Oporto

So not last weekend but the weekend before last weekend I went to Porto, Portugal with Christy, Matt and Nathanael. We had an awesome time! Thursday night we ventured to the Madrid airport for an overnight stay. Though we didn't sleep at all (and played hours of card games) it wasn't a bad stay. Friday morning we left Madrid around 5:45 in the morning and landed in Portugal around 6 a.m. (an hour behind Spain). Once we landed we took a train and were in the center of Porto by 7:30 a.m. Of course we couldn't check into our hostel that early, so after we dropped off our bags and had a quick breakfast, we decided to walk to the ocean.

Little did we know that we would be walking for the next four hours, but that was okay! The weather was gorgeous and we were excited to be in Portugal. We walked down to the river and walked along it until, taking pictures and enjoying the scenery until we finally reached the ocean. The waves were huge! There were lots of rocks and cliffs to climb on, so we spent over an hour walking along the beach and climbing on rocks and collecting shells. For lunch we ate a tradition Portuguese dish, basically a pile of different meats smothered in bread, cheese and a spicy tomato sauce. I know it sounds awesome but it was too much for me. I ended up eating McDonald's later. :-/

After lunch and a bit more exploring we headed back to our hostel. Once we arrived around 2:30 p.m. we all passed out. We were exhausted! But once we all woke up and showered it was time for dinner. We found an awesome restaurant with the best wine ever (Port wine, duh). I ate a fried sausage type thing with potatoes and it was soooo delicious. And the wine was amazing and we had an awesome time. Overall, Portuguese food was really satisfying!

Saturday morning we woke up and walked toward the cathedral in Porto. We paid two euro to walk up the steps (only like 150, I think) to take pictures. It was a bit cloudy and chilly that day, but it was still fun. After grabbing some lunch we paid for a hop-on/hop-off bus tour (that we never hopped off). It went all around the city, along the cost and to the main sites. The ticket also let us take a boat ride and a wine cellar tour. The boat ride was fun but we missed our wine cellar tour. We were all really bummed out but we got dinner and wine instead and we were happy. I had seafood and of course, it was incredible. After dinner it started to rain so we walked across a bridge back into the main part of time and we headed back to the airport to spend another lovely night in an airport! It was freezing so we didn't sleep at all. Needless to say, I was very cranky in the morning. Sorry everyone!

Sunday we got back into Toledo by 11 a.m. and I fell right asleep until 6 or so. I ate and did some homework and fell back asleep around 10 p.m. We did so much that weekend and I was exhausted. This past Friday we went to Segovia for an excursion, an excursion I've already been on. It was fun and the food was good but it was a long day. This past weekend I spent time working on an essay about Diego Velázquez and working on other homework. Right now we're watching "Te Doy Mis Ojos," a Spanish film that I have already seen. Tonight the group is going out with an Ohio University alumna that lives in Madrid. Also, tonight is a big football match against Manchester United and Barcelona, so it should be a good night.

I have only one more class before a long weekend of studying for finals. However, this time next week I'll be packing to go home, so strange but exciting! Next time I blog will probably be in America, yay! So until then, hasta luego!

PS - Though my Spanish mother can be a crazy, obsessive woman, she does make an amazing gaspacho.

Time to Complain

I only have three weeks left in Toledo, that's crazy! I have a feeling these next few weeks are going to fly by. This weekend I'm off to Porto, Portugal with three of my friends from the group. It should be a fun weekend! The weather might be a bit chilly (in the low '60s compared to the '80s we've been experiencing) but it'll be nice to drink some port wine and see the ocean. Next Friday we're going to Segovia for the day, which was fun last quarter so I have the same expectations this time around. Only two more weeks of class before a three day weekend and our finals. Then on June 4th I'm flying home! It will be strange.

Last weekend I saw Lobezno (Wolverine) at the movie theater with Matt, Matt and Nathan. Everyone should see it! I liked it a lot and was very impressed with how much I was able to understand the film, which was entirely in Spanish. I might see Star Trek or Angels and Demons next weekend but I don't want to watch a film that's too dialogue heavy or I definitely won't understand it. I'll just have to catch up on movies once I return to the United States!

So life has been interesting around here. My Spanish mother is a bit crazy and definitely has OCD and control issues. Whenever my bed isn't absolutely perfect I hear about it when I get home from school. If I don't carry enough things to the table for lunch or dinner then I am scolded. If I don't shut the lid to the toilet I get to hear a story about how rats can climb through the pipes and our house will be infested. If I shower longer than 3 minutes or EVER have the lights on during the day then they show me their electric and water bill. Finally, last night, I was like "Mari Carmen, I'm not perfect and everytime I do something right I always get scolded for something new." Like lately it's been the toilet cover, which she has never complained about before I started making my bed the "proper" way. And I'm sure once I continually shut the seat cover then something new will come up. I'm just tired of her yelling at me (not yelling, but scolding) like I'm 10 years old. I know how to make a bed! I carry the glasses, the water, the silverware and plates to the table! Sue me if I didn't grab the napkins. I sometimes do my homework in my room and not at the school, I'm sorry if the natural light isn't bright enough to read my book. I'm just... ready to come home and be messy again, I guess. Also, she gets really offended when I don't want to go to the farm on the weekends. I've been to the farm more weekends this quarter than I've stayed in Toledo. Please forgive me if I want a weekend with hot water and the Internet to do my homework. She also asks a lot of questions about the United States and completely judges me for my way of life. When I told her that my parents both make dinner and both clean the house and sometimes we bring food home from restaurants for dinner, she was completely appaled. She practically said how dare you not make food every night and her daughter and husband both work and Bea still has time to make dinner. Welcome to the 21st Century, lady, people are tired at the end of the day and picking up Skyline is not a crime.

