Just so you guys know, it is incredibly difficult to motivate one's self to do any form of homework while studying abroad. In fact, its just about impossible. At least that's how I feel about it today. No worries, I just brewed a spot of coffee, it usually does the trick, I just need to take off the elastic band, slap the fore arm a bit and clean the needle and I should be good to go (bad joke?)
"La Manera Natural" or "The Natural Way" is how I feel about being in Europe right now. You know, before I came over, I was expecting to feel anxious or worried about coming to Spain and being here for a year. I thought I wouldn't get much sleep the night before my flight and I often wondered how badly I would be shaking before getting off the plane in Madrid. But you know, I didn't have any of these feelings. I simply packed half my wardrobe (only 100 lbs worth of clothes, nbd), grabbed lunch with my parents at my favorite restaurant in Charlotte (The Flying Biscuit... which I will be eating there at least 5 times while I'm home) drove the airport, said goodbye (shockingly sobless), jumped on the plane and that was it. From then on, everything just felt like that was how it was supposed to be. No if's, and's or but's about it. Maybe it was from all the preparation with the visa and times in my drrrummming classes back at App when I'd get these rushes of adrenaline thinking, "holy poop, I'll be in Europe in like 6 months." I really don't know why, but it just felt natural to get on that plane and go to Spain (I rhyme, you like it).
I have had my fears and worries though don't get me wrong. Like, omg, how will I ever understand Carmen's brother when he talks to me? Berti (the lovely nick name I have given to her brother, Alberto, I'm 85% sure he likes it) does not speak Spanish, he speaks Andaluz. In fact, most of Carmen's friends, and Carmen for that matter, speak Andaluz. Go figure, that's cause I'm living in ANDALUCIA. My ears are adapting to the "th" of the c's and z's and the absence of the "d" and "s" in most words.
As most of you know, via facebook, I have been doing a lot of traveling since I've been here. Portugal, Alicante, Hungary and Germany. I've also had several friends come visit me too. In Alicante I saw my friend Antony, who studied at App for all of last year. It was great seeing him and speaking in Spanish together. My ticket to Hungary had been bought about 6 months ago. It was the first place I knew I wanted to go when I came to Europe (other than Spain, obviously). Spring semester of 2010 was probably one of the most memorable semester for me at App. My friend Niki studied at App then and I told her that when I came to Europe, I was DEFINITELY going to come visit her. So, I did. And when I went to Germany, I met up with two of my dear friends, Andy and Maria. We met in Berlin and had a great time catching up and exploring the city. Maria and my friend Laura, from Amsterdam, came and visited in October and my little Frenchy Fry, Johanne, visited 2 weeks ago.
Every visit has felt like that's just how it should be. Being around them just feels like home. It's the natural way I suppose. Ok, this is getting too mushy... But I guess you get the picture right? I'm not saying that Europe is like home, because I still miss North Carolina, my family and friends there. But being here, having this experience feels like its fulfilling something that was missing in my life. And seeing friends in their own countries, or at least their own continent, just feels right. You know? Ok, go ahead and vomit, I'm gonna post another, so please read.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Mi Barrio
I could have lived in the hustle bustle of "El Centro," a short walk from the cathedral and Santa Cruz. Or I could have lived in Triana with all the pristine, quaint houses with faint sounds of flamenco bursting from the cobble stone sidewalks. I could have lived in la Alameda with the grudgy, one-dreaded Spanish hippies and the flirty, butch/queeny gays (great alternative!). I could have lived in Nervion with all the major stores like Zara and Mango, with which I have fallen in love. Or in the "DLP" (short for Avenida DE LA PAZ) where I hear of the most "interesting" stories from my classmates and where Alcampo (aka, Spanish Walmart) is just a hop, skip and a jump away. I could have lived in Montequinto with a cute, small town feeling and the lovely proximity to school. But instead, I ended up in El Porvenir, literally translated to "the future," a small section of town within a stone's throw of la Plaza de Espana, and in my opinion, the best option that I didn't even know I had.
Felipe II is my street. I live about halfways between Avda. de la Borbolla and Calle Pilar Bardem (mother to Javier, their family is quite famous in Spain, obvs). The entrance to my place is set back from the street with a little drive-way used for the driving school that shares the building with us. I live on the third floor and my room over looks the drive. We have a spacious apartment, but the kitchen is my favorite room, other than my own. Its so, Spanish... there is really no other way to put it. A large window is situated at the end that over looks my bottom floor neighbor's courtyards and patios (of which I am VERY jealous) and has a nice view of my favorite sight in the city, la Plaza de Espana. *See below*
On my street there is a SuperSol (a fantastic little grocery store), a few Chinos (it sounds racist, but that's what they call them.... basically dollar store/convenient store), a Mascarpone (BEST ICECREAM EVER), a few restaurants, a bar that serves great drink specials, a couple of bakeries, possibly a branch of every bank in Spain, a farmacia, and a few other odd and ends shops.
I think my favorite part of my day is my walk home at night. Monday-Thursday I have class until 7. The metro is about a 10 minute walk from my door, not bad. The first half of my walk is not so exciting, usually a cute dog or kid... nada mas. But once I get to the corner where I need to turn on my street, its totally different.
It starts with the three stooges, as I have dubbed them. These three old guys sit on the corner of my street every evening and talk and gossip and stare at those walking by. Then, there are the catholic school girls in their plaid skirts, zooming around on their roller blades, whipping in and out of the bike lane. The ornery middle school boys waiting outside the tobacco or Chino stores, waiting to ask someone to buy them some party favors. The dogs you think are stray but aren't really start to follow me down the street. Attractive, Spanish men with their jogging shorts on off for a run in the park. Older Spanish women meandering the streets linked arms with a friend, going to buy ingredients for dinner. Its such a picturesque view of Spanish life, it makes me feel like I'm a part of a community, its a homey feeling, you know?
