How Time Does Fly

At first I was seemingly so religious to post to this thing, doing my best to post at least once a week, but the story of my life if I had one would be titled LOCA!! Seeing the world is a lot busier then I could've ever imagined. So much happens and I do my best to mark it all down and keep in my memory as best as I can, but sometimes life happens so fast that things just go woosh, literally! The last couple of weeks were nothing short of hectic either. Mainly school keeping me busy.

The last couple of weeks worth of lessons have imporved immensly and Pablo was finally able to speak in a full English sentence and I felt extremely accomplished that he'd come from nothing to something in such a short time. Two hours a week in only six weeks or so seems pretty darn good to me. He can now say what he'd like in English with the verbs to want, to like, to have. We created a christmas list to Santa Klaus (Papa Noel) (Santa Klaus is the German word, Papa Noel is Santa in Spanish but Spaniards don't actually celebrate Santa as much as they do the Three Magic Kings or Reyes Magicos.) So we wrote one in English to Santa saying what he'd like for christmas and then one more in Spanish for mom to send away to Santa. This took up quite a bit of our time and afterwards we went over words for different toys and foods and transportation. The best accomplishment was when he only watched tv for the last ten minutes instead of a whole hour like he usually did. Over all I felt accomplished until his mother called me yesterday to tell me (or so I think at least) that my services would no longer be required for the last few weeks I'm here. She mentioned something about him learning too quickly and enrolling him in English classes. From accomplished to fired in a matter of days... oh well.

That wasn't the only event of the past. Last Saturday after my last update, that would be November 8th, my roomates Tom and Casi as well as myself and Tom's Spanish friend Gisa went out to what is called a Cidraria where the alcoholic version of apple cider is barrelled. It was an expensive but most delicious venture as we were welcomed with open arms and open taps into the stocks of 10 foot tall barrels filled with the delicious liquid as well as a four course meal consisting of chorizo, tortilla (the egg version not the mexican version) with bacalao (a fish, don't know what kind), steak, and a desert of cheese and membrillo (a hard jelly like substance almost like cranberry jelly except apple) and walnuts. But of course all the cider you could drink. Needless to say the people were very warming and welcoming (can't help but wonder if this wasn't because of the influence of the cidra) and several pulled Casi and I into pictures. This also makes me wonder what they were thinking the next morning when they went to look at the pictures and saw two random blonde females standing next to them with awkward smiles on their faces.

Sunday after that was once more a study day as most Sundays are. The next weekend chose to be filled with surprises. Casi and I had made plans to take a trip somewhere since at that point in time we had little time to travel around Spain before the Italy trip. At this point two weeks. So we planned to try and take a trip via bus to Valencia. Well when I went to buy tickets that Friday morning the bus was full and so that idea was quickly shot down. So instead we took a trip the next day to Bilbao where we shopped, and shopped, and shopped some more. We ventured through almost every shop Bilbao had to offer. Then we met up with my very good friend from MUC who is teaching English in Bilbao, Spanish Kyle Borowski. He then took us on a guided tour of the city and introduced us to roasted chestnuts before taking us back to the bus station and wishing us well. It was a very enjoyable trip and well worth it, not just for the shopping or the tour, or the chestnuts even, or the delicious spanish style buffest we discovered for lunch, but for being able to see an old friend and talk about old times once more and have someone understand what you're talking about. It was very nice. And again another Sunday of studying. It was during the week that followed after that in which I'd made so much progress with Pablo.

The weekend afterwards and prior to this week (November 22-24) was nothing over the top either. I'd once again made plans to travel with my roomate, this time Tom instead of Casi, to Pamplona. One of Spains more historical cities. But once again plans changed as we went to the bus station to find that the office that sold the tickets was closed and wasn't opening till later and it made the trip not worth it so we ventured back home to enjoy the evening at home. Most of that weekend was spent reading. I finished a book called Parable of the Sower (author unknown) as well as the first of four Twighlight books the other three of which I will finish eventually. The rest of Saturday was spent shopping (this time of the grocery kind) and Sunday was spent filled with delicious smells and Casi and Stefanie kitchen time as I like to call it. Casi and I teamed up to make a homemade Thanksgiving Dinner in honor of the greatest group of roomates who all get along amazingly well you'd think we were better then family. We cooked a whole chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pumpkin pie (completely homemade mind you) and banana bread. The boys were overly thrilled with the tastes, sights, and smells that greeted them that evening and told us both they'd never had and probably won't ever have another Thanksgiving comparable to this one.

