Hey all,
I guess first off happy birthday to me! But beyond that today seems to be turning into a day of tears for me, I guess it is my birthday and I can cry if I want too. On the bigger picture this is all for this semester. I honestly can not believe its over to be honest, everyone here is like the family you sometimes don't talk to, sometimes wish you were not related to, but you deal with them cause their family. There are students here from all over the United States and all over the world, all the locals who have taken us under their wings as their own and proved to us what Spain really is.
In reality today is a day I will never forget, of course it is my 21st birthday, but I am now a senior in college graduating in less than a year from today, and I just finished a program that I am sure will enable me to tell my students in the future all about the customs.
I am heading to Italy tomorrow to see the family and will be flying back to New York on the 30th. To all my die-hard readers who have read all my entries, thank you so much for letting me share my experiences. I plan on printing out all my entries to keep them in paper for the future to look back on. I will most likely update right after I get home with some interesting, I have been hit by a 2 by 4 in the head from New York culture shock.
I love you all and will see you soon!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Single Digits and oh how I hate finals!
Hey all,
So I don't feel like studying for my finals so I figured I would update instead. At this point yes it is true I am down to single digits of days left in Spain. I honestly cannot comprehend it honestly. I keep thinking okay this will be my last Friday, my last weekend it will hit me on Thursday my 21st birthday when I realize it is all over.
On a happier note, I completely forgot to share an experience when my parents were here. The Asturian culture is very much influenced by Celtic culture. Everything from symbols, to traditional clothing, dances, and the cider. We happened to be walking in the plaza by the Cathedral on Saturday where we fell upon a group of dancers, a drummer, and a piper (a take on the bagpipes). We were spoiled with a show of the regional dances and traditional music. Sadly I did not have my big camera with me, however I did have my baby canon and was able to take videos of the dances! (But without fail, my internet is slow and will not upload it, so I will add it when I can)
Whats a blog entry at the end without some random thoughts!
*They say Jesús when someone sneezes, I kinda wonder what the Spanish Jews use, probably the Hispanic-American Salud. Since I sadly have not met one yet I can´t ask. Now I know why teachers in the USA stick to Salud!
These are the top few things I will miss about Spain, at least the random things
-Fresh baked bread daily
-Good wine for 2 Euros
-not once being asked for an ID at the bar
-It being light out until 10pm every night
-and of course the ability to speak Spanish all the time
So I don't feel like studying for my finals so I figured I would update instead. At this point yes it is true I am down to single digits of days left in Spain. I honestly cannot comprehend it honestly. I keep thinking okay this will be my last Friday, my last weekend it will hit me on Thursday my 21st birthday when I realize it is all over.
On a happier note, I completely forgot to share an experience when my parents were here. The Asturian culture is very much influenced by Celtic culture. Everything from symbols, to traditional clothing, dances, and the cider. We happened to be walking in the plaza by the Cathedral on Saturday where we fell upon a group of dancers, a drummer, and a piper (a take on the bagpipes). We were spoiled with a show of the regional dances and traditional music. Sadly I did not have my big camera with me, however I did have my baby canon and was able to take videos of the dances! (But without fail, my internet is slow and will not upload it, so I will add it when I can)
Whats a blog entry at the end without some random thoughts!
*They say Jesús when someone sneezes, I kinda wonder what the Spanish Jews use, probably the Hispanic-American Salud. Since I sadly have not met one yet I can´t ask. Now I know why teachers in the USA stick to Salud!
These are the top few things I will miss about Spain, at least the random things
-Fresh baked bread daily
-Good wine for 2 Euros
-not once being asked for an ID at the bar
-It being light out until 10pm every night
-and of course the ability to speak Spanish all the time
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mothers Day Weekend with my Mommy
Hey all,
Sorry I am once again delayed. First this first last Thursday was our final group dinner, and it was in the same location as our first dinner. The little things that cracked me up from people who are now friends, people who don't talk any more and the ability to have an entire group dinner without a work of English between the 15 of us.
The big highlight however of this weekend was the fact that my parents were here! After a week in Paris the two of them stayed in Oviedo and I got the chance to show them around. We did the basics, the cathedral, the art museum (a first for me), the park, the mall, and best of all JESUS in the mountain. My parents thought I was crazy for climbing all the way up there, but my host parents drove them all the way up to see the city from the air. I was very much amazed by how quickly you can get up the mountain by car, not the few hours it took me to walk up. On Sunday we also headed to Gijón so I could show them the beach of course!
It was so nice to see my parents for the weekend they are currently touring the rest of Spain for about a week. On a super sad note. I have 10 days in Spain left from here. I need to study my butt off for finals and buy a few last minute gifts, but that is about all. One more weekend and 10 more days and summer vacation will officially start.
Sorry I am once again delayed. First this first last Thursday was our final group dinner, and it was in the same location as our first dinner. The little things that cracked me up from people who are now friends, people who don't talk any more and the ability to have an entire group dinner without a work of English between the 15 of us.
The big highlight however of this weekend was the fact that my parents were here! After a week in Paris the two of them stayed in Oviedo and I got the chance to show them around. We did the basics, the cathedral, the art museum (a first for me), the park, the mall, and best of all JESUS in the mountain. My parents thought I was crazy for climbing all the way up there, but my host parents drove them all the way up to see the city from the air. I was very much amazed by how quickly you can get up the mountain by car, not the few hours it took me to walk up. On Sunday we also headed to Gijón so I could show them the beach of course!
It was so nice to see my parents for the weekend they are currently touring the rest of Spain for about a week. On a super sad note. I have 10 days in Spain left from here. I need to study my butt off for finals and buy a few last minute gifts, but that is about all. One more weekend and 10 more days and summer vacation will officially start.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
It is just the little things...
As time is clearly ticking down on my experience it is the little things that have struck me as clear differences.
I left the United States and George W. Bush was our president, for the good and the bad, of course he is off currently living on his "ranch" or city house somewhere in Texas. Barack Obama is our president. I watched him live via television be sworn in as 10 Americans raised their glasses to great new things in a cafe filled with Spaniards.
I left the United States and my house still had my Christmas tree up and it was winter.
I will return home in a few weeks back to Long Island, my house (hopefully) does not have the tree up, Bush is no longer our president, hopefully gas prices are down a little (maybe wishful thinking), the economy is terrible, but there are much bigger things that I think of as nothings that have changed.
Right before I left for Spain I returned to my MacArthur High School to observe a bunch of Spanish teachers. I always seemed to remembered a few Spanish teachers consistently talking about "when I studied in Spain", "my host mother use to make",and "on this celebration they did". What surprised me more was as word got through the building that I was leaving for Spain, the history teachers I had, my guidance counselor who all stopped me to share a memory of their study abroad experiences. My guidance counselor had the last word before I walked out she said, Erika you think you will know how it has changed you, come back and find me in 15 years, you will be shocked at what you have learned.
I probably should have studied more, payed attention in class more, possibly gotten straight A's, but I can tell you why a pueblo is considered a pueblo and why a cuidad is considered a city. (Pueblo does not have a cathedral within town limits, a city does.) I can tell you where Grecos original paintings are located in Spain (Prado, Toledo, and Oviedo). I can tell you how Franco went down as a dictator and why Spain currently has a king but he has very little power post Civil War. I can tell you they don't eat paella everyday, and why drink sangria when they have amazing wine. I will never be as 'fluent' as I would like to be, most likely because what I think of as 'fluent' is never having to look up a word in the dictionary and understanding 110% of everything everyone says. If Jaime hasn't mastered that I sure as heck will not. Doesn't mean I wont strive for the impossible.
It is surely the little things I have learned that I think I will continue to hold on to as the most important. The things that are almost impossible to be learned out of a textbook. The things I really am not sure I realize now.
There are a million things I will miss here. But I cannot wait for some Mac and Cheese, to not here Single Ladies as the current hit in the clubs and bars, and you know a bagel and cream cheese. But don't be shocked if I wonder into some Spanish supermarkets on Long Island just to be able to turn around and say 'donde esta....'. At least I live in a place where that is normal occurrence in Dunkin Donuts or the local supermarket.
It is the little things I will hold with me back in the States and take in a few more as my time ticks down, but I for one am the last person to doubt if I will or will not be back in Spain. Give me a few years, it will happen. I promise.
I left the United States and George W. Bush was our president, for the good and the bad, of course he is off currently living on his "ranch" or city house somewhere in Texas. Barack Obama is our president. I watched him live via television be sworn in as 10 Americans raised their glasses to great new things in a cafe filled with Spaniards.
I left the United States and my house still had my Christmas tree up and it was winter.
I will return home in a few weeks back to Long Island, my house (hopefully) does not have the tree up, Bush is no longer our president, hopefully gas prices are down a little (maybe wishful thinking), the economy is terrible, but there are much bigger things that I think of as nothings that have changed.
Right before I left for Spain I returned to my MacArthur High School to observe a bunch of Spanish teachers. I always seemed to remembered a few Spanish teachers consistently talking about "when I studied in Spain", "my host mother use to make",and "on this celebration they did". What surprised me more was as word got through the building that I was leaving for Spain, the history teachers I had, my guidance counselor who all stopped me to share a memory of their study abroad experiences. My guidance counselor had the last word before I walked out she said, Erika you think you will know how it has changed you, come back and find me in 15 years, you will be shocked at what you have learned.
I probably should have studied more, payed attention in class more, possibly gotten straight A's, but I can tell you why a pueblo is considered a pueblo and why a cuidad is considered a city. (Pueblo does not have a cathedral within town limits, a city does.) I can tell you where Grecos original paintings are located in Spain (Prado, Toledo, and Oviedo). I can tell you how Franco went down as a dictator and why Spain currently has a king but he has very little power post Civil War. I can tell you they don't eat paella everyday, and why drink sangria when they have amazing wine. I will never be as 'fluent' as I would like to be, most likely because what I think of as 'fluent' is never having to look up a word in the dictionary and understanding 110% of everything everyone says. If Jaime hasn't mastered that I sure as heck will not. Doesn't mean I wont strive for the impossible.
It is surely the little things I have learned that I think I will continue to hold on to as the most important. The things that are almost impossible to be learned out of a textbook. The things I really am not sure I realize now.
There are a million things I will miss here. But I cannot wait for some Mac and Cheese, to not here Single Ladies as the current hit in the clubs and bars, and you know a bagel and cream cheese. But don't be shocked if I wonder into some Spanish supermarkets on Long Island just to be able to turn around and say 'donde esta....'. At least I live in a place where that is normal occurrence in Dunkin Donuts or the local supermarket.
It is the little things I will hold with me back in the States and take in a few more as my time ticks down, but I for one am the last person to doubt if I will or will not be back in Spain. Give me a few years, it will happen. I promise.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
TV
Hey all,
So this past week a tragic thing happened, not. The television in my host families living room broke. Now to give you some background this TV was 20 years old. I had to get up to turn it on and off, to change the channels, and to turn the volume up. So yes mom I guess I learned what is like to get up to do all of the above. This morning a brand spaken new television was delivered a 26 inch Samsung HD TV. They hooked it up and weren't sure why they went from 6 channels to about 50. The wonders of modernization. I explained as well as I have access now to shows like Recess (ONE SATURDAY MORNING) in Spanish!
The more interesting bigger picture of this is the truly lack of care when it comes 'keeping up with the Jones'. Although my family was by far the worst out of all my friends here, no one had big flat HD televisions like in the United States. No one needs to have that brand or mark on their shirt. If you life with your family is happy that is all that seems to matter. It is interesting to see and I have come accustomed to while I have been in Spain and will most likely hit me quick the differences once I get home in exactly a month from today. Here are a few other things that I am come to find interesting.
Waste- They recycle everything. It is normal and isn't the 'tree huggers' who recycle here. Young, old, male, female, liberals, and right wingers all recycle. It is normal. In the supermarkets they almost always expect that you have your own bags with you that a reusable so you need to specifically ask for a plastic bag if you need one. But watch out if you do, you will most likely be charged and only given one or two! We think in the United States ideas like charging for bags (Ikea) and banning plastic bags (San Francisco) is strange, it is just normal here.
Los Chinos- I know how incredibly racist and weird this is but it is just normal here. The Asian populations have stores all throughout the area and most of them they call themselves the 'Tienda de chinos'. What it is, is really a store of everything made in China. Cheap is all I have to say. It is very much like a dollar store but sometimes a little more and a Euro but always cheap quality. I will miss them, but I most likely shouldn't considering my 2 euro umbrella just lasted me 1 rainstorm before breaking.
As for this weekend, tomorrow is Labor day and therefore a national holiday. My hope is that it eventually stops raining and warms up this weekend so I can head to the beach. We shall see. Have a good weekend all!
