reached "regular" status. Yes.
Fiesta tonight, discovering AMERICA tomorrow.
Friday, October 8, 2010
67 year old women can work it at clubs.
last night. My roomate Amy and I met up with our friends at Sol and went to our American Irish pub, Dubliners. We saw the dancers from Rock the Ballet, one of which I awkwardly got out of a date with. The gay dancers (half of the dancers are gay and half are straight. they have "drink-offs" and "dance-offs" between the two groups apparently) were pouty and glaring at us, I think for me standing up their friend.
The bathroom in one of the bars we went to had like seven chrystal chandeliers in it and the rest of the bar was decorated with hula hoops hanging from the cieling in an elegant manner? There were also dancers in wedding dresses and hats and gloves?
An older lady quite past her prime was dancing in the middle of the dance floor by herself at the first bar after Dubliners. Of course I was intrigued and made the sixty year old woman my dance partner for a few songs, who wouldn't have. Hilarious woman. She must be suffering through a terrible divorce and midlife crisis to have to get drunk at a club by herself.
I randomly met an Australian who said he recognized me from our gym becuase I'm the one that falls on treadmills. Will be haunting me for life.
Stephanie and I ended up at Joy, a four story discoteca, and I ran into Tomek. Tomek is the bouncer for club Orange, a place I went to Wednesday night. At the door I said I needed to go in right away to use the restroom, which I did, but then Tomek hunted me down and said I needed to pay. Legitametly I started crying (why?) and he felt bad and ended up paying for me.
I have three midterms this coming week, and I had my first one this past Wednesday. Classes are more geared toward applying information, like giving examples, using dialogues to explain theories or ideas. This is different than most classes I have taken where you are given a study guide and basically just memorize facts, places, dates, etc.
There was a metro strike this past week and many people didn't show up to school or work. Our senora warned us the night before the strike to be extremely cautious (I don't get organized strikes, what's the point?) and I was expecting riots all over the streets. I however was not affected whatsoever by the strike, and apparently a few metros were still running? I've been walking to and from school-that's about four miles round trip. "When I was girl I used to walk to school."
I am on the way to getting lung cancer, can't wait. It is KILLING me that literally everyone smokes and places don't restrict smoking. Cigarettes here are harsher and have less of a filter so when people casually blow it in my face I choke.
Coffee will be my nicotine of choice as falling asleep in Art History in Madrid is extremely easy when you have no idea what the teacher is saying in Spanish. I've taken to writing down words that I think she is saying and translating it at home. For this class I had to go to a museum, the San Isidro, and then write a paper on one of the works there (at least I think that's what she said?). I chose a mosaic from the Roman time period. The museum was in an adorable location, and so I wandered and stumbled upon a cathedral down the road, the San Francisco Cathdral built in the 16th century. I walked in the garden by it that overlooks part of the city. Gorgeous.
Dance class is going great. We learned this move in salsa where you shout "yogul," stomp, and then roll your body upwards towards your partner. It's a little provacative and awkward so everyone was cracking up the whole class. We also just started learning this one salsa dance where everyone is in a circle and they switch dance partners and we touch our butts together while rolling our hips all the way towards the ground (why yes, it IS as awkward as it sounds) and turn toward each other for kisses on the cheek and all these crazy fun moves. We have a performance in front of our school I believe at the beginning of December and Jill is going to be here to see it.
JILL IS GOING TO BE HERE. For a week. For Thanksgiving. My best friend is coming to see me in Europe. She flies in the same day that I get back from Ireland so we will be at the airport the same time. I just booked our flights to Paris the weekend she is here from Friday to Monday. How fantastic is life.
My senora and i bonded the other day when I broke our toilet by pulling the knob on top off. We fixed it, I don't even know how. She said she always cries when her girls leave to go back home after the semester. I think that will be the case again in December--we all get along so well with her! our adopted mama.
Going out tonight with Jaime and Jonathon to a restaurant on Gran Via. Yes I just did eat dinner, this will be my second. whatEVER, when in Spain.
The bathroom in one of the bars we went to had like seven chrystal chandeliers in it and the rest of the bar was decorated with hula hoops hanging from the cieling in an elegant manner? There were also dancers in wedding dresses and hats and gloves?