I have come to notice the routines of the people. I have started to see the same old man with the same hat that he's probably worn for years, walking his scruffy little dog up and down the street. The same store owner with the adorable little boy who rides his tricycle outside the shop. The man behind the counter of the tobacco store who always gives me the evil eye, for some reason unknown to me... The same group of men who every Wednesday morning meet in the park on the street parallel to mine at 8 and get their "wake and bake" on before going to work construction. I can smell them from 50 feet away. It's starting to feel a little more comfortable in this crazy, Spanish city that I love.
Just thought I'd share. Hope all is well at home! I miss my pumpkin spice lattes, corn dogs and milk. Ha! And of course all of you beautiful people. I'll be home in a little less than two months! December 19, mark your calendars.
Un beso.
Felipe II is my street. I live about halfways between Avda. de la Borbolla and Calle Pilar Bardem (mother to Javier, their family is quite famous in Spain, obvs). The entrance to my place is set back from the street with a little drive-way used for the driving school that shares the building with us. I live on the third floor and my room over looks the drive. We have a spacious apartment, but the kitchen is my favorite room, other than my own. Its so, Spanish... there is really no other way to put it. A large window is situated at the end that over looks my bottom floor neighbor's courtyards and patios (of which I am VERY jealous) and has a nice view of my favorite sight in the city, la Plaza de Espana. *See below*
On my street there is a SuperSol (a fantastic little grocery store), a few Chinos (it sounds racist, but that's what they call them.... basically dollar store/convenient store), a Mascarpone (BEST ICECREAM EVER), a few restaurants, a bar that serves great drink specials, a couple of bakeries, possibly a branch of every bank in Spain, a farmacia, and a few other odd and ends shops.
I think my favorite part of my day is my walk home at night. Monday-Thursday I have class until 7. The metro is about a 10 minute walk from my door, not bad. The first half of my walk is not so exciting, usually a cute dog or kid... nada mas. But once I get to the corner where I need to turn on my street, its totally different.
It starts with the three stooges, as I have dubbed them. These three old guys sit on the corner of my street every evening and talk and gossip and stare at those walking by. Then, there are the catholic school girls in their plaid skirts, zooming around on their roller blades, whipping in and out of the bike lane. The ornery middle school boys waiting outside the tobacco or Chino stores, waiting to ask someone to buy them some party favors. The dogs you think are stray but aren't really start to follow me down the street. Attractive, Spanish men with their jogging shorts on off for a run in the park. Older Spanish women meandering the streets linked arms with a friend, going to buy ingredients for dinner. Its such a picturesque view of Spanish life, it makes me feel like I'm a part of a community, its a homey feeling, you know?
I have come to notice the routines of the people. I have started to see the same old man with the same hat that he's probably worn for years, walking his scruffy little dog up and down the street. The same store owner with the adorable little boy who rides his tricycle outside the shop. The man behind the counter of the tobacco store who always gives me the evil eye, for some reason unknown to me... The same group of men who every Wednesday morning meet in the park on the street parallel to mine at 8 and get their "wake and bake" on before going to work construction. I can smell them from 50 feet away. It's starting to feel a little more comfortable in this crazy, Spanish city that I love.
Just thought I'd share. Hope all is well at home! I miss my pumpkin spice lattes, corn dogs and milk. Ha! And of course all of you beautiful people. I'll be home in a little less than two months! December 19, mark your calendars.
Un beso.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Goats! Cats! Dopplegangers! Everywhere!
My university here is in the suburbs of Sevilla, on the way to a cute little town called Montequinto. So its not in the main part of the city but in an area that's a little bit more rural. On the metro, I pass several olive groves and open fields before getting off at the university stop. One day, on my way back into the city I was staring aimlessly into the Spanish countryside when all of a sudden I saw this huge group of goats. It caught me off guard, I ruptured a few snickers and had this ridiculously amused smile on my face for at least the next two stops. Ha! It was so random to see the goats, I mean, I would guess there were like 50-75 goats just wandering around in an empty corn field right outside my university. And just so you, if you didn't already know this about me, I love animals. And goats are especially amusing to me. Yesterday, I saw the goats again. I smiled another ridiculous smile while my friend Landon just shook his head at me. I think he was amused too though.
Apparently in Spain, there is a huge cat population in the countryside (not just goats). Also at UPO, my university, there are un monton of stray cats. So many in fact that I was inspired to write about them for a paper I had to do for class. It was a news article about a feral cat clinic opening in Montequinto. I was, again, amused by my inspiration. Geez. But sometimes I think the cats are cute and other times, like when I see one stretching its neck down into the garbage can to try to find some lunch, a little disgusting. They always stare at me as I walk by and their hunched-over-ness and piercing eyes can be a bit freaky. On the other hand, a few of the cats just had kittens, so of course that just makes me melt when I hear them "mew-ing".
Since I'm on this animal kick, might as well keep the ball rolling, eh? There has been a circus in Sevilla for about three weeks now! How exciting, a circus! I haven't been to the circus since I was a wee little thing... But that's going to change this weekend! I am especially excited because this circus..... are you ready for this.... it's theme is..... ALASKA!! I'm holding my breathe to see a moose (one of my ALL TIME favorite animals, I often say that one day, I will have one as a pet), but I doubt they will have a moose. I don't think Sevilla is that moose-friendly, you know, with the scorching heat and all.
