Hasta Luego

So I've decided that I need a proper capstone for my experience in Alicante, and I'm going to give it a shot with this blog post. Because I love alliteration and this all seemed to work out, I'm going to write about some of my favorite P's from my experience. Hope you enjoy!

PASSION-- Living in Alicante has sparked a fire in me that will surely last for the rest of my life. I have fallen in love with the Spanish language, and I'm excited to continue studying it in the fall because I still have so much to discover. Learning Spanish has been a challenge unlike anything else in my life, especially since I was constantly surrounded by it, but it has also been the source of immense happiness when I can carry on a conversation with a person in a language other than my native tongue. Talking-- whether in English or in Spanish-- will never be the same to me (and that's saying a lot coming from the queen of verbosity!) I have learned to appreciate the importance of communication and language, and it's been truly humbling.

I've also been inspired by the passion of the Spanish people. From those whom I've encountered, the Spaniards are incredibly passionate people in whatever they are pursuing. They don't always worry about being politically correct or too forward-- they speak their mind. And I like that. Sure, there is a limit and I can't clump this rich culture into one generality, but I really appreciate some of the passion that I've witnessed while in Spain (Even including the passionate make-out sessions that I've seen on the street, on the beach, or anywhere really. Ha!)

PEACE AND PLEASURE-- My time in Spain has also changed my perspective on productivity (I'm on a roll with the p-words today!) I can't express how much I've loved my walks along the beach, my reading times near my favorite fountain, my numerous glasses of wine shared with friends, and my late-night fiesta-ing. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and sometimes the rush of trying to be productive all the time can really get a person down. Spain has taught me the importance of peace and of pleasure-- leaving time for loved ones even when work is sitting on your desk, stopping for a moment to take a look around and perhaps re-walking the same path in the opposite direction just to see it from a different view, and keeping your mind open to new people and new experiences. I recognize that work has to get done, and I know that part of me is also motivated by accomplishments and by goals, but I think it's also important to take some time to remember what you love to do and to enjoy the beauty you have around you.

PEOPLE-- Over the past four months, I've met some incredible people. I've made great friends, and I've even had some meaningful one-time meetings of acquaintances. From my professor, to my host family, or even to an old couple on a bench, I've made connections with people that have surely shaped my worldview. (But don't worry- I still remember how important everyone is at home. In fact, studying abroad has really highlighted who is important and how blessed I truly am to have so many amazing people in my life!) My time here has also solidified the fact for me that people are often more important than the place you are visiting or whatever you are doing. My afternoon coffee sessions and exploratory walks with some of my best friends wouldn't have been the same without them. And having spring break with my parents was especially wonderful. It's not always about checking things off a list-- the time shared with others is what I always cherish.


So even if I come home a few pounds heavier and a few dollars poorer, living in Alicante has been worth it all. Although it hasn't always been easy, it's been exactly what I needed, and it's strange to see my time here drawing to a close. When I come back to the States, I'll try not to annoy you all by starting every sentence with "This one time in Spain..." but I can't make any promises at this point. It's been an amazing semester, one that I'm sure not to forget anytime soon. So thanks, Alicante, for some of the best months of my life. Hasta luego.

The Grand Finale (Spring Break Part 4)

Walking on the beach...
Feeling the symbolism: Our grand adventure!

So it's taken me over a month to recount all of my spring break, but I'm finally going to finish up my story. I'm going to do things a little differently for this post: I'm going to make a list of our experiences from Barcelona and from Alicante and let you all put them together stream-of-consciousness style, or something like that. Let's see how this goes!

My favorite picture from Barcelona!

BARCELONA: The pinkest hotel room you've ever seen, ice cream and beer on tap, lion rides, the miracle of a random run-in with my friend Katie in a crowded park, walking from the Sagrada Familia to the park (believe me-this is impressive), the view from the top of Park Guell, changing hotel rooms every night, a delicious sea-food dinner, gorgeous train rides, walking along the beach, quenching strawberry cravings in the market, celebrating my HSA presidency with a rose and a Nutella crepe, a lit candle for Pili, and of course, lots of laughs.

ALICANTE: Sharing paradise with my parents and going to all of my favorite spots, getting a kebab right after the train ride, meals at the best places in Alicante, becoming regulars at the restaurant Sale & Pepe, a long and peaceful walk along the empty San Juan beach, the classic castle climb, watching my mom jump on the little kid trampoline, the return trip to San Juan-- complete with hundreds of drunk 15 year-olds, an unexpected rainstorm, the host family meeting my original family, a visit to the University, walking, walking, and more walking, but eating and drinking like kings, a family siesta before goodbyes and the night bus, and the best end to our trip that we could have asked for.

The families meet!

This was the trip of a lifetime, and I'm so thankful that I got to experience it with my parents. We made so many memories, and I know that we will be talking about it for years!

Love you both!

As for me, I'm just trying to enjoy my last few weeks here before I head back to the US. The summer weather conditions have been perfect for beach trips and  pleasant night fiesta-ing.  Not going to lie, it's going to be really hard to leave Alicante-- I'm hoping that I don't cry on the entire plane ride home.  I'm excited to see the ones I love, but it's sad to see my study abroad experience come to a close. Luckily, I feel like this is just the beginning of my adventure: I will be back for sure!

The Many Adventures of Pili (Spring Break Part 3)

Hey y'all. I'm back. It's time to talk about the amazing Pili now! I already talked about meeting her, but the story doesn't end there. We met up with her the following day because she generously offered to drive us to Osses (the Lekumberry family has relatives there), and we were planning on meeting them and spending a night there before heading to Barcelona. Well, we didn't end up making it to Osses, but that didn't make our adventure any less enjoyable.

On our Pili Adventure!

Pili picked us up from the hotel, and that's when the real fun began. Our trip wasn't about efficiency; it was about leisure and fun, thanks to Pili. After a few hilarious traffic light mishaps, we stopped at a gorgeous castle near the Spain/France border with incredible views of the ocean and of the surrounding towns. But we couldn't just walk around it once. Pili insisted that we walk around it one way and then around it the other way-- you always see things differently from a new viewpoint she said. And she was right. This is a lesson that will be dear to my heart from this trip because taking time to enjoy and to really take in all of the sights made our time spent together even more special.

We then ventured to St. Jean de Luz, which is a small French port town. The sun had finally overpowered the rainclouds that seemed to have been following us, and we spent a pleasant afternoon wandering the streets of this little town. Another great Pili lesson: light a candle and make a wish in every church you come across. This is another one of my favorite Pili moments because although I can't do it justice with words, it was magical. Just do it someday- you'll know what I mean.

Yummmm!

