So it's Wednesday, which means I'm over halfway done with my school week. I can't believe how fast the time goes by here. I was talking with my friend Kat, who is here for the semester--and there is not a lot of time until the fall semester people leave--73 days to be exact. That's not a lot. I've been in Spain for 3 weeks, and I am so grateful I'm going to be here for the entire year. In case you're wondering--it's 220 days until I go home--which again doesn't seem like a lot. I'm having so much fun here. All the ISA kids are great. I'm going to be sad to see them leave in December--but then in January, we will get a new bunch for the Spring Semester, including 5 lovely Luther students!! :)
The first part of this week was dreary due to 'gota fría.' Gota fría happens when summer changes to fall and the warm waters of the Mediterranean interact with the cooler air. Result: RAIN...and lots of it. Valencia is a city of sunshine (over 300 sunny days a year)--but this week it was rain rain rain from Sunday night until early this morning. It didn't rain consistently--but you never knew when it would downpour. It put a damper on the first part of the week. Everyone was very sluggish in class, and the professors would complain about the rain and then insist that it only happens at this time of year. If you want to learn more--look it up on Wikipedia--though I must say the Spanish entry about it is much better than the English. Luckily, the weather is going to be better now--sunny with a high of 80 most days!
Classes have been good. On Tuesday, my Latin American Lit professor didn't show up, so after 30 minutes, we called the ISA office, and they said we could leave. It worked out well because then I was able to go to the ISA office and book our hostel in Athens. I'm heading to Greece late next week. We have a 4 day weekend due to holidays (5 for me-since I don't have class Thursdays), so I'm going to Athens with Ali and Sam. We're going to see as much of Athens as we can, and we may take a day trip to Olympia or to an island. I'm really looking forward to it. This weekend should prove to be a lot of fun. Marli will be gone, as she is heading to Munich for Oktoberfest with a few ISA kids. But it is a girl's birthday on Saturday, and we're going to visit the City of Arts and Sciences with ISA. Then on Sunday, I am taking a day trip to a town near Valencia that has a castle and a beautiful cathedral. I can't remember the name right now--I'll write about it once I go.
I have a little request from all of you reading this--I would really love to hear from all of you whenever. I know the "commenting" section is a little strange since you have to have a google (gmail) account or another specific account. But feel free to send me an email--I'm usually good at replying within a few days. My email is leppke01@luther.edu. Reading emails from people at home always brightens my day! So that's all for now. Hope to hear from some of you!!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A little reflection
Well for my homework in my culture class, we had to write about some of the differences we have seen so far between US and Spanish culture--so I wrote it and then realized I could turn it into a blog entry. So here goes a little reflection--then some other random things.
I definitely think the biggest difference between the US and here is the lifestyle. The lifestyle here is very relaxed and calm. In the US, I feel like people always have so much to do and are always in a hurry. There is also so much stress in the lives of many Americans. Here people say that they work to live--not live to work. That really fits the general sentiment here. Work is important, but it doesn't consume a person's life. This is a place where every day shops shut down for 3 hours for lunch and a little rest before continuing with the day. It sounds odd--but it really works. It's a great chance to "recharge" your batteries and get set for the rest of the day. Another big difference is materialism in general. Here it is not important if you have a big house or many things--that is not what makes a person special--it's the experiences that a person has that makes them who they are. My parents told me something like that before I left when we talked about presents for people and spending money in general. We decided that it is better for me to go places and experience things rather than buy a little souvenir. The memories I'll have from experiences will last a lifetime.
The difference that is the most interesting to me is dealing with self-confidence and self esteem. The people here are all self confident and have very high levels of self esteem. Spaniards are comfortable in their own skin, and walking down the street you can tell. Walking along the beach, I have seen women of all shapes and sizes wearing teeny tiny bathing suits without a care in the world--women over the age of 60 walking around topless (too much info--I know--but it's true). The clothes don't make the person any more special--it's the inside. I feel like in the US people are always comparing themselves to others (myself included). I hope I'll be able to adopt the self-loving that I see here.
It's strange to think that I've been in Spain for almost 3 weeks--I've learned so much so far--only from watching what is around me. Maybe I need to open my eyes more when I'm home and really think about what I see around me.
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Now for a few more notes and such.
Friday was a good day. Traveling to the Mercado Central (the main market in the city center) with my culture class was lots of fun. We made random stops along the way. I would have enjoyed the market more had we started with the fruits and veggies--but we started in the fresh meat. If you know me well, you know I have some 'issues' with meat. This spoiled the first part of the market--seeing chickens and rabbits and such was not so fun for me. Nor was seeing eels, lobsters, and crabs that were still moving. Luckily we moved into the fruits and veggies and other items pretty fast. There are some pics up in the Valencia album. We also stopped at what I'll call a "deli" counter that had meats and cheeses. I can handle seeing the smoked pigs legs--sort of. Our teacher knew a guy at one of these 'deli' counters--so we all got samples of meat and cheese. Then our teacher bought a bunch of cheese and we walked around eating the cheese he bought. That afternoon the ISA group went to La Albufera--it's a freshwater lagoon south of town. A lot of kids compared it to the Everglades-minus the alligators. We went on a boat ride and just cruised around. It was nice seeing birds that weren't pigeons!! Then Friday night Marli and I just relaxed at home--the week went by really fast and was tiring. Yesterday we went shopping in the Centro with Sam. It was fun going into all the shops--I prefer the boutique shops rather than the department stores. We also went and got Horchata and Fartons at a well-known Horchateria in the Centro. Horchata is THE drink of Valencia--made from tiger nuts. I can't think of anything to compare it to--and fartons are just a type of pastry. Delicious! Now today I'm just relaxing and doing some homework. I guess that's about it. I don't know too much else.
