i just bought another pair of shoes. but seriously, when i see a good deal, it's hard to stop myself! and when i think of how i've bought two pairs for a price that a drink goes for, it's really sad. but then i feel okay because it's like i got two pairs for the price of one. now the only problem is how am i going to get all this stuff home...
then i think about how i really need to be careful because i still have months and months here and there are still places i want to see and things i want to do! so i think after my birthday i will take a break for a little while.
but then where will i wear all my new awesome shoes???
i got an email from the teacher of my class that starts on monday. i was not looking forward to it because it's 4 hours long two days a week! but i guess the reason is because it's only for four weeks and because we watch movies in it! and my teacher said we will look at them in an entirely new way and from an economic view and we will also debate them in class. it sounds kind of fun until i think of how hard it is going to be to understand them. but what can i do??
school is actually getting a little easier and i'm understanding a lot more. but i have a couple presentations coming up so we'll see how that goes...
otherwise, i've just got to brace myself for the weekend!!! even though i really feel like i've been doing a lot of celebrating anyways. i guess now we just have a reason. and the weather is supposed to be great this weekend!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
what a small, small world
i almost wish i could take my classes again in English because i really really like them and i want to be able to understand everything and participate more! the only thing i find disheartening through this whole journey is sometimes i want to say so much or ask questions but i can't because i don't know what i'm saying!!! even when i'm not in school. it's really frustrating. but yesterday was a really good day in my emotional intelligence class because we did a bunch of exercises like "trust" exercises and other random ways to get to know eachother.
we had one where we formed two lines and the person on the end had to walk down the middle with their eyes closed and the whole point was so that we could help them get to the end of the row without running into anything. we also had to write down random things on a piece of paper, such as a hobby of ours, and then go around the room and show other people and get a response from them. i don't really know what the point of that one was but it was funny. everyone asked if they should write their answer to me in English and i said please no! don't make this easy on me. and everyone laughed at my answers and i got several, "funny"s written on my paper. now i'm wondering if they were laughing with me or at me. =)
it's weird when i'm reading notes or slides from the teacher and trying to translate them to English. it's almost like they are written backwards. for example, adjectives are placed after the nouns and sometimes the nouns are after the verbs. so i'll see a verb, "nacen" which comes from "nacer" or "to be born." and nacen is the form for more than one thing, so the sentence would start out "they are born." but i don't know what is being born because the subject doesn't come until later. i'm just rambling and i don't even know if any of that makes sense, but anyways... i'll move on to more exciting things--
yesterday was monday obviously and marta calls me up while we're both at school and asks if i want to go out with her later to this club she went to last week. she just went to check it out and met some people so one of the girls from the club called her and told her to come out with some friends last night. neither of us were planning on doing anything but this sounded quite exciting because they had a lot of good offers and it was a place i had never been. afterwards i think i can put it on my top five nights i've had here. i am extremely glad we went, even though yesterday i had woken up at 7am for no reason but i somehow made it 24 hours later still going strong, and it just goes to show you never know what you're missing!
the place is called opium and it's right on the beach. we were on "the list" from the girl that called marta and got free sushi because we came before 1am. BUT we some how managed to make friends with the owner and he gave us seconds on sushi, and then gave us wristbands to go get free cava at the bar! (cava is catalonian champagne, and if you ever ask to drink champagne here you will probably get slapped) i think this place was a little be more "high-class" because there were a lot of middle-aged people there and it was weird! but we were just sitting outside in the lounge area eating and watching everyone and it was so fun. then later since we are officially friends with the owner we got VIP bracelets and got to go to the VIP lounge with a select few people and got first-class treatment! it was only monday but very crowded and there was a live performance so it was great.
you'll never guess what happened! i ended up talking to this guy and he asked where i was from so i said the United States and he goes, so am i! i'm from florida. and i said i was too, small world. and he asked which part, and he goes, "i'm from tampa, well actually, i'm from clearwater." and i said ME TOO! of course, and he goes, wow, i went to dunedin highschool.
HA! i couldn't believe it. and guess what he's doing now. traveling the world working at bars and teaching English.
okay so now here's for the best part of the night. i was talking to a new friend and he turns around all of the sudden and starts yelling to a friend that was kind of far away, i guess to get him to come over. and i look over and my jaw drops. he's wearing an INDIANS baseball hat. and i said, are you serious?? is that an indians hat?? and the guy was like, i don't even know. and i was freaking out and said, "that's where i'm from!!!!" and he was like, wow, well he probably doesn't even know what the indians are.
sad to say the guy in the hat disappeared and i never got to meet him. and i was really looking forward to getting a picture! you don't just wear that hat for nothing.
