Jane in Wisconsin

Greetings from America!

A welcome home treat for me.  Yes, I am a glutton on all continents.

I got home last Friday and have been sleeping and eating and enjoying the couch since!  I probably should start exercising again...

My friend: *pinches fat on my stomach* "I see you brought home lots of olive oil!"
(True: I did bring home lots of olive oil, not in the form you usually think of when you hear "olive oil", but in form that my loose jeans are my tight jeans and my tight jeans are my "I wish" jeans...)

My father: "I wonder if we could stick a tap in your stomach and olive oil would come out like maple syrup from a tree!!"

A few more days of laziness and I will write a full summary on my thoughts on Spain and the wonderful experience--check back next week, if interested!

Happy holidays and much love to all!

Crunch Time!

I have work to do.  Yuck.  Papers, exams, pack.  Oh, and of course, buy extravagant gifts for my teachers. You didn't really think I'd let my grades ride on my actual work, did you?

Home in 4 more days!  I will write a lot more upon my imminent return to Los Estados Unidos.  (And, I will be on an olive oil detox for awhile.)

The other day I made an "American" dinner for my host family/roommates.  The brownies were beyond failure.  I have never tried dog food before, but seriously, it is better than this.  I am not even a card carrying member of PETA or anything, but I would seriously find it too overwhelmingly inhumane to feed any animal anything worse than this.

I tried throwing them away, but my roommates wanted to eat them. YUCK!

The Natilla

My roommates, Irene (from Malaga, Spain) and Ghita (from Tangier, Morocco) love the photo-settings on my webcam.  Ghita was about to go out for the night and was in the midst of styling her hair.  Squinty eyes suite me well (or NOT!).   

When my family was in Seville we went to a great restaurant, La Isla.  I ordered a custard for dessert and my dad ordered a flan-like dessert.  Unfortunately (for me), the waiter accidentally gave me my dad's dessert and my dad my dessert.  However, while they are very similar looking, the custard is much much much more delicious.  So, after our first bites, we realized that we had the wrong desserts.  But, after my dad tasted the dessert he actually ordered he decided that I (like always) made the better choice, and he refused to give me my real dessert..."Jane, you can come back anytime and order this!"  (It was REALLLY an amazing dessert).

*Feel free to call child protective services.  It was seriously abusive to keep me from that custard.

So, being in my final days in Sevilla, I returned to La Isla tonight to get my natilla.  AND eat it too.

I walk in.  Waiter hands me a menu (English version--the blue eyes are a give away), and insists on speaking in (a poor version of) English with me.  I order, "the custard please."  He tells me "okay, just one moment."  I hear him in the background talking, and I think I hear him say "flan."  Oh no! Did he misunderstand me!??  No, no, I assure myself, I clearly said the custard, not the other option.  He returns with the dessert.  SHOOT!  Is this the flan or the custard...they look alike and I really cannot remember!  I ask him (in English and Spanish!) Is this the custard dessert?  I want the natilla!  He responds (again, wanting only to speak English)  "yes, yes, the one you ordered!"

I bite into it.  Mission failed.  Again, I am eating the flan-like dessert.  Apparently, the universe does not want me to eat that custard.  I will be back be heading back soon to get that dessert.  I just might order a second and third too, to make up for these past two times!  

Lingüísticas Españolas

[kiéroyorár]

I am currently working on my nine page linguistics paper.  I am trying to explain things like "...Word- and phrase-final /n/ is velarized throughout Andalusia.  In more advanced pronunciation the velar nasal disappears, leaving only a lightly nasalized vowel.  This nasality sometimes disappears, particularly in final unstressed vowels, with the result that verb paradigms can be drastically simplified in vernacular speech..." 

in Spanish.

Good luck, to me.

Madrid and Toledo

Forced to spend some Euros on a hat to save myself from frozen ears.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/MadridAndToledo?authkey=Gv1sRgCND03LOottqLHw#

Last weekend I went to Madrid and Toledo.  I met my friend Sperka there.  Sperka goes to UW and is studying in Ireland this semester, so we decided to have a little weekend adventure.  It was so great to catch up!

We saw Puerta del Sol, Palacio Real, Reina Sofia Art Museum, and lots of cool plazas in Madrid.  Saturday we went to Toledo, explored the city and went to a few free museums--this continued into Sunday.  Sunday afternoon we returned to Madrid (its less than one hour by bus), and I left for Sevilla.

