FLASHBACK: I am sitting in Spanish class on my first day of school at college. It's my very first class of the week and my professor begins speaking in Spanish. No surprise to most of my peers, but to me? I am staring vacantly at her in confusion. I cannot understand a word she is saying. Time passes slowly. I wait in fear that she will call on me to answer a question I haven't the first clue about what it means. Class ends an agonizing hour later.
FLASH FORWARD: I am sitting in class (in Spanish) on my first day of school at the University. My professor beings speaking in Spanish and everyone seems to understand what's going on. I, however, gaze at her as though she is trying to communicate with me using lollipops. I don't even know what topic she's talking about. Time passes slowly. I relive my flashback to pass time while I study the strange things in the classroom.
Strange things in the classroom:
1) the desks are lime green and they are all connected in a row so that each row looks like a long table. The seats are connected to the desks behind them and the seat of them moves up and down to create a row through which to move to get to other desks
2) Nothing else really other than everyone speaks Spanish and seems to be following the lecture while pulling out their cute course guides, making me jealous because I don't have one.
Sadly, I understand Spanish okay now and I've had much more Spanish class since that first day in college. You would think that entering a University class I could at least tell what was going on. I was sorely disappointed. Needless to say I am dropping the class.
Tomorrow I have translation (span-eng) and I am trying a film class instead of the psychology class I stared at the walls in today. The film class is reading stories and then watching the movies, so I think it will be easier. I can also translate from Spanish to English relatively well. I will keep all you avid readers posted.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Carnaval de Cádiz
My darling readers -- I write to you from my warm, soft bed after a very interesting experience in Cádiz. Yesterday morning some friends of mine and I (and several hundred other people) got on one of the many buses going to Cádiz for Carnaval, one of the most historically epic festivals in Spain. It is celebrated in many countries besides Spain such as Brazil, Italy, etc. and it's the what Mardi Gras in the states comes from. The bus was scheduled to leave at 10:30am Saturday (it left around 11:30 in line with typical Spanish tardiness) and then leave Cádiz at 6:30am Sunday morning.
The trip started out wonderfully. We all dressed as a color of the rainbow (plus Leah the Native American, James the devil, and a variety of other friends) and we managed to get on the nicest bus with the fewest people, thus affording us each our own pair of seats to sleep on there and back (the trip was about 4 hours). It was pretty spectacular when we arrived as well! There were tons of cute little children dressed in ADORABLE costumes -- a baby cow, a baby pig, a small little Stitch, some princesses, cowboys, etc. People were everywhere, we walked along the pier where my friend Ferry (who coincidentally lived on a boat for a good portion of her life -- the jokes never end) was near tears with excitement to see the ocean again, there were strangely dressed groups of singers/musicians everywhere -- all good things. We even managed to have pizza (the first time since I've arrived in Europe) and made friends with some male Snow Whites. However, roughly around midnight or one the rain started. Let me remind you all again that streets in Spain do not drain and puddle up instead. Let me also mention that the umbrella I had was probably the worst made piece of plastic/metal I have ever owned (I won it on the bus earlier that day -- unclear as to why). Things we did in the rain: watched a concert that was pretty fun, but obviously all the lyrics were in Spanish, ran around to many different bars trying to escape the rain, stood under a big arch and talked to Spaniards, got lost trying to find places that were open.
Around 3am, the rain gig was enough even for me, so about half of us went back to the bus to see if the driver was there. WORST IDEA EVER. Not only did we get SOAKED legitimately sprinting through the rain to the bus a couple miles away, but my umbrella broke beyond repair and the bus driver was no where in sight. Thus, the six of us who went back huddled under two umbrellas in the pouring rain between our bus and another one for over an hour. I suffered physical pain from being so cold. My feet have still not recovered full feeling. I can't believe I will say this, but we were being penguins and huddling together and it was STILL the worst experience EVER. I did not think being a penguin could ever be so awful. Trying to back a bad situation bearable, we started playing a game. I won't explain it, but it involved guessing a object someone else was thinking of -- I know, almost as fun as Boggle. Anyway, suddenly, a man pops out from the non-our bus storage compartment under the bus and tells us to be quiet because he's trying to sleep. Okay news to us: Spanish bus drivers sleep under their buses???? What??? Anyway, around 4:15am we finally got some other bus driver to let us sit on his bus, which was much drier than standing outside, but not a whole lot warmer. FINALLY, at like 5:30am we got onto our bus, with the heat on, and practically died. I cannot tell you what I would have done for warm, dry socks at that moment.