Okay, rant over because I'm sure it's not that interesting. I really do like Mari Carmen and Manolo but I can't seem to do right in their eyes and my way of life in America isn't good enough. And if they tell me that we eat cat meat in Chinese restaurants one more time, I will scream.

So I've been complaining a lot and I should stop, plus I need to do some homework before I leave for Portugal tonight. I'm excited to travel to a new place and also excited to get out of the house for a few days. Before I know it, it will be only 2 weeks left in Toledo. I can't wait to get home to my real mom and dad. Hasta luego!

Burn!

I am very sunburned. Ouch! I guess that's what happens when you spend an entire day outside without sunscreen. I went to the farm this weekend with my Spanish family and we had perfect weather! The sun was out, there wasn't a cloud in sight and there was the perfect amount of wind. Well that wind denied me the chance to actually feel the sun so now my chest is blistered and my face is peeling, oh well.

Besides burning myself, I had a pretty great weekend. Thursday night some friends and I went to the Valley for a big outdoor celebration. Every year the "younger" crowd go the Valley and camp out and drink all night. Well after walking up the mountain to get to the valley I was in a pretty terrible mood and only stayed for about an hour or so. But it was like a giant festival with booths and candy and outdoor bars. And the view of Toledo at night from the top of the mountain was beautiful. Though I wouldn't admit it then, I can now, it was worth the walk... or the hike.

Friday I spent the day laying around the house watching movies and sleeping. I headed up to the school for a few hours to use the Internet but everything in town was closed because of the holiday. Saturday I went the farm, finished all of my homework and took a nice nap (outside) but now I'm paying the consequences. Sunday was Mother's Day so I was able to enjoy a huge meal of lamb and other delicious foods with my extended Spanish family. It was a very fun day but I was forced to sit in the shade and wear a hat.

I'm already half way done with classes for the week with not much homework so far! This weekend I plan on staying in Toledo and not venturing to the farm. I have a paper I need to start working on since I have less than one month left in Spain! Not much else to report except that in a few short hours I will putting vinegar on my chest to sooth the burn... it actually works ! Hasta luego!

Realizations

So right now I'm trying to avoid starting my homework. Analyzing poetry in Spanish is so difficult for me! However, I find myself complaining a lot lately about my homework load and such. Then I realized that I only have five weeks left in Toledo! I should not be spending my time complaining about my homework load, no matter how heavy it may be or however difficult it is to complete my work. Though five weeks seems long-ish, my time in Spain is quickly coming to an end. I've already spent four months here and I've had some amazing adventures and experiences. But how am I going to feel once I go home? Will I be sad? Relieved? Anxious? I know I will be happy to see my friends and family and to be back in the United States, but I'm worried about the reverse culture shock. I truly have changed while being here and I'm afraid that those changes will not translate into English. I guess only time will tell.

Every day seems to go by more quickly than the last. Is it already 4 p.m. on Wednesday? Do I really only have one more class before the weekend? Is it really two weeks until I go to Portugal? And then only a month and one week until I fly home? Time goes by too quickly here. I will miss Spain, I will miss Toledo and I will miss speaking in Spanish most of the day. But the more I think about it the more I'm ready to come home. Five weeks seems like the perfect amount of time to spend in Spain before returning the States.

Before I begin analyzing poetry and purchasing plan tickets to Porto, Portugal, I recommend that everyone read Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday. I don't know how I found time to begin, finish and enjoy a book while being here but it was really good and if I can find the time I'm going to begin his second novel, The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce. I'm off now, don't catch the swine flu, hasta luego!

London/Orgaz Photos

Just two of my new best friends, Diego (left) and Sergio. This was at Bea and Edu's apartment after a wonderful weekend in Orgaz. Mari Carmen just invited me to go back on Saturday with them. I can't wait to see the farm again and hopefully it won't be as windy.

One of many heads and antlers around our house in Toledo and the Orgaz house. I'm not exaggerating when I say there are at least 100 sets of horns between both houses.

Some of the chickens! And the big (scary) turkey.

Sarah and I at Stonehenge. We had a long but fun day visiting Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford. Very windy but worth it!! Especially because there were lots of cute sheep all around the stones.

Sarah and I on the London Eye. You can see some of Big Ben behind us on the left. Very pretty views and clear skies that day!

