Time keeps on slippin'

I haven't written a post in a very long time. Sorry? Oops? Well, I only have one month left here in good ole España. That is so crazy to think about. I honestly do not know how I feel about going home. Home=the twilight zone. Or maybe this is the twilight zone? For me, it's as if time has stopped in America, and I'm living. Or maybe they are light years ahead?

I recently had my spring break trip with friends. We went to Salamanca in the narth. Beautiful city. Although it rained and was freezing the entire trip, it was well worth the trouble. Some of us saw 5 processions. They have processions during Semana Santa of the end and resurrection of Jesus. To them it is tradition, and most of them don't give a hoot. However, for it me it had such an impact. Though completely pagan, the things these pasos represent is the story that I believe. Whether you believe Jesus is the son of God or not, the processions are something to see for sure.

I feel like this blog should be a tops moments blog. I may have to add to it because I'm very forgetful. Okay top Spain moments in no order:


1. My first night in Alcázar when José and David picked me up to go out.
2.. Being instantly accepted into the group.
3. Any time my students sang "Bailey bailey bailey ooooo" to the Justin Beiber tune.
4. Salamanca and surrounding cities
5. The trip to the mountains and the surrounding cities
6. Ham
7. Wine
8. Cheese cheese cheese
9. My family and boyfriend's visit.
10. Barcelona
11. Trip to Scotland(okay so not a Spain moment exactly, but it was definitely awesome to see my Old World Girls again)
12. Finding out there was another American girl in my town and then proceeding to hang out
13. Shopping? yeah shopping
14. Becoming a runner whilst abroad.
15. Biking or walking to work every day instead of driving.
16. The windmills.
17. Being where true castellano is spoken.
18. Living with a family instead of living alone
19. Anything Trini cooked (minus the octopus soup)
20. Drying my clothes on a clothes line hahaha
21. Feeling adopted
22. Conversations with el abuelo about the war.
23. When my Spanish abuelo and my Pappy Skyped and said hello to each other.
24. The fact my grandparents skyped.
25.  Seeing real, deep snow for the first time.
26. Being in a climate opposite of mine
27. Learning the traditions of Spain
28. Siesta time. every day.
29. Accessible train
30. Any time I saw a castle or palace
31. Any weekend I was with José and Fran in Madrid.
32. Becoming somewhat of a cooke
33. Making and perfecting biscuits
34. José's red velvet cake that I made
35. My first day in Alcázar, riding a bike for the first time in 8 years, and almost wrecking but coming to a complete stop between two moving trucks.
36. Conversations with Laura about random things like how whales get up the momentum to jump so high out of the ocean, sharks, spiders, snakes, etc.
37. Dancing with Laura and Trini in the Kitchen
38. "REALLY?!"
39. The molins
40. Siempro, calcitones, palomitos, para tú, patato
41. Having a best friend
42. Challenge of being away from home.
43. Teaching the Spanish American phrases (or southern phrases...)





That's all I can think of for now. In other news MY SISTER IS PREGGERS WITH A BABY BOY! My first time being an aunt. I can't wait to get home and help her out. I miss getting up at 7am just to watch the West Wing with her and drink coffee. Things I'm going to do when I get home:

1. Hug my mommy really big
2. Demand Chinese food. The only Chinesey food I've had here was in Barcelona FIVE MONTHS AGO! You know how we Americans are about our Chinese take out now.
3. Engorge myself with sushi.
4. Start planning a baby shower
5. buy a car
6. buy health and car insurance
7. mourn the death of my Volvo, Toby
8. Create a work out schedule for myself 
9. Go to Jeff Perry's wedding
10. Listen to my sister's belly and talk to the belly in Spanish
11. Go on a date with my boyfriend
12. Drink something other than rum (for the love of all that is good in the world give me something other than rum or beer with the quality of sludge) aka a martini
13. Go to a proper yoga class
14. Have a party with my friends?
15. Play with Lucille and Tuff
16. Go to the Square and just be thankful to be there
17. Appreciate the humidity.
18. Find a pool. Become a mermaid.
19. Eat a sandwich with normal bread, not french bread
20. Drive



That's all she wrote (for now), folks.


please excuse typos. I don't have the energy to change them. siiiiiick.

