Lisbon!

bloggin´ bout boyz

So my disastrous error on Friday was stressful and expensive, but once again, Barcelona was totally worth it. I know it is a really touristy city, but it is so beautiful I do not even care. We went to the Parc Guell (sp?) and had ourselves a nice little hike and picnic, complete with authentic Spanish aceitunas y pan. We went to the Olympic park and Montjuic, then later to the Magic Fountains to watch the spectacular light and water show. We walked to the Gothic Quarter that night to grab a drink and met up with our friends at this stock market themed bar in the heart of the city. Met a cute Spanish guy, the first one I have not felt creeped out by.

Took a quick and painless flight back to Mad city and found my friends again in the train station. I told my host sister Laura, who is 13 and infatuated with Zac Efron, that I would go with her to see High School Musical 3 with her this week. Wonder if it will be the same with Spanish voiceovers.

The American Studies curriculum changed and now requires 30 credit hours instead of 36. wooweee looks like I will graduate rather painlessly! Also put down the deposit for Marion. Next year will be outstanding.

idiotita

Once upon a crisp Friday morning a young American student, awaken by the whispers and patters of feet of her host family, arose a little tired from the night before but excited nonetheless to see her fellow Domers in Barcelona. Her grand plan was to take the fast train from Toledo to Madrid and then take a quick and painless flight to Barcelona. But Katie Peralta, the idiot, did not realize the necessity of carrying a passport when flying. In her utter naiveté, she thought the same was true in Europe as in the US of A- where it is completely necessary to carry a passport only when flying out of the country. Alas, she thought, a drivers license surely will suffice.

Wrong.

Díos, que una disastre. The flustered and ignorant girl darted through the station, desperate to purchase an immediate ticket back to Toledo to obtain the precious document. The next train, of course, was not to depart for another two hours, roughly ten minutes before her flight was to take off. She called the United States Embassy asking for consejo, then the airline, both which more or less laughed in her pathetic face at the prospect of flying sans pasaporte. Moreover, a rebooked flight that same day, she learned would cost roughly 150 euros, aka maybe three days of summer hell at CPK.

Finding her center and taking a deep breath, remembering everything she had ever practiced at yoga class, young Katherine bought an Ave ticket to Barcelona for later that same day, giving herself plenty of time to return to the casa and retrieve the passport. These things happen. If this kind of thing had happened two years ago, all of Madrid might have witnessed the meltdown of the century.

So is the story of today so far. I am currently sitting in the kitchen of my house, where we have Internet, and about to take off for the train station for the second time in just 8 hours. I have never felt more stupid in my entire life. But, as I was able to articulate (rather well I must add) in Spanish to my host madre, you live and you learn. These things happen and you just have to laugh at it in the end. Of course I think I am going to punish myself for this by forgoing the trip to Sevilla at the end of next month. Way to go, Katie.

Have to admit a little something. I am kind of glad this happened. I got to go home, go for a nice run and get a shower in, then hang out with my host family a bit. I think my host dad had a good laugh at my expense, but I laughed with him. Also, I learned that my host hermano, Alvaro, who is 15, is an avid coin collector and he showed me his hundreds of centavos from all over the world. Does not sound like much but this is huge progress— they said Spanish boys of that age aren't big talkers and what not. It was such a moment.

autobus = obnoxious

They said we are completely forbidden from renting cars here in Europe, but what about vespas?

Obama is ahead in the poles. And I keep hearing more and more about Sarah Palin and is it really true that she just secured her visa two years ago? Pretty sure my youngest sister had hers at age ten. If a ten year old has about as much foreign policy experience as a potential president of the free world, I think I might extend my visa and just stay here in Ethpanya for the rest of my vida. 

a bunch of chicks who painted madrid red, white and blue

Nicola and Kelsey came to Madrid Friday. While a part of me was mildly concerned that I ought to be spending the weekend studying for midterms, the better half of me was so ready to explore the city with some of my awesome friends from school. We took the city by storm, albeit very touristly. We went to the Reina Sophia museum, el Prado, el Palacio Real and the cherry on top of the weekend was the bullfight on Sunday. Yikes. It was not somehting I can say I necessarily enjoyed but for some sick reason it did not bother me, maybe I just was thinking about it as a cultural thing, even though it is an industry much supported by tourists these days.We left feeling a little more cultured.

Yesterday we came back to Toledo way later than expected (nothing is reliable sometimes here, not even the printed train schedule) and I was like 30 minutes late to class.

midterms?

