Guns are Illegal in Spain

One of the people I give conversation lessons to, is an older man, a friend of one of my teachers. While speaking and getting to know each other a bit, he was telling me his travels which he did when he was about my age. He told me of an incident that happened while he was in California. He had just taken out a chunk of money out of ATM for his stay in the United States, middle of the day. Then all of a sudden two guys came up to him and held him at gun point, demanding him to empty his pockets. Thankfully, a cop drove by and the two guys scattered. Listening to him tell the story and how surprised he was that it was even a possibility to be held up at gun point on the streets, made me realize some cultural differences. Here, I feel more safe than I do in my hometown, usually I should say. I wondered why walking down the streets people feel safe and without worry. (Apart from if you are an obvious tourist in Madrid or Barcelona, then keep an eye out for pickpockets) When he told me he was so surprised because guns here are illegal, it made sense. Policemen can't even carry guns when off duty, they have to leave all firearms in the police station before going home. Makes me think about back home. People here are generally a lot less hostile and aggressive. Which brings me to another thing.

Today I did my class on Thanksgiving to my older students in high school. All the teachers have told me from day 1 that I have the "good" groups. Today I was able to experience the other groups, the "bad" groups. I don't really like labeling students like that, because I feel it's my responsibility as the teacher to make them all "good" students. Plus, a student may be good in one subject and bad in another. Also, school is so specifically structured already it's obvious it doesn't meet the needs of everyone. It was obvious the class was louder, and less "well behaved". In the end though, they just wanted to talk. Literally, they yelled over each other to try and be the one heard. The first thing they asked me is if I was China. Another opportunity to explain the difference!  There are lots of students with Moroccan origins. We went over all the material that I wanted, and had everyone participate saying "I am thankful for..." So it wasn't bad, and I really wanted to work with them. I like working with the students who really need help and extra work and attention. 

This summer I spoke with the dad of a friend who works at Oakland High School teaching chemistry. He's a big italian man, and says that the kids there are not afraid to fight you. Imagine with a big guy like him? And with me? I better learn more self defense! Not to mention, in high school I remember kids bringing weapons to school, mostly knifes, but guns on a couple occasions. So to think about how here the "bad" kids are just the groups that don't listen and like to talk, it's not so bad. I want to teach in Oakland. 

Travel updates. Went to Granada, for two nights, which was not enough, will probably go back in May if money allows it. But it was amazing, extremely cold, but I loved the mountains, the people, the (free) food/tapas, and overall environment of the city. This weekend is a "puente" weekend, literally meaning a "bridge" weekend, it is what they call extended weekends. I'll go to Sevilla with a couple of people for 3 nights, should be nice traveling in a smaller group. We were a small group in Granada too. Still have to look up exactly all the amazing things to do in Sevilla, besides have a cup of cafe con leche at one of the local cafes. It is apparently filled with free flamenco shows on the streets.

We celebrated Thanksgiving last Saturday! With a real turkey! Can't remember the last time I actually ate turkey on Thanksgiving, we usually just do chicken. After doing a million presentations about the history and present Thanksgiving (with lots of photos of food), I was ready to eat some cranberry sauce and cornbread. Unfortunately, we couldn't find corn meal. So no corn bread.  My good friend Rio came down from Madrid for the weekend! So that was a nice piece of home. Although it rained most of the weekend, we still had fun.

2 more weeks until REAL break!!! And I get to see my parents and little brobros!!!!!!!!

News about Thailand politics just came on the T.V. of the cafe I'm in. Talk about coincidence. 

Second Year

I've been writing in my blog a lot more often than I thought I would be. Especially since the last time I was in Spain it was a lot less frequent. Don't know what's changed! A big difference is I don't put photos on here anymore, that's what Facebook is for I suppose. Plus it takes forever to load on here.

As much of a pain it was to figure out the application process, the visa requirements, and having to wait for payment, I've decided I'm going to apply for a second year here in Spain. So 2013-2014. It's far away, but I figured I might as well apply to have it as a back-up plan, in case I can't find a perfect job in California or if I just end up wanting to go back to Europe. The application is free, and super easy, so why not!? I have lots of time to decide if I actually will do it or not. Also, depends on where they'll place me.

But then I think about all the real-world things I should do. All the "grown-up" things. Get my masters and teaching credential, a sustainable job, place to live, etc. But that's hard to picture right now. But who knows, we change so randomly so in June it could be completely different.