we had one where we formed two lines and the person on the end had to walk down the middle with their eyes closed and the whole point was so that we could help them get to the end of the row without running into anything. we also had to write down random things on a piece of paper, such as a hobby of ours, and then go around the room and show other people and get a response from them. i don't really know what the point of that one was but it was funny. everyone asked if they should write their answer to me in English and i said please no! don't make this easy on me. and everyone laughed at my answers and i got several, "funny"s written on my paper. now i'm wondering if they were laughing with me or at me. =)
it's weird when i'm reading notes or slides from the teacher and trying to translate them to English. it's almost like they are written backwards. for example, adjectives are placed after the nouns and sometimes the nouns are after the verbs. so i'll see a verb, "nacen" which comes from "nacer" or "to be born." and nacen is the form for more than one thing, so the sentence would start out "they are born." but i don't know what is being born because the subject doesn't come until later. i'm just rambling and i don't even know if any of that makes sense, but anyways... i'll move on to more exciting things--
yesterday was monday obviously and marta calls me up while we're both at school and asks if i want to go out with her later to this club she went to last week. she just went to check it out and met some people so one of the girls from the club called her and told her to come out with some friends last night. neither of us were planning on doing anything but this sounded quite exciting because they had a lot of good offers and it was a place i had never been. afterwards i think i can put it on my top five nights i've had here. i am extremely glad we went, even though yesterday i had woken up at 7am for no reason but i somehow made it 24 hours later still going strong, and it just goes to show you never know what you're missing!
the place is called opium and it's right on the beach. we were on "the list" from the girl that called marta and got free sushi because we came before 1am. BUT we some how managed to make friends with the owner and he gave us seconds on sushi, and then gave us wristbands to go get free cava at the bar! (cava is catalonian champagne, and if you ever ask to drink champagne here you will probably get slapped) i think this place was a little be more "high-class" because there were a lot of middle-aged people there and it was weird! but we were just sitting outside in the lounge area eating and watching everyone and it was so fun. then later since we are officially friends with the owner we got VIP bracelets and got to go to the VIP lounge with a select few people and got first-class treatment! it was only monday but very crowded and there was a live performance so it was great.
you'll never guess what happened! i ended up talking to this guy and he asked where i was from so i said the United States and he goes, so am i! i'm from florida. and i said i was too, small world. and he asked which part, and he goes, "i'm from tampa, well actually, i'm from clearwater." and i said ME TOO! of course, and he goes, wow, i went to dunedin highschool.
HA! i couldn't believe it. and guess what he's doing now. traveling the world working at bars and teaching English.
okay so now here's for the best part of the night. i was talking to a new friend and he turns around all of the sudden and starts yelling to a friend that was kind of far away, i guess to get him to come over. and i look over and my jaw drops. he's wearing an INDIANS baseball hat. and i said, are you serious?? is that an indians hat?? and the guy was like, i don't even know. and i was freaking out and said, "that's where i'm from!!!!" and he was like, wow, well he probably doesn't even know what the indians are.
sad to say the guy in the hat disappeared and i never got to meet him. and i was really looking forward to getting a picture! you don't just wear that hat for nothing.
me and my free sushiiiii!
mr. dunedin
Thursday, October 22, 2009
lluvia, lluvia, desaparece...
oh what a day. only because of the weather! it was pouring like a hurricane today and i think it was to make up for the entire MONTH that it didn't during "rainy season." well i put on my socks and boots and sweatshirt with a hood since i am too lazy to buy an umbrella and tried to brave it. but it was mighty cold and my feet still ended up soaked and wet socks during class is just not a good time. i really just laughed because what else is there to do. i looked a mess! and my class is on the top floor and looking out all you could see was gray, gray, gray, and in the distance some mountains that looked very cold and dreary. i'll tell you though, when it's nice out, that view does not help my attention span to class. anyway, it kept thundering and the wind was howling and i just thought, i am never leaving school, i am not going back out into that!
of course, i did, but it started to let up just a tad on my way out of school. the entire way home i was thinking, i can't wait to put my hoodie in the dryer and put it on while it's steaming hot! i will no doubt be sick this weekend, because underground in the metro it's very warm, and i probably changed extreme temperatures about 17 times today. also, when i got off one of the metros to change, it turns out the way to the next metro was blocked off. so i had to go OUTSIDE to find the next station or just walk home, but i was going in circles because i wasn't sure where i was really. and i really thought my eye was going to get poked out because everyone around me was shaking their umbrellas like it would help.
but alas, i made it home. i know, such a hard life i lead. and i put my fresh warm hoodie on and all is right again. because the dryer works now. i don't know if i've mentioned, but the dryer was a big deal to even have, because a lot of places don't. but ever since TODAY, it hasn't worked. and i thought it was just me. three hours in the dryer and my clothes would still be wet. i just stopped using it and hung them up instead. but then my roommate said something and i told joana that something is not right. she had no idea, so i don't really know how her clothes got dry. but she said she didn't want to call anyone because she didn't want to pay. and i just said i wanted to let her know.
well that was a couple days ago, and this morning when i woke up she was all excited and told me she fixed it all by herself. she was really proud, it was cute. i'm just glad it works now!