2011: The year of the....

I haven't decided what sort of "year" it will be, but I feel lots of changes coming on.

Note: I was informed by a Spanish friend, after having read my blog, that I should be careful with the topic of gypsies. Some things could be offensive. I understand that, since even in Spain, Southern American stereotypes still hold. LIKE I said, I have yet to meet a gypsy, and therefore I have a blank opinion.

Moving on. IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS! December flew by with a trip to the mountains with friends, Christmas, New Year's, etc. My friends and I took a trip to the narth country, and I saw real snow for the first time. Not the dinky snow we have in Mississippi every January. I mean snow angel-makin', ice on your jeans-stickin', make you want to visit the Inferno type of snow. Four bedroom house for 11 people, one bathroom, one tiny kitchen and living room made for a very cozy trip.  The old couple who owned the place could not have been sweeter. Upon arrival they insisted on taking at least two shots with us. Hey hey. The snow was beautiful, the company lovely, and the atmosphere all-around jolly. The only strange part, besides wearing hiking boots from the 90's that aren't mine and two sizes too big, was not being able to keep up with the Spanish comedy hour. All my buds told lots of jokes, none of which I could follow. Anywho, we took trips two other towns including: Albarracin(stunning), Teruel(neato capital of Aragon), and Cuenca(also beautiful).

Also, I attended the annual Christmas lunch with all the professors. I was surprised when I walked into the gym to find  wine and beer on to your hearts' content. This just wouldn't go down in Mississippi, I'm here to tell you. I was stuffed to the brim with all kinds of yummy goodness including paella and gachas.

Finally Christmas break came, and I got to see my sister and brother-in-law in Barcelona where we had a rip, roarin' good time. We came to my "hometown" for a few days, where we enjoyed the basically Halloween of Spain: Carnaval. My town has this festival during December instead of February (think Mardi Gras subdued). Next, on to Madrid where Jayce joined us from the good ole U. S. of A. We rang in the new year with locals, Italians, a family from Texas, and whoever else was at our restaurant. Sidenote: I have either broken all of my fillings or I instantly got six cavities that night. Oh, and I had a sinus infection for 3 weeks. Anyway, we tried to eat the 12 grapes when the clock struck twelve, but it's not very easy....at all. After saying goodbye to my family in Madrid, they went home, and Jayce and I went back to Alcazar. After a day and a half we decided to go on a "day trip"....which turned into a surprise trip (and Jayce's Christmas present) to Scotland! to see our lovely friends Rebecca and Emily. They screamed when we called and said "uh hey, we're going to be in town......tomorrow....sooooo yeaaah).
Scotland is absolutely breath-taking. From the accents to the cobbled stone streets, the castle, the pubs, the tea rooms, the everything is just amazing. Jayce and I really want to go back.......for a year. We had afternoon drinks at Canny Man's, which is the BEST pub you will ever see. The decorations alone are enough to make you want to be a frequent customer. Needless to say, I'd like to visit once more before heading back across the Atlantic.

For Jayce's last week in town, we returned to Alcazar, holed up, and enjoyed each others' company. My birthday was celebrated low key style but enjoyably so. Even though I had to work, we had a great time. I dropped him off at the airport today....I bought The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I've started planning this last semester.

It's January. The home stretch is here. My last 5 months in Spain. I would be dishonest if I didn't see half of me really wouldn't mind packing up and going home now. It's hard to be with your family for almost a month after not having seen them for 4 months. My time will be filled with novels(Spanish and English), studying Spanish, cooking(hopefully), studying for the GRE now that I have a study book, and teaching of course.

