It's been over a week since I first landed in American soil- 9 days to be exact- and I still haven't found a way to sum up just how strange I've been feeling. It all started when I had to pay for a single dose of Dayquil with a handful of coins and I couldn't remember the difference between a nickel and a dime. I spent a good minute or two trying to sort out all these irrational, worthless coins that I barely recognized, something I hadn't thought would be so confusing but that was. It all sort of just hit me from there. I wrote a really poetic analogy the other day of how it was like a dull force shooting straight at me and striking me in slow-motion, something I do a lot when I'm too overwhelmed to actually face the situation I'm in. I guess you could say I turn to metaphors when some turn to alcohol. Ahem. Anyways. It's weird being home. It's even weirder being home as an entirely different person. I feel so torn and confused and fuzzy. I ought to start making giant lists, but even that seems a task far too daunting for me.
Quite honestly, it's not even that I wish I was back in Spain. I do miss it and my friends and my family there, but I'm glad I'm in Bend. I'm just not so glad that I have to make this giant transition when everyone around me seems to think that I should be sliding back into the position I left.
Thus ends the fabulous year abroad adventure.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It's Kind Of a Funny Story
Today something really embarrassing happened, but before I tell you I'd like to say that I have a new article on Domestic Square Peg! It was on the front page at some point, but it relates to my little story. If you have time, it'd be great for you to read it. If not, here's the jist of it: I'm failing school and it puts me in some uncomfortable situations.
One of the biggest ways we learn here in Spanish school is through taking tests. I can say without a doubt that I have gotten a 10% on the last, like, forty tests I've had to take. On the History test I took on Friday about the Cold War, I probably knew how to answer two of the ten questions. I used to consider myself smart, or at least not stupid, but I've definitely started to question myself in the last couple months. So, on this History test, I had about 45 minutes left over after answering those two questions, and I decided to write a list at the bottom of the test of things that I DO know how to do to make myself feel a little bit better. Things like "how to read Hebrew" and "how to properly use a semicolon" and "how to Photoshop Chewbacca into a convertible" made this list.
First of all, may I admit that I didn't think my History teacher knew how to speak any English. He's tried talking to me in English before, and as far as I could tell it was at a pretty elementary level. Turns out he can read English, though, or at least put it into Google Translate and figure out what I was saying. So when he handed back our tests today, instead of handing mine to me and lecturing me on my study habits like he normally does, he told me loudly that NO ONE thought I was dumb and that I didn't need to prove myself to him. One of the kids I sit next to overheard and asked what he was talking about, and my teacher proceeded to read off my list of things that I know how to do to the entire class, translating when necessary. It was a long and painful process. Also, now all the kids in my class know that I pride myself in my knowledge of 70's punk lyrics.
At least they don't think I'm stupid, though.
One of the biggest ways we learn here in Spanish school is through taking tests. I can say without a doubt that I have gotten a 10% on the last, like, forty tests I've had to take. On the History test I took on Friday about the Cold War, I probably knew how to answer two of the ten questions. I used to consider myself smart, or at least not stupid, but I've definitely started to question myself in the last couple months. So, on this History test, I had about 45 minutes left over after answering those two questions, and I decided to write a list at the bottom of the test of things that I DO know how to do to make myself feel a little bit better. Things like "how to read Hebrew" and "how to properly use a semicolon" and "how to Photoshop Chewbacca into a convertible" made this list.
First of all, may I admit that I didn't think my History teacher knew how to speak any English. He's tried talking to me in English before, and as far as I could tell it was at a pretty elementary level. Turns out he can read English, though, or at least put it into Google Translate and figure out what I was saying. So when he handed back our tests today, instead of handing mine to me and lecturing me on my study habits like he normally does, he told me loudly that NO ONE thought I was dumb and that I didn't need to prove myself to him. One of the kids I sit next to overheard and asked what he was talking about, and my teacher proceeded to read off my list of things that I know how to do to the entire class, translating when necessary. It was a long and painful process. Also, now all the kids in my class know that I pride myself in my knowledge of 70's punk lyrics.
At least they don't think I'm stupid, though.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Depende
As a student ambassador for the country of America, I'm quite often asked questions that require an exceptionally assumptive answer. It gets rather annoying, having to make broad generalizations about one of the biggest countries in the world, especially over and over again. So, I repeatedly give the same answer: "depende." Here are some examples of questions to which I respond with "depends."
- Do Americans eat fast food all the time?
- Do you go far away for university?
- Is it easy to pass classes?
- What're the traditional foods that Americans eat?
- Is there a beach really close by?
- Are there a lot of Muslims/blacks/Asians etc.?
- Are there gangs?
I'm sure I'll be updating this as new ones come along. But the moral of the story is, there are very few things that you can say that would accurately sum up all of America.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
One Month
Hello fans, followers, friends, and family! This Sunday marked one month until my return date, and my feelings about it are beginning to grow more and more mixed. As I come to the end of my exchange, I find that I'm not so sure I want to leave, while at the same time I'm anxious to go home and see all those things I've been missing all year. So, there's that.
When I began this post I was going to give it a topic, a thesis or something. In short, it was going to have a point. But I haven't got a point to make so today I'm just going to talk. That happens sometimes, as a person and as a writer. Sometimes we just ramble on about nothing. So here's my ramble.
My host parents are amazing. Like, not just as host parents/people to live with, but as people in general. I tell them that sometimes, thank them for feeding me or washing my sheets or whatever, and they tell me it's human decency. There are two things I say to that: first of all, that their kindness extends far beyond human decency. Second of all, human decency isn't exactly a trait possessed by all nowadays. So it's appreciated when people aren't rude and stuff.
The lovely people over at Domestic Square Peg have recently published something I wrote about adjusting to living abroad. It's one of a 5 part series, so I'll be on there for a month or two. I've included a link on the sidebar. It's seriously an awesome opportunity, and I'm really grateful to be able to be provided with it.
I was in Marbella for most of last week while my host parents were in Madrid, and was able to see with Nina, Matthew, and Josie which was simply lovely. I love travelling, and even though I'm on one big adventure just living here it's nice to be able to travel while here.
One of the biggest things I miss from America is doing things during the day as opposed to the night. "Going out" (leaving the house with friends from like 8-12) is the biggest way to pass time with other people, and I unfortunately inherited the urge to be in bed by 10 from my parents (thanks for that, by the way). I'd much rather go adventuring until 6 or 7, go home, eat, read, and go to sleep, but that doesn't happen like ever here. Oh well, just something I'll be able to appreciate more upon returning.
