Friday, February 25, 2011

Entiendo

Es curioso cómo en tan sólo un mes me puede dar un paso atrás y evaluar.

Hello America,
I miss my country a lot, but I love Spain. Just like the southern hospitality, there is a "Spanish Hospitality." I am slipping more and more into everyday life here and falling more and more behind on my life at home. It is as if I am living two lives. The one I am physically in: interacting with people, learning, and experiencing; and my life back in Mocksville... While I am living separate lives I am glad to say I am living less and less in the latter. It is better this way. I do not talk to Austin as much or my friends. I speak to my parents less as well. This is not to say that I do not care. Because I miss them all so much. It is much better for homesickness... and adjusting to my new home.

I have a cold. Maybe a sinus infection. And I have a three day weekend. I have been taking my laptop to school everyday because the principle likes for me to work on Spanish online during class. I think it is his personal mission that I am very fluent in Spanish by the time I leave. Maybe he finds me so interesting that he just can't wait to have a legitimate conversation with me. But I am just flattering myself. As you know I received a package from my mother last weekend. It has now been a week and I am halfway through one book and I have just finished the fourth season of Psych. I had a dream about Shawn and Gus, the main characters in Psych, the other day. It is so sad because if I saw the actors on the street I would feel like their best friend and probably strike up a conversation with them. That is how much I love that television show. I also seem to think that my detective skills are being sharpened from watching the show.

I take naps a lot less now. Mostly because I sleep very poorly at night even when I don't take a nap. All of the Americans have left and so it is just me and a bushel of Spaniards. There is a boy, Carlos, who is very friendly. He is from another class and invites me to his futbol games and out with his friends. I have not yet attended.

My philosophy teacher is my favorite. He caught me playing solitaire on my computer today and just laughed and hit me on the back of the head. And I told him a story about how the Spanish teacher made me go wash my face with cold water because I looked tired. (Even though it was just because I am sick). After telling the philosophy teacher this story he laughed very hard and called the Spanish teacher ugly. He then proceeded to let me sleep in his class. He is a wonderful man.

I would write a lot more but I am very tired. More later!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

It has been awhile..

It has been awhile since I have posted last.. Almost a week. Today it is very sunny and warm outside. I love it. I honestly think that if I cannot lay out in the sun soon and soak up warmth I will shrivel up and die. I am very over the winter... and very ready for the summer. I am already making summer plans.. Like camping on Carolina Beach. And looking at vacation spots in Croatia for my family.

I did not go to school twice last week. I have been having trouble sleeping at night even when I don't take a nap during the day... even if I am dead tired. It rained all week last week and I couldn't go outside to run. It was just sort of a blah few days. But then the sun came out and I went for a run and went shopping and felt so much better. I bought a leather jacket and I am really excited about it. I want to wear it eveywhere. I also bought a curling iron. I really couldn't go another day without one.

So this weekend we did not have a sushi party. There is a big group of Americans here for two weeks and we all went out to this street where people can legally drink underage. The plan was to go there and then go to the discoteca. Well I did not drink because I abhor the taste of alcohol. Hate is just not a strong enough word. So, because of the fact that I was the only one with a mild idea of what was going on that wasn't drinking.. I became mommy for two of the American girls who just can't handle their rum and coke. It was extremely entertaining for me. I checked on one girl and then came back literally five minutes later and she had a huge gash in her chin and was bleeding everywhere. We ended up not going to the discoteca because it closed due to the electricity going out... even though we had already bought tickets. It sucked. So instead of going somewhere else or just going home or getting food all of the Spanish people decided it was a good idea to just sit in the street. I was so cold. And tired. I really just wanted to take an awesome bubble bath and read a book. But we stayed outside in the freezing cold until 2:30am. We came home and I put a sweatshirt and sweatpants on and curled under the covers. I couldnt get warm so I took a hot shower for about 2 minutes. I then put on two sweatshirts and 2 pairs of sweatpants and wrapped a blanket around me and then got under the covers. I was still cold. It was terrible. I warmed up eventually and got to sleep.

Last night we went to a friend's birthday party but only stayed til 11. Marta didn't feel well and she was really tired. We came home and I watched some Psych and tried to call Austin but could not get ahold of him. So I just went to bed.

This morning around 10:30 Juana came in my room and speaking to me in Spanish said that we are having churros for breakfast and I must get up. I was throughouly confused. Why did I have to get up now for churros? So I stumbled into Marta's room and asked her. Apparently churros are only good hot. So we ate churros and dipped them in chocolate. It was SO good. I loved them. But I was really tired. I went back to sleep until 1:30 after breakfast. I had a really weird dream that my mom and dad came here because it was on their way to the Cayman Islands. We went to a grocery store together which was a Harris Teeter. I begged to go with them because I am craving the sun so much. The dream switched to me eating lunch with a few people and a Spanish speaking man was really pissing me off because I couldn't understand what he was saying because he was whispering his Spanish at me. Very strange dreams.

So right now we are about to go to an Asian restaurant for lunch. I am excited... just to eat. I am really hungry. I hope it is delicious!