I definitely think the biggest difference between the US and here is the lifestyle. The lifestyle here is very relaxed and calm. In the US, I feel like people always have so much to do and are always in a hurry. There is also so much stress in the lives of many Americans. Here people say that they work to live--not live to work. That really fits the general sentiment here. Work is important, but it doesn't consume a person's life. This is a place where every day shops shut down for 3 hours for lunch and a little rest before continuing with the day. It sounds odd--but it really works. It's a great chance to "recharge" your batteries and get set for the rest of the day. Another big difference is materialism in general. Here it is not important if you have a big house or many things--that is not what makes a person special--it's the experiences that a person has that makes them who they are. My parents told me something like that before I left when we talked about presents for people and spending money in general. We decided that it is better for me to go places and experience things rather than buy a little souvenir. The memories I'll have from experiences will last a lifetime.
The difference that is the most interesting to me is dealing with self-confidence and self esteem. The people here are all self confident and have very high levels of self esteem. Spaniards are comfortable in their own skin, and walking down the street you can tell. Walking along the beach, I have seen women of all shapes and sizes wearing teeny tiny bathing suits without a care in the world--women over the age of 60 walking around topless (too much info--I know--but it's true). The clothes don't make the person any more special--it's the inside. I feel like in the US people are always comparing themselves to others (myself included). I hope I'll be able to adopt the self-loving that I see here.
It's strange to think that I've been in Spain for almost 3 weeks--I've learned so much so far--only from watching what is around me. Maybe I need to open my eyes more when I'm home and really think about what I see around me.
--------------------------------------------------------
Now for a few more notes and such.
Friday was a good day. Traveling to the Mercado Central (the main market in the city center) with my culture class was lots of fun. We made random stops along the way. I would have enjoyed the market more had we started with the fruits and veggies--but we started in the fresh meat. If you know me well, you know I have some 'issues' with meat. This spoiled the first part of the market--seeing chickens and rabbits and such was not so fun for me. Nor was seeing eels, lobsters, and crabs that were still moving. Luckily we moved into the fruits and veggies and other items pretty fast. There are some pics up in the Valencia album. We also stopped at what I'll call a "deli" counter that had meats and cheeses. I can handle seeing the smoked pigs legs--sort of. Our teacher knew a guy at one of these 'deli' counters--so we all got samples of meat and cheese. Then our teacher bought a bunch of cheese and we walked around eating the cheese he bought. That afternoon the ISA group went to La Albufera--it's a freshwater lagoon south of town. A lot of kids compared it to the Everglades-minus the alligators. We went on a boat ride and just cruised around. It was nice seeing birds that weren't pigeons!! Then Friday night Marli and I just relaxed at home--the week went by really fast and was tiring. Yesterday we went shopping in the Centro with Sam. It was fun going into all the shops--I prefer the boutique shops rather than the department stores. We also went and got Horchata and Fartons at a well-known Horchateria in the Centro. Horchata is THE drink of Valencia--made from tiger nuts. I can't think of anything to compare it to--and fartons are just a type of pastry. Delicious! Now today I'm just relaxing and doing some homework. I guess that's about it. I don't know too much else.
Friday, September 25, 2009
A whirlwind week...
Thought I´d jot off a post quick before class. This week has flown by!! I can´t believe it´s already Friday. I´ve tried putting my video up--but failed since it was too big...so Marli and I are trying to figure out how to shrink the size of the video. Hopefully this weekend I can get it uploaded. Last night we had an intercambio at a restaurant near campus. It was nice because ISA paid for everything and the people were nice. At our table there were 5 ISA kids (me, Marli, Sam, Nikki, and Ali) and then 2 Spaniards...their names were Emiliano and Lara. They were really nice and we may try to meet up with them sometime this weekend. Then I went to a little bar/restaurant that I had been to before and had ice cream and drinks with Marli, Sam, and Ali. I definitely enjoy going out with smaller groups better--it draws less attention than a giant group of Americans. I think that bar/restaurant will become a place I´ll frequent--it´s called Opera--and the staff is nice and the food and drinks are good and well priced. It ´s very comfortable. Let´s see--right now I´m heading to my culture class and we are going to visit the Mercado Central--hopefully I will get some good pictures. All for now.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Salsa de tomate y huevos?!?!?!
Hola a todos. The week has gone really well so far. Classes on Monday (my busy day) weren't too bad--and my class today wasn't bad either. You're probably wondering about the title of my blog entry--Salsa de tomate y huevos--translates to tomato sauce and eggs--which was part of our supper. It was tomato sauce and then while it was cooking Amparo added eggs and cooked those in it--and it was delicious. I was in shock once I found out what it was--but it was so good! We ate it with bread. We tend to eat everything with bread--but it's fresh from a bakery and it tastes really really good! So much of the food here is very different from the US, but everything tastes really really good. There has only been 1 thing I have not liked so far--it was some type of empanada and it had fish in it--and when you bit into it, it just tasted too fishy. The funny thing about it though--is that Amparo didn't make it--she bought it at the store. So everything she has cooked, I have enjoyed. Everything else is going well. Last night after dinner, Amparo took Marli and I on a walk north of our apartment--which is a place neither of us had visited before. It was really pretty and yet another side of Valencia. This town has so many different places and areas that are vastly different, and all of them are beautiful. And for your viewing pleasure I have created a video..I'll upload it soon--not enough time tonight. Buenas noches.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The First Weekend
Well I have a little time this afternoon, so I figured I would write a little blog about my first weekend in Valencia. Marli and I were talking earlier and realized that we have been in Valencia for exactly one week. I cannot believe that it has only been one week--it feels like I've been here so much longer. It already feels like home, and I'm learning my way around the city rather quickly. I've taken taxis, been on the bus, and been asked more than 5 times for directions--maybe I'm starting to look like someone who actually lives here--which is strange because I DO live here.
