NOTE: This one is for Beckie because I miss her.
well I've been trying for weeks to upload photos from skiing and I just haven't been successful, so I guess that I will just write my update. Its funny, my feels about Spain occillate so much. One minute I am completely in love, another minute I am counting down the days until I come home. I will start with the weekend in Granada first.
So we went to Granada. Phew. I can't even remember how many weekends ago now. Three, I think? okay I just checked on facebook, four weeks ago! man time flies! Skiing was a wonderful experience. I had really thought skiing was something I wouldn't ever do. The vacation of choice for my family is the beach, and why shouldn't it be? In our time off we like to lounge around with all you can eat buffets, getting lots of sun. I wouldn;t go as far as to say that I am an expert skier, but I can manage while enjoying it. The first day was funny because I went down the slopes quickly at first. Then Maria the daughter and I had lessons and I found out that my skill level was actually very low and struggled the rest of the day. On the night of the first day, I decided I was not going to ski the next day, I was tired, my feet hurt and I wasn't very good. But Maria the daughter ended up not going the second day and they had already paid for everything, so I went because I didnt want it to be wasted. And man, I am glad I went the second day. I prayed all day. I mean all day. I prayed for courage to go down and for God's assistance on not falling as much as I did the first day. I was much relieved to find my prayers answered because I did so much better the second day. I made it down medium hard courses and only fell a few times (unfortunately during those few times I got pretty darn bruised, Ill attach photos when I can). All in all it was one of the best experiences here in Spain. To get the full effect, look up pictures of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Granada Spain. We stayed at the Maribel Hotel. IT is so quiant, like something out of a movie. The second day was Sunday, so we came home and rested.
Since Granada, things have gone through periods of quietness and excitement (if you can call it that). Since I cannot remember the weeks very well,we'll just say some other weekend. So during some other weekend since Granada, I had my hairpulled. I know reading this you're probably jealous. Another experience I could only get in Spain (I mean I hope it isnt repeated, once was enough). I was up on my terrance with Pedro, it was 1:30 am. I'd had a drink so I was relaxed. And my spanish terrace neighbor decided to yell and me and pull my hair. Theres a lot more to the store, more than I care to share right now, but needless to day, it was an experience. It didn't really hurt, I wasn't hurt from the encounter, so I just get to laugh that it happened.
Nothing else too exciting has happened. I work alot during the day. Hang out with the children when they get home from school. Oh yeah Ive also been sick, so I got the experience of going to a spanish doctor. And the most amazing part of that is that I didn't pay anything. I was there maybe an hour and got the presciption that I needed and that was all. Very easy. I was suprised. We did go at 9 am in the morning, so it was like there should be a lot of people, but still. I still don't know much spanish, but I get around fine.
I almost forgot, I went to a dinner party that Pedro the dad hosted in an old house in the middle of the downtown. It was old and huge and one of the coolest places I've been. While there I danced the Sevillana (I think thats how it spelled). Its a type of flamenco dance. I wasn't very good, but it was really fun. The people there were very nice and I throughly enjoyed that night. Also the dinner was complete with a three course meal that ended with vanilla and chocolate gelato covered in a nice strawberry sauce.
Oh ya, I am also going to Roma on April 19th to see my friend Dub. I am very excited for this. I have book my flight and my hostel stay (another completely european experience). So to conclude, I am sorry that I have not updated in four weeks and I hope to put photos up soon.
Ciao!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A summary of 9 days
Where to start, where to start. 9 days has gone by without a word from me. How rude am I? Last Monday, February 28th is where I'll start. We spent the weekend before in the country as well as Monday since it was a holiday for the family. Nothing of real consequence happened on Monday. I helped the younger children with their homework and we left the country around 5pm. Tuesday also passed without much notice. I did laundry, went to the supermarket, helped the children with their things. That night Carlos and I had a run in, which I believe is only natural, he was testing me to see what he could and could not get away with. He had a tantrum and kicked the table and the Bible off the table to which I told him he could have a time out or shower, to which he responded I couldn't tell him what to do. When the parents got home, of course they told him I could tell him what to do and since then we haven't have a problem, which is very good.
I started working at the office on Wednesday. Its really nice to have something to do during the day and to feel productive. At work I make phone calls to travel agencies to get information. Luckily I call Scotland, England and Ireland (the United Kingdom). I am absolutely in love with their accents, they're really cute and remind me of my favorite book, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. (I am listening to it again on audiobook because I love it so much). Work is pretty much all I did from Wednesday and Friday. Although Wednesday's and Monday's I have class, so I have to leave early from work. And this Wednesday I tried to take a taxi from work to class, which did not go as planned. The man took me to the wrong place, then I had him take me home. So with ten minutes to walk a 30 minute walk and 12 euro poorer, I missed class. I wasnt mad about the money, I was mad that I feel he took advantage of me because I cannot speak much spanish. I think that is one of the worst faults of human beings, taking advantage of others in a weaker position. Maybe that just me...
