My Second Semana Santa in Spain

So, this Semana Santa was extremely relaxing and gratifying. Dan and I spent the entire break together...we changed our plans a bit as our hiking trip with Merche, Fernando and Jesus was canceled due to bad weather in the Picos (We missed hanging out with them, but no problem about the Picos, since we made up for it by hiking a ton in Asturias and we are also going to the Picos next weekend with our hiking group!)

So we went to Alicante and visited my host family, and how fun it was! Memories of Alicante and living with a host family for five months flooded back to me as I stood in their apartment building and rang the doorbell! It was so great to have Dan see where I lived and intimately know my life in Spain two years ago, which is what started this whole crazy journey in Asturias.

Before we went to my families house, we arrived late in Alicante (around 12 am), missed the bus to the city from the airport, and paid 25 euros or something for a taxi. Then, we walked through the city late at night to get to our couchsurfering host's apartment, which was absolutely incredible. His apartment, we discovered only the day before, is directly in front of Playa Postiguet. He was unbelievably generous and gave us his keys when we arrived. Literally, his keys. He couldn't find his second copy, so he literally gave us HIS keys. The kindness of strangers reminds you again and again that there is so much good in this world.

So, we had a little room to ourselves in his apartment, couldn't figure out how to use the sink which did not have the nozzle attached, so we brushed our teeth in the shower as he had gone to sleep right after we arrived and he showed us around.

We woke up early and went for a run around Alicante for about an hour, which was glorious. We ran through the main area of the city and then up towards my apartment and then back around to the beach. I was reminded how much I loved this place, but also, how I really believe Asturias, in general, is more beautiful than Alicante, and fits me better than Alicante did.

After our run, we went to the beach, sat for a while and tanned (TOPLESS! YAY. Oh how I missed it). Of course, we also bought some 40s and drink them on the beach for old-times sake. We took a dunk, "our shower," as the shower in Santi's apartment was more like a pathetic trickle of water, and went back to the apartment to change and get ready for lunch at my families.

We got to Alicia, Roberto, Andrea and Allie's house and it was so amazing to see them again. I felt almost like I'd never really left when I got there. They had a new student, Grace, and we all ate lunch together (without Andrea, who was in school). We discussed lots of things, from my time in Asturias, to what they've been up to, to various other topics. It was really so fun to see them again. We had a delicious meal of roasted chicken, tortilla de patata, tortilla de championes y alcachofa, pan de aceite and ensalada. It was all wonderful, and oh how I missed my madre's cooking. Dan and I then walked with Alicia and her sister, Raquel, to pick up Andrea from school and we chatted a bit more about our lives, got to the school, and found Andrea. I was FLABBERGASTED when I saw her. Her grandfather had said at comida that she was very beautiful and tall and so much older looking, and BOY, does he not lie. Two years had passed and Allie looked basically the same, but for an 8 year old, 2 years is like a lifetime. She is 10 years old now, the same height as her 14 year old sister, and has long curly hair. I remembered a small little crazy chica who jumped on my bed at 9 am while I was hungover and begged to play games with me. She looked at me in the school and seemed a little surprised herself, she didn't say much. It was really an experience which made me feel a lot older, haha!

That night, Dan and I met up with Grace, the new student, and we went to my favorite margarita place. It's so funny how all the same people were working there--the bald guy who Fama loved, the little Mexican dude. We had huge jarras of margaritas and a pina colada, and it was delicious. It made me think how much I really have changed while being in Asturias. It's unbelievable how much I used to drink while in Alicante and now, I could barely have more than 2 margaritas.

The next morning, we woke up early and met Raquel because we were all going hiking together at a place with a dam, a resevoir, and old roman steps. Dan and I had to hold Yaki, Raquel's dog who doesn't like driving in cars and throws up when he is nervous. That was pretty funny. The dog, luckily, on the way there, did not throw up.

The hike was gorgeous, we were gone for about 4 hours or so, ate comida at an old abandoned house at the top of the hill, took lots of photos, discussed many things such as nutrition in schools, and generally got to reconnect. It was then I discovered that I was their last student, Grace is the first one that they have had since me. That was pretty funny, they normally had a student every semester and every summer. Roberto said that after me, they were "contento" and didn't need another student, hahaha. In reality, it was because the boss of the placements had left CIEE and they were not in contact with the program for a good while.

We parted at the car and Raquel drove us back. It was so bittersweet leaving them, I felt like I was almost leaving my own family behind. I wished that we could have spent more time together and that our trip to Alicante wasn't so short, but alas, this really just provides me with another reason to keep coming back to Spain. Alicia said I am always welcome in Alicante and that her house is my house, so I will keep her word :)

After this hustle and bustle for two days straight, Dan and I went back to relax, had a scare over the plane tickets, went to Santi's to get them since we forgot them there, and laid out on the beach a little more before leaving. I was so nostalgic while in Alicante, I kept thinking about my time studying abroad whenever I saw American students on the beach, playing and chatting with friends. This has been the most amazing time in my life, here in Alicante and in Asturias, and I feel so lucky each day to have had such a life-changing experience living in another culture now for a total of one year of my life. (It will be a 14 months by the time I arrive back home on July 1). Spain will always, always hold a dear place in my heart. I feel as though it is one of my homes.

