WALK: Un Recreo (recess, break)

Hola a Todos! 

Hello Everyone! 

This week is my final week of classes for the year! This semester has been one of the best semesters of my life, and you know how much I love school, so that says a lot about how great it has been. I have really enjoyed getting to know my students and the staff that I work with, and I am extremely excited for next semester. However, I am exuasted! I am constantly learning new things that help me improve my Spanish and I am grateful for this opportunity, but some days I come home and my brain hurts. The constant back and forth between English and Spanish, plus the 120+ students in my 17 different classes has left me just plain tired.

So, I am going to take a break- from my students, from school, from EVERYTHING! Therefore this will be my last post for 2011. I hope you will come back (January 10, 2012)  because I have some new topics that I would like to share, but they are going to have to wait until 2012. So I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL holiday season and a prosperous New Year and I will see you in 2012!!

WALK: Birthday Wishes

This week is my birthday so I’ve been thinking a lot about my life; where I’ve come from, where I am, and where I want/will go. Each year I make a wish, and sometimes they come true and sometimes they don’t. I have a few things in particular that I wish I could have on my birthday this year: a steak (I haven’t had red meat in almost three months), an actual cake (I've found brownie mix but I can’t actually find a cake mix), seven layer dip (Texans will know what this one is -I’ve only actually had it 3 or 4 times in my life but I would kill for some right now), Spicy Cheetos (I love them... they have probably shaved off about 5yrs of my life but they are sooo good), anything spicy for that matter (Spaniards don’t seem to like spicy foods so anything will do), and lastly Happiness. This wish isn’t for me necessarily because I already feel so much happiness in my life, but I wish that everyone would feel the love and support I feel on a daily basis that allows me to feel this happy. I don’t know about other people, but I truly feel as though each year of my life is better than the previous. 
Now this year wasn’t without its trials; my incredible grandfather passed away and I had to attend my first funeral (ever), Cole and I were in a very serious car accident and I totaled my car, and I left my stable job (with great insurance benefits), friends, and family to move to a foreign country, and yet it was still the best year of my life so far!! I can’t believe it was this time last year that I was contemplating my quarter-life crisis. I had recently realized that I was very unhappy with my job and that I needed to make a change... I just wasn’t sure what that change was going to be. So I invited over some older and much wiser friends to give me some advise. They didn’t say anything that I hadn’t already heard before, but I left our encounter feeling more inspired than ever. They encouraged me take a leap of faith and to do what made me happy. Not to follow society’s standards of what should make me happy, but to really find what makes me happy. And that’s exactly what I am doing. I’m making myself happy... happier than I’ve been for a long time.  
Which makes me even more excited for the next year! I love the excitement of not knowing, and I am so grateful that things don’t always turn out like I want them to because I wouldn’t be here today if they had.
So this year I’ll still wish for a giant steak with a side of spicy cheetos, but I will also make a wish for you. I wish that you find, or have already found the type of happiness that makes you think “this is ABSOLUTELY the BEST year of my life!!” 
I am truly thankful for the life that I have lived, the places I have been, and the people that I have met along the way. It’s the people in my life that have kept my perspective during my trials,  and have loved and supported me while I seek out my happiness.
And a very special Thank You to all of you that follow my blog. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy lives to stay updated with mine by reading my ramblings. 
So here’s to 26!
May it be the best year yet!

STUMBLE: Are You Smarter than a Spanish Teenager

Today’s post is going to be quick but I’m not sure how easy it will be. As you know from reading my previous post (Second Guessing) every day that I walk into school I am subjected to an incessant string of random questions relating to all things "American". I am constantly amazed by how much my students know about America, and horrified by how little I know about Europe... and the U.S. for that matter sometimes. So, I wanted to let you in on the fun! I’ve provided a few questions that I have been asked below, along with the answers. I would love to hear how you  answered them.


1. List all 5 Great Lakes
2. What year was the FIRST Thanksgiving feast celebrated?
3. Where is Yellowstone National Park located?
4. Where is Justin Bieber from? 
5. Why don’t we call people from Mexico and Canada American too? 




1.  Huron, Erie, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior
2. Most sources agree that the first Thanksgiving feast was held in 1621
3. Yellowstone spans three states:  Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
4. *This one is kinda of a trick question: Justin Bieber was actually born in Ontario, Canada but to three 15yr old Spanish girls... he’s as American as they get. 
5. I have yet to answer this question although I have gotten it more than once.