At this point, we found out that the Osses trip wasn't going to work out due to logistics one way or another, so we headed back to San Sebastian. After Pili helped us find a new hotel, we called it a night and planned to meet up again the next day. Winging it at it's finest. Surprise, surprise: the next day brought rain, but once again, we didn't let this dampen our spirit for adventure. Pili invited us to share a lunch at her gastronomic club, which is basically a really nice kitchen to use at the disposal of a club member. And oh my, this lunch ended up being some of the best food that we ate on our trip. Pili treated us to some local delicacies, and I'm pretty sure that my dad was in heaven with all of the cooking power available at his fingertips. When we emerged from the club, contented and full once again, the weather had cleared up, and we were well-equipped (we thought) for another Pili adventure.

Somehow we ened up walking all the way to the other side of the bay, and then we took this cute little tram thingy called the Funicular up to Mount Igueldo, which is the area on the peak of the other side of the bay. After numerous photo opportunities, a round of bumper cars, and the realization that everything else was closed, we made our descent on foot all the way to the other side of the bay. Even though this was a really long walk, it went by super fast as we shared in great conversations. Pili's daughters asked me all about American high schools since they have seen images in movies and hope that maybe one day they will attend a high school in the US. So of course we talked about the hot topic with high school-aged girls: prom. It was a kick!

One of my favorites:
The group looking at the view from the top of Mount Igueldo.

Then, after a few more rounds of tapas and drinks, it came time for the bittersweet goodbye. We had shared a few phenomenal days together, and it was sad to realize that it was coming to a close. But the good news: Pili was already planning to visit Gardnerville in August. So even though it was goodbye for now, it wasn't goodbye for an indefinite amount of time. I honestly can't imagine what our time in San Sebastian would have been like without Pili, our guide and now good friend.

Rain and Shine (Spring Break Part 2)

So where did I leave off? Oh yeah, time to talk about San Sebastian! Our time there was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, thanks to friends old and new. We ended up staying there for four days, which was two more days than we had originally planned. Even the relentless rain couldn't dampen our spirits (at least not figuratively).

We arrived to San Sebastian by bus, and of course, it started raining about the time that we had to walk to the hotel. But no worries, we made it to our fabulous hotel despite the less-than-reliable weather pattern. The view from our room was gorgeous! This was our 'splurge' place, and it couldn't have had better timing. The rest of the day was spent walking, eating, and drinking, but a few crucial connections and plans were made for the following day: one with my parents' friend Carlos from Gardnerville and one with Pili, a mutual friend of the Lekumberry family in Gardnerville. These two played a vital role in helping us dive into the culture of San Sebastian and of the surrounding area.

One of our best ideas in San Sebastian:
Hotel room snacks break with local cheese!

So the next day we met up with Carlos in the morning, and he took us for a scenic walk around one part of the bay in San Sebastian. Then the real adventure began! We hopped in his car and headed for his hometown, San Esteban. Along the way, we made stops at my mom's old stomping grounds from 30 years ago, which was so interesting for us all to experience. I was awestruck by the beautiful countryside, and I was fascinated by the memories that my mom recounted from the summer she spent there during her teenage years. We finally ended up in San Esteban, and after a little walk and a quick drink, Carlos brought us to one of the local restaurants for lunch. SO DELICIOUS! Following the Spanish and Basque meal traditions, lunch was not just some small bite to eat, it was a full-on event. We ate a tasty fish soup as the first course, and then it was meat-to-your-liking for the second course, all the while drinking red wine and the traditional cider of the Basque Country. And naturally, we finished off with dessert and coffee. Fat and happy, we headed back to San Sebastian. We drove to France first, which sounds cool, but in reality it wasn't far out of our way. Once again, the views were break-taking, and hey, why not drive through part of France if you get the chance?

Carlos and Dad during our little adventure.

But this was not the end of our day, we ended up meeting with Pili, our new best friend, in the afternoon/evening. What a kick she was! So full of life and energy! The communication was difficult at times, but all in all, we hit it off almost instantly. She took us through the Old Town of San Sebastian, we met her daughters, we saw where she lived and where she worked, and most of all, we had an incredibly enjoyable time. It was great to get the tips about eating pinchos (that's the name for tapas in the north of Spain) from an inside source. Plans were made for the following day, and my bed was calling my name after an exhaustingly wonderful day. (SPOILER ALERT: I'm realizing that I pretty much need to devote an entire post to our adventures with Pili, so I think I'll take a break and leave off here for now. But believe me, there are great things to come! I'm going to leave some suspense... Haha.)

In other news, it's starting to feel a little bittersweet that I'll be leaving Spain so soon. Even though I haven't left yet, I'm already trying to figure out when I can come back. I love the Spanish culture, and I don't want my adventure to stop here. So if there is a will, there's a way, and I'm going to make it happen! Today my professor was talking about the Camino de Santiago, so maybe I'll come back to make that pilgrimage someday. Time will tell. But for now, I'm going to take advantage of the time I have left and keep engaging in the Spanish lifestyle. I'm really starting to embrace the life of a Spaniard-- I even went topless on the beach the other day. (Don't worry, my parents already know. Ha.) Time goes so fast, and I don't want to miss out on any experience here!

After our first pincho night with Pili and the girls.

Tres Americanos (Spring Break Part 1)

Whoa. It's been a big couple of weeks, and what fun they've been! It's taken me forever to write this post- I intended to get it done sooner- but better late than never, right? I'm actually so excited to write about my spring break trips with my parents, and I'm thinking it will take me several posts before I recount it all. So let's get started...

Buen Retiro

It all begins with me taking the night bus to meet my parents in Madrid on the morning of April 7th. (I can't believe that was almost a month ago now!) Anyway, the bus trip went smoothly despite the interesting characters that choose to take a night bus, and before I knew it, I had arrived in Madrid. Then came the most joyous reunion I've probably ever had with my parents. They were relieved to have made a successful journey, and I was so happy to have them with me at last. Because of their jet-lag and my prior knowledge of Madrid, I became the leader of our pack, so of course, I had us taking the wrong bus to the city center. Luckily, I can speak Spanish now and I somehow seem to be blessed by happy traveling accidents, so after a quick conversation with the bus driver and a new plan with the metro, we made it to our hotel and then to a coffee shop nearby, where we ordered three americano coffee drinks-- so fitting.  The funny thing about Spanish cities: they are almost completely dead before 9am, especially during holidays. My parents didn't quite understand my love of Madrid at this point because it seemed almost like a ghost town. Spoiler alert: this would change.

Anyway, we decided to head to the Prado Museum because it seemed manageable for our first morning together in Spain. Although I had already been there, it was great to re-experience the awe of the incredible artwork there. We wandered around for a few hours (swimming through the crowds that finally showed up), and then it was time for lunch-- a delicious calamari sandwich. No good lunch goes without a nap, and as my friends and I have come to know, "no siesta, no fiesta." So naturally, we took a nice 4-hour nap before heading out for tapas and drinks for our first night in Spain. It was a wonderful night filled with good company, classic Spanish cuisine, and of course, some red wine. 

