Hasta Luego

SEE YA! I'M OFF TO MOROCCO!

Rio

Went for a run today. Found out there is a path that runs along the river up to the walls. cute. No idea how long these runs are, but they take about an hour so I think they're good.

Not taking a siesta is exhausting. It's only 11:00 and I am about to pass out. Maybe it was the reading in Spanish all day. It's tiring to do homework.

The Bakery: Arctic Monkeys. great song.

Good night.

DJ at home

Who knew...you can watch a steaming show of a kid DJing in his room. haha. Thanks Eric. Went to photo-copy a chapter of a book at the library of the University of Mysticism today...very eventful?

Just been listening to Arctic Monkeys a lot and doing homework...best thing today was skyping with Eric.

MOROCCO TOMORROW!

Baraka

Today I slept through my alarm. Camilia knocked on my door for breakfast and I got ready in 10 minutes and had time to eat breakfast before going to school. Gabriela needs to change our meeting time for tutoring...that means that I don't have to worry about getting back ASAP from Madrid when I see the game there! YAY!

It was very strange weather today. It was sunny, then raining, then sunny...craziness. I have re-found the Arctic Monkey's cover of Take it or Leave it by The Strokes...great stuff.

Been reading a lot today of the history book. Good to go over the info a second time I think, but it's all very familiar so I guess I understood it the first time. 2 days till we leave for Morocco!

In our Mysticism class today we watched a movie called "Baraka". It was really good and our conversation afterward was almost as interesting. Had a little trouble saying what I wanted to once, but think it went ok otherwise.

The whole movie is without words and it just shows scenes of spirituality and puts these against scenes of nature and contrasts these with the rhythm of modern life and the realities of our existence...it was pretty crazy.

Our Professor though said that it's a refreshing example of spirituality. In our society we hear so much and discuss religion, but the essence of religion is the spirituality and the practices and sentiments of the experience. This is what the movie showed. Interesting stuff.

Camilia and I had to speed-walk it back to the residencia for dinner: noodle soup and fried chicken wings. haha. yum.

More reading. I want to go for a run.

ALSO: Proma is coming on SB with EJ and I and we are going to see Christine in ROME!

Cold Cuts

Today was ok I guess...didn't do much of anything. Went to church, but a later mass and there were a LOT more people. I guess it's the kid-friendly one at noon so the place was packed. It was nice because they put the words to everything up on a screen.

Lunch was NOT paella. I don't know why they would do that to me. I sat by this man though who was very nice and speaks English so he wanted to have an "intercambio" so he spoke to me in English and I spoke to him in Spanish. He was very nice.

I slept all afternoon.

Went for a walk around 6. There is a man who is always playing the accordian in El Grande. Always. There were these crazy clouds too coming over the mountains, looked like waves crashing over them...wish I had had my camera.

Dinner on Sunday, like always, was a plate of cold cuts. haha. Every time I giggle a little. I think they taste awesome though, except maybe jamon serrano...it's ok.

Lauryn left for Buenos Aires today. I hope everything goes smoothly, she was a little nervous to leave.

uhhhh

ummmm....so...last night?

We went to a bar and I am still drunk. It's 10:42 in the morning. I think that explains it enough. The police academy started a new group this week (have I mentioned that the national police academy is in Avila?). Many many many people out last night. Some interesting encounters.

1. Guy asks me my name. When I tell him he looks at me with crazy eyes and says, Where are you from? I say the US and he tells his friend. Then he says, "Estas muy guapa", blows me a kiss, and leaves. hahahahaha. He comes back a couple times throughout the night, one time asking me if he can "boyfriend" me. lol. uhhhh no.

2. Another guy introduces himself and asks me "te gusta me amigo" do you like my friend? How do you answer that? I was just like uhhhhhh. haha. He tried to explain it a different way and I told him I understood, but didn't know what to say. He asked me to please introduce myself so I did...when you learn names you give 2 kisses on the cheeks. so...he got his kisses.

3. A group of guys talked to us for a while and asked us to dinner tonight...we will see if they call. Not lunch. IT'S PAELLA DAY! ha.

4. Last group of guys we talked to for a long time. Bought us drinks...I got waaaaaaaay to drunk I think. One of the guys is a Barca fan so I talked with him a lot. We argued with another about Real Madrid. lol. Hopefully my Spanish was ok. I think I'm more fluent with a couple of drinks.