in my class these people came in to talk about this competition going on for the company Henkel, which represents a lot of brands and products. their competition is to get students from all over europe to come up with new ideas of marketing their products. the question is, where do we see the world in 2050, and what kinds of products will people be expecting? there's a lot more to it but that's the main question, and getting their products to match the answer we come up with.
it sounded really cool, and it would be cool to do even if i didn't enter or win anything, because it's exactly what i want to do and it would get me thinking in the right direction. well my friend France in that class was sitting next to me and i just asked her if she wanted to try it. she said, why not? so now we are going to enter! it's due december 14th and then if you get chosen you get to present to the managers in february. the grand prize is a trip and a language study to either australia, japan, or mexico. call me a dork but it sounds fun anyway, and the prize would be awesome of course! maybe i'll get bonus points in class for trying...
of course, i did, but it started to let up just a tad on my way out of school. the entire way home i was thinking, i can't wait to put my hoodie in the dryer and put it on while it's steaming hot! i will no doubt be sick this weekend, because underground in the metro it's very warm, and i probably changed extreme temperatures about 17 times today. also, when i got off one of the metros to change, it turns out the way to the next metro was blocked off. so i had to go OUTSIDE to find the next station or just walk home, but i was going in circles because i wasn't sure where i was really. and i really thought my eye was going to get poked out because everyone around me was shaking their umbrellas like it would help.
but alas, i made it home. i know, such a hard life i lead. and i put my fresh warm hoodie on and all is right again. because the dryer works now. i don't know if i've mentioned, but the dryer was a big deal to even have, because a lot of places don't. but ever since TODAY, it hasn't worked. and i thought it was just me. three hours in the dryer and my clothes would still be wet. i just stopped using it and hung them up instead. but then my roommate said something and i told joana that something is not right. she had no idea, so i don't really know how her clothes got dry. but she said she didn't want to call anyone because she didn't want to pay. and i just said i wanted to let her know.
well that was a couple days ago, and this morning when i woke up she was all excited and told me she fixed it all by herself. she was really proud, it was cute. i'm just glad it works now!
in my class these people came in to talk about this competition going on for the company Henkel, which represents a lot of brands and products. their competition is to get students from all over europe to come up with new ideas of marketing their products. the question is, where do we see the world in 2050, and what kinds of products will people be expecting? there's a lot more to it but that's the main question, and getting their products to match the answer we come up with.
it sounded really cool, and it would be cool to do even if i didn't enter or win anything, because it's exactly what i want to do and it would get me thinking in the right direction. well my friend France in that class was sitting next to me and i just asked her if she wanted to try it. she said, why not? so now we are going to enter! it's due december 14th and then if you get chosen you get to present to the managers in february. the grand prize is a trip and a language study to either australia, japan, or mexico. call me a dork but it sounds fun anyway, and the prize would be awesome of course! maybe i'll get bonus points in class for trying...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
wait wait wait, i'm here for school, right?
i came home earlier from school only to find a bright green bird on my balcony and i raced to get my camera but he was gone before i could snag a picture! he was really cool looking though, just chilling on my railing, but all by himself!
so then i was sitting out on my balcony, watching everyone go by and this guy comes out with his dog and starts walking down the street, and then he walks back to his car to let his dog in like they are going to drive off somewhere. well some girls came by and wanted to see the puppy so he let them pet him and adore him, meanwhile he grabs a bottle of beer out of his car and chugs it for a good 20 seconds. and the girls leave so he puts the beer in his car and gets in and drives off. the girls didn't even look at him twice. no one did! how scary...
yesterday i had my later class, which is supposed to be at 7:30 and i actually got there a little early, but as came up to the door it was closed and everyone was already inside. i walked in with probably the most befuddled look on my face and looked around at everyone and tried to find my group but i was too confused so i just went to the back of the room. i eventually found my group, but after class i talked to my friend who is in there and speaks english, and i was like, what's going on?? i thought i was early? and she tells me that the teacher asked us a couple weeks ago if we wanted to change the time of the class so that we wouldn't end so late.
how did i miss all of that?!?! i really felt like an idiot so i went up to the teacher and apologized.
put that one under, "Easy Target!! Foreigner in the Room!"
so then i was sitting out on my balcony, watching everyone go by and this guy comes out with his dog and starts walking down the street, and then he walks back to his car to let his dog in like they are going to drive off somewhere. well some girls came by and wanted to see the puppy so he let them pet him and adore him, meanwhile he grabs a bottle of beer out of his car and chugs it for a good 20 seconds. and the girls leave so he puts the beer in his car and gets in and drives off. the girls didn't even look at him twice. no one did! how scary...
yesterday i had my later class, which is supposed to be at 7:30 and i actually got there a little early, but as came up to the door it was closed and everyone was already inside. i walked in with probably the most befuddled look on my face and looked around at everyone and tried to find my group but i was too confused so i just went to the back of the room. i eventually found my group, but after class i talked to my friend who is in there and speaks english, and i was like, what's going on?? i thought i was early? and she tells me that the teacher asked us a couple weeks ago if we wanted to change the time of the class so that we wouldn't end so late.
how did i miss all of that?!?! i really felt like an idiot so i went up to the teacher and apologized.
put that one under, "Easy Target!! Foreigner in the Room!"