Luego!
Erika
So this past week a tragic thing happened, not. The television in my host families living room broke. Now to give you some background this TV was 20 years old. I had to get up to turn it on and off, to change the channels, and to turn the volume up. So yes mom I guess I learned what is like to get up to do all of the above. This morning a brand spaken new television was delivered a 26 inch Samsung HD TV. They hooked it up and weren't sure why they went from 6 channels to about 50. The wonders of modernization. I explained as well as I have access now to shows like Recess (ONE SATURDAY MORNING) in Spanish!
The more interesting bigger picture of this is the truly lack of care when it comes 'keeping up with the Jones'. Although my family was by far the worst out of all my friends here, no one had big flat HD televisions like in the United States. No one needs to have that brand or mark on their shirt. If you life with your family is happy that is all that seems to matter. It is interesting to see and I have come accustomed to while I have been in Spain and will most likely hit me quick the differences once I get home in exactly a month from today. Here are a few other things that I am come to find interesting.
Waste- They recycle everything. It is normal and isn't the 'tree huggers' who recycle here. Young, old, male, female, liberals, and right wingers all recycle. It is normal. In the supermarkets they almost always expect that you have your own bags with you that a reusable so you need to specifically ask for a plastic bag if you need one. But watch out if you do, you will most likely be charged and only given one or two! We think in the United States ideas like charging for bags (Ikea) and banning plastic bags (San Francisco) is strange, it is just normal here.
Los Chinos- I know how incredibly racist and weird this is but it is just normal here. The Asian populations have stores all throughout the area and most of them they call themselves the 'Tienda de chinos'. What it is, is really a store of everything made in China. Cheap is all I have to say. It is very much like a dollar store but sometimes a little more and a Euro but always cheap quality. I will miss them, but I most likely shouldn't considering my 2 euro umbrella just lasted me 1 rainstorm before breaking.
As for this weekend, tomorrow is Labor day and therefore a national holiday. My hope is that it eventually stops raining and warms up this weekend so I can head to the beach. We shall see. Have a good weekend all!
Luego!
Erika
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Basque Country
Hey all,
I just got back from my two day journey to the Basque country. We went to both San Sebastián and Bilbao. I feel like the only thing people in the United States know about the Basque people, if anything is their head terrorist group the ETA and their movement for separation from the rest of Spain. Yes that is true and the reason for their wanting separation is the Basque people have been unified for much longer than Spain, they have a set of laws and rules called fueros and believe nothing should be above those. Unfortunately Spanish law rules over their fueros which upsets most true blood Basque people. Although many locals wish they had some autonomy from Madrid and the national government really very, very few agree with much the ETA stands for.
The Basque people have 7 territories, 4 of them are in Spain, the others are located in France. Their language is called Euskara, it is actually one of 3 languages in the world that no one can find a root from which it came from, it has been spoken since Neolithic times. It is virtually impossible to learn and is considered a sense of local identity if you can speak Euskara. The pure blood Basque men are so proud of their heritage, many of them wear a beret to signify their full blood basque men. They have a union jack style flag that is green, red and white. Two famous Jesuit Saints are actually from Basque, St. Francis Xavier (yes which is where the University name comes from) and St. Ignatius of Loyola (which is also a University).
A fact I thought was interesting was most history books teach that Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the world, in reality he was killed half way through the journey, but a Basque man by the name of Juan Sabastán took over the boat and finished the journey.
We started yesterday in San Sabastián (Donostia in Euskara) we had the day to ourselves walking through the old part of the town. The city is really a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic Ocean. We climbed a mountain that outcrops into the ocean with a castle and of course, Jesus at the top. It was an incredible view from the top of the coast line and the city itself. Dinner was in a cider making place out in the country off of the city. We got a chance to try all the different ciders they make, although better than Asturias, I still don't like it. The food was amazing, steak, tortillas (egg, cod, and, potato), blood sausage and more!
Today we headed to Bilbao, walked around the Guggenheim which the building is incredible. It was built in 1997 so it is all crazy modern architecture and many people say more interesting that what is inside most of the time. For you Bond fans it is the building where the whole first sequence takes place in the last movie. We then walked around the old part of town, which is not very big and had some lunch at a local place and headed back to Oviedo.
Learning about the Basque people was definitely interesting and most at dinner last night honestly just wanted us to understand the real them and not the over glorified, what we see on television, ETA. It was nice to see there is more to the people and the place than their separation movement.
Adios!
Erika
I just got back from my two day journey to the Basque country. We went to both San Sebastián and Bilbao. I feel like the only thing people in the United States know about the Basque people, if anything is their head terrorist group the ETA and their movement for separation from the rest of Spain. Yes that is true and the reason for their wanting separation is the Basque people have been unified for much longer than Spain, they have a set of laws and rules called fueros and believe nothing should be above those. Unfortunately Spanish law rules over their fueros which upsets most true blood Basque people. Although many locals wish they had some autonomy from Madrid and the national government really very, very few agree with much the ETA stands for.
The Basque people have 7 territories, 4 of them are in Spain, the others are located in France. Their language is called Euskara, it is actually one of 3 languages in the world that no one can find a root from which it came from, it has been spoken since Neolithic times. It is virtually impossible to learn and is considered a sense of local identity if you can speak Euskara. The pure blood Basque men are so proud of their heritage, many of them wear a beret to signify their full blood basque men. They have a union jack style flag that is green, red and white. Two famous Jesuit Saints are actually from Basque, St. Francis Xavier (yes which is where the University name comes from) and St. Ignatius of Loyola (which is also a University).
A fact I thought was interesting was most history books teach that Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the world, in reality he was killed half way through the journey, but a Basque man by the name of Juan Sabastán took over the boat and finished the journey.
We started yesterday in San Sabastián (Donostia in Euskara) we had the day to ourselves walking through the old part of the town. The city is really a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic Ocean. We climbed a mountain that outcrops into the ocean with a castle and of course, Jesus at the top. It was an incredible view from the top of the coast line and the city itself. Dinner was in a cider making place out in the country off of the city. We got a chance to try all the different ciders they make, although better than Asturias, I still don't like it. The food was amazing, steak, tortillas (egg, cod, and, potato), blood sausage and more!
Today we headed to Bilbao, walked around the Guggenheim which the building is incredible. It was built in 1997 so it is all crazy modern architecture and many people say more interesting that what is inside most of the time. For you Bond fans it is the building where the whole first sequence takes place in the last movie. We then walked around the old part of town, which is not very big and had some lunch at a local place and headed back to Oviedo.
Learning about the Basque people was definitely interesting and most at dinner last night honestly just wanted us to understand the real them and not the over glorified, what we see on television, ETA. It was nice to see there is more to the people and the place than their separation movement.
Adios!
Erika
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
La Nueva España
¡Hola todos!
Today as part of Culture week the journalism group took a trip to La Nueva España headquarters here in Oviedo. Our personal tour guide was the director of the overall group that owns both the newspaper and the publisher of books and other various things. After watching a video of the basic 101 of journalism and how they do things we got the opportunity to walk on the news room floor and walk around. Just a few interesting thoughts from the opportunity.
*They have the front covers of important editions hung up on one wall. There was 6 of them up on the wall. I was surprised they were missing the day Spain won the World Cup but what surprised me more was 2 of the 6 covers were American news stories, that were of global importance. They were the cover from Sept. 12th 2001 and the cover from the day Bush entered Afghanistan.
*A journalism student asked the director if journalism and newspapers here in Spain were dying similar to their counterparts in the United States. After much explanation we realized how far behind on the internet age Spain really is. He explained the internet has not negatively effected the business so far as people who want to read the news go to his website instead of buying the paper and their are paid advertisements on the website. Just wait a few more years, let everyone here become just as addicted to the internet as Americans have become, it will hit eventually.
*The papers they produce are made of 90% recycled paper! Yeah for Spain being so environmentally aware!
For photography today I walked through the park and shot some photographs on our nature theme. Tomorrow during class time to go shoot I think I am going to head to the beach. Figures but everyone else is going to the countryside so why not, it will not be the first time I have walked around the beach taking pictures, but it will be a first with my zoom lens!
Friday as a Temple group we are all going to Basque Country for a two day trip!
Adios for now!
-Erika
p.s.- 1 month till my 21st birthday! Not that it matters at all since the drinking age here might as well be 5.
Today as part of Culture week the journalism group took a trip to La Nueva España headquarters here in Oviedo. Our personal tour guide was the director of the overall group that owns both the newspaper and the publisher of books and other various things. After watching a video of the basic 101 of journalism and how they do things we got the opportunity to walk on the news room floor and walk around. Just a few interesting thoughts from the opportunity.
*They have the front covers of important editions hung up on one wall. There was 6 of them up on the wall. I was surprised they were missing the day Spain won the World Cup but what surprised me more was 2 of the 6 covers were American news stories, that were of global importance. They were the cover from Sept. 12th 2001 and the cover from the day Bush entered Afghanistan.
*A journalism student asked the director if journalism and newspapers here in Spain were dying similar to their counterparts in the United States. After much explanation we realized how far behind on the internet age Spain really is. He explained the internet has not negatively effected the business so far as people who want to read the news go to his website instead of buying the paper and their are paid advertisements on the website. Just wait a few more years, let everyone here become just as addicted to the internet as Americans have become, it will hit eventually.
*The papers they produce are made of 90% recycled paper! Yeah for Spain being so environmentally aware!
For photography today I walked through the park and shot some photographs on our nature theme. Tomorrow during class time to go shoot I think I am going to head to the beach. Figures but everyone else is going to the countryside so why not, it will not be the first time I have walked around the beach taking pictures, but it will be a first with my zoom lens!
Friday as a Temple group we are all going to Basque Country for a two day trip!
Adios for now!
-Erika
p.s.- 1 month till my 21st birthday! Not that it matters at all since the drinking age here might as well be 5.
Monday, April 20, 2009
a weekend of NOTHING
Hey all,
I am happy to report I did absolutely nothing this weekend. I sat in the apartment all weekend and happily slept in and relaxed. I know that sounds boring but considering for how long I have been on the move traveling for weekends it was wonderful. This week I don't have regular classes, it is actually 'Culture week'. We were able to choose/ be assigned two classes to take. Some of them being Video making, Dance, Theater, Photography, Photo Journalism,and Journalism. It should not be a surprise to anyone that I picked photography but my other choice I was left with was Journalism. It will be interesting because La Nueva España a major newspaper in Spain is actually based in Oviedo and we are getting the opportunity to go into their headquarters on Wednesday. I will let you know how Culture week goes and our presentation ceremony on Monday, but at the meantime it is 2am and I have class at 9am! Off to bed I go!
Adios!
I am happy to report I did absolutely nothing this weekend. I sat in the apartment all weekend and happily slept in and relaxed. I know that sounds boring but considering for how long I have been on the move traveling for weekends it was wonderful. This week I don't have regular classes, it is actually 'Culture week'. We were able to choose/ be assigned two classes to take. Some of them being Video making, Dance, Theater, Photography, Photo Journalism,and Journalism. It should not be a surprise to anyone that I picked photography but my other choice I was left with was Journalism. It will be interesting because La Nueva España a major newspaper in Spain is actually based in Oviedo and we are getting the opportunity to go into their headquarters on Wednesday. I will let you know how Culture week goes and our presentation ceremony on Monday, but at the meantime it is 2am and I have class at 9am! Off to bed I go!
Adios!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
IM HOME (kinda)
Hey all,
Sorry it has been an extremely long time since I last updated the blog. I just got back this morning from London and the rest of spring break. I had a total blast but my body really does not mind being back in Spain and being able to relax a little. I am going to update you as much as I can on Spring break a lot happened so I will try to remember as much as I can.
Budapest-post update
We ran into a huge political protest on day 2 of being there and of course no one spoke English to tell us what was going on. After a little research it turns out their Prime Minister about a year and a half ago admitted (while secretly being recorded) that his whole administration has lied to the public about almost everything. The public of course was not happy, and he the charmer he is did not apologize, but just told the public, all politicians do it all over the world. I am sure that made them feel better. He is finally stepping down from his position now not because of this reason but because he does not want his name tarnished with Hungrys failing economy that he helped send down the drain. They want a new leader, anybody with a brain it seems. I can't blame them for that.
Our last day in Budapest we decided to do as the locals do and go to a old Roman Thermal Bath. The thermal baths are natural water with a special chemical composition that comes out of the ground and different temperatures ranging from burning hot to freezing cold. We went in hung out in the many pools, saunas, and outdoor pools. Talk about a relaxing end of our stay in Budapest.