Until next time, Happy New Year and be safe.

Feliz Thanksgiving, y'all

Well here we are again. I noted some more differences about Spanish life, but uh..I can't remember. SO! I'll begin with something strange I learned about gypsies.

We think of gypsies as these magical people like Esmerelda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame: mystical nomads with an affinity for anarchy or at least their own way of life. But here, I've learned and seen that gypsies are stigmatized: dirty, filthy people who have no respect for the laws and don't keep to themselves as much as I thought. The children don't go to the obligatory years of school and those who do cause problems.  I saw a gypsy wedding on the news. They have to prove the bride-to-be is a virgin.  On the day of the wedding, the mothers and grandmothers go with her into a room. They take a cloth, shove it into her vagina. If it comes out with blood, she's a virgin and the wedding may proceed. If the cloth is clean, she's banished from the family.  For a people with so little rules, to me this seems contradictory.

On the flip side, gypsies often sing and dance flamenco, and it's beautiful. The Esmereldas of the world are called "zingaros" not "gitanos", but the word is the same in our language. Maybe I'll research how they are related.

I have yet to form an opinion on this people. Someone asked me if we had gypsies in America. I replied, "Maybe wannabe gypsies or hippies who call themselves gypsies. but uh...We have the Amish........." Don't judge me. It's the only people I could think of that keep to themselves besides cults and skinheads and well....nevermind.

In other news, I took a trip to Madrid to visit friends and see Harry Potter in English. There are movies that I refuse to watch in Spanish...like Harry Potter. If it isn't a British accent, it ain't right.  So, I went to Madrid to meet Fran, Jose Luis, and David. Jose Luis and I had a pajama party and watched Pretty Woman(which I had never seen) and Steel Magnolias. (I hope you're not embarrassed that I'm telling this to the world, Jose Luis). Chinese food was devoured along with palomitas and a half liter of Coke(I drank the half liter. Danon would be proud. Remember Star Trek night and the insane amount of candy/soda we consumed?...yeaaaah)

SATURDAY! We saw an underground museum of the old metro. It was fantastic. All the original advertisements were in play, but get this: they were tile. Beautiful tiles advertising coffee, watches, gas, etc. Then we ventured to the Archaeological Museum, which was fascinating. I saw La Dama de Elche, the major sculpture for which Spain is known. It was beautiful. The elephant jaws and tusks found in prehistoric Spain, also snazzy.

Snack which included wine and olives, then we went for beers while waiting for our table, for the first time ever I saw prostitutes and pimps, then lunch, nap, THEN HARRY POTTER! WHICH rocked my socks. Botellon and drinking were to be had after, where a man almost fell on our group...strange.

Sunday: shopping and home. Enough said.

Madrid is decorated for Christmas, and I cannot WAIT until Jayce, Cary, and Justin get here.

Thanksgiving came and went without so much as a resemblance to the beloved holiday. I ate a slice of turkey, explained the story of Thanksgiving to my students, and received a Hannah Montana stamp on my hand. The end.


I'm going to posted pictures soon of various places..sooo be on the lookout.

As always (from one of my favorite radio programs), be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

The Same Same but Different.

Ah, the blog world again. I have been organizing my life, kicking ass, and taking names. That last part is a little exaggerated.  I have officially settled into Spanish life. I still lack my international identification card, but no biggie. I have medical insurance, a debit card with my name on it. I get discounts because I'm under 26!

For those of you who know me a little too well, let me say old habits do NOT in fact die hard. I have been shopping 3 times, each time a success. I now have un abrigo, un goro, una bufanda, botas, and of course a cardigan.  Oh, and apparently the whole "equestrian" look is in fashion right now. (Thank you, Zara) I bought a ballin' jacket that I would like to call my 'smoking jacket' smoking b/c it's hot and because I could see an old man wearing it smoking cigars. Hooray for the old man look.