I'm starting to prepare for the next school year and it's both exciting and nerve-racking. I'm so excited to actually DO things next year- be a yearbook editor, be in the school musical, take dance classes, go skiing, apply for college, do schoolwork, have a job, etc. At the same time, I'm realizing just how much I want to do and how much time/energy it's going to take up. Not being involved in school this year has made me significantly lazier, and I'm worried about how that's going to affect me in my senior year. But still, I'm mostly excited... Even though AP summer homework is already kind of kicking my butt.
I guess that's what's on my mind. That and beach... Living this close to the beach is amazing. Seriously.
OK bye.
When I began this post I was going to give it a topic, a thesis or something. In short, it was going to have a point. But I haven't got a point to make so today I'm just going to talk. That happens sometimes, as a person and as a writer. Sometimes we just ramble on about nothing. So here's my ramble.
My host parents are amazing. Like, not just as host parents/people to live with, but as people in general. I tell them that sometimes, thank them for feeding me or washing my sheets or whatever, and they tell me it's human decency. There are two things I say to that: first of all, that their kindness extends far beyond human decency. Second of all, human decency isn't exactly a trait possessed by all nowadays. So it's appreciated when people aren't rude and stuff.
The lovely people over at Domestic Square Peg have recently published something I wrote about adjusting to living abroad. It's one of a 5 part series, so I'll be on there for a month or two. I've included a link on the sidebar. It's seriously an awesome opportunity, and I'm really grateful to be able to be provided with it.
I was in Marbella for most of last week while my host parents were in Madrid, and was able to see with Nina, Matthew, and Josie which was simply lovely. I love travelling, and even though I'm on one big adventure just living here it's nice to be able to travel while here.
One of the biggest things I miss from America is doing things during the day as opposed to the night. "Going out" (leaving the house with friends from like 8-12) is the biggest way to pass time with other people, and I unfortunately inherited the urge to be in bed by 10 from my parents (thanks for that, by the way). I'd much rather go adventuring until 6 or 7, go home, eat, read, and go to sleep, but that doesn't happen like ever here. Oh well, just something I'll be able to appreciate more upon returning.
I'm starting to prepare for the next school year and it's both exciting and nerve-racking. I'm so excited to actually DO things next year- be a yearbook editor, be in the school musical, take dance classes, go skiing, apply for college, do schoolwork, have a job, etc. At the same time, I'm realizing just how much I want to do and how much time/energy it's going to take up. Not being involved in school this year has made me significantly lazier, and I'm worried about how that's going to affect me in my senior year. But still, I'm mostly excited... Even though AP summer homework is already kind of kicking my butt.
I guess that's what's on my mind. That and beach... Living this close to the beach is amazing. Seriously.
OK bye.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Huelga Day Thursday
Quite frequently, I have days of school off for no particular reason. The day after Halloween there was no school, there have been several examples of "world pride days" that excuse us from class (the last being a two day fair with booths representing countries around the world), and every so often many students choose to participate in something called a "huelga". Huelgas are protests against government decisions, some of them just for students or just for workers or just for teachers, but most of them are for the general public. While there is, of course, meaning behind these days, they're mostly used as an excuse for students to not go to school.
The day that I write this is a day of unofficial student Huelga. There are only 7 of us in my classes that are normally upwards of 30. This particular huelga is currently the subject of a grand debate between teachers and students. See, because it's "unofficial" many teachers argue that the students shouldn't be allowed to attend the protest and still have their absence excused from school, especially because they know that most students who miss school on huelga days are at the beach or going shopping or studying as opposed to taking part in the protest.
What makes a huelga official? That I do not know. To be honest, this whole protest-whenever-something-goes-wrong method the Spanish have adapted when dealing with problems confuses me to bits. I was raised to address a problem head-on; not shout at it for a couple hours every couple of weeks. But that's another story. The point is, I don't understand huelgas, but I do know that they're insanely popular. Turn on the Spanish news at nearly any time of day and there's guaranteed to be a story on a huelga in some part of the country. This seems to be the Spanish solution to things they disagree with in the government. Of course, someone always disagrees with a choice the government has made, so there's always a huelga in action.
I've never actually been to a huelga, which I think you should know before I try to describe one. In Malaga, my host families didn't approve the exchange student participating in them, so every huelga day was yet another day I went to school. Here I don't have to go if I know for a fact that practically no one will be in class, but the actual protest itself is an hour away by train. That said, I watch the news enough to have at least an idea of what a huelga looks like.
For starters, it looks a lot like American protests, only the signs are in Spanish and they're much more frequent. People coordinate what they're going to yell through the megaphone to spread the message or whatever. The ones I've seen in person at night that workers take part in consist of a parade-type-thing and a lot of loud people. Their signs are all the same colors and designs, and they'll probably be reused in a week and a half. In bigger cities, like Madrid and Barcelona, they can get out of hand and grow to be several days of breaking glass and lighting things on fire. To my knowledge, these huelgas have not influenced the Spanish government to do anything besides send the police force to control some of the more rowdy protesters.
I'm not going to give my opinion on this practice, though I've subconsciously made it painfully evident already. I didn't make this exchange blog so I could write down my obnoxiously opinionated views on some of the differences I've seen between America and Spain. So, I'm going to leave it at this. This has been an educational entry about the Spanish protests, or "huelga's". Have a nice day, wherever in the world you are.
The day that I write this is a day of unofficial student Huelga. There are only 7 of us in my classes that are normally upwards of 30. This particular huelga is currently the subject of a grand debate between teachers and students. See, because it's "unofficial" many teachers argue that the students shouldn't be allowed to attend the protest and still have their absence excused from school, especially because they know that most students who miss school on huelga days are at the beach or going shopping or studying as opposed to taking part in the protest.
What makes a huelga official? That I do not know. To be honest, this whole protest-whenever-something-goes-wrong method the Spanish have adapted when dealing with problems confuses me to bits. I was raised to address a problem head-on; not shout at it for a couple hours every couple of weeks. But that's another story. The point is, I don't understand huelgas, but I do know that they're insanely popular. Turn on the Spanish news at nearly any time of day and there's guaranteed to be a story on a huelga in some part of the country. This seems to be the Spanish solution to things they disagree with in the government. Of course, someone always disagrees with a choice the government has made, so there's always a huelga in action.
I've never actually been to a huelga, which I think you should know before I try to describe one. In Malaga, my host families didn't approve the exchange student participating in them, so every huelga day was yet another day I went to school. Here I don't have to go if I know for a fact that practically no one will be in class, but the actual protest itself is an hour away by train. That said, I watch the news enough to have at least an idea of what a huelga looks like.
