Hey-Oh Guys! I know I am totally lame and bad at posting and I'm very sorry! I don't have a very good excuse. I'm just lazy. But I'm writing now! So that's something. A lot has happened so I'm not totally sure what to write about, but I suppose I'll write a few little fun anecdotes and hope it makes up for my lack of attentiveness to my attentive readers.
"I {Heart} Art" or "All the Cool Kids Hang Out at Museums"
Madrid is home to 3 large and super incredible museums: The Prado, The Reina Sofia and The Thyssen- Bornemisza. As of this afternoon, I have been to all three! Now here's the part where I brag about all the amazing artists I have seen. Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keefe, Monet, Manet, Rembrant, Picasso, Dalhi, Renoir, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Matisse, Goya, Kandinsky, Chagall, Morisot, Luce, Degas... You know, the usual. The Thyssen was by far my favorite museum, the collection had all the great impressionists and post-impressionists and the works were varied enough to be interesting but similar enough to flow together. I also went to a gorgeous exhibition there called "Heroines" that was all work portraying women or done by female artists. It was incredible. The work in the exhibition spanned thousands of years and multiple genres: it was fantastic. The Reina Sofia is a modern art museum and although some of the art was a bit too modern-y for me (Seriously? You painted a big circle in the middle of a canvas? Really?), I got to see Guernica, and it was one of the most breath-taking pieces of art I have ever seen. It blew me away. The Prado was mostly classic art and painters and as much as I enjoyed being surrounded by the history (the paintings spanned from the 14th to 17th centuries mostly) one can only look at so many paintings of Jesus and Spanish royalty before it gets a little bit old. Literally! Ha! But seriously, I'm just an art junkie. The best times I've had here have been looking at art and exploring the areas around the museums. Also, I've gotten some kick-ass gifts for people at the museum gift shops. Hell yeah!
"Friends Make Graphs Together"
I have friends now! Well, in Spain that is. I still have no friends in the States... Just kidding! But seriously. I struck up a conversation with a girl in a museum a few weeks ago and she was a fellow traveler who was in Madrid for a few days. She was from Germany and studied history at university so wandering around Sol with her was great! She knew all these interesting and random facts about the old buildings and cathedrals. Spain is so full of history! She invited me to come out with her and a few girls she had met at her hostel that night and we had a great time. Two of the other girls were also from Germany and leaving the next day but one of the girls I met, named Helene, is staying in Madrid for three months! We all had a blast eating tapas and drinking sangria and Helene and I have hung out a few more times and are planning a trip to Lisbon, Portugal this weekend. I'm SO psyched. It has also felt really nice to talk with and connect with people.
One of my biggest challenges here is not the homesickness, or the loneliness, although they are both difficult. My biggest battle has had to do with the language barrier. The language barrier has kept me from being able to express what I'm thinking or want to say. The worst part though, is not feeling like myself because of it. When I'm listening to a conversation, I can't interject with my opinions or make a funny comment; when I meet someone new, I can't compliment them on their purse or scarf to strike up a conversation. It's making me a much better listener, but it's hard to be away from everything I know and not even have the comfort of my own self. But I'm also having a chance to learn and grow from this feeling. I was talking to my mom about it and she was saying that very often, we define ourselves based on the people around us. And especially being the social butterfly that I am, I tend to do this. I am getting an opportunity that most people never get: to define myself away from everyone and everything that is familiar to me. To define who I am, who I want to be, completely on my own. And as scary or discomforting as it may be, it is such an incredible chance to really be my own person. Many people share that they have learned more about themselves while traveling than they ever did at home, and I think this is why. Just like all the challenges I face here, I'm taking this one with an open mind and an open heart, ready to be pleasantly surprised.
"The Metro Rocks My Socks" or "My Imagination Runs Rampant"
I love the Metro. So much. I am able to get anywhere I want in the city, for 1 euro. On top of that, it's fast! The longest I've waited for a train? 4 minutes. Longest ride I've been on? 30 minutes. And that includes a transfer. And it would've taken just as long to drive there. It's clean and easy to navigate and makes me feel very cool and grown up. Also, I have an awesome mix on mt ipod to listen to and the train sounds actually make the music even better! Here's my favorite story from the Metro so far...
Like most big cities and subways, the Madrid Metro has musicians that play in the stations and on the trains. Unlike most places I've seen however, most of the musicians bring along amplifiers on wheels that play elevator-esque accompaniment. I find it cheesy and quite frankly, I think it's cheating. The many tunnels and halls of the Metro make it so that when this back-up music is played, the echoes make it impossible to tell what the musician is actually capable of playing. Totally unfair advantage. Although I do admire their commitment to lug around these heavy piece of equipment in order to conform to the acceptable behavior of Spanish street-performers.