Berlin-
So I won't lie I had some preconceived curiosity of Germany before I got there. A little background information, here in Spain it is semi-normal when you see graffiti for it to be Nazi related or fascist related, over time I have noticed the same in Italy. I was wondering honestly if there would still be that strong idea in Germany, I came to realize that most there realize they went too far and our very proud of their democratic government now-a-days. Plus drawing a symbol of that sort,doing the salute or anything related can land you in a German prison for up to 2 years.
Anyways, Berlin itself is a very young city people wise. It seems to me that many people left after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and now the city has a huge influx of immigrants and young students and post graduates from all over the wall. The city is so reasonably cheap which is understandable why so many people have flocked there. Most of the buildings are very young since the destruction from the wars and the areas where the walls once stood are only finally being built back up again. Speaking of the walls, I was disappointed but then again couldn't blame the people, there is really almost nothing left of the Berlin wall and what is left now is protected by the government as a reminder of what once happened there.
We also decided to take a day trip outside of Berlin to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. It was completely heart breaking to see what is left of this camp to walk around it and to hear about the history of the camp. Although, I am honestly glad I did it. It was a complete educational experience and I really learned a lot. To be honest I have not one picture of the entire day. For those of you who know me and the almost 500 pictures I took over spring break it was an interesting thing for me not to take out my camera. I honestly felt the same as people who take pictures of Ground Zero in New York.
The last day in Berlin I wondered around the city on my own. I got to see the Olympic stadium where not only the Olympics took place but also the 2006 World Cup (the world famous head-butt) but more importantly Italys World Championship. I got to go into the Reichstag or the equivalent of the German congress and look down on the seats of their representatives. I also saw Check point Charlie although not the original, but more importantly next door the old cafe where Ian Fleming sat and wrote day after day spying on the spies and writing the Bond series!
Finally off to London!
First off it was a weird experience being in a country where everyone spoke English. In fact it was so weird we kept responding to people in Spanish. Who knows what I am going to do when I am back in the USA, at least in NY I can go to the supermarket and find someone to speak Spanish too! We did all the super touristy things, Big Ben, Shakespeare's Globe, Harrods! ect. Since it has only been almost 6 months since I was last in London most of it was not new to me, but I have fun showing the city off to Mary who had never been there. My highlight of it all was Easter Sunday. I decided to go to church at Westminster Abbey. I will admit, I figured to see hats, all I found were tourists. I would also like to know where the hats on Easter idea came from, because the locals all thought it was weird when I asked about the Queens Easter hat. I will tell you I walked around all day on Sunday and saw no Easter bonnets. Sad I know.
So I am currently back in Spain there is only a month and a half left of my time here. Although I would have loved to see more of Europe and keep going my feet and legs are beyond glad to be back here and relax this weekend. This will be the first weekend in 5 straight weeks that I can sleep in and I am not traveling. As for pictures of this trip, I promise I will get them up soon enough, like I said I have about 500 from the past 10 days that I need to sort through and upload as well as pictures from Barcelona I still need to upload.
Adios for now!
-Erika
Sorry it has been an extremely long time since I last updated the blog. I just got back this morning from London and the rest of spring break. I had a total blast but my body really does not mind being back in Spain and being able to relax a little. I am going to update you as much as I can on Spring break a lot happened so I will try to remember as much as I can.
Budapest-post update
We ran into a huge political protest on day 2 of being there and of course no one spoke English to tell us what was going on. After a little research it turns out their Prime Minister about a year and a half ago admitted (while secretly being recorded) that his whole administration has lied to the public about almost everything. The public of course was not happy, and he the charmer he is did not apologize, but just told the public, all politicians do it all over the world. I am sure that made them feel better. He is finally stepping down from his position now not because of this reason but because he does not want his name tarnished with Hungrys failing economy that he helped send down the drain. They want a new leader, anybody with a brain it seems. I can't blame them for that.
Our last day in Budapest we decided to do as the locals do and go to a old Roman Thermal Bath. The thermal baths are natural water with a special chemical composition that comes out of the ground and different temperatures ranging from burning hot to freezing cold. We went in hung out in the many pools, saunas, and outdoor pools. Talk about a relaxing end of our stay in Budapest.
Berlin-
So I won't lie I had some preconceived curiosity of Germany before I got there. A little background information, here in Spain it is semi-normal when you see graffiti for it to be Nazi related or fascist related, over time I have noticed the same in Italy. I was wondering honestly if there would still be that strong idea in Germany, I came to realize that most there realize they went too far and our very proud of their democratic government now-a-days. Plus drawing a symbol of that sort,doing the salute or anything related can land you in a German prison for up to 2 years.
Anyways, Berlin itself is a very young city people wise. It seems to me that many people left after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and now the city has a huge influx of immigrants and young students and post graduates from all over the wall. The city is so reasonably cheap which is understandable why so many people have flocked there. Most of the buildings are very young since the destruction from the wars and the areas where the walls once stood are only finally being built back up again. Speaking of the walls, I was disappointed but then again couldn't blame the people, there is really almost nothing left of the Berlin wall and what is left now is protected by the government as a reminder of what once happened there.
We also decided to take a day trip outside of Berlin to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. It was completely heart breaking to see what is left of this camp to walk around it and to hear about the history of the camp. Although, I am honestly glad I did it. It was a complete educational experience and I really learned a lot. To be honest I have not one picture of the entire day. For those of you who know me and the almost 500 pictures I took over spring break it was an interesting thing for me not to take out my camera. I honestly felt the same as people who take pictures of Ground Zero in New York.
The last day in Berlin I wondered around the city on my own. I got to see the Olympic stadium where not only the Olympics took place but also the 2006 World Cup (the world famous head-butt) but more importantly Italys World Championship. I got to go into the Reichstag or the equivalent of the German congress and look down on the seats of their representatives. I also saw Check point Charlie although not the original, but more importantly next door the old cafe where Ian Fleming sat and wrote day after day spying on the spies and writing the Bond series!
Finally off to London!
First off it was a weird experience being in a country where everyone spoke English. In fact it was so weird we kept responding to people in Spanish. Who knows what I am going to do when I am back in the USA, at least in NY I can go to the supermarket and find someone to speak Spanish too! We did all the super touristy things, Big Ben, Shakespeare's Globe, Harrods! ect. Since it has only been almost 6 months since I was last in London most of it was not new to me, but I have fun showing the city off to Mary who had never been there. My highlight of it all was Easter Sunday. I decided to go to church at Westminster Abbey. I will admit, I figured to see hats, all I found were tourists. I would also like to know where the hats on Easter idea came from, because the locals all thought it was weird when I asked about the Queens Easter hat. I will tell you I walked around all day on Sunday and saw no Easter bonnets. Sad I know.
So I am currently back in Spain there is only a month and a half left of my time here. Although I would have loved to see more of Europe and keep going my feet and legs are beyond glad to be back here and relax this weekend. This will be the first weekend in 5 straight weeks that I can sleep in and I am not traveling. As for pictures of this trip, I promise I will get them up soon enough, like I said I have about 500 from the past 10 days that I need to sort through and upload as well as pictures from Barcelona I still need to upload.
Adios for now!
-Erika
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Budapest
Hey all,
I am currently in Budapest. Sorry for the extremely long delay in updating, my internet was sporadic. Yesterday our first day in Budapest. The city is two different parts being, Buda and Pest. Yesterday we explored the castle (one of the most recognized things in Budapest) the old bridge and other things on the Buda side.
The money is taking us forever to figure out and we as most of the Americans here have decided its monopoly money and we have no idea what we are spending. Thank goodness overall Budapest is cheap so even if they rip you off it is still reasonable. The exchange rate is about 300 forints to 1 US dollar. This means we end up walking around with bills that are like 10,000 or 20,000 forints. So interesting. Yesterday a full lunch cost the 3 of us together the equivalent of about 15 USD for a sandwich drinks and all that in the middle of a high tourist area.
That is all for now. I will update soon.
With Love from Pest,
Erika
I am currently in Budapest. Sorry for the extremely long delay in updating, my internet was sporadic. Yesterday our first day in Budapest. The city is two different parts being, Buda and Pest. Yesterday we explored the castle (one of the most recognized things in Budapest) the old bridge and other things on the Buda side.
The money is taking us forever to figure out and we as most of the Americans here have decided its monopoly money and we have no idea what we are spending. Thank goodness overall Budapest is cheap so even if they rip you off it is still reasonable. The exchange rate is about 300 forints to 1 US dollar. This means we end up walking around with bills that are like 10,000 or 20,000 forints. So interesting. Yesterday a full lunch cost the 3 of us together the equivalent of about 15 USD for a sandwich drinks and all that in the middle of a high tourist area.
That is all for now. I will update soon.
With Love from Pest,
Erika
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Pictures from Amsterdam
As promised!
This week is one of tests tests tests! 3 tests! 2 papers! ahh!
Then this weekend I am headed off to Barcelona, I will update Monday or Tuesday with pictures and stories!
Adios!
Erika
This week is one of tests tests tests! 3 tests! 2 papers! ahh!
Then this weekend I am headed off to Barcelona, I will update Monday or Tuesday with pictures and stories!
Adios!
Erika
Monday, March 23, 2009
Amsterdam..the land of bikes
Hey everyone,
I just got back from Amsterdam today. It was an incredible experience. The city is absolutely beautiful designed in a circular shape with canals running every few streets. The language of Dutch is interesting very difficult to read and understand although some words are almost completely the same as English. There was only 2 people I met while I was there that did not speak English, which I was beyond grateful for. We stayed on a hostel that was located on a house boat, so although the room was tiny it was a crazy experience of sleeping in a canal in Amsterdam.
The first day we were in Amsterdam we decided to do as the locals do and rent bikes. Now you have to understand in Amsterdam, bikes have the right of way for everything. Cars will stop for bikes, people better unless you will get yelled at, and have their bell going off, and most likely get run over. There are also tons of bikes everywhere, so once on a bike it can be really intimidating. I have not really rode a bike since my freshman year of high school when I broke my shoulder on a bike, even then I was not an avid rider. So I will admit, I caused a bike accident my first day because I didn't understand the hand signals for biking. No one was injured in the process but it was a bit embarrassing and a little funny as well.
The first day we fell upon the Heineken factory. We decided to take a tour of the factory which was really interesting considering the fact that I had no idea how beer is even made. We got to see each of the steps and well as see all the ingredients. ( I am convinced hops smell like rabbit food). And of course everyone's favorite, learn how to properly pour beer and last but not least, drink some.
Saturday night we ventured into the well know Red Light district, which isn't a misnomer I will tell you that much. The alleys and streets glow red at night. I was told there is about 200 windows and yes their are girls in just about all of them every night.
Sunday we were up and out early. First stop was the Anne Frank house. It has been a long time since I read the book, but I honestly think I am going to re read it this summer. We were able to see the original bookcase and walk through the door into the old part of the house. In fact on display is her original red plaid diary with all the note papers that Anne had written her diary on. The rooms in which they hide in our kept empty at the wish of Otto Frank, her father who was the only family member to survive the war. His wish when he made the foundation to open the house as a museum was to make it a place of solely remembering the Frank family, but a place that would educate future generations about the hatred both against the Jewish people during World War 2, but also current acts of hatred and loss of freedom in the current world. The whole place was done with such respect and honor for all those who have died it was breathtaking.
"To build up a future, you have to know the past." Otto Frank
Our second stop on Sunday was the FOAM museum. I had seen while biking by an advertisement for the FOAM museum, which is a Photography museum, saying they had some Richard Avedon work on display. For those of you who don't know I wrote a term paper on him last semester and quickly became obsessed with his work. He is most well known for his many portraits of famous politicians, artists of all kinds, and well known people all with a solid white background behind them. It turns out the museum was solely a traveling collection of his life's work. There were close to 200 photographs on display. To see these works at their vast size at which he has printed them was speechless. Many of his works are nearly 3 feet tall with some even bigger. AMAZING!
"There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph. All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth." Richard Avedon
Last but not least Carlene and I got the idea to listen to my travel guide and go find some tulips in the countryside. My book made it seem easy, just take the train to Haarlem (15 min away) rent a bike and bike through the fields. Yeah right. Instead we ended up on a adventure to the train station then a 40 min bus, at which point the sun was starting to set. At this point we realized it was a little early for them all to bloom (first week of April is the peek) and so we walked to an arboretum type place. Where the informational lady let us sneak in for free and not pay the 13 euro because we were late and ran around everywhere just looking for TULIPS! We had less than an hour before it was dark and we didn't see what we came for, no fields and fields of tulips but hey it was an adventure, we saw more of the country and headed back into the city for one last round of the night time in Amsterdam.