For starters, it looks a lot like American protests, only the signs are in Spanish and they're much more frequent. People coordinate what they're going to yell through the megaphone to spread the message or whatever. The ones I've seen in person at night that workers take part in consist of a parade-type-thing and a lot of loud people. Their signs are all the same colors and designs, and they'll probably be reused in a week and a half. In bigger cities, like Madrid and Barcelona, they can get out of hand and grow to be several days of breaking glass and lighting things on fire. To my knowledge, these huelgas have not influenced the Spanish government to do anything besides send the police force to control some of the more rowdy protesters.
I'm not going to give my opinion on this practice, though I've subconsciously made it painfully evident already. I didn't make this exchange blog so I could write down my obnoxiously opinionated views on some of the differences I've seen between America and Spain. So, I'm going to leave it at this. This has been an educational entry about the Spanish protests, or "huelga's". Have a nice day, wherever in the world you are.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Today is Wednesday
Hello everybody! Today is Wednesday and it's my first day back to school after two days off. Spain has a lot of random holidays that we get school off for, and this time it was for a world fair or something. I don't really know. I was sick all weekend (still have a bad cough and a bit of a headache) so I didn't get to go, which is a bummer but I guess that happens.
A couple days ago my mom told me over Skype (something that's become more and more recent in the last few weeks) that the wonderful crew over at Domestic Square Peg would like me to write a series of 5 articles for their teen section about my experience adjusting to a different culture. I'm really excited- I always love an opportunity to get my work published! However, I do need some ideas on what to write them about. I feel like I've gone through so much that, if it were up to me, I'd write an entire (very opinionated) autobiography on this year. That would certainly exceed my 200-500 word limit, so if you have any ideas, please share them!
I passed the 7 month mark yesterday and, while I'm pretty much ready to go home, the idea that I only have two more months here scares me. Especially living in a new town, I feel like I have so much more that I'm supposed to do with this experience. I'm constantly comparing my exchange year with those of other exchange students that I know, and I feel like I'm supposed to be doing more than I have. This is silly because I'm obviously going to have a different experience than other people. This is scary because I don't want to look back and regret not doing enough this year.
My iPod broke on Friday (something about bad software, according to Yahoo Answers and the Apple forums). This happened to me once back home, and it was completely devastating. It occupied me for weeks, and I do believe I may have cried once or twice. Here, it was just another thing that happened. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I mentally made a list of solutions, and decided not to worry about it until there was something I could do. While this may not be a story relevant to my actual experience here, I do believe it shows a lot about what I've learned during these last couple months. Apparently whatever it is I'm learning here is applicable in "real life" situations.
Other than that, nothing's really going on in my life. I've been watching Disney movies and eating bizcocho and walking to and from school and trying to pay attention in Filosofia and speaking Spanish. Life isn't super exciting, but it's not bad either. I'd even go so far as to say I might just be content with it.
A couple days ago my mom told me over Skype (something that's become more and more recent in the last few weeks) that the wonderful crew over at Domestic Square Peg would like me to write a series of 5 articles for their teen section about my experience adjusting to a different culture. I'm really excited- I always love an opportunity to get my work published! However, I do need some ideas on what to write them about. I feel like I've gone through so much that, if it were up to me, I'd write an entire (very opinionated) autobiography on this year. That would certainly exceed my 200-500 word limit, so if you have any ideas, please share them!
I passed the 7 month mark yesterday and, while I'm pretty much ready to go home, the idea that I only have two more months here scares me. Especially living in a new town, I feel like I have so much more that I'm supposed to do with this experience. I'm constantly comparing my exchange year with those of other exchange students that I know, and I feel like I'm supposed to be doing more than I have. This is silly because I'm obviously going to have a different experience than other people. This is scary because I don't want to look back and regret not doing enough this year.
My iPod broke on Friday (something about bad software, according to Yahoo Answers and the Apple forums). This happened to me once back home, and it was completely devastating. It occupied me for weeks, and I do believe I may have cried once or twice. Here, it was just another thing that happened. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I mentally made a list of solutions, and decided not to worry about it until there was something I could do. While this may not be a story relevant to my actual experience here, I do believe it shows a lot about what I've learned during these last couple months. Apparently whatever it is I'm learning here is applicable in "real life" situations.
Other than that, nothing's really going on in my life. I've been watching Disney movies and eating bizcocho and walking to and from school and trying to pay attention in Filosofia and speaking Spanish. Life isn't super exciting, but it's not bad either. I'd even go so far as to say I might just be content with it.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Spanish School System
One of the most common questions I get asked here is if I'm going to have to repeat the academic year when I return. For some unknown reason the Spaniards are very concerned by my study habits, probably because it makes up quite a large part of their schooling. They see me doodling during Greek and get worried that I'm ruining my future or something. Their eyebrows go up and wrinkle and they ask in worried voices why I'm not studying. I explain to them that there is quite a difference between Spanish schools and American ones. Most of the time they don't understand, and I go back to drawing aliens between my scattered notes.
I frequently get a similar question from back home. They ask me what my schedule's like, if I'm taking any electives, if I've been put in the easy classes, if I have a lot of classes with anyone in specific. Again, I have to explain that there is quite a difference between Spanish and American schools.
So, I'm here to explain to you whatever knowledge I have about the Spanish school system. Most of what I know is fairly hazy and based on whatever I've seen in my own school, so it may not be entirely accurate.
There are three basic levels of schooling, like elementary/middle/high school in America. They are primary, secondary, and bachillerato. Primary is like elementary school, and children are taught up to when they turn twelve. The secondary is four years of mandatory schooling. Bachillerato is two years of optional education that most students opt into taking.
The age cut-off to get into a certain grade is also different. Instead of being at the beginning of the school year, each grade is defined by the year in which everyone is born. Because I'm born in '94 and in the class of '95, which is the equivalent of the junior year, a lot of people think I've been held back. That's another thing- being held back, especially in the final years of secondary school and bachillerato, is exceptionally common. In my school in Malaga I had classmates as old as 22, who still needed to finish two more years to graduate!