Oh, its finally starting to feel like fall here. Right now it is 23 degrees Celsius, which, let me do the math, is.... between 65 and 77 degrees. Probably like 70-72 degrees. Yeah. Which is pretty chilly for Sevilla. This morning I was so excited because I got to wear my favorite sweater, its the little things in life, right?
Last weekend Landon and Leah (two friends from App) and I went to a city on the east coast of Spain called Alicante. Some of you may remember that this is the city that I originally wanted to study at, but since I am not an international business major, I wasn't able to go there. We have a partnership with the school there too, so a lot of people from App go to study there and a lot of people from Alicante study at App. So, since we are such fantastically connected people, we have a few friends that live in Alicante. It was a lovely weekend. I saw rain for the second time since I have been in Spain, I took a swim in the Mediterranean for the first time (BELLISIMO!), made some new friends, FOUND A CORN DOG (or a close cousin to one) and went to a festival that was celebrating the start of a sail boat race around the world. I'll have you know that the US was placed in the first spot.
Check it out!
In a little more than a week, I'm going to Hungary to visit one of my friends that I haven't seen in like a year and a half. SO EXCITED. I'm sure I will post again after I come home... lots of good stories about goulash and the baths in Budapest. Stay tuned kiddos!
Ohhh.... and as far as the dopplegangers comment is concerned, I see people here in Sevilla, everywhere, that look exactly like friends and family from back home. It makes me think of you guys! Miss you! I'll be home in two months!
Un besito :)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Vacations from my vacation
Bom dia senhoras e senhores!
Nothing like a little Portuguese in the mornings, eh?
Beeeeeaaacccchhhhhhhhh, a HUGE sand dune and some seafood soup.... Welcome to Bolonia!
Precious little mountain town, Jamon museum, hiking trails, "Grutas Maravillosas" (Marvelous Caves), an old church on a plateau, no beaches.... Welcome to Aracena!
Beaches, beaches, beaches, attractive waiters, beaches, beaches, lots of dancing, beaches, loud music, beaches, beaches, night swims, beaches, beaches, the end of the world.... Welcome to Albufeira and Lagos!
Well, that pretty much sums up my past three weekends.
Bolonia is a beautiful town in the province of Cadiz. Landon, Leah, Emily and I went there one Sunday afternoon with a group of other students. It was quite lovely. There is this huge sand dune there and its tradition for people to climb to the top and roll down. I climbed to the top but I was not about to make a "croqueta" out of myself. I forget the term that they use, but it has the word, "croqueta" in it, which is a breaded ball of yumminess that you deep fry. Most of the time it's filled with potato and cheese or jamon, AND ITS SO GOOD. Sorry, random outbursts about my love of Spanish food, get used to it, it happens often.
The weekend after that, one of my friends (hey Sam), asked me if I wanted to go with her and some of her friends to this well known town in Huelva called Aracena. Now, when one is in another country, they should take on the actions of a bobble head doll. In other words, just say yes to everything. So, I said sure! And off we went. An hour and fifteen minutes later, we were tucked in a little valley with crisp mountain air, walking up and down hills, staring out into the beautiful Spanish countryside. It made me a little homesick for Boone. While we were there, I saw the most spectacular caves I have ever seen in my life. Beautiful structures carved into deep underground caverns with beautiful lakes spotted in between. So lovely...
PORTUGAL!
Simply put, this trip was AMAZING! From the beautiful towns we visited, to the ginormous cliffs, the rock climbing, the coastline, the 4am swims, the piri-piri chicken (SET YOUR MOUTH ON FIRE), our new waiter friends, oh and did you know that Port wine is from Portugal? Totally makes sense now, right?
A little history refresher for you, back in the day before they knew that the America's existed, the Portuguese explorers believed that Portugal was the end of the world. And, quite literally, it was for them. I got to go to "The End of the World" this weekend, and it was breathtaking! These huge cliffs that plummet into the abyss. One feels completely desolate (ok, minus all the photo snapping tourists) and completely at peace all at once. I feel those are appropriate emotions for the end of the world.
Oh, and I have officially decided what I am going to collect from every country I go to... and yes, I do realize that it is both totally cliche and a little odd, but here we go. Shot glasses....... ok, yes, let the sighs of tipicality ring AND spoons... yes, all the head cocks are welcome too. I don't know, I really enjoy spoons, for some strange reason. And I know I will always be able to find a shot glass. So there we go. Don't hate. And yes, I did create a word just now.
Well my lovely readers, I will leave you with two links to some of my friend's blogs. They are amazing writers as well. Check them out please! Especially this one by Landon, I enjoy his wittiness and prose, and this can fill you in on some of my other activities in the city.
http://landonmhill.com/blog/?p=109
Here's the link from my friend Sam's blog, its a great little blurb about some Sevillano history!
http://samanthainsevilla.wordpress.com/no8do/
Today, I have friends coming into town from Germany and the Netherlands. I can't wait to see them, we have a whole week planned full of activities, haha. Don't worry, I will blog about them soon.
Besos de Sevilla!
Nothing like a little Portuguese in the mornings, eh?
Beeeeeaaacccchhhhhhhhh, a HUGE sand dune and some seafood soup.... Welcome to Bolonia!
Precious little mountain town, Jamon museum, hiking trails, "Grutas Maravillosas" (Marvelous Caves), an old church on a plateau, no beaches.... Welcome to Aracena!
Beaches, beaches, beaches, attractive waiters, beaches, beaches, lots of dancing, beaches, loud music, beaches, beaches, night swims, beaches, beaches, the end of the world.... Welcome to Albufeira and Lagos!
Well, that pretty much sums up my past three weekends.