The school where I recently started taking Spanish courses is located in Sol. Sol is one of the numerous regions in Madrid that is dubbed the "center." I'm not completely sure which is actually the geographic or cultural center of the city, but Sol is certainly quite busy. The Metro station is no exception. The station corresponds with 4 different lines and you can also access the rail trains. There, in the middle of the hustle and bustle, I viewed one of the greatest love stories ever lived. In the far corner while walking towards the platform for Line 1, there was a man playing his violin. He was older, and reminded me of my grandfather. He had no amplifier and no back up music, and he was playing a beautiful melody. In the seat beside him, his wife sat, turning his pages and looking at him with what I can only imagine, is a lifetime worth of love. In fact, I did imagine it. I wrote the entire story of their lives in that single moment. It was comparable to the Notebook as far as epic love stories go. They stayed together, fought for one another, through disapproving parents, wars, new lovers, distance... Their love was unwavering. Since the moment they were married 49 years ago, they've yet to leave each others side for more than a few days. The husband has always loved music and his wife has always supported him. She has sat with him in that Metro station for 7 years, looking at him with love and turning his pages when he gives a small nod.
At least, that's how I imagine it.
*UPDATE*- My second favorite Metro story? Serenaded on the train today by two middle-aged gentleman playing guitars. Everyone on the train stared and clapped at the end. It was awesome.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
"Hey Lady! If your baby's so smart, why can't it block my karate?"
It's been a rough couple of days here in good ol' Espana. I've been super homesick and more than that, very lonely. I spend 80% of my time alone and being the social butterfly that I am, it's been hard on me. Anyways, Lizzi suggested I make this list and it made me feel quite better actually.
Things That Make Me Happy- :{D <------- This!
1. Mustaches. They are awesome.
2. Monocles. Also awesome.
3. Sunny days that aren't hot, just warm, and they warm your insides too.
4. Bubbles!! And my bubble tattoo!
5. Poetry! Everything about it.
5a. My favorite poets! Andrea Gibson, Buddy Wakefield, Charles Bukowski, Cummings (EE and EM), Whitman, the works!
5b. That feeling when I read a really good poem! It's a heart fluttery feeling and fills my whole body and makes me go "oooooh!"
5c. That feeling when I WRITE a really good poem. Pride and excitement to share it with the people around me!
6. My music!! Listening to the perfect song can turn my whole day around sometimes.
6a. Being a music snob. I know I'm pretentious with my music, and I love it. I'm a dirty fucking hipster.
7. My family. They're freaking awesome and I love them! I am so so lucky to have a family who loves and supports me in everything that I do. I know they want what's best for me and they are always there for me when I need them. They give the best advice, tell the funniest stories, and know that a hug and a game of cards can still be delivered, even if you're 5000 miles away.
8. My friends!
8a. Making new friends! I love getting to know someone and learning things about them and clicking. I made 4 new friends the other day and we had an amazing time going to a museum and out for tapas!
8b. Old friends. They're the ones that know me best and the ones I can always turn to. I love our crazy adventures, inside jokes and hilarious shenanigans. You know who you are!
9. A good book, a cup of tea, two pieces of toast, one with butter and jam and one with butter and yeast, and a fire in the fireplace.
9a. Coffee and doughnut Sunday!!!
10. In-depth intellectual conversations.
11. Kids books!
12. Baby animals!!!!! All of them. All of them. :D I want them all to live with me. Why are baby animals so far away from me? I want to hold them and feed them a leaf... Or whatever food they like.
12a. Little plastic animals, like the ones from the LQ vending machine.
13. This picture. http://srslycute.com/3004/happiest-sheep-in-the-world/
14. My favorite movies and tv shows! Like How I Met Your Mother. It makes me laugh. :)
15. Getting mail! REAL mail. Not stupid college pamphlets or advertisements. I love getting letters! Or packages from my family!
16. Baking and then eating the yummy things I bake!
17. Riding my bike when it's nice out!
18. Picking out a really cute outfit.
19. Being silly and goofy and weird.
20. Singing and acting and dancing!
21. Playing soccer!
22. Watching March Madness with my family.
23. Making people laugh.
24. Warm rain.
25. PUNS! "I swallowed some food coloring the other day. The doctor says I'm gonna be ok, but I dyed a little inside." Bahahaha!!
I know this list is a little cheesy and I promise to write another real post here soon, but hopefully this holds you over. And it made me happy to write it!
Things That Make Me Happy- :{D <------- This!
1. Mustaches. They are awesome.
2. Monocles. Also awesome.
3. Sunny days that aren't hot, just warm, and they warm your insides too.
4. Bubbles!! And my bubble tattoo!
5. Poetry! Everything about it.
5a. My favorite poets! Andrea Gibson, Buddy Wakefield, Charles Bukowski, Cummings (EE and EM), Whitman, the works!
5b. That feeling when I read a really good poem! It's a heart fluttery feeling and fills my whole body and makes me go "oooooh!"
5c. That feeling when I WRITE a really good poem. Pride and excitement to share it with the people around me!
6. My music!! Listening to the perfect song can turn my whole day around sometimes.
6a. Being a music snob. I know I'm pretentious with my music, and I love it. I'm a dirty fucking hipster.