Just planned a trip to Granada, one of my main travel points this year. SO I'M EXCITED!!! We also have a 4 day weekend coming up the beginning of December, I was thinking Berlin, but the tickets are pretty expensive. I must go to Berlin though at some point, for the art, mostly. If not Berlin that weekend then probably the north of Spain, Galicia or Basque country (Bilbao). It's hard to decide between traveling all of Spain or smaller, shorter, trips around cities in Europe. First world problems.

Got kicked in the face by one of my kids today, but he's so cute I was only mad for a second, then he kissed it to make it better. For a second though I was super mad, he did it on purpose because he's taking tae-cuan-do. So I guess I'm his practice punching bag.  Picked up another private lesson, this will be the last one.

Another reason why I've been writing so many posts is because generally, they're pretty short.

Ultimate Frisbee

I usually get the urge to write while I'm walking, which sucks, because writing and walking is really difficult, I would imagine. Today is the day I actually get a break where I can rest at home for a couple hours. I go to work from 8am-11am in La Union which is about 30 minutes away. Today I worked in the physical education class, which is my favorite and of course the students favorite class as well. I was in charge of explaining ultimate frisbee, which is really popular in California, can't speak for other states. It was interesting to see the students having to play with their hands and upper body as oppose to their feet and lower body. Some caught on quick. They usually play frisbee on the beach in between two people, but never competitively on teams. It's a sport more welcoming to boys and girls together.

Anyway, I knew a lot more about the rules/how to play than I thought I did. Thanks to my little brothers that are fanatics about not only soccer, but ultimate frisbee too. It was super fun watching the kids play, very exciting, and a nice change of rhythm from soccer. Which they always want to play.

I also gave oral exams to the level two classes. In addition to getting a sense of what level each student is at, I was able to learn more about each student. Their family, their background, their interests. I think this one on one interaction is crucial in learning a second language. I thought back to when I was sitting in Russel Gaskell's office my first years of college answering similar questions for an oral exam in Spanish, and how nervous I was. Interesting that now I am in the opposite position, the one asking the questions and observing the students.

The weeks go by fast, especially since I have Mondays off so I don't start until Tuesday. Before I know it it's Friday already! Unfortunately I have work all day on Fridays. Next vacation is the beginning of December, debating between Granada or Berlin. Not sure. We shall see.

Getting into the Rhythm

The internet is down at one of my schools, and I have a two hour break in which I usually surf the web and do all the things I need to get done. But since  it’s down, I’m just writing a blog entry on Word which I’ll transfer later online. 

I’m beginning to get into the rhythm of my new schedule/life here in Cartagena. The mornings are not as difficult, the days are not as long, and work goes more smoothly. Plus I have much more energy than the past weeks!  Last night it thunder stormed, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The lightening didn’t stop all night, and I saw actual rays of lightening! It was actually beautiful, and a bit scary. I began thinking about the possibility of me getting struck my lightening…

The mom of the two boys I love working with gave me some homemade chocolate chip muffins last night, another reason to love her family! Last Friday I went to a photography exhibition with another family I work with, it was all about Thailand. Not what I was expecting in the end (landscapes, scenery) because it was focused on Muy Thai, Buddhism, and Tattoos, and how they are connected. There was also a photo of a tiger, I wasn’t impressed. But still fun to go and be in that environment! Today is the birthday of one of the girls I work with, so I’ll buy her a couple of small little presents.

Just got back from Almeria which is in the southern region of Spain in Andalucía. We stayed with a friend of my roommate who’s flat was right on the beach, amazing, he was a great host. After a day/night of shenanigans we drove our rental car back to Cartagena the next night.  This weekend we’re off to Valencia, since we have Friday off for Dia de Los Santos. This holiday is in my opinion similar to Dia de los Muertos because it’s a day of celebrating the dead. Here, families go to cemeteries with gorgeous bouquets of flowers, I have seen many for sale on the streets.  I wonder why in the United States we don’t have a day like this? Seems that in our culture we don’t like to think or remember the dead because it is a sad topic rather than cherished/nostalgic topic. In Thailand we have alters with photos of the dead, which we place candles, food, water, or incense on.

Right now I am planning trips for me and my family in December/January. Plus this trip for Valencia, which all at the same time is stressful. But I feel ridiculous complaining about how stressful it is to be planning amazing trips that I’m luck to be going on!  So, that’s all the complaining I will do.

HALLOWEEN! Is tomorrow. I’ve been doing mascaras (masks) with the first and second graders I teach, they love it. Sometimes (as loud and wild as they can be) it’s nice to have such an enthusiastic and excited audience for a class! In comparison to high school students, who don’t care or pretend they don’t care because it’s the thing to do at that age. But all my students are great. Although it’s not really celebrated here. If you dress up, it must be something scary. Halloween here is all about scariness. Carnival which is in February/March is more about dressing up however you want.  Maybe I’ll go to Venice for that, we’ll see.