Dad enjoying Menu del Dia!

The next day was spent walking all over in the beautiful Madrid sunshine. My favorite park in the world, Buen Retiro, was a hit with my parents, and the other highlight of the day was definitely the Menu del Dia lunch in Plaza Mayor.  After some drinks and tapas, it was time to go to bed so that we could wake-up early for our flight to Bilbao. Overall, Madrid was a great kick-off to our trip. I'm basically in love with Madrid (my favorite city I've visited so far), so it was a lot of fun to share it with my parents.

Now here comes the early morning wake-up that seems to happen at least once during all of my trips (I guess that's what I get for buying the cheapest flights), but everything went really well.  We arrived in Bilbao with very little difficulty. The only catch: nothing, literally nothing, is open in Bilbao on a Monday. Plus, this wasn't just any Monday-- this was the Monday after Easter, so it was a national bank holiday in Spain. But in the true Lundergreen travelling spirit, we made the best of what we had.

The funniest part of the day: my mom's hilarious conversation with a nice, Spaniard man on the bus who wanted to help us out. In Spanish, he asked my mom where we were going, but she thought he asked her where we were from. So when my mom said we were going to the United States, I think the man realized how much help we needed. When we got of the bus, he made sure that we had people to follow to our hotel. So there we were, packing our backpacks in silence through the empty streets of Bilbao behind a few men who were leading us to where we needed to be. What a wonderful/hilarious act of kindness!

Sitting in front of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum.

Anyway, we pretty much spent the day walking around Bilbao, standing outside of cool places that weren't open, and of course, eating and drinking a lot. Bilbao was also good for another thing: siesta time-- my mom's favorite part. (Haha just kidding, Mom!) We were all rested up for the next leg of our trip thanks to a peaceful day in Bilbao.

Well, I'm going to stop myself there for now because I have a ton of homework to do (see, I do go to school!). Other things of interest lately: my host family moved!! I'm currently writing this post in my new room, looking out of my sunshiney window onto my own personal terraza. Needless to say, I love the new place. It was a little stressful to move while still trying to enjoy some of my last month here, but now all is well. It was also hilarious to pack all of our things down a few blocks with my host brothers. One night we didn't have internet for a while (which seemed like a catastrophe to us), so we played games and made some trips back to the old house. This has been another good bonding experience with my host family. I'm really going to miss them. My host mom bought some new things for my room, and it's decorated with pink. She's the best! I also made a whole day trip to Calpe (a nearby, BEAUTIFUL coastal town) yesterday, but that's for another post.

I'll be a blogging fool when I get a chance so that I can get this updated!

Mi Vida Española

Where has the time gone?! I just had the final for the third class in my course series, which means that I'm 75 percent of the way through my semester. I can't believe it. I'm excited, though, because it's time for spring break. In just a few days, I'll be meeting up with my parents in Madrid so that we can travel around northern Spain before we head back to Alicante. I can't wait!!! I'm looking forward to a little taste of home and a new set of adventures with some of my favorite people on earth.

That said, it's going to be a little strange to leave Alicante because I've really been getting attached to it over the last few weeks. I've had moments where it hits me how long I've been living here and how accustomed I've become to my Spanish lifestyle. Sure, there have been days of missing home, but for the most part, I've been feeling very connected to the people I've met and to the life I've made in Alicante. Here are a few of my most recent joys:

Playing board games with my host brothers. The weather has been threatening to bring rain, so this brought the perfect opportunity for us to play Monopoly. What a great time! Even if I was the first to lose in Monopoly-- I had the worst luck ever!-- it was still a lot of fun. My host mom made us popcorn as we battled it out to buy streets of Madrid, and there was never a dull moment. After eating dinner, I taught them how to play Farkle, and since then, we've started a new tradition of playing it after dinner almost every night. Unlike Monopoly, I've been the Farkle champion of Spain. (Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself!) Regardless, I really feel like part of the family now, and I cherish these times when I get to joke around and to play games with my new little brothers. We are going to move to a new apartment at the end of April, so my family here isn't that much different from my family in the states-- always on the move! Ha. But I'm sure the move will be another great family bonding experience, and it's rumored that our new place has a nice terraza for dinners outside.

Tapas. So it's taken me almost three months, but I've finally got this whole tapas thing under control. Last Friday night I went out for tapas with friends, and we had a great time. Not only did we eat some delicious food and drink some great wine, but we also got some of it for free. Night well spent.

Semana Santa a.k.a. Holy Week. Semana Santa is an important time in Spain because of the Catholic traditions of the country. Every day this week there are extravagant processions with images of Jesus being carried by masses of people. On Palm Sunday, I went to a nearby town called Elche with my friend Katie to witness a popular procession there. Everyone (literally everyone) was carrying palms and marching through the streets. The community really comes out for the celebrations, and they come prepared: dressed to a tee with strollers/carts/babies in tow. The day passed very nicely, despite the fact that I mixed up the train schedule so I had a moment of panic followed by a call to my host mom telling her that I was going go miss lunch. Her reassuring "no te preocupes" (don't worry) was just what I needed to calm down.

Local Adventures. Of late, I've also been exploring different parts of Alicante and of the surrounding areas, and this has led to days of great fun. Katie and I took a veryyyy long impromptu walk from San Juan probably halfway back to Alicante (take my word for it-- it's a long way). We then had to search desperately for a tram, and this involved asking for directions. But it's a small world. Sometimes too small. Of course, there's only one creeper in all of Alicante that we've been somewhat trying to avoid, so where else would he be except in this random street miles and miles outside of the city at the same exact time as us. Luckily, he does have a sense of direction, and we were able to make it to the tram stop safely. No harm, no foul.

Well, the sun is shining, and it's time for me to head to one of my final rowing classes. I love mi vida española.

The Elements of Spain

Earth and Air. Last Saturday I took a beautiful hike in some mountains not far outside of Alicante. The mountain that we traversed had spanning views of quaint Spanish pueblos nestled between the hills and the sea. It was gorgeous. Thanks to good friends, a sack lunch, and 50 SPF sunscreen (the Spanish sun has done a number on me lately), the day passed very pleasantly. We saw fort ruins, vineyards, and natural springs. Some of the scenery even made me feel pangs of homesickness because the desert spans weren't too dissimilar to Nevada. The highlight was definitely the moment when we had to crawl through a little tunnel to get to the other side of the mountain, and it happened to pop out into a cave-type area with breathtaking views of the sea. Apparently it's even famous in guide books like Lonely Planet.

The famous cave scene.

