After my mediocre siesta K cooked almuerzo, I boiled water, and A helped with the table. We had spaghetti with red peppers and onions in it. Delicioso.
When lunch was over we all sat around, watched Jersey Shore in spanish and laughed our patooties off. Then we headed out to the Correros again to meet up and go on another walking tour to walk all around Granada. For those who have been, I'm talking from the Autobus station back to Maewest. Yeah, we were walking for a good two hours. Granted, we saw a lot of great things, but really, it was more pain than pleasure... not acceptable. I tried to talk to Jorge, one of our guides, he's super adorable and really helpful. He's not quite as good at English as the rest of the group, but he's really knowledgeable about the program itself, which is great because he's in charge of academics... He really seems to be the most put together of the group.
After our Journey to East Jesus nowhere K, A, R and I headed out to get tapas and drinks because we were all famished. I'm not sure why, but I've been starving all of the time... It's probably stress. That and insomnia... first indicators of Culture Shock... learned that one today.
OH! BTDubbs, I had another life epiphany last night... there's something in the water here. I swear.
Last night/This morning at O'God Thirty, I started thinking about my place in the world, as far as 'what my story is' goes, and I realized that I think of my life kind of like a movie. Aside from the fact that I really wish John Hughes had directed it I think about it in the sense that everyone plays a part, no matter how significant, and I honestly spend a lot of my time wondering what my part is in the movie... But the more I thought about it, the more it occurred to me that I always try to fit myself into other peoples movies, when in fact, I need to realize that this is MY movie, and everyone else is in it. I know it's kind of strange, but it was 3am, I was dehydrated and a little loopy from lack of sleep. But it's still pretty deep, right?
Anyway, we headed out for tapas and went to the first place I went to with C and M on our first trip for tapas together. I still can't remember the name of the place but I know exactly where it is. They have AMAZING tapas, "Mejor tapas del Mundo" is their slogan, "best tapas in the world". ... Also they have the strongest wine in the world. Either that or K and I have a very low tolerance for Vino Blanco.
After we got over our initial buzz M and K2 showed up in the same plaza and we headed out for Churros con Chocolate. R's room mate M2 showed up with her friend from Madrid... I still don't know his name... but he helped us a lot with the language, and we helped and encouraged him. I personally think that his English is really good I just wish my Spanish was the equivalent, maybe it is... I just lack the confidence. Ugh time to branch out.
When we finally got the bill we all headed down to another tapas place to get Tinto de Verano (Wine and Sprite/Lemonade mix) to top off the buzz we'd already started and to sit for a while longer. We all talked about how tired we were and how we wanted to get a good nights rest before heading to the Alhambra in the morning... I'm really not intending on taking too many pictures just yet because I've already seen it all, and I've already posted pictures of it all.
It's funny thought because all of the people in our group ask me before they do anything. Like, "Can I ask her to change this?"... Yes. "Can I try this on?"... the fitting room is right there. "Do we just sit?"... yepp. "Where's the bathroom?"... see the sign? It's nice because I kind of feel like the Mom of the group...
--enter shannon quote about Miralax and B98.5 here--
But that's not so bad right? I just feel a little more knowledgeable... Oops, my pride is showing.
So now I'm sitting in my room blogging with you fine people basking in the reminance of what was air conditioning and letting the summer nights breeze in through the windows.
Spain is so magical. :)
<3
Buenas noches
Friday, August 31, 2012
Pride may be a sin, but damn it feels good.
Last night was a mix of pleasure and pain.
I was hungry/hangry because I didn't feel like cooking, and had eggs and toast for dinner... Yeah, I'm in Spain eating eggs and toast... with ketchup on it. I'm such and American, I know.
However, everything got way better when Even Stevens came on, IN SPANISH, followed by Wipe Out, then New Girl. Everything was way funnier in Spanish, not only did we learn about the humor, but also how to say things so that they're funnier. -- Mataplantos -- Plant Killer.