My school is like any other school. Public schools are crazy, those of us who attended know how students can be mean and outrageous. At least the teachers I had attempted to control them.  Something I've seen lacking in a lot of the classes I assist is a little CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT. How am I supposed to help X subject with English vocabulary if I'm in a zoo.  Other than that, all the teachers are lovely. Everyone speaks to everyone and says goodbye when they leave. It feels like my southern home away from home. I've reached the culmination of being an educator: the faculty room, equipped with instant coffee machines, and the faculty restrooms. I enjoy helping out with English class the most (obviously).

Now, let's get down to what I really want to talk about: the differences in American and Spain, things I miss and don't miss.

1.  I like the weather here. They actually have a cold fall, ya know..like it's supposed to be. The only thing is..it's dry here. My hair loves it, skin not so much. I have to layer up for the morning trek to work, and take off layers for the trek home.

2. This town is probably slightly bigger than Oxford. The transportation difference is amazing. Yes, plenty of people have cars, almost everyone, but most people walk or ride bikes. For instance, I ride my bike every day to and from the school. Walking it would be about 20 minutes.  How invigorating! Getting a bike when I get back to America. Watch out Oxford.

3. Shops do in fact close at 1:30 or 2 for lunch and reopen at 4:30 or 5. Lunch is served generally at 2 or after, and dinner at 9 or after. (That's a big adjustment for me given that I like to eat promptly at 12 and 7)


4. I miss having Chinese take out. I have sampled a buffet, and it wasn't bad. But I'm craving H20 chicken fried rice and Two stick  sushi and dumplings.

5. They've never heard of Dr. Pepper or Root beer.  If America is the mastermind advertising country with exported products everywhere......WHY NOT TWO COLAS THAT ARE AWESOME! It's coke or coke lite here (that's diet coke)

6. Finally found marshmellows, now just to find graham crackers so I can make s'mores for these people. Coupled with this one is the fact no one has heard of Hershey's. I guess I never realized Hershey's was American until I Googled it. Nestle is what they have. Though it will suffice, the tastes are distinct, and I need Hershey's. Someone send me a bag of kisses.

7. They thought Greek life was fake. One of the hardest things to explain in Spanish is a sorority. As far as s'mores, roasting marshmellows over fires, Halloween extravaganzas, and Greek life go, I've received the same response "Yeah I've seen that in the movies,"...and mine back is, "Oh, well, we really do those things".

8. I gave an entire class on Halloween yesterday. I didn't realize how much we actually DO for this holiday.  I mean, haunted houses, school events, parties, corn field mazes, hay rides, games, etc. And I couldn't given a reason WHY. Well, I guess because at some point All Saints Day started out as some tradition, but now we just like to eat candy and go have a party. Here, if you knock on the door and the family doesn't give you candy, you throw eggs at their doors. Strange. And yes, people visit their families graves. They've been cleaning the tombstones all week, and today everyone is taking flowers to their family graves. I think this tradition is endearing and special.


9. Everything is cooked with olive oil. There are olive trees everywhere. The father of the family I live with has a glass of red wine with lunch, and white with dinner. I'm the only other person in the house who drinks with him. Every wine I've tried has been from my region. It's all wonderful. This family cooks for me (thank the Lord above or I would STARVE), and all the food is so healthy. Last night we had grilled squid with grilled red and green peppers with onions. And there's always a salad of fresh tomatoes, olives, tuna, onions, sometimes tuna, sometimes apple, and oil and vinegar. I've had empanadas, tapas up to my eyeballs, cocido, tortilla espanola, and everything traditional except paella. The food is amazing. That's all I can say. I've liked everything I've tried except for sardines. Just...can't...do it. They also have a special bread they make here. It's sort of like the mix between a donut and a pancake but flat. SOOO good. Thought my coffee intake as become almost nonexistent apart from school, I do drink earl grey tea like it's my job.


10. Today is the first day I've seen it rain. They don't really have thunderstorms here. I miss thunderstorms that roll in at 3 and are finished at 5.