Monday I proved stricken with a 30 hour flu of sorts and went to the doctor in order to get a note so that I could make up the test I had in one of my classes on Monday. And as today proves a healthy (I'm feeling completely replenished after sleeping almost two days straight) Tuesday evening ten my time we are packed and excitedly awaiting the hours until we leave for Italy. Our trip will take us to Rome, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Milan, five cities four days. And as we will arrive home Sunday late evening I will have many pictures, and thus a bountiful of stories to share, along with the memories of a lifetime. This next chapter shall receive a special title. I think we'll call it something along the lines of 9 teens take over Italy... needs some work but you get the idea. And as they say when in Rome, Ciao for now!!

Semanas Pasadas, Hay Muchas

Semanas Pasadas, Muchas (I know)

Although it would seem that with so many weeks having come and gone there must’ve been something keeping me so unbelievably busy that I was not able to update my blog. Truth be told a good 75% of the time I can say in all honesty, was just normal school, not much happening. But as of Halloween weekend something actually did happen. A lot of something’s truth be told. I always have Fridays off to begin with but this Friday everyone in USAC was given the day off in order to be allowed to take a group trip to various places along the Spanish/French border. And so that is exactly what I did.

But before I get into the interesting trip across the border I should start with the fact that there is currently a fourth person occupying our humble abode. Another girl, named Casi, who was also put with a family in the beginning. Hers turned out to be the worst as she ran into countless problems with the family she had been staying with. The final straw broke the camels back and she walked into the USAC office and broke down and was then allowed to move in with us. Giving me a new roommate, one I actually get along with really, REALLY well. Unlike past experiences. It’s a great situation for everyone and we all get along great. This occured around two weeks or so ago, I’m not exactly positive on when.

Well Friday rolls around and Casi and I are the only two out of four going on the trip and our day started off with a five minute almost sprint to the bus as we’d woken up kind of late due to lack of sleep the night before. For which we have several people to thank, namely our neighbors. We were thankful to see the bus still loading and we hopped on to catch our breath before we were off to a town in the very border of France the name of which escapes me but while there we took a 30 minute “Mini Train” ride up the huge mountain where we captured amazing pictures of the whole Basque Country. (For those wondering it’s in both Spain and France and though they have tried several times to make the seven provinces that make up this country into it’s own, it has never worked out. San Sebastian/Donostia is one of those seven provinces thus the reason why people here speak Spanish and Basque.) From the top of this gigantic mountain like hill we could see all seven provinces at once and the beautiful beaches that occupied some of them. (So look forward to those pictures).

After the ride back down in which several of us were huddled together and others had complained of the “cold.” Of which I think I’ve become immune to being from Ohio, but there were some from Idaho and such that experience severely cold, if not colder, winters then those of us in Northeastern Ohio. Anyways We all huddled around while I listened to chattering of different kinds (including teeth and chit chattering). As we arrived at the bottom it was time for a much needed potty break where I discovered a toilet never before seen. At first I thought I’d walked into the men’s bathroom, but it was confirmed to be the woman’s bathroom when the USAC coordinator Patricia walked in behind me and relayed the story of such a strange invention. The standing toilet for woman is the only way to describe it. Part of me wishes I would’ve taken a picture but alas I did not. But for any woman whose tried peeing while standing (like a male would) you know it’s not an easy feat but this thing made it look like it was supposed to be such an easy thing to accomplish. Its image will forever haunt me, laughing at the challenge I so quickly turned down.

After a quick potty on a regular toilet Casi and I decided to take USAC’s advice in trying a famous postre (desert/pastry) while we were down at one of the shops. In French it’s called Gatoue Baske, in Spanish Postre Vasko, and in English Basque cake. And being in France it was required to order in French... who’d a thunk right? Well a lot of people didn’t realize that, and at first I’d forgotten until it was my turn. But several people thought I did so well that they asked me to order for them as well. Guess I know a little more French then I thought I did. Laurence would be so proud... After purchasing two of the postres for myself and Casi, we then purchased two more for our boys back home who were sadly missing out on the various deserts and adventures of that day. After I’d placed enough orders in French to last me quite a while (I even explained numbers surprisingly, thank you sixth grade French never thought I’d actually remember let alone use what I’d learned there.)

After desert for breakfast or mid day snack how ever you prefer to call it, we then went off to hike through the Pyrenees and over to the town where we’d spend the rest of the afternoon and eat lunch. The hike was around two miles long and I found that I was completely in my element. I was at the head of the group running through the forest even though I was at an altitude not familiar, and my breathing staggered at my times and my chest felt tighter then normal but I was unnaturally happy hiking through the forest. At one point Casi and I stopped to take a picture of us sharing the border of France and Spain of which will be posted as well.