Dan and I got back to the airport and arrived in Santander late at night. Luckily we were able to couchsurf with our friends Manuel and Belen in Santander. We stayed up late in their living room with another couchsurfer (an auxiliar from Castilla la Mancha) and watched the Madrid vs. Barcelona soccer game. We chatted about various topics, mostly about teaching, as Manuel is a philosophy teacher. The next morning, we said goodbye to Belen (Manuel and the couchsurfer were not awake yet), were given sobaos by Belen (AAHH THANK YOU!) because Dan told her I fell in love with them after the first time we met, and were off to the beaches of Santander. We relaxed on the beach of danger (La Playa de Peligro) for a few hours, and then had the most delicious menu del dia of all time (a typical fabe stew of Cantabria and fish prepared in the Basque style). Dan had his paella, and he was happy!

We arrived back in Oviedo and rested a few days, went to Gijon, hiked the Senda del Oso (30 km-18.5 miles), oh how our feet hurt after hiking on pavement for 7 hours), hiked the Ruta de Cabo Penas with Ilee (had SMORES!!), hiked the Ruta de las Branas in Felechosa-Las Cuevas (thank god for well-marked trails!) and generally relaxed. On my birthday we went and got a menu del dia (fabada asturiana, escalopines al cabrales, vino, pan, postre) and then went to the Lupulo with Lissa, Koki, Alex, Pedro and Nacho. It was a really wonderful birthday but an even better week.

Now, back to the real world...I have one more day of teaching this week and then another long puente. Do I ever work? I think Dan, Lissa and I are going to do a long hike from Oviedo to Quiros (70 km), called La Ruta de San Melchor, a mini-pilgrimage. We were going to go to Sevilla for a road trip with Koki, Ilee and Hugh also but in the end plans changed because we would be driving for 8 hours of the day. We might still rent a rural house in Asturias for the weekend instead of hiking but as of now we are not sure what to do since we haven't gotten paid yet.

SOON...TENERIFE! Soon I will be on a beach, working on a farm, skydiving in the Canary Islands, hiking the tallest mountain Spain- a volcano. I'm so excited for Tenerife! Until then, I must teach for my remaining 15 days in the school (would be 18, but 3 of them I will be chaperoning trips with the kids for their gym classes...we will be going kayaking in la ria sella, hiking in Gijon and hiking around Lugones).

I'm definitely starting to get sad about leaving Spain (I still have two months left) I truly will feel as though a period in my life will be over once I arrive back in the states. I have decided that I will WWOOF throughout my entire life, I will take off time from my jobs (hopefully which are flexible), and go WWOOF in Asturias and other places in the world for extended periods of time. This way I will be learning more and more about gardening and sustainable agriculture while also saving money, practicing my Spanish and being immersed in another culture. Whenever I get sad, I need to just realize that I will be moving on to the next adventure in my life (Austin!) and will never lose my Spanish if I try to use it on a daily basis (at ICR, I will hopefully be conducting interviews this summer in Spanish, and of course I will speak in Spanish with Zahira.

I taught The Lorax this week for Earth Day. Truly a "cautionary tale," which sadly, still has meaning today. While watching it, I was reminded of recent environmental disasters, such as the BP oil spill. Have we learned anything in 30 years? Not quite sure. My favorite quote from the movie is the following...

I'll yell and I'll shout for the fine things on earth that are on their way out!

The kids really liked it too. Especially the humming fish and the bar-bo-lou suits. "I speak for the trees."

Hasta pronto!

After more than 5 months without a post...it's time.

So, I must say, I was inspired to blog again after seeing my friend Ilee's blog. It is such a wonderful idea, to have a travel blog, but I never stay motivated enough to write entries. I guess I have never been consistent and motivated about a journal, even in paper form. So, I will write whenever I feel like it...and today, I feel like it.

So much has happened since the last post. I will TRY to write some things...in quick format, for the day I look back on this and forget things, and so I can be surprised and smile at my little adventures and pleasures in life.

Dublin with Dan...our crappy hostel with the water issues (the maze-like shower, the dishes, the sink, the kitchen), the crazy Irish kids, Howth, Kilkenny with the crazy bus driver who sang "I want you Back," without stopping, bog bodies

London for a day and walking 12 miles and eating too much fish and chips, only to feel like I had blogged arteries.

Segovia (Alcazar!, aqueduct)

Madrid (2x, with Dan's family and for our puente, the lights in the plaza mayor, the mexican food every night, the cat's hostel, thyssen, nose piercing, tapas and beer and dunkin coffee (oh god, never again, pumpkin crepes with guac)

Barcelona (marathon, ran 20 miles, walked off course after 20 miles, hahaha, carnaval parade at our balcony, gaudi (la pedreda, the crypt, finca guell), crazy tampon man running with me during marathon, spinning outdoors, delicious vegetable tortillas)

Vetutsa....hiking in Arenas de Cabrales, conversations with Carlos and other members, hiking in Proza

The Lupulo!

Running a ton!! Training for the half marathon, the fuso!

Making lessons every weekend for the kiddies....working hard and getting frustrated a lot at them but also really loving everything I've learned from the job
(punctuality, flexibility, responsibility, improvisation, creativity, public speaking, giving directions, motivating and encouraging others, patience) The kids loving the chocolate chip PB cookies!! Pen pals with Hartford, 3A is my favorite class!

Getting REALLY into organic food and local farming...WWOOF in Tenerife for a month in June!!!

Days of getting bored of sitting around, poor

But days of loving our ability in live in Spain and speak Spanish and connect with others from another culture...and learn about ourselves and our culture in the process.

Aunt Vic and Naunie visiting...going to get cocktails, Naun getting drunk at every meal, Tierra Astur, Playa Aguilar, Naun getting dizzy in the cold water, and getting lost while trying to find the Playa del Silencio..I know why it's called the silent beach. Driving the car in Oviedo with Dan and not being able to park the car...hahahaha...Dan wanting whiskey and a cigarette.