11. I miss American football. My eyeballs are going to bleed with all the soccer on tv. I miss boiled peanuts and Porky's bbq nachos. Hotty Toddy. Ya know, maybe I'll just spontaneously burst out with a chorus of Hotty Toddy. It wouldn't be any weirder than creating a mustache with my hair all the time.

 12. Disappointed with the selection of alcohol brands. But I'm a simple gal, easy to please, so coke and rum will do it. OH, yeah, coke...They serve coke with lemon. Like in restaurants when you ask for water, usually it comes with lemon, here no. The coke comes with lemon...and so does Corona(not a fan, want limes). But when we went east, my coke came with lime. Lovely.

13. Here is a tradition America should adopt: tapas. I mean, you order a coke and you get free food. Two weeks ago I had one beer, one coke, and one juice and ate so much that I couldn't eat dinner. Tapas consist of some sort of meat(sausage, ham, squid, chorizo), and olive olive, and bread. Also, the ham here is to die for. All the cured meats are amazing, but the ham is heavenly.

14. Medical care is free. Just saying.

15. When you rent movies from the store, you pay when you bring it back. Something I thought strange.


16. They're obsessed with mayo. Not my thing. But more power to them because they're all skinny anyway.

17. There's a bazillion castles. Laura asked me, "Do you have castles in America?". I replied, "No, but we have Indian mounds." Our country ain't that old.


That's all I have for now folks. If any more differences strike me, I shall let you know. Ah, one more: my boyfriend isn't here and that's what I miss the most.

Until next time, Happy Halloween.

"Awake My Soul"

Currently playing: EVERY SONG BY MUMFORD AND SONS!

With that said, I have had one heck of a week.  I took a train to Alcazar de San Juan, which is the town I will be teaching in.  I had no idea where to go, what to do, what to say, or where to begin.  Luckily, a teacher picked me up at the train station, took me to my school: IES Juan Bosco; and introduced me to a lot of teachers.  This town is just like being in Oxford. Everyone is so cordial and willing to help.  The teachers called number after number trying to help me find a flat.  I met a professor named Trinidad (Trini) who offered for me to stay with her while I find a place and get settled.  Her daughter, Laura, speaks English, and she is my new gal pal.  After riding a bike for the first time in 6 years and the first time EVER in traffic, I made it to their house without bruises or fractures.  This is the first HOUSE I've been into since arriving in Spain, because most people live in pisos (apartments).
I ate my first truly Spanish meal, and it is the bomb.  Facts: Trini is a very healthy cook. The house is stunning and large.  There are two men in the family: Antonio, el padre, Miguel, the son.  So nice! Granted, none but Laura speaks English. THIS IS GOOD NEWS! I get to practice my Spanish and teach them English at the same time. I went back to Madrid by train for the evening, and the next morning packed my bags to move to Alcazar. 
Laura had to go away for the weekend to move her things from Bilbao, so she hooked me up with her posse via Jose Luis, who speaks 3 languages, learning a 4th, and translates for MTV. It was a blast. I learned key words like "una caña"- a small beer and "una cubata" rum and coke. The next day: tapas in the sun, a trip to una laguna to see the wild flamingos, and then "botellon".  Botellon is when everyone buys alcohol, drives to a spot on a specific street, and drink, hang out, listen to music. Very chill. Very fun. Sunday: Bbq.

And now I am living with this gracious family.  It's wonderful, and I love it. I started work today.....I had a 20 minute meeting, and that is it!

Spanish culture is very different, intriguing,  Oh, and first thing on Saturday I heard fireworks! I was like do you just have fiestas in general? It was for the patron saint of the town. Fireworks all day, all weekend.  It's time for my siesta, so please see facebook for pictures.

Hasta luego.

