Chris got in from work really late last night, so I waited up til 4 in the morning to talk to him. We talked until some time after 5 a.m. I must have been exhausted. So, this morning when I woke up..I was just laid out in my bed. My Madre came to the door and knocked. I can still hear her voice ringing in my head, I leaned over and looked to the door as she peaks her head in and says in her soft, Spanish and playful tone, "?Mari? ?Tú sabes que hora es?" Her sarcasm gets me every time. I looked at my watch...yes. I did know what time it was. 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON!?! Holy cow. Maybe I should not stay up so late. She preceded to tell me that she knew I was up late. She knew it was because of my boyfriend. And she thinks it is funny that I am so in love. She just laughed and walked out of the room. I am starting to think I am solely here for her comic relief. lol
We went to lunch after we both showered. Oh, and I met Sara's husband, Nacho. He was sooooo cute, but soooooo short. He looks like a good match for her. They are really happy.
When we were at the restaurant, just like every other day, in walks two Spanish/maybe American looking guys around my age. Maybe a little older. I heard them saying things in Spanish, but that accent was AMERICAN! They were having trouble ordering so I asked them if they spoke any English. Instantly we became friends. I told them what was good, helped them order, and then we talked for the next hour while we ate and discussed Spain. They are traveling Europe and this is one of their first few stops. They mentioned having to catch the train around 9 tonight, and it was only around 4:30 p.m. when we finished eating dinner, so I invited them to come with me and meet up with my friends. They ended up staying with us for a good bit. We just walked around Segovia. It started to pour raining so we ran to our favorite bar/restaurant and hid out for a few hours. We ordered some drinks and cake and just had a really good time. They are from Arizona. Carey just graduated from the University of Arizona and his younger brother Chrisman is going to be a junior. They seemed to really enjoy our company. They think that they might be traveling around in Italy and France about the same time we are going to be. We are going to stay in touch via facebook and see if we can meet up over there. It is crazy how much just a simple home country can unite people. We didn't even know them, but they are American, so now they are our friends.
After the boys left us to head to the train station, Derrick, Christy, and I decided that it was too early to go inside. We wanted to walk around more. We normally take all of the same roads to get to everywhere, but tonight for some reason we wanted to explore the back streets and corridors. We walked for a good bit and randomly decided to stop in front of this church. We looked to the top of it and there was a bell tower that we all wanted to climb. We looked at the door, but there was a sign that stated that it was closed until July 19. Man! We were bummed. So we just stood around leaning on the side of it, and I sat on the sidewalk with my back to it.
We just talked. Enjoyed the chilled air. All of a sudden these old women came up to us. They started to talk to us in Castillano. Remember, we speak only Spanish, not the local dialects. We were not doing so well at figuring out what in the world they were trying to tell us. Next, from around the corner an short, old man walked towards the church with an enormous iron key. He began to speak to us in Spanish, and we definitely understood what he was saying to us. He wanted us to come inside...WHAT!!! You have got to be kidding me. This sweet old man. Came out of nowhere. He turned the key in the large wooden doors and let us into this temple. I cannot recall a time where I have felt more overwhelmed by feelings of Tom and Huck in my life. This was so adventurous. The moment we walked into the door, I had goosebumps. I could feel my God moving. The only reason we were standing where we were was because our God loves to share in our joy. Derrick, Christy and I were freaking out with excitement. He began to show us around this small church. It was incredible. Some of the artwork and ceilings were from the 12th and 18th century. This place was old. We wouldn't get to the bell tower which was kind of a let down, but this man, Quirico, just let us enjoy ourselves.
Derrick was in the back of the church sitting in the pews talking with the older women. I noticed he had something in his hands that wasn't there before. When we finished, Quirico walked us out and locked up behind us. Christy asked if we could get a picture with him, so we got one in front of it. The name of the church is Iglesia de San Sebastian. Quirico walks one way, we walk the other. Probably one of the most amazing moments in my life, and then Derrick shows us the bag. Helena, one of the older women, gave him bread for us to share. Three pieces. One for each of us. God must have known we were going to be meeting up with her so she would have had the right amount of bread. The bread was sweet with sugar, and it tasted of licorice. Our hearts were full, and the only thing we could do was laugh.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Warning!!
Someone please explain to me how this could happen:
Last night while I was waiting to get a skype call from Chris on my computer, I fell asleep. The computer was next to me on the bed. I woke up because my arm was hurting. I feel my arm and there is a welt on it. I turn it around to see a huge burn across my arm. My computer burnt me.
Important information if traveling abroad:
Some doorknobs are in the middle of the door.