Ilee's house and the big screen TV and youtube videos....late night bar night with Ilee with old men hitting on us and free beers!!!!

Fondue party, Thanksgiving, Pizza Party

Meeting Jesus and Merche...Lupulo every Thursday...PICOS!!! Semana Santa!

Jesus, Merche, Fernando, Dan=Someido, driving up the steep hill to the parking area, hiking in the freezing cold with no gloves, getting lost and not finding the trail markers, having a generally wonderful time, speaking Spanish all day, playing "el culo" and figuring out that it was the same as "asshole"

Lissa's apartment, meeting Koki at Ilee's and chatting tons about music! Ted Leo! 40 euros cab home from Gijon because buses suck.

Ron and his team at Tierra Astur!!!! Getting tons of great food, great conversation!! Seeing family.

Things I love about Spain:

Cheap beer
Cheap fresh fruit
Membrillo and burgos, casadielles, carbayones
Fresh fish
Sidra
Fabada
Beautiful landscapes
Taking your time, learning patience and to appreciate slowing down your pace in life
Not having a car
Being eco-friendly by not having a dishwasher, not having a clothes dryer, and no car
The food, the wine
The relaxed pace of life, I must reiterate it again.
The independence we have here.
Having Spanish roommates
Learning TONS OF SPANISH!!!
Being challenged by living in another culture, getting along with people from another culture, and realizing we really aren't that different at all.
Nothing open on Sundays. Nothing open 2-5. Forces you to relax.
Car rides with Laura, Oliva and Jose Luis back home from school. Time to chat, complain about the kids, and practice more Spanish.
My breaks during the day at school, time to read books and go online and write emails!
TONS OF TIME OFF!!!! SO MUCH TRAVELING.
Learning to live on a small salary.
Learning to live with a small group of friends. And starting from scratch.
Starting completely new....like a rite of passage.
Seeing progress in private lessons...Alfredo, Juan, Fahia, Carlos. Chatting with Alfredo in Spanish every week, and teaching English in Spanish..pretty crazy.
Learning about the kids I teach by teaching Fahia and Carlos one-on-one
Great clothes...Maximo Dutti, Zara, H and M
Candy stores
Cafe con leche
Pinchos...free pinchos all the time

Things I don't like about Spain:
No fans in the gym
No taking off of socks in Pilates classes....wtf
Nothing open from 2-5. Nothing open on Sundays...how do you get things done?
Crazy kids who dislike paying attention. But I think this is universal.
Feeling like a foreigner all the time.
People staring at you when you speak English. People staring at you for your accent.
Slow women and men on the sidewalk who don't move for runners.
Hard sidewalks.
Washing your dishes in the sink. They never get clean!
Shitty landlords who make up random rules as they see fit.
Candy stores
No second hand shops


I'm sure there are more things...I will add as I remember.

Things I miss about home:
Family
Friends
Buffalo chicken wraps
Second hand shops
Running through the forest
Large coffees
PAM
Whole Foods


UP NEXT....
ALICANTE...APRIL 14-16 (visit with Alicia, Roberto, Andrea and Allie!)
PICOS...4 days, with Fernando, Merche and Jesus!
SEVILLA ROAD TRIP...with Ilee and Lissa!!
NUDE BEACHES IN ASTURIAS...PLAYA DE SILENCIO....BEACHES EVERY WEEKEND! HIKING LOS LAGOS WITH VETUTSA....(MAY)
TENERIFE- JUNE!!! WWOOF
HOME! COMING HOME PARTY!
WORKING AT ICR JULY----NOVEMBER
MOVING TO AUSTIN!!!


Will write soon!

SPAIN PART 2: My life como una profesora!!

HOLA TODOS DESDE ESPANA!

I am in Spain...once again! I am living with Daniel, who is taking classes and learning tons of Spanish. It's funny, I just figured out how to use this blog again. I forgot my login name but it was so easy to figure it out. I read some of my blog from Alicante (1 1/2 years ago) and was inspired to write again. This time, I'm in Asturias, only an hour or so away from the Picos de Europa, where I hiked for a week when I was last in Espana. It's a lot more my cup of tea than Alicante---mountains, green rolling hills, etc. Absolutely stunning scenery. We went hiking once so far...but we will make sure to go again soon. Dan and I went to get our NIEs today which was a pain but worked out in the end. Spanish bureaucracy, aaahhhhhh!!

Some highlights so far:
Finding Flying Dog IPA down the street from us in the coolest bar in Oviedo
Gijon!! Shitshow. Siempre.
Hiking with Jorge, Lissa and their friends, the mountain hut and the mystical flute!!
My gym, because I love it. Pilates, pool, etc. And I'm getting back in shape! Yay!
Recreo (break) with the teachers in school- all smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee in the quick 25 minute break, hahaha
Opening up a bank account, getting my NIE, generally doing things that require a very high level of communication. My Spanish is improving so much!
Dinner with Lara and Felix, Dan's birthday with Lara and Felix---our Spanish roommates!!
7 course cena with Carlos, Felix, Lissa, Jorge
Our "fondue party"
Walks around the city with Dan
Cangas de Onis- caving!!! Hiking los lagos, Covadonga!
Llanes with Dan, los cubos de la memoria, the beautiful beaches



I am living in Oviedo, Asturias, teaching 12-16 year olds English in an instituto secundario. It is quite fun, yet can be a pain as some of the children are difficult. Some just can't sit still. I am grateful that I had some experience in Hartford this summer for six weeks teaching 30 kids. It helped enormously. Despite the jobs challenges (I do not have a degree in education), is very rewarding as I am constantly challenged creatively.