One of the things about their school system that Spain is proudest of is the curriculum. Unlike in America, where curriculum varies from state to state and even from school to school, the curriculum is universal. The same subject is taught to the same grade all across the country. What I'm learning about in Philosophy is the same as what my friends in the north of Spain are learning about at any given time of the year. Another part of this set curriculum is that the credit system doesn't exist. Instead, each year has a designated list of classes that each student must take. It's not just one math class this year, one literary class this year, etc. There are no class choices. You don't get to decide what you're going to study. In bachillerato and, to some degree, in secondary, however, you get to choose to take one of three courses: science, social sciences, and humanities. Science, for my year at least, is biology OR technical drawing, math, and chemistry/physics. Social sciences is economics, history, and math. Humanities is history, Latin, and Greek. You choose one of those three choices and that's what you study. That is all the choice you get. All your other classes are mandatory and standard level for your grade, except in languages in certain schools or, if the school offers bilingual, in certain classes like Integrated Projects and Science of the Contemporary World.
School here is also just that- school. For the most part it's purely academic, so sports and most certainly student clubs and activities don't exist through the school. School spirit doesn't really exist, either, as there are no games or matches that students can go to and cheer their classmates on in.
So yeah, that's about it I think. It's astoundingly different from American schools, especially Summit, which is full of school spirit and different levels of classes, but there you have it. Just another thing here that's a change from back home!
I frequently get a similar question from back home. They ask me what my schedule's like, if I'm taking any electives, if I've been put in the easy classes, if I have a lot of classes with anyone in specific. Again, I have to explain that there is quite a difference between Spanish and American schools.
So, I'm here to explain to you whatever knowledge I have about the Spanish school system. Most of what I know is fairly hazy and based on whatever I've seen in my own school, so it may not be entirely accurate.
There are three basic levels of schooling, like elementary/middle/high school in America. They are primary, secondary, and bachillerato. Primary is like elementary school, and children are taught up to when they turn twelve. The secondary is four years of mandatory schooling. Bachillerato is two years of optional education that most students opt into taking.
The age cut-off to get into a certain grade is also different. Instead of being at the beginning of the school year, each grade is defined by the year in which everyone is born. Because I'm born in '94 and in the class of '95, which is the equivalent of the junior year, a lot of people think I've been held back. That's another thing- being held back, especially in the final years of secondary school and bachillerato, is exceptionally common. In my school in Malaga I had classmates as old as 22, who still needed to finish two more years to graduate!
One of the things about their school system that Spain is proudest of is the curriculum. Unlike in America, where curriculum varies from state to state and even from school to school, the curriculum is universal. The same subject is taught to the same grade all across the country. What I'm learning about in Philosophy is the same as what my friends in the north of Spain are learning about at any given time of the year. Another part of this set curriculum is that the credit system doesn't exist. Instead, each year has a designated list of classes that each student must take. It's not just one math class this year, one literary class this year, etc. There are no class choices. You don't get to decide what you're going to study. In bachillerato and, to some degree, in secondary, however, you get to choose to take one of three courses: science, social sciences, and humanities. Science, for my year at least, is biology OR technical drawing, math, and chemistry/physics. Social sciences is economics, history, and math. Humanities is history, Latin, and Greek. You choose one of those three choices and that's what you study. That is all the choice you get. All your other classes are mandatory and standard level for your grade, except in languages in certain schools or, if the school offers bilingual, in certain classes like Integrated Projects and Science of the Contemporary World.
School here is also just that- school. For the most part it's purely academic, so sports and most certainly student clubs and activities don't exist through the school. School spirit doesn't really exist, either, as there are no games or matches that students can go to and cheer their classmates on in.
So yeah, that's about it I think. It's astoundingly different from American schools, especially Summit, which is full of school spirit and different levels of classes, but there you have it. Just another thing here that's a change from back home!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A New Measurement of Time (the story of how I learned a basic life skill in my year abroad)
With Easter having been this past Sunday, we students of the Catholic country of Spain were given a week off to wear really big hats and celebrate Jesus with our families. Needless to say, I was extremely excited and prepared for the week ahead. There would be excursions, time with friends, exercise, etc. Of course, that's how I feel about every break I've ever had from school, and by the time it's over I look at the date on my computer and wonder how in the world I could have spent nine days making music playlists and writing lists of rhyming words. But I was determined to have a productive vacation this time. This wasn't just any week, after all- the next book in my current favorite book series was being released April 3rd, and I was determined to reread the four books before it in preparation. The first two weeks I had this goal went very poorly. I kept getting distracted by my favorite tea shop and the excitement over the book on Tumblr, and only ended up reading one look in fourteen days. Finally, the day before the book was released, I realized I had 3 books and 20 hours to read them. If I kept reading at the pace I had been, I wouldn't get to read the book until months after its release! So, I told myself I wasjust going to do it. I sat down, turned off the internet and TV, and read.
I read those 3 550 page books just in time- I got to read the new book in the day before I left for Malaga, where I wouldn't have access to the book. This may not sound like that big of an accomplishment (though you try reading three books about children with machine guns throwing up their guts in a very short span of time and maybe you'll rethink your opinion), but I'm still very proud of myself. In shutting off distractions and putting aside time to do something important, I was able to get it done. Being able to focus on the task at hand is something I've always struggled with, but now that I've done it once I have a feeling I'm getting closer to finally making it a habit.
I guess this whole enlightenment thing didn't exactly relate to any Spanish adventures I've had, but not everything I've learned over here has been derived from being in Spain. The alone time that not really knowing anyone gives me has taught me just as much as all the new experiences.
I read those 3 550 page books just in time- I got to read the new book in the day before I left for Malaga, where I wouldn't have access to the book. This may not sound like that big of an accomplishment (though you try reading three books about children with machine guns throwing up their guts in a very short span of time and maybe you'll rethink your opinion), but I'm still very proud of myself. In shutting off distractions and putting aside time to do something important, I was able to get it done. Being able to focus on the task at hand is something I've always struggled with, but now that I've done it once I have a feeling I'm getting closer to finally making it a habit.
I guess this whole enlightenment thing didn't exactly relate to any Spanish adventures I've had, but not everything I've learned over here has been derived from being in Spain. The alone time that not really knowing anyone gives me has taught me just as much as all the new experiences.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
For the Benefit of the Present Day
My entire life people have described me as ambitious, and I believed them because all my life I'd done just a little bit more than what had been expected of me. I got all A's, I read challenging books outside of school, I did non-mandatory community service, I took the Honors and AP classes. I made myself look impressive on paper because, to be honest, I was writing a paper on the impressive things I'd done that would one day do me good. I planned on presenting it to my college of choice or something and saying something like "Here, this is why I am good enough for you to accept and educate me, read it carefully."