St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

British Museum in London.

I'm surprised at myself for updating so quickly! Last night I went to a cafe called Ñaca Ñaca with some of my friends. I had Doritos for the first time in four months and they were delicious! After spending over an hour at the cafe I went home to finish some homework, take a shower and eat dinner. This morning I had poetry and after class we went to the mercadillo. I walked around with our professor, Emilia, all morning and helped her pick out some olives and gifts for her friends. It was a good morning! Then after lunch I spent 3.5 hours reading for literature but I am finally done with reading "Esteban Werfell." In a bit I'm going to head back home for dinner, a shower and to read for history. This weekend we're off to Aranjuez (for an excursion I've already been on, oh well) and back to Orgaz on Saturday. I hope the next two days go by quickly because I am tired. Well off to finish some e-mails and then home, hasta luego!

Time Goes By So... Quickly!

It seems like I updated a few days ago, not two weeks ago! Time has gone by so quickly and I hope it slows down just for a bit. London with Sarah was amazing! We were able to see Madam Toussad's Wax Museum, ride the London Eye, visit Stonehenge and Oxford, see a Harry Potter castle in New Castle, go to Scotland for a day and visit numerous museums. The weather was pretty nice with only a bit of rain on the last day (which we spent shopping) and though it was a bit chilly I can't complain! I think with the trip I had with my mom and after Semana Santa in London, I've seen everything there is to see.

After coming home from London I immediately left Toledo and went to my family's farm in a pueblo called Orgaz. They have two other houses in Orgaz and a lot of land. They have goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, cats and geese. I spent the afternoon on Saturday on the farm with Manolo and Mari Carmen and then Carmen and I went to their other home in Orgaz. While there we watched an old Spanish movie together and I fell asleep because I was pretty exhausted from my London trip. After dinner I went straight to sleep. Sunday morning Carmen and I went to mass at a gorgeous church. The churches here are amazing, so much more elaborate than churches in the U.S. After mass we picked up her mother and went home to work on lunch. I was able to meet their children, Elena and Beatriz, and their husbands and children, Sergio (8 months), Julia (2 years) and Diego (7 months). All were precious! After a long lunch and great conversation I went back to the farm for a bit. I didn't get home until about 8 p.m. that night and then I had to spend some time on homework! But it was a wonderful Holy Week, an interesting Easter and a great weekend.

This past week was the first week in about a month that I've had a strict schedule. It was so nice! Though I have a lot of reading to catch up on for my literature class and learning how to analyze poetry is coming slowly but surely, I'm so thankful to have a stable schedule. Classes are much easier this quarter and I'm participating so much more. I have a new confidence in my Spanish skills and I feel really good about my Spanish abilities. I am also so happy that I decided to stay another quarter. For a few days there I was pretty lonely and wanted to go home. But now I've become really good friends with the group and classes are going really well so I have nothing really to complain about! I still love Toledo, if possible.

Right now I just finished up my poetry homework and am off to Zocodover for coffee and to hang out. Tonight I have a lot of reading from my literature book, "Obabakoak," and a new episode of The Office to watch. It's really nice not having the Internet at my home because I get a lot more work done. Though I miss being able to chat anytime online, it's for the best that I don't have that distraction. Well I'm off to Zoco now! I have photos of my London trip and my Orgaz excursion on Facebook but I'll make a new post later with some pictures. It's raining now and I'm wearing sandals. Oh well! Hasta luego!

Changes

So the new group is here and I'm in love! Everyone is really nice and always wanting to speak in Spanish so I feel really comfortable with them. So far my teachers have singled me out but that was to be expected. Arancha, my culture professor, seems really proud of me and my Spanish skills now. She remembered in the very beginning that I rarely talked and was pretty shy in class but now I'm talkative and participate a lot more! This quarter I plan on being more serious in my studies and try to participate everyday. I want to go the extra mile to learn and improve my grades from last quarter.

My new family is also amazing. Mari Carmen and Manolo are the sweetest people ever. I call Manolo my "bajito" because he is so short! We joke about it all the time. He works on his farm everyday and brings home fresh fruits and vegetables. They make their own sausages and seasonings so naturally everything is delicious! So far I've had amazing soups and chicken and desserts. Three French girls and two Italian girls are staying with them right now so our table gets pretty crowded at meal times but I love the company. Tomás, the cat, is so sweet and is my new little "brother" as Manolo likes to call him. Every single wall in the house is covered with antlers and deer heads, haha. Though it was a bit freaky at first I'm very comforable now and the stuffed birds don't bother me either. My room is nice and big, no Internet, but I have lots of space. My previous family was perfect but if possible this family is even better.

Tomorrow morning I'm off to London to meet Sarah for her Spring Break and my break for Holy Week. We'll be visiting New Castle and Scotland as well so I'm pretty excited! Right now I'm in the cafe at school but I'm going to leave soon to eat paella with the Italians. I love paella! More updates after my week in London, hasta luego!!