Fire and Water. After recovering from the hike, it was time to start part two of the weekend on Monday. It was El Dia De Papa (Father's Day), so there wasn't any school-- I can really get used to these Spanish holidays. Anyway, there was also a huge festival happening in Valencia during the weekend called Las Fallas. Las Fallas is one of the most famous festivals in Spain, and it's a very traditional celebration for the Valencian community. In fact, there is a similar celebration in Alicante that takes place at the end of June. In a nutshell, huge satirical figures are constructed out of flammable materials, and after a few days of fireworks, fiestas, and traditions, the figures are ceremonially burned. People come from all over the world just to be in Valencia for Las Fallas, so the city triples in population. It's that good.

My friend Katie and I waiting for the mascleta.
Note the giant figure in the background.

Needless to say, I was itching to go to Las Fallas, so I signed up for a group trip that was offered through the university. I embarked at 8:30am on Monday morning for a day of fun that wouldn't end until almost 24-hours later. Upon first arriving in Valencia, we took a walking tour of the major hotspots in the heart of the city. Giant figures can be found on almost every corner, and each is accompanied by a smaller figure with a similar theme. Lights line the tops of the streets, giving it a truly magical feel. It was almost reminiscent of a theme park at times. After swimming through the crowds, we huddled into city hall for one of the biggest traditions: the mascleta. The mascleta is a fireworks show that takes place at 2pm. Right now you are probably thinking, "But you can't see them?..." That's the unique thing about the mascleta; it's not about sight, it's about the sound. The combination of the ear-shaking explosions and the sardine-packed crowds make for quite a profound experience. After the mascleta, I spent the rest of the afternoon in limbo between modernity and tradition.... Paella. Starbucks. And bunuelos de calabaza (pumpkin doughnuts- a Las Fallas specialty). Let's just say my love handles are truly loving Spain. Ha.

As night began to approach, we began to embrace the spirit of the fiesta by getting a few drinks. Drinking in the streets is common during Spanish festivals, so people go around selling beers out of ice chests. It's almost easier-- and almost always cheaper-- to find a beer than it is to find a water. No joke. Time continued to fly by as we walked around during the early evening: scoping out more figures and watching the enthusiastic street performers. And finally, it was time for the main event: the burnings. First, the little figures were burned at 10pm. Crowds gathered in each neighborhood to watch the fires that were just a small teaser of what was to come later. Around midnight, almost all of the bigger figures are burned, except for the first prize one and the one in city hall. So around 11pm, my friends and I huddled close to a large figure, which we would later see set ablaze.

BEFORE

AFTER

The Spanish time schedule is anything but prompt, so come 12:30am it was finally time for the big show.  The kindling and fireworks were set. The firefighters were ready. The crowd was antsy. The lights were dimmed. It was almost eerie seeing a dim figure awaiting its fiery death, but I think that's what makes Las Fallas such a powerful tradition. Talk about the most intense five minutes of my life! Once the fire was lit, the flames engulfed the towering figure. To protect the surrounding buildings and the onlookers, firefighters squirt a lot of water around the perimeter of the area. So while watching the biggest fire of my entire life, I was simultaneously being drenched by the water from the hoses. I can't quite explain how profound and symbolic this experience was for me. Truly elemental. Absolutely humbling. It left me speechless (which is a hard thing to do since I love to talk so much). I still can't get the image out of my head of this giant burning hand that appeared to be climbing out of the fire.

The eerie hand.....

We then made our way to the city hall, where the final burning took place. With the combination of the masses and the safety precautions, we couldn't really see much. But there was a pretty good fireworks show accompanying the burning. At that point it was about 1:15am, and we had to wait until 3:30am until the bus would bring us home. What to do? Well, we ended up at Burger King (Seriously, I never go to this many fast food chains in the US, but desperate times call for desperate measures.) Anyway, Burger King provided us with a bathroom, even if the wait was long, hot, and miserable. I tried to use the men's bathroom-- no one was in there!-- but I got kicked out. Which put me at the back of the longgggggg ladies' room line yet again. Good thing I had time to kill. When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I was greeted by a rainstorm. So incredible! Just hours earlier I had witnessed the biggest fires I'd ever seen and now I was watching an absolute downpour. Elements in the extreme. Luckily I had a good friend who had advised me to bring my raincoat so I was prepared for whatever Mother Nature threw my way.

Fast forward to 5:30am: I arrived home in Alicante as my host mom was waking up for work. The tricky reality: I had to get up for school at 7:30am. I wasn't the most attentive student on Tuesday, but I made it through class and lunch before snuggling up for a siesta while listening the the rain patter on the patio. The rainstorm continued all day, which provided the perfect excuse for me to stay in and to lounge around.

Earth. Air. Water. Fire. The elements of Spain that may not bring a lot of rest but they sure do bring a lot of fun.

Really, I Do Go To School

I've realized lately that all of my posts and pictures have made my life in Alicante look like one giant party. Sure, I am having the time of my life here with lots of time for fun and travel, but I assure you, I do have a Spanish existence outside of fiesta-ing. With this in mind, I thought that I would update you all on some of the daily aspects of my life in Alicante because they are very important to me as well. I'm big on list-making, so here we go...

1. School. The 'study' part of studying abroad. School has been so busy lately! I'm learning SO MUCH in a relatively short amount of time, but I'm enjoying it immensely. My semester is more than halfway over now (where does the time go?!), but there is still a lot to learn. I spend about 3 hours in the classroom everyday, and the best part is that I can immediately apply the things I learn in the classroom to my Spanish life. As for my professor, she is absolutely great. She is probably one of the best teachers that I've ever had-- her enthusiasm and dedication for teaching us Spanish is inspiring. In fact, I might even double major in Psychology and Spanish now, but I need to crunch the numbers a few more times. One thing I know for sure: I don't want to lose my Spanish knowledge after I leave Spain. I'm hoping that maybe I can track down a conversation partner so that my talking ability doesn't completely disappear. Plus, I love to talk in any language.

2. Family. (I know that people have been wanting to see pictures, but I haven't gotten any yet. Don't worry-- I will take some before the semester is over!) Apart from my lack of pictures, everything with my host family has been going swimmingly. I feel like we have really bonded over the last few weeks. One of my favorite parts of the day is dinner because this is the time when I get to joke around with my host brothers, Victor and Abel. They really let loose since my host mom usually doesn't eat with us. Most of the time they call each other "tonto" (dumb), and I just sit there laughing. I'm their captive audience. But we also bond over our television shows, and sometimes we sit together for a while after dinner just watching our favorite game show: El Cubo. They are also good teachers for me, even though the words they teach me might not be exactly PG. It's rumored that we might take a family trip to a little town called Guadalest next Sunday, which I'm sure would be a lot of fun. Maybe that's when I can get my family pictures....