On Friday I received my mom's package in the mail. It was the best. I got Dexter season 4, Entourage season 6, Psych season 4, 2 Scott Westerfeld books, and the new Decemberists album. A pretty successful care package if I do say so myself. I sent her a package over a week ago. I really hope it gets there soon. I really want the package Austin is sending too. I know he is putting his blanket in it and it is cold in my room at night. I wish I had brought my snuggie!

Oh well I will try to write again soon!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Bull's Tail

It has been a while since I have posted last. I don't think anything extremely exciting has happened in the mean time.
Over the last weekend we went to the dance club and my feet hurt. The next night we went to an Italian restaurant. I, of course, had spaghetti. Another American girl came with us. She is here for two weeks with her class from school and staying with a friend of Marta's. She's really nice. Everyone came to the house after we ate and I tried to teach a friend how to jerk. That didn't really work out.
On Sunday we went back to the old part of Cordoba. It was even more beautiful in the day time. There are so many shops with beautiful jewlery and many other things. We went to a traditional Spanish restaurant called Casa Rubio. It was amazing. My favorite thing we had consisted of chunks of beef with potatoes and it was kind of like a stew.. without the broth. After I ate all of it they told me that it was Bull's Tail. Which is a traditional dish in Andalucia. I was excited because I had been wanting to try it.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. A few girls passed out everyones suckers, flowers, and notes to the whole school. These are all the things you could pay for to have delivered during school. They came to my class and I got two suckers... from teachers... and then Clara said "Anna I have a note for you." I looked up at her all surprised, wondering who would send me a note. Then she said "It's from Austin." I freaked out and grabbed the note from her. I was so surprised. Marta had told him about how we can have notes delivered on Valentine's Day and he wrote one. She printed it and put it in the box to be delivered. It was so nice!
Today I did not go to school. I am feeling sick. I have had a headache since last night. This weekend we might go to a sushi party! I am excited for this. Sushi is so good! Well I will try to write again soon!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

So Far So Good

I have been gone for almost two weeks now. Everything is going very well. Everyone still really likes me at school. Over the weekend I went out with friends and had a lot of fun. We saw the Mosque that Cordoba is famous for and the old Roman bridge. It is extremely beautiful. I have posted many pictures on my facebook. I am learning a lot of Spanish but it is still not enough. I am still frustrated with it. I am also tired all of the time just because I translate in my head when people talk to me in Spanish. Also, my body is still thinking it is 3am when it is actually 9am and I have to stay awake for math class.

I feel very welcome here. It would be much harder if the people were not open and very nice. Yesterday some boys in my class were talking to me and asked if I missed my family and boyfriend. I said yes I do. They responded with, "do not worry we are your family now!" It made me feel really good (: They also told me that they would be very sad when I leave. All of the boys are huge characters... They remind me of monkeys. They are always messing around with each other and making jokes. It is very fun to talk with them. The boy who sits next to me, Javi, is teaching me Spanish. He speaks very little English and so I help him during English class. It helps a lot. The philosphy teacher who gave me the ethics book to translate told me today that I do not have to do it now. I can do it when I learn more Spanish. I just think he wanted me to be doing something during class and now I have a Spanish workbook from my nigh Spanish classes that I work on literally all day.

I have started running and working out. I will work out everyday. It makes me feel less tired and refreshes my mind. There is a lot of excitement it seems for Valentine´s Day. At lunch the girls in my class sell orders for a single flower for people to buy for their Valentine. The flower will be delivered on Valentine´s Day during class.

Last night we had my favorite dinner so far. It is called salad but it is not a regular salad. It is sliced oranges with avacado and cod fish on top. Olive oil is drizzled over it of course. I love it. It tastes so good. Juana serves it and many different kinds of sausages and smoked, sliced, and dried meat which is also very good. Carloman always tells me how everything is the best in Spain. Bananas, oranges, olive oil, wine... Almost everything.. except for corn. They do not know how to make corn on the cob. They want me to make it for them. I think this is funny because it is the easiest thing on the planet to make. Just put it in a pot of boiling water for a while and eat it.

On Sunday I went to McDonald´s. The menu is very different. There is a BigMac and a Quarter Pounder. They also have wedge fries. They have other burgers but none of the rest are the same. They do not have a McDouble. It made me sad. Hahaha. The dollar menu is also very small. "The Euro Menu."

Saturday, February 5, 2011

I have never been so happy to hear Shania Twain on the Radio

Today is Saturday. Last night I went out with Marta and some friends. First we went shopping and I bought Austin some stuff for Valentine's Day. We then went to a bar to dance and then went to dinner. It was a lot of fun. My friend Clara, from my class at school, reminds me a lot of my best friend at home, Shelby. They both are very good dancers and very friendly and nice.

The philosophy teacher at school gave me a book on ethics to translate during the day. It is really hard and I have to look up almost every word in the dicctionary. My economy teacher laughed at this saying "it is too hard for you!" It is okay though because otherwise I would fall asleep during class.

I am frustrated with how little Spanish I know. I do learn more everyday and especially at the night classes, but life would be so much easier if I knew Spanish. I also would not get headaches so easily and be tired all of the time. It will come eventually though. It has only been a week and a half since I have left home and in the next month I will be a million times better.