 I’m not quite sure why people from the United States have a monopoly on the term “American”. Why aren’t we called United Staters or Mid Americans?  I don’t know... but I often find myself thinking about this question. What actually makes me an American; the fact that I was born in the United States or is it more? One student even commented "You are ALL from North America, right?" 
I hadn’t really thought much more about this until I was compared to another Auxiliar in our group. Her parents are Haitian and they came to the United States just long enough for her to be born and receive citizenship, before they returned to Haiti. She was raised in Haiti and came to the U.S. for high school and college. English isn’t her native language and she’s only lived in the U.S. for just over a decade, but she was born in New York so technically she is an American. But the question remained; is she less of an American than I am? What actually makes someone an American? What makes YOU an American?

RUN: Agradecida (thankful)

Thanksgiving has always been and will always be one of my favorite holidays. I can’t exactly put my finger on why I love it so much, but it may have to do with the duality that it embodies; the idea that on this day we can nourish our souls in two ways. Part of this comes from the Soul  nourishing Food that you eat; other soul foods like fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and cornbread were staples in my house growing up. My mother isn’t the most affectionate person in the world and I know that she struggles to show her love at times, but I could always feel her love through the food she made. The time and effort she put into preparing these meals exemplified her desire to care for and nourish her children-it was like one big hug and kiss... in your tummy. And Thanksgiving is a day when you not only get to enjoy buckets of nourishing food, but you also have the chance to gather with friends and family. As I grow older, the few time each year that I get to see my friends and family have become more meaningful. Now that I’m in Texas I can’t just walk down the hall or up the street to see someone I love; now I have to put time and effort into making these interactions happen. And whether it’s making a turkey and cornbread, or scheduling a visit, I know that the time and effort I put in will be more than worth it because I always feel so loved, nourished, and often strengthened afterward. And thankfully this Thanksgiving wasn’t any different. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity to live in Spain and I wanted to celebrate that. Rather than joining the other American auxiliars I decided to have a Spanish Thanksgiving. So I invited my roommates and two of my new Spanish friends for día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) Spanish style. We had jamón, I made pan con tomate (a common tapa made of bread with tomato), arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), tortilla de patata (something like a potato cake), and even made homemade Sangria to accompany my favorite beer from Granada, wine from (Borja) the town I work in, and one of my roommates even made a Italian strawberry dessert. 

It was ABSOLUTELY wonderful! We all sat around and ate, drank, and talked (entirely in Spanish) until 1am, which was pretty late considering I had to get up for work at 6:30am the next day. It warmed my heart to see everyone enjoying their food and each other’s company as much as they did. This was my way of sharing a big American hug and kiss with my new friends.
The adjustment of living in a foreign country with a foreign language has been difficult at times but 
this one night recharged my battery and I am more energized, comforted, and hopeful than before–I am truly agradecida por (thankful for) this special Thanksgiving. 

RUN: Ya Esta!

So this week rather than sharing  one loooong story, I’ve decided to share a few tidbits in the world of Sarah Webb. 

To start things off I want to share a little story with you. 

In case you didn’t know it, this week is Thanksgiving. I personally LOVE Thanksgiving and am a little sad that I won’t be celebrating it at home with friends and all the fixin’s. So last week and this week I’ve been doing lessons about Thanksgiving. During one lesson last week I asked my juniors (16-17yr olds) had they ever had turkey? And if they hadn’t had turkey, they should try it! I also told them I love turkey, but it makes me kinda sleepy sometimes.
Unfortunately, in Spanish the word for turkey is PAVO and I accidently said POLVO. Sounds similar right? Not in the teenage mind. I actually asked them if they had ever had (the slang word for) SEX. And if they hadn’t, they should try it. I love SEX, but it makes me sleepy sometimes. 
YEP. I asked a group of teenagers if they had ever had sex and also divulged that I love sex, but it makes me sleepy. Good job teach!


Today I completed my final requirement on the list to become a legal immigrant. YEAAAH! So after getting fingerprinted (twice), a state and FBI background check, countless appointments, and a verbal fight with the armed guard at the police station... I’m official! 


I’ve continued my workout regimen and so far I’ve lost 15lbs since arriving here in Spain. Only 35 more pounds and I’ll be giving these Spanish women a run for their euros. (get it.. euros ;) 


Classes are going extremely well, and I think my students are finally starting to feel comfortable speaking English to their peers and me. My favorite class is still in the top spot but a few others are in a close race to take second.