Bolonia is a beautiful town in the province of Cadiz. Landon, Leah, Emily and I went there one Sunday afternoon with a group of other students. It was quite lovely. There is this huge sand dune there and its tradition for people to climb to the top and roll down. I climbed to the top but I was not about to make a "croqueta" out of myself. I forget the term that they use, but it has the word, "croqueta" in it, which is a breaded ball of yumminess that you deep fry. Most of the time it's filled with potato and cheese or jamon, AND ITS SO GOOD. Sorry, random outbursts about my love of Spanish food, get used to it, it happens often.
The weekend after that, one of my friends (hey Sam), asked me if I wanted to go with her and some of her friends to this well known town in Huelva called Aracena. Now, when one is in another country, they should take on the actions of a bobble head doll. In other words, just say yes to everything. So, I said sure! And off we went. An hour and fifteen minutes later, we were tucked in a little valley with crisp mountain air, walking up and down hills, staring out into the beautiful Spanish countryside. It made me a little homesick for Boone. While we were there, I saw the most spectacular caves I have ever seen in my life. Beautiful structures carved into deep underground caverns with beautiful lakes spotted in between. So lovely...
PORTUGAL!
Simply put, this trip was AMAZING! From the beautiful towns we visited, to the ginormous cliffs, the rock climbing, the coastline, the 4am swims, the piri-piri chicken (SET YOUR MOUTH ON FIRE), our new waiter friends, oh and did you know that Port wine is from Portugal? Totally makes sense now, right?
A little history refresher for you, back in the day before they knew that the America's existed, the Portuguese explorers believed that Portugal was the end of the world. And, quite literally, it was for them. I got to go to "The End of the World" this weekend, and it was breathtaking! These huge cliffs that plummet into the abyss. One feels completely desolate (ok, minus all the photo snapping tourists) and completely at peace all at once. I feel those are appropriate emotions for the end of the world.
Oh, and I have officially decided what I am going to collect from every country I go to... and yes, I do realize that it is both totally cliche and a little odd, but here we go. Shot glasses....... ok, yes, let the sighs of tipicality ring AND spoons... yes, all the head cocks are welcome too. I don't know, I really enjoy spoons, for some strange reason. And I know I will always be able to find a shot glass. So there we go. Don't hate. And yes, I did create a word just now.
Well my lovely readers, I will leave you with two links to some of my friend's blogs. They are amazing writers as well. Check them out please! Especially this one by Landon, I enjoy his wittiness and prose, and this can fill you in on some of my other activities in the city.
http://landonmhill.com/blog/?p=109
Here's the link from my friend Sam's blog, its a great little blurb about some Sevillano history!
http://samanthainsevilla.wordpress.com/no8do/
Today, I have friends coming into town from Germany and the Netherlands. I can't wait to see them, we have a whole week planned full of activities, haha. Don't worry, I will blog about them soon.
Besos de Sevilla!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Shew doggy!
Today was a little rough. I had to wake up early and didn't feel very good. I tried to make it to my classes, I got the University (I was very proud of myself, I get some cred for that right?) but just felt like I wouldn't be able to make it through my classes this morning, so I hopped back on the metro (super rough ride) and came home. When I woke up at like 12pm I felt a little better. I talked to mom, which was wonderful, but then it made me really homesick. And because of the time difference, it being like 7am for you in the States, no one else was online to curb my craving for American-ness. So I shared a pot of coffee with my compi (roomie equivalent) had a quick snack then went back to bed, this time with a non-physical illness. I got up around 4, which is what time my afternoon classes started, so obviously missed those today too.
I'm one of those people who is really anal about how I spend my time and what I have allotted to do when etc etc. This also goes for social commitments, classes, club functions etc etc. Now, a lot of you know, that I am usually a good 5-10 minutes late to most things (shout out to you Emmicita). But, if I am supposed to be somewhere, I'm there, even if I'm a few minutes late. Needless to say, the fact that I missed 4 classes today on top of not feeling well and being homesick, my day kind of sucked.
All this is background info so you know my excitement during a 20 minute rendezvous in a store in Centro (center of Sevilla, hoppin place lemme tell ya). So, there is this store called FNAC. I have absolutely no idea what the acronym stands for but it is essentially our Best Buy. I have seen it a couple of times and this afternoon I had to go to the We Love Spain (BANGING weekend trips to Portugal, Morocco, the beach etc etc) offices to pick up my membership card and pay for my Sunday beach trip to Cadiz (Holla!). Anyway, I thought I would pop in and see if I could buy some more converters. That part of the FNAC adventure was unsuccessful. However, I roamed into the DVD/TV Series section of the store and my soul smiled... if your soul has never smiled, you have never lived. Mind you that last part is probably a huge exaggeration, but you still get my drift.
Frasier, Weeds, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Sex and the City, 24, A Walk in the Clouds, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Forest Gump, Winnie the Pooh, Gossip Girl, Ever After and a whole lot more... all in SPANISH. Ahhh! It made me so happy. I wanted to buy them all. No no, don't worry, I didn't, but I wanted to. It was so nice to see things so familiar, even if they were in another language. I was especially excited to see A Walk in the Clouds, its one of mom and I's favoritest movies. Yes, my soul did smile, it was such a lovely feeling. It was a nice little pick me up.
But yeah, there's my little story for today. Hope you guys in America had a good day.
Besos de Sevilla!
I'm one of those people who is really anal about how I spend my time and what I have allotted to do when etc etc. This also goes for social commitments, classes, club functions etc etc. Now, a lot of you know, that I am usually a good 5-10 minutes late to most things (shout out to you Emmicita). But, if I am supposed to be somewhere, I'm there, even if I'm a few minutes late. Needless to say, the fact that I missed 4 classes today on top of not feeling well and being homesick, my day kind of sucked.