After a wonderful hike we stopped for lunch in the town of Zurragamurdi where we would be spending the rest of the afternoon. Lunch consisted of a huge salad with tuna, boiled egg, tons of other interesting veggies, and a semi Italian dressing. The first real dressing I’d had since I’ve gotten here. After salad was lamb and French fries. I’ve learned that through my time spent here they eat French fries at even the most “fancy” of restaurants and it’s the side dish that goes with everything. After that we were given ice cream for desert before we headed out to go exploring in the museum of witch’s and then afterwards the witch caves.

Having run around almost all morning on very few hours of sleep I was already fading on energy but the museum couldn’t have been much more boring even if I’d been awake to know what was going on. Then it was off to the caves in which I ran around another mile or so being the only one in the group to see all the caves had to offer in under twenty minutes. And that was about the time my camera started to drain on battery. But I was still able to capture some quite beautiful pictures. I also managed to scare Gloria out of her wits a few times by jumping out from around corners (not on purpose of course) I was just running around exploring. She said I looked like a kid in a candy shop.

It was after this when we loaded the busses that I was completely ZONKED. I passed out for the hour or so ride to the French town called Biarritz. It was absolutely beautiful even in the rain. We spent about an hour or so there in which Casi and I strolled down the beach took a few snapshots and then shared a strawberry crepe and I once again spoke in French. It excited me to go to Paris and see how well I can really do speaking French since no one (or very few people) actually speak English and nobody even understands Spanish. Japanese is of course out of the picture. After then we arrived back home in time for the Halloween festivities taking place that evening in Pate Vieja but I crashed shortly after arrival and was disappointed as I’d been looking forward all week to making a fool out of myself at Karaoke that evening... another time perhaps...

Saturday proved an eventful day as well as we were to celebrate Gloria’s birthday that evening. That afternoon I spent on a walk around the city with Erica, grabbed an ice cream as we strolled along the beach and enjoyed the nice weather. We’d originally set out to get tickets to the horror and fantasy film festival that has been and will continue to be going on for the next week or so, but unfortunately one of the bank’s machines decided it would be funny and eat Erica’s bank card disabling her from getting money out that day and as well buying the tickets to the festival since it required a bank card. But not to fret because she was able to purchase them earlier this week.

That night began at Gloria’s apartment where her roommate, Eva, had made sangria in hopes of getting Gloria to have her first alcoholic drink on her 22^nd birthday. And she did, and I have a picture, and she didn't really like it. Afterwards we ate dinner at this extremely nice Chinese restaurant, Gloria’s pick of course, where I had a Japanese beer to drink as well as some delicious orange duck, great rice, an assortment of oriental appetizers, some good stir fry, then some awesome home made ice cream and awesome tea that tasted like they’d actually put roses or some sort of flower in it. After dinner we went out and spent the night dancing till my feet hurt. And the rest of the weekend was spent studying like crazy for the big final in the second of three spanish classes in one semester. And as the week has flown by and it’s already Friday I sit here and can finally breath a sigh that it is the weekend.

Wednesday and Thursday were rather crazy days. Every Wednesday I tutor an 8 year old named Pablo in English. The first few weeks were kind of rough gaging how much he knew and what I could teach him as his mother refuses to allow us out of the same room let alone out of the house and I have very little to no materials to work with so I make do with what I can. This goes on from 6:15-8:15 every week and for the last hour or so we usually wind up watching cartoons like Ben 10 and Code Lyoko until it’s time for me to go. Unfortunately the cartoons are dubbed into Spanish and there is very little practice that get’s done once we start watching the tv. But lessons have improved none the less and I do believe he is learning.

Thursday was just as crazy as after classes I had arranged a meeting with my new intercambio Bakarne which means lonely in Basque apparently. And she took me around the city on a walking tour in parts I actually hadn’t seen before and thus was very grateful to get to see. Afterwards we rested at an Irish pub and drank some juice before going to a bookstore near the cathedral Buen Pastor and parting ways. After the meeting with the intercambio I came back home for about an hour before heading out once more to meet up with Erica, Gloria, Jamil and Eva (Gloria’s roommate) for dinner at a restaurant near Erica’s house for Paella. Erica and I split a veggie Paella while the other three split one with chicken in it. After dinner we’d bought tickets to a Japanese movie which I had been hoping and praying would be in Japanese. It was a great movie don’t get me wrong but it was in English and I was sorely disappointed to note that it had not been in Japanese. But it was still well worth it anyways. Afterwards I arrived home got on Skype for a little while and wound up passing out for the rest of the evening. Beginning my next weekend in San Sebastian.