My roommates and I are getting along very well and we even had a dinner party last week. Dinner doesn’t usually start until 10 or 10:30pm in Spain and because my roommates are often on Spanish time it didn’t start until 11pm. Nonetheless, it was great and we sat and ate until 1am-- when I finally excused myself to go to bed because I had to wake up at 6:30am for school. 


And back to Thanksgiving. Supposedly, some of the American auxiliars are going to get together for a faux Thanksgiving, but I’m not sure if I’m going to attend. We waited too long to order a Turkey because apparently they need a weeks notice so the butcher can go out to the farm and kill the turkey. Additionally, my friend Erin said that she got a turkey last year and it still had some of its feathers on it, and EVERYTHING was still inside. So if that’s how the turkeys come here, I think it’s ok that we missed the ordering deadline. Additionally, we can’t find all the essentials; pumpkin filling for the pie, cheddar cheese for the mac, or sour cream for the potatoes, so it isn’t looking too bright. Therefore, I’m debating whether or not I would like to began my own tradition-I’m thinking I might make a BIG Spanish meal and celebrate with my roommates. Because Thanksgiving is the day to give thanks right? And I’m thankful that I get to spend this Thanksgiving in Spain! I am truly thankful this year...even though I won’t be having any Pavo or Polvo. ;-)
 Happy Thanksgiving!!

STUMBLE: You Choose...

Spain is different. 
I think I forget that sometimes. 
On a normal “I love Spain” day, all of Spain’s differences seem so fascinating and novel. Most of my days are “ I love Spain” days, but not all of them. Last week I had one of my hardest days since I’ve been here and it definitely wasn’t an “I love Spain” day. The day was practically over and I was on my way to last period when the Administrative Assistant came up to and told me I needed to turn in my money for the carpool. I looked at him quizzically and said “what money?” This whole time I had been under the impression that I didn’t need to pay for the carpool, so when he told me that I owed 155Euros I was especially caught of guard–actually, I was dumfounded. #1 Because I didn’t think I had to pay for the carpool and #2 because I didn’t have the money to pay for it. Yes, I chose to go on sabbatical for a year but my student loans and other bills didn’t go on sabbatical with me. 
I could barely wait to find Alberto, my mentor, and ask him what was going on. He was the one that told me I didn’t have to pay in the first place, so to hear from Angel that I did have to pay (155Euros in fact) was really confusing. Alberto explained that the Auxiliar from 2009  hadn’t had to pay so he thought I didn’t have to pay either. Unfortunately, he told me this without confirming or telling this to anyone else; so I did have pay. AND NOW. UGHHH!!
 I can deal with the fact that businesses (including grocery stores) aren’t open on Sundays, I can deal with the fact that “Spanish Time” means someone or something is going to be about 20mins late, but the lack of communication is starting to wear on me. I will admit that I’ve had it pretty good so far. I have one friend that showed up to school and the administration hadn’t even communicated to the English dept. that they would have an auxiliar that year, so it could definitely be worse. I was just frustrated that I hadn’t inquired and confirmed this information myself, that Alberto shared the incorrect information with me, and that no one else shared with me that I would have to pay. Money is and always has been a sore subject for me. There always seems to be something-- I have to send money home to CO, a new bill pops up, or something unexpected happens... but it seems like I always have too much month at the end of my paycheck. Which means I have a lot of examples to pull from when I need to spiral. “Will I ever pay off school, How am I going to pay for graduate school, Will Cole and I ever have enough money to get married, WHY DID I COME TO SPAIN???
 OH I CAN SPIRAL. 
But in the midst of my spiral last week I looked down at my keyboard. I’ve been taping and re-taping the same quote to mirrors and other random places since my sophomore year in college. And it always reminds me that I have a choice. 
I. Chose. This. Life.
 I chose to come to Spain and I am grateful for this opportunity. I can choose to be angry with Spain, its people, and these “differences” but I have to choose to do that. So yes, there was a misunderstanding (and there always will be), but I get to choose how I handle them. 
I get to choose... 
whether to give up at the first obstacle, or give it my all. 
to speak up, or stay silent.
to change what I don’t like, or to let it change me. 
With every word and every step I take, I get to define who I am—and I create my own future.