I've written many journal entries about the word "ambition" and what it means to me. My outlook on it changed drastically about half-way through my freshman year, for reasons that are irrelevant to the point I'm making today, halfway through my junior year. In the last 5 months since arriving in Spain, the word "ambitious" has morphed into more than just a list of accomplishments and what I plan on doing them. As with many things in my life, ambition has become violently more real to me as I experienced things outside my comfort zone. Suddenly I began to realize that my paper of impressive accomplishments to save for the future was fine and all, but what did I have to prove for the day I'd just had? Isn't the future just a word used by scientists and prophets? Isn't the future really just now?
So, I again began writing journal entries on what the word "ambition" means to me. I began writing letters to my past self, to the stressed-out overbooked 15 and 16 year-old Hannah. "Dear Little Hannah," I wrote, "Do yourself a favor and drop that AP Biology class. Do you want to be a biologist? No. Do you even like biology in the least bit? No. Is it serving any purpose other than a shiny gold star for your college applications? No, and it may not even be that when you get your final grade and find you've gotten your first ever C in a class. Oh, and dance more. We like dancing."
The journal entries were a little less sceptically humorous. "On the subject of ambition," began one, "I do believe that the key is to not look to the 'future' but instead focus on being as dedicated as possible to what it is that you are doing here and now. Today is the future, and if you save everything for a vague, far-off day you will not have enough of yourself as a developed person to offer up to accept the applause for all those unnecessary things you did instead of making yourself happy and truly becoming yourself."
I still am proud to define myself as ambitious. However, I've lowered my standards and started to do things that affect me positively today as opposed to someday. I know that I will always need to do things I don't want to, things that I am obligated to. But I also have a surprising control over my life and what it is that I choose to do. I needn't feel enslaved to a chain of unruly expectations. I can do what I truly must, and put the rest of my energy to being satisfied with what it is I've done that day.
I cannot remember the last time I've been this content with life, nor the last time I was this inspired to dance and to write and to do things that I know I love to do. By ridding my mind of unnecessary daily obligations, I made room for creativity and passion. It makes me me, and as myself I can enjoy what I've allowed myself to do that day. No longer do I base everything I do off of some future me's happiness. I am me, and I deserve to be happy right now.
I've written many journal entries about the word "ambition" and what it means to me. My outlook on it changed drastically about half-way through my freshman year, for reasons that are irrelevant to the point I'm making today, halfway through my junior year. In the last 5 months since arriving in Spain, the word "ambitious" has morphed into more than just a list of accomplishments and what I plan on doing them. As with many things in my life, ambition has become violently more real to me as I experienced things outside my comfort zone. Suddenly I began to realize that my paper of impressive accomplishments to save for the future was fine and all, but what did I have to prove for the day I'd just had? Isn't the future just a word used by scientists and prophets? Isn't the future really just now?
So, I again began writing journal entries on what the word "ambition" means to me. I began writing letters to my past self, to the stressed-out overbooked 15 and 16 year-old Hannah. "Dear Little Hannah," I wrote, "Do yourself a favor and drop that AP Biology class. Do you want to be a biologist? No. Do you even like biology in the least bit? No. Is it serving any purpose other than a shiny gold star for your college applications? No, and it may not even be that when you get your final grade and find you've gotten your first ever C in a class. Oh, and dance more. We like dancing."
The journal entries were a little less sceptically humorous. "On the subject of ambition," began one, "I do believe that the key is to not look to the 'future' but instead focus on being as dedicated as possible to what it is that you are doing here and now. Today is the future, and if you save everything for a vague, far-off day you will not have enough of yourself as a developed person to offer up to accept the applause for all those unnecessary things you did instead of making yourself happy and truly becoming yourself."
I still am proud to define myself as ambitious. However, I've lowered my standards and started to do things that affect me positively today as opposed to someday. I know that I will always need to do things I don't want to, things that I am obligated to. But I also have a surprising control over my life and what it is that I choose to do. I needn't feel enslaved to a chain of unruly expectations. I can do what I truly must, and put the rest of my energy to being satisfied with what it is I've done that day.
I cannot remember the last time I've been this content with life, nor the last time I was this inspired to dance and to write and to do things that I know I love to do. By ridding my mind of unnecessary daily obligations, I made room for creativity and passion. It makes me me, and as myself I can enjoy what I've allowed myself to do that day. No longer do I base everything I do off of some future me's happiness. I am me, and I deserve to be happy right now.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
And the adventure continues...
One of the biggest things that was drilled into our heads in RYE training weekends last year was the idea of being flexible. In fact, tell any past or present Rotary exchange student to be flexible and they'll either cringe or chuckle a little bit. During the last 5 months I've taken this mantra to heart and tried my hardest to go along with whatever my surroundings offered up to me. It proved to be a bit challenging when I found that I wasn't exactly fitting in with said surroundings. I felt more like I was being shaped and molded specifically instead of guided through my exchange. But I accepted it as part of the challenge and worked my hardest to try and have a good time, or at least a good experience.
This week, though, something cracked. It wasn't me. It wasn't my host family. It wasn't school. It wasn't Rotary. It was just my entire exchange. To be honest, everything moved so quickly I couldn't even begin to explain what exactly what happened. Four days ago it was just another day. I had no idea that today I'd be packing up my entire life to relocate and restart my exchange on an 18 hour notice.
My tutor decided it would be a good idea for me to move, and I agree. This means going to a different city. This means a new beginning completely. I'll be at a new school. I'll be in a new house. I'm going to have to find new friends and a new ballet class. Some would take this as a shock, an obstacle, a reason to give up. And while I am freaking out a little bit, I'm staying calm by reminding myself to just be flexible. This is not a problem. This is a continuation of the adventure. I'm so excited to try my hand at an exchange in a different city in a different situation.
This week, though, something cracked. It wasn't me. It wasn't my host family. It wasn't school. It wasn't Rotary. It was just my entire exchange. To be honest, everything moved so quickly I couldn't even begin to explain what exactly what happened. Four days ago it was just another day. I had no idea that today I'd be packing up my entire life to relocate and restart my exchange on an 18 hour notice.