7. My family. They're freaking awesome and I love them! I am so so lucky to have a family who loves and supports me in everything that I do. I know they want what's best for me and they are always there for me when I need them. They give the best advice, tell the funniest stories, and know that a hug and a game of cards can still be delivered, even if you're 5000 miles away.
8. My friends!
8a. Making new friends! I love getting to know someone and learning things about them and clicking. I made 4 new friends the other day and we had an amazing time going to a museum and out for tapas!
8b. Old friends. They're the ones that know me best and the ones I can always turn to. I love our crazy adventures, inside jokes and hilarious shenanigans. You know who you are!
9. A good book, a cup of tea, two pieces of toast, one with butter and jam and one with butter and yeast, and a fire in the fireplace.
9a. Coffee and doughnut Sunday!!!
10. In-depth intellectual conversations.
11. Kids books!
12. Baby animals!!!!! All of them. All of them. :D I want them all to live with me. Why are baby animals so far away from me? I want to hold them and feed them a leaf... Or whatever food they like.
12a. Little plastic animals, like the ones from the LQ vending machine.
13. This picture. http://srslycute.com/3004/happiest-sheep-in-the-world/
14. My favorite movies and tv shows! Like How I Met Your Mother. It makes me laugh. :)
15. Getting mail! REAL mail. Not stupid college pamphlets or advertisements. I love getting letters! Or packages from my family!
16. Baking and then eating the yummy things I bake!
17. Riding my bike when it's nice out!
18. Picking out a really cute outfit.
19. Being silly and goofy and weird.
20. Singing and acting and dancing!
21. Playing soccer!
22. Watching March Madness with my family.
23. Making people laugh.
24. Warm rain.
25. PUNS! "I swallowed some food coloring the other day. The doctor says I'm gonna be ok, but I dyed a little inside." Bahahaha!!
I know this list is a little cheesy and I promise to write another real post here soon, but hopefully this holds you over. And it made me happy to write it!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Adventure Time is Adventure-y, That's Why They Call it Adventure Time!
Hey beautiful friends! I'm sitting in a plaza and drinking coffee in the sunshine and it's perfectly picturesque. I finally found a little cafe near my house and it's got great outside seating near this huge fountain. it's gorgeous and the coffee is fantastic. Sorry I'm so lame and bad at writing here! But I'll update you guys on my adventures of the last few days. (Sorry if lists annoy but I'm diggin' on them right now. I've always been crap at transitions.)
1. Thursday- I went to a museum! It was on the third floor of this really beautiful building and it was free. They had an exhibit of nude drawings and sculptures and paintings and it was gorgeous! (Pictures are on my facebook!) The rest of the museum was filled with coins from ancient Rome, ancient Greece, Spain... They were hundred, some even thousands of years old! It was incredible to be surrounded by that kind of history but one can only look at coins for so long, especially when you can't read the plaques so you're not totally sure what it is that you're looking at. I was in a really cool San Fran-esque region of town so I walked around and shopped for a few hours. I didn't buy anything but I am on a quest... The quest for the perfect purse! it's a quest every woman must go on at some point in her life, and I am on it. The purse I brought with me is too small to carry everything I need so I've been looking for one that's bigger (and cute, and moderately priced and over the shoulder...) Anyways! The stores were really cool and the one store that I really liked reminded me of Urban Outfitters fused with Pac Sun. Like what a hipster would wear if they lived near the beach. But we all know that hipsters hate the sun.
2. Friday- Navigated the metro! Whoo! Take that fear of public transportation! It's super clean and easy to figure out, even when you barely speak the language. I was super proud of myself for not getting freaked out or anxious. I think it helped that I was listening to a really really good mix on my ipod. (Fyi, Time to Pretend by MGMT and Wake Up by Arcade Fire blend super well with subway sounds, if anyone wants to try.) I went to Retiro Park (the Central Park of Madrid) and walked around for like 3 hours. It was gorgeous! Pictures and videos to come. There were a ton of incredible statues and flowers and architecture and poeple from all over the world! I heard conversations in at least 6 different languages. I went to the center of the park where there's this little pond to rent row boats! It was super cool and once I have friends, I'm going back and getting a boat. Then I went into this incredible plaza and sat and wrote in my journal and people-watched for a while. The weather was perfect and I was a happy camper. Then this street vendor guy who was selling jewelry started talking to me and we had like a ten minute conversation (in Spanish) and he was really nice and I bought a ring off of him for my mom (and I haggled for it. Bam!) Then I left the park and found a cafe and had some coffee and the BEST croissant I've ever eaten in my life. My mind was officially blown and my skin was officially sunburnt.
3. Saturday- Saturday was lame and therefore not worth writing about. Wait! The moon was cool on Saturday! It was huge! And awesome! The end.