I (HEART) Spain

So I’ve succumbed to the fact that when I speak Spanish, not everything that I say is understood. (that’s a given) However I feel pretty confident about my command of the English language, but a few recent encounters have shown me that just because I’m speaking English doesn’t mean that I still won’t have to "translate". For example, not too long ago I was talking with a teacher that likes to practice her English with me. I was telling her how accommodating, nice, and understanding my co-teacher Alberto was and how I love him. This comment surprised and maybe even disturbed her a bit. She quickly reminded me that he was married and that I couldn’t possibly have grown to love him in such a short amount of time. I immediately realized that she had misunderstood me and tried to explain that I didn’t actually love him in a romantic sense, but that I liked him much more than the other teachers. Alberto is my mentor and I go to him for everything; carpool issues, salary questions, lesson plans- - he’s my go to guy and I really do “love” him. But then I started to think about LOVE in English vs Spanish. In English we have words such as prefer, desire, and enjoy, but for the most part I feel as though my friends and I use  "like" and "love" more often than not, to describe things that are “pleasing” or “satisfactory” to us. However in Spanish multiple words are used to describe things that people like or love. They have gustar (like), querer (want) encantar (strong like), querer- again (love), and amar (love, to love romantically). I love this! And I wanted to take a few moments to tell you the things I LOVE most about Spain, and maybe a few things that I don’t “love” as much. 

Love: Me Encanta
Spain!
  I really do looove Spain!
Tapas! 
 (what a wonderful idea--
  a little snack served with your drink)
Siesta!
 (I know I get tired after lunch, so it only makes
 sense to have a government endorsed nap time)
Nightlife in Spain
(many clubs don’t even open until 2am so it’s not unheard of to come home at 6 or 7am)

Like: Me Gusta
Kissing when you meet/see someone
 (I love affection so this is right up my alley)
How willing people are to help
(whether it’s finding a place on the map or helping me with my Spanish people are very helpful)

No Me Gusta
Siesta
 (not so cool if you REALLY need to do something,buy something, or go somewhere between the hours of 2-5pm)
Lack of addresses
(I don’t know about other parts of Spain but in Zaragoza only apartments and government buildings have addresses so if you are looking for a shop or building you have to find the nearest apartment and guess from there to find what you’re looking for)
Nightlife in Spain
(makes it a little hard to go out on a Thursday if the bars don’t open until 2am and you have to be up at 6:30am)

Overall, I think the Me Encanta(s) win this one. 
And really... isn't that what's most important in life? 
That the Me Encanta(s) outnumber the No Me Gusta(s).

WALK: You're New to Spain, huh?

Today I “completed” (or I think so anyway) my second to last appointment on my road to becoming a legal immigrant in Spain. And while I’ve lived in Spain before, living as a carefree student with a Señora that did EVERYTHING for me and living as an actual working adult, are two very different things. So far the process has been pretty straightforward though- go here, pick up this form, take it to this place, etc, but today wasn’t that easy. Today I had to register with the Health Dept. and get my health insurance information and card. Can you say CONFUSING? I barely understood my policy with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that meeting was conducted in English so you can understand how confusing my meeting in Spanish was. 
As I walked through the sliding doors my eyes met another pair of eyes filled with disdain, and I can only think of one reason why. I had entered the office 1/2hr into Siesta (and if you don't know what Siesta is I'll explain it to you another time). Let’s just say that Spaniards take their Siesta Seriously. And this woman looked at me as if I had walked into her home and interrupted her own personal siesta time. Opps.. for some reason I assumed that since the office was open during Siesta–it was actually open. But after 30min of one lady trying to explain the process and me saying “no entiendo” (I don’t understand) four times, another women entered the room and asked me “ You’re new to Spain, huh?” She then suggested to her co-worker that she might need to speak a little slower or explain it in a different way. Eventually we got through everything but I left feeling more confused than ever. I had prided myself on the fact that I’ve generally understood most of my encounters since arriving, but this one left me doubting my comprehension skills more than ever. However, on the way home I started thinking... that lady was right. I am new to Spain and there are a lot of things that I just don’t understand, and it’s not only relating to language. So similar to, but very different from Jeff Foxworthy’s “You Know You’re a Redneck When” I’ve compiled a list of you my observations called 
“You Know You’re a Foreigner When.”

5. You nod, mumble, or answer YES to every question you don’t understand. 
(Whether it’s someone asking for change or if you like playing soccer– for some reason it just comes out) 

4. You are still caught off guard when you see someone picking their nose. Police officers, children AND teachers, bartenders, EVERYONE does it. 
(Maybe I’m just too “American” or a germaphobe but it REALLY grosses me out!)

3. You carry a copy of your city map in your clutch, regular purse, back pack, anywhere it can fit. 
 (I lived in Austin for three years and I was lost almost every minute so I am determined to find my way around this city if it kills me!)