An older lady quite past her prime was dancing in the middle of the dance floor by herself at the first bar after Dubliners. Of course I was intrigued and made the sixty year old woman my dance partner for a few songs, who wouldn't have. Hilarious woman. She must be suffering through a terrible divorce and midlife crisis to have to get drunk at a club by herself.
I randomly met an Australian who said he recognized me from our gym becuase I'm the one that falls on treadmills. Will be haunting me for life.
Stephanie and I ended up at Joy, a four story discoteca, and I ran into Tomek. Tomek is the bouncer for club Orange, a place I went to Wednesday night. At the door I said I needed to go in right away to use the restroom, which I did, but then Tomek hunted me down and said I needed to pay. Legitametly I started crying (why?) and he felt bad and ended up paying for me.
I have three midterms this coming week, and I had my first one this past Wednesday. Classes are more geared toward applying information, like giving examples, using dialogues to explain theories or ideas. This is different than most classes I have taken where you are given a study guide and basically just memorize facts, places, dates, etc.
There was a metro strike this past week and many people didn't show up to school or work. Our senora warned us the night before the strike to be extremely cautious (I don't get organized strikes, what's the point?) and I was expecting riots all over the streets. I however was not affected whatsoever by the strike, and apparently a few metros were still running? I've been walking to and from school-that's about four miles round trip. "When I was girl I used to walk to school."
I am on the way to getting lung cancer, can't wait. It is KILLING me that literally everyone smokes and places don't restrict smoking. Cigarettes here are harsher and have less of a filter so when people casually blow it in my face I choke.
Coffee will be my nicotine of choice as falling asleep in Art History in Madrid is extremely easy when you have no idea what the teacher is saying in Spanish. I've taken to writing down words that I think she is saying and translating it at home. For this class I had to go to a museum, the San Isidro, and then write a paper on one of the works there (at least I think that's what she said?). I chose a mosaic from the Roman time period. The museum was in an adorable location, and so I wandered and stumbled upon a cathedral down the road, the San Francisco Cathdral built in the 16th century. I walked in the garden by it that overlooks part of the city. Gorgeous.
Dance class is going great. We learned this move in salsa where you shout "yogul," stomp, and then roll your body upwards towards your partner. It's a little provacative and awkward so everyone was cracking up the whole class. We also just started learning this one salsa dance where everyone is in a circle and they switch dance partners and we touch our butts together while rolling our hips all the way towards the ground (why yes, it IS as awkward as it sounds) and turn toward each other for kisses on the cheek and all these crazy fun moves. We have a performance in front of our school I believe at the beginning of December and Jill is going to be here to see it.
JILL IS GOING TO BE HERE. For a week. For Thanksgiving. My best friend is coming to see me in Europe. She flies in the same day that I get back from Ireland so we will be at the airport the same time. I just booked our flights to Paris the weekend she is here from Friday to Monday. How fantastic is life.
My senora and i bonded the other day when I broke our toilet by pulling the knob on top off. We fixed it, I don't even know how. She said she always cries when her girls leave to go back home after the semester. I think that will be the case again in December--we all get along so well with her! our adopted mama.
Going out tonight with Jaime and Jonathon to a restaurant on Gran Via. Yes I just did eat dinner, this will be my second. whatEVER, when in Spain.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
SO many activities...London Rubbish.
I don't even know where to start. First off, I am becoming so cultured and into history, which is so different. This trip to London, I felt like I walked straight into a tourist book and accomplished seeing and doing EVERYTHING. I was SO BUSY the entire trip wandering around London snapping memories left and right.
Stephanie and I flew into Luton airport Friday and had to take an hour train ride to our adorable tie dyed walls, bright colors everywhere, all girl hostel, seperate from other hostels under the same name. We were lugging our luggage around in the rain with umbrellas and coffee before we found the very laid back happening reception room with computers, young people, and a bar called Belushi's all encompassed into the joint. Free breakfast in the mornings. I like free, especially when pounds is the currency at hand.
Stephanie and I dropped off our stuff and began wandering around London. We walked over to london bridge, which isn't really that pretty. We wandered over to this cool looking building so close to our hostel and discovered it was the first gothic church built in London, the Southwark Cathedral built from 1220-1420. It was absolutely beautiful and all day Sunday its bells were ringing. We smelled food and wandered over to the Borough Market. People just kept giving us food samples, so that was fantastic. Everything from turkish delight (Narnia anyone?), Baclava, cheese, cake, oils, some dip that tasted like Colorado herb? We were full and continued walking.