Friday night I went out for the first time since having been here, which was really nice. Andrea, a girl at the office who is 23, took me out to the downtown and we met up with one of her friends, Alejandra. We had a soda with her because she had jaw surgery and couldnt eat and she could have any alcohol because she was driving. While having our sodas, they told me about the history of some of the spanish buildings and we met a Canadian who was there alone. We didn't talk long, but I have to admit its nice to hear some other native english speakers. When her friend drove home and we had tapas and wine. After dinner, we called it a night, agreeing to go out again sometime soon. Nothing much else happened during the weekend. The children fought amoung themselves. Sunday night Pedro and I played Padel at Pineda which I enjoyed. I have since bought a tennis skirt so that we can play more often.
Yesterday I went to class, learned a minimal amount of spanish and worked. It was the perfect temperature all day, so I went shopping a bit to get the skirt and a textbook for spanish. Last night Ale, Pedro and I went to the Parque de Mary Louisa to walk Finda the dog. She is the silliest dog. I wish I had my camera so that I could upload a video of how she runs. She hops a bit on her back legs as she takes off so she makes this hilarious motion. We can let her off the leash because she doesnt run away. That is a treat because we can let her run as much as she wants without her going away.
Today its raining and gross. I don't like rain, especially since I dont have my rainboots here and only have one jacket (much to young Pedro's horror). I made over 100 calls this morning, so I hope to finish my first task of 800 calls by next Monday. Well I am going to relax since the kids come home in about an hour. :)
Buenos Tardes, mis amigos!
I started working at the office on Wednesday. Its really nice to have something to do during the day and to feel productive. At work I make phone calls to travel agencies to get information. Luckily I call Scotland, England and Ireland (the United Kingdom). I am absolutely in love with their accents, they're really cute and remind me of my favorite book, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. (I am listening to it again on audiobook because I love it so much). Work is pretty much all I did from Wednesday and Friday. Although Wednesday's and Monday's I have class, so I have to leave early from work. And this Wednesday I tried to take a taxi from work to class, which did not go as planned. The man took me to the wrong place, then I had him take me home. So with ten minutes to walk a 30 minute walk and 12 euro poorer, I missed class. I wasnt mad about the money, I was mad that I feel he took advantage of me because I cannot speak much spanish. I think that is one of the worst faults of human beings, taking advantage of others in a weaker position. Maybe that just me...
Friday night I went out for the first time since having been here, which was really nice. Andrea, a girl at the office who is 23, took me out to the downtown and we met up with one of her friends, Alejandra. We had a soda with her because she had jaw surgery and couldnt eat and she could have any alcohol because she was driving. While having our sodas, they told me about the history of some of the spanish buildings and we met a Canadian who was there alone. We didn't talk long, but I have to admit its nice to hear some other native english speakers. When her friend drove home and we had tapas and wine. After dinner, we called it a night, agreeing to go out again sometime soon. Nothing much else happened during the weekend. The children fought amoung themselves. Sunday night Pedro and I played Padel at Pineda which I enjoyed. I have since bought a tennis skirt so that we can play more often.
Yesterday I went to class, learned a minimal amount of spanish and worked. It was the perfect temperature all day, so I went shopping a bit to get the skirt and a textbook for spanish. Last night Ale, Pedro and I went to the Parque de Mary Louisa to walk Finda the dog. She is the silliest dog. I wish I had my camera so that I could upload a video of how she runs. She hops a bit on her back legs as she takes off so she makes this hilarious motion. We can let her off the leash because she doesnt run away. That is a treat because we can let her run as much as she wants without her going away.
Today its raining and gross. I don't like rain, especially since I dont have my rainboots here and only have one jacket (much to young Pedro's horror). I made over 100 calls this morning, so I hope to finish my first task of 800 calls by next Monday. Well I am going to relax since the kids come home in about an hour. :)
Buenos Tardes, mis amigos!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
the weekend in words
Buenos Dias!