3. Work. Not sure if I can call it that, but I will anyway. Every Wednesday, I take the tram to the San Juan beach area to tutor Bernardo, an ears/nose/throat doctor, in English. I think I may have written about him before, but I just thought that I'd give a reminder and an update. Seriously though, I would do this job for free. I enjoy it that much. In fact, I feel almost guilty for taking his money sometimes because he teaches me almost as much as I teach him. Also, he has discovered my weakness for sweets, so he makes sure to give me chocolates during each of our tutoring sessions. Last Wednesday he even brought me a pastry similar to a cinnamon roll! Then, he was headed into Alicante, so he gave me a ride home. That was the first time that I've been in a car in Spain (besides a taxi), so I was fascinated by the roads and the change of scenery as I was taking a completely new route. This job is also very rewarding-- I helped Bernardo learn English phrases to use when he and his wife travel to Turkey for their anniversary in just a few weeks. His excitement and newfound confidence in English always make our sessions a highlight during the week.

4. Rowing. This week I started a rowing class that I'll have for the next few weeks. We meet twice a week for an hour each time. As un-coordinated as we all look out on the water, I have so much fun! There's nothing more beautiful than paddling through the gentle waves of the port right as the sun is setting. It's incredible.

As for this weekend, I'm going hiking on Saturday and then I'm headed to Valencia on Monday to experience Las Fallas, a famous festival in Spain. The weather continues to get better all the time, so I'l probably be out enjoying the sunshine in my free time. And hey, maybe I will even fit in a little fiesta time after all. Haha.

El Capital

Last weekend I visited one of my new favorite cities on the planet: Madrid. I was excited to visit the capital, but I was not prepared for how much I would love it. Let me tell you: Madrid is incredible.

The hostel

My travel there started at 4:30am on Friday morning. My friend/travel-companion Rosie and I caught a taxi at that early hour in order to make our flight. Everything went smoothly, and we arrived in Madrid with a whole day ahead of us. And of course, we had our priorities straight. After getting a little turned around as to the direction of our hostel, we decided to settle for some coffee and the-most-delicious-pastry-of-my-life. I'm pretty sure that it's called a neopoliano (or something along those lines), but it's filled with chocolate and delight. After chowing down, we found our hostel-- which was located in the heart of the city near a plaza called Puerta del Sol. Our hostel was awesome! 

In front of the Prado. Being an artist...

Once our bags had been dropped off, we began our museum circuit. We started off at the Prado Museum, which is one of the most famous museums in Spain and in Europe. The current hype at the Prado is a copy of the "Mona Lisa," which was believed to be painted by a pupil of Da Vinci. The other plus: we got in for free because we are students. And the free entry didn't stop there. We also got into the Reina Sofia for free, which holds a variety of works from Picasso, Dali, and other more modern artists. Seriously, can I be a student forever? The museum circuit can be a little tiring, though, so Rosie and I decided to make the most of the Spanish lifestyle with some food and a little siesta. Friday night was mellow: after a great dinner, we had our first movie theater experience in Spain. Oh my goodness, what an experience it was! It actually wasn't that much different from any other movie theater (minus the assigned seats), but our movie choice was what got us in trouble. We were hoping to see the movie in Spanish, but alas, we ended up seeing a film that took place in New York City and the only Spanish thing about it was the subtitles. It was the most intense movie of my life because it was some sort of contemporary award-winning film about a sex addict. Not sure if I recommend it, but if you are wondering, it's called Shame. Viewer discretion advised. Very advised. Ah!

I accidentally got this beauty from a vending machine at the hostel. Nothing screams tourist like a giant water bottle.
But I did have fun posing with it for the rest of the morning!

The next day, we woke up and headed straight for the Palacio Real. It's another one of the big ticket items in Madrid, and it's not hard to figure out why. It's presence is stunning. We were able to walk through the entire thing, and it was so interesting to be in a place that holds centuries worth of history. We also walked around the surrounding parks and through some of the more populated parts of the city. Hunger began to set in, so we found a menu del dia (the best way to eat in Spain) for lunch in Plaza Mayor, another hotspot in Madrid. For only 9 euros, I got paella, the entirety of a small bottle of red wine, bread, pork chops with fries, and a dessert. I love Spain! It was also a gorgeous day in Madrid, which made our outdoor eating experience all the better. After eating, we had a bit of a second wind, so we headed to the park known as Buen Retiro. I LOVE THIS PARK! Apparently I'm developing (or solidifying) an affinity for parks. This park was huge, and there was actually a large pond in the middle where you could rent a boat to row around in. I loved the vibe of the park- a combination of activity and relaxation. It was perfect.

BEST DEAL EVER! (Pictured: Paella and bottle of wine)

Buen Retiro (Park with the pond)

Naturally, it was time for a siesta at this point. We geared up for a big night of going out, and later in the night, we met up with one of Rosie's friends who is teaching English in Madrid. She took us to a "small" club, which still felt pretty big to me. And guess what? They played songs from Grease! So strange. Also, my hair proved to be a fascination for people in the club, which was an interesting experience to say the least. Our late night ended with a scrumptious Nutella crepe, and we were able to sleep for a few hours before heading back to home sweet home, Alicante. Overall, it was a great trip-- a balance of activity and leisure, a time of pleasure and a lesson in history. I'm excited to return to Madrid with my parents when they visit because it's definitely one of my favorite places that I've visited.

In other news, I'm getting addicted to a Spanish television game show. This is a good thing, though, because it's a great way for me to bond with my host brothers, Victor and Abel. It's called El Cubo, and in the game show, one person goes into this giant glass cube to complete some challenge. I've never seen Minute To Win It in the States, but I think it's reminiscent of that. We get pretty into it, and I've even let out a little squeal when watching the show during and after dinner. Last night, Victor and Abel said that I should go on the show since I'm the only one who is over 18, and they would sit in the area designated for the family and friend support. What a triumphant moment for me! 

As for this weekend, I'm looking forward to staying in Alicante. It should be a weekend of fun, sun, relaxation, and some homework too. I'm hoping to catch up on my sleep, but you never know what will happen...

London Part 2

Time to continue the recount of my adventure in London! I'll be posting about Madrid soon, but it seems like I'm perpetually behind in my blog. Also, before I get going, thanks to everyone who has been giving me such kind feedback about my blog. I appreciate it so much! It always makes me happy that my ramblings are being enjoyed. I love my readers!

So now, where was I? That's right: Saturday. This was my last full day in London, and I definitely lived it up. Kim and I got a little bit later of a start (let's just say that pubbing the night before doesn't lead to early mornings), but we still did so much. We took the tube to some of the other major sites in London: Covent Garden and Picadilly Circus to name some specifics. Once again, we took our time and basically toured at our own leisure. Chocolate waffle? Let's eat it. Book store? Let's peruse it. So all in all, we were having a great day. Later, we ate at a cute, little restaurant called The Breakfast Club in an area called Angel. Tucked in the colorfully cozy corner, we chowed down since it was our first legitimate meal of the day. I'm finally getting used to the whole no-tip policy in European restaurants. It was strange at first to walk away from a meal bill with only a few cents left in most cases (with exceptional service, the tipping is more normal), but now it's not only cost effective but more on par with the cultural practices here as well.

