One Month Later

We went to dinner last weekend with some neighbors and one of them told me I should update my blog saying that I'm back.  I hope most people know that I'm back, but I finally arrived home June 3rd!  I wasn't able to update while in England because the internet didn't work most of the time, practically at all in Bath, but at the end of this I'll attach a few photos from my awesome trip there.  The UK is definitely one of my favorite places I've ever traveled to (it helps that we have a common language!) and there are so many places to visit and things to see and do, especially in London.  Last summer when I went with my two friends we did a lot of the touristy things like see the Tower of London (so worth the fifteen or so pounds), rode the London Eye, took photos on Abbey Road, etc.  I made a list of things I wanted to see and do there this time and I still didn't do half of what was on my list!

Usually by the time a trip is coming to an end I am ready to leave.  You know you'll be home soon and there really is no place like home so you become anxious.  Amazingly I didn't feel that way at all in England, although the night before I left I was ready.  Why do I always have the awful hostel experiences while traveling alone (i.e., vomiting) when last summer we didn't have any of those hostel terror stories?  Needless to say the night before I left I probably got three to four hours of sleep due to adrunk guy coming in and vomitting and more drunk guys coming in.  They had to catch the chunnel to Paris and decided to not sleep that night and party instead so they could sleep on the train...even though the chunnel ride is only two hours.  I had to get up super early to catch a taxi to Victoria train station where I had to take a train to Gatwick.  It was a lot of traveling before even six in the morning.  I didn't sleep at all on the flights home which isn't surprising because I've never slept on the flights back, but the upside was I only had one layover in Atlanta.  I was so happy to be back in the U.S. where people could understand me, I could use my own currency, and it felt like home.

People keep asking me if I've adjusted to life in the U.S. and really it didn't take long at all.  I didn't have the whole reverse culture shock and I didn't have as much of a culture shock as most would think when I first got to Spain either.  Maybe it was because I've traveled to Europe before or the fact that, for the most part, Western Europe is modernized and things aren't all that different.  Sure we may speak a different language, eat meals at different times, and I didn't have all the same facilities there as I did back home, but it wasn't as if I was living in the desert like a Berber nomad.  It was easy to adjust to the different eating times (something I was thankful for) and I still think that 'oh, in Spain it would be 1:33 a.m. instead of 7:33 p.m. (the current time as I'm writing this)'.  I kept wanting to pull up on the toilet to flush it instead of using the side handle and when I drive I occasionally say 'venga!' (come on!).  It's been fairly easy to slip back into things back here because it's home.  Spain was a great learning experience and I'm thankful for the fact that I had the opportunity to do it, but it's just not home.  I was recently reading my friend's blog who did the program in Cataluna and she seems to have all these great memories with people who helped her and in her school.  I wish people had been more welcoming instead of throwing you in Andalucia and saying, 'Here.  Find a place to live, get your NIE, set up a bank account and somehow get to and from work.  Good luck, now 1, 2, 3, go.'  It seemed like the schools where she was at and the Cataluna program was way more helpful and welcoming than in Andalucia which can put a damper on your over all experience. 

But the bright side of living in Andalucia was the thick accents.  People speak fast there and it was so difficult to understand it there at first, but by the end it was ten times better understanding it and speaking with someone from there.  I feel like if you can learn the accento andalus then you can learn to speak and understand Spanish in any part of Spain.  Not to mention Andalucia has a lot of great cities to travel to which leads me to one of the things I miss most about living in Spain.  The travel opportunities.  For the most part it's cheap and easy to travel within Europe, unlike here in the U.S.  When people asked about vacations back home and how long it would take to get to the beach they were amazed when I said at least ten hours and usually you drove since flying is expensive.  I already have the travel bug again and can't wait to travel again.

I do miss being surrounded by Spanish, although English is just as fabulous.  I miss some foods (amazingly), like my baguette bocadillos con chorizo, which was basically pepperoni, and super cheap fruit.  I do miss those kids a little, especially the little ones, but I'm pretty sure I would have needed a vacation from then asap if I had to have stayed longer.  I don't miss having to light a match just to get hot water, having to dry out my laundry and hoping it doesn't rain.  I'm so glad I have a car, a REAL shower, and a washing machine.  It's the little things in life.