Keys do not always work very well. It might take you four or five minutes to open your door. Therefore, do not run home with a murderer chasing you hoping that you can get into your house quickly. You cannot.
The tank to the toilets are above your head.
Last night while I was waiting to get a skype call from Chris on my computer, I fell asleep. The computer was next to me on the bed. I woke up because my arm was hurting. I feel my arm and there is a welt on it. I turn it around to see a huge burn across my arm. My computer burnt me.
Important information if traveling abroad:
Some doorknobs are in the middle of the door.
Keys do not always work very well. It might take you four or five minutes to open your door. Therefore, do not run home with a murderer chasing you hoping that you can get into your house quickly. You cannot.
The tank to the toilets are above your head.
Stupid American
Let's just go ahead and start the list:
1. My Madre does not want dirt tracked into her house and does not want us walking in her house barefoot. She gives me house slippers to wear at all times. I accidentally wear them out in public...she no longer allows me to wear them inside the house, so she had to go out and buy me new ones. Cool. I already feel dumb. Let's make it worse. It rained today. I come home wet. Hair wet. Clothes wet. Feet wet. So? I take my shoes off. I walk into the house barefoot, and I go to the living room to finish watching the game (P.s. Chile v. Spain - Spain WON 2-1). She instantly gives me a "what-about-wear-your-house-slippers-do-you-not-get?" look. Crap.
2. I guess our customs are just really different than theirs'. I get home from school and place my backpack on my bed. I sit down to do something on my computer. She walks in to ask "?Qué tal?" She sees my backpack on the bed, grabs it, and then very politely explains to me that, no, bookbags do not belong on beds. Crap. Crap.
3. The first day I was here, my Madre asked me before I went to bed what time I wanted to wake up. We agreed on a time, and the next morning she woke me up. The next day came, and we did the same. She asked me what time I wanted to wake up, and the next morning she woke me up. Apparently, two days of a routine does not mean that the third day will go the same. Yesterday, my Madre asked me when I wanted to be woken up. I replied with an answer. This morning rolls around....and no Madre. I woke up - God only knows how - to look at my watch that reads 15 minutes til class starts. My walk to school is 17 minutes long...Crap. Crap. Crap!
Now, I was feeling pretty badly for my Madre, because I could only imagine how bad she was going to feel when she realized she had forgotten to wake me up this morning..the key word in that sentence is "was." I get back, expecting an apology (I had prepared all morning my response to her apology so I was grammatically correct.) but no. All I get was "María, what happened this morning?" (In spanish.) At lunch, later in the day, my Padre asks the same thing. He just laughs. I am guessing they are thinking this was my fault???
All I know is that on Monday, I am setting my OWN alarm.
4. Gestures are different, too. The way you greet people is different. I know this. In Spain, it is customary to kiss on the cheek twice. Left first. Then Right. Today, (I guess today I was just off.) Fuen and I went to the store to buy food for the family. Just us girls, simple little walk, fun. We run into her very respectable looking cousin. Handsome. Successful. Spanish. She introduces me. And I guess the American in me just couldn't help but come out. I went to shake his hand :/ but he came in for the kiss (a greeting kiss not a romantic kiss). You could imagine this. He leaned in, I lifted my hand, he stared at my hand, I stared at his kissy face, he leaned back, I leaned in, he looks stares back. CRAP!
5. Like I said earlier, Fuen and I went to the grocery store. Everything in that place is different...no...OPPOSITE of the States. Finally, we finish getting all of our groceries with the exception of the fruit. We walk to the fruit. We look at the fruit. Everything is fine. We discuss the fruit. We are still fine. Fuen picks up a plastic glove and puts it on her hand. She explains to me that they are not supposed to touch the fruit with our bare hands because of germs. She then begins to feel, pick up, and put fruit into our basket with the gloved hand...I look at the fruit she is choosing. Man, does the fruit above these suckers look cool. I picked one up and smelled it. Oh. my. gosh. AMAZING!! The shape was so weird. It felt like a peach but looked like a UFO. I was in fruit bliss until....Fuen freaked out! ""MARÍA NOOOOOO!!!" Not fine anymore.
Remember that time she told me not to touch the fruit and then ten seconds later I did? Stupid American.
1. My Madre does not want dirt tracked into her house and does not want us walking in her house barefoot. She gives me house slippers to wear at all times. I accidentally wear them out in public...she no longer allows me to wear them inside the house, so she had to go out and buy me new ones. Cool. I already feel dumb. Let's make it worse. It rained today. I come home wet. Hair wet. Clothes wet. Feet wet. So? I take my shoes off. I walk into the house barefoot, and I go to the living room to finish watching the game (P.s. Chile v. Spain - Spain WON 2-1). She instantly gives me a "what-about-wear-your-house-slippers-do-you-not-get?" look. Crap.