I am about to go to the Universidad de Sevilla and buy my spanish textbooks for tomorrow, woo! Very exciting indeed. I thought I'd start off this post with saying how much I love my mom. I got to talk to her last night and I have to say it was refreshing. The culture in Spain is very different from that of the US and I am missing home for that reason. I have been oscillating between loving it here and struggling here. I don't think I've ever appreciated the acceptance that america allows until coming here. Not that I am not enjoying myself here, because I am, but the Spanish people are not as accepting of people being different. I have found myself in the past two weeks at the receiving end of criticism because of my "american-ness". None the less, I am learning.
Friday was a holiday, but I forget which one, I think it was student day? The kids did not have any school, so Pedro, Carlos and I went to the centro de Sevilla (center of sevilla) and went into the tower of Grinalda (spelling?). I will post photos from this later because my poor little camera's battery is dead and the charger is MIA in my apartment... Its very cool though because the tallest building in Sevilla is 15 stories, so from the tower we got to see the entire city. After we went trough the cathedral and tower we ahad lunch just outside the tower. Our lunch consisted of sandwiches I made and soda from the store. The children love Fanta, so we have had many a fanta these last two weeks. While we were eating lunch, Pedro told translated for me what this crazy man was saying to a homeless man with no leg. While I told the man to leave, in english of course because my espanol es no bueno, he did not. Finally he did leave. It was a horrifying sight and I wish I could have/would have do something more. After that all ended, we went to get gelato from "Marcapone" the shop.
That night we went to the countryside, the three of us again. We got there in the evening so we just watched a bit of TV and a movie. Around midnight, I ushered Carlos to bed (he'd already been sleeping on the couch), and found a few minutes later him asleep in my bed! ha! I made pedro go and get him out, and to my suprise carlos did not go nicely. he kciked and screamed and telled and then all of a sudden got up and went into his bed as if he hadnt been screaming. It was really funny.
On Saturday and Sunday, we went to a friend of the parents house and while there played Paddle. Paddle is like tennis with a smaller court and back walls that can be played off of. I posted a picture last night of that. I like this way more than tennis because you play only in doubles and the court is smaller, and it was just a plus that I had taken a year worth of tennis lessons. :) We also went on a dirt bike during the weekend, slowly of course because the ground was very choppy from last weekends rain. These opportunities that I have here are just amazing. They do things every weekend that I have never done in my life. I am very blessed to be with this family and included so kindly.
Thats about everything from this weekend... I had struggles within myself this weekend because of issues within the family here. I am not going to elaborate, but I am going to ask for your prayers for the family. And for myself, because everything came together so that I could be here, so I ask for the strength and clarity do what I am supposed to.
Buenos dias, mis amigos!
I am about to go to the Universidad de Sevilla and buy my spanish textbooks for tomorrow, woo! Very exciting indeed. I thought I'd start off this post with saying how much I love my mom. I got to talk to her last night and I have to say it was refreshing. The culture in Spain is very different from that of the US and I am missing home for that reason. I have been oscillating between loving it here and struggling here. I don't think I've ever appreciated the acceptance that america allows until coming here. Not that I am not enjoying myself here, because I am, but the Spanish people are not as accepting of people being different. I have found myself in the past two weeks at the receiving end of criticism because of my "american-ness". None the less, I am learning.
Friday was a holiday, but I forget which one, I think it was student day? The kids did not have any school, so Pedro, Carlos and I went to the centro de Sevilla (center of sevilla) and went into the tower of Grinalda (spelling?). I will post photos from this later because my poor little camera's battery is dead and the charger is MIA in my apartment... Its very cool though because the tallest building in Sevilla is 15 stories, so from the tower we got to see the entire city. After we went trough the cathedral and tower we ahad lunch just outside the tower. Our lunch consisted of sandwiches I made and soda from the store. The children love Fanta, so we have had many a fanta these last two weeks. While we were eating lunch, Pedro told translated for me what this crazy man was saying to a homeless man with no leg. While I told the man to leave, in english of course because my espanol es no bueno, he did not. Finally he did leave. It was a horrifying sight and I wish I could have/would have do something more. After that all ended, we went to get gelato from "Marcapone" the shop.
That night we went to the countryside, the three of us again. We got there in the evening so we just watched a bit of TV and a movie. Around midnight, I ushered Carlos to bed (he'd already been sleeping on the couch), and found a few minutes later him asleep in my bed! ha! I made pedro go and get him out, and to my suprise carlos did not go nicely. he kciked and screamed and telled and then all of a sudden got up and went into his bed as if he hadnt been screaming. It was really funny.