The weird thing about going out is that when people find out that I am American they want to practice their English with me so I usually have to speak a little bit in English...the bartender took my order and then asked where I was from (guess I ordered a strange drink?). Then he told me the cost in English, but I was thinking in Spanish and I got so lost. Eventually figured out he was telling me the price in English.

Good night. Siesta very much needed today. I woke up and went to breakfast...maybe I should have slept?

Old Man

There is this old man who works in the residencia. He eats meals with us always and I sit by him sometimes...like today. No idea what he says, his voice is really gravely and I can't understand him, but he uses lots of hand motions because I think most people can't understand him. haha. He is very nice though and today when he left lunch he patted my head.

Also, I sit with my door open a lot to get air flow and hear things or whatever, but he will pass by my room and say that he's going to sleep or something sometimes. Today he passed by and gave me a cookie. haha. It was good. Barcelona is winning 3-0 right now and INIESTA SCORED! yay! Going out tonight. finally.

BORED!

I am bored. No one wants to go out until tomorrow...they are "sick"...or something. I have too much energy right now. I need to go out tomorrow or I will surely die. I need to just go ask the spaniards to take me with them...maybe I should talk to them more at dinner first...ughhhhhhh!

KALOU!

LOOK WHAT I JUST FOUND! It definitely made my life better.

SNOW!

Today has been very nice...hopefully it keeps getting better. After classes I met Courtney and Camilia and we walked (very very fast) to the market outside the Plaza del Torros...we got there right at the end, so maybe one day I will HAVE TO skip a class to get there. Fun jewelry and things, but a lot of stalls were closed/closing. There is also one with fresh food in Chico. Also, on our way over we passed one of the Spanish students who said hello to me! Maybe we can make a friend! ha.

Lunch was delicious and then after trying, unsuccessfully to take a siesta I finished the Hindi movie "Dev D" the new-age Devdas. Pretty good. Then we went and got tea and pastries in El Grande before going for a walk in the walls. Camilia and I looked through a clothing store that had some cute things. Saw my boots again...maybe one day...

The crazy thing about this day though has been the weather...snowing, sun, snowing, sun. It was sunny when we left and the picture is from when we were returning to the residencia. THICK and heavy snow. Earlier it was like tiny hail, but now it's just huge snowflakes covering EVERYTHING!

My Room Smells Like Detergent

Went to the library this afternoon...very good idea. I swear I almost had a panic attack in class today. Our professor was talking soooo fast. My head was spinning and my stomach started hurting. But then I realized I could understand the words she was saying it was just really really fast and I was uncomfortable, but I knew what she was saying so I just dealt with it. It freaked me out a little though so reading through the material to double check made me feel better.

My clean clothes are hanging all across my room. It smells good in here though right now.

Chupa Chups

I did laundry today for the first time. The washing machine is free and I bought some rope for clothes line in my room so cleaning my clothes is FREE! How nice. I think I am going to go to the library today to do some reading...maybe it'll clear up some problems I have with understanding things in lecture...

Chupa Chups are like our dum dums, but way better. My prize for winning trivia last week. My room got cleaned today as well so it's just a clean day.

Siesta

BEST. NAP. EVER! Had my first quiz today, and after my 4:30 a.m. bedtime last night it felt AMAZING to take my siesta this afternoon. Man, I am getting as lazy as Dharshana and EJ...it's a nice life.

muahahaha

Real Madrid lost to Olympique Leon or however they spell it...it was only 1-0 in France, but still. Watching the game with a bunch of Real fans was funny. Little to they know...muahaha.

Dinner was funny today. Camilia and I somehow ended up in the middle of the group of Spanish students and two talked to us a little bit, but it was a lot of fast Spanish and joking. When I wasn't lost I was laughing. It was nice.

Now, it is super late, but I need to be awake to talk with a professor about a letter of recommendation...so...................tired.

Avila at 6 mph

I went for my first run today. It went reasonably well. I went to the train station and then around the outside of the walls and down the hill over back to the residencia. I had to stop once when going up the hill into the city...it's so long and steep I almost went back home right then. ha. Then I had to stop and look at the map once when I missed my turn...trying to read a map and walk is NOT a good idea. I DID run into a lamp post. My knee hurts now, but the bright side is that I don't think anyone saw.