So where do I want to travel to next?  I still want to get to all those places on my travel bucket list, but I think some place cheap would be best!  My friend and I have talked about doing a road trip next summer (news to the familia I'm sure, as always with Jill and I) out west and that's definitely on the list.  We'll see what happens, but for now home is just is good as any place.

At Stonehenge

In Castle Combe, England

Bath Abbey in Bath, England

At the Roman Baths in Bath

In front of Parliament aka Big Ben



Last Day of Work & Reflection

Today was my last day of work!  I wasn't really sad until the very end of the day when I said good-bye to some of the teachers that I usually talked to and when I was invited back to my first grade class because they had something to tell me.  They all said good-bye and that they would miss me and I got a book from them that says 'Good Bye Katie First Year Children Will Miss You'.  In it each of the kids drew a picture and some of them had a picture of them so I wouldn't forget them.  The best pictures were of us in the classroom at the six desks and me in front of the chalkboard.  So sweet!  Some of the older kids wrote me notes and said things like "good trip, I love you, te kiero (spanish slang for te quiero which means I love you)".  Some wrote "Never forgive" and they really meant "Never Forget", but it's the thought that counts right?  The best was one girl who drew a picture of a girl and she is saying "I love you good-looking".  They learned that guapo/a means "good-looking", which works, but we would also say handsome.  Too funny!

I know I griped and complained about some of the kids and how awful their behavior was, but I'll honestly miss them, especially the little ones.  I enjoyed my job even though they didn't listen or understand half the time and that's what matters most.  I think I've grown more as a person, learning valuable "life lessons".  Open and close a bank account in a foreign country?  Check.  Find housing in a foreign country?  Check.  Learn to be even more independent?  Check.  (One thing you realize is that Americans seem to naturally independent.  Our roots to the revolution days?  Perhaps).  Learn to cook?  Well, getting there.  I'm extremely proud of myself that I can say I've lived in a foreign country (not studied abroad, although I've done that too) and thanks to this experience I'm much more confident in my Spanish.  Living abroad and learning another language is entirely different than learning it in the classroom and you get to learn the colloquial things they say.  Another thing I learned from my experience:  what I want to do with my life (always a good thing, right?).  I've always thought about teaching and I don't regret my International Studies Major, but I know that I want to teach Spanish.  Now I just have to go after it.

Tomorrow I leave for London and I'll be back in the U.S. the following Friday.  I may update my blog while I'm in England, but if for some reason I don't, thanks to everyone who followed my Spanish journey!

Winding Down

I realize I've lacked in blog posts lately, but I have less than one week in Spain left and honestly, life isn't too exciting at the moment.  I'm more excited for life to get exciting when I get back more than anything.  Last week was my last week for private classes (which reminds me I still need to get paid by one of them.  Fork over the 10 euros, por fa) and my last week teaching my 2-6 classes at my school.  TOMA!  (Take that!)  I still have to do stuff with the little ninos in first grade, but I've got that under control. 

Here is what I have been doing within the past week minus my private classes:
1.  Trying to transfer money back to the U.S. and close my bank account.  I thought I had all the info, but you know how things are, they turn out more complicated.  I expected it to be complicated and when it sounded oh so easy I thought it was too good to be true.  It was.
2.  Looking into future plans.  It's not an ideal time to be a young college graduate when places want "experienced" people in an economy where places still aren't hiring.  I've filled out resumes and looked at other jobs online and this process in neverending. 
As a side note, Spain's youth unemployment is at a whopping 45% and there are elections tomorrow, causing protests all across the country.  It's made international news all across Europe and in some parts of Asia.  You can read about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13481592.
3.  Began packing.  I got rid of some stuff yesterday and actually started the dreaded packing today.  I've been dreading this process for months now and when I met up with my friend Sarah (that was at the beginning of April mind you), we both complained about this process and how we were not looking forward to it.  It would have been easier if Spain allowed you to send packages to the U.S., but that's not the case.  It's not going as badly as I thought it would be, but that's still yet to be determined.
4.  Watching Glee.  Yesterday I finally got caught up on Glee and watched four episodes.  That show is addicting, funny, and the best show ever.  I definitely needed some Glee in my life and it made everything better.