We successfully got back to Granada (although we left late again, of course) and I have since showered and put on sweatpants and a sweatshirt, so I am considerably better than this morning. It's a little too early for jokes, but it will definitely be a hilarious story later, when I cannot still vividly remember Alex offering her soul and a million euro for dry clothes and thinking that was an appropriate trade.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
On Running in Spain
I know I posted like two hours ago, but I just got back from running and I have to rant about the few things I hate about living here.
1) People in Granada (granadiños) are afraid of the rain. Now, I've seen people react harshly to rain before -- wearing decked out rain suits and umbrellas when it's sprinkling/drizzling, but never have I seen so many umbrellas. Even when it's NOT RAINING, they have their umbrellas up, just in case it starts to rain. These people are also afraid of the cold... Jackets all the time and lots of grumbling.
2) Spanish men are even more annoying than American boys. When I am running -- this is when I am wearing a large t-shirt, spandex pants and probably have make-up running down my face because it's raining -- half of the boys I pass make some sort of ridiculous noise. Slurping is common. So is saying "rubia, rubia!". Yeah, I have blonde hair. It's not like I am some exotic African animal.
3) PEOPLE ARE SO SLOW. Seriously every single person on the sidewalks of Granada would get run over if they were in NYC. Even when I am walking, it seems as though people here do not know how to walk in the presence of others. They do not get out of the way, such that, if I do not literally weave around them, I would actually run into them. They also are SO SLOW. And then stop suddenly and frequently stand in large groups in front of a doorway while you are waiting to get in. And with the sea of umbrellas, it is nearly impossible to get anywhere.
4) The streets here do not drain when it rains. And they are also mostly marble and/or made of cobblestones so they are either slippery and/or pool with water very quickly.
But I retain my very high opinion of Granada because these things are only really that annoying if you are late and since here, being late is relatively normal and accepted, it is okay. But I do need to find a park to run in. That's my next mission.
P.S. I saw an actual puppy in the elevator today. It was so cute. It looked like this, but sadly, without the bunnies:
1) People in Granada (granadiños) are afraid of the rain. Now, I've seen people react harshly to rain before -- wearing decked out rain suits and umbrellas when it's sprinkling/drizzling, but never have I seen so many umbrellas. Even when it's NOT RAINING, they have their umbrellas up, just in case it starts to rain. These people are also afraid of the cold... Jackets all the time and lots of grumbling.
2) Spanish men are even more annoying than American boys. When I am running -- this is when I am wearing a large t-shirt, spandex pants and probably have make-up running down my face because it's raining -- half of the boys I pass make some sort of ridiculous noise. Slurping is common. So is saying "rubia, rubia!". Yeah, I have blonde hair. It's not like I am some exotic African animal.
3) PEOPLE ARE SO SLOW. Seriously every single person on the sidewalks of Granada would get run over if they were in NYC. Even when I am walking, it seems as though people here do not know how to walk in the presence of others. They do not get out of the way, such that, if I do not literally weave around them, I would actually run into them. They also are SO SLOW. And then stop suddenly and frequently stand in large groups in front of a doorway while you are waiting to get in. And with the sea of umbrellas, it is nearly impossible to get anywhere.
4) The streets here do not drain when it rains. And they are also mostly marble and/or made of cobblestones so they are either slippery and/or pool with water very quickly.
But I retain my very high opinion of Granada because these things are only really that annoying if you are late and since here, being late is relatively normal and accepted, it is okay. But I do need to find a park to run in. That's my next mission.
P.S. I saw an actual puppy in the elevator today. It was so cute. It looked like this, but sadly, without the bunnies:
La nieva y, como siempre, más comida...
So this morning I actually had breakfast. No, I mean, normally I have breakfast, but its this type of Spanish corn flakes and strangely flavored yogurt. Today, since it is the weekend, my parents cooked Leah and I pan tostado con tomates (literally translated: toast with tomatoes) which is bread toasted on this strange grill pan they put on the stove and then drizzled heavily in olive oil and topped with extremely a sauce made of finely chopped tomatoes with salt and a variety of other things (hand-made by my madre!). It is extremely delicious. See below (disclaimer: this is from google images and not my actual breakfast).
In other food news: My friends and I have just discovered a Chinese tapas place that give you literally an entire plate of noodles, fried rice, or egg rolls as the free appetizer you receive with every drink. So delicious! Another note: few Spanish people actually like Chinese food and this bar is usually filled with British and French people.