Gorgeous scene in Hyde Park.

On a whim, we decided to go to Hyde Park after we ate. Best decision ever. Hyde Park at sunset is incredibly beautiful, and I'm sure that if I lived in London, I would spend a large amount of my free time there. You can find a little bit of everything there: from secluded reading spots to more crowded jogging paths. It's also quite a large park, so I don't think that we saw even half of it. It was probably my favorite spot in London, and it was a great finishing touch to my visit.

Spoiler alert: here's where things start getting crazy. 

I didn't realize that when I booked my flight back to Alicante that the airport was an hour and a half away from where I was staying. The other catch about my cheap flight: it was at 7am. This meant that I would have to leave around 4:30am-ish so that I could make my flight. It was somewhat complicated to get to the airport since not a lot of bus/train/tube drivers are available at such a time in the morning. However, Kim and I figured it out, so all I had to do was execute the plan. Or so I thought.

I ended up pulling an all-nighter: we got to talking, eating Nutella toast, and drinking honey mint tea so it was pointless to go to bed. About 3:30am, I said goodbye to Kim so that I could embark on the next leg of my adventure. I had no problem catching the bus that was supposed to drop me off near the train station that I needed. I thought it would be easy to see it from the stop, but it wasn't. So with the help of a random bus driver, a few drunk clubbers, and a security guard, I finally made it to the station (which wasn't far but just hidden among the buildings). I bought my ticket and was excited because I thought that I was actually going to get to the airport early. They told me that there was going to be a bus replacement, but that didn't phase me. I just stood waiting on Platform 10 with my fellow cheap-travelling companions, many of whom didn't speak English or Spanish. The bus was supposed to leave at 4:10am, so I only had a few minutes to wait.

But then it was 4:20am, and the bus hadn't come. And then it was 4:30am, and the bus still hadn't come. And then it was 4:40am, and the bus still hadn't come. And people were starting to freak out. By this point, a pretty large crowd had gathered, and people with even earlier boarding times than me were almost guaranteed to miss their flights. I was able to push my way to the front, and I talked to one of the men in charge. What a stroke of luck! He told me that there was a more reliable bus that I could probably still catch, and it was cheaper. But it would take much longer, so there was no time to waste. After dealing with all of the panicking and stressed people-- of whom I was one-- I made it onto the other bus. The bus driver literally had to pull away because people kept trying to crowd on. Stressful situations turn people into animals. At this point it was 5am, and I was a little scared that I wasn't going to have enough time for the 1.5 hour drive, plus security, plus getting to my gate in time. 

I'll save any more of the nitty gritty details and just tell you that I made it in time. By some miracle, I even had time to get a bite to eat. I also made a friend on the bus with whom I could commiserate about this horrible situation. I seriously never fail to make great, temporary travelling buddies. This whole overwhelming trek had left me incredibly tired, so I fell asleep on the plane instantly. And I mean instantly. Seriously. I don't even remember taking off, and that's pretty strange for me since I usually have a hard time sleeping on planes. 

I can't even describe the happiness that I felt when I made it back to Alicante. It made Alicante truly feel like home. I had a great time in London, but my big adventure definitely made me appreciate Alicante even more. There really is no place like home. Even if your current home is in a foreign country thousands of miles away from anything you've ever known before. 

London (And more) Part 1

I realize that I haven't written in a little while, but I guess that's a good thing because I've been incredibly busy! I seriously don't know where the time goes. I swear that I wake up and next thing I know, it's time for bed. A lot has been happening in the past few weeks, so I have decided to break my London post into two parts to make it more manageable for myself. I'm also going to add in some details that have absolutely no relation to London. So bear with me. Here we go.

Kim and I in London near the Tower Bridge.

Last Thursday, I left for London directly after class. And I mean directly. I took the bus home, made a quick stop to pick up my travel bag, and just barely caught the bus in time to the airport with my juice box in hand. I arrived to the airport in plenty of time, but that was a good thing because some confusion ensued. I knew that I needed to get my visa checked, but I didn't know where. If there is one thing that I've learned about the Spanish people, it's the fact that they have a different sense of "lejos" (far). Many of the people who were directing me to the office where I needed to go were telling me that it was far away on the right. I guess by their standards it was, but I still think that they could have just easily pointed me to the office, which I thought was pretty close. So after taking several laps around the Alicante airport, I finally got my visa checked, and the trip continued as normal. However, I was still a little stressed about what would happen when I finally arrived in London. The airport was about an hour away from where I needed to be, so I was hoping to catch the right train to get to Kings Cross station (the same station that Harry Potter uses).

Anyway, talk about a mini-culture shock when I landed in London! Here I was, walking Spain pace-- which is quite a bit slower than even my normal pace-- and I was about to get trampled by the Brits! Seriously, they don't mess around. Everything is fast-paced. No one stands still. Somehow I managed to get on the right train, but everything happened so fast that I wasn't quite sure I'd done everything right. Thank goodness for no language barrier because I was able to confirm with those around me that I was headed in the right direction.

(Side note: I'm convinced that travelling is a combination of patience, humility, and luck. Often times, I feel like I'm just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to catch all of the planes, trains, and buses that I need with relative ease. When things seem more difficult, it's best to be patient with others and to ask. During this trip, there were times where I thought, "Oh, I can totally figure this out on my own." Well, long story short, I couldn't. I just needed to practice humility and to ask around. People are actually quite helpful. Especially when you are patient with them.)

So I made it to St. Pancras, which is right next to King's Cross station, and I had planned to meet Kimmy at a Starbucks near a McDonald's. (Funny, right?) Anyway, I found her! Best moment ever! After feeling eternally rushed, I finally had a minute to sit with one of my best friends and to enjoy a Grande Starbucks coffee. So tasty! I checked into my hostal with ease, and then I spent an enjoyable night with Kimmy and her friends exploring a few pubs in London. I even experienced the craziness known as the London Tube and the chaos that is the double-decker bus, which broke down on us a few times.

Big Ben!

The next day (Friday), Kim took me to many of the major sites in London: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the Tower Bridge, etc. We had a great day, and we walked a ton! I loved the pace because we just took our time and didn't try to rush. I knew that I wasn't going to conquer London in this trip, but it was nice to see some of the major sites. We rode on the tube a lot, and of course, that provided us with some great people-watching as well. You just never know what you are going to see on public transportation. That night, we explored a few more bars/pubs. So much fun to be had! The only undesirable part- we met the most intense creeper. He was trying to convince us that he was from America, when in actuality he was probably from somewhere in Asia. He didn't talk much but his looks were long and uncomfortable. Oh well. We were safe, and it provided some great laughs later.