4. Sunday- Went to some bad ass Roman ruins today at Segrobriga. We went with a few families who have children about Ishor's age so there was a group of 11 of us! We went into the park and the first part was a movie and museum of information about the ruins. I got really excited cause the movie had English subtitles and all the plaques had translations! But the park had obviously not spent a lot of money on their translating service because there were a TON of really funny misspellings and grammar mistakes and misuses of words. It was hilarious. Direct quote, "These ruins was builded by the romans in [some year] ad..." Then we waited for the tour guide but I was not too fond of the tour. I couldn't understand the guide and the group of people was hugeeeeee. The ruins were gorgeous and incredible but the feeling reminded me of going to Garden of the Gods. I realized why I don't like it, and it was the same with this park. I hate that people take these amazing marvels of the world, or of nature, and industrialize them beyond recognition. They make them so commercial: adding guard rails, paved trails, cement so things don't fall apart... It's the same way I feel about the cog and Pike's Peak. All these additions are nice because they make these places more accessible but it seems to detract from the grandeur. I can't absorb the history and feel of a place when it's been tampered with so much. So that was sorta disappointing. But I took a ton of pictures and had a really great day anyway! The other families we were with were really really nice and I spoke in Spanish all day! During our picnic lunch all the parents were asking me questions and the skills I've been taught since Spanish one kicked in! I told them about my family, my interests, my home, my city, my school... It was awesome. I was surprised how easily it seemed to roll of my tongue. We all talked and laughed together and they told me I was nice and they liked me. WIN! I am now officially charming in TWO languages.
4. Overall, I feel like I'm learning a TON. Not only am I learning a new language and a new culture, but I'm learning things about myself. I'm learning how to be alone and content in my solitude (Bukowski would be proud); I'm learning to be a sponge, more of a listener and less of a talker. I have a constant inner monologue and not a lot of ways to express it, so I'm writing more. I'm learning to give myself credit for doing something this challenging when I'm still young. I'm learning to give myself "little victories" that make me feel better when the hard stuff comes. I'm learning how to be separated from my family and take on these huge battles without as much as help as I'm used to. I know my family and friends will always be there to support me and guide me, but it's harder when they're so far away. And I'm still homesick... A lot. A friend who is also traveling right now told me that homesickness is like a callous: it doesn't go away, but it starts to hurt less. You learn how to cope. I think this a pretty accurate assessment of my current feelings. I miss everyone SO much; I wish that you could all be here with me, laughing at poor English, exploring parks and museums... I wish you all could have fit in my suit case. But I know that you are all supporting me, sending me beams of love and happiness and courage, especially when times are hard. And I know that you will all be waiting for me when I get home. Waiting with love, hugs, kisses, open arms and open ears. (Open ears especially, cause we all know I'm gonna be a conversational steam engine to make up for three months of being quiet.)
1. Thursday- I went to a museum! It was on the third floor of this really beautiful building and it was free. They had an exhibit of nude drawings and sculptures and paintings and it was gorgeous! (Pictures are on my facebook!) The rest of the museum was filled with coins from ancient Rome, ancient Greece, Spain... They were hundred, some even thousands of years old! It was incredible to be surrounded by that kind of history but one can only look at coins for so long, especially when you can't read the plaques so you're not totally sure what it is that you're looking at. I was in a really cool San Fran-esque region of town so I walked around and shopped for a few hours. I didn't buy anything but I am on a quest... The quest for the perfect purse! it's a quest every woman must go on at some point in her life, and I am on it. The purse I brought with me is too small to carry everything I need so I've been looking for one that's bigger (and cute, and moderately priced and over the shoulder...) Anyways! The stores were really cool and the one store that I really liked reminded me of Urban Outfitters fused with Pac Sun. Like what a hipster would wear if they lived near the beach. But we all know that hipsters hate the sun.
2. Friday- Navigated the metro! Whoo! Take that fear of public transportation! It's super clean and easy to figure out, even when you barely speak the language. I was super proud of myself for not getting freaked out or anxious. I think it helped that I was listening to a really really good mix on my ipod. (Fyi, Time to Pretend by MGMT and Wake Up by Arcade Fire blend super well with subway sounds, if anyone wants to try.) I went to Retiro Park (the Central Park of Madrid) and walked around for like 3 hours. It was gorgeous! Pictures and videos to come. There were a ton of incredible statues and flowers and architecture and poeple from all over the world! I heard conversations in at least 6 different languages. I went to the center of the park where there's this little pond to rent row boats! It was super cool and once I have friends, I'm going back and getting a boat. Then I went into this incredible plaza and sat and wrote in my journal and people-watched for a while. The weather was perfect and I was a happy camper. Then this street vendor guy who was selling jewelry started talking to me and we had like a ten minute conversation (in Spanish) and he was really nice and I bought a ring off of him for my mom (and I haggled for it. Bam!) Then I left the park and found a cafe and had some coffee and the BEST croissant I've ever eaten in my life. My mind was officially blown and my skin was officially sunburnt.
3. Saturday- Saturday was lame and therefore not worth writing about. Wait! The moon was cool on Saturday! It was huge! And awesome! The end.