I will post some pictures from the trip up here either tomorrow or Wednesday since I have over 200 photographs to sort through first!
But first, a few random facts about names in New York, from the the Dutch!
-Brooklyn was originally Breuckelen, named for the town in the Netherlands and authorized by the Dutch East Indian Company and was the first municipality of what is now New York State.
-The Bronx was named after Janas Bronck, a Dutch sea captian.
-The origin of Yankees is Jan Kees or John Baboon since Kees is a shortening for Cornelius which in Dutch means monkey or baboon. It was used to nickname Dutch speaking Americans in colonial times.
vaarwel (farewell),
Erika
I just got back from Amsterdam today. It was an incredible experience. The city is absolutely beautiful designed in a circular shape with canals running every few streets. The language of Dutch is interesting very difficult to read and understand although some words are almost completely the same as English. There was only 2 people I met while I was there that did not speak English, which I was beyond grateful for. We stayed on a hostel that was located on a house boat, so although the room was tiny it was a crazy experience of sleeping in a canal in Amsterdam.
The first day we were in Amsterdam we decided to do as the locals do and rent bikes. Now you have to understand in Amsterdam, bikes have the right of way for everything. Cars will stop for bikes, people better unless you will get yelled at, and have their bell going off, and most likely get run over. There are also tons of bikes everywhere, so once on a bike it can be really intimidating. I have not really rode a bike since my freshman year of high school when I broke my shoulder on a bike, even then I was not an avid rider. So I will admit, I caused a bike accident my first day because I didn't understand the hand signals for biking. No one was injured in the process but it was a bit embarrassing and a little funny as well.
The first day we fell upon the Heineken factory. We decided to take a tour of the factory which was really interesting considering the fact that I had no idea how beer is even made. We got to see each of the steps and well as see all the ingredients. ( I am convinced hops smell like rabbit food). And of course everyone's favorite, learn how to properly pour beer and last but not least, drink some.
Saturday night we ventured into the well know Red Light district, which isn't a misnomer I will tell you that much. The alleys and streets glow red at night. I was told there is about 200 windows and yes their are girls in just about all of them every night.
Sunday we were up and out early. First stop was the Anne Frank house. It has been a long time since I read the book, but I honestly think I am going to re read it this summer. We were able to see the original bookcase and walk through the door into the old part of the house. In fact on display is her original red plaid diary with all the note papers that Anne had written her diary on. The rooms in which they hide in our kept empty at the wish of Otto Frank, her father who was the only family member to survive the war. His wish when he made the foundation to open the house as a museum was to make it a place of solely remembering the Frank family, but a place that would educate future generations about the hatred both against the Jewish people during World War 2, but also current acts of hatred and loss of freedom in the current world. The whole place was done with such respect and honor for all those who have died it was breathtaking.
"To build up a future, you have to know the past." Otto Frank
Our second stop on Sunday was the FOAM museum. I had seen while biking by an advertisement for the FOAM museum, which is a Photography museum, saying they had some Richard Avedon work on display. For those of you who don't know I wrote a term paper on him last semester and quickly became obsessed with his work. He is most well known for his many portraits of famous politicians, artists of all kinds, and well known people all with a solid white background behind them. It turns out the museum was solely a traveling collection of his life's work. There were close to 200 photographs on display. To see these works at their vast size at which he has printed them was speechless. Many of his works are nearly 3 feet tall with some even bigger. AMAZING!
"There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph. All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth." Richard Avedon
Last but not least Carlene and I got the idea to listen to my travel guide and go find some tulips in the countryside. My book made it seem easy, just take the train to Haarlem (15 min away) rent a bike and bike through the fields. Yeah right. Instead we ended up on a adventure to the train station then a 40 min bus, at which point the sun was starting to set. At this point we realized it was a little early for them all to bloom (first week of April is the peek) and so we walked to an arboretum type place. Where the informational lady let us sneak in for free and not pay the 13 euro because we were late and ran around everywhere just looking for TULIPS! We had less than an hour before it was dark and we didn't see what we came for, no fields and fields of tulips but hey it was an adventure, we saw more of the country and headed back into the city for one last round of the night time in Amsterdam.
I will post some pictures from the trip up here either tomorrow or Wednesday since I have over 200 photographs to sort through first!
But first, a few random facts about names in New York, from the the Dutch!
-Brooklyn was originally Breuckelen, named for the town in the Netherlands and authorized by the Dutch East Indian Company and was the first municipality of what is now New York State.
-The Bronx was named after Janas Bronck, a Dutch sea captian.
-The origin of Yankees is Jan Kees or John Baboon since Kees is a shortening for Cornelius which in Dutch means monkey or baboon. It was used to nickname Dutch speaking Americans in colonial times.
vaarwel (farewell),
Erika
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Semana Santa
Recently I have been seeing pictures and whatnot for Semana Santa (Holy Week), which this year happens to be the first week of April. The thing that has struck a bunch of us a little odd was the pictures of people in white outfits with a cone covering over the head with two holes for your eyes. The first thing that every American I have been with has said is something referring to the mental reference it gives us to the KKK.
In one of my classes today we were discussing everyone's plans for the week, since we all have off and between a class of 15 will be hitting almost every major city in Europe. I decided to ask my professor after some discussion about the rituals here in Spain during the week of Easter. Most cities have some sort of processional with over 20 men carrying a huge box thing with the statue of Mary and Jesus. They have a walk that runs through cities and towns across the country, as they walk they drag their feet and move in the same motion in sync with one another. (This walk is practiced weeks before the actually procession and I happened to see one in Salamanca this past weekend.) As the procession makes its way through the city silence falls, few people sing aloud old biblical songs repenting for their forgiveness. People dressed in white hooded garments follow the procession and they ask for their forgiveness. In their hooded gowns their are holes cut out on their backs where they whip themselves as they are repenting for their sins. The essentially cut open their backs and bleed as they follow this procession through the town.
It is a bizarre ritual that I know for sure. I have also realized that it is not the American culture that makes us think of the KKK when we see the white gowns, as my professor said almost everyone she knows thinks of the KKK before Semana Santa. Also the ritual is most likely much older than the KKK itself so I guess the white hooded outfit is one that originally started as ritual for the most holy week in Christianity.
This is the base where the statue of Mary and Jesus will be placed on top as they practice the route in Salamanca
In one of my classes today we were discussing everyone's plans for the week, since we all have off and between a class of 15 will be hitting almost every major city in Europe. I decided to ask my professor after some discussion about the rituals here in Spain during the week of Easter. Most cities have some sort of processional with over 20 men carrying a huge box thing with the statue of Mary and Jesus. They have a walk that runs through cities and towns across the country, as they walk they drag their feet and move in the same motion in sync with one another. (This walk is practiced weeks before the actually procession and I happened to see one in Salamanca this past weekend.) As the procession makes its way through the city silence falls, few people sing aloud old biblical songs repenting for their forgiveness. People dressed in white hooded garments follow the procession and they ask for their forgiveness. In their hooded gowns their are holes cut out on their backs where they whip themselves as they are repenting for their sins. The essentially cut open their backs and bleed as they follow this procession through the town.
It is a bizarre ritual that I know for sure. I have also realized that it is not the American culture that makes us think of the KKK when we see the white gowns, as my professor said almost everyone she knows thinks of the KKK before Semana Santa. Also the ritual is most likely much older than the KKK itself so I guess the white hooded outfit is one that originally started as ritual for the most holy week in Christianity.
This is the base where the statue of Mary and Jesus will be placed on top as they practice the route in Salamanca
Monday, March 16, 2009
Salamanca
Hey all,
I know it has been a while. This weekend I went to Salamanca. While(Temple won the A-10 championship and I got two screaming phone calls to celebrate both, my parents and Evan). So anyway, Salamanca, is a university city housing the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. The entire city is built of sandstone buildings which seem to glow at night as dusk comes. Salamanca is located on the side of the Tormes river (Lazarillo de Tormes (Spanish literature) the fictional character was born in the Tormes River).
The big highlights were first off the Cathedral. There is an old part that is more of a medieval style and the new cathedral which is gothic style. Mary and I got the chance to walk to the top and see the whole city from above as well as peak into both churches from the top section and have a better view of the murals on the ceilings. Also the cathedral was restored and cleaned back in 1998, during that time for some reason a astronaut was included into the facade. Very strange but everyone flocks to find it.
The plaza mayor of Salamanca is considered by many one of the most beautiful. I now understand why. It is a huge square where an abundance of activity goes on at all hours of the day and night. I sat with the girls at a café and saw a crazy clown juggle fire in the square!
The university itself has many buildings but the original has a facade covered in all sorts of objects. Old legend has it if you can find the skull with the frog on it you will have many sorts of luck. So of course we all stood there with the rest of the tourists looking to find it. Sure enough I did! Luck for me!
Sunday in the 75 degree weather we decided on having a picnic on the side of the Rio Tormes. It was a beautiful week with around 75 degree temperatures the entire time! I could not ask for better weather!
A week of classes and then off to Amsterdam for the weekend!
Enjoy the photos!
I know it has been a while. This weekend I went to Salamanca. While(Temple won the A-10 championship and I got two screaming phone calls to celebrate both, my parents and Evan). So anyway, Salamanca, is a university city housing the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. The entire city is built of sandstone buildings which seem to glow at night as dusk comes. Salamanca is located on the side of the Tormes river (Lazarillo de Tormes (Spanish literature) the fictional character was born in the Tormes River).
The big highlights were first off the Cathedral. There is an old part that is more of a medieval style and the new cathedral which is gothic style. Mary and I got the chance to walk to the top and see the whole city from above as well as peak into both churches from the top section and have a better view of the murals on the ceilings. Also the cathedral was restored and cleaned back in 1998, during that time for some reason a astronaut was included into the facade. Very strange but everyone flocks to find it.
The plaza mayor of Salamanca is considered by many one of the most beautiful. I now understand why. It is a huge square where an abundance of activity goes on at all hours of the day and night. I sat with the girls at a café and saw a crazy clown juggle fire in the square!
The university itself has many buildings but the original has a facade covered in all sorts of objects. Old legend has it if you can find the skull with the frog on it you will have many sorts of luck. So of course we all stood there with the rest of the tourists looking to find it. Sure enough I did! Luck for me!
Sunday in the 75 degree weather we decided on having a picnic on the side of the Rio Tormes. It was a beautiful week with around 75 degree temperatures the entire time! I could not ask for better weather!
A week of classes and then off to Amsterdam for the weekend!
Enjoy the photos!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
5 years later...
Today March 11th is the 5th anniversary of the Madrid train bombings. Although they are slowly moving on it still lingers in their minds just as September 11th does for most Americans. Moments of silence were held throughout most of the country this morning in memory of the 191 people who were killed.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Only a 5 hour difference
Hey all,
I know its been a while since I updated last. Nothing much has happened over the past week or so. I promise that won't last for long, since this was officially the last weekend I will be in Oviedo for the next 5 weekends. Travel! Travel! Travel! I am off to Salamanca, Amsterdam, Barcelona and then Spring break (Budapest, Berlin, and London!)
A few interesting tid-bits of information:
My art history professor explained why the campus that are classes are on is called El Milan. According to her it was a military base by Spanish troops during their golden age following their capture of Northern Italy. The army and the captain stayed here after the battle that allowed them to add the area of present day Milan, Italy to the long list of Spanish territories.
I also realized today that yes count it I have officially been in Spain over 2 months and Oviedo close to that however I have yet to be inside the Cathedral. It is not that I am avoiding it or I don't want to pay the money. The fact is I have honestly never seen it open! There are no posted times, so I am not even sure when it is open! I am not the only one, out of the 15 Temple students, only one has been inside. Now don't overly worry I am taking a 'field trip' there nice bright and early on Thursday with my art history professor.
As for my title of this blog daylight savings time came around to all of you in America this weekend, but as for everyone here in Europe, well we like to make it complicated. We don't switch our clocks until the 29th of March! So for the next 3 weeks I am only 5 hours difference between Spain and the east coast.
That is all for now!
-Erika
I know its been a while since I updated last. Nothing much has happened over the past week or so. I promise that won't last for long, since this was officially the last weekend I will be in Oviedo for the next 5 weekends. Travel! Travel! Travel! I am off to Salamanca, Amsterdam, Barcelona and then Spring break (Budapest, Berlin, and London!)
A few interesting tid-bits of information:
My art history professor explained why the campus that are classes are on is called El Milan. According to her it was a military base by Spanish troops during their golden age following their capture of Northern Italy. The army and the captain stayed here after the battle that allowed them to add the area of present day Milan, Italy to the long list of Spanish territories.