2. You expect toilet paper in restrooms; bars, restaurants, a lot of places just don’t have any. 
(I learned this one the HARD way in Granada, so now I never leave home without my own personal stash)

1. When you are describing a new potential friend, you add “they speak slowly” or “clearly” to the list of reasons they are so great!

In all I have made some great friends so far and my language skills are really progressing. So I won’t let one encounter with a  Siesta deprived woman ruin my day because Yes, I am new to Spain, but I plan to complete my assimilation and immigration into Spain and it’s culture...health insurance or no health insurance. 

STUMBLE: Second Guessing

I don’t know what other 25yr olds like to do before watching the nightly news, but I personally like to watch Jeopardy. From the moment it comes on I know that I will get the majority of that evening’s questions wrong, but I feel extremely proud of myself when I do in fact get an answer correct.

Well teaching English in a Spanish High School is like participating in my very own live game of Jeopardy. As I walk up the stairs each morning I can hear the Final Jeopardy theme song.. Do do doo doo do (hmm with me now, do do doo) 
And as I make my way to the front of the class it’s like Alex Trebek is asking for my final answer. Every time I’m up at that white board I pray that I have the right answers. As the token AMERICAN I am charged with the task of answering all questions relating to America:
Officially-I facilitate the language acquisition and conversation of students enrolled in ESO-1 through ESO-4 English language classes.
Unofficially- I answer questions about Texas Cowboys, President Obama, Sex and the City, and whether or not I have a boyfriend. Usually it’s pretty easy to elaborate on these topics, but it’s not easy being the “official authority” in regards to all things America; culture, politics, art, people, and everything else under the Sun. They don’t just want to know my opinion; they want the ANSWER. And I feel as though my standing as the “American Authority” may be on shaky ground right now. 
I got my first eyebrow raises when I referred to the garbage as trash rather than “rubbish” and when I was horrified that a 16yr would openly ask his classmate for a “rubber”. Turns out, the students here are learning British English so garbage is rubbish and a rubber is an ERASER! Silly me! 
I truly didn’t realize what an enormous responsibility it would be just speaking my mother tongue. But not only do I have to speak it– I have to write it as well... on a GIANT white board with 25 sets of eyes watching every move I make. So you can understand how terrible it is when I misspell a word (or two). So far I have accidentally misspelled: aren’t (it looked weird on the board), vegetable (should have just written veggies), spaghetti (which shouldn’t even count because it’s an Italian word) and San Francisco (my most fatal error). The teacher actually came up to the board and corrected Fransisco. 
OH EMBARRASSMENT, how I know you too well! I quickly apologized and in turn he gave me a shrug and (an oh, so Spanish), “No pasa nada.” But between these errors and getting tongue-tied trying to explain what “Freaky” and “Putting Out” mean to a group of teachers, I think my standing as the all-knowing American may now be in Jeopardy. Guess I’ll take, “Things Sarah thinks she knows, but really may not know” for 8 Please Alex... 
8 more months that is. 

RUN: Words to live by

An extremely thoughtful friend gave me a book before I left the states and I could not be more thankful. The book is “The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2011" and it is WONDERFUL and I highly suggest it for travelers, especially women travelers. I’ve been savoring it like it was my last piece of birthday cake or sip of champagne, but I fear I will finish it soon. Nonetheless, these are a few of the most poignant quotes that really stuck out to me.

I hope that this post will be an ongoing one and as new quotes come into my life I will post them here as well.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

~It’s not easy to embark on a life of travel, much less continue once you’ve begun.

~It seems like life here is defined by such awkward linguistic exchanges; too often I find myself lurching from one confusing situation to the next with a single thought running through my head; I have NO fucking idea what this person is talking about.

~This is what it’s like to be an active participant in my own life, I thought-I remembered.

~Living here has been the most challenging, most rewarding endeavor of my life. Never again will I let complacency and security prevent me from living my dreams.

~Travel is about being brave I reminded myself.

~Compassion is sometimes all you can hope for.

~[This] is not the sort of thing I’d likely do at home, but this is travel; a trusting, outstretched hand, an invitation to glimpse beneath the slippery surface of first impressions and second guesses- a chance for deeper understanding.

~Only in Spain I think... where there aren’t as many lawyers.