New Home

One of the best and reassuring feelings of your new/temporary home is when you come back from a trip, and upon reaching your new home after a weekend away or even a day away, hitting your bed in your new room gives you a feeling of "i'm home". It doesn't matter if Cartagena has only been my home for a week or a month or a year, that feeling reassures that this is where I'm suppose to be. My new bed, room, piso, it feels right. 

Homesickness from my experience comes in waves. Some days you wake up excited and ready to take the day on, other days you want to hide in your room reminiscing over memories that seem forever ago.  I wonder if my brother is experiencing homesickness being away at college, but he'll be home in a month for Thanksgiving. Anyway,

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." -Charles Darwin

I tried remembering that quote last night, got most of it. CHANGE, who can't get used to such an inevitable thing? I think it's better said that some cope with it better than others, yet we are all constantly changing as are our surroundings and the world as a whole. Keeps life interesting. 

I've been trying to make time to write in my personal journal, but it's difficult if you don't have the urge to. Just have to wait for that push. Life has been busy, still trying to get into a routine here. In order for a new home to feel like a new home, you must get involved. Jobs and school are great, but something more. Sports, clubs, hobbies. Easier said than done huh. It's so easy to just lay around. Tonight and every Monday night there will be free salsa classes, which I definitely will go to. Planning to join a gym, or at least a boxing class. Because here unfortunately, you can't join a gym with classes included. So I think I will just do the classes. But the people working the front desk of the gym don't really pay attention, so I think I could just walk in. Either that or use the gym before/after the boxing class. I though of taking up Zumba again, but I figured all the walking i'm doing is enough plus the dancing on the weekends. Because unlike Arcata/Humboldt County, dance clubs are not a difficult thing to find here in Spain.

I need to start cooking again as well. As stereotypical as it is for a woman to cook, for me it's kind of rewarding and meditative. It's exciting! Especially since you get to eat it afterwards! I have Pinterest pulled up right now. It's difficult though, coming back from 12 hour days and thinking about cooking. Especially when there's so many delicious tapas floating around every corner. One day after work I stopped at a place that looked good and sat drank a caña and ate some tapas. Walking home was beautiful because the entire sky was pink from the sunset and the people were going about their lives, kids playing in the streets, old couples enjoying an evening walk. People live for the night in this country. 9pm bedtime? Forget it.

I must admit I've gotten subtle feelings of homesickness. Mostly thinking about the length of time I'll be here for, which is crazy. Although, I know it'll go by fast and before I know it I'll be on that plane back to the U.S. probably crying because I won't want to leave! It's also nice knowing I have 8 months to travel and live, so there is no rush to do everything all at once. Already went to visit a small pueblo near here called Mazarron, next weekend possibly Almeria in Andalucia, and the next weekend Valencia! So actually I am traveling a bit...but afterwards I will not so I can save money and enjoy the city I'm living in!

Work Begins...

(Roughly around 5:00pm)

Just got done with a tutoring session right after getting out of work at 2pm, luckily one of my teachers drove me. This second program Nanny Speaking is pretty unorganized as well, just like the Auxiliares. Pero “no pasa na”. I have half an hour to kill before I’m picked up by the dad of my next tutor session. They live on the other side of Cartagena so I thought it would be best to get a ride the first day. I also don’t know how I’m going to commute from here to there within an hour by bus. On a lighter note, I found my new favorite pastry shop! Of course it won’t beet La Mallorquina (I think it’s called) in Madrid, but it will have to do! Snacking on a ham and cheese croissant a couple tiny cookies that were ok. Healthy living!

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are definitely my long days. Going out to El Algar from 9am to 2pm and coming back to do two tutor sessions each day. Luckily tomorrow after working from 8am-11am in La Union I’ll come back to rest until 4pm when I have another tutor session.  But if I weren’t working I’d probably just be bumming it out on my couch or something. Trying to make/save money while I’m here! Tomorrow I have my first day at the high school, which here goes until the age 16 then they enter a two year program that’s directed towards pre-college studies I think. I believe it’s a recent change here in Spain.

The two girls I had were really great, well behaved, and the two hours went by stress-free. I’ve only met with one other family and they had a 3 year old boy who I think may be too young to sit for 2 hours straight, his sister in 1^st grade was great though. My other two families canceled yesterday, one of which I wasn’t notified until after I had walked over there. The program was suppose to notify me but didn’t. Oh well, got to see more of my new city! It’s bigger than I thought which I like.