Monday, October 19, 2009
still up in the clouds i think ;)
i know i know, i'm slacking... and i have too much to say about the weekend but i'll try and keep it short.
i finally went out and bought some warmer clothes and i am very excited because i was getting a little worried... i think it just seems extra cold because it was 85* one day and the next only 70*. but i bought all the essentials! boots, scarf, sweaters, and i JUST got back from the store where i bought a winter coat for 18 EU! i can't believe it, all the others i've seen go for 60 or 70 atleast, so this was a steal for sure. then as i wandered home i came across a little boutique and in the window i saw these shoes for 10 EU! high heels too, and very cute. it turns out they were the last pair and they fit me perfectly. so i think it's safe to say it was meant to be. and the best part - when they say 10 EU, it is 10 EU, not 12 after taxes or anything. now i am warm and life is good!
i've been a little worried about this whole speaking another language... because it seems like i will never become fluent, and i have heard about people who go to another country knowing nothing at all and becoming fluent. so i just sit there wondering, when is it going to happen for me?? i've been here almost two months! which, by the way, i cannot believe either. but sometimes i have moments where it all seems to fit in place. like today when i was at the stores they only spoke spanish to me and i could understand everything and converse with them. that's all i need to keep me going! i just wish it would come a little quicker. or maybe i am just impatient.
went out this weekend of course, to a couple new places that definitely exceeded the places i've been! i like the people better. i think i made about 12 new friends, and all spanish! that was my goal because i keep going out and meeting other internationals, but where are the locals! well i think we finally found the place so it was good. and one of the clubs we went to had salsa night, which was a little scary because you have to know what you're doing to go out and salsa, but i just pretended like i did and had a blast, it was definitely an experience.
i keep thinking back to UCF and saying, i could do this at home, i go out, but it's not the same! the people here are just too awesome, and so open to everything, it's not even fair that my friends in florida can't see how it is over here. i seriously feel guilty considering all i've done, seen, experienced, etc. etc. like this is not my life! i am living a dream, but i am taking full advantage and will not take one second of it for granted.
did i mention i love this place????!
i finally went out and bought some warmer clothes and i am very excited because i was getting a little worried... i think it just seems extra cold because it was 85* one day and the next only 70*. but i bought all the essentials! boots, scarf, sweaters, and i JUST got back from the store where i bought a winter coat for 18 EU! i can't believe it, all the others i've seen go for 60 or 70 atleast, so this was a steal for sure. then as i wandered home i came across a little boutique and in the window i saw these shoes for 10 EU! high heels too, and very cute. it turns out they were the last pair and they fit me perfectly. so i think it's safe to say it was meant to be. and the best part - when they say 10 EU, it is 10 EU, not 12 after taxes or anything. now i am warm and life is good!
i've been a little worried about this whole speaking another language... because it seems like i will never become fluent, and i have heard about people who go to another country knowing nothing at all and becoming fluent. so i just sit there wondering, when is it going to happen for me?? i've been here almost two months! which, by the way, i cannot believe either. but sometimes i have moments where it all seems to fit in place. like today when i was at the stores they only spoke spanish to me and i could understand everything and converse with them. that's all i need to keep me going! i just wish it would come a little quicker. or maybe i am just impatient.
went out this weekend of course, to a couple new places that definitely exceeded the places i've been! i like the people better. i think i made about 12 new friends, and all spanish! that was my goal because i keep going out and meeting other internationals, but where are the locals! well i think we finally found the place so it was good. and one of the clubs we went to had salsa night, which was a little scary because you have to know what you're doing to go out and salsa, but i just pretended like i did and had a blast, it was definitely an experience.
i keep thinking back to UCF and saying, i could do this at home, i go out, but it's not the same! the people here are just too awesome, and so open to everything, it's not even fair that my friends in florida can't see how it is over here. i seriously feel guilty considering all i've done, seen, experienced, etc. etc. like this is not my life! i am living a dream, but i am taking full advantage and will not take one second of it for granted.
did i mention i love this place????!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
unreal
wow! i have never felt so at ease. is it possible for me to be even more laid-back?? seriously, this place is life-changing. i've never felt so content to just walk down a street. i find myself smiling for no reason! and people stand outside their shops smoking and just watching everyone pass by, and they say HI to you, they smile at you! they don't just beg you to come in and spend your money you don't have... mom and dad, i suggest you take six months off of life and come here, you will feel so relaxed it will blow your mind ;)
today me and marta met rita on her lunch break and we went to a sushi buffet = sushi HEAVEN. it was ridiculously good. the booths were lined up in two rows and there was a rotating belt in the middle going down the entire row and the food just rolllls on past you and you pick up whatever you want, and it just keeps going and going and there is never a space free, they have quick hands! and we ate so much. we were so excited to try everything we filled our entire table with plates and it was hard to maneuver! it's no good when the food keeps passing your eye as you're talking... we didn't want to leave! i don't even know what half the stuff was, but it was definitely delicious. and it's really sad because my roommates make fun of how much i eat and they say they thought i didn't eat at all. ????? excuse me, that is not okay. i am sick of that!!! then they just make me feel like a cow by saying that i eat so much but who cares, right?? i'm on "vacation" and i'll do whatever i want, ha!