My tutor decided it would be a good idea for me to move, and I agree. This means going to a different city. This means a new beginning completely. I'll be at a new school. I'll be in a new house. I'm going to have to find new friends and a new ballet class. Some would take this as a shock, an obstacle, a reason to give up. And while I am freaking out a little bit, I'm staying calm by reminding myself to just be flexible. This is not a problem. This is a continuation of the adventure. I'm so excited to try my hand at an exchange in a different city in a different situation.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
I've recently become very passionate about teaching respect and feel like the world deserves a 15 minute video of me talking about it.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Why IES El Palo Really Is In the Sticks
The part of the city that I go to school in is called El Palo, and with good reason. The word "palo" in Spanish means "stick" in English, and my classmates take great pride in the fact that they know this translation, causing them to refer to El Palo as "the sticks" (plurals don't really go over so well when whoever's attempting to speak English doesn't understand that sticking an "s" on the end of words isn't just something we do to make it sound cooler). Needless to say, this makes me laugh- the irony that they don't know what exactly they're saying is just too funny.
Don't get me wrong, ladies and gentlemen- my high school isn't that bad. I've managed to make some friends who don't do the dangerous drugs and/or have multiple facial piercings, people have stopped throwing glass directly at me, and I don't even notice the graffitied penises on all the school artwork that much anymore. Not to mention the three layers of gates that lock us in all day have stopped being so scary and the fact that we don't have either a heating or cooling system isn't as bad as it used to be. But it is certainly a giant leap away from Summit High School, and here are some pictures to demonstrate my point.
Don't get me wrong, ladies and gentlemen- my high school isn't that bad. I've managed to make some friends who don't do the dangerous drugs and/or have multiple facial piercings, people have stopped throwing glass directly at me, and I don't even notice the graffitied penises on all the school artwork that much anymore. Not to mention the three layers of gates that lock us in all day have stopped being so scary and the fact that we don't have either a heating or cooling system isn't as bad as it used to be. But it is certainly a giant leap away from Summit High School, and here are some pictures to demonstrate my point.
Also: I'm very sorry I haven't updated in so long. I'm running out of ideas, so if anyone wants to know anything specific let me know...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Home Tour Malaga: Second family
I'm sorry that part of it's sideways but I'm not the greatest filmer of all time.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Unpopular Opinion
One of the biggest pieces of advice that I'm given is to disconnect myself from my life back home and go out and do Spanish things during my year here. This point is especially stressed by my current host parents, who put strict mandates on computer use and discourage care packages. These are things said to distract from my limited time in Malaga and put me back home in America. So, it makes sense that the biggest no-no is Rotarian deemed excessive internet use. I am frequently talked to about the importance of using as little internet as possible. I understand that, considering I'm only here for just over 9 months, making the most of every day is very important. However (and this is where the unpopular opinion comes), I also believe that limiting myself in other portions of my life, including the internet, doesn't help me to have a vastly improved experience here.
You see, dear friends, the world is a changing place. 5 years ago the idea of being able to talk face-to-face with someone thousands of miles away through a computer was considered ridiculous. Now it's a daily occurrence for most people with loved ones or even simple friends in far-off places. In the last century we humans have moved forward in science, arts, literature, language, technology, etc. at a rate so fast that in earlier ages it would have taken one hundred years to do what we can do now in ten. Many of these developments help to connect the world, such as easily accessible air travel and high-speed internet in most parts of Earth. The quick and frequent updates of these innovations only get quicker and more frequent over time, meaning more overseas flights on a daily basis and a constant stream of information over the internet. We are connecting people of all races, cultures, religion, and location every day, making previously completely foreign customs and language and lifestyles available in the click of a button.
In no way is this a valid substitute for real life. Even those simulated reality games don't come close- am I the only one who makes my characters do ridiculous things like marry a horse instead of making them lead normal lives? Nothing can truly replace living, not even the all-mighty internet. But what I said earlier about it drastically improving connections between different countries and cultures is very true. Nearly everything is online now, which makes learning about the world we live in much easier than it used to be. For instance, instead of having to go to China to learn Chinese calligraphy I can easily find a website that will explain it to me in a language I'm familiar in. The world is becoming smaller through the internet, as everything becomes more connected and accessible.
People all over the world log in every day to the internet. I have friends that, if it weren't for social networking sites, I would have lost touch with from countries like Colombia and Australia and Germany. Friends living in different parts of the United States and even different parts of the world are on my email list, Twitter feed, Facebook friends, etc. Not only can I talk to someone in a part of the world where it's night time when I'm just getting home from school, but I can also do it however often or however long I want to.
As the world grows smaller, location doesn't really matter as much as it used to. Want to get a feel for a potential college? Tour it interactively on the school's website. Want to see a band that only tours obscure Asian countries perform? Spend the day watching full-screen concert recordings, or find a live stream video thread of the performances. Want to attend a Scandinavian English class? Use video chat with the class when it's in session. Want to know more about all of Henry VIII's ex-wives? There are sites and databases dedicated to that subject that could take up hours of your time. Everything you'd ever want to know or do is in your pocket (or, if you can't fit your internet-using device in your pocket, in front of your nose etc.), making distance and even location practically irrelevant.
I think I've gone on for a bit too long and given far too many examples (that's what not having a decent English class does to a girl), but I guess it's because the point I'm trying to make is fairly difficult to explain. What I'm trying to get across is that, because the world is becoming a very small place, we can be wherever we want whenever we want. It's not bad and I personally believe it doesn't detract from local customs- in fact, I believe it adds to them. I can learn about social habits in Argentina or special Taiwanese slang words with the click of a button, as well as actually living my life wherever I physically am. The internet connects cross-continental cultures and enables us to develop another, completely different type of culture; one of a truly global world. Becoming a global citizen nowadays doesn't mean traveling to every country for months at a time, it means taking the time to log on and learn about different places and experiencing them when you can. People my age especially are very eager to share cultures, and connect from different parts of the world. I truly believe it is my generation that will make the world a global community as opposed to a planet with members of the same species on different chunks of land.
So I'm beginning to ramble and I apologize. I'm kind of running out of steam- at the beginning I was all fired out as I was fresh from a lecture so I hit the ground running, but now I'm just trying desperately to accurately portray the point I'm trying to make. I don't know if anyone understands what it is I'm trying to say but at this point I don't really care. One of the biggest things I've learned here is moving on when people don't understand what you're trying to say- being an American in a very opinionated foreign country with a foreign language kind of forces you to do this. Luckily, I have Google Translate and other Spanish friends who are able to help me try to get my point across... All thanks to the internet.
That's the big wrap-up, I've been writing this by the light of the last three menorah candles that I received in my Hanukkah package a month ago and they're almost all burned out. I'm changing host families tomorrow so I probably ought to go to sleep anyways. Anticipate a tour of the new house sometime this weekend.