2. I guess our customs are just really different than theirs'. I get home from school and place my backpack on my bed. I sit down to do something on my computer. She walks in to ask "?Qué tal?" She sees my backpack on the bed, grabs it, and then very politely explains to me that, no, bookbags do not belong on beds. Crap. Crap.
3. The first day I was here, my Madre asked me before I went to bed what time I wanted to wake up. We agreed on a time, and the next morning she woke me up. The next day came, and we did the same. She asked me what time I wanted to wake up, and the next morning she woke me up. Apparently, two days of a routine does not mean that the third day will go the same. Yesterday, my Madre asked me when I wanted to be woken up. I replied with an answer. This morning rolls around....and no Madre. I woke up - God only knows how - to look at my watch that reads 15 minutes til class starts. My walk to school is 17 minutes long...Crap. Crap. Crap!
Now, I was feeling pretty badly for my Madre, because I could only imagine how bad she was going to feel when she realized she had forgotten to wake me up this morning..the key word in that sentence is "was." I get back, expecting an apology (I had prepared all morning my response to her apology so I was grammatically correct.) but no. All I get was "María, what happened this morning?" (In spanish.) At lunch, later in the day, my Padre asks the same thing. He just laughs. I am guessing they are thinking this was my fault???
All I know is that on Monday, I am setting my OWN alarm.
4. Gestures are different, too. The way you greet people is different. I know this. In Spain, it is customary to kiss on the cheek twice. Left first. Then Right. Today, (I guess today I was just off.) Fuen and I went to the store to buy food for the family. Just us girls, simple little walk, fun. We run into her very respectable looking cousin. Handsome. Successful. Spanish. She introduces me. And I guess the American in me just couldn't help but come out. I went to shake his hand :/ but he came in for the kiss (a greeting kiss not a romantic kiss). You could imagine this. He leaned in, I lifted my hand, he stared at my hand, I stared at his kissy face, he leaned back, I leaned in, he looks stares back. CRAP!
5. Like I said earlier, Fuen and I went to the grocery store. Everything in that place is different...no...OPPOSITE of the States. Finally, we finish getting all of our groceries with the exception of the fruit. We walk to the fruit. We look at the fruit. Everything is fine. We discuss the fruit. We are still fine. Fuen picks up a plastic glove and puts it on her hand. She explains to me that they are not supposed to touch the fruit with our bare hands because of germs. She then begins to feel, pick up, and put fruit into our basket with the gloved hand...I look at the fruit she is choosing. Man, does the fruit above these suckers look cool. I picked one up and smelled it. Oh. my. gosh. AMAZING!! The shape was so weird. It felt like a peach but looked like a UFO. I was in fruit bliss until....Fuen freaked out! ""MARÍA NOOOOOO!!!" Not fine anymore.
Remember that time she told me not to touch the fruit and then ten seconds later I did? Stupid American.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Songs and ''How are you's''
Life lesson/reflection of the day: Be appreciative of the simple.
Let me explain. I wake up. Madre asks "Qué tal?" - This means what's up, or how are you?, or things of the sort. I go to class. I come home from class. Madre asks "Qué tal?"
I go out shopping. I come back from shopping. Madre asks "Qué tal?" I shower. Madre asks "Qué tal?" I leave for the night's fiestas. I come back. Madre asks "Qué tal?" I always assumed she was just seeing what her little American girl has been doing. As though she was supposed to obtain information to report back. Wrong.
Fuen gets home from work. Madre asks "Qué tal?"
I am not the only one Madre asks this question to? Nope. She asks Fuen. Madre actually cares about what we did that day. She wants to know what we bought. What we ate. Was it good? Where did you go? Were your classes good? How are your friends?
It's strange, because at first, I was getting overwhelmed with her questions. Thinking that I needed a new sentence formation and that she expected the grammatically correct phrase instantly, but each time she asked "Qué tal?" she really just wanted to know how I was doing. Genuine.
Songs: I got in the shower later today. After classes and shopping. The radio was on. And my Madre was sitting in the kitchen cleaning leather shoes with leather soap and singing. The kitchen is right next to the bathroom, and the walls are paper thin. So, while showering, I hear the radio get louder. Shakira came on.
Madre sings. It made me happy. Maybe that's weird. But the though of my mom (not the real one, but the presence of a mother) singing just lit up the house.Even if it was in Spanish. Maybe that doesn't seem like an eventful happening, but to me, I can't get it out of my head.