4. Sunday- Went to some bad ass Roman ruins today at Segrobriga. We went with a few families who have children about Ishor's age so there was a group of 11 of us! We went into the park and the first part was a movie and museum of information about the ruins. I got really excited cause the movie had English subtitles and all the plaques had translations! But the park had obviously not spent a lot of money on their translating service because there were a TON of really funny misspellings and grammar mistakes and misuses of words. It was hilarious. Direct quote, "These ruins was builded by the romans in [some year] ad..." Then we waited for the tour guide but I was not too fond of the tour. I couldn't understand the guide and the group of people was hugeeeeee. The ruins were gorgeous and incredible but the feeling reminded me of going to Garden of the Gods. I realized why I don't like it, and it was the same with this park. I hate that people take these amazing marvels of the world, or of nature, and industrialize them beyond recognition. They make them so commercial: adding guard rails, paved trails, cement so things don't fall apart... It's the same way I feel about the cog and Pike's Peak. All these additions are nice because they make these places more accessible but it seems to detract from the grandeur. I can't absorb the history and feel of a place when it's been tampered with so much. So that was sorta disappointing. But I took a ton of pictures and had a really great day anyway! The other families we were with were really really nice and I spoke in Spanish all day! During our picnic lunch all the parents were asking me questions and the skills I've been taught since Spanish one kicked in! I told them about my family, my interests, my home, my city, my school... It was awesome. I was surprised how easily it seemed to roll of my tongue. We all talked and laughed together and they told me I was nice and they liked me. WIN! I am now officially charming in TWO languages.
4. Overall, I feel like I'm learning a TON. Not only am I learning a new language and a new culture, but I'm learning things about myself. I'm learning how to be alone and content in my solitude (Bukowski would be proud); I'm learning to be a sponge, more of a listener and less of a talker. I have a constant inner monologue and not a lot of ways to express it, so I'm writing more. I'm learning to give myself credit for doing something this challenging when I'm still young. I'm learning to give myself "little victories" that make me feel better when the hard stuff comes. I'm learning how to be separated from my family and take on these huge battles without as much as help as I'm used to. I know my family and friends will always be there to support me and guide me, but it's harder when they're so far away. And I'm still homesick... A lot. A friend who is also traveling right now told me that homesickness is like a callous: it doesn't go away, but it starts to hurt less. You learn how to cope. I think this a pretty accurate assessment of my current feelings. I miss everyone SO much; I wish that you could all be here with me, laughing at poor English, exploring parks and museums... I wish you all could have fit in my suit case. But I know that you are all supporting me, sending me beams of love and happiness and courage, especially when times are hard. And I know that you will all be waiting for me when I get home. Waiting with love, hugs, kisses, open arms and open ears. (Open ears especially, cause we all know I'm gonna be a conversational steam engine to make up for three months of being quiet.)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
10 Lessons in 5 Days
Alright everyone! I know I have been a stupid face (as Meara pointed out) and have not written in a few days! But I've been out learning instead of writing! Here is what I've learned.
1. Two kisses, one on each cheek, is the typical greeting in Spain. I definitely did try to shake someone's hand at first, and they were super weirded out.
2. Everything is different. Doorknobs, phones, light switches, showers, elevators, stoves, ovens, electrical outslets... All different. It's a learning curve really, adjusting to things like the main floor in a building be floor 0, not floor 1, stoves being sorta touch screen, fruit being a typical dessert and eaten with silverware, NOT your hands.
3. Street signs are a luxury. I've seen a total of 4 street signs since I arrived in Spain. They only exist on main streets and are placed very high up on buildings. There are no street signs in residential areas or any cross streets.
4. Cake is delicious in every language. Similarly, so are bread, jam, fruit, orange juice, ham, cheese and pizza. In fact, these things may even be better in Spain. Other things... Are not as good.
5. Get out of the house early. The past two days, and almost every week day until I leave, I'll be home alone all day. This gives me an awesome opportunity to go experience things on my own. But, I've discovered that most little stores and boutiques close before 2 and similar to Colorado in the summer time, it seems to rain here at about 5 every day. Solution: get out early, get to the stores, home before the rain.
6. Always bring an umbrella. However, if you don't have an umbrella and it starts to rain and you are standing on a street corner, people will share their umbrellas and be super nice and make your day. So maybe it's no so bad to forget.
7. Everyone is attractive. I'm not kidding. The ratio to good looking people to unfortunate looking people is much different then in the states. I went to a birthday party for a neighbor of ours and several of the parents could have been movie stars. Everyone is fashionable and chic and awesome.
7b. People do not wear ripped jeans. Also, androgyny is so not in here. I have not seen any women with short hair or in men's styles. Also, I haven't seen any lesbians. Lame.
8. People talk fast. Sometimes, they sound like a movie or song set to fast forward. I have had a really hard time understanding the language but I know that my brain will click over eventually. Also, if I stare at people blankly, they sometimes translate what they said! So that's sorta my strategy right now.