Overall, my life, right now, consists of the following:

private lessons, preparing for lessons, going to the school and working/teaching, going to the gym. I have done lessons in the classroom on some interesting things: Jonny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, Thanksgiving, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, we also carved a pumpkin, the Monster Mash, Connecticut, Vermont, idioms/sayings, etc. I gave them a survey in the beginning to see what they wanted to learn and of course holidays, food, music, movies, etc. I am showing American Teen to the older kids (15-16) right now and we are discussing it. I am also going to show Supersize Me soon to the same group after American Teen is finished. I hope to do a lesson soon on the National Parks.

Oviedo is absolutely beautiful. Right now the mountains in the distance are covered in snow. Film festival in Gijon this weekend so Dan and I are going to make sure we spend all day in the movie theater. We are also having a Thanksgiving potluck with some of our friends this weekend! Thank god, I want stuffing so badly!


Will make sure to post things in this blog....Espana parte dos!! I will definitely start posting funny things that occur during the day with the kids!

(Salamanca, Toledo, Madrid, Dublin to follow soon!)

Granada= tan bonita!, ahora voy al camino de santiago!!

So...I haven't gotten the chance to write for a while because my computer was broken again...the cord stopped working and then the internet switch wasn't turned on so I haven't been using the computer for about two weeks or so at my homestay. Anyways, now it's working so I am able to update in the blog! A TON has happened since I last wrote, however, so now I need to catch up a lot. So basically...the weather has been strange in Alicante, always changing. But two weekends ago it was beautiful outside and I went windsurfing/kayaking/surfing in San Juan!!!! It was so fun!!! I went by myself and ended up meeting two really nice German girls and hungout with them. The view from San Juan is incredible, you can see the mountains that we can see in Alicante only they are SOOO much closer...the beach is nice too, it's really big and really clean. Thank god they gave us wetsuits, I was so worried they weren't going to! They took a bunch of pictures of us but I haven't gotten any of them yet (they had a water proof camera!!). Sea kayaking was my favorite by far...when you caught a wave it was so intense because the wave would push you so far up shore...you went so fast! It was still my favorite even though I fell off the last time I tried it and the kayak hit me in the ear (right on my piercing...OUCH). It hurt a ton but we were done anyways so we all just put our gear away after being in the water for around three hours...I was EXHAUSTED!! Windsurfing was extremely hard, I actually never really got to windsurf because it was too difficult to get the sail up and balance on the board! Regardless, it was a really fun time and I'm so glad that I went- it only costed 20 euros too! It was so worth it.

So after that day I actually went out to the barrio, then skipped my first class during last week because I stayed out until 5 o'clock on a Wednesday...but it was okay because we were going to Granada the next day with school and I haven't missed any classes yet and don't plan on it because I scheduled all my trips around class (we have 2 unexcused absences per class). So I've definitely been living it up, that's for sure.

Granada was spectacular- there is no other way to describe it. The Alhambra, the Moorish palace, was INCREDIBLE...I will put up a ton of pictures of it. The Alhambra also has Christian infulences as it was taken by the Christians after the conquest over the Moors...actually, Washington Irving lived in the Alhambra for a little while. Napolean's troops also destroyed parts of the Alhambra but they have since then been renovated. The Alhambra was by far the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my entire life. The entire palace smelled amazing, the gardens were incredible...flowers of a myriad of colors-red, yellow, pink, white, etc. While in Granada I bought some coasters from the gift shop that they had in the Alhambra...they are for our apartment, girls! They are made of little pieces of wood that are in an intricate design and covered in lacquer after they're put together in one design...they're BEAUTIFUL. I also bought a million other gifts for people in Granada. However, I also got my first masage!!! Jess and I really wanted them so we found a place that had them for 1 hour for 33 euros...it was so relaxing. At the end I really couldn't handle it anymore because it started tickling soo much, hahah. At night we went to a discoteca which was a great time, got in trouble at the hotel because some people were being too loud (what else is new, haha) and stayed out until around 6 AM. We also went and saw a flamenco show at a "tabalo" in a cave in Granada...it was so exciting, I loved it. Flamenco, I didn't realize until recently, it extremely improvised...the dancers follow the rhythm of the guitar and their own feelings. The shoes of the Flamenco dancer are like another instrument, it is so fun to watch. You can't help but smile at the dancers, their passion is infectious. "The unmistkable rhythm of flamenco is created by the guitar. Just as important, however, is the beat created by hand-clapping and by the dancer's feet in high-heeled shoes..." I absolutely love flamenco singing and am going to buy a CD by Camaron de la Isla before I leave (the most famous contemporaryh cantaores- flamenco singer). I tried flamenco with Aranxta but failed miserably, it was fun but the dancing isn't for me really- maybe I'll try the singing instead :) Or even better, the guitar!

This week I studied a lot for my exams and prepared for the Camino de Santiago...I leave TOMORROW at 8 AM!! I am SO EXCITED! I'm going to bring my bota that I bought in Granada..I bought some vino tinto from La Rioja that I'm going to fill it with. I leave for Rome the 18th with Fama but I will make sure to write in the blog when I get back on the 16th from the Camino. I will have TONSSSS of pictures!!!!!!!!!! QUE EMOCIONATE!

