I have the best people in my life. All you at home are amazing, and so are the people here. Thanks for all the homesick tips fellow study abroaders :-)
I should tell you the cool new things that I have done in the past two days.
I talked to my family! Actually, we watched TV. La programa ¡Fama! ¡A Bailar!. It´s based on the movie Fame. Or kind of like Dancing with the stars and real World all in one.
Soo funny!
Yeah, so watching TV today I learned all about the lack of censorship in Spain. Sex, Sex, the true visions of war, and more sex. During the day and prime time.
What else? My little sis loves American music. My mom loves sardines. Frozen pizza is better in Spain. Public Universities are CHEAP (think $80 US dollars a semester). The election process here is weird, but interesting. Bush hasn´t spoken to Spain since 2004 (Jerk). The guy on TV last night made a joke about Obama, but all I understood was "OBAMA", so I hope I shouldn´t have been offended. Tons of people are learning English here. THe unemployment rate is super high. Of the 13.5% active in the labor force, more than 3.000.000 are unemployed. In Spain, if you have a job, all health care is covered. Public universities are better than private ones. Late year 70 women were killed as a result of domestic violence. You can legally marry your same sex lover anywhere in Spain. The king is super catholic, but still approved of this and legalized abortion. I love all men working in the history field. I think my favorite Spanish food is Marmataco. Yum! I have eaten more ham and hotdogs in the last 6 days than in the last year of my life.
Yup, that´s about it. Class is amazing, all of them. I love them.
Ok, well I´m going to this weird "meet your spanish match" dinner tonight. It´s weird. Actually its a chance for us to meet other people from Toledo, but also to meet peple interested in an intercambio (convrsation partners) So it will be exciting. I really want to meet some older spnish men. They are hard to get to know here. But they all seem nice. I´ve met women young and ld and of course younger guys, but I think I could learn alot from a man here. I´d like to see the difference in perspective between men and wmen. I´ve talked alot with my mom, so now I need to find a papa.
Ok, well now I am going to start looking at fights and stuff.
Besos y muchos abrazos.
Os amo!
Angela
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Let´s Make Plans
So I have decided to just get over it. Let´s start talking trips.
So Madrid tomorrow! Then the festival for the patron Saint of Toledo tomorrow night, aka. A GIANT PARTY IN THE DISCOTECA!!!
Right now we are making travel plans for the months to come. It is overwhelming but amazing. The world is at my fingertips, but I don´t want to see the world, I just want to see every inch of SPAIN.
It´ll start next weekend. I´m either heading to Málaga or SEvilla. I think it will be Sevilla. I don´t have any class on Thursday, so we´re gonna make it a 4 day weekend!
The next weekend, a mystery. Then Madrid, then CARNAVAL in CADIZ (its a crazy two week party before Lent). The next weekend? Barcelona. Then a trip to Andalucil, Granada and Cordoba. Then Valencia for LAS FALLAS!!! Maybe a weekend exploring Toledo to follow. Then 10 days in Italy and Sicilly. Then Segovia. Then San Sebastian. And then that is every weekend. Then I come home.
Some time in there I have lots of 20 some papers, 6 novels to read, midterms and finals, a few presentations, and a research project to prepare for when I get home (which I havent even chosen a topic for)
YIKES! I wish my dear Heather was here to set up all these plans for me, but for now I guess I´ll have to do it myself. Yeah, I´ll be spending the weekend exploring Toledo and booking flights, trains, buses, and hostels!
VAMANOS!!
Angela
So Madrid tomorrow! Then the festival for the patron Saint of Toledo tomorrow night, aka. A GIANT PARTY IN THE DISCOTECA!!!
Right now we are making travel plans for the months to come. It is overwhelming but amazing. The world is at my fingertips, but I don´t want to see the world, I just want to see every inch of SPAIN.
It´ll start next weekend. I´m either heading to Málaga or SEvilla. I think it will be Sevilla. I don´t have any class on Thursday, so we´re gonna make it a 4 day weekend!
The next weekend, a mystery. Then Madrid, then CARNAVAL in CADIZ (its a crazy two week party before Lent). The next weekend? Barcelona. Then a trip to Andalucil, Granada and Cordoba. Then Valencia for LAS FALLAS!!! Maybe a weekend exploring Toledo to follow. Then 10 days in Italy and Sicilly. Then Segovia. Then San Sebastian. And then that is every weekend. Then I come home.