Let me explain. I wake up. Madre asks "Qué tal?" - This means what's up, or how are you?, or things of the sort. I go to class. I come home from class. Madre asks "Qué tal?"
I go out shopping. I come back from shopping. Madre asks "Qué tal?" I shower. Madre asks "Qué tal?" I leave for the night's fiestas. I come back. Madre asks "Qué tal?" I always assumed she was just seeing what her little American girl has been doing. As though she was supposed to obtain information to report back. Wrong.
Fuen gets home from work. Madre asks "Qué tal?"
I am not the only one Madre asks this question to? Nope. She asks Fuen. Madre actually cares about what we did that day. She wants to know what we bought. What we ate. Was it good? Where did you go? Were your classes good? How are your friends?
It's strange, because at first, I was getting overwhelmed with her questions. Thinking that I needed a new sentence formation and that she expected the grammatically correct phrase instantly, but each time she asked "Qué tal?" she really just wanted to know how I was doing. Genuine.
Songs: I got in the shower later today. After classes and shopping. The radio was on. And my Madre was sitting in the kitchen cleaning leather shoes with leather soap and singing. The kitchen is right next to the bathroom, and the walls are paper thin. So, while showering, I hear the radio get louder. Shakira came on.
Madre sings. It made me happy. Maybe that's weird. But the though of my mom (not the real one, but the presence of a mother) singing just lit up the house.Even if it was in Spanish. Maybe that doesn't seem like an eventful happening, but to me, I can't get it out of my head.
What in the world does she think of me!?
So..my madre. She is great. We get along well...but...maybe a little too much honesty?
First incidence - I woke up late. I got to school late. Therefore, I did not shower. I braided my hair. So, I asked..."Madre, does this look okay?" (In Spanish of course.)
Her response..."Üm. Not very good. But...not too bad?" Yep. That's right. I was officially not attractive and my older Spanish mother even knows enough to tell me so. Yeah...not such a great start to my day. haha
Second incidence - We are walking home from lunch from our restaurant. Madre wants to stop by the local fruit store that is right below us next to the dress shop. So, Madre, Fuen, and I all walk in. There is a nice young man at the counter. Madre and he talk about what to buy. Fuen and I talk about the differences in Spanish and English names for fruits. Nice young man hears us speaking. Nice young man asks "You speak Spanish?" (Again, of course in Spanish.) My super, splendid, and ever-so-blunt Madre responds..."HA! No." Seriously? Madre. For real? "No"?
I am stinkin in SPAIN! Living in your house and still ALIVE!!!!! I'm sure I know some Spanish... :(
Good ole Fuen backs me up. We both shout back "No? Sí! Yo hablo Espanol!!" "No? Sí! Ella habla Espanol!!" (You can get the gist of it.)
At least Fuen thinks I can. :( haha. I guess my madre just thinks our laughing conversations are insignificant...haha. Oh well. I guess I need to tell my Spanish 4000 level professors that I no longer speak Spanish.
(p.s. still love my Madre.)
First incidence - I woke up late. I got to school late. Therefore, I did not shower. I braided my hair. So, I asked..."Madre, does this look okay?" (In Spanish of course.)
Her response..."Üm. Not very good. But...not too bad?" Yep. That's right. I was officially not attractive and my older Spanish mother even knows enough to tell me so. Yeah...not such a great start to my day. haha
Second incidence - We are walking home from lunch from our restaurant. Madre wants to stop by the local fruit store that is right below us next to the dress shop. So, Madre, Fuen, and I all walk in. There is a nice young man at the counter. Madre and he talk about what to buy. Fuen and I talk about the differences in Spanish and English names for fruits. Nice young man hears us speaking. Nice young man asks "You speak Spanish?" (Again, of course in Spanish.) My super, splendid, and ever-so-blunt Madre responds..."HA! No." Seriously? Madre. For real? "No"?
I am stinkin in SPAIN! Living in your house and still ALIVE!!!!! I'm sure I know some Spanish... :(
Good ole Fuen backs me up. We both shout back "No? Sí! Yo hablo Espanol!!" "No? Sí! Ella habla Espanol!!" (You can get the gist of it.)
At least Fuen thinks I can. :( haha. I guess my madre just thinks our laughing conversations are insignificant...haha. Oh well. I guess I need to tell my Spanish 4000 level professors that I no longer speak Spanish.
(p.s. still love my Madre.)
Fire Jumping
People used to get the town together and jump over fire. It's tradition. Too bad they don't let us do it now. :(
Because of the summer fiestas (parties) that have been going on, we have been going out every night to see what is going on in this town.