...over to London Tower Bridge which is actually the bridge that everyone associates London with. It has two beautiful towers and even looked amazing through the persistant rain that kept me permanently wet the whole weekend. Right next to Tower Bridge is this ultra modern square with huge glass buildings styled with funky architecture. There are mini fountains built into the ground in this one area that periodically get taller. Water was everywhere.Walked across the bridge over the Thames River, bought a london umbrella, and went to London Tower. London Tower is old. Not super beautiful, but still cool to see becuase of all the history. Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Saw Traitor's Gate where Anne Boleyn entered through among other offenders.
Stephanie and I were walking trying to find St. Pauls Cathedral when my map blew away followed by my umbrella and as I was looking ultra touristy and graceful running around with my camera flailing Stephanie was asking IN ENGLISH for directions. There were many great things about London. Not only did they speak in English but BRITISH ACCENTS are the sexiest thing. and london men are beautiful. with their mouth closed (london:dentists wanted.) On our way to St. Pauls this woman had a fantastic umbrella, so I asked her where she bought it and then went to House of Fraser to buy the perfume that the umbrella came with as a free gift. When we finally got to the cathedral we snapped a few pics then sat down in front of the doors that were closed. A Japanese man came up and pointed to my now three umbrellas and asked me how much. I was offended at the thought of being an umbrella lady, but still shamelessly said ten pounds, very goo price for you?! nada.
We stopped in a pub and got the famous "fish n chips" that London has to offer while an Irish band played and excessive beer drinkers posed as entertainment.
After walking for so long my high heeled boots were doing awful things to my feet and the cobblestone streets were doing worse things to my boots. We unsuccessfully searched for some cheap flat shoes (210 pounds was the best offer) and proceeded to go to a pub crawl that our hostel put on. It started at eight, which seemed so early for night plans to start! Usually we haven't even eaten dinner at this time! How quickly I've adapted to the Spanish lifestyle. Everyone met in the basement for a little pre pub party and then we all went out. Almost accidentally committed a felony by not realizing I needed a ticket and casually walking through the tube doors. Would of made it but Stephanie was at that point in the night not as discreet and the cop explained that we were in the process of committing a crime. After apologizing profusely he showed us how to properly enter with a purchased ticket.
Started the next morning with walking through Green Park (saw Brits playing croquet in suits and sweaters-so posh) and went to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. CROWDED. Police men on horses everywhere. Large spectacle of guards in fuzzy black hats entered in, band played, they came out. GRAND spectacle. Steph and I got seperated so I met some fantastic people from Ireland, Australia, all over. I feel like my grandpa chatting up people everywhere I go-terrifying. I kept handing my camera to people who were closer to the gates than I so they could take better pictures for me. The band played fantastic music for about half an hour before their grand exit. someone fainted? i snapped a picture.
Stephanie and I wandered towards Trafalgar square and went inside the National Gallery for a minute. On our way we saw Piccadilly Circus, which basically has statues of people and some guards walking down the street that kept smiling at us, even though thats so unallowed-they were HILARIOUS.
We walked toward Big Ben- I thought it would be bigger but it was VERY cool to see. Parliament buildings.
Went into Westminster Abbey Cathedral-said a prayer inside. Enscripted on the wall outside of the entrance was "May God Grant:To the Living.Grace. To the Departed. Rest. To the Church and the World. Peace and Concord. And to us Sinners. Eternal Life."
We went to Camden market afterwards, bought too many fantastic items including vintage dresses and tassle black ankle boots. Some guy tried to buy me? Stephanie said I wasn't for sale?
Catie, my house mate from last year, her mom was in London with her sister, and so we met up at a pub for dinner and chatted for HOURS while having a delish meal complete with pudding cake and fantastic desserts. SO good to see a familiar face but bittersweet to part. I was incredibly homesick for one of the first times since I've been abroad. During our dinner these men in ridiculous outfits-Mario, Gorilla suit, etc- came in and apparently were part of a pub crawl. They were going to thirty bars and this was number twelve for them. Fantastic.