Something even rarer than Chinese people in Spain: SNOW. And it snowed yesterday!! I mean, not very long and it didn't stick, but there were legitimate, large snowflakes falling from the sky yesterday evening. IN SOUTHERN SPAIN. It's the apocalypse. But at least I didn't wake up this morning having my backyard look like this:
... which is what all my friends back at school in Philly continually get to wake up. I love Haverford a lot a lot, but I am SO GLAD I missed the multiple blizzards the have sadly befallen the entire east coast. So even though it snowed in Spain, it's still Amanda: 1, Haverford: 0 (degrees Celsius, hahaha).
In other food news: My friends and I have just discovered a Chinese tapas place that give you literally an entire plate of noodles, fried rice, or egg rolls as the free appetizer you receive with every drink. So delicious! Another note: few Spanish people actually like Chinese food and this bar is usually filled with British and French people.
Something even rarer than Chinese people in Spain: SNOW. And it snowed yesterday!! I mean, not very long and it didn't stick, but there were legitimate, large snowflakes falling from the sky yesterday evening. IN SOUTHERN SPAIN. It's the apocalypse. But at least I didn't wake up this morning having my backyard look like this:
... which is what all my friends back at school in Philly continually get to wake up. I love Haverford a lot a lot, but I am SO GLAD I missed the multiple blizzards the have sadly befallen the entire east coast. So even though it snowed in Spain, it's still Amanda: 1, Haverford: 0 (degrees Celsius, hahaha).
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Silencio.
I just noticed there are no sounds. I can only hear my own thoughts....
Ugh, I still think in English. Learning Spanish cannot come quick enough! During my Islamic Art and Architecture class today, we watched a movie in Spanish with Spanish subtitles. I could vaguely identify the topic of the film, but mostly all I got was a lot of dramatic music and the word "Al-Andalus" (the parts of the Iberian peninsula governed by Muslims between 722 and 1492) over and over. When can I be fluent? This is frustrating.
I am currently looked out many windows from the fourth floor of the IES center. I can see all the rooftops of the buildings here. It seems almost unfair to call them buildings, because to me, buildings conjure an image of skyscrapers or run-down school buildings. These structures look more like over-sized cottages haphazardly squished together between winding roads. The N-S, E-W road map of so many US cities is missing in Granada and the squareness of the buildings is absent as well. It honestly seems more like a town that absent-mindedly grew to the size of a city without inheriting any city-like qualities. Roughly the size of Pittsburgh, the two look nothing alike in layout or architecture.
What I was saying before though, is that I am sitting on the top floor of the IES center and I am by myself. Everyone is at home for lunch, but I didn't have enough time to go home for lunch (here, 2 hours is too little time to walk home and back AND have lunch since lunch is about 2 hours in itself) because of my class schedule, so I am here, waiting. Whenever I wait, I make lists. Lists in my head, on paper, on the sticky-note application on my computer... Lists of things to do today, lists of projects to complete, lists of people to send postcards to, lists of homework... Lists of things I make lists about... (Forgive my rambling. My writing mirrors my thoughts with an unfortunate lack of editing.) I will end with a list.
Ten things to do before I leave (please live vicariously through me as I cross them off through the semester):
1. Visit London (and my 8 friends studying abroad there)
2. Learn to cook a Spanish tortilla
3. Speak Spanish fluidly and understand fully
4. Visit Italy and eat an entire pizza for lunch
5. See the Mediterranean Sea
6. Learn the streets of Granada (and throw away my map!)
7. Make Spanish friends
8. Go to a soccer game
9. Play tennis on clay courts
10. Buy European clothes so I don't always look so American
Ugh, I still think in English. Learning Spanish cannot come quick enough! During my Islamic Art and Architecture class today, we watched a movie in Spanish with Spanish subtitles. I could vaguely identify the topic of the film, but mostly all I got was a lot of dramatic music and the word "Al-Andalus" (the parts of the Iberian peninsula governed by Muslims between 722 and 1492) over and over. When can I be fluent? This is frustrating.
I am currently looked out many windows from the fourth floor of the IES center. I can see all the rooftops of the buildings here. It seems almost unfair to call them buildings, because to me, buildings conjure an image of skyscrapers or run-down school buildings. These structures look more like over-sized cottages haphazardly squished together between winding roads. The N-S, E-W road map of so many US cities is missing in Granada and the squareness of the buildings is absent as well. It honestly seems more like a town that absent-mindedly grew to the size of a city without inheriting any city-like qualities. Roughly the size of Pittsburgh, the two look nothing alike in layout or architecture.