I also realized today that yes count it I have officially been in Spain over 2 months and Oviedo close to that however I have yet to be inside the Cathedral. It is not that I am avoiding it or I don't want to pay the money. The fact is I have honestly never seen it open! There are no posted times, so I am not even sure when it is open! I am not the only one, out of the 15 Temple students, only one has been inside. Now don't overly worry I am taking a 'field trip' there nice bright and early on Thursday with my art history professor.
As for my title of this blog daylight savings time came around to all of you in America this weekend, but as for everyone here in Europe, well we like to make it complicated. We don't switch our clocks until the 29th of March! So for the next 3 weeks I am only 5 hours difference between Spain and the east coast.
That is all for now!
-Erika
Monday, March 2, 2009
Asturias Paraíso Natural
Hey all,
Saturday I took a group trip with Aegee to 3 cities here in Asturias. Aegee is a group that does tons of trips for international students, but mostly Erasmus students. Erasmus is an exchange programs for students in Europe to attend another university in Europe.
The first place we went to was Covadonga. Covadonga is where the Picos de Europa are located, it is very much like a national/ European park of protected beauty. We did not get a chance to climb the mountain to see the lakes in the mountains but we did see a few waterfalls where the water comes down as well as the old cathedral in the city. The legend has it that if you are to drink the water from the fountains of Covadonga you will be married within a year. A bunch of us decided to prove the theory wrong and drink the water (which by the way is not guaranteed to be sanitary, but tasted good!)
Our second stop was a mini camping grounds park where we had lunch in the sun. Our third stop was in a little town called Ribadesella. The town is home of about 7,000 people but absolutely beautiful. It is a beach side town where one side is on the riverbanks and the other is at the mouth of the river where it runs into the Atlantic Ocean. On top of the cliffs is a little church that overlooks all of the town as well as out into the ocean. I was told that the town is overwhelmed with tourists during the summer months as it has many summer resorts on the beaches.
When we got back to Oviedo we ran into their Carnival parade and hung out to see some of the costumes. The parade was about 20 min long (very different than that of the Canaries). However one thing that caught me completely off guard was the differences of some of the costumes both at the parade and throughout the night. I saw dozens of people painted black as well as communists and Nazi's. It is something that completely caught me off guard, because although many people both in the United States and in the Canaries like to have fun and joke around with their costumes, their are very rarely costumes like that.
...Pictures... I haven't figured out if this is easier or not for everyone to view!?
Till next time,
Erika
Saturday I took a group trip with Aegee to 3 cities here in Asturias. Aegee is a group that does tons of trips for international students, but mostly Erasmus students. Erasmus is an exchange programs for students in Europe to attend another university in Europe.
The first place we went to was Covadonga. Covadonga is where the Picos de Europa are located, it is very much like a national/ European park of protected beauty. We did not get a chance to climb the mountain to see the lakes in the mountains but we did see a few waterfalls where the water comes down as well as the old cathedral in the city. The legend has it that if you are to drink the water from the fountains of Covadonga you will be married within a year. A bunch of us decided to prove the theory wrong and drink the water (which by the way is not guaranteed to be sanitary, but tasted good!)
Our second stop was a mini camping grounds park where we had lunch in the sun. Our third stop was in a little town called Ribadesella. The town is home of about 7,000 people but absolutely beautiful. It is a beach side town where one side is on the riverbanks and the other is at the mouth of the river where it runs into the Atlantic Ocean. On top of the cliffs is a little church that overlooks all of the town as well as out into the ocean. I was told that the town is overwhelmed with tourists during the summer months as it has many summer resorts on the beaches.
When we got back to Oviedo we ran into their Carnival parade and hung out to see some of the costumes. The parade was about 20 min long (very different than that of the Canaries). However one thing that caught me completely off guard was the differences of some of the costumes both at the parade and throughout the night. I saw dozens of people painted black as well as communists and Nazi's. It is something that completely caught me off guard, because although many people both in the United States and in the Canaries like to have fun and joke around with their costumes, their are very rarely costumes like that.
...Pictures... I haven't figured out if this is easier or not for everyone to view!?
Till next time,
Erika
Sunday, March 1, 2009
More Pictures!
Hey all,
So little by little everyone has uploaded their pictures from the Islands so I am putting on a few more pictures that highlight the trip!
Just use the controls on the bottom to skip through the pictures!
-Erika
So little by little everyone has uploaded their pictures from the Islands so I am putting on a few more pictures that highlight the trip!
Just use the controls on the bottom to skip through the pictures!
-Erika
Thursday, February 26, 2009
I'm Backkkk
the group on the dunes.
sunset on maspalomas
the dunes.
jumping...mom this ones for you but there is more jumping pictures to come
Hey all,
I am finally back. After 2 nights sleeping in an airport. Well yes that is true but for one heck of an extended weekend away. The Canary Islands were beautiful. The weather was about 80s all weekend and I was on the beach by day. What more could I ask for? How about a party 24-7 like I have never seen before. The theme this year in Las Palmas was "Piratas" yes pirates. We practically fell on events for the weekend.
A little historical background first off. During the about 40 years during the dictator Franco in Spain, Carnival was completely banned. The only place in Spain where they could party was in the Canary Islands since they were too far for Franco to dictate. The islands for this reason has been able to retain the historical events that they have always celebrated for Carnival.
The first of which the drag queen show you needed tickets to get into. We ended up going back to our hotel to watch it on tv. The drag queen show is a competition of about 15 drag queens as they dance in platform shoes about a foot high and get votes from all over the country via text messages. It was a little crazy.
The second event our second night was the parade. We were walking home from the beach when we ran into the main parade. The main parade consisted of over 60 floats or trucks decked out with people partying on top. Each float was like a traveling bar or club with everyone partying on board and had a whole gaggle of people following the float dancing to the music. We seriously thought that it was never ending because we were outside from about 5pm until almost midnight when we decided maybe we should make some dinner. I have tons of pictures from the parade as everyone was in costume. The most popular costumes were of course the pirate themed costumes, as well as men in drag. For some reason it seems as if every guy was dressed in drag. Majority of people were just drinking everywhere, but at the same time there were young children dressed up everywhere as well. Early on the floats would throw candy to people in the crowds but as it got later, most of them had run out or were only throwing it to the young children.
Our third event of Carnival was a powder party. It is as simple as it sounds and as crazy as that sounds. For good reasons I do not have one picture of that night. The powder fight consists of everyone dressing in white and throwing powder at each other in about a 3 block strip. Most intelligent locals wore goggles and medical masks so they were not coughing or crying from the powder everywhere. By the time we realized that it was bring your own baby powder the local supermarket was out of that and flour, so we settled for corn meal, a little brown but it still worked. The fight was hysterical it was like everyone was 5 years old all over again as you slip and slide on a street covered in powder. It took about 3 hair washings to get all the powder out and I realized why most of the women had big straw hats on to protect their hair.
For a day we took a trip to the other side of Gran Canaria, which is the touristy side of the island with all the 5 star hotels. The beach was beautiful but the real highlight was the nationally protected sand dunes. It was a mini desert next to the ocean of sand. We hung out on the beach until the sun started to go down and the heat subsided and headed into the dunes. We had more fun than most of the 5 year olds we saw since we jumped and rolled down what seemed like mountains of sand! AMAZING!
A few interesting thoughts:
For the many, many people I talked to before I left that thought South America and Mexico were the same as Spain, one of the popular costumes was to dress like a "Mexican" with a sombrero and a colorful poncho. They found this extremely entertaining. At the very least Mexico is nothing like Spain, even the few people from South America I talked to this weekend said they find it difficult to even understand Spanish from Spain and they speak the "same" language.
I know America has a wide spread of control over what people watch on tv, in the movies, as well as listen to on the radio but it is amazing to see how much American pop culture was incorporated into the locals costumes this weekend. Everything from the NY Yankees, Disney, the Simpsons and many other things.
Also the word "puente" meaning bridge is what people here call extending a day off. For example we had Tuesday off, so who wouldn't take Monday off and "puente" the vacation. I don't know, but we did it and it turns out our professor canceled class anyway!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Leaving tomorrow
Hey all,
I am leaving tomorrow for the Canary Islands! I am super excited it is a minimum temperature of about 70 degrees there and a parallel with the Sahara desert so I am hoping for warmth on the beach. Few random thoughts before I go...
Why do the Spanish put their light switches on the outside of rooms. I am constantly walking into the bathroom and have to walk back out to turn on the light. Plus I feel like this is a teenager/ college students worst nightmare for pranks. I guess if you need to get someone out of the bathroom you can just leave them in the dark.
bananas...platanos I still don't understand the difference. I thought I knew I was told I was wrong, but no one can give me an explanation other than "they are from the Canarys they are platanos"
The ñ is actually an old short hand symbol for nn. It was used in the monasteries when monks use to copy mostly bibles but other documents. They would use this short hand for the letter combination as well as many others, however this is the only one that has been historically maintained by the Spanish. It has become a cultural identity for Spain since the world España contains it.
Thanks all for now!
Happy Weekend and Fat Tuesday!
I will surely have pictures when I return back here!
-Erika
I am leaving tomorrow for the Canary Islands! I am super excited it is a minimum temperature of about 70 degrees there and a parallel with the Sahara desert so I am hoping for warmth on the beach. Few random thoughts before I go...
Why do the Spanish put their light switches on the outside of rooms. I am constantly walking into the bathroom and have to walk back out to turn on the light. Plus I feel like this is a teenager/ college students worst nightmare for pranks. I guess if you need to get someone out of the bathroom you can just leave them in the dark.
bananas...platanos I still don't understand the difference. I thought I knew I was told I was wrong, but no one can give me an explanation other than "they are from the Canarys they are platanos"
The ñ is actually an old short hand symbol for nn. It was used in the monasteries when monks use to copy mostly bibles but other documents. They would use this short hand for the letter combination as well as many others, however this is the only one that has been historically maintained by the Spanish. It has become a cultural identity for Spain since the world España contains it.
Thanks all for now!
Happy Weekend and Fat Tuesday!
I will surely have pictures when I return back here!
-Erika
Monday, February 16, 2009
Leon
el parque del cid
calle del cid
cathedral
Hola todo,
Yesterday I went to Leon for a day trip. The city of Leon is a little over an hour away. Historically Leon is important for two reasons one is El Cid was suppose to have been born directly outside the city. The second reason being it is a stop on the "camino de santiago". The walk is a historical religious pilgrimage to Santiago or St. James. The original route has a stop in Leon, the coastal route goes directly through Oviedo. There are still thousands of people who do the pilgrimage many who we see here in Oveido as they stop here for a night. For more information on the walk go here.
When we got to Leon we had to cross the river and on the other side was a huge market, it was better than the market in Oviedo but not the best in Europe that is for sure. We wandered up the streets to the Cathedral and inside. Since it was a Sunday not everything was open but we wandered. We had amazing weather so it was nice to see the city and all that is there.
For everyone's information about my mountain climb the other day. The peak was 12,000 feet (approx) and Oviedo is about 800 feet. So I walked seriously up a mountain. Yes I still feel it in my legs and butt.
Random Thoughts
-A place is considered a city when it has a cathedral in it. It is a pueblo when it does not.
-Everyone has a dog. But if the PETA existed here (which I just found out they do) they would be ashamed. From many stories and things I have seen most people treat their dogs like an animal. They forget to walk it and let it go on the floor in their house. I have seen kicking, pulling, hitting with canes. I think I have seen more pet abuse here than I ever have in the United States. Granted I am sure there are plenty of animal lovers here.
-All the children are so well dressed. I am convinced they all look like they just stepped off a Ralph Lauren photo shoot. I don't understand it. Okay so they have better style but here is my practical question. Why would a mother send her kid to the playground or allow them to kick around a soccer ball in their pressed khaki pants and their shiny black leather dress shoes!? I guess since they aren't big on material objects they just show off their well dressed kids.
Adios!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I walked through thorn bushes to find Jesus
things left for Jesus, why he needs to smoke I will never know
Jesus
Something we learned about in art!
Hey all,This morning I got up at what I would like to call is early and by Spanish standards it is, 10am. I had roses when I woke up from Evan that he was sneaky and planned with one of the girls here. :) After, I walked over to campus to meet a few people for the journey of the day walking up the mountain to Jesus. We all thought it couldn't be that bad just look at Jesus and walk up. I wish it was that easy. Almost 3 hours later after encountering crazy thorn bushes that wanted to rip your legs off, a little ancient history that we knew that facts about thanks to art class, and a few bahhing sheep, donkeys, horses and bulls we made it to Jesus. The peak at the top where the statue stands is 6,000 meters up. I have no idea how high that is in American stands if someone looks it up let me know. All I know was it was a nasty trek up on both roads and pathways. We stayed at the top at Jesus for about 30 min, more to catch our breath and to take pictures of the amazing views. All around all you could see was snow capped mountains and the city of Oviedo below us. It was so nice however I think my legs are about to fall off and on top of it we are going to Leon tomorrow so by Monday my legs are going to be dead!