All this is background info so you know my excitement during a 20 minute rendezvous in a store in Centro (center of Sevilla, hoppin place lemme tell ya). So, there is this store called FNAC. I have absolutely no idea what the acronym stands for but it is essentially our Best Buy. I have seen it a couple of times and this afternoon I had to go to the We Love Spain (BANGING weekend trips to Portugal, Morocco, the beach etc etc) offices to pick up my membership card and pay for my Sunday beach trip to Cadiz (Holla!). Anyway, I thought I would pop in and see if I could buy some more converters. That part of the FNAC adventure was unsuccessful. However, I roamed into the DVD/TV Series section of the store and my soul smiled... if your soul has never smiled, you have never lived. Mind you that last part is probably a huge exaggeration, but you still get my drift.
Frasier, Weeds, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Sex and the City, 24, A Walk in the Clouds, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Forest Gump, Winnie the Pooh, Gossip Girl, Ever After and a whole lot more... all in SPANISH. Ahhh! It made me so happy. I wanted to buy them all. No no, don't worry, I didn't, but I wanted to. It was so nice to see things so familiar, even if they were in another language. I was especially excited to see A Walk in the Clouds, its one of mom and I's favoritest movies. Yes, my soul did smile, it was such a lovely feeling. It was a nice little pick me up.
But yeah, there's my little story for today. Hope you guys in America had a good day.
Besos de Sevilla!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
WHERE THEM GIRLS AT?!
First of all, let me apologize for not posting sooner, it has been just a little crazy around here with classes starting and getting adjusted to everything.
Really quick, a few things about school. All the people in my classes are Americans/English speakers, bit annoying, cause I wanna meet Spanish students, but, its ok, I like Americans. I was taking a class in English, but I figured since I'll be in class with English speakers, why not take all my classes in Spanish? So, Mondays and Wednesdays I have class from 9-12 and from 4-7 and then Tuesdays and Thursdays I have one class from 5:30-7. I'm taking Spanish Reading and Composition, Spanish Culture and Civilization, Medieval Spain: Christians, Jews and Muslims, International Finance and History of Flamenco.
Besides school stuff I have been exploring the night life in Sevilla. You wanna talk about culture shock? Sheww... Us Americans stick out SO BAD. Go figure. I expected that. But its kind of annoying how we have created such a bad image of Americans. All the guys just think American girls are easy and that if you talk to them, you obviously want to go home with them. I'm learning how to put my foot down, I'm way to nice. Carmen, my room mate, taught me a great phrase in Spanish, all I have to say is, "the hard men path who der" (this is the English pronunciation of the Spanish phrase). Its basically a very rude way to say, "go away!" The music at the clubs is amazing! Its hard not to dance but they dance very differently here. None of that booty bumpin and grindin crap. No no, its a nice little shuffle motion. Its just going to take some getting used to.
Also, as far as going out, you don't hit the streets until like 3am, unless you are doing botellon. But you must have a Spaniard with you if you want to do botellon. It can be a little hard to read the crowds and find a good, safe spot. I did botellon with my room mate and her friends Friday night, and it was a lot of fun. Basically, the first rule of botellon, get where you need to go, ASAP. But after you are in your spot, its amazing. These Spanish truly know the meaning of the term, "pre-game."
I'm getting more comfortable with the city, I feel like I actually know where I am going. One day this week I went to three different parts of the city, all by myself by walking and taking the bus, I felt very accomplished. Its starting to feel good, in a few weeks, I will be in a rhythm.
Asi es la vida en Sevilla!
Besos
Really quick, a few things about school. All the people in my classes are Americans/English speakers, bit annoying, cause I wanna meet Spanish students, but, its ok, I like Americans. I was taking a class in English, but I figured since I'll be in class with English speakers, why not take all my classes in Spanish? So, Mondays and Wednesdays I have class from 9-12 and from 4-7 and then Tuesdays and Thursdays I have one class from 5:30-7. I'm taking Spanish Reading and Composition, Spanish Culture and Civilization, Medieval Spain: Christians, Jews and Muslims, International Finance and History of Flamenco.
Besides school stuff I have been exploring the night life in Sevilla. You wanna talk about culture shock? Sheww... Us Americans stick out SO BAD. Go figure. I expected that. But its kind of annoying how we have created such a bad image of Americans. All the guys just think American girls are easy and that if you talk to them, you obviously want to go home with them. I'm learning how to put my foot down, I'm way to nice. Carmen, my room mate, taught me a great phrase in Spanish, all I have to say is, "the hard men path who der" (this is the English pronunciation of the Spanish phrase). Its basically a very rude way to say, "go away!" The music at the clubs is amazing! Its hard not to dance but they dance very differently here. None of that booty bumpin and grindin crap. No no, its a nice little shuffle motion. Its just going to take some getting used to.
Also, as far as going out, you don't hit the streets until like 3am, unless you are doing botellon. But you must have a Spaniard with you if you want to do botellon. It can be a little hard to read the crowds and find a good, safe spot. I did botellon with my room mate and her friends Friday night, and it was a lot of fun. Basically, the first rule of botellon, get where you need to go, ASAP. But after you are in your spot, its amazing. These Spanish truly know the meaning of the term, "pre-game."
I'm getting more comfortable with the city, I feel like I actually know where I am going. One day this week I went to three different parts of the city, all by myself by walking and taking the bus, I felt very accomplished. Its starting to feel good, in a few weeks, I will be in a rhythm.
Asi es la vida en Sevilla!
Besos
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I found the Macado's of Sevilla!