What I was saying before though, is that I am sitting on the top floor of the IES center and I am by myself. Everyone is at home for lunch, but I didn't have enough time to go home for lunch (here, 2 hours is too little time to walk home and back AND have lunch since lunch is about 2 hours in itself) because of my class schedule, so I am here, waiting. Whenever I wait, I make lists. Lists in my head, on paper, on the sticky-note application on my computer... Lists of things to do today, lists of projects to complete, lists of people to send postcards to, lists of homework... Lists of things I make lists about... (Forgive my rambling. My writing mirrors my thoughts with an unfortunate lack of editing.) I will end with a list.
Ten things to do before I leave (please live vicariously through me as I cross them off through the semester):
1. Visit London (and my 8 friends studying abroad there)
2. Learn to cook a Spanish tortilla
3. Speak Spanish fluidly and understand fully
4. Visit Italy and eat an entire pizza for lunch
5. See the Mediterranean Sea
6. Learn the streets of Granada (and throw away my map!)
7. Make Spanish friends
8. Go to a soccer game
9. Play tennis on clay courts
10. Buy European clothes so I don't always look so American
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sevilla y Ronda
Just got back from Sevilla and Ronda!
This is the ridiculous cathedral in Sevilla. SO BEAUTIFUL!
A waterfall under the bridge in Ronda. Ronda was a green, old city in the hills with about a thousand picturesque views. Too bad my camera battery ran out...
Anyway, Friday we went to Sevilla and stayed overnight there. We saw these beautiful gardens and the cathedral and then the whole group went to see flamenco! Unfortunately, I had an interview and had to skip the flamenco, but it's okay. Also, turns out the night life in Sevilla is pretty sub-par because there are no free tapas (Granada is the last Spanish city with free tapas) and tons of tourists, plus all the locals hate tourists, especially Americans... But Saturday we went to Ronda and it is all kinds of beautiful. We saw old Arabic baths from when Granada and Ronda belonged to the Moors. They are in these huge stone rooms underground and I seriously can't imagine taking my clothes off in such a cold place, but apparently they had some sort of complicated system for heating one of the rooms similarly to a sauna. Creative civilization...
Last night my friends and I made our first appearance at the Chupiteria (the shots bar) which was SO FUN. They have like 100 shots that aren't just straight alcohol (three levels of difficulty - soft, medium, hard) and you get a little coupon thing for every one. If you get enough, you can trade them in for a variety of paraphernalia. We got two sombreros. Ole! We also made an appearance at Granada 10 which is a dance club in the center of the city. There were a lot of Spanish people there, but nearly as many "erasmus" students. Erasmus are the students who are studying abroad within the EU. Apparently there is some program that makes it really easy for any EU student to study anywhere else in the EU. Anyway, lots of people from everywhere in Europe. And a lot of Spanish techno. Might take awhile to get used to that...
In other news: I pretty much only eat ham and cheese sandwiches on baguettes now. They are absolutely delicious. I start classes tomorrow (only 3 of my five -- Haverford requires that I take two at the University of Granada and those don't start until Feb 22). I am planning on going to Cadiz next weekend for Carnaval. Mini-bananas with nutella is one of the best snacks ever -- rivaling apples and peanut butter. Granada is better than everywhere else.
This is the ridiculous cathedral in Sevilla. SO BEAUTIFUL!
A waterfall under the bridge in Ronda. Ronda was a green, old city in the hills with about a thousand picturesque views. Too bad my camera battery ran out...
Anyway, Friday we went to Sevilla and stayed overnight there. We saw these beautiful gardens and the cathedral and then the whole group went to see flamenco! Unfortunately, I had an interview and had to skip the flamenco, but it's okay. Also, turns out the night life in Sevilla is pretty sub-par because there are no free tapas (Granada is the last Spanish city with free tapas) and tons of tourists, plus all the locals hate tourists, especially Americans... But Saturday we went to Ronda and it is all kinds of beautiful. We saw old Arabic baths from when Granada and Ronda belonged to the Moors. They are in these huge stone rooms underground and I seriously can't imagine taking my clothes off in such a cold place, but apparently they had some sort of complicated system for heating one of the rooms similarly to a sauna. Creative civilization...