Yes, midterms. Which means the mid of the term. Which means that these weeks have been even more fleeting than I could have ever imagined. What a glorious thing that our exams come during the same time as ND's fall break. I have told myself I will try to get some work done this weekend while my friends are here, but let's be honest. This is me. Given the chance between an awesome weekend taking Madrid by storm with some friends or hibernating in a lonely library with my head stuck in a book, I think you all know what I actually I plan on doing. I have been getting a lot of stuff done this week, don't get me wrong. I just feel like when I sit in here in a library like I am right now I am missing out on real life out there. 

Unrelated, but when I start hunkering down and studying, there is nothing better for me than coffee. And lots of it. So you can understand my frustration with not being able to get café para llevar ANYWHERE in Spain except for the touristy Starbucks in big cities. Coffee on the run simply is not something they do here. I think I am starting to get the Spanish mindset, though. What's the hurry? Sit down, enjoy yourself. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I am in such a hurry to get somewhere or do something that I am forget to take it all in. And trust me, there's a lot to take in here. 

Would anyone like to fill out internship applications for me?

does anyone else really love that ti feat rhianna song?

Got pathetically lost on my way to the Language School today, what else is new. They have us talk to the Spaniards about the most random subjects- and today the subject was healthcare. Well I guess that is not too random but the beginning of class was focused on hitch-hiking (definitely an experience! I recommend you try.) But this one guy in my small group was so enthusiastic and talkative and he was saying how frustrated he is about the economy. He was saying how he would vote for Obama and how it is not fair that only Americans get to elect someone that controls the world economy- that everyone in the world should have some say. Touche.

A few of my friends have parents, boyfriends and friends here this week. It is awesome to be able to talk about this city like it is my own. I cannot wait for my fam to come also-- and so happy that Dad will be able to mingle with the natives and put his lengua Castellana to good use. My host family is so excited to meet them, it´s awesome. My host sibs Laura and Alvaro got a huge kick out of the virtual tour of 2424 Summerlake via Skype, thanks to Mama and Papa Peralta.

dear american studies, please let me graduate in 4 years

I am beginning to get so stressed out about next year— aka the biggest reality check of all time. Back to essays and hundreds of pages of reading a night and thinking about (gasp) the future. I am not getting any American Studies credits over here and while that is OK (aka I will be fine as far as space next year) I am hoping I can still keep my Spanish major and by some act of God do well in all. And internships? ugggh of course it's good to have that on the resumé. But would living in a foreign country for a year suffice?

My family and I watched United 93 in Spanish last night. I think it was interesting for them to watch my reaction and ask questions about that day. It did not occur to me, for some reason, that it did not hit home for other countries like it did for us. They started telling me about the terrorist attacks in Madrid's Atocha Station a few years back (by the same terrorist group) in which tons of people died. I felt, like I always do, ignorant and surprised. 

Nicola and Kelsey come Friday!! I am way stoked to show this new part of my life (Toledo) to another part of my life (friends from school.) Should be a wild week. Perfectly coincides with midterms, dios mio.

mi familia querida

Of course I miss my family— my real family— but I certainly have found a comfortable place with my familia española. I have grown from feeling like they are a nice group with whom I can live peacefully and comfortably to feeling like they are friends for whom I really care and miss when I am gone for a while. 

This weekend we did not travel out of Toledo. I slept in on Friday until almost 2, which I did not feel that bad about because Ana, my 20-year old host sister, slept until almost 3. I ate lunch, the slowest and most leisurely meal of the day, with my familia and then sat down and had cafe con leche with the padres while we watched the news. Usually I do not particularly care to watch TV for that long here— one because I cannot understand a lot of it and two because I feel like there is more I should be doing outside. That day, though, we sat for over and hour and just talked— which I realize is more the purpose of sitting together for that long during the day. I was able to tell stories, laugh at their jokes, ask questions... and consequently I noticed they talked to me more and with more ease and they spoke to me like I see other Spanish people talking to each other: really close and without any regard for personal space. It's awesome though. I feel for once like I fit it. I know this does not sound like a big deal (we sat and talked for an afternoon, so what?) but I really feel like it was kind of a stepping stone. I am getting a lot more comfortable here. 

Last night we came to the Fundación before going out to watch the game, ND vs UNC in Chapel Hill (would have given my left arm to be there but now I don't know if I can show my face again in that state ever again. I mean how unfair is it? Carolina has basketball, give us our time to shine, honestly.) There was a huge storm in Toledo so we missed the last 3 minutes of the game. The lights went out and I felt like I was in some creepy European slasher movie— especially because just the night before this girl from Minnesota had been mugged not even 40 yards from the school. While that is totally creepy and I was a little scared last night, I for some reason never get scared in this city. It is really safe and I tend to readily trust people, which may or may not be a good thing. 