Let's see--Friday was a pretty uneventful day. I was a little homesick for the first time in a while. I met up with some friends at the ISA office in the afternoon, and we started talking about trips to take during the semester. With the ISA group, we take a trip to Granada (in the south) and to Barcelona. Marli and I are choosing to go on the optional trip with ISA, which is 1 week in Morocco. Besides trips with ISA, we have several long weekends where traveling would be a good idea. Everyone had so many places they wanted to go--and I really didn't care--everywhere sounded good to me. I also know that I have the whole year to travel when most of them only have until December. Looks like I may be going to Greece in October as well as Salamanca--and everyone was interested in going to Prague and Istanbul. Who knows what will actually happen, but for me it was just crazy to think that I can travel to all these places and for not a lot of money. That's the benefit of all the countries being smaller than the US.
Enough about prospective travels...Friday night, Amparo's (our host mom) two sons and the one son's wife (?--we're not sure if they're married) came over for dinner. They spoke crazy fast--but I kept up with most of it. Later that night I went out with friends, and it was a lot of fun. Saturday was wonderful. I slept in and then Marli and I went to the beach and met up with friends. The sky was blue with just a few puffy clouds, the sun was shining, and there was a slight breeze to keep you cool. We spent all day at the beach--laying in the sand--putting out feet in the water--just relaxing. It was wonderful. Then when I got home I was able to Skype with my parents for the first time since I've been here. It was great getting to see them (and Brandy too!). They also got to meet Amparo and Marli over Skype. It was really funny hearing Amparo talk to my parents in English, saying that I am HER daughter here. Saturday night we ended up going to the Valencian version of Oktoberfest. It was held at the Plaza de los Toros (bull fighting ring)--and two of the guys' host dad (a former bull fighter) was putting the event on. I wasn't expecting to have a lot of fun--but it ended up being a good time. There was a huge line--but because we had "connections" we got to enter in front of everyone else. This morning (Sunday) Marli and I got up and went to the beach to see an airplane exhibition. It was pretty cool. And that's what I've been doing all weekend. I'm not exactly looking forward to going to class tomorrow, since I haven't had class since Wednesday. Monday is also my busy day with 3 classes--all of which are 1 hour and 45 minutes. It will be okay though--no worries. All for now.
Let's see--Friday was a pretty uneventful day. I was a little homesick for the first time in a while. I met up with some friends at the ISA office in the afternoon, and we started talking about trips to take during the semester. With the ISA group, we take a trip to Granada (in the south) and to Barcelona. Marli and I are choosing to go on the optional trip with ISA, which is 1 week in Morocco. Besides trips with ISA, we have several long weekends where traveling would be a good idea. Everyone had so many places they wanted to go--and I really didn't care--everywhere sounded good to me. I also know that I have the whole year to travel when most of them only have until December. Looks like I may be going to Greece in October as well as Salamanca--and everyone was interested in going to Prague and Istanbul. Who knows what will actually happen, but for me it was just crazy to think that I can travel to all these places and for not a lot of money. That's the benefit of all the countries being smaller than the US.
Enough about prospective travels...Friday night, Amparo's (our host mom) two sons and the one son's wife (?--we're not sure if they're married) came over for dinner. They spoke crazy fast--but I kept up with most of it. Later that night I went out with friends, and it was a lot of fun. Saturday was wonderful. I slept in and then Marli and I went to the beach and met up with friends. The sky was blue with just a few puffy clouds, the sun was shining, and there was a slight breeze to keep you cool. We spent all day at the beach--laying in the sand--putting out feet in the water--just relaxing. It was wonderful. Then when I got home I was able to Skype with my parents for the first time since I've been here. It was great getting to see them (and Brandy too!). They also got to meet Amparo and Marli over Skype. It was really funny hearing Amparo talk to my parents in English, saying that I am HER daughter here. Saturday night we ended up going to the Valencian version of Oktoberfest. It was held at the Plaza de los Toros (bull fighting ring)--and two of the guys' host dad (a former bull fighter) was putting the event on. I wasn't expecting to have a lot of fun--but it ended up being a good time. There was a huge line--but because we had "connections" we got to enter in front of everyone else. This morning (Sunday) Marli and I got up and went to the beach to see an airplane exhibition. It was pretty cool. And that's what I've been doing all weekend. I'm not exactly looking forward to going to class tomorrow, since I haven't had class since Wednesday. Monday is also my busy day with 3 classes--all of which are 1 hour and 45 minutes. It will be okay though--no worries. All for now.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Of food, fruit, and life in Valencia
Good morning to all! I figured I'd write a little update on how things are going here. Everything is really good--I really like it here. The past 2 days have flown by, but we fit so much stuff into each day. Wednesday was a normal class day--just my Grammar and History and the Spanish Language classes. Our Grammar teacher had us start class by dancing around the room and talking with everyone about ourselves. Then we went around the room and she asked each of us questions and really tried to get to know us. I think there were 12 of us in there, and it's a good bunch of us. My History of the Spanish Language teacher talked and talked and talked to us about the class for a long time and got us all thinking about the intricacies of the Spanish Language--why things are the way they are. Why does this verb do this and this other verb do the same thing differently. I'm really going to enjoy both of those classes. The professors care and they said that they are there to help us and that they want to help. It was just a different 'vibe' than what I've had from some other professors back at home.