9. Kids are the same everywhere. Kids love Spongebob, Spiderman, TV and pizza and they hate taking showers and running errands. They don't listen and they wander off and get distracted by leaves and shiny things. They have short attention spans and don't like books as much as you want them to. The boy who I am teaching, Ishor (age 5) is no exception. But he's freaking adorable, so that makes it ok. :)
10. Breathe. This one I already knew, but I'm always remembering it. When I got lost this afternoon, when I was surrounded by people I couldn't communicate with, when my luggage got deayed, simply breathe and it will past. Lonliness, home sickness, jet lag, culture shock, anonymity... All battles I've faced the passed few days. But I know that if I take deep breaths and try not to get overwhelmed, I will be ok. I have the support of my friends and family and I'm on one of the greatest adventures of my life.
1. Two kisses, one on each cheek, is the typical greeting in Spain. I definitely did try to shake someone's hand at first, and they were super weirded out.
2. Everything is different. Doorknobs, phones, light switches, showers, elevators, stoves, ovens, electrical outslets... All different. It's a learning curve really, adjusting to things like the main floor in a building be floor 0, not floor 1, stoves being sorta touch screen, fruit being a typical dessert and eaten with silverware, NOT your hands.
3. Street signs are a luxury. I've seen a total of 4 street signs since I arrived in Spain. They only exist on main streets and are placed very high up on buildings. There are no street signs in residential areas or any cross streets.
4. Cake is delicious in every language. Similarly, so are bread, jam, fruit, orange juice, ham, cheese and pizza. In fact, these things may even be better in Spain. Other things... Are not as good.
5. Get out of the house early. The past two days, and almost every week day until I leave, I'll be home alone all day. This gives me an awesome opportunity to go experience things on my own. But, I've discovered that most little stores and boutiques close before 2 and similar to Colorado in the summer time, it seems to rain here at about 5 every day. Solution: get out early, get to the stores, home before the rain.
6. Always bring an umbrella. However, if you don't have an umbrella and it starts to rain and you are standing on a street corner, people will share their umbrellas and be super nice and make your day. So maybe it's no so bad to forget.
7. Everyone is attractive. I'm not kidding. The ratio to good looking people to unfortunate looking people is much different then in the states. I went to a birthday party for a neighbor of ours and several of the parents could have been movie stars. Everyone is fashionable and chic and awesome.
7b. People do not wear ripped jeans. Also, androgyny is so not in here. I have not seen any women with short hair or in men's styles. Also, I haven't seen any lesbians. Lame.
8. People talk fast. Sometimes, they sound like a movie or song set to fast forward. I have had a really hard time understanding the language but I know that my brain will click over eventually. Also, if I stare at people blankly, they sometimes translate what they said! So that's sorta my strategy right now.
9. Kids are the same everywhere. Kids love Spongebob, Spiderman, TV and pizza and they hate taking showers and running errands. They don't listen and they wander off and get distracted by leaves and shiny things. They have short attention spans and don't like books as much as you want them to. The boy who I am teaching, Ishor (age 5) is no exception. But he's freaking adorable, so that makes it ok. :)
10. Breathe. This one I already knew, but I'm always remembering it. When I got lost this afternoon, when I was surrounded by people I couldn't communicate with, when my luggage got deayed, simply breathe and it will past. Lonliness, home sickness, jet lag, culture shock, anonymity... All battles I've faced the passed few days. But I know that if I take deep breaths and try not to get overwhelmed, I will be ok. I have the support of my friends and family and I'm on one of the greatest adventures of my life.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Day 2!
London Heathrow is Super Confusing or I Love Sprinting Around Airports
I have officially navigated the most stressful and confusing airport I have ever set foot in. Here's the scoop. I got off my incredibly long flight from Denver and got on a bus for ten minutes. This bus took me to from the plane to terminal 5. My flight was leaving from terminal three. I navigated numerous signs and escalators to get to yet a another 15 minute bus ride. By this time, my plane was leaving in less than an hour. Surprise! Guess what? I got to go through security again! So that was fun, as always.
Once inside terminal 3, I found a restroom with several broken toilets and a line. I was hungry and thirsty but I decided to go find my gate first. (Hold on, just got some fake cheese stuck in between the keys of my brand new laptop. Sweet. Awesome souvenir number two!) I navigated many signs, lobbies, stores and a shit ton of people and I found it. Problem. They took your ticket at the door into the gate and once you went in, you could not go back out. There were no restaurants anywhere near the gate and my plane was going to begin boarding in 15 minutes. I ran back to the restrooms so I could at least fill my water bottle and went inside the gate. I pulled out my laptop, prepared to send an e-mail or post a facebook status about my arrival. Surprise! No free wifi and my plane was boarding.
My decision: Say what you will about TSA bullshit, but the US does airports better. I would take JFK or LAX over London Heathrow any day.
Part Two: Iberia is Less Fancy (But They Sure Do Try!)