I'll be back on U.S. soil in less than two weeks.  With all trips when thing start winding down you get to the point where you say I'm ready to be home.  I remember loving my Mexico study abroad until that very last weekend when I was miserably sick.  I couldn't wait to get home and be sick in the U.S.  Last summer the last week we spent in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin.  London and Edinburgh were amazing and Dublin was great (the best pub experience EVER with the old Irish man that Jill wanted to bring home in a suitcase.  Too bad we only had backpacks), but we were all ready to get back to the good old U.S.A.  This is how I'm currently feeling, wishing I could fastforward through this week so I can be in London.  I've been so excited that I'll be home so soon that I've kind of forgotten my birthday is only a few weeks away, in fact it's only a week after I get back.  Birthdays haven't been that big of a deal the past few years (one year I was in Germany, another in Mexico, one at home, and my 21st was on an overnight train to Switzerland) and really, what more can I ask for than to be home for it?
 

Fire Drill

Today we had a fire drill at my school, something I never really gave thought to until this morning before school started when the teachers were discussing where exactly they were supposed to exit the school from ten minutes before school started.  Back home the teachers know way in advance where exactly they are supposed to take their class when their is a fire drill.  For the most part these drills go smoothly and it's not complicated.  Tell that to the Spaniards.  I know for a fact that there are fire evacuation plans on every classroom because I've sat there and looked at them while I waited around for one thing or another so why exactly the teachers were confused on where to take their students, which door to exit through (there are three.  The school is not that big) and where they were supposed to go afterwards I really do not understand.  Besides, shouldn't this have been discussed days, if not weeks, in advance, not ten minutes before school starts?!  If there had been a real fire it would have been utter chaos, but thankfully that was not the case.  My first grade students did not quite understand that though.  When we got outside one of them asked me, "Is there a real fire or is this a lie?"  I replied no, there is not really a fire.  Thank goodness, although this fire drill just proves the fact that Andalucia is ridiculously unorganized. 

Feria: Part Two

Today I went back to the feria, minus the flamenco dress and solo.  I only stayed for about an hour because it was super hot and I felt like I was sweltering although being in my piso isn't any better at this current moment (is there ever a balance?  Freezing in the winter and hot in the spring).  There weren't as many people there and less people were wearing flamenco dresses, contrary to what my roommate told me.  On Sunday I asked her if the majority of women wore dresses and she said yes.  I'd like to correct that and say maybe half of them do.  If you don't wear one it's not as if you will stick out, which I was afraid of at first, but even when I went on Tuesday a lot of people weren't wearing dresses.  There were, however, a lot more horses out today.  Or maybe I just noticed more than I did on Tuesday.  I honestly thought the horses would be jazzed up a bit more, but the most they have are some bell looking things on them and that's only some of them. 

Horses at the feria

I also explored a little around the rides and came across a part where they have these huge machines that have the claw game where you try and get a stuffed animal.  It was kind of ridiculous how big they were and there were at least three of them. 

Why don't we have something like the feria back home?  Who doesn't want a week long party where people drink and dance at all times of the day (don't say that doesn't sound fun) and you get to dress up? 

Cruzcampo (beer) ad for the feria.  It says "We are all the most beautiful".

 Here is a short video of when I went to the feria with some teachers from my school and I attempted to dance sevillana.  Please don't judge since this was my first attempt.  Ever.

Here's a little side note and a picture for you:  I was walking home from the feria today and passed two guys, maybe around my age, sitting on a bench.  Inbetween them they had two glass mugs (yes, mugs) filled with rum and coke and a bag of opened jamon (ham) flavored Ruffles at 5:20 in the afternoon.  Such is the Spanish life. 

