Monday, March 7, 2011
Every Monday and Wednesday, Catalina has made me a sandwich to-go and I eat in a plaza near my school. I will no longer be eating in my favorite plaza and I’ll tell you why. From the top: Usually, I sit by myself on a bench and eat my lunch. I take my time and enjoy the sun. I have found that sitting in a plaza alone is a great way to meet locals. Since the Spaniards are a bit more forward than Americans, they aren’t afraid to start conversations with people. I have come to know quite a few construction workers that take their lunch break there along with a fellow named Andres. I really did enjoy talking with Andres during lunchtime, especially because it was all in Spanish. He probably sat with me for 3 lunches in total, but I got to know a lot about him. I found out that he is 56, yet he appears to be in his mid 40’s. He smokes a lot and enjoys Spanish cuisine. He is an aspiring author, waiting to see if his first book can be published. Overall, super nice old guy, but as soon as I tell my family about him, they go bonkers, in a caring sense. Long story short, once the entire extended family has gotten involved, I decide to email the poor guy with a lie. I tell him I no longer will bring a packed lunch because my senora wants to cook for me everyday at home. Lies. I actually will still bring a lunch, find a new plaza, and forever avoid my favorite lunchtime bench. No pasa nada. I will meet more locals and hopefully they will be closer to my age and less creepy.
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
After lunch today, which was migas y pescado (fried bread crumbs and whole fish), I took a nap and woke up feeling really motivated to go running. I was really curious to run along the river. I ended up running to an amazing sports park. It had outdoor exercise equipment, multiple tennis courts, a kids playground, and a skate park. It’s always really neat to encounter something new. I’m tempted to go back and rent a racket to play…any takers? Later on after my shower and homework, Catalina made a fantastic dinner! It was some type of chicken and also a plate full of steamed artichokes. I never thought I would be a fan of something like this, but I think it’s one of my favorite vegetables now. I should learn how to make them… along with all of my other favorite meals here! Time to actually study- grammar quiz on Thursday: kill me now.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Apart from the fact that I had to take a very difficult grammar prueba today, I had a wonderful afternoon/evening in Espana! Lunch was served, and for the first time, my senora made French fries…homemade! Also, I ate 2 sunny-side up fried eggs with several pieces of bread…yum! After a lengthy siesta, I got motivated to get ready and go out to meet some chicas. Earlier that day, I had received a text from my friend Stephanie that read, “sunset and margaritas tonight?” Of course I wanted to see the sunset and drink some margs! At 6:00 I met up with my friends, Stephanie and Abby, at school. The plan was to watch the sunset up at San Nicholas in the Albaicin where there is the best view in the entire city: the beautiful Alhambra. We enjoyed the view, drank and ate chocolate. Couldn’t get any better? Next stop: La Cantina Mexicana for a margarita! I was in a bit of a hurry because volunteering for the soup kitchen was tonight, so I had one real quick (only 1 euro) and headed off to volunteer. I got there just as they were saying grace. Perfect timing. I helped serve the sopa de pollo. It’s interesting to interact with the locals here, especially since most of these people eating at the soup kitchen are either homeless or they are gypsies.. a.k.a. I get to interact with some real Spaniards. I didn’t learn any funny jokes today, but there were 2 gorgeous boys working tonight. Too bad they were only 17. After soup was served, we cleared and brought out the second course, which was pasta. It’s common to give them seconds and thirds of each course. I find myself trying really hard to make conversation with these people, but at the same time, I always end up saying “lo siento, no entiendo..” but they understand and then rephrase whatever they were saying before. I really enjoy talking with Jose because he is always making jokes or singing or smiling. It is really fun to be around him. When we were finished cleaning up tonight, one of the workers asked if I could come back on Saturday at 8:30. I will try, but I also want to go out with some chicas to El Camborio (disco in the caves). Anyways, after volunteering, I was so happy to find out that my friends were still at the Mexican restaurant. I hurried back in time for one more 1-euro margarita. Que oferta! We all decided to call it an early night.
Friday, March 11th, 2011
After a day of running, eating, napping, and relaxing, I met up with the orphans (Sarah, Rachel, Amanda, and Stacy later on) to go see a movie! I honestly cannot remember the last movie I saw in the theatres, which means it has been quite a while. I was so excited because we were going to see Tangled… in Spanish! We snuck in candy and snacks, even though the sneaking part wasn’t necessary there, and we settled in right as the movie had begun. It was a good idea to see a childrens movie because the vocabulary was right up our alley. I understood basically all of it and was really proud! I guess that sounds pretty lame, but it was great to see a whole movie and be able to understand in a different language. After the movie, we decided that we wanted tapas or dinner or something. After walking around for a while, Sarah remembered a Mexican place she wanted to try. Once inside the girls ordered a margarita and I later ordered a tinto de verano. It was great to be able to catch up with the girls, even if it was mostly complaining about our senoras. Around 1 a.m. we figured it was a good time to head home.
Saturday, March 12th, 2011
Rachel and I went to the market today, but not really to buy, only to look and maybe attempt to barter. I picked Rachel up at her place at 12 p.m. and we took our time walking over there. It was a relaxing afternoon and it was nice to be able to get out and walk around for a few hours. We each bought something from the candy/nut stand and found a park bench to try a few. Afterwards, it was time head home, but since I basically had an entire free day, I offered to walk with Rachel back to her piso (apartment) and I did. Once back at my piso, I heated up the delicious lunch that Catalina had made. It was a vegetable dish with ham along with some chicken on the side. I had the laziest day afterwards that included a long nap and skyping with several friends and my family. All in all, I stayed in bed that day from 4 until 8: win.
After getting ready, I headed out that night to meet up with some people to pregame, go to a bar, and hopefully head to the disco in the caves. Once at the park, it seemed as though half of CEGRI was there too, also pregaming for the disco in the caves. I played it cool because I didn’t eat dinner besides an apple. We headed into Los Grifos, the bar with the taps at each table, around 12:30 and drew some beer from the tap. We each only had one, besides Rachel, just so we could experience it. Rachel began our epic night of bartending, NBD. Around 1:45 a.m., the rest of the gang decided to leave Los Grifos and head to El Camborio, the disco in the caves. Rachel and I were seriously too busy having the time of our lives being the bartenders. After a while, the real bartender took his seat on a bar stool and we were allowed full control of the bar. We made drinks for the locals! The whole night was hilarious and I’m pretty sure my abs hurt from laughing. Around 3 a.m., it was time to go home. The 30 minute walk home turned into an hour of hilarity that even if I tried repeating I don’t think I could. The funniest comments were made and that walk was quite memorable to say the least. Once at her flat, hilarity ensued. I won't go into details, but I basically had a 30 minute conversation/lecture with a 70 year old woman. Epic night. I must say though, I was extremely proud of myself for speaking Spanish and understanding the majority of what the senora, aka butterball, was saying. Basically, it will be another good story to tell back home.
Mini-botellon before the epic bar-tending inside Los Grifos.
Miguel taught the two of us the ways of bar-tending!
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