red, white and BLUE!!!!

Last night I have to admit I was just a little bit like a kid on Christmas eve— so hard to sleep, just knowing that something wonderful and kind of magical would happen during the night. I know, it's just an election. But this is something to which I am proud to say I contributed... volunteered, donated, debated with Republicans. There is something kind of sad about being abroad for a moment like this, but at the same time it just makes me appreciate my country even more. 

Today we had a meeting for the people staying abroad for the academic year to discuss next semester's courses, housing situation, etc. It hit me. A year is a long, long time, and it is not even halfway over. It makes me miss my friends so much. It makes me miss even those little moments or random summer nights with my family. It was, admittedly, a hard afternoon. Especially hard because I realized that there is about a week in January after my family leaves when my friends are not here yet. OK, I thought, it might be nice to stay here with the friends I have made (few) from the city of Toledo itself and volunteer or something? But that puts me in a hostel, by myself, for a week. Planning this kind of thing makes me so stressed out I physically felt sick. I later talked with my friend Flannery, who is also staying for the year, and learned that she was in the same situation. I can honestly say I have never been so relieved and overjoyed since I have been here. We decided on a little Germany, Austria and maybe Prague. 

Seriously, I love traveling and experiencing new things but I am not at the place yet to do it by myself. I hope to be there someday, because it does sound like a kind of cool idea. I also need to get a little perspective and stop being sad at the fact that instead of being a complete bum over break, I will be in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria. God, poor me. 

Lisboa

I know it has been forever since I wrote in this thing and I wish I could say I have just been extraordinarily swamped with homework and unable to find the time for this, but rather I have just been kind of lazy. Also, the Internet, obviously, is never really reliable. I am so frustrated right now with the stupid Internet.

On a sunnier note, we just got back from Lisbon Sunday. What an incredible city. Granted Lisbon is one of those European cities that is kind of off the beaten path and does not have as many touristy attractions, but it was incredible nonetheless. We had a 645 am flight out of Madrid, so instead of paying a total of €300 altogether for taxis early in the morning Friday, we stayed in the Barajas airport overnight. Not altogether hell on earth, but definitely not one of the more comfortable sleeps I have had. All and all though, it was alright. We got to Lisbon exhausted only to learn we could not check into our hostel (which was beautiful by the way) until 2pm. So we took a bus to Fatima, where we saw the site of the famous apparition and the church and everything. It was a little rainy and cool, but definitely a cool experience.

We went to a little flea market across town Saturday, and then to an area called Belem later that night to see some of the sites and try the famous Pasteles de Belem, little cakes that the people there are famous for. It was kind of cool to imagine that big shots like Christopher Colombus and Vasco de Gama hung out in Belem right before sailing across the pond.

I am proud to say I am the first member of my family to visit Portugal. In such a well traveled group, too.

Today is Election Day. While I am really excited about the outcome, etc. etc. I will be happy once this is all over. I am so sick of seeing McCain-Palin on people´s Facebook status. I cannot help but think of David Sedaris´s thoughts on the undecided voter as well. Maybe the reason why I am so passionate about this election is because I am so broke. And I so realize that we need a huge change. I never have really felt the ramifications of a crappy administration until now.

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.