Back to standard airplanes with no leg room, dingy compartments, no tv and no free socks. My Iberia flight is very similar to a domestic US flight, only bilingual. All their flight attendants and directions are done in both English and Spanish. Yay! Testing my comprehension and ability to understand the Spain-Spanish lisp. Not failing too hard!
Iberia does try to make you feel fancy by playing instrumental music (one of the songs from Rocky may have played? Classy?) while you are boarding and taxi-ing and they have a big ol' menu of food, of which absolutely nothing is free! Not even a free drink. Good thing I got some crackers and biscuits! I bought an orange juice and did my first transaction with the Euro!
These seats are seriously so close together that is impossible for someone to get out without totally putting their ass all up in your face. Lesson learned. Get up the next time someone needs to get by.
I have been getting crazy deja vu since yesterday, as if I totally dreamt all of this. Maybe I am dreaming? Ouch. Just pinched myself and turned on a light switch. Not dreaming. Unless I suddenly became a beast at lucid dreaming. Cause that'd be pretty cool.
Can you tell I'm exhausted? Hope my family likes loopy Kaleena! At least I'm excited right?
I have officially navigated the most stressful and confusing airport I have ever set foot in. Here's the scoop. I got off my incredibly long flight from Denver and got on a bus for ten minutes. This bus took me to from the plane to terminal 5. My flight was leaving from terminal three. I navigated numerous signs and escalators to get to yet a another 15 minute bus ride. By this time, my plane was leaving in less than an hour. Surprise! Guess what? I got to go through security again! So that was fun, as always.
Once inside terminal 3, I found a restroom with several broken toilets and a line. I was hungry and thirsty but I decided to go find my gate first. (Hold on, just got some fake cheese stuck in between the keys of my brand new laptop. Sweet. Awesome souvenir number two!) I navigated many signs, lobbies, stores and a shit ton of people and I found it. Problem. They took your ticket at the door into the gate and once you went in, you could not go back out. There were no restaurants anywhere near the gate and my plane was going to begin boarding in 15 minutes. I ran back to the restrooms so I could at least fill my water bottle and went inside the gate. I pulled out my laptop, prepared to send an e-mail or post a facebook status about my arrival. Surprise! No free wifi and my plane was boarding.
My decision: Say what you will about TSA bullshit, but the US does airports better. I would take JFK or LAX over London Heathrow any day.
Part Two: Iberia is Less Fancy (But They Sure Do Try!)
Back to standard airplanes with no leg room, dingy compartments, no tv and no free socks. My Iberia flight is very similar to a domestic US flight, only bilingual. All their flight attendants and directions are done in both English and Spanish. Yay! Testing my comprehension and ability to understand the Spain-Spanish lisp. Not failing too hard!
Iberia does try to make you feel fancy by playing instrumental music (one of the songs from Rocky may have played? Classy?) while you are boarding and taxi-ing and they have a big ol' menu of food, of which absolutely nothing is free! Not even a free drink. Good thing I got some crackers and biscuits! I bought an orange juice and did my first transaction with the Euro!
These seats are seriously so close together that is impossible for someone to get out without totally putting their ass all up in your face. Lesson learned. Get up the next time someone needs to get by.
I have been getting crazy deja vu since yesterday, as if I totally dreamt all of this. Maybe I am dreaming? Ouch. Just pinched myself and turned on a light switch. Not dreaming. Unless I suddenly became a beast at lucid dreaming. Cause that'd be pretty cool.
Can you tell I'm exhausted? Hope my family likes loopy Kaleena! At least I'm excited right?
Day 1
Saying Goodbye is Big, Fat and Stupid and I Hate It.
I'm walking through the security line at Denver International Airport. Tears well in my eyes and I fight back a break down. Every time I turn my head, I spot Lizzi and my dad standing near the exit. Each time I look over at them, we wave and smile, all of our eyes red-rimmed. They stay, moving so that I can see them until I get all the way through security. When I've stepped through the scanner and gathered my things, I stand in my tiptoes to wave goodbye one more time. I put on my shoes and immediately begin to weep.
I hate goodbyes. Goodbyes should go get hit my a train or mauled my gorilla.
The past few days have been tough, full of bear hugs, tears and goodbyes. Today in the airport was the last of a slew. I had said goodbye to my family last night and this morning, before I hit the road to the airport.
Mini crisis was also averted this morning as my laptop of two years began to be eaten alive a super virus. Matthew (My mom's boyfriend/ New Daddy) spent two hours trying to fix it last night and nothing worked. Every time I tried to open an application or click a link, it would redirect me somewhere else. I told my dad the situation this morning and his idea was to send it off to some tech guys and then forward it to me in Spain in a few weeks. FUCK. My one mode of communication and I would be without it for a week at least? My stepmom came to the rescue and told my dad to take me to Best Buy and pick up a net book. Ta da! Crisis averted. Thanks Dad and Cyn!