One of our favorite moments was when a group of about 30 Spanish kids (10ish years old) surrounded us and started talking to us.  They thought that we were English (I was insulted! ha), but when I explained we were Americanas, they kept asking us questions about the USA.  A lot of them practiced speaking English with me too.  It was a lot of fun but I have no idea how I escaped...they literally had us surrounded and pinned against a wall!

The whole weekend was fun.  We mainly just walked around the cities and talked.  I was absolutely freezing all weekend, though.  It was about 45 everyday--I am worried I have become a Sevillana and get cold if the temperature is under 60.  Might be a little chilly upon my return back...

See you in 14 days!  

Politics

Practicing for the campaign trail

I am now confident that my Spanish roommate does not like me whatsoever.  Yesterday she asked me about my views on politics--the discussion ended in her calling me an egotist.  I guess I will not be getting her vote when I run for President of the Universe...

Playing Plumber Again...Joyous...

One of my roommates smokes and deposited all of her cigarette butts into our toilet which clogged it.  This project didn't require any ingenuity, just patience.  After 11 flushes, all of the cigarettes washed away.  Too bad I cannot clean my lungs as easily...

23 days until I am in my cigarette-less house!

Again, I wish everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING tomorrow!!!  Much love--Jane

France

A foggy day in Paris

Picture link: http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/France?authkey=Gv1sRgCPmkhK_N6KbYcw#


This past weekend I flew to Paris to meet up with my friend Charlotte.  I originally met Charlotte while she was studying abroad in Madison.

I arrived Thursday night and we took a subway and a train to get to her house just outside of Paris.  Her mom made us pumpkin soup and pizza and after eating we went straight to bed.  Her family has lived in NYC (Charlotte was born there), Singapore, Japan, and France; they all speak English perfectly.

Roland Garros

Friday we spent exploring Paris.  Charlotte surprised me and took me to Roland Garros.  We toured the facilities and museum there and then went downtown.  We ate lunch in the Latin Quarter, saw Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs Elysees.  Later, we went back to Charlotte's house, ate dinner with her mom, and went to Versailles to see the opera.  The theater is in the castle and it is gorgeous!  The opera was great too!  After, we watched an episode of "How I Met Your Mother," Charlotte's favorite show, and then went to bed.

Opera House

On Saturday, Charlotte and I went to a small city with great views of Paris.  There also is a castle there that we walked through.  We met with Charlotte's younger sister, Sybil, who is in preparatory school, and went back to her house for lunch with their mom.  After lunch the four of us went to Versailles and strolled around the grounds while the weather was nice.  Charlotte and I then went back downtown to have dinner with her dad.  It was delicious--chicken with coconut curry, salad, baked potato, and ice cream.  Her dad drove us around and we saw Paris by night.  He dropped us off at her house, we watched a few more episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" and went to bed.

Sunday we toured the inside of Versailles.  Incredible!  Sadly, though, there was a Japanese art exhibit in the castle.  It was ridiculous looking (see photo).  Charlotte and her family were absolutely horrified by it.  After the tour we ate lunch and I left for Sevilla.  It was such a fun and great weekend!!

The Art Exhibit in the Castle

Basically, these posts are turning into a schedule of when I eat. whooops! haha

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!  Ohh how I will miss the turkey and stuffing; Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.  Guess I will just have to celebrate gluttonous consumption in Spain.  

Barcelona

Barcelona, in Park Guille with Denise

A few pictures of Barcelona: http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/Barcelona?authkey=Gv1sRgCKnsj7LLvbvPHw#

Sorry I have been very negligent in posting as of late!  I have been flooded with projects recently (non-plumbing projects, I mean, so I have not LITERALLY been flooded at least...).  Anyways, I was in Barcelona from November 12-14.  However, the adventure began on Friday morning in Seville...