After New Girl we realized that it was 1am and decided to hit the hay. However, being the stresser-outer that I am insomnia kicked in and I couldn't sleep. I was up tossing and turning until 3:30am, then rudely awoken by Miss. Let-me-wear-my-Flamenco-shoes-around-my-appartment-and-play-the-sounds-of-my-people-at-seven-am. She's on my shit list along with the guy who has an obnoxious chihuahua that can't shut up.
So anyway, woke up, took a cold shower, and headed off to school SIN CAFE -- terrible idea.
We went into the classroom and got a run down of our schedules and what it'd be like for the next month or so. I spoke with the man in charge of academics and told him that I'd already been in Granada for a while and that I'd already placed and finished everything. He told me that I didn't need to take the placement exam and that I should change programs to better meet my skill level.
HA! I'm a G, is what it means. (Gangsta)
So now I'm starving and ready to eat.
<3
Hasta Luego.
I was hungry/hangry because I didn't feel like cooking, and had eggs and toast for dinner... Yeah, I'm in Spain eating eggs and toast... with ketchup on it. I'm such and American, I know.
However, everything got way better when Even Stevens came on, IN SPANISH, followed by Wipe Out, then New Girl. Everything was way funnier in Spanish, not only did we learn about the humor, but also how to say things so that they're funnier. -- Mataplantos -- Plant Killer.
After New Girl we realized that it was 1am and decided to hit the hay. However, being the stresser-outer that I am insomnia kicked in and I couldn't sleep. I was up tossing and turning until 3:30am, then rudely awoken by Miss. Let-me-wear-my-Flamenco-shoes-around-my-appartment-and-play-the-sounds-of-my-people-at-seven-am. She's on my shit list along with the guy who has an obnoxious chihuahua that can't shut up.
So anyway, woke up, took a cold shower, and headed off to school SIN CAFE -- terrible idea.
We went into the classroom and got a run down of our schedules and what it'd be like for the next month or so. I spoke with the man in charge of academics and told him that I'd already been in Granada for a while and that I'd already placed and finished everything. He told me that I didn't need to take the placement exam and that I should change programs to better meet my skill level.
HA! I'm a G, is what it means. (Gangsta)
So now I'm starving and ready to eat.
<3
Hasta Luego.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Ayer, Hoy, Este Noche
(Yesterday, Today, Tonight)
So because yesterday was completely overwhelming, I passed out at 8pm... and woke up at midnight charged and ready to go because my body was thinking "Oh, it must be six o'clock... thanks for the Power Nap." ... yeah. So I tried my at home remedy of watching Tangled to try to induce myself into a deep sleep, however, I failed miserably. So I stayed up online obsessing over my future mythical boyfriend until the wee hours of the morning.
By 2am my body finally gave in to the rest I'd been needing.
At 8:29, for some god awful reason I awoke before my alarm. When I finally heard the horrendous chimes created by Apple I quickly got up and hopped in the spa like shower.
It's all marble walls, with a ceramic bottom... weird, with a six square spickets that squirt water from the wall, a shower head, and a shower head on the ceiling of the shower. So, we got water coming out the ying yang. However, It's almost impossible to get the water to stop coming from anywhere, so you constantly have water in your ears and in your eyes. (First. World. Problems.)
After the crazy weird shower, I got up and ready for the day, then realized we hadn't gone shopping and there wasn't any bread or breakfast type food... so I got K and A to hurry up and we headed down stairs to a local café and got breakfast. I got cafe con leche y ½ pan tostada for 1,50. :) K and A both got cafe con leche and a croissant. Yumm-o.
After a hasty desayuno we headed over to the post office to meet with the group, only to walk back to the school, which is five seconds from our house. After that we sat in a room for about two hours and talked about Granada... which I thoroughly enjoyed, seeing as how I knew nothing about the place... Can you feel the sarcasm?
When we finally left the school everyone swarmed to the Movistar store to get international phones. I being the nomad that I am, opted out of the phones because honestly, I've really liked not having one. Granted I cant give Mr. Sexy pants a number where he can call me, but I can find him later... right?