school was good today. i think i understood everything! and i answered some questions and actually got them right! hehe, i know, how lame, but i don't care! by the way i am always running late for class, especially to this one. and i try sprinting from the metro to school but it's UPHILL and that's not fun so i'm dying and sweating and can't speak when i walk in and sometimes i'm five minutes late but there's only three other people there. and he doesn't start til like 10 after! he doesn't care. that's the thing, the teachers here don't care about anything. love it!
i think this class would be the most boring tedious thing on earth but for some reason in spanish it's all okay. it makes it more interesting since i have to really pay attention and try to understand. there is a difference between understanding what someone is saying and understanding the words they are saying. yeah i can pick out words that my teachers are saying, but if they ask me a question, my mind goes blank! but today was good and i understood and that's all that matters =)
today me and marta met rita on her lunch break and we went to a sushi buffet = sushi HEAVEN. it was ridiculously good. the booths were lined up in two rows and there was a rotating belt in the middle going down the entire row and the food just rolllls on past you and you pick up whatever you want, and it just keeps going and going and there is never a space free, they have quick hands! and we ate so much. we were so excited to try everything we filled our entire table with plates and it was hard to maneuver! it's no good when the food keeps passing your eye as you're talking... we didn't want to leave! i don't even know what half the stuff was, but it was definitely delicious. and it's really sad because my roommates make fun of how much i eat and they say they thought i didn't eat at all. ????? excuse me, that is not okay. i am sick of that!!! then they just make me feel like a cow by saying that i eat so much but who cares, right?? i'm on "vacation" and i'll do whatever i want, ha!
school was good today. i think i understood everything! and i answered some questions and actually got them right! hehe, i know, how lame, but i don't care! by the way i am always running late for class, especially to this one. and i try sprinting from the metro to school but it's UPHILL and that's not fun so i'm dying and sweating and can't speak when i walk in and sometimes i'm five minutes late but there's only three other people there. and he doesn't start til like 10 after! he doesn't care. that's the thing, the teachers here don't care about anything. love it!
i think this class would be the most boring tedious thing on earth but for some reason in spanish it's all okay. it makes it more interesting since i have to really pay attention and try to understand. there is a difference between understanding what someone is saying and understanding the words they are saying. yeah i can pick out words that my teachers are saying, but if they ask me a question, my mind goes blank! but today was good and i understood and that's all that matters =)
sunset, que bonita
Friday, October 9, 2009
being a foreigner has it's perks
last night was the "cena bienvenidos" - the welcome dinner for all the foreigners! it was cool to meet everyone else that has come here that wasn't in the intensive spanish course. but everyone i talked to is only here for the semester and they are all in awe that i am here for the year =)
we met at a quaint little restaurant and they had three big tables set up for us. when we got there there were already salads and wine on the table. i had a fun table, i sat with people i hadn't met yet so it was cool. we spoke spanish the entire time and i had so much fun doing it! i got to ask a lot of questions about how to say things. there was a girl from mexico that said she doesn't get how i understand my classes, because she doesn't really understand them sometimes. she said people in mexico talk way slower than here, and i noticed because i could understand her pretty well.
so we dug into salads and then they came out with a plate of breads with tomato and oil spread on them, and they were huge pieces. then they brought out massive plates of mixed meats set up in a very pretty way, for meat. and after that they took our orders! we had a few things to pick from since it was set up through the school and they were paying for it. i ordered something i don't even remember the name of, but when they brought out the food they said they messed up and didn't have mine. so i switched to salchicha, which is a sausage. and it was delicious!
the dean came along with the international advisor and head of international relations. and everyone was dressed so nicely! i still can't get over the fashion here and how nice everyone dresses. i also noticed NOBODY wears shorts, ever. so i stopped wearing them because that's just calling attention to the fact i'm not from here. i don't need to be an easy target on the street! it's been very warm but the girls seem to dress like it's way colder. scarves are all the rage.
anyway, the meal was great, and we even got dessert, the food was never-ending! that was really nice of the deans to put that together. so afterward everyone wanted to keep the party going, so all the kids went to an apartment and just hung out and we had a great time. i really had so much fun. it's cool hearing everyone try to speak spanish from all over europe! i just have trouble with some of the names. but every girl's name ends in -a, so i fit right in!