OH MY GOSH. I have to blog about this one... So, in Boone there is a restaurant called Macado's (for all of you who do not know the magicalness of said establishment, we need to change that). On Mondays, there are chicken wings in like 12 different sauces for $0.29 a piece. And they are SO GOOD. Well, tonight, I found a place in Sevilla, that is the Spanish version of Macado's. My friend Landon and I decided that we need to keep the tradition of "wing night" or the "two-for-one-appetizer" Thursday night by creating our own in Spain. Tonight, I found our restaurant.
Let me introduce you to, "Cien Montaditos." Cien is Spanish for 100 and a montadito is basically a small Spanish sub sandwich. Yes... they have 100 different kinds of these little sandwiches. They are all between 1 and 2 euro, so like $1.50-3.00. They also have tinto de verano for 1.5 euro and the glass is "American" sized (thank you for the term Rob, it is very appropriate) instead of "Spanish" sized. So you get more bang for your buck basically. You can leave spending 5 euro for your whole meal, including the alcohol. And in Spain, you don't give a tip, so its like $7 flat.
Cien Montaditos is right next to la Universidad de Sevilla (not my school, but another in the city) so that makes it even more like Macado's. They even have ice-cream for desert. It's amazing.
Maybe we will have Los Montaditos Miercoles? In any case... los montaditos son ricos!
Let me introduce you to, "Cien Montaditos." Cien is Spanish for 100 and a montadito is basically a small Spanish sub sandwich. Yes... they have 100 different kinds of these little sandwiches. They are all between 1 and 2 euro, so like $1.50-3.00. They also have tinto de verano for 1.5 euro and the glass is "American" sized (thank you for the term Rob, it is very appropriate) instead of "Spanish" sized. So you get more bang for your buck basically. You can leave spending 5 euro for your whole meal, including the alcohol. And in Spain, you don't give a tip, so its like $7 flat.
Cien Montaditos is right next to la Universidad de Sevilla (not my school, but another in the city) so that makes it even more like Macado's. They even have ice-cream for desert. It's amazing.
Maybe we will have Los Montaditos Miercoles? In any case... los montaditos son ricos!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wait, what was I saying?
BIENVENIDOS A ESPANA!
So, I'm in Spain. I got to Sevilla at 12:30pm yesterday, so that would be like... 6:30am in the States. I was traveling with my friend Emily who also goes to App. One of our Spanish friends who lives in Madrid picked us up from the airport in Madrid (muchisimas gracias Christina!) and dropped me off at the train station. I took the train to Sevilla with my two massive maletas (suitcases). Each one weighed 50lbs, yes, I know, it was ridiculous. My room mate, Carmen, and her boyfriend, Jose, were there to meet me in Sevilla.
My apartment is in a perfect location. It's close to a lot of restaurants and shops. Its about a 15-20 minute walk to get to the main part of the city and the train station is like a 5-10 minute drive away.
I can already tell that my Spanish is getting better. Its hard to go back and forth between English and Spanish. Carmen speaks English almost fluently so it is easy to talk to her in English, but even when I do I try to think of how to say things in Spanish, so I might as well just talk to her in Spanish, you know? My other room mate, Irma is from Lithuania. She speaks Lithuanian, Russian and Spanish but hardly any English, which will definitely help my Spanish. Who knows, maybe I can learn some Russian too! Over lunch today I was talking to Carmen about something and I had to explain something in English because I didn't know how to say it in Spanish and by the time I figured out how to say it in Spanish I forgot why I needed to say the phrase. It was hilarious. But anyway, I expect more moments like that in the next few weeks.
The vocab in Spain is a lot different than in Latin American countries. For example, yesterday I told Carmen that I like her "anteojos de sol" but in Spain you say, "gafas de sol." So that should be fun, learning new vocab and the accent and the vosotros form (kind of like saying "y'all" in south).
Yesterday after I took a nap, we went to the store, I got a phone and some other things like bed sheets and towels and all that crap. My phone is amazing! It's a pay as you go smart phone, who knew they had those? Then we had dinner, at 10pm, which is normal dinner time here. I had tapas y un tinto de verano con limon! We had ham croquets and manchego cheese puffs and fried cod. Tinto de verano con limon is basically red wine with sprite and a little lemon. I know, I know... I thought the same thing the first time I had it, red wine and sprite?! But its delicious. And, apparently, whenever someone wins a futbol game, a restaurant will give out free shots. So I had some limoncello and some gummies after dinner. Drinking is much more of a social thing in Spain.
I woke up at 2pm today, Carmen made coffee and lunch (Spanish coffee is so much better than American coffee, lo siento). Then I finished unpacking and Carmen took a nap, well, is taking a nap. This afternoon (mind you it is already 6pm) we are going to explore the city and Carmen is going to show me some important places. Nothing in Spain is open on Sundays. Nada. So tomorrow we are going to go shopping, open my bank account, etc etc. Emily comes in tomorrow too so we will pick her up at the train station too.
Oh Spain... I am already in love with you.
Besos :)
So, I'm in Spain. I got to Sevilla at 12:30pm yesterday, so that would be like... 6:30am in the States. I was traveling with my friend Emily who also goes to App. One of our Spanish friends who lives in Madrid picked us up from the airport in Madrid (muchisimas gracias Christina!) and dropped me off at the train station. I took the train to Sevilla with my two massive maletas (suitcases). Each one weighed 50lbs, yes, I know, it was ridiculous. My room mate, Carmen, and her boyfriend, Jose, were there to meet me in Sevilla.
My apartment is in a perfect location. It's close to a lot of restaurants and shops. Its about a 15-20 minute walk to get to the main part of the city and the train station is like a 5-10 minute drive away.