K. A and I all headed out to lunch and I knew exactly where to go. For those of you who went with me on the trip I went to a restaurant in the Plaza with the Alhambra churros con chocolate! It was amazing. We got a full lunch, two courses with bread and desert for 11,50 and sangria. We ended up paying about 18E each because the sangria was so expensive.
Next we went on a journey to find Corte Ingles, which is like a Walmart, Macys, Sears, Kroger, and JCPenny's combined. Needless to say, it's a confusing establishment. The only reason we went was to get a few things on our grocery list which was getting pretty extensive, seeing as how we didn't have much food. K said she knew how to make a few things, so she was more or less in charge of everything. I grabbed a few things that I knew I needed, and we headed out. A stopped by the Policia only to discover that she actually had to drive from our side of the map, far east, to the other side, far west, in order to get a few documents taken care of. We then headed to the Super Sol, the grocery store right next to our apartment, literally, it's right outside our door, and finished up the shopping.
At 6:00 we realized that we were supposed to meet everyone at 6pm, and we power walked the long way, which we found out after the fact, to our meeting place, where we embarked on our noble quest around Granada... to all of the sites that I've seen countless times. Hooray.
I mumbled side notes to my room mates and a friend I've recently made, R, letting them know that half of the tour was flawed, in that the best churros are at Alhambra churros, and the best ice cream is not at the place he pointed out. LIAHHHH!!! .... Spanish people don't understand my movie quotes, or my sense of humor! DAMN LANGUAGE BARRIER!
R, K, A, M and I headed out to go shopping and drinking after our tour. After a glass of wine and ice cream we started venturing and found that the Rebajas (sales) were still happening and that sales tax goes up 3% on Saturday... gotta pay for the monarchy over here I guess.
I was talked into paying for this amazing high-lo mini skirt, which looks pretty good. Everyone else bought shoes. It was a decent adventure.
I'm now home with an empty belly and heavy eye lids, so I'll talk to you guys tomorrow.
Hope I painted a decent picture for ya.
<3
Buenas Noches
So because yesterday was completely overwhelming, I passed out at 8pm... and woke up at midnight charged and ready to go because my body was thinking "Oh, it must be six o'clock... thanks for the Power Nap." ... yeah. So I tried my at home remedy of watching Tangled to try to induce myself into a deep sleep, however, I failed miserably. So I stayed up online obsessing over my future mythical boyfriend until the wee hours of the morning.
By 2am my body finally gave in to the rest I'd been needing.
At 8:29, for some god awful reason I awoke before my alarm. When I finally heard the horrendous chimes created by Apple I quickly got up and hopped in the spa like shower.
It's all marble walls, with a ceramic bottom... weird, with a six square spickets that squirt water from the wall, a shower head, and a shower head on the ceiling of the shower. So, we got water coming out the ying yang. However, It's almost impossible to get the water to stop coming from anywhere, so you constantly have water in your ears and in your eyes. (First. World. Problems.)
After the crazy weird shower, I got up and ready for the day, then realized we hadn't gone shopping and there wasn't any bread or breakfast type food... so I got K and A to hurry up and we headed down stairs to a local café and got breakfast. I got cafe con leche y ½ pan tostada for 1,50. :) K and A both got cafe con leche and a croissant. Yumm-o.
After a hasty desayuno we headed over to the post office to meet with the group, only to walk back to the school, which is five seconds from our house. After that we sat in a room for about two hours and talked about Granada... which I thoroughly enjoyed, seeing as how I knew nothing about the place... Can you feel the sarcasm?
When we finally left the school everyone swarmed to the Movistar store to get international phones. I being the nomad that I am, opted out of the phones because honestly, I've really liked not having one. Granted I cant give Mr. Sexy pants a number where he can call me, but I can find him later... right?
K. A and I all headed out to lunch and I knew exactly where to go. For those of you who went with me on the trip I went to a restaurant in the Plaza with the Alhambra churros con chocolate! It was amazing. We got a full lunch, two courses with bread and desert for 11,50 and sangria. We ended up paying about 18E each because the sangria was so expensive.