You see, dear friends, the world is a changing place. 5 years ago the idea of being able to talk face-to-face with someone thousands of miles away through a computer was considered ridiculous. Now it's a daily occurrence for most people with loved ones or even simple friends in far-off places. In the last century we humans have moved forward in science, arts, literature, language, technology, etc. at a rate so fast that in earlier ages it would have taken one hundred years to do what we can do now in ten. Many of these developments help to connect the world, such as easily accessible air travel and high-speed internet in most parts of Earth. The quick and frequent updates of these innovations only get quicker and more frequent over time, meaning more overseas flights on a daily basis and a constant stream of information over the internet. We are connecting people of all races, cultures, religion, and location every day, making previously completely foreign customs and language and lifestyles available in the click of a button.
In no way is this a valid substitute for real life. Even those simulated reality games don't come close- am I the only one who makes my characters do ridiculous things like marry a horse instead of making them lead normal lives? Nothing can truly replace living, not even the all-mighty internet. But what I said earlier about it drastically improving connections between different countries and cultures is very true. Nearly everything is online now, which makes learning about the world we live in much easier than it used to be. For instance, instead of having to go to China to learn Chinese calligraphy I can easily find a website that will explain it to me in a language I'm familiar in. The world is becoming smaller through the internet, as everything becomes more connected and accessible.
People all over the world log in every day to the internet. I have friends that, if it weren't for social networking sites, I would have lost touch with from countries like Colombia and Australia and Germany. Friends living in different parts of the United States and even different parts of the world are on my email list, Twitter feed, Facebook friends, etc. Not only can I talk to someone in a part of the world where it's night time when I'm just getting home from school, but I can also do it however often or however long I want to.
As the world grows smaller, location doesn't really matter as much as it used to. Want to get a feel for a potential college? Tour it interactively on the school's website. Want to see a band that only tours obscure Asian countries perform? Spend the day watching full-screen concert recordings, or find a live stream video thread of the performances. Want to attend a Scandinavian English class? Use video chat with the class when it's in session. Want to know more about all of Henry VIII's ex-wives? There are sites and databases dedicated to that subject that could take up hours of your time. Everything you'd ever want to know or do is in your pocket (or, if you can't fit your internet-using device in your pocket, in front of your nose etc.), making distance and even location practically irrelevant.
I think I've gone on for a bit too long and given far too many examples (that's what not having a decent English class does to a girl), but I guess it's because the point I'm trying to make is fairly difficult to explain. What I'm trying to get across is that, because the world is becoming a very small place, we can be wherever we want whenever we want. It's not bad and I personally believe it doesn't detract from local customs- in fact, I believe it adds to them. I can learn about social habits in Argentina or special Taiwanese slang words with the click of a button, as well as actually living my life wherever I physically am. The internet connects cross-continental cultures and enables us to develop another, completely different type of culture; one of a truly global world. Becoming a global citizen nowadays doesn't mean traveling to every country for months at a time, it means taking the time to log on and learn about different places and experiencing them when you can. People my age especially are very eager to share cultures, and connect from different parts of the world. I truly believe it is my generation that will make the world a global community as opposed to a planet with members of the same species on different chunks of land.
So I'm beginning to ramble and I apologize. I'm kind of running out of steam- at the beginning I was all fired out as I was fresh from a lecture so I hit the ground running, but now I'm just trying desperately to accurately portray the point I'm trying to make. I don't know if anyone understands what it is I'm trying to say but at this point I don't really care. One of the biggest things I've learned here is moving on when people don't understand what you're trying to say- being an American in a very opinionated foreign country with a foreign language kind of forces you to do this. Luckily, I have Google Translate and other Spanish friends who are able to help me try to get my point across... All thanks to the internet.
That's the big wrap-up, I've been writing this by the light of the last three menorah candles that I received in my Hanukkah package a month ago and they're almost all burned out. I'm changing host families tomorrow so I probably ought to go to sleep anyways. Anticipate a tour of the new house sometime this weekend.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Life is Life
In addition to a handful of helpful tips on how to avoid getting molested on the public bus, Rotary weekends also gave me many warnings based on past experiences to prepare me for my year here. In order to prevent disappointment and/or unnecessary surprises, these were repeated many times at each meeting. So far they have all rung pretty true- the holidays are hard, immersion is the quickest way to learn a language, Spanish mothers are always right, etc. But there was one thing I was told several times that i kind of brushed off, even when I was told not to. I told myself that it wouldn't happen to me. I moved on to daydreaming about the ocean and the travel opportunities I was sure to be presented with while living abroad. I even forgot that I'd ever been warned of it in the first place, I was that sure it didn't apply to me. Like about 98% of the assumptions I'd made before actually coming to Spain, I was wrong on this one.
You see, us outbound exchange students were constantly being told that the culture shock would wow us even years after we'd returned home, and that there were innumerable differences between life in Oregon and life over seas. This was what I chose to believe. However, on occasion we were also told that after a certain amount of time you find that the excitement and strangeness of the place will wear off, and you'll find yourself bored with life just like you were in America. This was what I chose to ignore and forget. Now, that decision is coming back to haunt me, creeping up on me in moments of solitude and letting me know that I might just have been wrong. I know I'm wrong, because I'm finding that the second warning should not have been forgotten, as it's what I've been feeling for the last week or two.
As much as I hate this (both the dullness I'm experiencing and being wrong), I guess it's a good thing for me to learn early in life. The grass will always look greener on the other side, but if you inspect both sides closely enough you'll discover that it's all just grass. Life is still life, no matter where in the world you're living it. Sure, my life here may include much more ham products and much less snow, but it's still life. I still get headaches, wonder if my hair looks OK, pick at my nails, have a hard time waking up before 10 am, and want to have Disney movie marathons all the time. On the one hand it's kind of reassuring, that I'm still me even when my surroundings drastically change, and that I don't have to become someone I don't have the capability of shifting into to fit in. On the other hand, it kind of scares me that there isn't really an other option. I used to think that going far far away would solve my problems, but now I know it doesn't work like that. If you don't like drama, moving halfway around the world isn't going to fix that; self-centered people don't specifically target your hometown as a desired place to live. Problems are a part of life, as are good days and love and weird food. I guess really all we can do is make the best of where we are when we're there.
You see, us outbound exchange students were constantly being told that the culture shock would wow us even years after we'd returned home, and that there were innumerable differences between life in Oregon and life over seas. This was what I chose to believe. However, on occasion we were also told that after a certain amount of time you find that the excitement and strangeness of the place will wear off, and you'll find yourself bored with life just like you were in America. This was what I chose to ignore and forget. Now, that decision is coming back to haunt me, creeping up on me in moments of solitude and letting me know that I might just have been wrong. I know I'm wrong, because I'm finding that the second warning should not have been forgotten, as it's what I've been feeling for the last week or two.
