Holy Toledo!!!

Last week was rough: a two day work week.  We only had school Monday and Wednesday.  Tuesday was Día de la Constitución, so myself, Lauren, Lauren's friend Rachel who is visiting from the states and Lindsay and I all went to Toledo for the day.  Toledo is about a 30 minute train ride from Madrid.  It is a UNESCO world heritage site and well known today for being a town of religious coexistence between Christianity, Judaism and Islam.  

The four of us wandered around the town taking in the sites and the change in ambiance from city life.  We picnicked in a park, walked through the streets, a synagogue (we always go into cathedrals) and museums. 

Beautiful Toledo

Toledo used to be a huge manufacturer of swords and daggers

Tommy, eres tu??

El Greco Museum (El Greco was a famous artist during the Spanish Renissance)

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a piece of chocolate and marzipan cake... marzipan is one of Toledo's most prized food products

My School!

It was brought to my attention that I’ve never posted about my school—oh, that small detail aka the WHOLE reason I’m here.  As I’ve mentioned before, I am an Auxiliar de Conversacion, which essentially means that I am an English Language & Culture Assistant at a school in Madrid—well, sort of.  While I am working in the Madrid province, my school is in a town 30km outside of the city center in Alcala de Henares.   My commute takes me about 1 hr & 15 minutes (one stop on the metro + train for 35 min. + bus 10 minutes (or walk 15 min.))  While that sounds like a lot, it’s pretty standard because Madrid is such a big city!

Anyway, MY SCHOOL.  I work at a bilingual colegio (elementary school).  Throughout the week I am in about six classrooms with kids ages 5-7 (kindergarten to 2^nd grade).   The kids—at least the 1^st and 2^nd graders—have Science, art and English in English and math, phys. ed., music, and Spanish in Spanish.  I mainly assist whatever the teachers need help with: passing out papers, helping kids with activities in their workbook, pronunciation, reading, etc.  I also present on American culture (holidays & traditions) and also often take small groups of kids into another room for conversation practice.

A lot of people have asked me what my favorite age is…and my answer is: ALL ages!  They are all so darn cute, and I feel like a rock star.  When I walk around the school grounds, kids run up to me saying “CRISTINAAA CRISTINAAA” and hugging, kissing and grabbing my hand.  It’s awesome.  I love how all my kids are affectionate, young enough to not be too scared to try to speak English and will go along with anything.  Little kids are really goobery though…it’s amazing how much food doesn’t end up in their mouths and instead on their face & hair, as well as how much snot can come out of one child.  Thank god for hand sanitizer.

The teachers are also really great at my school; especially the ones I work most closely with.  I usually look forward to school and feel like I am welcome.  I am always greeted with a "buenos dias" or "hola" and a smile.  I try to make myself present at recreo (a coffee break + breakfast...yes, it's awesome) and listen to conversations and try to participate when I can keep up.  I hope as the year goes on I will continue to form friendships with my coworkers.

All in all I really like my school and I feel really lucky because I’ve talked to a lot of other Auxiliares who haven’t been having such a good experience in their schools...hooray! Life is good ;)

halloween party...second graders

and again...

Ponle Freno 5K race

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, my friend Lindsay and I decided that we needed to work out more, so of course we did what any rational people would do and signed up for a 5K run (haha). 

During the time before the race, we made sure to eat lots of tapas and drink lots of wine only work out once of twice. 

Surprisingly we stuck to our promise and 10 euro entrance fee and ran the race (a couple of days after Thanksgiving).  It was pretty cool, because there were a LOT of people participating in the race (there was a 5k & 10k).   Also, the race went right down the street I live off of and Retiro park.  Although our times weren’t ideal, we were really proud of ourselves for sticking with it and actually running the race. 

 Linds and I hope to run more 5k’s in the future and hopefully a 10k before we leave…I guess first we should start working out more consistently…. ;)

(sorry, i don't have actual pics of Linds & I, because I lost my phone that I took pics on :( ...boo)

The name of the race: "Ponle Freno"  translates to "hit the breaks" or "put a break on."  The race was essentially a campaign to raise awareness for road/traffic safety (bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, etc.

Thanksgiving/el día de Acción de Gracias

Although I’m living and working in a country where Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated, this year I felt that I celebrated the holiday more than I ever have at home!  First, at school I presented the topic of Thanksgiving to six classes (ranging from kindergarten- second grade).  Second, my roommate Lauren and I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner, since we have the largest piso out of most of our friends!

We invited both American and Spanish friends.  We assigned all the signature American dishes to the American’s: sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, and chicken (turkey is very hard to come by in Spain..and it’s quite expensive if you do find it) and even some homemade mac & cheese.  Our Spanish friends brought aperativos (appetizers like olives, chips, tortilla española) and of course, the wine!