Let's see--that was Wednesday--then Thursday is the day that I don't have class. I slept in a little, went jogging in the park, exchanged some American money, talked with my Señora, and then had lunch. When I was talking with my Señora, I showed her some pictures from home--then gave her my gifts for her, the past two Christmas at Luther CDs. She loved them--and listened to one of them in the afternoon--and the other one during dinner last night. In the afternoon, I was at the ISA office--found out that Friday is a University holiday for professors or something like that--so NO CLASS! I get a 4 day weekend my first weekend in Valencia! Last night was slightly bittersweet, one of the other ISA students is heading home--she has some family things going on--so we all said bye to her last night. Last night, I also had my first discoteca experience. It was fun dancing with the other ISA kids and being with all the Spaniards. I met 3 Spaniards my age--they were all super nice, and the girls have class in our same building and want to help us with our Spanish! We called it a night relatively early (in Spanish terms) at 3:15 am--then headed home by taxi. It's going to take a while to get used to going out since it's not something I typically do--but it was a lot of fun. Now today I may go to the beach or do a little shopping--plus will be meeting with some friends to talk about traveling during the weekends.
What's really interesting here for me is the food. Somehow I have become less picky overnight. I've taken up the philosophy that I can try everything, but sometimes it is better not to know what I'm eating. The food is all delicious. One weird thing that I've had since being in Valencia is this fruit called 'chirimoya'--there are pics in my web album. It is a really ugly fruit--and is somewhat like a pear on the inside with large black seeds. I don't even know what to compare the taste to--but it was delicious. The great part about eating here is that I know everything is healthy--because our Señora only makes healthy food--she told us that health is very important to her. I put some more pics up--so check those out--and I'll update this again soon!
Let's see--that was Wednesday--then Thursday is the day that I don't have class. I slept in a little, went jogging in the park, exchanged some American money, talked with my Señora, and then had lunch. When I was talking with my Señora, I showed her some pictures from home--then gave her my gifts for her, the past two Christmas at Luther CDs. She loved them--and listened to one of them in the afternoon--and the other one during dinner last night. In the afternoon, I was at the ISA office--found out that Friday is a University holiday for professors or something like that--so NO CLASS! I get a 4 day weekend my first weekend in Valencia! Last night was slightly bittersweet, one of the other ISA students is heading home--she has some family things going on--so we all said bye to her last night. Last night, I also had my first discoteca experience. It was fun dancing with the other ISA kids and being with all the Spaniards. I met 3 Spaniards my age--they were all super nice, and the girls have class in our same building and want to help us with our Spanish! We called it a night relatively early (in Spanish terms) at 3:15 am--then headed home by taxi. It's going to take a while to get used to going out since it's not something I typically do--but it was a lot of fun. Now today I may go to the beach or do a little shopping--plus will be meeting with some friends to talk about traveling during the weekends.
What's really interesting here for me is the food. Somehow I have become less picky overnight. I've taken up the philosophy that I can try everything, but sometimes it is better not to know what I'm eating. The food is all delicious. One weird thing that I've had since being in Valencia is this fruit called 'chirimoya'--there are pics in my web album. It is a really ugly fruit--and is somewhat like a pear on the inside with large black seeds. I don't even know what to compare the taste to--but it was delicious. The great part about eating here is that I know everything is healthy--because our Señora only makes healthy food--she told us that health is very important to her. I put some more pics up--so check those out--and I'll update this again soon!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The "Dread"ed Mullet
Oh man. Today was a wonderful day. I really enjoyed today. I was so happy when I went to bed last night because our Señora had arrived--which just made it feel like we were at home. Then this morning I got up and went for a jog in the park nearby. It was relaxing--though I wasn't able to jog that much since they were cutting grass, and it was irritating my allergies. I came home, showered, and got ready for the day. Then I met up with my friend Sam at the ISA office. We decided to go walking--then decided to walk to the Mediterranean because we hadn't been there yet. From the ISA office, it was a 45 minute walk to the Mediterranean--but it was worth it! I haven't seen many large bodies of water in my life--I--I live in Iowa---the most water I ever see is when I'm at Collin's house on the lake. It was beautiful--check out the pictures--I already put them up. It was great getting to walk with Sam--we bonded and talked and got to vent about some stuff that's happened--a good release for both of us. Then we walked back (another 45 minute walk)--and I went home for lunch. It was delicious, and it was fun talking with our señora. I feel like my Spanish is improving. After that, I went to my first class--Latin American Lit. Out of all 30 ISA students, there are only 4 in the class--including myself, but it's okay. Our professor is really nice and really relaxed. She doesn't really have a set schedule--she wants us to work through each piece of literature as it comes--knowing we will want to discuss some more than others. Then I walked with 2 of the students in my class to meet us with the other students at Torres de Serrano--and we got to have our tour of the older central part of Valencia. It was beautiful and fun walking around the city. It only would have been better if we were in smaller groups--30 students walking around listening to one person talk makes us stick out as Americans. It would have been fun just to explore it with friends--something I know I'll be doing because I saw a lot of cute shops. Then we finished our tour in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento--and then we all had to navigate our way home. Marli and I ended up walking with Ali and her roommate since they live 5-10 minutes from us. When I got home I crashed since I had done so much walking. Dinner was good--a lot of the time I'm not sure what I'm eating--but it's probably better that way. I don't think I'd typically eat some of the stuff otherwise. My fave food at dinner was this topping for toasted bread--it was made of salt, olive oil, garlic, and spinach--it was delicious! And our señora suggested that Marli and I come back to the US and open a factory that makes chocolate mousse in prepackaged cups. They have it here, and it is delicious. Overall a fabulous day. I hope I have many more of these. I guess I'll post my class schedule--just so you all know.
Monday: Spanish Grammar (9-10:45); Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition (11:15-1:00); History of the Spanish Language (3-4:45)
Tuesday: Panorama of Latin American Literature (3-4:45)
Wednesday: Spanish Grammar (9-10:45); History of the Spanish Language (3-4:45)
Thursday: NO CLASS!
Friday: Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition (11:15-1:00), Panorama of Latin American Literature (3-4:45)
Then I think I'll also give an explanation to the title of this entry--the 'Dread'ed Mullet. I have seen more mullets in Spain than you could ever see at the Iowa State Fair--which says a lot. And today I saw a mullet with dreads in the back. Marli saw the one I did along with another one today. Why do the Spanish think mullets are good looking? Who knows....something to ponder after you read this...