I voted the other day. Less than a month before the elections and I feel like I hear more political enthusiasm here than I heard in the US before any election. Our cab driver, the minute we hopped in the taxi last night, went on this rant about how much the US economy sucks and consequently how it makes the Spanish economy suck and how we need to vote Democratic, yaddah yaddah. I never cease to be impressed by how much Europeans know about us and how little we know about them. 

profesora peralta?

Yes. Scary thought, I know. I volunteered yesterday at la Escuela de Idiomas— the Language School— yesterday in a "level 4" class, which was composed of Spanish folk between the ages of 16 and 40. They all were there completely voluntarily, for the sole purpose of perfecting their English. No bratty teenagers or little kids who would rather have their teeth drilled than learn anything new. No, these people were so driven. Their English was at a level waaay higher than my Spanish and I started wondering why I was not taking a class like this (actually, my Conversación class is comparable but you know, it's a requirement.) The real teacher was saying how lucky they were to have me and this one other American girl there to help out and all the while I was thinking, what?? Sure I am a native speaker, true. I guess I am just kind of blown away by how much more they know here-- about our language, our politics, everything. I feel really ignorant sometimes. I could not even tell you anything besides the president of Spain besides his name and political party. It's embarrassing.

Got an e-mail about the South Park annual Turkey Trot yesterday and it made me very nostalgic (emily b.- oh and ps I am thinking about running a half marathon here, but it will not be the same without you!) I will miss being home for the holidays and every little tradition that goes with! Apparently there is a Thanksgiving celebration here at the Fund- I can only hope they have Aunt Cissy's sweet potatoes and Ellen's pecan pie. 

On another note: Toledo is amazing and I am glad I am staying here this weekend for once. My body is starting to hate me from lack of sleep and all these hills. 

otoño bonito

Went on an excursion to Ávila y Salamanca this weekend (thanks for finally paying for something, ND) and got back Sunday night. I have to admit I was not in my best form Friday morning for the tour of beautiful Ávila, thanks to the Botellón in Toledo Thursday night, which by the way was so much fun. We were supposed to be at the bus stop at 7:30 Friday morning, a few short hours after we had gotten home for the night. My friend called me at 7:28 asking where the stop was and of course I was still in bed. Good thing a few of my other friends were in my same position. I think that the bus driver was ready to kill all of us. I still completely loved Ávila though. It is an old walled city like Toledo and filled with old cathedrals and streets lined with little cafés. Beyond the city walls, though, you can see rolling grassy hills and the air was so fresh and crisp I felt like I was in Ireland. I wish I would have known, though, that it is far colder there than in Toledo— I think because of the altitude. I was a little uncomfortable in my flip flops and thin jacket but enjoyed every minute of that charming little city. Definitely want to go back at some point prepared with adequate sleep and clothing. 

We then went to Salamanca that afternoon. It's a college town with of course lots of cathedrals, convents, monasteries, etc. I obviously loved the 4-star hotel we stayed at and the fact that we had an itinerary, but I probably could have gone without touring a church for 5 hours. I feel like the more serious we are supposed to be, the goofier we act. I have not laughed so hard in my life. All my friends and I were exhausted and freezing that entire morning so we turned to just entertaining ourselves while the poor tour guide spoke in Spanish about the history of this and that. I swear I tried to pay attention. The group of people here is so awesome, though. 

I got home Sunday night to my family, grandmothers and an aunt and uncle in the family room of our apartment. They were watching a bull fight in some little pueblo and when Angel's mother caught me with my mouth gaping and staring wide-eyed at the screen, she laughed and said "No has visto los toros?" No, I replied, and I cannot lie, it was pretty cool— besides all the blood. Their family is so welcoming and sweet— I just feel bad when I cannot say what I want to say. I think sometimes that they must think I am so stupid. 

Last night I helped my host sister Laura with her English homework. For once I felt really useful at the house. It's kind of cool to know now that she knows she can ask me for help. Definite progress. I also understood most of what my poli sci profesora said today, for once. Then I found the correos, the post office, all my little independent American self. 

it's really starting to hit me now

As I ran through the park in Polígono today, I could not help but think how much I miss those lakes on campus. The crisp cool Midwest mornings before class, trees turning deep red and yellow, Drummers' Circle at midnight before game day, the smell of grills and tailgates, my friends waking me up way to early to start getting ready for the game, camping out in the library writing papers, living in the basement of South Dining Hall with the Observer, everything Notre Dame. 

Oh and then there's the rest of my life. I miss the smell of North Carolina at night, watching Jeopardy at dinner with my family, making my sister give me back massages, staying in to watch movies with my sisters even though I am 21, taking the South Shore to Chicago, Euchre with c5, laughing til I cry with my friends from home. It's starting to hit me, and I miss home.