Classes were easy today for the most part. In La Cultura we talked about options there were over the weekend for Carnaval or Dia de San Valentine. If I had been in Salamanca Sunday I definitely would have gone to the bowling ally for the chocolate fondue and champagne! hahahahaha!

Delicious food for lunch: stew and pureed sweet potatoes with some sort of pork-bit-brown-sugard-meet mixed in. yum.

Palmeras de Chocolate

Barcelona lost...first time in the league this season. Depressing? very. I found something to make me happy again though! I discovered a magical treat that I have stashed for when I have chocolate cravings...PALMERAS DE CHOCOLATE! They are like Mediterranean cookie-type things dipped in chocolate. Best thing ever!

Went for a tour in the walls with Gabriela today. Turns out that Joan of Arc lived here...who knew? There are a bunch of English ladies here studying because they teach Spanish to tiny children...they are kinda funny, but they pretty much know NO Spanish...a little weird.

After the tour Camilia and I walked to the Universidad de Mistica. Now we know where it is, and we walked back to the residencia afterwards and we got there 10 minutes faster than if we had waited and taken the bus. Whoo. Good exercise as well walking through the city (up and down hills!).

We found out too that there are markets every Friday in two plazas: one of fresh food, and the other of jewelry and clothes etc. And we got tips on restaurants in the town. Good day.

Feliz Dia de San Valentin

Well today has been nice...relaxing which I needed. Went to church this morning right next door. It was nice...though I have to learn the prayers in Spanish...on it. But I got to dress up which I love.

For lunch we had PAELLA! Which I guess is an every-sunday thing...best thing of my life! It's soooooooooooooooooo good! Went for a walk and bought some yemas, which are sweets that Avila is famous for. I guess they're pretty much egg yolks and sugar...who knows, but they taste like a jelly bean that has been left out in the sun...very sweet. They are ok. I did a little window shopping within the walls and I found this store that has two pairs of boots that I really really want, but I spent my money on my soccer tickets...worth it? YES! They are cute though. Maybe they'll go further on sale...

Lots of people walking in couples...I miss Eric.

Barca game tonight in Madrid...wish I was there! Will just have to watch on the excellently large TV in the lounge.

Salamanca is the Coldest Place on Earth

Fun weekend...arrived in Salamanca and got to our hostel...right in the Plaza Mayor. Really nice for the price we paid I think. We walked around for a while before getting dinner and then stopped at home before going out. Hopped to a few places, but couldn't find many people our age, except for a group from France...I don't know. On Saturday we walked around the city and saw everything it seems like. It was all very pretty, but hard to enjoy fully because it was the coldest day of my life. It was windy and I wasn't wearing 4 layers so....we got lunch at a fun place with a sweet deal...I had black rice for the first time with seafood...delicious and new.

It was so exhausting walking around all day and dealing with the cold that I slept the whole ride home on the train and then ate dinner and went straight to bed! I am going to go to a mass today...my first time in Spanish. How fun.

CARNAVAL!

Today was easy...now I am just waiting for 4:45 to come around so we can leave for the train station! I am not dressing up tomorrow, but I am exciting for Carnaval. Bought my tickets! Last photo I will put up of a soccer player for a while...

Es Cerdo? Bueno.

Today has been exciting. Had 3 Cultures and Art class today and they went really well. I am pretty sure I understood everything that was said in Art at least...it's weird how fast you start to improve. This afternoon we went to a complementary class on Spanish culture at the university with Christina. She is my professor of Spanish culture and I want to be her friend, or at least have her be my cool aunt. She's just cool. We played a quiz game though on Spain and their weren't many of us there so it ended up being Americans versus the Chinese...it was funny. America won...ha.

Also, between our two classes, Gabriela took us to the cafeteria for coffee and we got to sit and talk with her a bit which was nice. When we returned from school we went with Maria Fernanda to the train station and bought our tickets to Salamanca!!! whooooo we leave tomorrow at 5:00. exciting? yes!

It's funny, whenever we eat now, we just get meat and there is no question as to what is coming...it's going to be meat and you are going to eat it. haha. I love the days when we just get a plate of cold-cuts for dinner: Jamon serrano...yum. haha.

Tomorrow I only have culture and language...an easy day. We are putting on a play in language class...we are planning a robbery (so we have to use temporales and future/subjunctive tenses). Fun right? "Espero que saldremos antes de que venga." just a taste of the poetry.