Monday: Spanish Grammar (9-10:45); Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition (11:15-1:00); History of the Spanish Language (3-4:45)
Tuesday: Panorama of Latin American Literature (3-4:45)
Wednesday: Spanish Grammar (9-10:45); History of the Spanish Language (3-4:45)
Thursday: NO CLASS!
Friday: Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition (11:15-1:00), Panorama of Latin American Literature (3-4:45)
Then I think I'll also give an explanation to the title of this entry--the 'Dread'ed Mullet. I have seen more mullets in Spain than you could ever see at the Iowa State Fair--which says a lot. And today I saw a mullet with dreads in the back. Marli saw the one I did along with another one today. Why do the Spanish think mullets are good looking? Who knows....something to ponder after you read this...
Monday, September 14, 2009
Cancel that...
Right after I pressed post--the door opened--our Señora is here!! Yay! She seem super nice....thank goodness...
So I'm in Valencia...
Well I've made it to Valencia and have been here for over 24 hours. It's nice to not be living from a suitcase. I can't believe that this is my home for the next 8 months. I'll pick up where I left off before--in Toledo--and then work my way up to right now.
So our second day in Toledo was super fun. We had an awesome tour guide in the city--his name was Mario--and he was a little crazy. He was very animated and got us involved, and our tour was an experience to remember. It was also the first time that I got to partake in the Spanish tradition of kissing one another on each cheek. Our tour guide went around and did it with all the girls after the tour. Exploring Toledo was neat because the streets are very narrow and you never knew what was around each corner. I had a good lunch with some friends--then we went back to the hotel and rested. By resting--I mean sitting around the pool. It was a beautiful pool and it was relaxing just to sit back for a few hours since we had been doing so much touring. That night I ate at a bar/restaurant--I ended up eating at the bar with 2 other girls since it was cheaper and the restaurant prices were super expensive. Then the next morning we left for Valencia.
We stopped once along the way and that was when Marli and I found out that our Señora would not be meeting us in Valencia, since she was finishing up a vacation. Instead, her son would be picking us up. This was news to us, since we didn't know she had children. We arrived in Valencia and met her son, Alex. He took us to the apartment. Apartments here are small since people choose to do their socializing outside the home. There should be pictures of the apartment up soon. We're on the eighth floor--and there is a busy street below. Marli and I share a room and our room overlooks a soccer field across the street. We unpacked our stuff and then went on a walk. In the 1950's, Valencia diverted the river around the town because it flooded many times and damaged homes--so now in place of the river bed is a giant garden with walking paths. We walked along it to the City of Arts and Sciences (C.A.C--Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)--stopping to look at a children's playground that is in the shape of Gulliver tied to the ground (from the children's story). The C.A.C is beautiful--I can't wait to visit it. It's a complex of 5 buildings (don't quote me on the number), including the largest aquarium in Europe, a planetarium, an auditorium, a museum, and walking path. We then came back to the apartment, and he made us dinner--then he left to go home and Marli and I were home alone. It was awkward being with him because he didn't talk a lot with us--he didn't say much at all--I don't even think he asked our names.
Then this morning he returned and helped us with breakfast and took us to our meeting place with the other ISA kids. We went to the university and met our professors--then took a placement test--just so our professors can gauge what level we are all at. I'm taking classes at the advanced level--Spanish Grammar; Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition; Panorama of Latin American Literature; and History of the Spanish Language. After our placement, we went to the ISA office and then went home for lunch. Our Señora wasn't back so her son made us lunch again--it was some sort of rice dish with tomatoes and pork in it for the main dish--plus a first dish of tomatoes and onions with spices and olive oil--plus fruit for dessert. This afternoon Marli and I explored a little before heading back to the ISA office for a tour of the central part of the city. The tour never happened because it was raining and some people were very particular about getting their hair wet--so our tour should be tomorrow. Most of us went for drinks after our cancelled tour--then I bought some school supplies. When we came back to the apartment, both sons of our Señora were here along with the wife on the other son--and we had dinner at 9. Now Marli and I are just relaxing in the living room with our computers. We DO HAVE INTERNET HERE!!! YAY! It's nice to be able to keep in touch with everyone. Tomorrow we start classes. I don't have a class until 3--so I think I'm getting up and going to do some form of exercise and then be with friends for a while. I think our Señora will arrive tomorrow--hopefully--she's been in India and something happened with her flights--who knows!
Well I think I will end this post for the night--hopefully I didn't repeat myself too much. Buenas noches...
So our second day in Toledo was super fun. We had an awesome tour guide in the city--his name was Mario--and he was a little crazy. He was very animated and got us involved, and our tour was an experience to remember. It was also the first time that I got to partake in the Spanish tradition of kissing one another on each cheek. Our tour guide went around and did it with all the girls after the tour. Exploring Toledo was neat because the streets are very narrow and you never knew what was around each corner. I had a good lunch with some friends--then we went back to the hotel and rested. By resting--I mean sitting around the pool. It was a beautiful pool and it was relaxing just to sit back for a few hours since we had been doing so much touring. That night I ate at a bar/restaurant--I ended up eating at the bar with 2 other girls since it was cheaper and the restaurant prices were super expensive. Then the next morning we left for Valencia.