Tomorrow is my birthday, second birthday celebration in Spain. Pretty crazy to think of it from that perspective. We’ll have some people over for drinks/food then head out for the night. But not too late for me because I have class at 10am Friday morning…unfortunately.  

(Later at 9pm)

Well the tutor session I just got out of was with two 4 year olds that aren't really friends but their parents set them up for the same time as me. At first it was awkward, because the parents are staring at you expecting to be some magical being and the kids are in the other corner terrified of you haha, all you can do is laugh really. Eventually I picked up the action figures and began making the best sound effects I could. It worked! 

I'm back on my long schedules, tuesdays and wednesdays are the longest. From 8am to 8pm. And people are still trying to get me to do tutoring gigs. But I like being busy. Just like the last two semesters of college, which probably added to how fast time flew by. It's still hot here, but at night time it's beginning to get chilly, just might have to put on a sweater!  

1 Week In

Sorry the title isn't more creative. Been here for about a week, two nights in Madrid which were basically just a blur due to jet lag, and the rest here in Cartagena. While in Madrid me and my mom had plans to do all this stuff one day, and ended up sleeping until 5pm. Gives you a crazy feeling when you wake up like that and think "oh it must be no later than 11am or something", then BOOM! All your plans are gone and you're just sitting on your bed wondering what you should do.  Well anyway we go back this weekend to take her to the airport so I'll be able to squeeze in El Parque del Retiro and El Botin.

Cartagena is nice, warm and humid, but not unbearably so. The fact that it's right on the coast allows the ocean breeze to come into the city which without, I would die. The main city Murcia about a 45 minute bus ride inland is super hot. Glad I'm not living there!  All my roommates are great, one is from France who is doing the same program as me, another is from Canada who is here studying and her first language is french but speaks good English, and the last girl is from a small pueblo near here, studying also at the university.

Friday we have our big orientation (about time), and instead of starting this week for my two main jobs, i'll be starting next week (figures).  The Spanish lifestyle is very stress-free in the sense that people tend to wait until the last minute then say "no pasa nada" and know that in time everything will work out in the end. Which as you can imagine, drives people who are not use to that lifestyle, crazy. For me I figure, whenever they want me to work, i'll work. No rush. Still getting adjusted to this city and lifestyle, plus my Mom is still here, so more time to spend with her!  We went to La Manga yesterday, but I think the wrong part, because there was a total of 8 other people there. Across the small bay of water we saw the real La Manga with sky scrapper buildings build along the coast. So tomorrow we will go there. Our mistake was taking the FEVE train instead of the Alsa bus, dropping you off in two completely different areas. We ended up in the smaller pueblo Los Nietos, which is right next to La Manga.

Today will be a bunch of chores, opening a bank account, making copies for Friday's orientation, etc. My Mom is trying to find an asian market here, which is difficult because it's a smaller city. But my roommate who loves to cook (she's made crepes and sushi within the past couple days!) told us of a Carrefour a few blocks away that has fish sauce, glass noodles, so my Mom of course is set on going today. She wants to make some Thai food for my roommates. Today I also actually have my first private tutor session with an 11 year old girl. Meeting here mom a few blocks down the street then we'll walk to their piso. She is a friend of one of my teachers. Should be fun!

Oh, also I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose and swore throat...great. I had heard a bunch of the people I was partying with say they started to feel sick, so I figured it would catch up to me. There's nothing worse than being sick in a country you're still trying to get use to. At least I have my Mommy! And it could be worse. Like when I went to Los Banos with a high fever the entire weekend and still did all the activities, rafting, horse back riding, but I survived!

I've taken photos, but haven't had the time to upload them.

Time to go drink some tea to sooth my throat :)

Llegada

We arrived in Spain this morning around 8am, tired with extreme lack of sleep. There were no flight issues or problems at the airport so that's always nice, I've heard of some pretty bad ones. Our luggage was a pain though.  I could have done a better job at planning/buying a better suitcase. But we ended up with a rolling suitcase of 50lbs and a duffel bag of 40 lbs, which is a lot to carry since one is a duffel bag. We tried placing it on top of the roller, which worked fine until we got to the small cobble stoned streets of Madrid. Which at that point I just hoisted the duffel bag onto my back. What is about a 10 minute walk from the metro station to our studio turned into about a 25 minute process. We finally checked into our studio that I found through airbnb.com, my new best friend, and after a two hour nap headed out into the city.