so today in class we were discussing different things and my teacher had given us a little "debate" from last class that we were supposed to think about and we would discuss today. so he asked who was on either side, and for the first side, i was the only one who raised my hand. that got me thinking, oh boy i totally misunderstood what the position was....... but i stuck with it and told my side and the teacher actually said he agreed! so that was my boost for the day =) i still don't know if i was answering the right question or not but oh well.
another weird thing? we call our teachers by their first names. i find it surprising considering it seems in spain there's more respect for people older than you. i mean they have a whole different way of saying things to someone older than you versus your friend. you use "tu" for "you" to your friend, and conjugate the verbs accordingly. and you use "usted" for someone older, and the verb has a whole different conjugation. but we're on a first name basis with our teachers.
also, i've noticed some of the same kids at school all week just while walking into the building. that would NEVER happen at UCF! i never saw anyone twice out on campus. and i rarely saw someone i knew. but i see the kids from the spanish class all the time. it's such a weird feeling!
we met at a quaint little restaurant and they had three big tables set up for us. when we got there there were already salads and wine on the table. i had a fun table, i sat with people i hadn't met yet so it was cool. we spoke spanish the entire time and i had so much fun doing it! i got to ask a lot of questions about how to say things. there was a girl from mexico that said she doesn't get how i understand my classes, because she doesn't really understand them sometimes. she said people in mexico talk way slower than here, and i noticed because i could understand her pretty well.
so we dug into salads and then they came out with a plate of breads with tomato and oil spread on them, and they were huge pieces. then they brought out massive plates of mixed meats set up in a very pretty way, for meat. and after that they took our orders! we had a few things to pick from since it was set up through the school and they were paying for it. i ordered something i don't even remember the name of, but when they brought out the food they said they messed up and didn't have mine. so i switched to salchicha, which is a sausage. and it was delicious!
the dean came along with the international advisor and head of international relations. and everyone was dressed so nicely! i still can't get over the fashion here and how nice everyone dresses. i also noticed NOBODY wears shorts, ever. so i stopped wearing them because that's just calling attention to the fact i'm not from here. i don't need to be an easy target on the street! it's been very warm but the girls seem to dress like it's way colder. scarves are all the rage.
anyway, the meal was great, and we even got dessert, the food was never-ending! that was really nice of the deans to put that together. so afterward everyone wanted to keep the party going, so all the kids went to an apartment and just hung out and we had a great time. i really had so much fun. it's cool hearing everyone try to speak spanish from all over europe! i just have trouble with some of the names. but every girl's name ends in -a, so i fit right in!
so today in class we were discussing different things and my teacher had given us a little "debate" from last class that we were supposed to think about and we would discuss today. so he asked who was on either side, and for the first side, i was the only one who raised my hand. that got me thinking, oh boy i totally misunderstood what the position was....... but i stuck with it and told my side and the teacher actually said he agreed! so that was my boost for the day =) i still don't know if i was answering the right question or not but oh well.
another weird thing? we call our teachers by their first names. i find it surprising considering it seems in spain there's more respect for people older than you. i mean they have a whole different way of saying things to someone older than you versus your friend. you use "tu" for "you" to your friend, and conjugate the verbs accordingly. and you use "usted" for someone older, and the verb has a whole different conjugation. but we're on a first name basis with our teachers.
also, i've noticed some of the same kids at school all week just while walking into the building. that would NEVER happen at UCF! i never saw anyone twice out on campus. and i rarely saw someone i knew. but i see the kids from the spanish class all the time. it's such a weird feeling!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
i've never had such stylish teachers before...
class is still hard but i actually like going.. who knew?? but the teacher today for publicidad y medios talks so fast!!! it's not fair haha. but we do cool things like watch funny commercials and ads and discuss them and talk about what kinds of hidden messages are in them. maybe if it were at UCF it'd be boring but i like it!
i have some more random things that i find interesting or very different. i might sound ignorant naming all this stuff, or comparing it to home, but i think it's funny to think about anyway! i KNOW i'm not supposed to compare everything to home but some things seem so odd to me. i like it though, it's cool to live with all these new tendencies and happenings =) i digress:
+ the comma vs. the period.
when we write numbers in the US, such as one thousand, we use "1,000," but here, you would put "1.000"
also, when writing a percent, here you would put "1,37%"
and when you say it, you say "uno coma treintisiete por ciento," actually saying the word comma! okay maybe i'm too easily amused...
+ crossing the street is no easy task.
when you get a walking signal, cars will still pull up to the very very tip of the crosswalk so that they almost touch you if you're in it, and if no one is actually crossing the street, the cars just go right through.
on the other hand, you don't necessarily need a green man to let you cross on foot. people go whenever they want and sometimes the public buses are laying on their horns as they barrel up to the crosswalk to let them know they're coming
+ the generosity amazes me.
i was in the market with marta and we bought some food and were about to leave, when she saw at the front by the door they had onions and she had needed some. so she grabbed one and tried to go back up to the counter to pay for it, but the guy said, "that's all?" and not only let her go with it, he handed her another. two free onions! what a guy.
also, as we left, marta said that would never ever happen in prague, and i told her same here. in fact, we mostly have big grocery stores that keep tabs on everything anyway so it's pretty much impossible. then she told me the more she hears about america, the more she thinks twice of it. she said she pictured it so different from what i've told her. kind of sad! but she thought of it as a "Disney World" kind of place where everyone is happy-go-lucky and super friendly and generous. i guess in some places it can be but i've never gotten a free onion before.