We stopped once along the way and that was when Marli and I found out that our Señora would not be meeting us in Valencia, since she was finishing up a vacation. Instead, her son would be picking us up. This was news to us, since we didn't know she had children. We arrived in Valencia and met her son, Alex. He took us to the apartment. Apartments here are small since people choose to do their socializing outside the home. There should be pictures of the apartment up soon. We're on the eighth floor--and there is a busy street below. Marli and I share a room and our room overlooks a soccer field across the street. We unpacked our stuff and then went on a walk. In the 1950's, Valencia diverted the river around the town because it flooded many times and damaged homes--so now in place of the river bed is a giant garden with walking paths. We walked along it to the City of Arts and Sciences (C.A.C--Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)--stopping to look at a children's playground that is in the shape of Gulliver tied to the ground (from the children's story). The C.A.C is beautiful--I can't wait to visit it. It's a complex of 5 buildings (don't quote me on the number), including the largest aquarium in Europe, a planetarium, an auditorium, a museum, and walking path. We then came back to the apartment, and he made us dinner--then he left to go home and Marli and I were home alone. It was awkward being with him because he didn't talk a lot with us--he didn't say much at all--I don't even think he asked our names.
Then this morning he returned and helped us with breakfast and took us to our meeting place with the other ISA kids. We went to the university and met our professors--then took a placement test--just so our professors can gauge what level we are all at. I'm taking classes at the advanced level--Spanish Grammar; Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition; Panorama of Latin American Literature; and History of the Spanish Language. After our placement, we went to the ISA office and then went home for lunch. Our Señora wasn't back so her son made us lunch again--it was some sort of rice dish with tomatoes and pork in it for the main dish--plus a first dish of tomatoes and onions with spices and olive oil--plus fruit for dessert. This afternoon Marli and I explored a little before heading back to the ISA office for a tour of the central part of the city. The tour never happened because it was raining and some people were very particular about getting their hair wet--so our tour should be tomorrow. Most of us went for drinks after our cancelled tour--then I bought some school supplies. When we came back to the apartment, both sons of our Señora were here along with the wife on the other son--and we had dinner at 9. Now Marli and I are just relaxing in the living room with our computers. We DO HAVE INTERNET HERE!!! YAY! It's nice to be able to keep in touch with everyone. Tomorrow we start classes. I don't have a class until 3--so I think I'm getting up and going to do some form of exercise and then be with friends for a while. I think our Señora will arrive tomorrow--hopefully--she's been in India and something happened with her flights--who knows!
Well I think I will end this post for the night--hopefully I didn't repeat myself too much. Buenas noches...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Voy a Valencia.
Hola a todos. Just thought I'd write quick before heading to breakfast. We're leaving Toledo today and heading to Valencia. We're leaving around 10 or so and arriving at 3:30--but also stopping a few times along the way. This also means Marli and I will be moving in with our host mom today--we're both kinda nervous about it. Hopefully she'll be nice--we know that she really wants us there, which is reassuring. I'll write more when I have time. I'm not sure when I'll have internet access next. Be sure to look at the photos I've posted from the trip so far! love you all and miss you all too.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
I'm here...
Well I guess it's safe to say that it's been a whirlwind since I arrived--and this is this first opportunity I've gotten to write in here. Currently, I'm in Toledo--we arrived this afternoon and staying until Sunday morning.
The flight were good. They seem like they were so long ago. I met up with the girl Ali at the Dallas airport, and she was sitting 2 rows behind me in the the plane. I had the window seat and the seat all to myself (the plane was huge--2 seats--3 seats--2 seats)--but then a girl moved into the seat next to me since her headphones weren't working in her other seat. It turns out she was 19 and from Israel and was fun to talk to. I slept a few hours on the plane, then woke up to see the Atlantic Ocean and within 5 minutes of waking up we crossed into Spain. The Madrid airport was crazy. Ali and I arrived in the Terminal 4 Satellite--then had to take a train to Terminal 4--then get our passports stamped and pick up our luggage and then take a bus to Terminal 1 to meet the group. Needless to say, it was a little crazy. We met up with the group and then headed to the hotel at about 11. Our hotel in Madrid was wonderful--it was a 5 star hotel in Central Madrid. Everyone arrived in shifts that day (I was in the first shift) and once we had our keys, we were free until a meeting that night at 5:30. I went out for lunch with 2 girls and then walked around with some other students. Then my roommate (Marli) arrived with another shift from the airport--we ended up chatting until our meeting. After our meeting, we went on a panoramic bus tour of the city and then we were free again. We have a lot more independence than I expected. I ended up at a tapas restaurant with a few others--it was good food and fun to talk with the other students. Then I crashed because I was exhausted from all the traveling.
The next day (Thursday) was incredibly busy. We visited Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) and the Palacio Real (Royal Palace). We had tours at both places and both tours were in Spanish. At the Prado we toured 3 exhibits focusing on 3 major Spanish artists--El Greco, Velasquez, and Goyo. It was amazing getting to see "Las Meninas" by Velasquez. I had studied the painting before in some class-but seeing it in person was awesome. There is a lot of symbolism in the paintings that our tour guides pointed out. From the Prado, we walked to the Palacio Real. It was a really cool place. It has over 3,000 rooms, and the royals do not live there anymore. It has 2 courtyards and is right next to the Madrid Cathedral. There were some cool clocks--since one of the kings collected clocks. Everything was very elaborate and well...royal. After the Palacio Real, our directors announced we were free for the rest of the day--and this was at 2:30 in this afternoon. I ended up going to the Reina Sofía Museum with a few other girls. It was a really long walk--but we stopped along the way in a few shops and got some ice cream. The Reina Sofía is a modern art museum--and parts of it were really neat. I wanted to go there specifically to see Picasso's 'Guernica'--another painting I had studied before. Look it up and read the history behind it--it's fascinating. Seeing 'Guernica' was incredible--so much bigger than I expected and beautiful and tragic at the same time. We also saw some very modern art--including a bunch of furniture covered in identical fabric and taped--set up like a living room. We weren't exactly sure about that one. Then we took the Metro (subway) back to the hotel--it was my first trip EVER on a metro--it was quick, cheap (1 euro)--and a relief for our aching feet. Back at the hotel we relaxed, then headed out to dinner at 9 (more on that later). I ate with 7 other girls at a restaurant a few blocks from the hotel--it was good. I had my first sangria there--which was delicious. After dinner we walked back to the hotel (about 11:30)--then decided to go get a drink and chat. I needed a little convincing to go since I'm not accustomed to going for a drink. We ended up at a bar and had some more sangria. On our way back to the hotel, we ran into our directors and about 15 other students--and this was at 1:30 am. Life here is different. Then I slept--took a while to fall asleep.