Last night I went to the procession of Semana Santa (holy week) in Alicante..they have processions every day for the week that are hours long and consist of a snail's pace walking, KKK looking costumes (but in different colors- red, yellow, green, purple, white..., etc...however, the KKK is actually aganist Catholics because they were associated with immigration and the KKK is xenophobic, so the costumes have no real connection to each other at all- just a coincidence, although it's a creepy one at that), candles, insence, little kids in KKK costumes, cruxifices, and ENORMOUS figurines that around 30 people carry on their shoulders...a crying Virgin Mary, Jesus on the cross, etc. It was sooo interesting, I loved it. I want to go to one tonight again because tonight is supposedly the biggest night but I am sooo tired and have to wake up early tomorrow for the bus at 8 for Galicia. We'll see...

Will update soon! Hasta luego!

oh PS- I found out that I got rehired for my job with the Female Condom study in Hartford!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy!!! It's going to be a paid internship and hopefully I'll be able to continue practicing my Spanish with the job! I will probably be living with Alex in Woodhaven for the summer- it's going to be such a fun time, can't wait to get back home and hang out with everyone! Miss and love you all dearly!!

Las Fallas in Valencia, Mallorcan Adventure

So this week was pretty crazy...Tuesday was St. Patty's day, 4 euro beer for 2 1/2 hours free refills at Carpe Diem...then had to get up for the bus to go to Valencia at 9 o'clock at the hotel...so I got about 4 hours of sleep. My alarm didn't go off but luckily I got up in time still! School planned a trip for Las Fallas in Valencia on Wednesday. Las Fallas is a fiesta in Valencia (we have one just like it in Alicante in July called "Las Hogueras") where the years figures are made into figurines by artists. The artists work in secret during the year and they are then revealed to the thousands of people who come to the fiesta during the two weeks (mas o menos) that it lasts. The figurines are typically satirical and poke fun at the years events. I was so excited to go but going out at night ALMOST killed my motivation...I was so tired that I almost wasn't going to go...I was sitting with my madre and sister contemplating the worth of going to see the figurines in Valencia for Las Fallas...eventually I came to a realization- why WOULDN'T I go!! I was crazy if I didn't go. So, despite my exhaustedness, I bolted out of the door after eating some cereal and literarly ran down the stairs, luckily caught the bus in time near my house, and literarly ran off of the bus to the hotel. It ended up waiting for probably like 20 minutes for other people doing some last minute stuff, haha. I'm very, very glad that I went, however, despite feeling like I was going to die on the two hour bus ride to Valencia. During the day, Annie, Jess and I walked around Valencia and visited the cathedral- went to the top and got an amazing view of the city, tried some calbacin fried dough things which were DELICIOUS and I guess are typical of the fiesta...also saw the Mesclata, the insane firecracker show that is part of Las Fallas, it was one of the coolest things I've ever heard probably...the noise was deafening and sounded pretty much like a battle, but a little like a song too. It was very interesting, something I've never experienced before. After it we were all wondering, "why did they do this during the day?" There were some fireworks, but us Americans are used to fireworks/firecrackers at night time, Fourth of July style. I enjoyed how it was different and something that we're not accustomed to. After that we bought some of the typical plaid scarfs that everyone was wearing...there were TONS of people in Valencia at this time, so different than when we visited for the aquarium earlier in the semester. We also saw this beautiful flower arrangement of the Virgin Mary, it was spectacular...the flowers smelled heavenly and looked gorgeous. There were so many orchids!!! I was in love. After walking around the city and hearing the earsplitting fireworks, we went to get my first fancy comida in Spain. I normally want to save money because I've already spent something insane like 3,000 dollars so I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to save money now (which means definitely NOT going out during the week, six euro cab ride from the barrio every time!!). So we got a delicious meal for 18 euros- a starting plate of different meats/sausages, main course of paella Valenciana (with conejo=rabbit, decadent), and a desert- nata con fresa (cream strawberry cake type thing). It was scrumptious. Going home, we saw a bunch of the Alicantinas, women and men dress up in typical Spanish dress in Las Fallas and Las Hogueras in Alicante...they look so beautiful and parade through the streets. I believe that one is picked to be a "Miss Alicante/Valencia" type award. The bus ride home was hilarious, we all talked the entire way since there was a small group going back home because a lot of people stayed in Valencia to see the figurines burned. Jess and I took silly pictures and had a bunch of belly laughs. I got home around 8 and went to sleep after packing because I had to get the plane for Mallorca with Annie and Michelle at 6 o'clock in the morning.

Mallorca was stunning. We had such a fun time there...we got to the hotel, which was really nice for 14 euros a night! We each had our own bed which was a plus. When we got to the hotel, at 7 in the morning, we went straight to bed until about 10:00...got some lunch (an amazing WHEAT baguette...no one eats wheat bread in Spain apparently from what I've noticed thus far...sobrasada- a typical Mallorcan sausage, said it was spicy but of course it wasn't...and some cheese...and of course a bottle of vino) and sat on the beach, which was like a 5 minute walk from our hotel. It was so relaxing and tranquil...I collected some cool shells on the beach to put in my "memory bag" of Spain (I would say scrapbook, however, I know I won't have enough energy to actually make a scrapbook, since I still have a bag full of stuff from my first European tour with Allie). After leisurely eating and enjoying our amazing lives, we went to Palma on the bus and found out we couldn't go to the Cathedral because it was closed. Instead, we got a coffee and ensaimada (typical Mallorcan pastry, as fine as "horse hair" and azucar as the cab driver old Annie and I prior to coming to Mallorca, hahaha: they had no relation to horse hair and were tasty...checked on wikipedia and I guess they're made of flour, water, sugar, eggs, dough and pork lard?-which is only used on the island ...you can buy ensaimadas in Alicante but they're not the same as my family says) , relaxed some more, bought some GALOUISES- (that's for you, Al!! Some coming your way!!) and got on a bus to Valldemossa. It is a little village in the mountains of Mallorca...the ride there was gorgeous and so was the village. All of the little apartments had green shutters and doors and ceramic painted plaques of religious scenes outside of the doors, the village had cobblestone streets and a monastery where Chopin lived for a winter. The monastery was really interesting and had an apothecary, library, contemporary art museum with artwork by Miro, one of Chopin's pianos and some sheet music, and little gardens with amazing views of the mountains, village and ocean in each cell. After hanging around in Valldemossa, fearing we were going to miss the bus and get stuck there for the night, we went back to the hotel and went to sleep because we were basically dead from waking up so early and staying out on Tuesday for St. Patty's.