I can already tell that my Spanish is getting better. Its hard to go back and forth between English and Spanish. Carmen speaks English almost fluently so it is easy to talk to her in English, but even when I do I try to think of how to say things in Spanish, so I might as well just talk to her in Spanish, you know? My other room mate, Irma is from Lithuania. She speaks Lithuanian, Russian and Spanish but hardly any English, which will definitely help my Spanish. Who knows, maybe I can learn some Russian too! Over lunch today I was talking to Carmen about something and I had to explain something in English because I didn't know how to say it in Spanish and by the time I figured out how to say it in Spanish I forgot why I needed to say the phrase. It was hilarious. But anyway, I expect more moments like that in the next few weeks.
The vocab in Spain is a lot different than in Latin American countries. For example, yesterday I told Carmen that I like her "anteojos de sol" but in Spain you say, "gafas de sol." So that should be fun, learning new vocab and the accent and the vosotros form (kind of like saying "y'all" in south).
Yesterday after I took a nap, we went to the store, I got a phone and some other things like bed sheets and towels and all that crap. My phone is amazing! It's a pay as you go smart phone, who knew they had those? Then we had dinner, at 10pm, which is normal dinner time here. I had tapas y un tinto de verano con limon! We had ham croquets and manchego cheese puffs and fried cod. Tinto de verano con limon is basically red wine with sprite and a little lemon. I know, I know... I thought the same thing the first time I had it, red wine and sprite?! But its delicious. And, apparently, whenever someone wins a futbol game, a restaurant will give out free shots. So I had some limoncello and some gummies after dinner. Drinking is much more of a social thing in Spain.
I woke up at 2pm today, Carmen made coffee and lunch (Spanish coffee is so much better than American coffee, lo siento). Then I finished unpacking and Carmen took a nap, well, is taking a nap. This afternoon (mind you it is already 6pm) we are going to explore the city and Carmen is going to show me some important places. Nothing in Spain is open on Sundays. Nada. So tomorrow we are going to go shopping, open my bank account, etc etc. Emily comes in tomorrow too so we will pick her up at the train station too.
Oh Spain... I am already in love with you.
Besos :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Carpe diem, ladies and gents!
Today's the day! I'm off to Spain. You can bet your bottom dollar that at 4:25 this afternoon my heart will be beating like a racehorse. Around 12:30am (our time of course) I will be in Madrid, and by 2 or 3pm Spain time (quick! do math!) I will be in my apartment, with my lovely room mate and about to crash land into my bed.
It's been a great summer, one of the best I've had in a long time. Now, its time to get my Europe scene on!
Send me skype names, if I don't have your's already.
Paz.
It's been a great summer, one of the best I've had in a long time. Now, its time to get my Europe scene on!
Send me skype names, if I don't have your's already.
Paz.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Oh boy...
Alright kiddos, this is my last weekend in the States. Kinda weird? Over breakfast this morning with the parents (we went to the Flying Biscuit, if you haven't been, go now!) I decided that come Friday, I'm going to be more than ready to be in Sevilla. Anticipation kills me.
Yesterday was my last day at the USNWC. It was a good run. Nothing like the smell of booties in the morning!
This week is going to be full of shopping, doctor appointments, a spa day at Aveda (another place you should check out if you haven't already), packing, packing, packing. Oh, and picking up a few things for my companera de piso (roomie). She wants Wonka candy, pancake mix and cigarettes, I thought that was cute. I also need to pick up a jar of PB, because even though I could bathe in Nutella, I know I will miss my peanut butter.
The flight leaves at 4:25pm on Friday.... I should be in Madrid by midnight our time, or 6am their time, yeah, talk about jetlag and in Sevilla before the siesta (you know I'm looking forward to those). Should be good times.
Keep it real :)
Yesterday was my last day at the USNWC. It was a good run. Nothing like the smell of booties in the morning!
This week is going to be full of shopping, doctor appointments, a spa day at Aveda (another place you should check out if you haven't already), packing, packing, packing. Oh, and picking up a few things for my companera de piso (roomie). She wants Wonka candy, pancake mix and cigarettes, I thought that was cute. I also need to pick up a jar of PB, because even though I could bathe in Nutella, I know I will miss my peanut butter.
The flight leaves at 4:25pm on Friday.... I should be in Madrid by midnight our time, or 6am their time, yeah, talk about jetlag and in Sevilla before the siesta (you know I'm looking forward to those). Should be good times.
Keep it real :)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
It's my party dance if I want to...
Last night was my going away party. I must say, I did not shed one tear, I am quite proud of myself. Family came in from out of town, so did a few friends, we had Spanish tapas and sangria, played bingo, had an pinata (totally a Mexican thing, but who doesn't love a good pinata?). You really can't go wrong with that combination.
We had flamenco music playing through the house last night, so I have another goal to add for my time in Spain. Buy castanets for my "History of Flamenco" class and learn how to dance flamenco. I mean, it originated in Sevilla for heaven's sakes. I'm gonna do it.
It was a really fun party. I got some practical things which will be very useful in Spain. Emily brought me a few things from Raleigh. I do love surprises :)
Thanks to everyone who came out, it really meant a lot. All you in Boone, Raleigh and Ohio, see you at Christmas!
Besos para todos!
Friday, August 5, 2011
A little twinkle, tingle, pitter and a patter.
So, every day when I drive to work I pass the airport. It's pretty cool seeing all the planes coming in and landing. As I am driving sometimes I see 3 or 4 little lights up in the sky and watch then get closer and closer until they land. The past few nights I have had to stay at work until close, meaning like 8:30 or 9 at night. I have learned that the planes follow the same schedule for the most part. There is usually a big flight that comes in around 8:45 every night and then about 3 or 4 smaller flights that come in around 12 or 1 every afternoon. The landing strip runs parallel with 485 (the interstate I take home). So at night, when the 8:45 flight gets in, the plane literally lands right next to my car (at least it looks like it is). It's a pretty cool sight to see, I must say. When I see those planes, of course I think about Spain, considering that in exactly 3 weeks from today I will be getting on one of them big steel birds and flying over the ocean. I get a little twinkle in my eye, a tingle in my feet and a pitter patter in my heart. Then I smile real big and just keep on driving.