Next we went on a journey to find Corte Ingles, which is like a Walmart, Macys, Sears, Kroger, and JCPenny's combined. Needless to say, it's a confusing establishment. The only reason we went was to get a few things on our grocery list which was getting pretty extensive, seeing as how we didn't have much food. K said she knew how to make a few things, so she was more or less in charge of everything. I grabbed a few things that I knew I needed, and we headed out. A stopped by the Policia only to discover that she actually had to drive from our side of the map, far east, to the other side, far west, in order to get a few documents taken care of. We then headed to the Super Sol, the grocery store right next to our apartment, literally, it's right outside our door, and finished up the shopping.
At 6:00 we realized that we were supposed to meet everyone at 6pm, and we power walked the long way, which we found out after the fact, to our meeting place, where we embarked on our noble quest around Granada... to all of the sites that I've seen countless times. Hooray.
I mumbled side notes to my room mates and a friend I've recently made, R, letting them know that half of the tour was flawed, in that the best churros are at Alhambra churros, and the best ice cream is not at the place he pointed out. LIAHHHH!!! .... Spanish people don't understand my movie quotes, or my sense of humor! DAMN LANGUAGE BARRIER!
R, K, A, M and I headed out to go shopping and drinking after our tour. After a glass of wine and ice cream we started venturing and found that the Rebajas (sales) were still happening and that sales tax goes up 3% on Saturday... gotta pay for the monarchy over here I guess.
I was talked into paying for this amazing high-lo mini skirt, which looks pretty good. Everyone else bought shoes. It was a decent adventure.
I'm now home with an empty belly and heavy eye lids, so I'll talk to you guys tomorrow.
Hope I painted a decent picture for ya.
<3
Buenas Noches
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Granada Day One, Round Two.
Today was a day to be remember. I had my first adult, real world experience in a foreign country! After I landed, I took a B line strait for the Currency Exchange booth.
Note to all: The EXACT EXCHANGE booth really does give you an exact exchange. Best one I've seen thus far. For $30, I got 20E.
After that I asked the lovely exchange woman how to get to the Autobus station... which I was convinced was right down the street... I was so wrong.
I got to the Metro station after walking to East Jesus nowhere, and asked the woman how to get there... apparently my Spanish accent is rusty because she explained it all in English. Whatever, I got what I needed, and she was super nice. The two trains I had to get were surrounded by stairs and escalators that weren't in working order so I was lugging two quite heavy suitcases around by myself, sweating bullets. Two women stopped to ask me if I needed help. I respectfully declined, because really, it's better safe than sorry.
After I got turned around once or twice in the right terminal, I finally made it to the Autobus station. The woman at the desk there was extremely helpful and helped me find the least expensive ticket to get to Granada.
The five and a half hour bus ride started at 9:30am, Two hours after I landed. Yes, I had my real world experience in two hours, Be proud.
After the bus ride and a long four hour nap, I got to the station in Granada, and EVERYTHING looked familiar! I hopped in a cab, told the man where I was going and he took me there for 8E. Yeah Buddy.
I am now unpacked, with a wardrobe soaked in body spray that I should have packed better, and am about to take a shower and down six bottles of water.
My room mates K and A are super nice. They laugh at my jokes, which is great, and they seem to be fairly up to par with the Spanish levels that I've been exposed to. I'm really excited for this semester, and can not wait for my internship to start... I just need to get more information about it.
K and A are trying to store over-fluffed comforters under the TV... I better go help.
Hasta Luego :)
<3
Note to all: The EXACT EXCHANGE booth really does give you an exact exchange. Best one I've seen thus far. For $30, I got 20E.
After that I asked the lovely exchange woman how to get to the Autobus station... which I was convinced was right down the street... I was so wrong.
I got to the Metro station after walking to East Jesus nowhere, and asked the woman how to get there... apparently my Spanish accent is rusty because she explained it all in English. Whatever, I got what I needed, and she was super nice. The two trains I had to get were surrounded by stairs and escalators that weren't in working order so I was lugging two quite heavy suitcases around by myself, sweating bullets. Two women stopped to ask me if I needed help. I respectfully declined, because really, it's better safe than sorry.