Last night was Las Hogueras de San Juan. Thousands of Spaniards (and us) gathered around this barricated fire pit. HUGE! Probably as big as my Jeep, if not bigger. We thought people were going to jump it, but nobody ended up being allowed to. : ( Sad day. That could have been funny...or sad?
But what we did do was also part of their tradition. At the Hoguera, you are supposed to write down a wishes and regrets on separate pieces of paper. Then you can either throw it in the fire yourself, or you can hand it to the firemen, and they will do it for you. So, we did. But I had no regrets. At least none that were worth my effort in acknowleding, so I just wrote my wish on un papel and gave it to the nice man.
We had a blast.
P.s. It is crazy how much Espanoles (Spanish people) dance. They are always dancing. Little girls with their daddies. Little boys acting cool. College students with each other. Even the older generation. Young and old alike just dance to music in the streets. They have such a good time. The people are always out on the street! Which reminds me, today was the first day of classes :/ lol but something my culture and civ teacher taught us what that "En Espana, la vida está en la calle." (In Spain, life is in the street.) It is so true. People are just outside all day long. And the weather is PERFECT! Cooler at night. Nice during the day. And their clothes are the best by the way. Anyhow, yeah. Life is in the street. People just hang out in the streets. It's so easy for them to do because the buildings are so close to the roads and the stores are all connected. There is always something to buy or eat...
Because of the summer fiestas (parties) that have been going on, we have been going out every night to see what is going on in this town.
Last night was Las Hogueras de San Juan. Thousands of Spaniards (and us) gathered around this barricated fire pit. HUGE! Probably as big as my Jeep, if not bigger. We thought people were going to jump it, but nobody ended up being allowed to. : ( Sad day. That could have been funny...or sad?
But what we did do was also part of their tradition. At the Hoguera, you are supposed to write down a wishes and regrets on separate pieces of paper. Then you can either throw it in the fire yourself, or you can hand it to the firemen, and they will do it for you. So, we did. But I had no regrets. At least none that were worth my effort in acknowleding, so I just wrote my wish on un papel and gave it to the nice man.
We had a blast.
P.s. It is crazy how much Espanoles (Spanish people) dance. They are always dancing. Little girls with their daddies. Little boys acting cool. College students with each other. Even the older generation. Young and old alike just dance to music in the streets. They have such a good time. The people are always out on the street! Which reminds me, today was the first day of classes :/ lol but something my culture and civ teacher taught us what that "En Espana, la vida está en la calle." (In Spain, life is in the street.) It is so true. People are just outside all day long. And the weather is PERFECT! Cooler at night. Nice during the day. And their clothes are the best by the way. Anyhow, yeah. Life is in the street. People just hang out in the streets. It's so easy for them to do because the buildings are so close to the roads and the stores are all connected. There is always something to buy or eat...
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Catedral y Castillo (Cathedral and Castle)
Today, my madre walked me to school. We were one minute late. :) Oh, and she made me breakfast: cookies, nesquick, two muffins, and fruit. Not bad if you ask me. I took a shower, which was super tiny, and I had a hard time keeping the temperature right. Oh, yeah. And I blew the fuse already. BUT I WAS USING A CONVERTER! Oh well. I will just use theirs from now on, or maybe buy one.
We didn't have class. We went on a field trip.
First, La Catedral. HOLY STINKIN COW. Let's talk about take your breath away. And, yes, pictures do not do it justice, but here we go anyway...
After this stinkin awesome place, we got to go home. On our way home, a few us stopped and got some treat and water. Then window shopped. Finally, we saw six others from our group eating and having a drink. We sat with them. Had some sangría and pan (bread).
I went back to mi casa to upload more photos, but then my madre decided to take me to OUR RESTAURANT!! haha I love it.
P.s. When we got back from eating, she had fruit on the counter and put some in a napkin for me to take back to my room, so I wouldn't get hungry. haha This is the place for me!
This is mi Madre y mi Padre. :)
We didn't have class. We went on a field trip.
First, La Catedral. HOLY STINKIN COW. Let's talk about take your breath away. And, yes, pictures do not do it justice, but here we go anyway...
After this stinkin awesome place, we got to go home. On our way home, a few us stopped and got some treat and water. Then window shopped. Finally, we saw six others from our group eating and having a drink. We sat with them. Had some sangría and pan (bread).I went back to mi casa to upload more photos, but then my madre decided to take me to OUR RESTAURANT!! haha I love it.
P.s. When we got back from eating, she had fruit on the counter and put some in a napkin for me to take back to my room, so I wouldn't get hungry. haha This is the place for me!
This is mi Madre y mi Padre. :)
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