+ pan.
i see more people on the street with a loaf of bread under their arm than cell phones attached to their ears. seriously, i think it's a requirement to carry one like a weapon or something. bread with everything here! those pastelerias bank.
+ cash.
nobody uses credit cards here! it's like foreigners only. i've gotten weird looks busting out my visa before.
also, i've become one of those people on the metro who stand by the doors pressing the button for them to open before the metro is even stopped in the station. okay maybe that's just when i'm running late for school, because otherwise it's pointless. but when i first got on one of those it made me crack up how people rush to the doors and crowd around it before we are even in the station!
i have some more random things that i find interesting or very different. i might sound ignorant naming all this stuff, or comparing it to home, but i think it's funny to think about anyway! i KNOW i'm not supposed to compare everything to home but some things seem so odd to me. i like it though, it's cool to live with all these new tendencies and happenings =) i digress:
+ the comma vs. the period.
when we write numbers in the US, such as one thousand, we use "1,000," but here, you would put "1.000"
also, when writing a percent, here you would put "1,37%"
and when you say it, you say "uno coma treintisiete por ciento," actually saying the word comma! okay maybe i'm too easily amused...
+ crossing the street is no easy task.
when you get a walking signal, cars will still pull up to the very very tip of the crosswalk so that they almost touch you if you're in it, and if no one is actually crossing the street, the cars just go right through.
on the other hand, you don't necessarily need a green man to let you cross on foot. people go whenever they want and sometimes the public buses are laying on their horns as they barrel up to the crosswalk to let them know they're coming
+ the generosity amazes me.
i was in the market with marta and we bought some food and were about to leave, when she saw at the front by the door they had onions and she had needed some. so she grabbed one and tried to go back up to the counter to pay for it, but the guy said, "that's all?" and not only let her go with it, he handed her another. two free onions! what a guy.
also, as we left, marta said that would never ever happen in prague, and i told her same here. in fact, we mostly have big grocery stores that keep tabs on everything anyway so it's pretty much impossible. then she told me the more she hears about america, the more she thinks twice of it. she said she pictured it so different from what i've told her. kind of sad! but she thought of it as a "Disney World" kind of place where everyone is happy-go-lucky and super friendly and generous. i guess in some places it can be but i've never gotten a free onion before.
+ pan.
i see more people on the street with a loaf of bread under their arm than cell phones attached to their ears. seriously, i think it's a requirement to carry one like a weapon or something. bread with everything here! those pastelerias bank.
+ cash.
nobody uses credit cards here! it's like foreigners only. i've gotten weird looks busting out my visa before.
also, i've become one of those people on the metro who stand by the doors pressing the button for them to open before the metro is even stopped in the station. okay maybe that's just when i'm running late for school, because otherwise it's pointless. but when i first got on one of those it made me crack up how people rush to the doors and crowd around it before we are even in the station!
Monday, October 5, 2009
new friends!
today i met up with some people from school at parc guell and it was so nice out! i will never tire of that place, it's so serene you can't help but feel good there. there's so many people out playing music so it's really nice to just sit and listen and watch all the people.
i met the one girl daniela, who i've mentioned before, and her friend ximena who came from mexico, and then a boy named jaime who is from ecuador but is going to school in WISCONSIN (???????) i don't get it. but they are all here on study abroad terms too. i got an email from my advisor saying that there's a welcome dinner for all the international students this thursday so that should be nice to meet all the others! i asked if the three i was with today were going and they said yes so now i won't have to go there by myself and see all those kids from the spanish class that probably wouldn't talk to me anyway.
but i had fun today and spoke a lot of spanish because they were very patient with me =) and ximena was asking how i understood anything because she said she barely understands in her classes because in mexico it's so different!
i'm going to put up a picture from the correfoc, which was the fire dancing and parade on la merce. it's a little off topic, but it's so cool so i have to share!
i met the one girl daniela, who i've mentioned before, and her friend ximena who came from mexico, and then a boy named jaime who is from ecuador but is going to school in WISCONSIN (???????) i don't get it. but they are all here on study abroad terms too. i got an email from my advisor saying that there's a welcome dinner for all the international students this thursday so that should be nice to meet all the others! i asked if the three i was with today were going and they said yes so now i won't have to go there by myself and see all those kids from the spanish class that probably wouldn't talk to me anyway.
but i had fun today and spoke a lot of spanish because they were very patient with me =) and ximena was asking how i understood anything because she said she barely understands in her classes because in mexico it's so different!