As if it weren’t a big enough of a challenge to make Thanksgiving dinner (many of us have never made a Thanksgiving day meal in our lives thanks to our moms and grandmas), an added challenge was finding alternatives for ingredients that aren’t available in Spain. 

(my very first apple pie...i even braided it!)

For example, there were no french fried onions for the green bean casserole (MY FAVORITE), so instead I attempted to pan fry onions (it sort of worked).  I also made an apple pie and I didn’t want to make the pie crust, so instead I bought something called “masa base,” which is…well, I’m not really sure, but it did the trick! Our friend Allison made a pumpkin pie with crushed up white cookies and butter!  Our friend Lindsay was in charge of the cooking the chicken, and even though all she had to do was heat the chicken through, she almost burned the piso down.  I'm happy to report my piso is fully intact and the chicken was delicious!

(mac 'n cheese, green bean casserole & chicken!!)

All in all the food turned out great, but I think the thing that I enjoyed more so than the food was the company and the sharing of traditions between cultures.  English and Spanish were both spoken; American and Spanish foods were eaten, and we were all together:  six of us Americans and four Spaniards.  As customary, we all went around and said what we were thankful for: the food and wine, the company, being in Spain, etc.  It was truly a Thanksgiving to remember.

(leave it to me to mess up a perfectly good pic ;))

Bailey & Andy visit Spain!

Wow.  So I've been sort of lazy lately in blogging.  But I guess it's also true what they say: Time flies when you're having fun!  I've for sure been having a ton of fun!


So to help me catch up on my blogs, I'm going to just post the link to Andy's tumblr page; he did an awesome play-by-play of their week in Spain!  (you may have to scroll down a ways to find it) 


Basically Bailey (my best friend from childhood & still today!) and her friend, Andy from college took a week-long break from the "real world" (pffff! what's that?!) to visit Madrid.  We had a stellar time and here's how it went...


http://andrewwiech.tumblr.com/page/4


***Thanks Andy!!***

NO∞DO Sevilla + Halloween

Since moving to Spain, I’ve learned that Spaniards love their holidays.  They celebrate every god, goddess and saint possible.   Thus, I have a lot of puentes, or long-weekends, in which I hope to do a lot of traveling (eh em, providing I have the funds!).  This past weekend was a puente and I went to Sevilla, Spain with three of my friends. 

I hadn’t heard much about Andalucia or Sevilla prior to heading there, but I pretty much want travel anywhere I am able during my time in Europe! 

While Madrid is a huge, urban city with plenty to do and see, I feel like a bit of the Spanish culture is muted by all of the hustle and bustle of big city life.  Sevilla was exactly the opposite; it was the epitome of Spanish culture.  That said  Sevilla has quite a long and distinct history (involving the Moors, Muslims, 2,000+ years, etc. etc.) of course making the city a place to behold.

The bus ride to Sevilla from Madrid was only six hours.  We checked in to our hostel right when we got there, and ended up in a room with three other Americans who live in Madrid (two of which are also in the Auxiliares program).  That afternoon we wandered (and snacked) through city.  At night, we barbequed at our hostel and hung out with our new hostel friends.

The next day, we did a FREE walking tour of the city, organized by our hostel.  We had an awesome tour guide and saw most of the city within about 3.5 hours!   

Some of the sights...

Metropol Parasol, by a german architect. was originally a contest for an architect to design & build something to promote tourism. long story short, it cost way more than it was supposed to, took way longer and locals hate it...they call it "las setas" or the mushrooms...tourists (like me) love it 

 Gothic Catedral (built 1401-1519)

 University of Sevilla

Torre de Oro (the Tower of Gold)

NO∞DO is the official motto of Sevilla & is everywhere. The infinity sign-thingy represents yarn or "madeja" When you say "no medeja do," it sounds like "No me ha dejado", which means "It [Seville] has not abandoned me"...created by Alfonxo X

 

 Second largest bullfighting rink in Spain (the largest is in Madrid)

Christopher Colubus' ashes...have been DNA tested and all! 

The rest of our time there, we spent further exploring the city: we went IN to the Cathedral, ate a lot of delicious (and cheap) food, did a tiny bit of shopping, rented bikes, and of course, celebrated Halloween.  

my pal linds, looking out cathedral window

Plaza Espana...my fave!

happy halloween!!

bike ride through Sevilla

All in all, it was an incredible weekend that went by WAY to fast if you ask me.  I hope to return to enchanting Sevilla again someday…boy, I feel like I’m going to say this after all my trips!

diggin' this

(holstee manifesto)

This reminds me of the Lululemon Manifesto...loveeeee.

Barcelona, Baby!

I’ve heard tons about Barcelona and how wonderful it is from so many people + books + travel shows, that I was very excited to go a couple weekends ago (gah! I can’t seem to keep up with this blog!).  Myself and a handful of other girls had all bought tickets to a house music concert called Sensation Barcelona White, prior to coming to Spain…but more on that later.

