Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Ode to life as a college student

Greatest meal ever.

On Sundays, siesta is basically an all-day ordeal and nearly everything in the city is closed. At 9:00 at night, you can be sure that nothing is open for dining ('within our price range' being the key). Good thing Sierra and I didn't recognize our hunger pangs until that unfortunate hour. Oiy. Sierra subsequently rushed down to the cafe next to our Residencia, hoping to arrive before its nightly closure. She barely made it.

Tromping back up to my room, she triumphantly displayed the products of her success. Two small croissants, which might I add, were the exact ones we partook that very morning for breakfast as well. We plopped cross-legged on my bed, in our pajamas, and celebrated our luxe meal of French pastries with peach marmalade and tap water. We didn't have knives to spread the jam, so we barbarically dipped in large chunks, and lacking napkins as well, we covered our laps with exceedingly elegant streams of one-ply toilet paper. Mmm.

And of all things, our deepest longings in those moments, you ask?

CHEEZ-ITS.

What can we say? We revel in simplicity.


Anyway. Things we have otherwise been up to:

+Excursion #4: Museum of Archeology. In a nutshell: sarcophagi, old Roman pottery, headless statues, and religious paintings riddled with phallic innuendos. There was also a photographic exhibit on Mexico (yes, we flew all the way to Spain to learn about Mexico...). The highlight: sneaking up to the fourth floor to look at contemporary Spanish art. Yay.

+Friday night, Sierra and I went to the movies, which are much cheaper here, by the way. We planned to catch the 10:30PM showing of Odette Toulemonde, a French film dubbed in Spanish, all the while thinking "wow, we don't even really see movies this late at home..." Upon our arrival, we found hoards of 11 and 12-year-olds milling about late into the night. We felt reeeeally hip then.

+Despues de la pelicula, we joined our Cadiz group for some clubbing extravaganzas. And by clubbing, we simply mean dancing in a packed out bar complete with black lights and creepy men. Woot woot. [see pictures below]

+Saturday, we attempted to check out El Corte Ingles, the infamous shopping center supposedly only a 15-minute walk away. Well. First we took the wrong bus all the way to the end of its line. Then we walked somewhat aimlessly around the city, making friends with essentially every person in Cadiz in order to ask for directions, and finally, after an HOUR, found what was just a large department store. The adventures continued with a lunch of hamburgers, which really were HAMburgers (could we expect anything else of Spain?), and more incorrect bus-taking before eventually returning to La Residencia. It was a long day.

+For dinner, we ordered "bocadillos de pollo" at our favorite sandwich shop, thinking we were in for, well, chicken sandwiches. The waiter delivered plates of slices of toast holding practically nonexistent chickens bits smothered in mayonnaise (I always wondered what a straight up mayo sandwich tasted like...) with another ham, cheese, and egg sandwich stacked on top. Confused? Me too. But it was a tasty triple-decker beast of a meal, and I am happy to report that the ham legacy still going strong.

+Yesterday was our last day of class, and in our clase de cultura, Sierra and I (along with four other girls) closed the month off with a bang. Or rather, a reworded rendition in honor of Cadiz of the song "Me Gustas Tu," dressed in togas made of sheets stripped from our beds that morning. The things we do for good grades. It's just too bad there happen to be no pictures capturing our outstanding efforts. What a travesty indeed...ahem.

+Today, we get the day off to "study," as our final exams are bright and early on the morrow. Hopefully they won't be too worrisome. But more than anything, I'm just hoping not to pull another car chase scene as nearly precluded our first round of tests. I'll be sure to keep you updated...

+Last note: Happy Anniversary to us! We have been in Spain for one whole month now. And BARCA AWAITS ON SATURDAY!! Hurrah.


[I apologize for the dearth of pictures in this entry, it's simply that our days as of late generally consist of the same routine. Class, gelato, siesta, gelato, journaling, gelato. Just imagine us in the same places, doing the same things, and at this point in the trip, wearing the same clothes (at least for me anyways).]

Thursday, August 9, 2007

P.M.F.L.

I'm not feeling particularly inspired, but while our exceedingly fickle internet connection is working, here is a scintillating picture update.

A night on the town
Gelato: Round 7
Excursion #3: TarifaBaelo Claudia: Roman ruinsPostres y cafe con leche
Churros con chocolate!Early morning prayer...

Sunday, July 29, 2007

"Home" Sweet Home


I suppose it's too early to be homesick, and in all honesty, I really haven't been at all. Granted, there are a few people I have certainly missed, my brother comes to mind, but life here in Spain has been sufficiently exciting, to put it mildly, to keep me busily entertained. Before coming here, I made a commitment to enjoy what this year has to offer without dwelling too much on all I [could] miss from home. I'm only here for a year, and I'm sure that before I know it, it will be July again and time to pack up and head back. Obviously, there is a lot in Spain that the States don't have, so I want to appreciate it while I can, and I don't want to waste my time worrying about things that will still be in America when I go home.

In any case, as glorious as it is here in Cadiz, I must admit I am anxious to get to Barcelona and settle down. It has been like an extended luxury vacation, but living out of a suitcase does get old pretty quickly, though it's really just a mere inconvenience, I know. As the poster child for "creature of habit," I can't wait to establish a structured routine and know what to expect out of a day. Also, while I'm thoroughly enjoying myself, I feel like my time here has been rather selfish. I'm eagerly anticipating Barcelona where hopefully I'll be able to find somewhere to serve; I don't want to be in Spain (or anywhere, for that matter) just for me. Additionally, I want to assimilate already and no longer prominently stand out as a foreigner. But perhaps most of all, I'm looking forward to moving into an apartment, knowing I will be in the same place for the remainder of the year, and finding a place to call home.

Interesting concept "home" is. I've essentially spent my entire life in San Diego, minus the few years in Virginia and all the summer months spent in Honduras. I didn't exactly have to part for college either. Still, the spirit of home has changed, particularly in the past few years. I definitely felt my dorm room in the Earth Hall South 213 apartment was more home than my room back in Escondido last year. Aside from the physical fact that my Little Mermaid blanket was now there, along with my favorite jeans and t-shirts, art supplies, important photographs, and other meaningful trinkets, my heart had settled there too. That room had become my place of refuge, my sanctuary, my haven.

Now as I glance around mi cuarto in Cadiz, which is certainly more than I ever expected (don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining in the least), the barren walls, the impermanence of the stacked items on my desk, and the unpacked travel bag of toiletries in the bathroom, bring back the yearning to be settled. Somewhere. Anywhere.

But really, what makes home home? Family? Friends? My Ariel pillowcase (which, by the way, is here with me)? I feel it premature to discount both the faraway factors and also those that surround me now. Minor dilemma. Then I realize that home is simply where the heart is. And that is Escondido, Reston, Tegucigalpa, Valley Center, La Jolla, and yes, even here in Spain.


And since that was such an emo entry, here are some pictures!


One last note about home: FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, Papa! Birthday well-wishes all the way from Spain. We went to an outdoor flamenco concert a cafe plaza last night and I enjoyed it for you--you would have loved it. :) By the way, Sierra thinks you're only 45. Hehehe.