The next day we saw the Tate Museum-modern art is NOT my thing. Saw Picasso and Andy Warhol pieces. Couldn't understand any other works, so decided it was time to walk across Millenium bridge. Took the tube ("mind the gap" was written to caution people of falling in the tracks) to Oxford street-shopping capital. Window shopped becuase after Camden we were broke and got lost in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It wasn't raining! Beautiful. Green. Sculptures, monuments, Kensington Palace, fountains later we traveled to Notting Hill (just becuase of the Julia Robert's movie.) There really wasn't anything notably there it was just the name of the area. We ate at an Italian Restaurant overlooking the Thames River and Tower Bridge which is beautifully lit up at night. Our waiter was so cute and Hungarian and he kept telling us to talk to him becuase he loves American accents. He said he learned English from South Park and other shows and is infatuated with America. All the waiters kept stopping at our table and chatting us up and the food was incredible, the view was perfection.
We walked along the thames and met one of Stephanie's friends she knew who was living in London in a pub and had wine and chips. I was exhausted and just grateful to be sitting down. I only brought high heeled boots. I overestimated my feminine ability to walk miles upon miles in cobblestone streets. In rain.
We took the train and spent the night in the airport. There were actually a lot of people in comfy chairs, on the floor, everywhere just passed out. Party.
We went next to this little cafe and I put together four chairs. I drank a beer from the cafe and slept for a few hours only to get woken up by the cafe guy, "excuse me miss i need my chairs." never have felt more like a homeless person in my life, especially becuase I was in the same clothes for the past twenty four hours and showerless. Oh the traveling life of a college student.
carried my three umbrellas through check in but had to pawn one off on a romanian so i could make it through-stict luggage regulations. he was very nice and apparently had learned english from south park as well. good show to learn english?
i feel like i saw all of london. we were so busy, did so many things, i am utterly exhausted.
spain feels like "home" to an extent so it was nice to get home and fall asleep not on a bar chair....
Stephanie and I flew into Luton airport Friday and had to take an hour train ride to our adorable tie dyed walls, bright colors everywhere, all girl hostel, seperate from other hostels under the same name. We were lugging our luggage around in the rain with umbrellas and coffee before we found the very laid back happening reception room with computers, young people, and a bar called Belushi's all encompassed into the joint. Free breakfast in the mornings. I like free, especially when pounds is the currency at hand.
Stephanie and I dropped off our stuff and began wandering around London. We walked over to london bridge, which isn't really that pretty. We wandered over to this cool looking building so close to our hostel and discovered it was the first gothic church built in London, the Southwark Cathedral built from 1220-1420. It was absolutely beautiful and all day Sunday its bells were ringing. We smelled food and wandered over to the Borough Market. People just kept giving us food samples, so that was fantastic. Everything from turkish delight (Narnia anyone?), Baclava, cheese, cake, oils, some dip that tasted like Colorado herb? We were full and continued walking.
...over to London Tower Bridge which is actually the bridge that everyone associates London with. It has two beautiful towers and even looked amazing through the persistant rain that kept me permanently wet the whole weekend. Right next to Tower Bridge is this ultra modern square with huge glass buildings styled with funky architecture. There are mini fountains built into the ground in this one area that periodically get taller. Water was everywhere.Walked across the bridge over the Thames River, bought a london umbrella, and went to London Tower. London Tower is old. Not super beautiful, but still cool to see becuase of all the history. Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Saw Traitor's Gate where Anne Boleyn entered through among other offenders.
Stephanie and I were walking trying to find St. Pauls Cathedral when my map blew away followed by my umbrella and as I was looking ultra touristy and graceful running around with my camera flailing Stephanie was asking IN ENGLISH for directions. There were many great things about London. Not only did they speak in English but BRITISH ACCENTS are the sexiest thing. and london men are beautiful. with their mouth closed (london:dentists wanted.) On our way to St. Pauls this woman had a fantastic umbrella, so I asked her where she bought it and then went to House of Fraser to buy the perfume that the umbrella came with as a free gift. When we finally got to the cathedral we snapped a few pics then sat down in front of the doors that were closed. A Japanese man came up and pointed to my now three umbrellas and asked me how much. I was offended at the thought of being an umbrella lady, but still shamelessly said ten pounds, very goo price for you?! nada.
We stopped in a pub and got the famous "fish n chips" that London has to offer while an Irish band played and excessive beer drinkers posed as entertainment.