Waking up early on Friday, we got some breakfast (some German bread- the same kind that the German exchange students ate on the Grand Canyon trip, Al!!...) yogurt, apricot jam and fruit...got on the bus to go to Palma, got some coffee, and went to Porto Cristo for the Las Cuevas del Drach (The Dragon Caves). They were an hour and a half away and were probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my entire life. During the end of the tour, we watched a classical music concert in an ampitheatre in the cave by boats rowing through one of the largest underground lakes in the world- Lake Martel. There were three boats lit up on the sides...one had an organ, I believe, violins and other instruments on it, the other two followed the main one. They played two songs and then we got a chance to go on the boats through the caves across to the other side, where we walked a little bit further towards the exit. It was absolutely outrageous and completely worth the ten euro entrance fee. The book about them I bought after going through the tour gives a lot of information about them. They were " formed in tertiary lands miocenic limestone faults. The filtration of water bearing lime carbonates has created incredible wonders: thousands of stalacites and stalagmites, hundreds of columns, enormous calcerous massifs, creating a subterranean landscape unique to the world, where human fantasy vanishes in ecstasy..." They were first fully explored in 1896 by Edward Alfred Martel...he discovered a main part of them...however, "The first written news we have about the existence of these caves is probably a declaration of 1338 from the island Govenor, Roger de Rovenach, to the Mayor of Manacor, asking him not to impede Bernat Gatell, who, together with a group of men, wanted to explore the caverns..." Also, "During the excavations in 1951, a large amount of Talaiotic, Punic, Roman, Arab and Almoravid ceramics were found in this settlement (a prehistoric settlement not far from the outside of the entrance) which proves the knowledge and use of these caverna approx. 3,000 yrs ago...Also, in 1878, inside the cavern, was found a small Arab vase (11th century?) and...a roman chandelier." Basically, the caves are extremely intruiging and I felt like I was in a Fraggle Rock episode the entire time I was there. My only qualm (could there really be any?) was the lack of a lightshow (besides the caves being dark except for the nights on the boat during the concert, and after the music faded, the cavern of the lake lit up gradually). I was expecting a crazy, trippy lightshow advertised in the other caves in Porto Cristo that we didn't have time to visit. That REALLY would have been like Fraggle Rock. I half expected Red or Mokey to jump out from one of the rocks, haha.

After the caves, we went back to Palma, got some dinner at the Mercadona (more bocadillos, taking advantage of the pan integral), ice cream and coffee, and went back to our neighborhood near the hotel. We went to some German Cuban bar, told them we were Canadian for some reason, and got some drinks. I tried my first mai tai, it was delicious! Annie had her first mojito, which was also "genuine," as the promoter outside told us they use "real" alcohol...as opposed to fake...haha. After getting a drink and trying the typical Mallorcan herbal anise alcohol on the house, we went back to the hotel and woke up at 4:30 for our flight back home.

I bought an ensaimada in the airport for my family, and coming home, I was suprised to hear from my sisters that it is my madre's birthday today! How perfect! I gave it to her and she told me that when she went to Mallorca she didn't even try an ensaimada!! She was really happy, which made me feel really good since she's been going through a lot of stress lately about my sister's health situation. I tried to sleep a little bit but only could for about a half hour and skyped with a tipsy Allie for over an hour, hahah, which was very comforting.

Now some pictures...

First Real Beach Experience in Alicante!!

This weekend has been great so far! On Friday, I went to Orihuela with some friends...it was really nice to get away from Alicante and see another place in the provience. Orihuela is only one hour away on train and is really beautiful. There we saw two churches, a river and lots of old buildings. When we first arrived, we bought some bread, cheese, juice boxes and two large plastic jugs of white wine. We went to the park to eat/drink our feast (two hours later...), saw some CIEE people on a field trip for art class, got harassed by homeless people jealous of our gluttony. We walked around the city for a while and then went home listening to music the whole way and missed our stop at Alicante. We got off in Elche and there was no train station to be seen....but luckily Stephanie knew where she was kind of and we got back on the C6 and went to the Alicante airport and got dropped off near her house! Then after eating pizza hut we went to a bunch of Erasmus kids house from Canada, which was a really good time.

Yesterday we went to the beach for the first real time!! This means that I actually wore my bathingsuit...a little better than the first time/first day of being in the ocean/being in Alicante (this was January...) hahaha...but a wonderful memory nonetheless. Anyways then we met with my intercambio, Sara, who actually lives right next to me! It's so perfect!! I think it might be fate that we met, haha. I saw her in the Oficina asking Beatrice for an intercambio and I heard her and told her that I don't have one either! So after my attempts at intercambio with other people haven't worked out, now I have one that lives 3 minutes away from the hospital! (I'm like 7-8 minutes away walking). So we're going to meet on Monday to practice speaking. I'm really excited for it, I think having an intercambio will really improve on my Spanish. Especially since my family is having some issues right now because my little sister is in the hospital for kidney problems...we haven't been talking at all really because they're always gone. I feel so horrible for them, but she is getting better so I think it's okay.