After I got turned around once or twice in the right terminal, I finally made it to the Autobus station. The woman at the desk there was extremely helpful and helped me find the least expensive ticket to get to Granada.
The five and a half hour bus ride started at 9:30am, Two hours after I landed. Yes, I had my real world experience in two hours, Be proud.
After the bus ride and a long four hour nap, I got to the station in Granada, and EVERYTHING looked familiar! I hopped in a cab, told the man where I was going and he took me there for 8E. Yeah Buddy.
I am now unpacked, with a wardrobe soaked in body spray that I should have packed better, and am about to take a shower and down six bottles of water.
My room mates K and A are super nice. They laugh at my jokes, which is great, and they seem to be fairly up to par with the Spanish levels that I've been exposed to. I'm really excited for this semester, and can not wait for my internship to start... I just need to get more information about it.
K and A are trying to store over-fluffed comforters under the TV... I better go help.
Hasta Luego :)
<3
Monday, August 27, 2012
Hasta Luego, Take Two
This morning whilst having a mild panic attack I heard a little pink notifying me of a new e-mail, and I was really hoping it would be from my program director answering a few last minute questions at Oh-God-Thirty in the morning. However, it was from US Airways, telling me that they had oversold the plane I was scheduled to me on.
My mother, being the smart thinker that she is, told me to call in, and see if they could change my ticket to today, which would have made everything exponentially easier for me.
So I called in, spoke with a wonderful representative named Tony, and he told me that he would love it if I could change my ticket to tomorrow. He changed my flight to Philly to Charlotte, and then off to Madrid I go! And that's not even the best part.
Not only am I going to land in Madrid and get to Granada at the right time, but I will actually be sitting in first class the entire way in. First class. As in, I'll have a massaging bed on the way to Spain... all across the big blue, and I'll be able to sleep in comfort.
This is the good Karma I needed, after my first trip to Madrid behind the children from hell, I'll be in first class, with noise canceling head phones, and a pillow, and a bed.... :)
Ay la buena vida.
So now almost all of my angst is gone, and I'm just ready to start school and my internship in Spain. I'm so excited for all of the opportunities that are available for me this fall, and every experience that I'm going to have.
I am sad to be missing a few things. But c'mon... I'll be in Spain.
:)
<3
Hasta Luego.
My mother, being the smart thinker that she is, told me to call in, and see if they could change my ticket to today, which would have made everything exponentially easier for me.
So I called in, spoke with a wonderful representative named Tony, and he told me that he would love it if I could change my ticket to tomorrow. He changed my flight to Philly to Charlotte, and then off to Madrid I go! And that's not even the best part.
Not only am I going to land in Madrid and get to Granada at the right time, but I will actually be sitting in first class the entire way in. First class. As in, I'll have a massaging bed on the way to Spain... all across the big blue, and I'll be able to sleep in comfort.
This is the good Karma I needed, after my first trip to Madrid behind the children from hell, I'll be in first class, with noise canceling head phones, and a pillow, and a bed.... :)
Ay la buena vida.
So now almost all of my angst is gone, and I'm just ready to start school and my internship in Spain. I'm so excited for all of the opportunities that are available for me this fall, and every experience that I'm going to have.
I am sad to be missing a few things. But c'mon... I'll be in Spain.
:)
<3
Hasta Luego.
Hasta Luego.
I didn't sleep very well.
Got up around 4:30 and really didn't go back to sleep... Tangled didn't even help, which is weird because that normally makes me knock out...
I woke up mainly because I had a dream that my friend went into labor, then stayed awake because I realized how nervous I was.
It's really great having an over active imagination... really.
So I'm leaving today to head to Philly, then tonight I'm hopping on my plane to cross the big blue.
I'm all packed, got my boarding passes. Got my passport... everything's ready, so I know that I'm prepared... But I'm still nervous as ever.
I know I'll be fine the second I land, because I know the language and I know where I'm going.