Friday, February 13, 2009
lo siento!
Hey all,
Sorry I know it has been a while, but it has been a hectic week. First off I had my first exam today since I have been here. I was a little scared, but it turned out to be really not bad considering I studied!
Last night was a super late night. We has a full group dinner again, this time at the exclusive "Club de Tenis". One of those country clubs that if daddy and grandpa are not members you cannot get into. No one knew what to expect we all dressed up for the night. When we walked in to meet at the bar all the adults sitting around were in their suits and furs. This is where all the old ladys with fur coats hang out that is for sure. Everyone knew Jamie so finally I was like, okay so are you a member or what? He told me, "Well actually my grandfather founded the place". So you can imagine our 5 star treatment of the night. We were there way past closing so he told the staff they could leave and they left us all there socializing with the 24 hour security guard. It was a fun night to say the least. Although this morning for our first class, ( mind you its at 2pm, everyone walked in late and Jamie was like I am dying we need to end a little early).
This weekend looks like for once we will have a decent amount of sun! The plans are to walk up the mountain/ hill to Jesus! There is a statue of Jesus a mini town and an old structure from the like 9th century up there. So if there is sun we are packing lunches and hiking straight up! Sunday I am going to Leon with the girls for the day. It is about an hour and 15 min bus ride and a nice little city to see.
I also now have a personal goal to do a statue photoshoot here in Oviedo since everyone seems to get good laughs from the few statue pictures I have posted and that is most likely 1% of the statues around the city.
I will update at the end of the weekend with pictures from my adventures!!
Adios!
Sorry I know it has been a while, but it has been a hectic week. First off I had my first exam today since I have been here. I was a little scared, but it turned out to be really not bad considering I studied!
Last night was a super late night. We has a full group dinner again, this time at the exclusive "Club de Tenis". One of those country clubs that if daddy and grandpa are not members you cannot get into. No one knew what to expect we all dressed up for the night. When we walked in to meet at the bar all the adults sitting around were in their suits and furs. This is where all the old ladys with fur coats hang out that is for sure. Everyone knew Jamie so finally I was like, okay so are you a member or what? He told me, "Well actually my grandfather founded the place". So you can imagine our 5 star treatment of the night. We were there way past closing so he told the staff they could leave and they left us all there socializing with the 24 hour security guard. It was a fun night to say the least. Although this morning for our first class, ( mind you its at 2pm, everyone walked in late and Jamie was like I am dying we need to end a little early).
This weekend looks like for once we will have a decent amount of sun! The plans are to walk up the mountain/ hill to Jesus! There is a statue of Jesus a mini town and an old structure from the like 9th century up there. So if there is sun we are packing lunches and hiking straight up! Sunday I am going to Leon with the girls for the day. It is about an hour and 15 min bus ride and a nice little city to see.
I also now have a personal goal to do a statue photoshoot here in Oviedo since everyone seems to get good laughs from the few statue pictures I have posted and that is most likely 1% of the statues around the city.
I will update at the end of the weekend with pictures from my adventures!!
Adios!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
mi primero partido de futbal en espana
Hey all,
I went to a Real Oviedo futbal game today. The team is more of a minor league team but it was still really cool. We went for Ian's 21st birthday in which last night I pulled an epic night and was up until 7am. Semi normal for here the streets were packed when I was walking home and not by people who were just waking up. I officially saw bars close here. A random thing I learned today though, apparently people here don't believe in the whole birthday punches thing. I am a-ok with that, but instead they pull earlobes for however old you are. I thought it was kinda strange but an interesting cultural difference.
School wise I have my first test since I have been here this week in Art History and a paper due for a literature class as well. Fun! Fun! Fun! NOT!
Oh yes and Mary and I booked a weekend in Barcelona at the end of March! Canary Islands in 2 weeks!! wahooo!!!
Thanks all for now!
Adios!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Independence
Something I have been thinking about the last few days:
Americans are obsessed with our independence. Our independence from England, our independence to do whatever we would like whenever we like. Woman's Independence from men, there is even a song about that one, all sorts of independence we love. Here in Spain being an independent person is completely different.
My host parents have a 30 something year old daughter who has been married for over 7 years now. An American, or at least I would think she would be living on her own and semi independent with her husband at this point, wrong. In fact she comes to her parents house everyday for lunch and sometimes for dinner. I understand close families, I know plenty from home who all eat together once or twice a week, but everyday seems extreme to me. You have your own home, a husband and one would think a life away from your parents. There is nothing wrong with it but it is a completely different world when it comes to independence.
During our orientation before we left the United States I remember Jamie telling us that the hardest part of these 5 months will most likely be living with a family. I did not completely understand him at the time. For me, I have been living away from home for over 2 years now. I cook dinner myself, I clean when I have to, and I wash my clothes when I run out of clean ones. Now I realize here I eat whats on the table, even if it makes me sick, I don't even have to make my bed because no matter how much I try my host mother comes in and makes it for me everyday. When I offered to do my own laundry she seemed kind of insulted and insisted that she do it instead. I am not going to argue about my laundry and my bed being made. However after a while I do want to go somewhere without anyone knowing where I am and I do want to cook what I want and eat what I want.
A few days ago I sat in the cafeteria at school and looked around, feeling very old by the way everyone was acting at the table with their friends. The funny thing is most college students here are actually older than me. As I looked around the room and talked to my friend I realized how much I have grown up and become independent living away from home. I realized most college students have not lived away from home, most likely have not done their own laundry, and have not cooked for themselves either. The guys most likely will never cook, clean or do their laundry anyway. In this culture the woman will do it for you. In fact if you ask most women if they work they will tell you they do, when you ask what they do they will tell you they clean the house and cook.
It is a completely different culture, but I am very happy to have the ability to have my independence without my parents ever batting an eye at me.
One random thing I learned today: A rum and coke is called a cuba-libre, the best rum comes from Cuba and the land of coke is the land of the free (libre).
Adios!
Erika
ps- I booked a trip to the Canary Islands for Carnaval for those of you not familiar. The Canaries are part of Spain but off the coast of Northern Africa. Carnaval there is the best in Spain and is suppose to rivial those of Rio (Brazil), New Orleans and the likes!
Americans are obsessed with our independence. Our independence from England, our independence to do whatever we would like whenever we like. Woman's Independence from men, there is even a song about that one, all sorts of independence we love. Here in Spain being an independent person is completely different.
My host parents have a 30 something year old daughter who has been married for over 7 years now. An American, or at least I would think she would be living on her own and semi independent with her husband at this point, wrong. In fact she comes to her parents house everyday for lunch and sometimes for dinner. I understand close families, I know plenty from home who all eat together once or twice a week, but everyday seems extreme to me. You have your own home, a husband and one would think a life away from your parents. There is nothing wrong with it but it is a completely different world when it comes to independence.
During our orientation before we left the United States I remember Jamie telling us that the hardest part of these 5 months will most likely be living with a family. I did not completely understand him at the time. For me, I have been living away from home for over 2 years now. I cook dinner myself, I clean when I have to, and I wash my clothes when I run out of clean ones. Now I realize here I eat whats on the table, even if it makes me sick, I don't even have to make my bed because no matter how much I try my host mother comes in and makes it for me everyday. When I offered to do my own laundry she seemed kind of insulted and insisted that she do it instead. I am not going to argue about my laundry and my bed being made. However after a while I do want to go somewhere without anyone knowing where I am and I do want to cook what I want and eat what I want.
A few days ago I sat in the cafeteria at school and looked around, feeling very old by the way everyone was acting at the table with their friends. The funny thing is most college students here are actually older than me. As I looked around the room and talked to my friend I realized how much I have grown up and become independent living away from home. I realized most college students have not lived away from home, most likely have not done their own laundry, and have not cooked for themselves either. The guys most likely will never cook, clean or do their laundry anyway. In this culture the woman will do it for you. In fact if you ask most women if they work they will tell you they do, when you ask what they do they will tell you they clean the house and cook.
It is a completely different culture, but I am very happy to have the ability to have my independence without my parents ever batting an eye at me.
One random thing I learned today: A rum and coke is called a cuba-libre, the best rum comes from Cuba and the land of coke is the land of the free (libre).
Adios!
Erika
ps- I booked a trip to the Canary Islands for Carnaval for those of you not familiar. The Canaries are part of Spain but off the coast of Northern Africa. Carnaval there is the best in Spain and is suppose to rivial those of Rio (Brazil), New Orleans and the likes!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"espana tiene la mejor persona en tenis en el mundo"
Hey all,
So to say the least the Spaniards are really proud of Nadal and are plenty happy bragging about him today. I was in a cafe during the award ceremony and everyone was speaking in English without the subtitles and everyone was like what are they saying translate! I didn't since they did not say anything exciting.
This weekend was very quiet. I finally got the opportunity to go to the local market although I was not very impressed. It was mostly stuff that I do not need and realize is of very cheap quality. I was glad I wanted to see. There was two guys with tables of antiques. I actually saw a few petal sewing machines old candle holders, ect.
Not because it is the happiest story, but because it is the truth and I quickly realized racism happens everywhere, and felt the need to share. Saturday night while out we met two guys, both are professional basketball players here in Europe for the Asturias team. The one was from the United States (he has only been here 2 weeks) the other from Prague. They were so nice and when we decided to move on from the bar and go to a club the kid from Prague recommended a place so we all went. We got there to be told they could not go in because of their sneakers. I knew there was a dress code for most clubs. We turned around and the kid from Prague told us it was racism because he had been there at least 15 times and always in sneakers. To prove it he walked away from us all and later walked right into the club. Since for obvious reasons we were not staying their I offered to go in to get the basketball player from Prague to tell him we were moving on. The security guard proceeded to tell me i could surely enter, but there was no way I could bring my friend in. I proceeded to ask him why and was told he has sneakers on. Being my New York self I told him that is untrue and pointed out 3 white people in sneakers who were walking in the door with me. He just gave me a look. Before we left the kid from Prague felt the need to yell at the security guard and tell him it was the 21st century. To be honest, I knew there was discrimination here, since most people hate the fact their are many illegal immigrants here (Africans are the equivalent of Mexicans in the United States). This was the first time I have ever first hand seen this kind of discrimination an eye opening experience that racism is alive and well in more places than just the United States. From there I recommended a place I knew hires people of all shapes and sizes and he thanked me later. I told him I appreciate places where there are all different types of peoples. One thing I learned from that night, I will NEVER be back to the "Green Room" and will be more than happy to pass on the word to others NEVER to step foot there again.
I honestly cannot believe it is February this week will be a month that I have been here. Everything is slowly falling into a routine classes, my living situation, and the cultural differences. Next thing I know I will be halfway though!
Last but not least! Everyone's favorite! Random thoughts!
This year is one for the record books when it comes to weather in Spain. It is currently snowing in Madrid for the second time! One thing that surprised me while I was there and again as I am watching the news. Why do they people use umbrellas to keep away the snow? Don't be scared! Snow is fun! Just ask all those freezing their butts off in Philly, NY and Boston.
I am officially giving up on working against me being nocturnal. It wont happen, I will stay nocturnal. Because of my class times I don't have the opportunity to take siestas like everyone else, so I will just sleep till afternoon everyday.
Los premios Goya, are the Oscars of Spain. Red carpet and all, they love to judge everyones outfits just much if not more than we do in the U.S.of A.
Thats all for now!
ps- Has anyone seen Vicky Christina Barcelona and if so how was it?
<3 Erika
So to say the least the Spaniards are really proud of Nadal and are plenty happy bragging about him today. I was in a cafe during the award ceremony and everyone was speaking in English without the subtitles and everyone was like what are they saying translate! I didn't since they did not say anything exciting.
This weekend was very quiet. I finally got the opportunity to go to the local market although I was not very impressed. It was mostly stuff that I do not need and realize is of very cheap quality. I was glad I wanted to see. There was two guys with tables of antiques. I actually saw a few petal sewing machines old candle holders, ect.