It took me a while to register that I was in Spain, honestly I don't think my mind has fully grasped it yet.    Maybe tomorrow morning when I wake up in this studio confused for a brief moment. I think my delayed reaction it's partially because my mom is with me, always a safe haven. Also, I have already been through the breath taking experiences of walking through the historical streets of this city. But then again, it's still amazing.  I didn't realize that the street we were on was a street on which I had walked many times. Although it wasn't the main area I am familiar with (Atocha/Sol area), it is still one I passed through on many occasions. I passed by a local french coffee shop my friend Q had taken me to on one of our last days.

After a frappucino the headaches me and my mom were experiencing went away. Madrid is a very dry city, so for me it affects my sinuses quit a bit. Also readjusting to the air pressure from a plane may have caused it.

Puerta del Sol didn't phase me this second time around. I thought I would be overwhelmed by nostalgia and the area all over again, I guess I was a little but not to the extent I thought I would be.  We walked by my favorite pasteleria, which we'll go to tomorrow for breakfast.  When we made it to Plaza Mayor, that's when I'd say it really started kicking it. Something about that area is just like a dream, and the buildings are gorgeous. It was then I got the energy to do more exploring and show my mom around. I think I'd make a good travel guide.

From Plaza Mayor we walked all the way (took the long route towards Cibeles and El Prado) to Anton Martin where we met up with my friend Rio. I'm glad we took the long route, we passed by significant places for me. Funny how what you think will trigger your nostalgia (Puerta del Sol/el metro) don't. But then smaller things like where we first had drinks for Q's birthday and then went to El Kapital, or the Thai restaurants, really made me excited. This was also all in the area where my home stay was near, so  I had spent a lot of time there.

For dinner we decided to go to La Sureña, a typical Spanish chain restaurant where they serve a bucket of beers for 3 euros and traditional tapas for cheap prices and great taste. I forgot how the Spanish lifestyle thrives at night. While walking home at 11:30pm there were still as many people out as there would be in the day time. Maybe it's because it's Madrid the capital, or maybe it's because it's summer and hot. Anyway, I think my mom felt more secure when she realized that nighttime here is not very scary. Although always be on guard!

Tomorrow I'll try to squeeze in as much sightseeing as possible, definitely El Palacio, El Templo de Debod, y El Parque del Retiro. With yummy Spanish food in between. I really think it was because I was in a host family that I didn't get to fully appreciate Spanish cuisine. Then Thursday it's off to Cartagena so I can finally move into my piso!!!

Asian Food

So with about a week before I leave to Spain, one of my main concerns is food. What to eat before I leave to a world of pan, queso, y jamón.  So I need to get my share of Asian food. Not just my Mom's amazingly good Thai food, I'm talking Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and well I guess that's it. It was very hard to find a good Thai restaurant in Madrid, I found three, all of them good in different dishes. Never ate chow mein or sushi or pho. Both times I studied abroad though I lived with host families, so this will be different.

I am extremely excited to live on my own with roommates in a foreign country. It was difficult to go from living on my own in college to being under a parent's rules again, only it wasn't my own parents so there was no way to try and fight back, out of respect and awkwardness.

I've been looking online, befriended a French girl with whom I'm looking for pisos. Always check in real life though before you finalize anything! It's difficult though because I am arriving late in comparison to others. It's because I'm going to take my little brother to college literally the two days before my flight. That's another great aspect of this experience. Him and I are both embarking on incredible adventures literally days within one another. Both of use are leaving very important people to  us in order to do these incredible things. It's been nice having him around since we relate so closely to what we're experiencing right now. Which means my youngest brother will be an only child, it's okay though I'm sure it will be like heaven to him. Not that we're that bad.

One of my favorite and most inspiring professors will be in Spain this academic year as well, which I took as a sign to definitely do this program. It is reassuring to have him in the same country, although four hours away, it is still a benefit.

The other times I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and Quito, Ecuador were different than this. I found myself at my last "going away party" that it was just one of many that I had had. It felt repetitive, and therefore less important. However I thought about it, and this is different. All of them were different. But this one is not just something I will come back from and jump right back into school after to be surrounded by the same friends and environment. After I return I'll be taking on the real world. Finding a real job (I guess), moving into a semi-permanent place, getting a teaching credential and masters, bills, health insurance, everything. I am fortunate to have only had to worry about some of these things up until this point. I know many have to grow up much faster than I do.

I'm having the typical sensations before I leave. Anxiety, excitement, fear, antsy-ness, worry, wonder. My mom has already packed me a small pot and pan and spatula for my apartment, plus packaged foods i'll need (Mama's), and a surprising amount of flashlights. Which reminds me, maybe I should start planning on what I'll need to pack.