Ciudad numero 1

I'm in Madrid! After not sleeping on the plane and talking to the Egyptian boy from Philly about traveling, I had about a 1 hour uncomfortable nap.  En total, I was awake 36 hours so that I could get on Spain time, which if you're wondering is 7 hours ahead of Central time.

I am reading All the Pretty Horses. I'm only about 50 pages in, but McCarthy's style takes some getting used to. Fave passage so far:

" What he loved in horses was what he loved in men, the blood and the heat of the blood that ran them.  All his reverence and all his fondness and all the leanings of his life were for the ardenthearted and they would always be so and never be otherwise." pg. 6

Good stuff.  My hosts are Stuart and Beatrice Aspden, a British man and Spanish woman.  They have three boys: Daniel, 14, who is in boarding school in England; Alvaro, 11; and Gabriel, 7.  They are bilingual, but when they speak English to me, which they insist on to be polite, they have a British accent. Precious.  The Aspdens are currently remodeling their beautiful apartment, so we are all in a small three bedroom place with one bathroom. It's quaint, and I could live here forever.
In fact, Stuart and I talked about why people would ever want to leave Europe for America. Their architecture(s) and culture(s) are centuries old.  It makes America look like a spoiled 5 year old with an Iphone 4. Not to mention, everyone is so distinct looking here. Stereotypically when you think Spanish or Hispanic the only thing coming to mind is black hair, brown eyes, brown skin. BUT NO! Yesterday, a family of ginger kids.....In the posh part of town, everyone is designer-oriented and beautiful.  However, I've also seen more mullets that I have cared to see. Ones with shaved heads and dreads at the end or just shaved heads with long hair at the end....Europe version of the Southern American  classic.

Though I've only eaten one dish that is truly Spanish, I did have a cafe con leche upon arrival.  At the market, there's a station just for olives! A dozen different kinds! So for my first lunch, I had three kinds of olives, fresh shrimp, and salad.

Having studies most of my Spanish from South American speakers, getting accustomed to the Spain acthent is not difficult, just intriguing.


Day 2: I attended Alvaro and Gabriel's Scout Ceremony that was coupled with a Catholic mass.  The ceremony was for the groups to move up into the next group.  Then the families all sit down together and eat.  Everyone sat with their families but would get up, walk around to the other tables, and sample food from everyone.  The only similarity I can think of is dinner on the grounds at church, only this one was much more mobile and less formal.

So, here I am, searching for an apartment in a city an hour away and trying to get my life in order before I cute the safety net: the Aspdens.  Correction from previous post: I will be in a small pueblo Alcazar de San Juan. 


Ciao.

The Beginning of The Beginning

The beginning of the beginning only means that I'm starting a new "chapter".  A new chapter seems trivial, so I would call this, like Jane Austen, a new Book.  Book IV, or the fourth city I have inhabited.  This one just so happens to be across the ocean distanced from everyone I know and all my southern comforts. 

I will be moving from small town Oxford, Mississippi to Ciudad Real, a smallish town in the Castillian-centric region of Castilla-La Mancha.  Known for its wine, windmills, and literary references from Don Quixote, Ciudad Real will be my home fro the next 9 months.  For someone who has had everything placed before her, I have been paying my own way through life this summer.  For the first time I will be living off my own bacon, cheese...what do they call money these days? I guess I better bring the slaughter home, then.  With my saved Bailey Bux and Spanish income, I will officially be independent.  Cue Destiny's Child.  Downside: I can't cook. Add that to the list of things to accomplish. Yes, I have a list of activities I want to accomplish/learn while abroad. 


Number 1: Find a place to live.  No, I do not have a place to live.  I'm being greeted at the Madrid airport by Stuart, a nice Brit and family friend of my aunt in Dubai.  I will be staying with his family for a few days while adjusting to Spanish life.  I'm trying to decide what book to bring on the plane...I'm 300 pages shy of finishing Brisingr, but I'm not about to lug that monster around.  Maybe All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.


Time to finish packing and enjoy my last day in Oxford.