Also...I get to see this man in real life. yum.

David Silva, Will You Marry Me?

I AM GETTING MY TICKETS...as soon as the check goes through and I have the money in my account: Barcelona at Villarreal and Valencia at Real Madrid. That second one is going to be an amazing game! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, how do I meet one my idols? hmmmmm.

Arquitectura?

Did I spell that right? I don't know and I don't feel like looking it up right now. Today was a fun day of class though. I think I am understanding more of what the professors say. Exciting? A little. Today we learned all about Islamic building decoration and design in Art and Architecture. I kept thinking about India...awww. One day to Salamanca...and better news: If I can find someone to go with me, I can see Barcelona play at Villareal...awesome. And if Gabriela will let me miss one tutoring session I can see Valencia at Madrid...AWESOME! My life may just be coming together.

Ah

Something to perk my spirits: we are going to Salamanca this weekend for Carnaval!!! We booked a hostel and Camilia, Courtney, Maria Fernanda, and I are all going! yay! Should be a lot of fun. We found the street to go to at night and it should be awesome seeing if we want to we can go to a smaller town and see/participate in a running of bulls and bull-fighting.

Depressed

I think I am going to cry...and never stop. All liga games are Sunday nights...really late. So late that the trains stop running to Avila before they end. And then there isn't a train Monday morning that would get me back in time for classes. I can't travel to Barcelona alone...I can't find a way to see a game. I think I am going to die.

All I Want to Do is Wear My Xavi Jersey

Did I mention that I ate tripe yesterday? Yeah. I did. I can thank the people who knew it was pig stomach for telling me after I ate it. awesome.

Today was lots of fun. I had two classes: Spanish culture and Spanish language. Both awesome...Tuesdays and Fridays are going to be nice. They are easy because there are lots of other people in their who don't speak as well, but the worksheets we get are a little difficult so it's definitely worth me time. I liked today.

It's been really cold so I haven't ventured out much...maybe tomorrow. I have been trying to find a soccer game to go to and it's hard. It's really expensive to go to Barcelona and I can't go alone so I can't really go...and then the tickets to watch the game here are really expensive. So I was thinking of seeing Valencia vs Atletico, but all games (including this one) are on a Sunday night and the trains to Avila stop before the games get out...TOO MANY PROBLEMS! How am I going to see a game? I feel sick.

Find Your Center

Last night Camilia and I had our first Mistica class at the mistic center. It is a giant building shaped like a star from above and has all these gardens and crazy passages etc. Very cool. We had to take the bus home though because it's kind of far and it gets out the same time that dinner starts. Exciting. We got mistaken for Spaniards by a woman. cool. And then we had hamburger patties and fries for dinner...it was funny. No homework as of yet...weird. Instead of reading books here and then talking about them, the professors read them and give a lecture on what they say and then you can read if you want to find the book in the library...I hope my Spanish is good enough to be correct on what I am hearing in class...

First Day of School

I had my first class today. I think it went ok. I could understand what the professor was saying most of the time and if I started missing words I could pick up enough to figure out what was going on...I hope. It is raining today and I am getting frustrated that I don't know what to do at night. Either I need to meet some Spaniards, and fast, or Camilia will have to come out and find a bar with me. I just need to be more confident with my speaking I think and go talk to some people. Many of the people who are a little older than us are very nice and open, but other students stay in their groups which is pretty annoying for me. O well.

Sunday in Ávila: Which Church to Go to?

Today has been relaxing kind of. After breakfast I went for a walk around the old city. Finally saw the Convent of Saint Teresa. Very Pretty. Everything is closed up except for a sweet shop and some wine/ham shops. Every hour or so some bells start ringing. It's pretty cool. This afternoon we had paella for lunch...AWESOME! and then Maria Fernanda, Camilia, and I went and looked around the monastery that we are staying next to and the cathedral there. Very cool. Very pretty. Lots of old things and there is a museum of natural science and one of oriental art. Crazy things. Now, I don't think I have time for a siesta, but I couldn't sleep easily last night so maybe it's good to be tired...