On Friday morning my class had a field trip to a bodega.  I was really excited as it was a wine tasting and I love wine.  But, unbeknownst to me, this wine was not normal wine--the first sip was rather shocking.  The wine was like hard liquor.  I ended up throwing down the glass like a shot--I hate lingering pain, so I thought that this was the best idea.  The Spaniards, who were with my class, all loved the wine.  They were chugging glass after glass.  After the visit, we got back in the bus and had the most interesting ride ever.  The Spaniards were singing, dancing, and chanting at us the whole bus ride back to Sevilla.  (My professor included.)  It was so really quite bizarre, but entertaining none-the-less.  Rowdy rowdy rowdy.

Later in the day I left for Barcelona with two girls from my program, Denise from Carnegie Mellon and Natalie from St. Thomas.  The plane ride is fast--about an hour--and we arrived in the city around 9 PM.  They ate Domino's pizza for dinner, but I abstained.  (It seemed blasphemous, cannot think of the right word-?-to be an American, in Spain, eating Domino's pizza haha...although I do recall my dad practically force-feeding us McDonald's quarter-pounders in Ireland once...)

Natalie and I were still recovering from colds, so we slept a lot during the weekend.  We also spent Saturday and Sunday on red bus rides around the city.  We could hop off and on as we pleased.  We strolled through Las Ramblas, Guille Park, and the Sagrada Familia.  The Sagrada Familia is probably my favorite cathedral.  It is so unique!  Ohh, and we also stopped at Starbuck's where I drank a hot tea, because apparently I find it acceptable to be an American drinking Starbuck's in ANY country...

On Sunday we headed back to Sevilla after a fun and relaxing weekend.

Also, if you are ever overseas during an election, remember to get your ballot early... I sadly messed up on obtaining my voting overseas ballot and was unable to vote.  I asked my sister not to vote, as our votes would have cancelled each other out, thus having the same effect as if I had voted, but she refused to indulge me.

Can't wait to be back in America.  Let the countdown begin...24(ish) days!!!

Plumbing

Honestly, I don’t know anything about plumbing.  My only life experiences with it have been seeing my dad’s pants hang down too low, exposing his ample body.  Anyways, my experiences with plumbing have obviously been unpleasant thus far in my life, and they have now continued in Spain! Although I have a professor whose fashion taste (or lack there of) is close to my dad’s, this is not what I am referring to.  This is what I am referring to…

My roommate occasionally doesn’t flush the toilet.  So on Tuesday when I was about to use it, and opened the covered, and discovered a lovely surprise waiting for me, it really was no surprise at all.  I tried flushing it, but it didn’t work.  My roommate then told me that she had accidentally broken the toilet.  I used the other bathroom and assumed my roommate would tell our Senora.

Fast forward two days later and nothing has changed.  My senora isn’t home (I hadn’t seen her in awhile to tell her), so I decide to try and fix the toilet.  I open the back of it to find it completely jerry-rigged with DENTAL FLOSS!! One of the pieces had broken causing the problems.  In the midst of me trying to fix it, I broke another piece of the dental floss and water started rushing up inside the back of the toilet.  I could only stop it when I held my hand a certain way, but I needed to hold it there permanently, and no one was home to get me more dental floss (or anything!) to fix the toilet with.  I felt like the little Dutch boy.  I decide to let go, run to my room, and grab the first thing I saw.  Hair tie!!  Then I ran back, before the water overflowed, and tied the piece into place (with my hair tie) and fixed the toilet!  Success!

I am very proud to say that I have begun the renovation of Spanish plumbing—updating toilets from dental floss to hair ties.  My next endeavor: introducing belts to men across the entire globe.

Adventures in Euskadi (Basque Country)

Sorry I am just getting around to writing about my trip to Bilbao and Basque Country.  I have been a little bit sick these past few days and not had much energy to do anything!

My trip to visit Irati was great!  Seriously one of the best weekends ever.  I arrived at the Bilbao airport Thursday night and was greeted by Irati, her mother, and her brother, Inigo.  The first thing her mom said to me was “I have been waiting five years to meet you!”  It was rather late, so we just drove to her flat in Amorebieta, I met her dad, and we went to bed. 

Irati's School

On Friday Irati had a class, so we both went.  I walked around during her class.  After, we went to Bilbao and explored the city.  I really liked it.  My senora told me that it is a very ugly city and has too many factories/industry, but I thought it was beautiful.  It is situation in mountains, kind of in the bottom of a bowl.  There is a river that runs through the city too.  We stopped for lunch and then went shopping down Gran Via…a ritzy streets with lots of shops.