Before heading off to DIA, my dad and I stopped in Denver to pick up Lizzi who had ridden down on the transit. Lizzi and I passed the time in the car by applying several super hideous temporary tattoos that I bought her for her birthday a few weeks ago. I am now the proud sporter of a butterfly (surrounded by stars of course) on my belly, a band of jewels on my arm and "love" on my elbow (Lizzi has "dream")! A small and helpful distraction from our impending separtion and therefore, impending sadness.
Part 2: British Airways is Fancy! (Too bad their TV's Suck)or I wish the Asian Lady Next to Me Would Go to Sleep
On the plane! It is so much more fun to listen to the airline secuirty speech when its done in a British accent! (I should have done my LQ briefings like a Brit, maybe those annoying 13 year old boys would have stopped getting excited over the black light and actually paid attention.) Also, I love British flight attendants. No better way to start to a flight then with a woman asking "Newspaper at t'all?" Love it.
My seat was decked out! I had my own person tv with a remote! When I sat down there was a courtesy package that included all the things one might need on a 9 hour flight over seas: pillow, blanket, head phones, ear plugs, toothbrush, sleep max and of course, socks. Wait, what? Yes, there was an extra pair of grey socks in my courtesy package. Someone is getting that for their souveneir!
I got extra leg room thanks to the woman at the check in but I still have a middle seat which is making sleeping incredibly difficult. Especailly since the woman next to me is reading still with her book light shining right in my face. Awesome. Guy on my other side is nice. He's British and reading To Kill A Mockingbird and we had a lovely little chat.
I was really excited to watch Black Swan and then King's Speech but half the TV channels weren't working so I ended up watcing some bad sitcoms and pieces of some Jennifer Anniston movie. Overall though, the flight isn't too bad. The food was actually really yummy and I nom'd on some bisquits from Matthew! Yay!
I am incredibly sleepy and this post is a lot more bitter then I meant it to be. Time to cuddle with Timothy the British Bear and manufacture some Z's.
I'm walking through the security line at Denver International Airport. Tears well in my eyes and I fight back a break down. Every time I turn my head, I spot Lizzi and my dad standing near the exit. Each time I look over at them, we wave and smile, all of our eyes red-rimmed. They stay, moving so that I can see them until I get all the way through security. When I've stepped through the scanner and gathered my things, I stand in my tiptoes to wave goodbye one more time. I put on my shoes and immediately begin to weep.
I hate goodbyes. Goodbyes should go get hit my a train or mauled my gorilla.
The past few days have been tough, full of bear hugs, tears and goodbyes. Today in the airport was the last of a slew. I had said goodbye to my family last night and this morning, before I hit the road to the airport.
Mini crisis was also averted this morning as my laptop of two years began to be eaten alive a super virus. Matthew (My mom's boyfriend/ New Daddy) spent two hours trying to fix it last night and nothing worked. Every time I tried to open an application or click a link, it would redirect me somewhere else. I told my dad the situation this morning and his idea was to send it off to some tech guys and then forward it to me in Spain in a few weeks. FUCK. My one mode of communication and I would be without it for a week at least? My stepmom came to the rescue and told my dad to take me to Best Buy and pick up a net book. Ta da! Crisis averted. Thanks Dad and Cyn!
Before heading off to DIA, my dad and I stopped in Denver to pick up Lizzi who had ridden down on the transit. Lizzi and I passed the time in the car by applying several super hideous temporary tattoos that I bought her for her birthday a few weeks ago. I am now the proud sporter of a butterfly (surrounded by stars of course) on my belly, a band of jewels on my arm and "love" on my elbow (Lizzi has "dream")! A small and helpful distraction from our impending separtion and therefore, impending sadness.
Part 2: British Airways is Fancy! (Too bad their TV's Suck)or I wish the Asian Lady Next to Me Would Go to Sleep
On the plane! It is so much more fun to listen to the airline secuirty speech when its done in a British accent! (I should have done my LQ briefings like a Brit, maybe those annoying 13 year old boys would have stopped getting excited over the black light and actually paid attention.) Also, I love British flight attendants. No better way to start to a flight then with a woman asking "Newspaper at t'all?" Love it.
My seat was decked out! I had my own person tv with a remote! When I sat down there was a courtesy package that included all the things one might need on a 9 hour flight over seas: pillow, blanket, head phones, ear plugs, toothbrush, sleep max and of course, socks. Wait, what? Yes, there was an extra pair of grey socks in my courtesy package. Someone is getting that for their souveneir!
I got extra leg room thanks to the woman at the check in but I still have a middle seat which is making sleeping incredibly difficult. Especailly since the woman next to me is reading still with her book light shining right in my face. Awesome. Guy on my other side is nice. He's British and reading To Kill A Mockingbird and we had a lovely little chat.
I was really excited to watch Black Swan and then King's Speech but half the TV channels weren't working so I ended up watcing some bad sitcoms and pieces of some Jennifer Anniston movie. Overall though, the flight isn't too bad. The food was actually really yummy and I nom'd on some bisquits from Matthew! Yay!
I am incredibly sleepy and this post is a lot more bitter then I meant it to be. Time to cuddle with Timothy the British Bear and manufacture some Z's.
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