Not because it is the happiest story, but because it is the truth and I quickly realized racism happens everywhere, and felt the need to share. Saturday night while out we met two guys, both are professional basketball players here in Europe for the Asturias team. The one was from the United States (he has only been here 2 weeks) the other from Prague. They were so nice and when we decided to move on from the bar and go to a club the kid from Prague recommended a place so we all went. We got there to be told they could not go in because of their sneakers. I knew there was a dress code for most clubs. We turned around and the kid from Prague told us it was racism because he had been there at least 15 times and always in sneakers. To prove it he walked away from us all and later walked right into the club. Since for obvious reasons we were not staying their I offered to go in to get the basketball player from Prague to tell him we were moving on. The security guard proceeded to tell me i could surely enter, but there was no way I could bring my friend in. I proceeded to ask him why and was told he has sneakers on. Being my New York self I told him that is untrue and pointed out 3 white people in sneakers who were walking in the door with me. He just gave me a look. Before we left the kid from Prague felt the need to yell at the security guard and tell him it was the 21st century. To be honest, I knew there was discrimination here, since most people hate the fact their are many illegal immigrants here (Africans are the equivalent of Mexicans in the United States). This was the first time I have ever first hand seen this kind of discrimination an eye opening experience that racism is alive and well in more places than just the United States. From there I recommended a place I knew hires people of all shapes and sizes and he thanked me later. I told him I appreciate places where there are all different types of peoples. One thing I learned from that night, I will NEVER be back to the "Green Room" and will be more than happy to pass on the word to others NEVER to step foot there again.
I honestly cannot believe it is February this week will be a month that I have been here. Everything is slowly falling into a routine classes, my living situation, and the cultural differences. Next thing I know I will be halfway though!
Last but not least! Everyone's favorite! Random thoughts!
This year is one for the record books when it comes to weather in Spain. It is currently snowing in Madrid for the second time! One thing that surprised me while I was there and again as I am watching the news. Why do they people use umbrellas to keep away the snow? Don't be scared! Snow is fun! Just ask all those freezing their butts off in Philly, NY and Boston.
I am officially giving up on working against me being nocturnal. It wont happen, I will stay nocturnal. Because of my class times I don't have the opportunity to take siestas like everyone else, so I will just sleep till afternoon everyday.
Los premios Goya, are the Oscars of Spain. Red carpet and all, they love to judge everyones outfits just much if not more than we do in the U.S.of A.
Thats all for now!
ps- Has anyone seen Vicky Christina Barcelona and if so how was it?
<3 Erika
Friday, January 30, 2009
Spring break is booked!
My super quick update since I am going to start jumping up and down so I need to share my excitement. It is official Spring Break 2009 is booked! 3 countries, 3 languages, and 3 different currencies! A little crazy I know! Mary and I will be heading out in April to Budapest, Berlin and London. It will be my second return trip to London within a year, but we will be there for Easter Sunday and will both be able to go to church in English which is nice. I have a new desire to see the Queen of England's Easter Sunday hat! Have a great weekend all!!
Adios!
Adios!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Dia del San Thomas
Nemo at the Aquarium
random fishie!
the port
the Atlantic Ocean and the city
an old church by the sea
a jumping picture again! on the other side of the Atlantic!
Hey all,
So we had yesterday off from school since it was St. Thomas day and that is the patron saint of the university. I am still convinced it is just an excuse for no classes, but I will take it. The weather was suppose to be really bad so we decided to stay close by. We went to a city about 15-20 minutes away by bus called Gijón. Gijón is directly on the Atlantic Ocean. We kinda wondered through the city and the boardwalk for a while, since we were lacking a map. We concluded the day in the Aquarium where we were all like 5 year olds again. It amazing what happens when you have like 5, 20 years olds looking at fish, penguins, and sharks! I got to put my toes in the ocean although the weather was not the greatest and the waves were crazy because of it. I was surprised to realize my toes did not freeze off and the water really isn´t as cold as I expected. I guess that means May beach trips when everyone thinks I have lost my mind! I don't care! The above is all pictures from in the city yesterday! Enjoy!
Hasta Luego!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The things that happen after midnight...
Hey all,
So after a few weekends in Oviedo now I realize a few things that I find interesting enough to share. First off, no one and I mean no one goes out before 1am. The first weekend we made the mistake of trying to go to a bar around 12. We found ourselves there by ourselves with the bartenders and a few loners. Strange, we won't make that mistake again, this weekend we met up after midnight. My second surprise is that everyone goes out. Going out to a bar here really is not just for college students everyone of all ages is out just socialising with thier friends no matter how old you are.
They have an army of street cleaners here. People with jobs to pick up the dog poo in the park, wash down the side walk, pick up the trash empty the garbage cans. It is all done after midnight everynight. The city itself is spotless its amazing but thats not because the people are clean. I am actually starting to think their theory is, its ok to throw it on the ground, someone will pick it up later. On the note of that men pee everywhere. WHY WHY WHY? It is not okay to pee next to the church or in the middle of something. This is not like a I am a 20 year old drunk college kid, this is like I am a 60 year old man I have to pee so I will up against the wall. It is just not okay go find a bush at least! At least the street cleaner washes it down at the end of the night!
Drinking and walking around town. I do know it is illegal to walk around with open drinks here, although no one enforces it. I think much of this has to do with the Spanish lifestyle of you do not drink to get drunk so many times you have a drink for quite a while. This makes it normal for them to carry their drink with them even if they change locations.
A little note since I had said the weather was terrible. They are offically calling it a cyclone (I always thought cyclones were the opposite of hurricanes but I guess I am wrong). The whole north of Spain, south of France and north of Portugal got hit really bad. The waves have been very high killing a couple of people as it crashed over walls onto boardwalks and streets as well as a gym cealing collapsed in Barcelona killing a team of kids playing inside. Everything here is in one piece but I guess the wind sounds and the sight of garbage cans flying wasn't a joke at all.
Adios!
Erika
So after a few weekends in Oviedo now I realize a few things that I find interesting enough to share. First off, no one and I mean no one goes out before 1am. The first weekend we made the mistake of trying to go to a bar around 12. We found ourselves there by ourselves with the bartenders and a few loners. Strange, we won't make that mistake again, this weekend we met up after midnight. My second surprise is that everyone goes out. Going out to a bar here really is not just for college students everyone of all ages is out just socialising with thier friends no matter how old you are.
They have an army of street cleaners here. People with jobs to pick up the dog poo in the park, wash down the side walk, pick up the trash empty the garbage cans. It is all done after midnight everynight. The city itself is spotless its amazing but thats not because the people are clean. I am actually starting to think their theory is, its ok to throw it on the ground, someone will pick it up later. On the note of that men pee everywhere. WHY WHY WHY? It is not okay to pee next to the church or in the middle of something. This is not like a I am a 20 year old drunk college kid, this is like I am a 60 year old man I have to pee so I will up against the wall. It is just not okay go find a bush at least! At least the street cleaner washes it down at the end of the night!
Drinking and walking around town. I do know it is illegal to walk around with open drinks here, although no one enforces it. I think much of this has to do with the Spanish lifestyle of you do not drink to get drunk so many times you have a drink for quite a while. This makes it normal for them to carry their drink with them even if they change locations.
A little note since I had said the weather was terrible. They are offically calling it a cyclone (I always thought cyclones were the opposite of hurricanes but I guess I am wrong). The whole north of Spain, south of France and north of Portugal got hit really bad. The waves have been very high killing a couple of people as it crashed over walls onto boardwalks and streets as well as a gym cealing collapsed in Barcelona killing a team of kids playing inside. Everything here is in one piece but I guess the wind sounds and the sight of garbage cans flying wasn't a joke at all.
Adios!
Erika
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Some pictures of Oviedo!
a random church in the city
The University of Oviedo and a random statue of books and a hat in a Plaza called "Teachers Plaza"
The Cathedral, their love and pride
This streets prime hour is between 1am and 6am on Thursdays, Fridays and Sat.
(the location of all the bars)
(the location of all the bars)
The University, the yellow building in the background is where the majority of my classes are located
The mountains surrounding Oviedo. I took this on our drive into the city.
Hey all,
Sorry it took me a while to get some pictures uploaded. School is going well. This weekend I have to read El Cid and another story so I have about 25 pages to read. Not really looking forward to that at all. Yesterday after class I wandered over to the travel agent to find out about information about inter European flights and who flies direct to where. We are starting to discuss spring break plans so hopefully I will get some exciting trips in.
Random Thoughts:
First off everyone has the first name Maria here, everyone. So because it is normal the Spaniards have though up a shortening system which is M with a tiny a that is in front of every woman's name.
I knew this already but figured I would share since it still is interesting to me. The ring finger here is not located on the left hand but rather the right hand.
The paper towels feel like toilet paper and the toilet paper doesn't exist and there is no tissues in houses. Now I know why the women all carry around tissues in their bags. I officially carry tissues as well.
School Books! I am so use to spending a crazy amount of money on books each semester that this was a new one for me. Each professor makes copies and packets of everything we need for each unit. It is a lot of papers I would say that, but my phonetics class for example gave us a packet for the year. We were able to bring it to the copy center at school and have it bound for a whopping, 60 cents! That would be the max I am spending on books this semester, minus the 5 euros in notebooks and folders I bought. Beat that one!
Last night there was a major storm in the north of Spain. Hurricane like winds and it poured. My entertainment instead of venturing out in the bad weather was siting on our balcony and watching he garbage cans fly into the traffic circle. As that happened crash would come to a halting stop and another car would nearly collide with the first one. I found it quite entertaining. I am sure they did not. Because of the weather I did not get out of bed to bother going to the market and was told this afternoon they close anyway for rain since no one comes. Although tomorrow isn't looking like a very good day for the market either. I guess I am going to have to wait another week for the market.
I had paella today for lunch, which made me happy however I am not a big fan of shrimp when I need to remove their head and legs and everything else. It is just too much work for a damn shrimp. The food still is not my favorite thing in the world here. I'll survive.
Adios!
Erika
Sorry it took me a while to get some pictures uploaded. School is going well. This weekend I have to read El Cid and another story so I have about 25 pages to read. Not really looking forward to that at all. Yesterday after class I wandered over to the travel agent to find out about information about inter European flights and who flies direct to where. We are starting to discuss spring break plans so hopefully I will get some exciting trips in.
Random Thoughts:
First off everyone has the first name Maria here, everyone. So because it is normal the Spaniards have though up a shortening system which is M with a tiny a that is in front of every woman's name.
I knew this already but figured I would share since it still is interesting to me. The ring finger here is not located on the left hand but rather the right hand.
The paper towels feel like toilet paper and the toilet paper doesn't exist and there is no tissues in houses. Now I know why the women all carry around tissues in their bags. I officially carry tissues as well.
School Books! I am so use to spending a crazy amount of money on books each semester that this was a new one for me. Each professor makes copies and packets of everything we need for each unit. It is a lot of papers I would say that, but my phonetics class for example gave us a packet for the year. We were able to bring it to the copy center at school and have it bound for a whopping, 60 cents! That would be the max I am spending on books this semester, minus the 5 euros in notebooks and folders I bought. Beat that one!
Last night there was a major storm in the north of Spain. Hurricane like winds and it poured. My entertainment instead of venturing out in the bad weather was siting on our balcony and watching he garbage cans fly into the traffic circle. As that happened crash would come to a halting stop and another car would nearly collide with the first one. I found it quite entertaining. I am sure they did not. Because of the weather I did not get out of bed to bother going to the market and was told this afternoon they close anyway for rain since no one comes. Although tomorrow isn't looking like a very good day for the market either. I guess I am going to have to wait another week for the market.
I had paella today for lunch, which made me happy however I am not a big fan of shrimp when I need to remove their head and legs and everything else. It is just too much work for a damn shrimp. The food still is not my favorite thing in the world here. I'll survive.
Adios!
Erika
Thursday, January 22, 2009
It was hailing two days ago today its 25 degrees
Hey all,
Today it is 25 degrees C that is! (77 F) Let me just first off say it is after 10pm and that is the current temperature so today without a doubt must have been over 80 degrees. Absolutely crazy.
Today is Thursday aka my hell day with all 5 classes in one day. A highlight of my day however was the fact that during my hour break Ben, Ian and I decided to find ourselves these world famous churros con chocolate. We figured at least Ian and I since we had to suffer through 5 classes plus had agreed yesterday that Spanish people have no junk food what-so-ever in their house it might be a blessing in disguise or just a way to drive us up the mountain in need of sweets. Anyways we found the churros, they are not like churros back in the states thinner, and barely any sugar. You get them with a cup of hot chocolate, literary its melted chocolate to dip them in and you are suppose to drink the rest when you are done. They are like heaven although if they became a daily habit that could be a problem.