Some time in there I have lots of 20 some papers, 6 novels to read, midterms and finals, a few presentations, and a research project to prepare for when I get home (which I havent even chosen a topic for)
YIKES! I wish my dear Heather was here to set up all these plans for me, but for now I guess I´ll have to do it myself. Yeah, I´ll be spending the weekend exploring Toledo and booking flights, trains, buses, and hostels!
VAMANOS!!
Angela
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I think the honeymoon might be over...
So people tell you there are for stges when moving to a new culture. The furst is the honeymoon stge, aka. falling in love with new things and never wanting it to end. Sometime after that reality sinks in.
I AM HOMESICK!
I miss talking to everyone, sleeping in my bed, English. America. I am so happy to be here. But I need to talk to someone I know well. You have no idea how pathetic I am. I get online at noon here. You all are still asleep. I get back online and hope that I got an email, facebook message, or even comment on my blog. It´s sick. I miss being connected to everyone alreadyt. I´ll get over it. The feeling passes when I´m in class or walking around Toledo, but when I feel alone or disconnected from the people around me, all I want is to be home.
AAAHHHHH!!!
The point, send me a message once in a while. Let me know what´s happening at home. I know it might be lame, but help me out. I´,m the girl who has gone maybe 10 days without going home. I live 25 miles from where I go to school. This is hard. I have to push myself everyday. To talk to new people, to try a new language, to make new friends, to learn, to be independent, to be lonely, to not miss little things like my computer and the radio.
I kindof disgust myself. I am in probably the most beautiful place ever created by man and I am crying over being here and not there. I guess the same thing happened freshman year, but I´m a different person now, so I´ll handle it better than I did back in the day...
Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and don´t forget about me in the months to come.
Angela
I AM HOMESICK!
I miss talking to everyone, sleeping in my bed, English. America. I am so happy to be here. But I need to talk to someone I know well. You have no idea how pathetic I am. I get online at noon here. You all are still asleep. I get back online and hope that I got an email, facebook message, or even comment on my blog. It´s sick. I miss being connected to everyone alreadyt. I´ll get over it. The feeling passes when I´m in class or walking around Toledo, but when I feel alone or disconnected from the people around me, all I want is to be home.
AAAHHHHH!!!
The point, send me a message once in a while. Let me know what´s happening at home. I know it might be lame, but help me out. I´,m the girl who has gone maybe 10 days without going home. I live 25 miles from where I go to school. This is hard. I have to push myself everyday. To talk to new people, to try a new language, to make new friends, to learn, to be independent, to be lonely, to not miss little things like my computer and the radio.
I kindof disgust myself. I am in probably the most beautiful place ever created by man and I am crying over being here and not there. I guess the same thing happened freshman year, but I´m a different person now, so I´ll handle it better than I did back in the day...
Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and don´t forget about me in the months to come.
Angela
Las Clases Españolas
I LOVE SPANISH!
Well, I love listening to it and learning about it. I´m learning to love speaking it.
My first day of classes was long. From this point on I think my life will be nothing but boring schoolness.
I had gramática avanzada and literatura del siglo XX, 20th century Spanish lit. YIKES! This professor talks FAST. I am not over exaggerating.
Our classes are 1 hour 15 minutes, two times a week. What´s weird though, is that for four of my five classes, both sessions are on the same day. Mondays I have two sessions of lit. Tuesdays my only classes are two sessions of my Latin American Politics class, Wednsdays I have Spanish Theology, and Thursday I only have History of Spain since 1936. And then I have grammar of two seperate days.
It´s weird. I only have each class one day a week. WEIRD! But it´s nice. No class on Fridays. For the most part we will be starting all of our travels on Thursday night.
I was planning out my trips last night. I need more weekends. I have three weekends that aren´t already full. And there are so many places to visit. AAHHHH!!
Oh, another great thing about SPain, shady copyright laws. ALl my books are photocopies, so they´ll be about $50. I love that!
That´s about it.
Oh, last night I listened to music with my 14 year old sister, all American. She´s sort of in love with Pop. So funny. I love her. She´s such a teenager. Her music was blaring through the house until Mom yelled at her. So she turned it down, until Mom left the room. Then when Mom told her to turn it off, she called her friends for a couple hours. Then we ate, then she started the routine all over again, util Loly told her to start her homework.
Ok, Voy a La Politica de America Latina!
Besos,
Angela
Well, I love listening to it and learning about it. I´m learning to love speaking it.
My first day of classes was long. From this point on I think my life will be nothing but boring schoolness.