Guggenheim and the dog known as Puppie (how Irati spells it, but it is pronounced "Poopy")

We returned to Amorebieta and walked around the city.  It is quite small and within 20 minutes we had seen everything, so we met up with Irati’s friends and went to a few bars for a drink or two.  After that, we went back to her house and met up with Inigo and Ollia (Inigo’s girlfriend) and went to dinner.  Irati’s parents were waiting for us at the restaurant.  It was a gorgeous restaurant built in an old typical Basque house.  Irati’s mother instructed everyone to order the seven course dinner.  It was delicious.  I am not even exactly sure of everything that I ate, but I loved it all! 

Dessert, Friday Night

Saturday morning we woke up early as Irati’s mom had booked a private tour for Irati, her boyfriend Xabi, and me, through the caves of Santimamine.  These caves were inhabited by people (I think actually by homo sapiens sapiens ??—I did once take a archaelogy class, but my grade was abysmal) over 14,000 years ago!  It was really neat to walk through.  After, we went to a gorgeous beach and climbed up a mountain (El Ogono), to find amazing vistas.  Irati suggested that I throw Pa’s ashes here.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have any with me!  It was such a beautiful place, but brought him there in spirit.  (*This is a tradition in my family, we spread the ashes of my Grandfather with us to all of the beautiful places we travel to—some places he resides include the Sistine Chapel, beaches on Hawaii, Big Sur, and Wrigley Field.) 

Entrance to Caves

View from atop El Ogono

We stopped for lunch, and before entering the restaurant Irati needed to change her clothes…she was wearing sneakers for our hike but could not be seen in public in them.  Haha, she really has NOT changed!  And I am the same as always…I told her that I make any look work…natural beauty always shines through.  She thinks I am crazy.  Anyways, lunch was delicious, and while we did not eat 7 courses, Irati insisted that we eat four. 

After lunch we went to a church that is built on top of a rock, situated in the water.  It had stunning views.  It took us about 30 minutes to climb up, and 60 minutes to climb back down to our car.  I was agotada (exhausted!).  We stopped for a few drinks (of cold water!) on the way back to Amorebieta.  When we got back we went to a few bars (and I had lots of competition, as there were several rubias there!  What is going on??) and then went to bed. 

Church in the background...About 10 minutes into the climb!

"BEER--helping ugly people have sex since 1862."  What did they do in 1861??
Maybe wine was around then...

Sunday, my last day, we explored San Sebastian (a nearby city on the ocean) and went to the 3 cruces.  It was bad weather, so we mainly stayed in the car and drove around.  The countryside is beautiful!  We ate a late lunch at a super fancy restaurant.  Again, we had several courses, and each food was to be eaten in a very precious manner.  “You need to let it melt in your mouth.  Don’t mix the food in the bowl.  Eat the flower, then the meat, then the other flower.”  It was honestly unlike any other eating experience I have ever had.  Incredibly expensive too, but that’s what parents--in all countries--are for, right?  Just kidding, of course, Mom and Dad.

Tuna with three peppers...my main dish Sunday

We then went to the Bilbao airport, designed by Calatrava, and met Inigo.  My flight was delayed, so Irati’s parents went home and Inigo, Irati, and I grabbed a drink in a café and talked for a while.  Inigo told me about his most interesting study abroad experience.  While studying in Ireland, his host sister seemed a bit in love with him.  One day, he went home to find her COMPLETELY dressed in all of his clothes.  He was a bit bothered by the experience, but didn’t make a big deal of it and just asked her to not wear his clothes again.  The next day he went home to find her COMPLETELY naked in his bed.  Needless to say, he was even more bothered after this, and has never returned to Ireland.

At last, we bid farewell and I passed through security, jumped on the plane, and arrived back in Sevilla an hour later.  It was an amazing trip!  

As I told Irati, my natural beauty ALWAYS shines through.

Pais Vasco

Mini-Irati!!!

I will write about my whole trip soon.  Until then, here are some pictures!

For more photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/PaisVasco#
*see comment regarding photo access*

Belgium and Amsterdam Photos

Apparently, I am a messy eater/drinker!

For more pictures, follow this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/BruggesBrusselsAmsterdam#

Also, I would like to wish my friend Claire a VERY happy birthday!!  Winner, winner, chicken dinner--Happy 21st birthday, Claire.