An update on my cider entry because I had forgotten on my last. I tried the cider. I personally think it tastes disgusting, but I tried it. We did not go to a classic cider place where a guy pours it 3 feet from the glass however to another place on the strip that Jamie recommended we check out at some point. There are no waiters to pour your cider, you get a card and put as much money as you would like on it. Take a clean cup from the wall and swipe your card after placing your cup in a holder and out comes your cider from snakes that stick out of the wall. Let me first say how amused we were from this comparison of Adam and Eve with the snakes the APPLE cider and the temptation of drinking. It was a little weird and very funny especially in a country of Catholics.
I was in Literature class today and the professor handed out a copy of El Cid for us to read at some point this weekend. El Cid was originally written in medieval Spanish so we have both the modern Spanish version and the original. He made a crack that Saturday night after a few rounds of cider and being at the bar we should give a try to reading the medieval Spanish, in other words when we are drunk. I have had professors, one specifically comes to mind in Philly who told us his class was more important than our favorite show and should be willing to give up everything to pass his class. I just find it funny how a 3000 level Spanish lit class professor tells me to get drunk and read El Cid and a core curriculum English lit class professor says to give up my social life for his class. Goes to show you how much the Spanish live to party and work to party and unlike America where our lives revolve around WORK WORK WORK.
I am starting to get use to life here and how things work more and more each day. I am starting enjoying the life of going to the cafe at night and having a glass of wine to end the day. It is very relaxing with jazz music playing in the background.
Thursday nights in Spain are very much like Thursdays near any college, it is a normal party night. The university here actually offers less classes on Fridays and no morning Friday classes so in reality it makes more sense than back home in the states for people to go out on Thursdays. For example, I don't have class until 4pm tomorrow, so who cares if I sleep until 2 (Other than my host mom when she is trying to feed me!)
That is all for now!
-Erika
Today it is 25 degrees C that is! (77 F) Let me just first off say it is after 10pm and that is the current temperature so today without a doubt must have been over 80 degrees. Absolutely crazy.
Today is Thursday aka my hell day with all 5 classes in one day. A highlight of my day however was the fact that during my hour break Ben, Ian and I decided to find ourselves these world famous churros con chocolate. We figured at least Ian and I since we had to suffer through 5 classes plus had agreed yesterday that Spanish people have no junk food what-so-ever in their house it might be a blessing in disguise or just a way to drive us up the mountain in need of sweets. Anyways we found the churros, they are not like churros back in the states thinner, and barely any sugar. You get them with a cup of hot chocolate, literary its melted chocolate to dip them in and you are suppose to drink the rest when you are done. They are like heaven although if they became a daily habit that could be a problem.
An update on my cider entry because I had forgotten on my last. I tried the cider. I personally think it tastes disgusting, but I tried it. We did not go to a classic cider place where a guy pours it 3 feet from the glass however to another place on the strip that Jamie recommended we check out at some point. There are no waiters to pour your cider, you get a card and put as much money as you would like on it. Take a clean cup from the wall and swipe your card after placing your cup in a holder and out comes your cider from snakes that stick out of the wall. Let me first say how amused we were from this comparison of Adam and Eve with the snakes the APPLE cider and the temptation of drinking. It was a little weird and very funny especially in a country of Catholics.
I was in Literature class today and the professor handed out a copy of El Cid for us to read at some point this weekend. El Cid was originally written in medieval Spanish so we have both the modern Spanish version and the original. He made a crack that Saturday night after a few rounds of cider and being at the bar we should give a try to reading the medieval Spanish, in other words when we are drunk. I have had professors, one specifically comes to mind in Philly who told us his class was more important than our favorite show and should be willing to give up everything to pass his class. I just find it funny how a 3000 level Spanish lit class professor tells me to get drunk and read El Cid and a core curriculum English lit class professor says to give up my social life for his class. Goes to show you how much the Spanish live to party and work to party and unlike America where our lives revolve around WORK WORK WORK.
I am starting to get use to life here and how things work more and more each day. I am starting enjoying the life of going to the cafe at night and having a glass of wine to end the day. It is very relaxing with jazz music playing in the background.
Thursday nights in Spain are very much like Thursdays near any college, it is a normal party night. The university here actually offers less classes on Fridays and no morning Friday classes so in reality it makes more sense than back home in the states for people to go out on Thursdays. For example, I don't have class until 4pm tomorrow, so who cares if I sleep until 2 (Other than my host mom when she is trying to feed me!)
That is all for now!
-Erika
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama is my President!
Hey all!
First off part of our group went to our routine cafe which happened to have cnn! So we got a chance to see Obama sworn in live on tv as well as his speech afterwards! (IN ENGLISH) The lovely country of Spain allowed all of us to pop a bottle of champagne thanks to one of the girls host moms as well to kick off our celebration. This was a serious celebration for us, many who are more grateful of this transition since we are abroad. (The Spanish really did not like Bush.)
I am sorry for a lack of updating. I lost my internet connect that I was stealing off the neighbors at my house making updating and checking my email a little more difficult the last few days. Classes are becoming more and more normal. There isn´t that much homework so far and I am quite alright if there never is that much homework.
I am starting to seriously investigate trips. I think I am going to start off with some little one in Spain to other cities before I try anything that big.
My few random thoughts:
The milk is always warm and is always out on the table all day. I understand it must be treated differently. But this sense inside of me does NOT want to drink milk that is warm or has been sitting out all day.
BONES...There is bones in every piece of meat you eat. I know they do cuts of meat differently but are they fans of little bones in everything. Fish I always expect one. Chicken I dont! I wonder if I go to McDonalds if my chicken nuggets will have bones in that too?
I never had glasses as a kid but I always remember the jokes for kids who did. Here it seems to be a fashion statement for both adults and kids to have the most obsurd colors for their glasses. ORANGE! HOT PINK! POKA DOTS!
I had my fountains going off around midnight experience, but I just realized the fountains also go off when its raining. I am wondering if there is someone with a mastor switch for all the fountains in town?
Last but not least, because I am so in love with the fact that Obama is my president, This was yesterdays tv lineup on the national public channel:
*LIVE coverage of Obama being sworn in and all the festivities.
*a Special called: Obama en la casa blanca (Obama in the white house)
* W. the movie
Talk about a love for what went on yesterday!
Thats all for now!
Adios
-Erika
First off part of our group went to our routine cafe which happened to have cnn! So we got a chance to see Obama sworn in live on tv as well as his speech afterwards! (IN ENGLISH) The lovely country of Spain allowed all of us to pop a bottle of champagne thanks to one of the girls host moms as well to kick off our celebration. This was a serious celebration for us, many who are more grateful of this transition since we are abroad. (The Spanish really did not like Bush.)
I am sorry for a lack of updating. I lost my internet connect that I was stealing off the neighbors at my house making updating and checking my email a little more difficult the last few days. Classes are becoming more and more normal. There isn´t that much homework so far and I am quite alright if there never is that much homework.
I am starting to seriously investigate trips. I think I am going to start off with some little one in Spain to other cities before I try anything that big.
My few random thoughts:
The milk is always warm and is always out on the table all day. I understand it must be treated differently. But this sense inside of me does NOT want to drink milk that is warm or has been sitting out all day.
BONES...There is bones in every piece of meat you eat. I know they do cuts of meat differently but are they fans of little bones in everything. Fish I always expect one. Chicken I dont! I wonder if I go to McDonalds if my chicken nuggets will have bones in that too?
I never had glasses as a kid but I always remember the jokes for kids who did. Here it seems to be a fashion statement for both adults and kids to have the most obsurd colors for their glasses. ORANGE! HOT PINK! POKA DOTS!
I had my fountains going off around midnight experience, but I just realized the fountains also go off when its raining. I am wondering if there is someone with a mastor switch for all the fountains in town?
Last but not least, because I am so in love with the fact that Obama is my president, This was yesterdays tv lineup on the national public channel:
*LIVE coverage of Obama being sworn in and all the festivities.
*a Special called: Obama en la casa blanca (Obama in the white house)
* W. the movie
Talk about a love for what went on yesterday!
Thats all for now!
Adios
-Erika
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Crazy Food
Hey all,
Okay first off one of my weird goals of this semester was to try things out of my bubble. I have no problem trying bizarre foods and such, if I don't like it is fine but at least I tried it. Somehow tonight it came upon me without me trying to find. They made for me a meat I knew wasn't chicken. So I asked and how to look it up. It turned out I tried Rabbit! It was very rich in taste. Add that to my list of weird things I have eaten.
It was such nice weather today so I walked around the city looking for the weekend market. Because I had slept so late they were packing up when I got there but now I know exactly where it is located. I might wake up early next weekend to go. I also found out although I haven't seen for myself that their are peacocks in the main park in the city. I need to find those with my camera by my side.
Adios
Okay first off one of my weird goals of this semester was to try things out of my bubble. I have no problem trying bizarre foods and such, if I don't like it is fine but at least I tried it. Somehow tonight it came upon me without me trying to find. They made for me a meat I knew wasn't chicken. So I asked and how to look it up. It turned out I tried Rabbit! It was very rich in taste. Add that to my list of weird things I have eaten.
It was such nice weather today so I walked around the city looking for the weekend market. Because I had slept so late they were packing up when I got there but now I know exactly where it is located. I might wake up early next weekend to go. I also found out although I haven't seen for myself that their are peacocks in the main park in the city. I need to find those with my camera by my side.
Adios
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Hills like San Fran
Hey all,
I slept till 2 today feel like a lazy bum, but my question is when I sleep till 12 everyday what is sleeping late? I went and met up with everyone at a cafeteria (cafe) and we were just chatting half the group was online on their laptops. I got a chance to walk around more of the city before the sunset. I am quickly realizing how many churches their our in the town and wondering who fills them since I heard about 20% of the country's (apx. 98% Catholics) actually go to weekly mass. So much for a government forcing their country to practice a religion for so long.
Why in a country in universal health care do they let everyone kill their lungs, doesn't the government pay twofold for the populations cancer treatment? Do they just make it up on taxes on the cigarettes?
I have realized the bar street, the cider street, and the dance club street are all on San Francisco type hills. I don't know if was a conspiracy to see all the drunk people roll down the hill or not, but these hills are a crazy workout! No need for the gym!
So far I am still not the biggest fan of the food but I am hoping one day it gets better and I am happily surprised. I doubt that all I want though is some good pasta! I miss my life of Italian food.....(okay i took a break writing this for dinner) and I have to say tonight was my favorite meal so far with salmon and homemade french fries!
Wash: So my home stay mom kinda took it as an insult when I offered to do my own wash, so I let her do it (completely not worth insulting her). Let me just say I don't think anyone has done my laundry for me since like 5th or 6th grade so this just seems weird to me. On top of that she turned my white shirts blue, yes dark wash jeans and a white shirt together that will happen. Plus everything goes outside on the line. I understand that in the summer, but when its cold and winter and takes 3 days to "kinda" dry outside I do not understand. Donde esta the dryers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats all as I watch the news again today and hear about 2 big things Israel/Palestine and OBAMA!
Adios!
I slept till 2 today feel like a lazy bum, but my question is when I sleep till 12 everyday what is sleeping late? I went and met up with everyone at a cafeteria (cafe) and we were just chatting half the group was online on their laptops. I got a chance to walk around more of the city before the sunset. I am quickly realizing how many churches their our in the town and wondering who fills them since I heard about 20% of the country's (apx. 98% Catholics) actually go to weekly mass. So much for a government forcing their country to practice a religion for so long.
Why in a country in universal health care do they let everyone kill their lungs, doesn't the government pay twofold for the populations cancer treatment? Do they just make it up on taxes on the cigarettes?
I have realized the bar street, the cider street, and the dance club street are all on San Francisco type hills. I don't know if was a conspiracy to see all the drunk people roll down the hill or not, but these hills are a crazy workout! No need for the gym!
So far I am still not the biggest fan of the food but I am hoping one day it gets better and I am happily surprised. I doubt that all I want though is some good pasta! I miss my life of Italian food.....(okay i took a break writing this for dinner) and I have to say tonight was my favorite meal so far with salmon and homemade french fries!
Wash: So my home stay mom kinda took it as an insult when I offered to do my own wash, so I let her do it (completely not worth insulting her). Let me just say I don't think anyone has done my laundry for me since like 5th or 6th grade so this just seems weird to me. On top of that she turned my white shirts blue, yes dark wash jeans and a white shirt together that will happen. Plus everything goes outside on the line. I understand that in the summer, but when its cold and winter and takes 3 days to "kinda" dry outside I do not understand. Donde esta the dryers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats all as I watch the news again today and hear about 2 big things Israel/Palestine and OBAMA!
Adios!
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