I'm nervous about finding somewhere to go the first day, just because my host mom won't be there, and I'll pretty much be alone the first day. But I know where I'm going like, sleeping wise...
Ugh.
This is an extremely complicated emotion...
I feel like I felt when I first moved away to college again.
I'm a young adult now though... almost a grown up.
I guess this is the time when I'm supposed to 'grow up' because I haven't needed to be this independent before. UGH!
Growing up sucks..
The real world sucks..
Stupid epiphanies.
Time to be a real adult I guess...
...
Why didn't Disney prepare me for this?
Got up around 4:30 and really didn't go back to sleep... Tangled didn't even help, which is weird because that normally makes me knock out...
I woke up mainly because I had a dream that my friend went into labor, then stayed awake because I realized how nervous I was.
It's really great having an over active imagination... really.
So I'm leaving today to head to Philly, then tonight I'm hopping on my plane to cross the big blue.
I'm all packed, got my boarding passes. Got my passport... everything's ready, so I know that I'm prepared... But I'm still nervous as ever.
I know I'll be fine the second I land, because I know the language and I know where I'm going.
I'm nervous about finding somewhere to go the first day, just because my host mom won't be there, and I'll pretty much be alone the first day. But I know where I'm going like, sleeping wise...
Ugh.
This is an extremely complicated emotion...
I feel like I felt when I first moved away to college again.
I'm a young adult now though... almost a grown up.
I guess this is the time when I'm supposed to 'grow up' because I haven't needed to be this independent before. UGH!
Growing up sucks..
The real world sucks..
Stupid epiphanies.
Time to be a real adult I guess...
...
Why didn't Disney prepare me for this?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Take Two
Welp. Last time I wrote was a while back... Almost a month and a half back.
Here I am again.
I got the most amazing news today! My Student Visa came in the mail... granted I wasn't here to collect, but I'll have it in my hand tomorrow before the day is through.
I'm set to head back to Spain in three days. August 27th. I'll officially be on Spanish land on the 28th, and officially be in Granada, my home, on the 29th.
I'm super excited about it! I've been freaking out a little bit lately because as the lovely woman said at the Spanish Consulate, I was "leaning on Jesus" for my visa.
He came through apparently.
So I'm heading out Monday!
I'm all packed and ready to go. Minus a pillow. But that's sort of a last minute thing anyway.
I've got a bunch of clothes ready, all of my hair products, make up, purses, everything a girl could need.
I'm not taking many accessories...just because I don't use them here... why use them there right?
I intend on maintaining a work out schedule while I'm gone, mainly so I can kick ass in the Spring on our Rowing team, and maintaining a regular journal here. Hopefully with more detail than last time...
I was sort of on a freedom bender last time, blogging only about boys and bars.
This time it will be more cultural and educational.
... Hopefully. ;)
Viva España
Hope I can update from the airport. :)
I'll post about last minute jitters Sunday.
Here I am again.
I got the most amazing news today! My Student Visa came in the mail... granted I wasn't here to collect, but I'll have it in my hand tomorrow before the day is through.
I'm set to head back to Spain in three days. August 27th. I'll officially be on Spanish land on the 28th, and officially be in Granada, my home, on the 29th.
I'm super excited about it! I've been freaking out a little bit lately because as the lovely woman said at the Spanish Consulate, I was "leaning on Jesus" for my visa.
He came through apparently.
So I'm heading out Monday!
I'm all packed and ready to go. Minus a pillow. But that's sort of a last minute thing anyway.
I've got a bunch of clothes ready, all of my hair products, make up, purses, everything a girl could need.
I'm not taking many accessories...just because I don't use them here... why use them there right?
I intend on maintaining a work out schedule while I'm gone, mainly so I can kick ass in the Spring on our Rowing team, and maintaining a regular journal here. Hopefully with more detail than last time...
I was sort of on a freedom bender last time, blogging only about boys and bars.
This time it will be more cultural and educational.
... Hopefully. ;)
Viva España
Hope I can update from the airport. :)
I'll post about last minute jitters Sunday.
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