RUN: Shedding my skin

Have you ever felt like a BETTER version of yourself at one point or another? I do. I feel like a better version of Sarah Webb when I’m in Spain.
I LOVE Spanish Sarah. She is soooo cool. She’s thinner (I’ve lost 10lbs since I arrived), smarter, more stylish, more inquisitive, and a lot more outgoing (if you can believe that). When I am in Spain I feel like a much better version of myself. Recently a friend told me this quote and I think it’s completely true; “when you learn a new language, you acquire a new soul.” And I couldn’t agree more; I am a different person when I am in Spain.
I tried to take a picture of my hands but it didn’t come out well enough to post, but I think my body is actually shedding its own skin. If you know me and have touched me on a regular basis you know that my skin is usually very soft and smooth (this is what I’ve been told, I’m not just bragging here) but recently my skin has been peeling and cracking. I know it’s not just the climate because I was born and raised in CO- I know what dry skin is... and this is different. It looks exactly the same, but for some reason I know it’s different than the skin that is shedding.  I constantly find myself picking at this skin because I want the new skin to surface. Which is the same way I feel about Spanish Sarah.
I want her to surface and show me who she really is. Who I really am.
I’ve talked to some people about this feeling that I have inside and it seems more difficult to explain to those that haven’t done a lot of traveling. The only way I can describe it, is like being on vacation. Normally, when people are on vacation they act slightly different. Whether it’s being more laid back, more curious, or just having a different way that they dress-it seems as though something about them changes. They are not their “normal” selves.
I want all the things I love about US Sarah to integrate with the things I love and am learning about Spanish Sarah.
But isn’t that what we all want?
To be the best people we can be?
For our spouses, for our children, for our future, and mostly... for ourselves.

RUN: Class is in Session

Can I just say that I LOVE my school?  

OK...
I LOVE MY SCHOOL!! I love everything about it. The town in which it's located, the building, the supercool HIGH-TECH classrooms with interactive white boards, the supportive staff, and most of all... my students (all 100+ of them). My kids range from 11-16 and from true Beginners to High Advanced. But I have a confession-I have a favorite class. Is that wrong? Is that like having 4 children and having 1 single favorite child? Ahh..whatever. I'm not a mom and I totally have a favorite!! This class makes my hour with them feel like 5min and I always leave wishing I had more time with them. This class is eager to learn and receptive to whatever I have to offer them. We had an instant connection and the deal was sealed when they told me that I was so "chulo" (cool) that they wanted me to accompany them on their senior trip. Sooo sweet!! But, I digress. I really do enjoy all of my classes; mostly because I'm in the classroom with them. You know my story: started out as Elem Edu, went to Granada semester before my student teaching, came back and changed my major/life, and so on. Nonetheless, I have to say that I feel absolutely comfortable and at my happiest when I am in the classroom. I feel so thankful for this experience. The whole school (and the entire town, really) has welcomed me with arms wide open and I could not be more happy. 

(check out more pics of my school at: 
http://photobucket.com/andarconmigoOCTOBER)

STUMBLE: ...and fall

Have you ever been so desperate and confused as to what to do that you wanted to just break out in tears? Well I have! In fact it was on my first actual day in Spain. Even though I actually almost missed my flight to Spain due to a delay in Austin I made it to Spain at 9:55am Sept. 21, 2011.

Things started off very smoothly- We landed early, I breezed through immigration, and my bags were the second ones off the conveyer belt so by the time I left the airport I was feeling pretty good. Well, that feeling did not last for long. I had planned to meet some friends in Madrid and decided that I would take the metro since I only needed to transfer twice and the metro stop was one block away from our hostel.

GOSH! I’ve made a lot a bad decisions in my life but that definitely goes down as one of the worst. Picture this, me with a large roller duffel bag (51.8lbs) a smaller carry-on duffel bag (30lbs) and the best purse in the world (10lbs) shuffling through the Madrid metro. Not that bad right? I can walk as slow as I need to, hop on the train, make my transfers, and exit the station to walk the necessary block and then I’m there. That almost sounds like joke to me now.

First of all, the Madrid Metro is not a handicap accessible so that means they don’t have to provide an alternative to the dozens of stairs you have to climb and descend to get to your stop. So for me, that meant I had to drag my 90lbs of luggage up/down 7 different sets of staircases to successfully transfer. And I’m not talking about 5 or 10 stairs at a time. NO. I’m talking about 15-30 stairs at a time. And to make matters worst- I happened to be traveling on the Metro during rush hour in the most populated city in the country. AWESOME! So not only were there NO seats, but people are crammed in like sardines so they can make sure they arrive to their destination on time. This means they are definitely not interested in accommodating the semi-lost American girl with 90lbs of cumbersome luggage. But after 2hrs on a 
metro trip that should have taken 30mins I finally arrived to my street exit.