Last night Stephanie and I made another feast this time with leftover "salsa garbanzo," hot dogs filled with cheese...(?) on croissants (hahah) and calzones. Oh, and I squeezed my first glass of fresh orange juice!!! (With pulp). Then I got a tour of her house and photos of the familia and we attempted to use the tv box for movies but eventually failed and watched a documentary on sex and some Spanish music videos. I was exhausted from the night before so I went home and went to sleep early. It was a good decision because now I'm rested, going to head to the beach for a little, do a lot of work and go for a run. I went on the most amazing run a few days ago and realized that I live like 15 minutes running away from the beach in another direction...I think I'm going to start doing this run because it's more scenic than the others I've tried. (I run alongside the boardwalk at the beach also here).

So I've decided I'm going to get a tattoo here on the top part of my back, nearer to my neck. I've known I want to get the scallop shell of the Camino, which lines the routes and guides pilgrims. It is traditionally a symbol of the camino and pilgrims wear them as necklaces or on their backpacks as a sign to other people that they are a pilgrim. It also had practical purpose in the middle ages during the camino and in the nearer past because it was used as a receptacle for water and food. Even the poorest villager could donate something to the pilgrim because of its small size. Also, there are various legends of St. James and the scallop shell, it is intertwined with the miraculous nature of his apperances in times of distress and trouble. My favorite meaning of the shell, however, is the metaphor of the shape. The many lines of the shell, parallel to the many routes of the camino, all come together at one common point, or Santiago de Compostela. This can also be interepreted as the many different people who do the Camino for all different reasons (let them be spiritual, touristic, necessary for recuperation of health, etc.) all come together for this one adventure and journey. It, and religion as a whole, is a way to unite people, encourage solidarity, understanding and tolerance of those different than you because all these people are placed together for one same reason. Even despite their differences, they all have some desire to complete this journey for the betterment of themselves and their outlook on life. For all, the act of walking throughout small villages in Spain without many distractions encourages contemplation and self-reflection. I think I've determined what my tattoo is going to say...(underneath the scallop shell is going to be this phrase, "Solvitur ambulando" in Spanish instead of Latin- but only if it can translate properly). This is a Latin proverb which means, "It is solved by walking." Here's a little summary that I found online of the meaning/meanings...

"It is normally assumed to refer to a solution to Zeno's Paradox: the problem of motion that Zeno poses, particularly in the formulation of the arrow that infinitely often has to traverse the first half of the previous distance, seems to show that it is impossible even to begin to move.
There is a story that another philosopher in Zeno's class was listening to him explain this, and at this point got up and left. Zeno, taken aback at this rudeness, asked him what he was doing. "Refuting you."
If it was Augustine of Hippo some eight hundred years later who coined the Latin aphorism, then he was either retelling this story or at least re-offering this solution. You can dispose of a problem with words by experiment, by actually going out and doing something instead of endlessly turning over the words.

I found another use, in amidst a lot of Christian argumentation (Moule 1890), where the writer said solvitur ambulando cum Deo, "it is solved by walking with God"; but no precedent was given, so I don't know if he was just expanding it off his own bat or had a genuine precedent for this expansion. This is quite another meaning: walking in the path of righteousness, putting yourself in God's hands, and so on. Nothing to do with Zeno's problem of motion, or the refreshment of the outdoors."


So...for myself I think all three meanings are very insightful. First, I think many things in life are solved by proceeding with them based on your past experiences...utilizing the knowledge of what situations you have been in before help you understand your current situation. Also, things are learned best when they are experienced first hand. This has a lot to do with my walk on the camino, learning about the camino and then actually going on it and experiencing it "in the flesh" is the most engaging and powerful way to learn about something. This way you can appreciate it and actually understand it on a higher level.
Also, walking or running are, for me, the best way to expel energy and feel renewed. After I go for a run, I feel renewed, refreshed, revitalized. It really does give you time to feel the weight of your body, sort of a type of meditation- the constant, comforting repetition, the realization that your body alone can take you from place A to place B with ease. It also gives you a chance to experience- I've started to use running here in Alicante as a way to explore my neighborhood. If I didn't run to them I most likely wouldn't even see all of the cool things I've seen so far near where I live (mansions, little barrios, etc).
Also, since the camino is a religious pilgrimage I think the last interpretation of the quote really speaks to me as well. I may not be religious in the typical fashion, but I do believe in spirituality and giving and preaching kindness to others. I really do believe in the golden rule and being a good person throughout your life. Life is too short and too precious to waste it being rude to other people, each person you meet will help shape you in some way, even if small. These people, as a whole, have a lasting impact on you, your beliefs and the way you handle situations. I think that even the negative experiences can help shape you into a positive person...what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger..."pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." It is important to maintain a positive outlook on life even despite the negative situations that are bound to occur- be kind, generous and understanding even despite conflicts, because in the end you will learn from these situations and be a stronger person because of not allowing negative situations to destroy you.
So, basically, this quote and the camino shell together symbolize a kind of journey, a path, a pilgrimage, to the understanding of one's purpose in life, one's reason for being on earth. It's something I've contemplated and tried to understand. I don't think that humans can know any real reason for being here besides the fact that we are supposed to experience, live, gain knowledge on new situations by being an open person and a person willing to learn and fail in the process of learning. We are here, in my understanding, to learn from one another and to open ourselves up to others who appear to be different than us. The scallop shell of the Camino de Santiago will guide you, showing you the correct path to proceed with throughout your life- one of humility, tolerance, self-reflection, and virtue.