Madrid: My Day with EJ

Today we took the train to Madrid. We rode a bad one and it ended up taking over two hours. We got impatient so we got off at an early stop and took the metro to the center of the city. We went first to La Plaza Mayor where EJ met us because he was in Madrid as well. We saw El Palacio Real y El Parque de Buen Retiro and more. It was a fun day. Camilia and Courtney went to an art museum around 3 so I hung out with EJ. It was a nice day and I was happy to spend some time with EJ. Like Madrid a LOT. Great atmosphere and lots to see within walking distance. I have been walking so much it seems. Also, el comedor gave us sack lunches to bring so we had picnic in the park. How cute.

Ávila at Night

dinner: soup made from the potatoes and beans at lunch and a grilled cheese and ham sandwich...it was delicious! haha. After dinner Camilia and I walked to the old city and wondered around. Lots of teenagers oddly enough. It was nice to stroll. We need to meet some people who know where to go at night...we did get a call of "reina reina" however so...tomorrow = MADRID!

I Have a New Orange Phone!

Today has been very enjoyable. We missed breakfast..whoops and went out for coffee/hot chocolate and churros instead. Delicious and a cute cafe/bar. Afterwards we searched out phones before going to orientation with Sonsoles, our program director, at the school. Easy to get to and easy to navigate.

Phone Time! Camilia and I bought pre-paid phones at Orange. Some network I have never heard of. A phone for 19 euros. bueno. Also, it is orange. awesome! Starting to find my bearings here and already recognize places that can help point home, though we always carry a map still!

We met a guy from New York here. He is really nice and funny. He never knew Spanish before and is working really hard at it and has been here a while. Also, we met a girl who lives on our floor and sat by them both at lunch. Yay for meeting people.

Went to the market the first time today and got some laundry stuff and soap for my bathroom. Working on a plan to go to Madrid tomorrow....EJ IS THERE!!! My first call on my new phone was to EJ who told me he is in Madrid (whoo hoo for meeting up) and he's going to a Real game on Sunday (not so jealous). haha. Stores around here have lots of Real merchandise...uhhhh. o well. I found a date to go to Barcelona that could be amazing...

First Day: Damn Three-pronged Electronics

Me duele la cabeza. There is a reason you learn this song so early in Spanish classes. My flights went well...both arrived early and left the seat next to me open: score! I tried to sleep on the way to Madrid, but it was so uncomfortable...a little, but not much. I watched Whip It on the plane...pretty good movie. ok.

When Courtney and I got here we waited for Camilia and we had a driver who spoke only Spanish, but for basic purposes everything was smooth. Spain looks different than I thought, maybe not, but kinda...make sense? There are a lot more mountains. Lots of hills and valleys and cities built on mountain sides and the trees are all crazy! As we got closer to Avila, we were so high that we were looking down on clouds and fog in the valleys...pretty weird.

Got settled, my room door likes to jerk me around and it never locks or unlocks within the first 8 turns of the key. Character? I have my own bathroom! Exciting...and a nice sized closet, not that I brought enough clothes to fill it.

We went for lunch at 2:00...dining is pretty interesting. The comedor has a long table and you sit in the next available chair as you enter so you sit next to random people all the time. At lunch I got a list of ingredients from a man training with the police academy for the custard-like desert we were given (flour, sugar, vanilla, milk) haha. it was delicious. They serve you in courses: soup, salad, meat, desert, and there is water, wine, and some sort of soda gaseonera? You can have your choice.

After lunch we took our siesta...MUCH needed! I just passed out until Camilia and Courtney got me at 4:30 and we wondered around Avila and looked around the walled city. Love the city planning. They have both been to Europe before so maybe it was weird that I was obsessing over the narrow roads and the buildings and the sidewalks, etc...at the top of the hill there are the walls and a GREAT view of the landscape below...mountains, fields, cityscape...very cool. We then returned for a little orientation and then we had a little time for leisure before dinner.

Dinner was more soup...I have no idea what was in it, but it was tasty, and a potato-kiesch type thing. I had the wine and soda mix drink for dinner...delicious. We sat by a guy from Madrid who was working in Avila who gave us some tips on what we need to see when we visit...maybe this weekend? Tomorrow is our last day of orientation and then we don't start classes until Monday. Need to go shopping. Need to get a phone.

So much Spanish though. We decided to speak to each other in only Spanish and all the people at the residencia speak only Spanish. Falling into it ok I think? I am understanding people...four months and I think it will be good. We shall see...