Friday--we left the hotel and went to El Escorial, a town about 50 kilos from Madrid. It has the Monastery of San Lorenzo. It is huge!!!!!!! Besides being a monastery, it also served as a home for royalty. All the royals are buried there. We went into this giant room with tombs of all the royalty since Carlos I. It was creepy--but cool. Our tour guide explained that they don't bury the bodies--just the bones. So once a royal dies, the body lies in a room for 40 years until only the bones remain before being put in the tomb. That was weird. Then I had lunch in El Escorial--then we headed to Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen). It is supposed to honor the people who died in the Spanish Civil War in the 20th century--but it is argued the Franco wanted it built just so he could be buried there. Franco is buried there in the basilica. It's a very sad place, but beautiful. Then we hopped on the bus and came to Toledo (where I am now). We rested, then had a meeting--then were free. I had dinner with 9 other people at this little restaurant in Toledo. Eating out on the terraces is a lot of fun. We were there for over 2 hours having dinner--but it was good. Took a taxi back with 3 girls to the hotel--and now I'm here writing this. I think I'll give a little 411 on Spanish culture.
-The eating schedule is way different from America. You have breakfast at 8 or 9. Then sometimes a snack before lunch at 2-3:30. Lunch is also the biggest meal of the day--usually 3 courses. Maybe another snack in the afternoon and then dinner at 9:30 or later. Anything before 8:30 is considered early and you may be hard pressed to find a place that is open and ready to serve. I'm still getting used to the eating schedule. Everyone also stays out late--hence why it is 1 am and I'm still awake--probably will head to bed after this. I'm going to end this for now--maybe add more tomorrow. For now--it's bedtime.
The flight were good. They seem like they were so long ago. I met up with the girl Ali at the Dallas airport, and she was sitting 2 rows behind me in the the plane. I had the window seat and the seat all to myself (the plane was huge--2 seats--3 seats--2 seats)--but then a girl moved into the seat next to me since her headphones weren't working in her other seat. It turns out she was 19 and from Israel and was fun to talk to. I slept a few hours on the plane, then woke up to see the Atlantic Ocean and within 5 minutes of waking up we crossed into Spain. The Madrid airport was crazy. Ali and I arrived in the Terminal 4 Satellite--then had to take a train to Terminal 4--then get our passports stamped and pick up our luggage and then take a bus to Terminal 1 to meet the group. Needless to say, it was a little crazy. We met up with the group and then headed to the hotel at about 11. Our hotel in Madrid was wonderful--it was a 5 star hotel in Central Madrid. Everyone arrived in shifts that day (I was in the first shift) and once we had our keys, we were free until a meeting that night at 5:30. I went out for lunch with 2 girls and then walked around with some other students. Then my roommate (Marli) arrived with another shift from the airport--we ended up chatting until our meeting. After our meeting, we went on a panoramic bus tour of the city and then we were free again. We have a lot more independence than I expected. I ended up at a tapas restaurant with a few others--it was good food and fun to talk with the other students. Then I crashed because I was exhausted from all the traveling.
The next day (Thursday) was incredibly busy. We visited Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) and the Palacio Real (Royal Palace). We had tours at both places and both tours were in Spanish. At the Prado we toured 3 exhibits focusing on 3 major Spanish artists--El Greco, Velasquez, and Goyo. It was amazing getting to see "Las Meninas" by Velasquez. I had studied the painting before in some class-but seeing it in person was awesome. There is a lot of symbolism in the paintings that our tour guides pointed out. From the Prado, we walked to the Palacio Real. It was a really cool place. It has over 3,000 rooms, and the royals do not live there anymore. It has 2 courtyards and is right next to the Madrid Cathedral. There were some cool clocks--since one of the kings collected clocks. Everything was very elaborate and well...royal. After the Palacio Real, our directors announced we were free for the rest of the day--and this was at 2:30 in this afternoon. I ended up going to the Reina Sofía Museum with a few other girls. It was a really long walk--but we stopped along the way in a few shops and got some ice cream. The Reina Sofía is a modern art museum--and parts of it were really neat. I wanted to go there specifically to see Picasso's 'Guernica'--another painting I had studied before. Look it up and read the history behind it--it's fascinating. Seeing 'Guernica' was incredible--so much bigger than I expected and beautiful and tragic at the same time. We also saw some very modern art--including a bunch of furniture covered in identical fabric and taped--set up like a living room. We weren't exactly sure about that one. Then we took the Metro (subway) back to the hotel--it was my first trip EVER on a metro--it was quick, cheap (1 euro)--and a relief for our aching feet. Back at the hotel we relaxed, then headed out to dinner at 9 (more on that later). I ate with 7 other girls at a restaurant a few blocks from the hotel--it was good. I had my first sangria there--which was delicious. After dinner we walked back to the hotel (about 11:30)--then decided to go get a drink and chat. I needed a little convincing to go since I'm not accustomed to going for a drink. We ended up at a bar and had some more sangria. On our way back to the hotel, we ran into our directors and about 15 other students--and this was at 1:30 am. Life here is different. Then I slept--took a while to fall asleep.