After walking for so long my high heeled boots were doing awful things to my feet and the cobblestone streets were doing worse things to my boots. We unsuccessfully searched for some cheap flat shoes (210 pounds was the best offer) and proceeded to go to a pub crawl that our hostel put on. It started at eight, which seemed so early for night plans to start! Usually we haven't even eaten dinner at this time! How quickly I've adapted to the Spanish lifestyle. Everyone met in the basement for a little pre pub party and then we all went out. Almost accidentally committed a felony by not realizing I needed a ticket and casually walking through the tube doors. Would of made it but Stephanie was at that point in the night not as discreet and the cop explained that we were in the process of committing a crime. After apologizing profusely he showed us how to properly enter with a purchased ticket.
Started the next morning with walking through Green Park (saw Brits playing croquet in suits and sweaters-so posh) and went to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. CROWDED. Police men on horses everywhere. Large spectacle of guards in fuzzy black hats entered in, band played, they came out. GRAND spectacle. Steph and I got seperated so I met some fantastic people from Ireland, Australia, all over. I feel like my grandpa chatting up people everywhere I go-terrifying. I kept handing my camera to people who were closer to the gates than I so they could take better pictures for me. The band played fantastic music for about half an hour before their grand exit. someone fainted? i snapped a picture.
Stephanie and I wandered towards Trafalgar square and went inside the National Gallery for a minute. On our way we saw Piccadilly Circus, which basically has statues of people and some guards walking down the street that kept smiling at us, even though thats so unallowed-they were HILARIOUS.
We walked toward Big Ben- I thought it would be bigger but it was VERY cool to see. Parliament buildings.
Went into Westminster Abbey Cathedral-said a prayer inside. Enscripted on the wall outside of the entrance was "May God Grant:To the Living.Grace. To the Departed. Rest. To the Church and the World. Peace and Concord. And to us Sinners. Eternal Life."
We went to Camden market afterwards, bought too many fantastic items including vintage dresses and tassle black ankle boots. Some guy tried to buy me? Stephanie said I wasn't for sale?
Catie, my house mate from last year, her mom was in London with her sister, and so we met up at a pub for dinner and chatted for HOURS while having a delish meal complete with pudding cake and fantastic desserts. SO good to see a familiar face but bittersweet to part. I was incredibly homesick for one of the first times since I've been abroad. During our dinner these men in ridiculous outfits-Mario, Gorilla suit, etc- came in and apparently were part of a pub crawl. They were going to thirty bars and this was number twelve for them. Fantastic.
The next day we saw the Tate Museum-modern art is NOT my thing. Saw Picasso and Andy Warhol pieces. Couldn't understand any other works, so decided it was time to walk across Millenium bridge. Took the tube ("mind the gap" was written to caution people of falling in the tracks) to Oxford street-shopping capital. Window shopped becuase after Camden we were broke and got lost in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It wasn't raining! Beautiful. Green. Sculptures, monuments, Kensington Palace, fountains later we traveled to Notting Hill (just becuase of the Julia Robert's movie.) There really wasn't anything notably there it was just the name of the area. We ate at an Italian Restaurant overlooking the Thames River and Tower Bridge which is beautifully lit up at night. Our waiter was so cute and Hungarian and he kept telling us to talk to him becuase he loves American accents. He said he learned English from South Park and other shows and is infatuated with America. All the waiters kept stopping at our table and chatting us up and the food was incredible, the view was perfection.
We walked along the thames and met one of Stephanie's friends she knew who was living in London in a pub and had wine and chips. I was exhausted and just grateful to be sitting down. I only brought high heeled boots. I overestimated my feminine ability to walk miles upon miles in cobblestone streets. In rain.
We took the train and spent the night in the airport. There were actually a lot of people in comfy chairs, on the floor, everywhere just passed out. Party.
We went next to this little cafe and I put together four chairs. I drank a beer from the cafe and slept for a few hours only to get woken up by the cafe guy, "excuse me miss i need my chairs." never have felt more like a homeless person in my life, especially becuase I was in the same clothes for the past twenty four hours and showerless. Oh the traveling life of a college student.
carried my three umbrellas through check in but had to pawn one off on a romanian so i could make it through-stict luggage regulations. he was very nice and apparently had learned english from south park as well. good show to learn english?
i feel like i saw all of london. we were so busy, did so many things, i am utterly exhausted.
spain feels like "home" to an extent so it was nice to get home and fall asleep not on a bar chair....
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