Now, I'm going to leave you in suspense here, but I promise that I'll write about the rest of my London trip soon! There's still a lot of adventure to be told. But now I want to fill you in on what's been happening in Alicante. I've had a great week! I'm feeling incredibly good about my Spanish skills, and I've been meeting lots of new Spanish-speaking friends. On Monday, I was sitting on a bench in the plaza near where I live when an old man and an old woman sat down next to me. We were both minding our own business. For a little while, at least. They saw that I was journalling in English, and so they asked me if I was a student. The rest is history. We talked for about an hour, and they were just so darn adorable. What jokesters! Apparently they are recent best friends since both of their spouses have passed away. They live with their kids, but they like to have company when they sit out in the Alicante sunshine. The lady was 89 and the man was 86, so their activity was pretty impressive to me. The man even gave me some Hershey's chocolate! They sit there frequently, so they invited me to join them again if I see them around. The caretaker of the woman has two daughters, who are also interested in practicing English and Spanish with me. So much conversation to be had, so little time.

So, as you can probably tell, I absolutely love Spain. I'm starting to feel at home here, and my language ability is reflecting my transformation. Sometimes it even freaks me out a little bit-- whoa, I can actually understand and respond (within limits) to what they are saying in a totally different language! I'm almost halfway through my time here, so I can only imagine what it will feel like at the end. Hopefully I won't become unbearably annoying as I compare everything back in the US to my time in Spain. Well that's all for now, but I'll be writing again soon. I'm going to Madrid this weekend, which will be a different taste of Spanish culture. Can't wait!

Oh, Carnaval

Whoa. Biggest weekend of my life.

On Friday, Carnaval began in Alicante. Carnaval is basically a huge fiesta that occurs just before lent starts in the Catholic tradition. It goes from Friday until this upcoming Wednesday, but Saturday is the biggest part of the celebration. On Saturday, one of the major streets here was closed off to traffic, and two stages were set up on opposite ends of the street. In between the two stages? An outdoor bar. These Spaniards really know how to fiesta. Anyway, Carnaval is also a time to dress in costume, and without one, you would surely stand out. So with these basics in mind, I will recount a few highlights from my weekend.

On Friday, I went with friends to an intercambio gathering. This mixer was meant to match up Spanish speakers with English speakers so that everyone could practice using languages outside of their native tongues. My group of friends got partnered with a large group of guys, and we found out later that most of them have been friends since kindergarten. Many of them are studying law at the University, and they are a fun and friendly group. And we all hit it off right away! We spoke only in Spanish with the promise that we will meet again to speak in English another day. However, our night did not end there. After exchanging some contact info, we decided that we would all meet up later to hang out. Fast forward to midnight: there we were hanging out with our new Spanish friends in a local bar. Such a fun night! It was great to get to know our new friends better, and we even talked a little bit in English. They were so nice to us-- true Spanish caballeros (gentlemen). Overall, I probably spent about 5 hours talking in Spanish that night. Fast forward until 4am: still there. So yeah, it was a good night.

One of my favorite photos from the night.
(I was supposed to be a hippie)

Saturday was a gorgeous day, and I was able to go to the beach for a little bit to take in some sun between catching up on sleep and prepping my costume for the evening. And then round two began! My friends and I started our night in an apartment before hitting the streets around midnight (which is actually still considered early in Spain). There was so much to be seen: crazy costumes, parties in the street, two simultaneous concerts, and people-watching galore. There was also a lot of fun to be had: bars, clubs, anywhere in Alicante. Fast forward to 5am: we met with our new friends from the night before. I was so pleased that I could converse in Spanish to arrange our meeting not only at such a late hour, but also after a night of fiesta-ing. Fast forward to 6:30am: finally in bed after an unsuccessful attempt to get a snack. Oh, Carnaval, so much fun but not a lot of rest! Needless to say, I'm using the first part of this week to catch up on sleep before I head to London to visit Kim this weekend. The adventure continues.

A City of Tapas and Kings

The Alhambra

To sum up my first overnight trip abroad: absolutely wonderful. This past weekend I went to Granada with the entire USAC program. It was basically an extended field trip because the costs of lodging and of travelling had already been paid in my program fees. It was all planned for us. And what a treat it was!

The Sierra Nevadas and the Alhambra.

My journey began at 10am on Friday morning, and the only thing standing between me and my destination was a four-and-a-half hour bus ride. Filled with coffee and cornflakes, I boarded the bus, and the ride turned out to be rather beautiful with lots of spanning countryside. After arriving in Granada, we took a walking tour of the city. One of my favorite stops on this tour was El Mirador de San Nicolas, where you could see almost all of Granda-- complete with a view of the stunning Alhambra (more to come on this place later). Granada is nestled beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain, and this was fun for me since it reminded me of the Sierra Nevada mountains from home. Even after travelling thousands of miles, I guess home still does mean Nevada.

Anyway, after the walking tour, we were set free on the city of Granada, which translated to tapas time! After re-grouping, a bunch of us went out to tapas because Granada is well-known for its superior tapas. (For those of you who don't know what tapas are, I'll quickly explain. Tapas are appetizers that come with drinks, usually at little bar restaurants. They are delicious and cheap!) Friday night was a good learning experience because by Saturday night, we were tapas pros. We already had a favorite place in mind called the Minotaur, so we made a dinner of it. For just 2 euro (about $2.60) you can order a drink, as in beer or wine, and get a tapa for "free." At Minotaur, the tapa was a hearty sandwich with chips. Best deal ever! I'm pretty sure that you can't even get a drink alone for that price in the US. So needless to say, that was one of the highlights of the Granada trip.

Friday night was also completed with an unintentional and impromptu walking tour of most of Granada. After tapas and bar hopping, a few of us were ready to hit the hay in our super nice hotel because we had an early morning the next day. My directional abilities have always been less than desirable, but for some reason my friend and I were convinced that we knew the exact way home. Well, to make a long story short, we didn't. The good news: we made it back. The extension of this news: we made it back in an hour when it probably should have only took us fifteen minutes. Lesson learned, and I actually quite enjoyed seeing some new parts of the city. As most of you know, I'm always willing to have an adventure (within reason, of course).

A beautiful scene at the Alhambra.