A shared love for whipped cream--we get along well!  Claire and me after exams last semester, in Madison.

Brussels and Amsterdam

I have midterms this week, so naturally it seemed like a good idea to go to Belgium and Amsterdam. 

I went with two girls from my program and had a lot of fun.  It was quite an experience in cultures I had never ever experienced.  But, given the fact I didn’t study much on the trip (I did study a little though!), I actually promise to keep this short.

We flew into Brussels on Friday and took a train to Brugge.  It was a gorgeous city, “The Venice of the North.”  We stayed there Friday and Saturday night.  Mainly walked the city, climbed a tower, went to a museum, and ate some waffles.  It was so charming.  The city looks like a city in a snow globe.  Not sure how to better describe it!

Sunday we went to Amsterdam.  The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank’s house were great, but overall I really disliked the city.  We stayed in the red light district (sketchy!) and it was insane.  Many theatres with live porn shows, prostitutes everywhere, and the clientele to support the district.  The shops in Amsterdam were full of pornographic postcards and really really disturbing souvenirs.  The two girls travelling with me didn’t react quite the same as I did.  They found my horrification to be quite entertaining.  Meanwhile, I was pretty sad, having just lost faith in humanity and all!!  The two girls also told me how they think the majority of men solicit prostitutes. I disagreed, adamantly and hope my disagreement is the truth!  Then, they told me that my dad has surely had several lap dances from strippers in his life.  My horrification grew.  Called Dad, and I am happy to say I rightfully defended him.  My mom, on the other hand…

Okay, maybe I just went into too much detail…

Oh, and the hostels!  Everyone would be so proud of me.  I am pretty sure these beds and sheets were of VERY questionable sanitary integrity.  For a germ phobic kid it was a nightmare!  But, I managed and am still alive.  No signs of mersa yet. Phew!  I did call my mom from Brugge to interrogate her on disease transmissions…haha, yes I am a bit weird.

I will upload the pictures soon!

Love to all, Jane   

Travel Itinerary!

Plans for the coming weeks:

Oct 29-Nov 1: Belgium (Brussels and Brugge) and Amsterdam

*apparently I have exams between these trips...

Nov 4-7: Bilbao to see Irati!

Nov 12-14: Barcelona

Nov 18-21: France to see Charlotte (my French friend who lives outside of Paris)!

Nov 25 (gobble gobble!)-28: Madrid to meet up with Sperka (my friend from Madison, studying abroad in Galway)!

Dec 2-9: Long vacation, no classes.  Haven't booked anything yet, but have a few ideas.  Any suggestions?

Dec 10-12: Last weekend here

*more exams :(

Dec 18: Leave for USA!

How to Call Someone VERY ugly in Spanish

My teacher Miguel: "Okay, let's think of sentences with the verb 'echar.'"

...Voy a echarme una sieta...Necesitas que te eche una mano...

Miguel: Well, I shouldn't teach you this, but does anyone know what "echar un polvo"means?

...to have a dust??...

Miguel: Literally that is correct, but in slang it means "to have a quicky."  And when you want to call someone really really ugly you can say "que polvo mas mal echado."  It means you are sooo ugly because your parents had a bad quicky.

Just wanted to prove to UT that I am not on vacation; clearly, I am learning very valuable insights into the Spanish language!

*Enjoy the views of yesterday's sunset from my bedroom!*

Morocco

To view all of my Moroccan photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/Morocco#

I have now been to over half of the continents.  Africa was my fourth--three more to go!

Salam wa aleikum, or “hello” in Arabic!  It actually means something like “peace be with you.” I arrived back in Sevilla yesterday night, after a weekend in Morocco.  Although I slept for about 14 hours last night, I am still a bit tired (how is this possible?)! 

Morocco was a really interesting and great experience.  I was originally planning on traveling there with my family, but my program offered a free (or, included in our fees) trip, so I ended up just going with my program.  Although I didn’t get to see the cities that I wanted to, it was still wonderful.  We were busy busy busy and I will try to do a short recap.