Hike, Bullfight

This weekend was one of the best in Alicante. Thus, I have decided to start a blog partly for this reason and also because I'm getting sick of writing everything to my family a million times! I have to give credit to Quinn and Bill for inspiring me to start one. Here everyone can see what I've been up to! I can also post pictures more easily because facebook doesn't load them for some reason through my internet in my homestay. Typing is also much easier than writing in the journal, so I'll save it for the most important events. Here I'll try to write a few times a week for everyone to see what's been going on in "mi vida espanola."

Friday I climbed the castle with Michelle and met this guy who was from Tennessee living in England. He was on a trip, solo, biking across Europe. He had been robbed in Morocco and was planning on making it to Poland. Very ambitious I must say, a little crazy for going by himself but interesting nonetheless. Michelle and I brought him to the Mercado Central so he could check out all of the fresh fish, fruit, cheese, etc. I think he enjoyed it. We parted afterwards and he decided he needed to find a hostel to stay at since the wind was too strong for him to sleep outside, (as he had been doing up until that point because of money issues).

Afterwards, went back and ate lunch with my madre and her padre...we ended up talking about looting archaeological artifacts from sites and other random things, including superstitions surrounding archaeological artifacts (in particular, a sword from the Moors that her husband's friend had found and was afraid was going to rise up and kill his family..so he kept it locked away in a box in his country house...) My Spanish is obvisouly improving so much, I am very excited about it.

Later I stayed in for the night after going to the beach with Jess and Michelle, drank a bottle of bubbly and walked around the explanada (I believe that's correct, hahaha)...bought gifts for people at home! After that I was exhausted and decided to go to bed early because of the HIKE on Saturday...

The HIKE WAS AMAZING!!! It was probably one of the most beautiful places I'd ever been to before in my life. I absolutely had to sign up for the hike because last semester while I was looking up places to go hiking around Alicante, I found a beautiful picture of a cave with dangling brush, overlooking the ocean. I made the photo (courtesy of google) my background for the semester! When I saw the flyer for the hike I freaked out and had to go!! It was spectacular! You had to crouch down and climb through this really small tunnel to get to the view that I had as my background...you could see all of Benidorm and other places along the coast, it was such a breaktaking view.

Today I went to a bullfight...it was definitely a cultural experience to say the least. It truly is as Hemingway said, describing the matador, "...sin embargo, causaba verdadera emocion...conservaba la absoluta pureza de lineas en sus movimientos y siempre permanecia tranquilo, calmado..." ("however, causing truthful emotion, conserving the absolute purity of lines in his movements and always remaining tranquil, calm...", something along those lines). It really is a dance between bull and man...however, I want to learn the actual truth of bullfights. People have been saying that the picadors put "venero," or poison in the tips of the lance. People eat the meat of the toro after the bullfight so this couldn't be possible...I asked Raquel and she explained to me that they put salt on the bull before it goes out into the ring so it hurts them more when they get stabbed. Then, I read online that the bull is locked in a dark room for 24 hours and drugged before it goes out into the bullring...also not true, as my family explained they are only in the room for a few hours before the fight. I really want to look more into bullfights and sort out fact from fiction...I'm just confused and feel as though I can't really appreciate it fully until I actually know what's going on exactly. Otherwise, I'm very glad I went even though at first it was brutal and gory. I became more used to it by the 6th bull, however, the matador didn't kill it until the 6th time it tried to stab it with the lance. That was a little disturbing. It's best when they kill them quickly so they are not suffering immensely.

This week is going to be tough, I have all of my midterms on Wed, Thurs and Fri. I will be studying a lot...this weekend is also the last one I will have in Alicante until our last weekend in Alicante! After this weekend I'm going to Valencia, Mallorca...then Toledo, then Granada, then Spring break (Camino de Santiago! and Rome!!), then my family comes to visit...then Barcelona with some of my friends! After that weekend we have one more weekend (my last in Alicante!) and finals!!! Time is flying by, I can't even believe that it's already half way through the program. I want to cherish every moment and I try my hardest to, but it's so hard to FULLY appreciate something when you are in the moment. I know already that I'm going to miss Spain so much and want to come back and live here (what I said after Barcelona, also..)

After the program I hope to still continue learning Spanish via speaking, as I'm going to be working on an organic farm in Murcia through WWOOF for a week and then going hiking for a week in the Parque Nacional del Picos de Europa...(the largest national park in Spain...GORGEOUS). I am sooooo excited for the hiking trip, I can't wait to see the countryside of Spain since I'm living here in the city. I am happiest when I am immersed in nature and I know I will be living in complete bliss during the Camino de Santiago trip as well as the Picos trip.
I'm really happy that I am staying in Spain for most of my time here and that I'm going to be able to experience all different parts of the country (Galicia, Pais Vasco, Asturias, Cantabria, Valenciana, Castilla La Mancha, Andalucia, Murcia, Cataluna, Baleric Islands)...it's exactly what I wanted to do with my time studying abroad. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity and every day can't even believe that I'm actually living in Spain, living a Spanish life. I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who supported me in my decision to study abroad and who helped me in any way because it is truly the best thing I have ever done in my life. I am gaining so much knowledge on not only another culture and life itself, but also on who I am as a person. It has been an enormous learning experience and every day I am gaining more knowledge on something new.


I wish I started this blog earlier...

:)


Hasta manana!