Feria

The Feria del Caballo here is a BIG DEAL.  Such a big deal that it deserves all caps.  I'm pretty sure this is the most important event of the year, even bigger than Semana Santa and Christmas put together.  The Feria del Caballo (literally Horse Fair/Festival) is basically a week long festival/party that takes place on the fairgrounds here in Jerez.  Lucky for me the fairgrounds is only a fifteen minute walk so I'm fortunate that I can walk there.  The city has been setting up for the feria since mid-March, that's over a month and a half.  It's when all the women dress up in their flamenco attire, there are casetas which are booths that either have restaurants or you can buy a drink and it's an open dance floor.  Flamenco music is played and the women and men break out in the sevillana dance which is what we think flamenco is, but flamenco is the dance and music put together, not just one or the other.  Horses parade around in the afternoon and you can take a carriage ride around the fairgrounds.  Sunday evening was the first day of the feria and there were fireworks before the first offical lighting of it.  There are lights all over the place that come on at night time and so it was jam packed that night.  Cars park in the most illegal spots ever and they are parked all the way up to my own block it's been that crowded.  The feria goes on all day, from early afternoon until late at night so it's pretty much a week long celebration.  Yesterday I went with some teachers after school and me and two of the other female teachers dressed up in the gitana or traditional attire.  We ate in a caseta where there were a lot of tapas and then sandwiches with chicken, ham, and a pepper to top it off.  Sherry flows abundantly here, especially in the drink called rebujitos which is a mix between sherry (usually Tio Pepe) and a 7-Up or Sprite variety.  Sherry isn't really my drink of choice, but the rebujito isn't too bad, although I'll take a tinto de verano over that any day.  We went to several different casetas and in one of them one of the teachers attempted to show me how to dance the sevillana.  I'm definitely no pro, but it was still fun and I have a short video of it. 

Here are some examples of how important and big the feria here is.  In some of my private classes I've had I've asked what their favorite time of year is.  Several of the responses were "feria" and this was months ago.  I'm pretty sure for the past month at least once a week driving to work the one girl I drive with would always say, "Mira a la feria!" or "Look at the feria!"  Case in point:  On Monday she said this.  It started on Sunday and I've been twice.  My roommate has been everyday and I'm pretty sure she plans on going everyday.
I might post another blog on the feria if I go again this weekend or if I have forgotten something, but here are some pictures from the first night when it was lit up and when I went with some teachers.

With my roommate at the feria.

So pretty!

With some teachers from school at the feria

Arab Baths

Yesterday I went to the arab baths here in Jerez.  When the Muslims were here in Spain, specifically the southern part, they had arab baths created.  I've seen old baths in Granada and Ronda and the one in Granada was super small and not that impressive.  When my mom and sister came we found one in Ronda which was a lot bigger and there was even a short video that explained the baths.  The Muslims would generally use them before they went off to prayer since you have to clean off at least your hands and feet before entering a mosque (Muslims still do this today).  This meant that the mosque and baths were close by each other.

A picture of the old arab baths in Ronda, although it's not my picture

When I first got to the bath you received a towel and these latex slippers to put on.  I had to go into a girls locker room that had three showers and a bathroom so I could change into my bathing suit and they asked to shower off before going into the baths.  There are three different types of baths: a warm, hot, and cold one.  You rotate every so often starting with the warm and ending with the cold until you start over again.  There were only a few other people there so it wasn't awkward and it had dim lighting and Middle Eastern music playing in the background.  The warm bath was shallow and felt more like warm bath water.  My body kept wanting to float, but overall it felt pretty nice.  The next pool was the hot one, although it wasn't as hot as I thought.  I was thinking more along the lines of hot tub hot water, but it was the best feeling one and it was a little deeper.  The last one was the cold water one and this was the smallest one.  Usually only one person went in at a time since it was so small and it was so cold so not that many people stayed in it for a long time.  You kept doing this rotation until they called your name if you got a massage, which I did, but only a 15 minute one which was plenty.  It was my first massage ever and I felt kind of nervous.  It kind of weirds me out that a random person is touching you and sometimes they did little moves that made me feel even more tense when it should be in fact the opposite.  After the massage you can shower off and they had Morroccan mint tea which tasted pretty good.  I'm not a huge fan of tea, but I did like this kind.  Overall it was pretty relaxing and a good cultural experience.

What a modern Arab bath looks like