Crossing the Straight of Gibraltar

We left Sevilla around 7 Thursday morning, drove to Algeciras (city in Spain), and took the ferry from there.  The views from the ferry were quite beautiful…Spain in one direction and Africa in the other.  An hour later we arrived in Ceuta, which is a Spanish city in Morocco.  We drove through customs and entered into Morocco!  We dropped our stuff off at our hotel in Tetuan and went to the Medina (city center) of Tetuan.  Our guide Adbul, who preferred to be called “Michael Douglas,” led us to an art school in the city.  There was some gorgeous woodwork and scarves being made there.  After, we walked around the city a bit.  It would honestly be impossible to navigate the city alone; the streets are winding and lack streets signs.  We meandered through some markets.  They were awesome, but I was a little bothered by the bloody chicken and insect ridden pastries.  I am just germ phobic though!

Lunch was a typical Moroccan feast.  Cous cous and kebabs and tea with cookies.  We drank gallons and gallons of Moroccan tea all weekend.  It is very sweet (lots of added sugar) and served with herba buena and cookies.  I really want to incorporate la merienda (Spain’s “tea time”) into my daily American schedule, with Moroccan cookies and tea—so good!  And Roland (my dentist) would probably be guaranteed an early retirement if I did this.  Seriously, so much sugar in this tea!

Tour guide Michael Dougals and me

We walked around the city after lunch and heard a speech (while drinking tea) from a Muslim man.  It was interesting.  Most of the people in Morocco didn’t seem to be radical Muslims (young girls walk around in very western dress and attend college etc.), but this man was rather extreme.  He was in support of laws requiring women to wear burkas and he was extremely upset with schools that don’t have breaks for the five daily prayers.  After the speech we had dinner in the hotel and went to bed.

Tea and cookies--I drank roughly 88 glasses this weekend.

The next day we went to Tangier.  We started with a tour of a Coca Cola factory.  It was crazy!!  The machines are unbelievable fast and noisy.  This was my first visit ever to a factory, so it was especially impressive I think.  Also, we went to the caves of Hercules (he apparently slept here before completing one of his labors) and walked along the coast.  We also went on camel rides.  The coast was beautiful.  We drove past the King’s palace in Tangier.  This was obviously in a gorgeous neighborhood and the area was really beautiful.  We stopped and had lunch in a restaurant over looking the water.  We ate pastilla marroqui, which was soooo delicious.  It basically is chicken with spices and sometimes dates, covered in a dough shell with almonds.  It was one of my favorite meals on the trip thus far.

 

Riding camels

After lunch we went to a business school in Tangier and received a presentation from Moroccan students.  It was really fun.  They sang “Superstition,” Cascada’s “Everytime we Touch,” and some Arabic songs for us.  After, we drank tea (of course!) and talked with them.  Morocco is ruled by a king, and while they really disliked the last king, they LOVE the current king.  It was rather difficult to ask them questions, though.  We conversed in English, which they spoke perfectly, but I didn’t want to bring up anything taboo or ask an innocent question that could be perceived as insulting.  Someone asked if assembling in the streets was legal and they were very confused; they kept saying that they love their King and no one would ever want to do this.  After, we shopped around the city center and then went back to the hotel.

Our last day we spent in the city of Chaouen.  It was beautiful!  Situated in the mountains, it is a small town and known for its shades of blue.  We were guided throughout the city and had a lot of time to shop (and barter) for items.  We ate lunch in a Hotel Parador (we successfully got there via bus haha!) and then left.  It was a long journey back to Sevilla. 

In Chauoen

I really enjoyed Morocco, and am really loving my time in Sevilla, but I am growing more and more appreciative of how great a country America really is.  Obviously it has its own flaws, but it is such a wonderful place. 

This week I have a lot of projects due, then a trip to Brussels and Amsterdam, then midterms.  Got to get my studying on (but maybe a siesta first...)!

Hopefully this was somewhat coherent--sorry, I am still exhausted!

XOXO-Jane  

My family's visit

Tarifa, two cool kids slumming it and hanging out with me on the coast (Africa in the background)

Hola!!  Just finished an incredibly great week.  My family and I had so much fun.  Irati, our former exchange student from Bilbao, flew down and we had a fabulous time with her.  She is still as hilarious.  She wore 4 inch heels most of the trip but they were really comfortable—since they were “her short heels,” she told me!  She is studying medicine to be a plastic surgeon (reconstructive surgery).  We hung around Seville and spent a day in Lagos, Portugal.  It was gorgeous!! 