I really would like to travel. I would love to go visit other people in my program in their cities. I also would really like to plan a trip to Greece for a vacation. It is hard for me to be around people all of my waking hours... Just because I love to have alone time. I take naps every day after school. Despite the infamous "siesta" I think that my naps are strange to my family. If you know me well you know that I take a nap every day. Even if it is a Saturday... It is a part of my alone time that I love so much.

I am currently out in the garden. It is a very beautiful day. I am guessing that it is about 60 degrees out and the sun is shining. I can't wait for it to get into Spring though because I want to tan. I am very pale compared to every single person here... And it would just be nice to lay out and relax. There is a swimming pool right behind my house. I am very excited to use it.

I think my sister, Katherine, is coming to visit me. I am very excited for this because then I will be able to travel to somewhere on the coast with her. I really hope she comes because I know that by April I will be very thankful for someone to speak English to. Speaking of Americans... There is an American boy from Connecticut coming for ten days to Marta's friends house. I am very excited for this too.

Today I applied to App State. My parents wanted me to have in-state backup plans in case for some reason USC does not work out. I had applied to NCSU and UNC but I would not want to go to either of them so ASU is really my only option. I would love living in the mountains and Boone is an incredible town. I just don't really want to go to a college where I know a lot of people...

I do really miss American television. Everyday at home I relax and watch an episode or two of Psych or Entourage or something like that. I cannot watch netflix from my computer here due to international laws. It is stupid. Austin and I always watch criminal shows at home too... about murderers. I really miss that too. I miss Mexican food. I miss a lot of things but I love it here. They all drink Coke Zero or Diet Coke. I have learned not to say yes to a coke unless I am out at a restaurant. Coke Zero is disgusting.

I still like school very much. Everyone loves talking to me and class is always fun. All of the teachers are very nice. All of the people are so nice in my class.

Anyways.. All is well on the Spanish front. I hope all is well back west. I miss saying very strange things. Hahahaha. I wil post again soon!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Escuela

Today was my first day of school. It is very different from American high school but reminds me of my middle school. Everyone was extremely excited for me to come to school. I was bombarded by people in the morning greeting me and telling me their names and asking me questions. Everyone is so so so nice. During class most of the entire first period consisted of conversation in Spanish about me. Other students walked by my class and would peek in the window and stare at me to see what I look like. I have never been so popular. I almost feel famous. I hear “Americana” everywhere. I thought that it would be really annoying because I am one that likes my privacy, but it is really nice that everyone wants to talk to me. I do not feel lonely when otherwise I probably would. I am in love with these people. They are incredibly nice. I keep repeating that but I cannot get over it. I was not in class with Marta and so a girl named Clara kind of took me under her wing. Well, all of the girls took me under their wings, but Clara especially. They all ask me about American music, television, the age that girls have sex at, how to say “I have to pee”, but especially about American football, cheerleaders, parties, and prom. They asked me what football players look like. I was very amused by it all. One boy told me that my life is like a movie. I immediately denied such a preposterous statement, but they insisted. I told them about the Saturday night bonfires at home we always have… I got “Like American Pie??” as a response. I denied that too. Clara has the “American Dream”. I told her that it is very similar here and she refused to believe such a thing. All the girls want to go to American parties. I laughed so much at school.
I get car sick very easily here. I thought it was because I was reading signs and trying to understand the Spanish being spoken, but now I know it is because Juana has a small car that is a stick shift and I have never ridden with such jerky driving. I have a headache and nausea for an hour and a half after riding in the car. It is awful. The Spanish people also park horrendously. This also amuses me. Instead of straightening out their car they just leave it parked sideways.
I love the food very much here but I am craving all the junk food I eat at home, mostly because it is leaving my system and my body is just addicted to crap. Yesterday I was talking to Austin on skype after he finished school and he was eating spaghetti. I still can’t stop thinking about it. I talk to Austin probably more than I should but I do not think it makes homesickness worse. It makes me feel better actually. It would be bad for me if I could not talk to him because he is the one person I always tell everything to and he knows me so well so it is just so much easier to talk.
I am starting a night Spanish class tomorrow. I had to take a placement test and I have class four times a week from 8-10pm. I just wish I could wake up tomorrow and be more than fluent in Spanish. I understand mostly when people talk to me… slowly… but It is much harder to respond in Spanish. It takes me a while and I often respond in a mix of the two languages. It is getting better though. I understand more every day. I write words down in my journal that I do not know and then go over them in my free time.
I have spent a lot more time on the computer than I am used to because at home I do not have a lot of time to myself. I am always with Austin, Shelby, Jordan, or Rachel… or working… or sleeping. I have a lot more free time I guess here. Today all of the girls in my class asked me to go shopping with them and I wanted to but I am not allowed to ride on a motorbike.
In about a week is mine and Austin’s 2 months and almost Valentine’s Day so I will send a package. I just need to go shopping and get stamps and stuff like that. It is hard to be away.
I will write again soon. I like writing these a lot.