Last night my friends and I made our first appearance at the Chupiteria (the shots bar) which was SO FUN. They have like 100 shots that aren't just straight alcohol (three levels of difficulty - soft, medium, hard) and you get a little coupon thing for every one. If you get enough, you can trade them in for a variety of paraphernalia. We got two sombreros. Ole! We also made an appearance at Granada 10 which is a dance club in the center of the city. There were a lot of Spanish people there, but nearly as many "erasmus" students. Erasmus are the students who are studying abroad within the EU. Apparently there is some program that makes it really easy for any EU student to study anywhere else in the EU. Anyway, lots of people from everywhere in Europe. And a lot of Spanish techno. Might take awhile to get used to that...
In other news: I pretty much only eat ham and cheese sandwiches on baguettes now. They are absolutely delicious. I start classes tomorrow (only 3 of my five -- Haverford requires that I take two at the University of Granada and those don't start until Feb 22). I am planning on going to Cadiz next weekend for Carnaval. Mini-bananas with nutella is one of the best snacks ever -- rivaling apples and peanut butter. Granada is better than everywhere else.
Monday, February 1, 2010
La mercadona y más
Something very popular in Granada is a dish called "shawarma" which is a wrap-type thing much like what you would imagine the child of a burrito and a gyro would be. It's part of the strong Arabic cultural influence present in Granada because it is so close to Morocco. My roommate and I had them for dinner last night and they are delicious. You know what else is delicious? Orange Fanta. That shit is gold.
Today we went on a scavenger hunt around the city. Pretty anti-climactic actually since we didn't even get to find out who won (apparently results will be announced at the end of the week at some sort of party we're having). But I did get to find the library (helpful), the theater (playing No es tan facil -- the Spanish version of It's Complicated haha), and the policlinica (the doctor's office we are supposed to go to if we are sick). What was really amazing was the REBAJAS (sales). All the stores are having these outrageous sales "because of the crisis" and it's amazing. Okay I haven't actually bought anything yet, but considering how ridiculous the Euro is compared to the American Dollar, the cheapness of these clothes is remarkable. BTW the exchange rate is down to 1.4 letttsss gooooo.
Another interesting Spanish observation: hot chocolate here is like warm, slightly more liquid chocolate pudding. IT IS DELICIOUS. But I drink it with a spoon which is a little weird. Also, hugely popular here is churros and chocolate (churros dipped in their pudding-like hot chocolate). Had some today at Cafe Futbol. Why is it Cafe Futbol? No idea. There is no futbol anywhere near this place. Sometimes Spanish people are crazy.
Last thing -- went grocery shopping today with some friends. LOVE IT. Now, I will admit that grocery shopping is a favorite pastime of mine in the States and I know it's not everyone's fav actividade, but shopping here is even better! Mostly because there are lots of exciting new brands and strange juices and funny-shaped cookies. Also, check-out there is FAST. They mean business. None of this slow, service-oriented check-out procedures. You just get in and get out and try not to get run over by the masses of people in the store. Also, they have little baskets that roll and have long handles. Brilliant.
Today we went on a scavenger hunt around the city. Pretty anti-climactic actually since we didn't even get to find out who won (apparently results will be announced at the end of the week at some sort of party we're having). But I did get to find the library (helpful), the theater (playing No es tan facil -- the Spanish version of It's Complicated haha), and the policlinica (the doctor's office we are supposed to go to if we are sick). What was really amazing was the REBAJAS (sales). All the stores are having these outrageous sales "because of the crisis" and it's amazing. Okay I haven't actually bought anything yet, but considering how ridiculous the Euro is compared to the American Dollar, the cheapness of these clothes is remarkable. BTW the exchange rate is down to 1.4 letttsss gooooo.
Another interesting Spanish observation: hot chocolate here is like warm, slightly more liquid chocolate pudding. IT IS DELICIOUS. But I drink it with a spoon which is a little weird. Also, hugely popular here is churros and chocolate (churros dipped in their pudding-like hot chocolate). Had some today at Cafe Futbol. Why is it Cafe Futbol? No idea. There is no futbol anywhere near this place. Sometimes Spanish people are crazy.
Last thing -- went grocery shopping today with some friends. LOVE IT. Now, I will admit that grocery shopping is a favorite pastime of mine in the States and I know it's not everyone's fav actividade, but shopping here is even better! Mostly because there are lots of exciting new brands and strange juices and funny-shaped cookies. Also, check-out there is FAST. They mean business. None of this slow, service-oriented check-out procedures. You just get in and get out and try not to get run over by the masses of people in the store. Also, they have little baskets that roll and have long handles. Brilliant.
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