As much as I hate this (both the dullness I'm experiencing and being wrong), I guess it's a good thing for me to learn early in life. The grass will always look greener on the other side, but if you inspect both sides closely enough you'll discover that it's all just grass. Life is still life, no matter where in the world you're living it. Sure, my life here may include much more ham products and much less snow, but it's still life. I still get headaches, wonder if my hair looks OK, pick at my nails, have a hard time waking up before 10 am, and want to have Disney movie marathons all the time. On the one hand it's kind of reassuring, that I'm still me even when my surroundings drastically change, and that I don't have to become someone I don't have the capability of shifting into to fit in. On the other hand, it kind of scares me that there isn't really an other option. I used to think that going far far away would solve my problems, but now I know it doesn't work like that. If you don't like drama, moving halfway around the world isn't going to fix that; self-centered people don't specifically target your hometown as a desired place to live. Problems are a part of life, as are good days and love and weird food. I guess really all we can do is make the best of where we are when we're there.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Spanglish
Before I left for Spain I used to throw Spanish words into everyday conversations. Common Spanish words or phrases, like "anda!" or "ay dios" suddenly snuck themselves into an otherwise typical English sentence. I used to call it Spanglish, thinking that the 5-95% rate of Spanish to English was an acceptable rate for a way of speech to be considered Spanglish. Like every other assumption about language I had before I arrived here, I was wrong.
Now that I've been here three months, I wish I could call myself fluent in Spanish but I'm not. Every day I get closer to it, though, and further away from my previously excellent knowledge of English. My Spanish is increasing and my English is deteriorating. This means that the 5-95% rate that made up my definition of Spanglish this summer is rapidly turning to a 30-70% rate. Spanglish is becoming more and more Spanish and less and less English. This makes my head a constant mess of Spanish versus English. I find myself talking to myself in both languages, and even to others in both. It's no longer mostly intentional, it's 100% done subconsciously.
This makes my mind, spoken word, and written word an imperfect combination of Spanish and English. I'm now nearly truly fluent in Spanglish, which is both highly inconvenient and actually kind of cool. I feel kind of like I'm losing a huge part of myself, the part that reflexively corrected peoples' grammar and had an unnatural grasp on the English language. On the other hand, my Spanish is improving, meaning I'm fulfilling one of my goals of exchange.
This Spanglish prevents me from thinking in actual words, making writing and speaking hard for me. It's creating an explosion of awesome inside my head though. I guess that makes it worth it.
Now that I've been here three months, I wish I could call myself fluent in Spanish but I'm not. Every day I get closer to it, though, and further away from my previously excellent knowledge of English. My Spanish is increasing and my English is deteriorating. This means that the 5-95% rate that made up my definition of Spanglish this summer is rapidly turning to a 30-70% rate. Spanglish is becoming more and more Spanish and less and less English. This makes my head a constant mess of Spanish versus English. I find myself talking to myself in both languages, and even to others in both. It's no longer mostly intentional, it's 100% done subconsciously.
This makes my mind, spoken word, and written word an imperfect combination of Spanish and English. I'm now nearly truly fluent in Spanglish, which is both highly inconvenient and actually kind of cool. I feel kind of like I'm losing a huge part of myself, the part that reflexively corrected peoples' grammar and had an unnatural grasp on the English language. On the other hand, my Spanish is improving, meaning I'm fulfilling one of my goals of exchange.
This Spanglish prevents me from thinking in actual words, making writing and speaking hard for me. It's creating an explosion of awesome inside my head though. I guess that makes it worth it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
African Child
Hello! I know I haven't been posting like at all in a very long time, but I've been busy celebrating my first real Christmas. Though it's not technically over until January 6th when the 3 Kings come and give us presents on their way to bless Jesus, I feel confident in saying that it has been a splendid time and a spectacular Christmas.
Another reason I haven't been posting very often is that I'm not entirely convinced that people actually read this blog. So, if you genuinely care about what you see here, I would love a note or something. Message me on Facebook, shoot me an email, write on a sticky note and give it to my family for them to send me in my next package. I've always been someone who needed a lot of love and it's really hard for me to get that here, so I would really appreciate something from back home. Just something to think about.
With that said, here are some pictures from the time I went to Melilla, the Spanish city in the very north of Africa, for Christmas.
I stayed with the host family of my good friend, Jessica Latimer, and upon seeing this in their kitchen I nearly cried. Apparently their oldest son, Jose Luis, went on exchange to Medford and brought these back for his chef father. I adored the family- they were all so sweet, and encouraged us to speak English when we wanted to but also loved helping us out with our Spanish. Though it was weird not staying with my host family I got to experience life in another Spanish family and I found a sister in Jess.
The view from northern Africa. The first full day I was there it was warm enough for us to go to the beach, so Jess and I did. The old part of the city overlooks the Mediterranean, and in the olden days they used cannons from this castle to shoot down ships attempting to invade Melilla.
Though I love the shops here, the shops in Melilla were special because they had an African flair. I bought a flawless pair of classic white linen Moroccan pants, and am hoping to buy a pair of these awesome slippers when I return. The shops were also filled with glass pottery, products with Arabic labels, gorgeous veils, etc.
The view of Melilla from the top of the castle.
You could see Morocco from the top of the castle too!
The fence separating Morocco from Melilla was very intimidating. It was several layers thick and complete with barbed wire and electric fencing so as to discourage illegal border crossing. Though I wanted more than anything to cross this fence to get to Morocco I wasn't allowed to, as being an American girl is a very dangerous thing in African countries.
Morocco!
Moroccan tea- practically the best thing I've ever had ever! It was minty but sweet and just splendid.
The nativity scene in Melilla is well known for one major detail- it's life-size! It's set up in the old part of the city and you can walk through it as if you were walking through the scene when it happened. It's complete with real animals and even real fruit vendors.
Another reason I haven't been posting very often is that I'm not entirely convinced that people actually read this blog. So, if you genuinely care about what you see here, I would love a note or something. Message me on Facebook, shoot me an email, write on a sticky note and give it to my family for them to send me in my next package. I've always been someone who needed a lot of love and it's really hard for me to get that here, so I would really appreciate something from back home. Just something to think about.
With that said, here are some pictures from the time I went to Melilla, the Spanish city in the very north of Africa, for Christmas.
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