On Saturday and Sunday, we went to a friend of the parents house and while there played Paddle. Paddle is like tennis with a smaller court and back walls that can be played off of. I posted a picture last night of that. I like this way more than tennis because you play only in doubles and the court is smaller, and it was just a plus that I had taken a year worth of tennis lessons. :) We also went on a dirt bike during the weekend, slowly of course because the ground was very choppy from last weekends rain. These opportunities that I have here are just amazing. They do things every weekend that I have never done in my life. I am very blessed to be with this family and included so kindly.
Thats about everything from this weekend... I had struggles within myself this weekend because of issues within the family here. I am not going to elaborate, but I am going to ask for your prayers for the family. And for myself, because everything came together so that I could be here, so I ask for the strength and clarity do what I am supposed to.
Buenos dias, mis amigos!
Monday, February 28, 2011
this weekend in photos :)
I am only going to post photos tonight because its so late but tomorrow I will write about this weekend. There arent many, and I have a lot more to post, but those are for tomorrow.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pineda
Today was really fun! I guess everyday has been really fun for me because everything is so new. At lunch time Pedro came home and we went to the back to try and exchange Solus Peruvian money at the Banco de Espana, only to be told they could not do that, and then on and on until we finally gave up. So then we went to his dad's office so that he could exchange the money there with his dad for euros. His dad filled up the Derbi and bought us lunch. Unfortunately my chicken on a stick was under cooked, but I ate it anyway so not to offend them. Here you have to eat everything on your plate so that you are not considered rude and wasteful. After lunch we had to hurry back so that Pedro would not be late to school. When we got back his mom and sister were there for lunch, so I hung out with them and had Flan for the first time. It was not my favorite thing... it kind of has a weird texture.
When it was time to get the children, senora Maria had be drive to the kids' school, I stalled the car once on the hill outside of the school, it was a little stressful for me. But the rest of the way to Pineda and then home again I drove perfectly. I wanted to write about Pineda a little bit because it was really cool. Pineda is like an american country club in a way, except that the children play all their sports there. Carlos today played tennis and Alejandra rode horses. I stayed and watched Alejandra for an hour and a half. It was interesting because I have never really been around horses, so it was different. Her horse is 12 years old and didnt really want to listen to her at all... a very stubborn horse. On thursday she is going to do jumping with a different horse and then she will do competitions.
Well that is basically the day that I had. It is nice here though. The weather is warming up, no more rain and I can walk any where or get a ride on the Derbi :)
Buenos noches!
When it was time to get the children, senora Maria had be drive to the kids' school, I stalled the car once on the hill outside of the school, it was a little stressful for me. But the rest of the way to Pineda and then home again I drove perfectly. I wanted to write about Pineda a little bit because it was really cool. Pineda is like an american country club in a way, except that the children play all their sports there. Carlos today played tennis and Alejandra rode horses. I stayed and watched Alejandra for an hour and a half. It was interesting because I have never really been around horses, so it was different. Her horse is 12 years old and didnt really want to listen to her at all... a very stubborn horse. On thursday she is going to do jumping with a different horse and then she will do competitions.
Well that is basically the day that I had. It is nice here though. The weather is warming up, no more rain and I can walk any where or get a ride on the Derbi :)
Buenos noches!
AH! A really long blog!
Hola!
Well I am going to finish my blog from Friday since I didn't get around to doing that before I left for the country Saturday morning. And then after I finish that I will try to get to update everyone about today and thennnn I am going on the Derbi (Vespa) to the Banco de Espana!
Right now I am obsessed with the song "Eet" by Regina Spektor, I just thought you should know before I get any farther into this.
I really like these photos because they are of the downtown Sevilla area :) The buildings are really old and really pretty and they are cleaner than the ones are in the area where I am living. Senora Maria said that I can take the kids on a bus tour of the downtown on Friday since they don't have school (I forget why they don't have school).
This is Pedro. Hes really nice and has shown me around the downtown and other areas. I am really in love with the family I am staying with, they are all so nice and we all get along very well!
Now about the weekend...
I have to say that I am really disappointed that my camera was dead when I got to the country this weekend so I won't be able to add photos of their land until at least two weekends. Sadness! But alas, this weekend was really fun. Friday night don Pedro and Senora Maria (I will refer to them as this so that they don't get confused with the children) went to a school benefit dinner, so I stayed in with Pedro and Carlos. The real fun began on Saturday though.
I woke up at 9am Saturday and went downstairs at 10am. When I got there and rang the doorbell no one answered so I was worried that maybe they'd taken off without me. But they were still sleeping! We left around 12:30 and got to the country in about an hour. Ecija (pronounced ethiHa) was the biggest city that we passed through and if you take a second to google Ecija, you will see that it is not large at all, ha! The countryside where they live is gorgeous! The land that they live on was gifted to senora Maria by her father who owns the olive trees. I can not even begin to guess how much land they own. They have a beautiful house and own the street are their horse stables.