I had gramática avanzada and literatura del siglo XX, 20th century Spanish lit. YIKES! This professor talks FAST. I am not over exaggerating.
Our classes are 1 hour 15 minutes, two times a week. What´s weird though, is that for four of my five classes, both sessions are on the same day. Mondays I have two sessions of lit. Tuesdays my only classes are two sessions of my Latin American Politics class, Wednsdays I have Spanish Theology, and Thursday I only have History of Spain since 1936. And then I have grammar of two seperate days.
It´s weird. I only have each class one day a week. WEIRD! But it´s nice. No class on Fridays. For the most part we will be starting all of our travels on Thursday night.
I was planning out my trips last night. I need more weekends. I have three weekends that aren´t already full. And there are so many places to visit. AAHHHH!!
Oh, another great thing about SPain, shady copyright laws. ALl my books are photocopies, so they´ll be about $50. I love that!
That´s about it.
Oh, last night I listened to music with my 14 year old sister, all American. She´s sort of in love with Pop. So funny. I love her. She´s such a teenager. Her music was blaring through the house until Mom yelled at her. So she turned it down, until Mom left the room. Then when Mom told her to turn it off, she called her friends for a couple hours. Then we ate, then she started the routine all over again, util Loly told her to start her homework.
Ok, Voy a La Politica de America Latina!
Besos,
Angela
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Mi Madre Espanola
So I had lunch with mama today. I have a few things tht need to be recorded about this expereince.
1) My mom is the secretary for the providence of Toledo
2) My mom doesn´t eat carbs
3) My mom is divorced
4) My mom hangs out with a guy who is 60, but because she is only 46, she won´t date him. She knows tht in a few years he´ll be old and they won´t have anything in common.
I love my host mom.
1) My mom is the secretary for the providence of Toledo
2) My mom doesn´t eat carbs
3) My mom is divorced
4) My mom hangs out with a guy who is 60, but because she is only 46, she won´t date him. She knows tht in a few years he´ll be old and they won´t have anything in common.
I love my host mom.
Dia de San Anton
So guess what? Today is the feast day of Saint Anthony. I just happen to live on Calle de San Anton in San Anton. Last night as I was walking home I followed a bunch of old ladies headed toward the church at the end of my street. My mom told me it was for a celebration at the church, a fiest day. Well this morning I woke up to tons of music and dogs barking. Mom called me downstairs to come see the procession. Those of you who know what this is, you know its cool. My whole street was filled with people, a marching band, lots of animals (dogs, birds, and HORSES). In the center was a huge status of San Anton. The people all walked to the church and mass began. When I headed here 7 hours later, they were stilling celebrating. It was on the local news too, which was cool.
I guess there are tons of processions throughout Spain. Next week there is one that is just for women, celebrating women. My mom, Loly, was very surprised when I told her we don´t typiclly do that type of thing in the US. But wow, was it ever impressive.
aguedas3.jpg (JPEG Imagen, 600x450 pixels)
I guess there are tons of processions throughout Spain. Next week there is one that is just for women, celebrating women. My mom, Loly, was very surprised when I told her we don´t typiclly do that type of thing in the US. But wow, was it ever impressive.
aguedas3.jpg (JPEG Imagen, 600x450 pixels)
La Discoteca
I did it! I survived my first night out.
What a night! We ended up at some club with the bartender from Enebro, we were the only American there, which was fab. Oh my gosh. It was too amazing for words. We got carded and everything. Hells yeah! I can go out in Spain! I now understand however how expensive this activity can be. $6 for vodka y ´vodka´- the second vodka was actually fanta, but no one understood me when i told them what i was drinking, including the bartender-that was a close one.
Oh, and you know how I am in love with Toledo, I need to rephrase that. I am in love with the men of Toledo, wait no, all Spanish men under 40. I am serious. All you chicas need to get here fast. These guys are muy caliente! What an adventure this will be....
What a night! We ended up at some club with the bartender from Enebro, we were the only American there, which was fab. Oh my gosh. It was too amazing for words. We got carded and everything. Hells yeah! I can go out in Spain! I now understand however how expensive this activity can be. $6 for vodka y ´vodka´- the second vodka was actually fanta, but no one understood me when i told them what i was drinking, including the bartender-that was a close one.
Oh, and you know how I am in love with Toledo, I need to rephrase that. I am in love with the men of Toledo, wait no, all Spanish men under 40. I am serious. All you chicas need to get here fast. These guys are muy caliente! What an adventure this will be....
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