Friday--we left the hotel and went to El Escorial, a town about 50 kilos from Madrid. It has the Monastery of San Lorenzo. It is huge!!!!!!! Besides being a monastery, it also served as a home for royalty. All the royals are buried there. We went into this giant room with tombs of all the royalty since Carlos I. It was creepy--but cool. Our tour guide explained that they don't bury the bodies--just the bones. So once a royal dies, the body lies in a room for 40 years until only the bones remain before being put in the tomb. That was weird. Then I had lunch in El Escorial--then we headed to Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen). It is supposed to honor the people who died in the Spanish Civil War in the 20th century--but it is argued the Franco wanted it built just so he could be buried there. Franco is buried there in the basilica. It's a very sad place, but beautiful. Then we hopped on the bus and came to Toledo (where I am now). We rested, then had a meeting--then were free. I had dinner with 9 other people at this little restaurant in Toledo. Eating out on the terraces is a lot of fun. We were there for over 2 hours having dinner--but it was good. Took a taxi back with 3 girls to the hotel--and now I'm here writing this. I think I'll give a little 411 on Spanish culture.
-The eating schedule is way different from America. You have breakfast at 8 or 9. Then sometimes a snack before lunch at 2-3:30. Lunch is also the biggest meal of the day--usually 3 courses. Maybe another snack in the afternoon and then dinner at 9:30 or later. Anything before 8:30 is considered early and you may be hard pressed to find a place that is open and ready to serve. I'm still getting used to the eating schedule. Everyone also stays out late--hence why it is 1 am and I'm still awake--probably will head to bed after this. I'm going to end this for now--maybe add more tomorrow. For now--it's bedtime.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tomorrow...or should I say mañana?
Well I guess this is the "ceremonial" first blog post, and I am in awe that I leave tomorrow. When I decided to study abroad for my entire junior year so many months ago, I never actually thought the day would come that I would leave. I have counted it down...six months...then four months...100 days...50 days...2 weeks...and now 1 day. There are a lot of emotions running around in my head right now. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, enthused, scared, and thrilled for all the opportunities that await me. The thought of the unknown is scary, but I know that after a while it will not be unknown--it will be comfortable and just the new normal for me. I think I'll give a little run down of what I'm actually doing.
I'm studying for the year in Valencia, Spain. It's the third largest city with a population of 1.5 million in the metropolitan area (MONSTROUS compared to Des Moines and Decorah), and located along the eastern Mediterranean coast. I am studying abroad with the group ISA (International Studies Abroad), and there are 30 students who will be in Valencia this semester, with five students, including myself, studying for the year. I will be taking classes at the University of Valencia with other ISA students. I will be living with a host mother in Valencia. Her name is Amparo, and she works in the hospital in Valencia. I will have a roommate. Her name is Marli; she's from South Dakota and also will be in Valencia for the year. We will be sharing a room at Amparo's flat, which is on the top floor of the building. According to my housing information, the room I'll be staying in overlooks the University's sports complex. My flat is 5 minutes walking distance from the University and also from the ISA office, which will be great! :)
When I leave tomorrow, I fly from Des Moines to Dallas at 1:30, then flying Dallas to Madrid at 5:30pm--arriving in Madrid at 9:55am (2:55am in Iowa). I am lucky to have another ISA student on my flight from Dallas to Madrid. We'll get to have our first trans-Atlantic flights together--plus we can be buddies going through Customs. Once arriving in Madrid, we will meet the ISA group and travel in Madrid and Toledo until Sunday. The thought of being in Spain in less than 48 hours is mind-boggling. I will have many adventures while in Spain, and I am blessed to have this opportunity to study abroad. I was lucky to be able to travel to Luther this past Thursday to say goodbye to friends there. I was able to talk with friends who have studied abroad, which helped give some calm to the roller coaster of feelings I have had. I know that I am not alone in being scared of leaving home. Once I'm there, the thrill of being in another country with a different language and culture will be so exciting. I can't wait! I hope all of you will enjoy reading about my travels during the year. I will be posting pictures along the way--and I'll let you know when I do that. Feel free to email me, facebook me, skype me, or just communicate with me along the way. I'll need a little support and would LOVE to hear from you.
All for now--love you all.
Kels
I'm studying for the year in Valencia, Spain. It's the third largest city with a population of 1.5 million in the metropolitan area (MONSTROUS compared to Des Moines and Decorah), and located along the eastern Mediterranean coast. I am studying abroad with the group ISA (International Studies Abroad), and there are 30 students who will be in Valencia this semester, with five students, including myself, studying for the year. I will be taking classes at the University of Valencia with other ISA students. I will be living with a host mother in Valencia. Her name is Amparo, and she works in the hospital in Valencia. I will have a roommate. Her name is Marli; she's from South Dakota and also will be in Valencia for the year. We will be sharing a room at Amparo's flat, which is on the top floor of the building. According to my housing information, the room I'll be staying in overlooks the University's sports complex. My flat is 5 minutes walking distance from the University and also from the ISA office, which will be great! :)
When I leave tomorrow, I fly from Des Moines to Dallas at 1:30, then flying Dallas to Madrid at 5:30pm--arriving in Madrid at 9:55am (2:55am in Iowa). I am lucky to have another ISA student on my flight from Dallas to Madrid. We'll get to have our first trans-Atlantic flights together--plus we can be buddies going through Customs. Once arriving in Madrid, we will meet the ISA group and travel in Madrid and Toledo until Sunday. The thought of being in Spain in less than 48 hours is mind-boggling. I will have many adventures while in Spain, and I am blessed to have this opportunity to study abroad. I was lucky to be able to travel to Luther this past Thursday to say goodbye to friends there. I was able to talk with friends who have studied abroad, which helped give some calm to the roller coaster of feelings I have had. I know that I am not alone in being scared of leaving home. Once I'm there, the thrill of being in another country with a different language and culture will be so exciting. I can't wait! I hope all of you will enjoy reading about my travels during the year. I will be posting pictures along the way--and I'll let you know when I do that. Feel free to email me, facebook me, skype me, or just communicate with me along the way. I'll need a little support and would LOVE to hear from you.
All for now--love you all.
Kels
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