I found one photo I managed to take before my camera died. Its of a turkey they have when you first drive onto their property! ha!
I am going to update later since my itouch decided to close and delete all I had been writing...
Buenos tardes!!
Well I am going to finish my blog from Friday since I didn't get around to doing that before I left for the country Saturday morning. And then after I finish that I will try to get to update everyone about today and thennnn I am going on the Derbi (Vespa) to the Banco de Espana!
Right now I am obsessed with the song "Eet" by Regina Spektor, I just thought you should know before I get any farther into this.
I really like these photos because they are of the downtown Sevilla area :) The buildings are really old and really pretty and they are cleaner than the ones are in the area where I am living. Senora Maria said that I can take the kids on a bus tour of the downtown on Friday since they don't have school (I forget why they don't have school).
This is Pedro. Hes really nice and has shown me around the downtown and other areas. I am really in love with the family I am staying with, they are all so nice and we all get along very well!
Now about the weekend...
I have to say that I am really disappointed that my camera was dead when I got to the country this weekend so I won't be able to add photos of their land until at least two weekends. Sadness! But alas, this weekend was really fun. Friday night don Pedro and Senora Maria (I will refer to them as this so that they don't get confused with the children) went to a school benefit dinner, so I stayed in with Pedro and Carlos. The real fun began on Saturday though.
I woke up at 9am Saturday and went downstairs at 10am. When I got there and rang the doorbell no one answered so I was worried that maybe they'd taken off without me. But they were still sleeping! We left around 12:30 and got to the country in about an hour. Ecija (pronounced ethiHa) was the biggest city that we passed through and if you take a second to google Ecija, you will see that it is not large at all, ha! The countryside where they live is gorgeous! The land that they live on was gifted to senora Maria by her father who owns the olive trees. I can not even begin to guess how much land they own. They have a beautiful house and own the street are their horse stables.
I found one photo I managed to take before my camera died. Its of a turkey they have when you first drive onto their property! ha!
I am going to update later since my itouch decided to close and delete all I had been writing...
Buenos tardes!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday is fun day in Sevilla
Today was a very exciting day! Definitely the most fun I have had (considering I've only been here 5 days...). This morning is a little hazy, its been a really long day.
I am about to make pizza for Pedro, Carlos and I, I am going to go back and forth a bit.
I have not introduced the family yet, how rude! The parents are don Pedro and senora Maria. The children are Maria 16, Pedro 15, Alejandra 12 and Carlos 8. I have already posted a photo of Alejandra and will post more photos from today later.
This morning I decided to sell my computer to a resale shop. I got 200 euros, which is almost 300 USD. Pedro drove me there on his motorbike (essentially a Vespa). How crazy of me to ride one... oh I know! This afternoon he drove me to a place where I bought the netbook I am typing on now! Much better. Oh yeah I forgot to say that I sold my computer because it would not work with the internet here so it was pretty much useless and I could not do anything! Then we went to downtown Sevilla, I have many photos from here, its so pretty! Then we had to go to the vet because the dog that he got has worms... so sad! The vets office is right by where their house they are getting renovated is, so that was really cool to see.
Hope you enjoy these photos of Spain!!
Buenos noches!
I am about to make pizza for Pedro, Carlos and I, I am going to go back and forth a bit.
I have not introduced the family yet, how rude! The parents are don Pedro and senora Maria. The children are Maria 16, Pedro 15, Alejandra 12 and Carlos 8. I have already posted a photo of Alejandra and will post more photos from today later.
This morning I decided to sell my computer to a resale shop. I got 200 euros, which is almost 300 USD. Pedro drove me there on his motorbike (essentially a Vespa). How crazy of me to ride one... oh I know! This afternoon he drove me to a place where I bought the netbook I am typing on now! Much better. Oh yeah I forgot to say that I sold my computer because it would not work with the internet here so it was pretty much useless and I could not do anything! Then we went to downtown Sevilla, I have many photos from here, its so pretty! Then we had to go to the vet because the dog that he got has worms... so sad! The vets office is right by where their house they are getting renovated is, so that was really cool to see.
Hope you enjoy these photos of Spain!!
I liked this photo because of the lion on it. It reminded me of the geneology that my mom did for Jack's ancestory and thought they would like to see it. Jack is spanish royally a few generations back... :)
This photos are of the cathedral in downtown Sevilla. And I am going to call my mom so I will add more in a few minutes!
Buenos noches!
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