The next day began with a guided tour of the Alhambra (see pictures), which was SO GORGEOUS! The Alhambra is seeped with history because it dates back to times of Arab kings in Spain. Another fun fact: Christopher Columbus and Bill Clinton have both been there. It took us about 3 hours to see the whole thing, and it was well worth the trip. I opted for the mostly Spanish-speaking tour guide, so I got to practice my Spanish as well. After experiencing the Alhambra, I wandered down the hill through a gypsy-influenced neighborhood with some friends. There were so many interesting tea and trinket shops. At this point, we were quite hungry and opted for the traditional Spanish menu del dia. The menu del dia gives you two plates of food and a dessert for a relative cheap price-- 10 euro (about $13). The sun was shining as we enjoyed our delicious Spanish cuisine. Then after lunch it was time for the most important Spanish tradition-- the siesta. We took a rest (and in my case, the best hot shower of my life) before getting ready to have tapas. And you know the rest from there. The only other notable experience: a scrumptious batch of chocolate and churros at a hopping specialty place. I'm seriously getting addicted to that treat!

On Sunday, we returned to Alicante, and it was neat to experience the feeling of coming "home" after a trip. It solidified in my mind the fact that Alicante is my home for the next few months. I've been here a month now, and in this short time, I've had experiences and realizations that will last me a lifetime. I can't wait to see what the upcoming months bring!

A Day Away

I can't believe that I've been living in Alicante for over 3 weeks now. What did I do to celebrate this fact? Well yesterday I went on a day trip to Valencia-- just north of here-- with a group organized through the university. Five other friends from my program joined me as we boarded the bus full of international students at 8:30 am for a fun-filled day. This weekend's lesson: a few laughs and a cup of coffee can make everything better. I'll explain.

In front of a beautiful cathedral
with my friend Katie.

We arrived in Valencia around 11am, and the first half of our journey took us through the city center. Because the weather called for highs in the 50s and only a light chance of rain, naturally, it was instead probably in the 40s and lightly raining. No pasa nada. I was still in awe at the beautiful buildings that comprise the heart of Valencia. Our tour guide explained everything in Spanish, so that was also a great learning experience. It's getting easier all the time! I did catch that Valencia is the third most important city in Spain, only topped by Madrid and Barcelona. This fact doesn't surprise me after witnessing the combination of beauty and history in the city center. 

After the tour, we had an hour and a half to eat and to explore. Because of the chilly weather, we all wanted to eat the kindly-packed lunches from our host moms inside, but it was difficult to find shelter that wasn't a restaurant. So what did we do? We went to a dessert and drinks place and sat on the second floor, hoping that they wouldn't be bothered my our aluminum foil-wrapped sandwiches. Well, they were. So we hastily ordered small drinks and quickly paid before leaving still in hunger. The Estonian boy who had been hanging out with our group was mortified that we had tried to be impolite, and he also could barely speak English or Spanish, which made conversation a bit tricky. So when it seemed that everything was falling to pieces outside the curb of said restaurant, of course it started to rain harder. Definitely a learning experience. But the good news: it doesn't take long for things to turn around.

The reason it's easy to put on weight here.

Three of us decided to brave the elements and to just make do with what we had: a park bench, sandwiches, and a good sense of humor. We scarfed down our sandwiches in the rain, and one friend decided to feed the pigeons with a bit of bread. I've never seen a swarm of birds like that it my life! I swear that they flew from miles away just to fight with the other thousands of pigeons (I'm exaggerating again) for a measly piece of bread. We got a good laugh out of the situation, and the day only got better as my next purchases included a slab of chocolate cake and a hot cup of coffee. I even found a bathroom: thank you, McDonald's. After all of this, it was time to head to embark on the next part of our journey: the Oceanografic.

Site of pigeon attack!

And how beautiful it was! It's the largest and most well-known aquarium in all of Europe. I'm sure in the summer it's probably like Sea World without the rides. Regardless, it was an incredible few hours spent wandering among fishes, sharks, and whales. When I first planned on visiting the Oceanographic I thought, "I've been to aquariums and I've seen Finding Nemo, how special can this be?" I was wrong. It was by far, the most impressive aquarium that I've ever visited, and I don't think it can be topped. There is a special section of Valencia called the City of Arts and Sciences, which I'm sure holds more wonders to be seen, but the Oceanografic was definitely worth the trip.

One of my favorite rooms.

I look forward to the upcoming weekend as well because I'll be travelling to Granada with my entire program (after I take the final for the first part of my intensive Spanish class-- time flies!). I've heard that Granada is a must-visit, and I can wait to see for myself.

Thing You Should Know About Alicante

I realized that I have missed some major points about Alicante, so here comes the list:

1. Everyone walks. Everyone smokes. Everyone has a dog or a cart, or both. Ok, so I might be exaggerating, but these are a few things that I have noticed since I moved here. The sidewalks are often crowded, and I love people watching during these times. Although the Spanish eat very well, they seem to stay in shape because of their extensive walking. Paths along the beach and up to the castle make it easy to take an afternoon stroll.  While I quickly adjusted to the walking routine, it's been a bit harder for me to pick up smoking (just kidding, Mom). A lot more people smoke in Spain than in the US, but it's not really that big of a deal to me.  As for the dogs and carts: it's true, you can find many Spaniards taking a dog or a cart on their walks through the city. In some areas, dogs have over-pooped their welcome (see sign). If someone doesn't have a dog with them, chances are they have a cart. The carts are convenient for carrying groceries. Plastic bags cost money here, so a cart is a necessity. They are actually pretty stylish, too.  

Pobre perros.

Exception to rule: everyone who doesn't walk, drives. Everyone who drives, speeds. Basic rule of thumb-- be very careful when you cross the street.

2. Showers are optional. While in Alicante, I've been trying to shower only every other day. There is a water shortage here, so it's an expensive commodity. Out of respect, I'm trying to use as little as possible. I even turn off the shower while scrubbing and shampooing. At first, this took some getting used to, but now I'm actually finding it to be kind of nice.  It means more sleep and less time having a wet head.

3. Laundry takes days. There are no dryers in Alicante. I'm pretty sure that the washing cycles also take a long time, so laundry takes 3 or 4 days to be completed after going in the washer and then hanging to dry. This is great for two reasons: I'm a lot more conscious of how I wear my clothes now and also, everyone gets to see their neighbor's underwear. Ha!

4. They aren't mad at you, it's just how they talk. I love the passion of the Spaniards, but sometimes it can be overwhelming when they speak. They are very animated and loud (I fit in well), but it's easy to misconstrue their passion for anger, especially when you don't actually understand what they are saying. Even waiters will just shout "¡Dime!" ("Talk to me!"), which can seem a bit intense at first. The good news: it's that way for everyone. For instance, a lady on the bus today was shouting into her phone. The entire bus could hear her conversation, but it didn't seem to phase anyone. There have been times where I've worried about being disliked by my host family, only to realize that it's just the conversation style. So it's all good.

5. Markets are the best. Especially Saturday markets. Even though we got incredibly lost, some friends and I eventually made it to the market on Saturday morning. It has everything that you could ever want: clothes, shoes, sewing materials, fruits, nuts, candy, vegetables, and baked goods. And it's all relatively cheap! The deals are almost as good as the people watching, and I plan on returning again before my semester is over.