Darn tootin! 3 weeks from today. Baaahhhh!!
Darn tootin! 3 weeks from today. Baaahhhh!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Lemme catch you up to speed
I say sayonara August 26 at 4:25pm and if you happened to notice, the blog became official on July 26, exactly one month before I leave. Just thought that was a nifty time to get this rolling. Before I go to Spain, here's a smidge of what I've done this summer so far. I have to say, it's been quite an interesting couple of months
May- finished one of my hardest semesters at App (kiddos, 18 hours = bad idea), got a job working at the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, which is a totally awesome place that you should definitely check out, just saying... started making bank/seeing how taxes and the conversion to euros is eating up my paycheck.... greaaaat, and I went to Ohio for a hot second to chill with the fam
June- I have one word....... BONNAROOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Arcade Fire, Florence + the Machine, Eminem, Pretty Lights, Mumford & Sons, the Decemberists, the Head and the Heart, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Sleigh Bells, the Walkmen, My Morning Jacket, Lil Wayne (heck to the yeaah), the Black Keys, the Strokes, Beirut, Ratatat, Old Crow Medicine Show, Iron and Wine, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Scissor Sisters, Gogol Bordello (check this dude out, he's intense), Chiddy Bang, Cold War Kids, Neon Trees, Portugal the Man, Man Man, Matt and Kim..... Yea, so, that was that. I have never been so dirty before in my life and I have never heard so much awesome music crammed into 4 days. Srsly, if there is a line-up that meets your fancy like this one did for me, GO! Throw in a couple of trips to Raleigh (bffimrf turned 21, say whaaa) and Winston to tour a neat old house with Kristin and Caitlin, there's June
July- VISA APPLICATION SUBMITTED! Trying to get clearance from the Spanish government to be in the country for longer than 6 months is a huge pain in the arse. From FBI background checks to doctor's notes to something called "the Apostille of the Hague Convention" as well as a bazillion other things, a trip to Raleigh and to DC, in the end all it took was 20 minutes at the Spanish Consulate and presto- visa for Spain.... it arrives August 10. Btw, I now have my own apartamento en EspaNa! A couple weeks later, I did the Canopy Tour at USNWC. I have never been so terrified in muh whole life. Let me sum this up for you, 7 zip lines, a rope bridge, a plank bridge, swing bridge (use your imagination, then multiply by 5), burma bridge (google that one), a rappel station and then something we call the "Mega Jump" at work, basically a free fall jump from a 40 foot platform. No biggie, right? I was so proud of myself. Trip to Boone at the end of the month to hang out, have a bonfire, chill with the amazing Boonies, grab my last 2 for 1 at Macado's for a while, say goodbye the BRP, bittersweet trip let me tell ya.
August... well, this is what I know so far, work work work, trip to Arizona, a little get together at my place before I leave, then packing up! You homies best send me your addresses so I can send you postcards when I travel.
Besos!
May- finished one of my hardest semesters at App (kiddos, 18 hours = bad idea), got a job working at the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, which is a totally awesome place that you should definitely check out, just saying... started making bank/seeing how taxes and the conversion to euros is eating up my paycheck.... greaaaat, and I went to Ohio for a hot second to chill with the fam
June- I have one word....... BONNAROOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Arcade Fire, Florence + the Machine, Eminem, Pretty Lights, Mumford & Sons, the Decemberists, the Head and the Heart, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Sleigh Bells, the Walkmen, My Morning Jacket, Lil Wayne (heck to the yeaah), the Black Keys, the Strokes, Beirut, Ratatat, Old Crow Medicine Show, Iron and Wine, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Scissor Sisters, Gogol Bordello (check this dude out, he's intense), Chiddy Bang, Cold War Kids, Neon Trees, Portugal the Man, Man Man, Matt and Kim..... Yea, so, that was that. I have never been so dirty before in my life and I have never heard so much awesome music crammed into 4 days. Srsly, if there is a line-up that meets your fancy like this one did for me, GO! Throw in a couple of trips to Raleigh (bffimrf turned 21, say whaaa) and Winston to tour a neat old house with Kristin and Caitlin, there's June
July- VISA APPLICATION SUBMITTED! Trying to get clearance from the Spanish government to be in the country for longer than 6 months is a huge pain in the arse. From FBI background checks to doctor's notes to something called "the Apostille of the Hague Convention" as well as a bazillion other things, a trip to Raleigh and to DC, in the end all it took was 20 minutes at the Spanish Consulate and presto- visa for Spain.... it arrives August 10. Btw, I now have my own apartamento en EspaNa! A couple weeks later, I did the Canopy Tour at USNWC. I have never been so terrified in muh whole life. Let me sum this up for you, 7 zip lines, a rope bridge, a plank bridge, swing bridge (use your imagination, then multiply by 5), burma bridge (google that one), a rappel station and then something we call the "Mega Jump" at work, basically a free fall jump from a 40 foot platform. No biggie, right? I was so proud of myself. Trip to Boone at the end of the month to hang out, have a bonfire, chill with the amazing Boonies, grab my last 2 for 1 at Macado's for a while, say goodbye the BRP, bittersweet trip let me tell ya.
August... well, this is what I know so far, work work work, trip to Arizona, a little get together at my place before I leave, then packing up! You homies best send me your addresses so I can send you postcards when I travel.
Besos!
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