i'm going to put up a picture from the correfoc, which was the fire dancing and parade on la merce. it's a little off topic, but it's so cool so i have to share!
we went to the red bull air show again yesterday and it was really cool. they had to fly through all these obstacles with the fastest time. sad to say the american didn't place...
they even had a helicopter at "half-time" that was doing tricks and flips! it was crazy. it was all on the beach and it was a very nice day out, but there were thousands and thousands of people it was insane. and when i was walking up the stairs off the beach i hear my name called. it was daniela. i have no idea how she saw me!
by the way, i just found out it's illegal to carry pepper spray here, and so i took it out of my purse. they said i could get fined for it! what the heck, what if i need it!
i also just realized i still have american cash and traveler's checks that i haven't used and never will and i don't know where i can exchange these...
i accidently broke something of joana's in the bathroom and i feel terrible, but i told her i'd buy her a new one and she said of course, no worries, i'm not a bad person! haha she's so nice to me! but she thinks i'm so young and always calls me the baby, because i'm the youngest in the house i guess. sometimes she thinks i can't do anything, for example, mop the floor. i told her she doesn't know what she's talking about, i can take care of myself pretty well i think! i flew thousands of miles away on my own to a foreign place with a foreign language, i think i would atleast know how to use a mop ;D
oh well! now i must go to class and me and marta might be going out later if i'm not too tired... i probably will be but this place is always up and ready and i don't want to miss anything!!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
the city that never sleeps
yesterday as i walked out of school there were a bunch of people sitting on the steps drinking beer. little things like that are always popping up to remind me this is europe =)
school was good yesterday. i understood a lot and my teacher is the nicest person i ever met. and he came up to me in private and said that if i needed help he will explain it in english, and if i want to say something and i have a hard time speaking in spanish i can speak in english. how nice! but i told him i don't want any special treatment and i want to try and speak in spanish, i'm just a little slow. but everyday i'm understanding more and more.
last night me and marta went out for a night on the town and this place is so cool at night. there are hundreds of people on the streets at 2 in the morning and it's just so exciting! i get excited over the littlest things but it's so fun. we met up with one of her friends from school who has been living here for a year. she's from croatia and she was so much fun! very talkative and outgoing and she just got a job so she was ready to celebrate. she took us to this place called El Gato Negro and it was nice because it wasn't touristy, all locals. the atmosphere was very cool and they had good food and drinks. i had REAL calamari, even though Ana told me not to have it because it's nothing like american calamari. but it was so good! it didn't even taste fishy but it also wasn't just all fried breading.
at the bar they were making all these kinds of shots i've never seen, with fire and candy and marshmallows. Ana said that they don't really know what they're doing, you just tell them what you want it to taste like and they put something together.
we went to a couple other places after that and just walked around the city because even at night there is so much to see. we were walking down this side street and all of the sudden this little band comes around the corner like a parade and they were just playing through the streets.
today is the Red Bull Air Show and it's at the beach. i was reading about it and they said over 1 million people show up for it! it's just a huge party on the beach and they have airplane shows and other stuff i'm not sure about. this city sure likes to party. marta gave me this pamphlet that has all the "hot spots" to go out at night like clubs and bars and she said she got it from her school. awesome! but i need to go get ready for the beach so chao!
school was good yesterday. i understood a lot and my teacher is the nicest person i ever met. and he came up to me in private and said that if i needed help he will explain it in english, and if i want to say something and i have a hard time speaking in spanish i can speak in english. how nice! but i told him i don't want any special treatment and i want to try and speak in spanish, i'm just a little slow. but everyday i'm understanding more and more.
last night me and marta went out for a night on the town and this place is so cool at night. there are hundreds of people on the streets at 2 in the morning and it's just so exciting! i get excited over the littlest things but it's so fun. we met up with one of her friends from school who has been living here for a year. she's from croatia and she was so much fun! very talkative and outgoing and she just got a job so she was ready to celebrate. she took us to this place called El Gato Negro and it was nice because it wasn't touristy, all locals. the atmosphere was very cool and they had good food and drinks. i had REAL calamari, even though Ana told me not to have it because it's nothing like american calamari. but it was so good! it didn't even taste fishy but it also wasn't just all fried breading.
at the bar they were making all these kinds of shots i've never seen, with fire and candy and marshmallows. Ana said that they don't really know what they're doing, you just tell them what you want it to taste like and they put something together.
we went to a couple other places after that and just walked around the city because even at night there is so much to see. we were walking down this side street and all of the sudden this little band comes around the corner like a parade and they were just playing through the streets.
today is the Red Bull Air Show and it's at the beach. i was reading about it and they said over 1 million people show up for it! it's just a huge party on the beach and they have airplane shows and other stuff i'm not sure about. this city sure likes to party. marta gave me this pamphlet that has all the "hot spots" to go out at night like clubs and bars and she said she got it from her school. awesome! but i need to go get ready for the beach so chao!
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