I lugged my bags up the last (or what I thought would

be the last staircase) and walked along the corridor towards the sunlight. Then I saw it. 45 stairs between me and Metro freedom.

I literally dropped my bags to the ground and covered my face to try and hold back the tears I felt welling up in the back of my throat. I was already sore (see previous post) extremely tired because I did not sleep on the flight, hungry, and tired from the past few hours of lugging bags up/down the stairs in the Metro interior. Now I know that I could have probably packed lighter, but I want you to try and pack for 10 months for a country that you know you won’t be able to find your shirt and pant sizes and see how many items you leave behind.

So there I was; luggage on the ground and hands on my face. When out of nowhere a very slender man came up from behind and said, Necesitas ayuda? (Do you need help) SI? And grabbed both my bags and carried them both up in one smooth motion and dropped them at the top of the staircase as he continued his conversation with the beautiful Spanish women he was walking with. It happen so quickly I didn’t REALLY have time to react and barely said "GRACIAS" before he was gone. That wasn’t the first time in my life when I’ve felt totally desperate, confused, and ready to breakdown when God swoops in and sends me an Angel to carry my baggage.

(check out more pics at : 
http://photobucket.com/andarconmigoOCTOBER)

RUN: Lista

So, I’m sitting here in the airport.
I arrived a little early (4hrs in fact) because Cole could only take a half day and we wanted to enjoy every last minute of each other’s company. But now Cole is gone and here I am sitting at my gate paging through People Espanol and reflecting. As I turn each page I can’t help but to notice a slight tremble and I know that there are only two reasons why this could be happening.
The 1^st-
WHY I decided to scrub my entire house from TOP to BOTTOM and wash every piece of laundry I own BEFORE starting my 5hr packing marathon-your guess is a good as mine... but I did and I felt it the next morning when I could hardly get out of bed. Get as sore as you can before a twelve hour trip in an exceptionally uncomfortable economy class seat on Continental Sarah. SMART!
The 2^nd-
I think my hands are shaking because of nerves but I still maintain that I AM NOT NERVOUS! (Although my newly acquired forehead acne would suggest otherwise) How could I NOT be nervous? I’m leaving a job, friends, my life partner, and life as I know it to move to the other side of the ocean. However I really just don’t feel that nervous. I almost feel calm... but maybe this is the calm before the storm.
I was once in a Tornado. Did you know that?
Yep, my senior year of college at KSU. The storm tore through our town and destroyed parts of campus, houses, and caused a lot damage. Our house wasn’t touched but I remember sitting in the basement as the tornado raged through Manhattan. Earlier in the afternoon it had been hailing and raining but at one point in the late afternoon everything just stopped. The sky turned an eerie Wizzard of OZ green and it became abnormally quiet. And then the train came-- That’s what it sounded like. It sounded as if a GIANT freight train was headed straight for you, but you didn’t know from which direction it was coming from. CHUG CHUG CHUG!
Maybe that’s what is going on in my life right now. I was chugging a long and then this opportunity came and I decided to jump the tracks. I’m TOTALLY of course right now; I have no idea where I will live, what I will eat, where I will go, or who I’ll meet, but I couldn’t feel happier. So I’ll wait here for another 3.5hrs and then I’m off. I’ll take my 90lbs of luggage and jump feet first into this new life... Calm as can be. No estoy nerviosa (I’m not nervous)... ESTOY LISTA (I’m ready)!

RUN: Music

My first (of many) encounters with Circa Survive

   For those of you that REALLY know me, you know that I live my life as a soundtrack. I love MUSIC! Really I do! My blog is even named after a lyric in one of my favorite Spanish songs. I don’t just like one genre because I like a little bit of everything. The only requirement that I have for my music is that is… GOOD. That’s right. Whether it is Acapella, Alternative, Bluegrass, Calypso, Dub Step, Electronic, Funk, Smooth Jazz, Rock, Singer Songwriter, Techno, or even Zydeco… I really love all types of music. I’ve been in a music rut lately because I like to be on the verge of new music… I like it most when a band is on the verge of making it BIG because they are still really hungry; they actually care what the fans think of their music and want to please both themselves and their fans concurrently.

Plus, if you go to a concert before a band has made it then you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll only be surrounded by other fans, and you might even be able to get really close to the stage. I’ve endured my fair share of black eyes and lost shoes in mosh pits, as well as dirty looks and snide comments on my way up to the front row--- and every bit has been worth it! I’m trying to get out of my rut so I have started listening to more Spanish music. This practice is beneficial because I get to enjoy new music and it helps me to work on my vocabulary.