After Irati left, we had dinner in my apartment here, 5 courses made by my senora.  She really went all out.  We later took her and Marga out to an Argentian steak house for lunch.  The rest of the time we ate out at very Sevillian restaurants and once at an Italian place.  Great food, lots of seafood of course!  Best meal: Paella at La Isla.  Probably the best meal I have ever eaten in Europe.  Matthew enjoyed a donut in Dunkin Donuts and I posted a picture on Facebook.  Today, Marga bought me 6 donuts because she saw the picture and thought I would enjoy them!

We went to Madrid by AVE (high-speed train), and I really enjoyed the city.  Sadly, the Reina Sofia museum was closed.  Luckily, I will be back soon and I think then I can enter! 

We were planning on going to Morocco, but I found out that my program takes us there at no additional charge.  For this reason, we decided ahead of time, to go to Tarifa instead.  It is a beach town in Southern Spain.  I loved the topography, watching kite surfing, and taking in the Roman ruins in Bolonia. 

Also, probably the funniest night of my life occurred.  I cannot even begin to explain the gravity of the situation…my mom had to navigate us through the winding and narrowing (literally) roads of Arcos de la Frontera.  7 gears, 9 passenger minibus, and openings about 6 feet wide.  No idea how she did it, but there was not even a scratch on the car, well there were several, but they were attributable to my dad.  Oh wait, he is incapable of driving stick so he didn’t even drive!! ßHe gets very mad when we say this, sorry Dad, at least you can be sure you taught us honesty!  Mary took videos and our commentaries are quite funny.  I seriously was thinking in my head, “Who do we call when we cannot proceed?  The police?”

Just a great time!!!  Cannot wait to be reunited with the core in December.  Anyways, schoolwork is really starting to pile up (thus the lack of blogs), so I must go.  Heading off to Morocco this Thursday.  Will report back soon!

Much love, Jane 

*Also a SO to the Badgers--jeeeeez did I miss an epic game!

**And a VERY VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Wu Richard Yue--miss ya!

...Before I left for Spain...Matthew, Wu Richard Yue, Me, "Jane" (Olympic gold medalist in shooting), "Betty" (Olympic gold medalist in curling), and Mary

Fotos!

Same as on Facebook.  If you haven't seen these yet, hope you enjoy them!

http://picasaweb.google.com/111161978190687820435/SpainPortugalWithFAMILIA?pli=1#

Familia!!

Sorry there have been no updates on our family trip.  We are just always out having fun!!!!!  Here is a quick "top ten" list:

1.) Seeing Irati
2.) My mom driving us around in a 7-gear stick shift mini-bus
3.) My dad trying to speak in Spanish
4.) Mary eating a large amount of seaweed (she thought it was fish)
5.) Singing Christmas carols on a red-bus through Madrid
6.) Lagos, Portugal
7.) All of the food--my dad and I just finished $70 of paella...where are the Tums?
8.) 5-course dinner made by my Senora
9.) Dad getting in a quadracycle accident
10.) Being together in Europe--claro!

I will elaborate more later...

Un beso,
Jane

1 day until my family arrives!

Tomorrow at this time I will be hanging out with my family!  I am so excited to see them and show them around Sevilla.  In addition to my family's visit, Irati will be joining us!  Irati was the exchange student who stayed with my family five years ago.  We have kept in contact, and she will be flying down from Bilbao to join us for a weekend in Seville.  I realized that I have friends on every continent except Antarctica! Que guay!

This past week went pretty fast.  Classes are good but are actually requiring work.  News to me, as I thought I had signed up for a semester long vacation...  I really like all of them, though.  Also, my program offers free tutoring.  I have a Spanish tutor who I will meet with for 1 hour every week.  I am going to try and finish all of my homework today so I can devout all of my time this weekend to enjoying the company of my family.

Courtney (IL), Me, Makaela (OR), Denise (CA), Jamie (OR), and Elise (NYC)

This week I also met up with my intercambio and some other Americans.  Another night I went out with a group of Spaniards and Americans to celebrate my friend Denise's 21st birthday.  Last night, Thursday, I went to tapas with Luis, Makaela, and Alison.  We went to the oldest bar in Sevilla, El Rinconcillo, which was founded in 1670.  It was pretty cool, and the spinach was amazzzing!  There was a man there, we estimated around 90 years old, who wrote us poetry.  He wrote two poems in Spanish for us, as well as gave us each (Luis not included) a flower.  The first poem said that the rubia (blonde girl) was prettier than the Andalusian sun.  Finally, someone recognizes my beauty!