These are a few of my favorite new and old artist.

Rain or Shine... It's Music Time

Julieta Venegas 

(sings Me Voy; the first song I learned to sing in Spanish)

David Bisbal

Aljandro Sanz

Lori Meyers

Tomasito 

(sings a Flamenco version of ACDC’s Back in Black!!!)

Let me know if you’ve discovered any new artist from abroad!

WALK: Third Choice is the Charm

Aragon.

That was the name of the middle school that I attended while growing up in small town Colorado, but now that name means so much more to me. Aragón is the region that I will be living in for the next 10months. I still haven’t received my visa letter so I’m not quite sure which city I’ll be living in yet, but I’m still excited. People have asked me why I chose Aragon out of all the regions in Spain. I had my pick of Andalucía, Castilla La Mancha, Valencia, Catalonia, or even Madrid… but nope, I chose ARAGON. Actually, I didn’t REALLY pick Aragon. I actually chose Andalucía as my first chose, Extremadura as my second, and Aragón as my third. Looks like my third choice was the charm because that’s what I received. Initially, I was upset that I didn’t receive Andalucía. Andalucía is home to Granada, Alhambra beer, and most all of the things I love about Spain, but I think this happened for a reason. First of all, Aragon shares a border with France. Oh là là! Could I love France anymore than I already do? Nope. Ok, maybe yes. I could only love France more if I lived there with Cole and we had two cute little Frenchie babies that we strolled hand in hand with while eating croissants and sipping hot cocoa. Uhh… a girl can dream can’t she? 

Anyway, Aragon has a lot of French influences and that makes me happy because we could all use a little more French in our lives right? Plus, from what I can tell Aragon is very unique from the rest of Spain. First of all, they eat a lot of MEAT. You know this Cattlewoman loves her her meat, and Aragon has a lot of it. Beef, Lamb, and Seafood are all major parts of their diet. Plus, they eat a good amount of fruit which can be harder to find in other parts of Spain. Additionally, Aragon is the home of geological contrast in Spain. It has green valleys, hilly areas in the south, and the snow-capped Pyrenees. I’m excited to be near mountains again because my heart has missed their majestic arches cresting in the distance. Plus, there is a strong possibility that I may get to enjoy the SNOW again. Oh, how I have missed the snow! Texas was a MAJOR let down in the cool weather department. You know you’re in trouble when you start hitting the 100º mark multiple days in May. My coat, scarves, and mittens all think that I have abandoned them. So Aragon, although you were not my first choice… I promise to embrace you with open arms--- and hopefully those arms will have a long sleeved shirt and cute pea coat on top of them!

STUMBLE: The LABYRINTH

I've realized that learning a new language as an adult is like a labyrinth. Initially the idea of learning a second language can feel unbearably daunting. Furthermore, once you’re finally in the thick of the process it can seem utterly confusing because you encounter countless road blocks and sometimes even dead ends, but you always know that there is a way out---a finish line; fluency.

However, right now I feel as though I have been thrown right back into my my own personal language labyrinth. 

As a Program Manager I had the opportunity to correspond in Spanish by email and hold conference calls where I would ramble out a little here and there, but now I'm about to enter into a WHOLE NEW ballgame. I know that the only way for me to become fluent is to be totally immersed in the Spanish language and lifestyle once again; one semester abroad was not enough time for me and I am eager to return to Spain. However, I am utterly FREAKED OUT as well. It's kind of funny for me that my language acquisition journey has felt like a labyrinth because the first movie I actually watched and understood in Spain happened to be Pan's Labyrinth. This movie was a turning point in my own labyrinth--I finally understood what was going on! I just knew that an usher with a big bright flashlight was going to pop up behind me and admonish me at any minute for all of the light I was giving off. It felt as though there was a GIANT light bulb above my head because I experienced an illumination like no other that evening. I had to be a major distraction for the other patrons trying to enjoy their movie experience.  I got it. I REALLY got it. No pasa nada, yo entiendo!

I believe that my passion for learning and teaching children will make my experience more meaningful not only for me, but the students I will be working with on a daily basis but I'm still scared as H-E-double hockey sticks. Nonetheless, I look forward to returning to Spain not only to escape my own personal labyrinth and reach my goal of fluency but to also to participate in a program that promotes language and cultural advancement.