Denise opening birthday pastries!

Well, back to homework!!  And then taking on Spain with my original crew, can't wait!

Carmona and Cadiz (otra vez)

Greetings from a very grey Sevilla.  Unfortunately, the weather today is rather ugly but it has been a gorgeous weekend otherwise. 

Thursday I had class in the centro until 6:35 and then cine club at 9:00, in the centro as well.  It is a bit of a walk, so instead of going back to mi piso, I just bummed around the centro checking out shops etc.  I ran into my friend Makaela, from Oregon, and we explored *cough were lost cough* for a while, before running into our friend Luis, from NYC.  The three of us went out to tapas…yummmm…and indulged in a grand pitcher of rather potent sangria.  After, we went to cine club where we inhaled popcorn while watching a movie about a father/son relationship in which the father was gay.  The movie finished at the early hour of 11:00 PM, so the three of us went to Plaza San Salvador.  We met a crewmember from U2 (they had a concert here the other day) and also spoke with lots of Spaniards.  Favorite moment: being told by a Spaniard that I am “too white” and really should get some more sun.

After Plaza San Salvador, we meandered the streets until stumbling into--not literally, we never drink excessively, Mom--the Torre del Oro.  We found a group of our American friends who were “botellon-ing” and hung out with them for a while.  I grabbed a Sevici and headed home.  Upon my arrived home I skyped Matthew, as it was his birthday, but didn’t really get to talk much as everyone here was asleep.  I am confident tha just gracing him with my presence (via the internet) was wonderful enough! Jaja

The Torre

Friday I explored Carmona with my group. It is a suburb of Sevilla situated on high ground. It had some gorgeous views. I got home in time for lunch, then worked on some homework, had dinner, and went out. There is a festival of nations currently going on it Sevilla, so I went to that. I indulged, and bought a pair of 7.50 euro pants! They are “genie” pants and I am obsessed with them!! So so so comfy. I asked mi madre aqui, if she wanted a pair too (Marga, mi hermana, has a pair) but I was answered with laughter (Jane!! I am almost 60! I couldn’t wear those!); I told her all about my Grammy who wears toe rings! Still wasn’t able to convince her…

Carmona

Saturday I went to Cadiz with my program.  We checked out the city, something I didn’t do on my first excursion there.  The top of the Cathedral has AMAZING vistas.  I also learned that “Die Another Day” with Pierce Brosnon (007) and Halle Berry, was larely filmed in Cadiz.  Although it was set in La Habana (Havana, Cuba), the filming actually took place in Cadiz.  Check out this link; it is the beach I went to Saturday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml75GSIY8mw&feature=related

Cadiz

Surrounded by the ocean and gorgeous view...360 degrees!

Saturday night I retuned home for a siesta and dinner.  After dinner, looking even more chulo (cool) than usual thanks to the assistance of my new genie pants, I went back to the festival of nations.  My American friend, Jamie, and I met up with a group of about six Spanish friends.  I really prefer going out with Spaniards to get more practice speaking and listening.  We found a neat little bar/restaurant and sat outside chatting.  I had a super interesting conversation with a girl, studying education here, who isn’t a Francista, but definitely prefers communism to democracy.  She hopes that there will soon be a revolution in Spain.  I headed home around 2 AM, in need of some sleep.

The pants!!!

Spanish friends!

This morning I woke up and helped Senora prepare some of our meals for this week.  Yummmm…ajo and aceite de oliva in everything!

I have yet to meet Rita, the girl from Africa, renting a room in our piso.  My senora is quite worried about her.  She never came home last night, never eats and is very very thin, and in general, is a bit mysterious.  Senora called her to make sure she is okay, but no response yet.  I feel badly, as she is incredibly worried and feels a bit responsible for Rita.

All I have on the docket for today is homework.  I wanted to go for a walk or bike ride, but it is supposed to start raining very soon--bummer.

Like always, besos from Spain!