Lauren and I took a night bus from Madrid to Barcelona (~7 hours by bus).  It sort of sucked, but it was cheap!  After a couple of hours of sleep at one of Lauren’s friends house, we met up with three other girls to tour around the city.

Our first day in Barcelona, my roommate Lauren showed the rest of us girls around the city since she studied abroad in Barcelona.  We first took a stroll down Las Ramblas, a central and very touristy street in Barcelona.  Part we through, we stopped at the famous Market La Boqueria.  It is the largest market in all of Cataluna and is incredible.  The foods are both local and exotic; from any animal part you can think of, to candies to fruits and vegetables, the market has it all.  There are even several stalls that serve tapas made from fresh market foods.

pig head, anyone?

fresh juices

We wandered aimlessly through the various stalls on Las Ramblas, and eventually made our way to the beach.  Although it was nice out, the temperature wasn’t quite warm enough to wear swimsuits and lay out.  We were told that it was the first day the weather wasn’t nice and that up until our arrival, many had been spending day after day on the beach.  We still enjoyed our time by sitting on the beach, wading through the ocean and having a couple of beers. 

Lauren went off and did her own thing, but the rest of the girls and I went on to visit the Barrio Gotico (the old city center) and the exquisite Cathedral Santa Eulalia.

The next day, we spent much of our day at  (Park_Güell), just one of Antoni Gaudi’s magnificent architectural creations (it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!)  After having a picnic, strolling around the park we decided to rest and get ready for the concert! 

 one of the buildings at the main entrance

travel buds: Jessica, Lindsay, Cynthia

dragon, rarr!

The concert was called Sensation White, a electronic/house/techno/trance music concert, where we were required to wear all white.  It was pretty crazy, but I had expected a bit more of it than what it was…I’m sure it was much more fun for all of them people droppin’ acid and stuff ;)  It was crazy seeing thousands of people wearing all white and crazy lights and music though.

concert venue..pretty crazy, eh?

All in all, I LOVED Barcelona and can’t wait to go back soon… I have yet to see La Sagrada Familia (again, by Gaudi), but I’m sure I’ll see it soon

“No matter where you run, you just keep running into yourself”

Before I post on my Barcelona adventures…I just wanted to blog about some of the feelings I’ve been having.  I’ve been feeling a bit…off.  As I was sifting through the document entitled “Fave Quotes” on my computer (which I often do, when I need a way to articulate my feelings), I came across the above quote (can anyone guess where it’s from?  Breakfast at Tiffany’s, of course :) ).

This isn’t my first time living abroad, so I’m not completely foreign to the feelings of culture shock, but for some reason this time living abroad has been a bit more difficult…or maybe it’s just because I recall all of the wonderful times from my previous times abroad, and I’m forgetting all the rough times at the beginning?  Regardless…I’m quite often a deep thinker, always pondering this and that.  I’m also a chronic “wisher”- I always wish I was “there” not “here”.  When I finally get “here” I want to be “there.”  It really is an unfortunate way to live ones life. 

I think part of the reason I wish all the time, is because by not liking where I am, I don’t have to face the scariness and difficulties that one can face in the present.  In other words, I’m a tried and true scardy cat!  Unfortunately, by not being present, I feel…I KNOW I am missing out on some of the really great things in life.

While it’s easier and more comfortable to hang out at home instead of making an effort to go out and do things and meet new people or while it’s easier to sit by myself at school “recess” instead of letting go of my ego and attempting to speak in Spanish and connect with the other teachers or while it’s easier to wait to see what other people are doing instead of just going solo somewhere and seeing what I want to see, when I want to see it…the easier thing never gets me the results I want, thus leaving me blue and/or full of regret.

I know this won’t be an easy task.  But I feel like I need to just face the fact that life is what you make of it; be present; quit wishing life away; no regrets.  Living and working in Madrid is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m sick and tired of wishing my life away, it’s time to BE PRESENT.

So…I guess…here goes nothin’

The REAL Oktoberfest: Munich + Fussen + Heidelberg, Germany

Before starting school, a couple girls and I arranged a trip to Germany prior to starting school.  It went something like this:  We flew to Frankfurt, with the intention of taking a train straight from the airport to Munich.  However, once in the air, we found out that the airport we were flying in to was about a 1.5 hour car ride away and that we only had about two hours once we landed to catch our train.  In a panic, we spoke with the people around us; the guy sitting next to Melissa and I turned out to be in the US army and was stationed in Germany.  One of his fellow army members (also on the plane) just so happened to be headed in the direction we needed to go, and offered to give us a ride.  Little did we know, the ride was on the Autobahn...I nearly peed my pants.


We made the night train in time and arrive in Munich the following morning around 7am.  From there we went to the campsite we would be staying at for two nights for Oktoberfest.  We stayed at a campground for an excursion company called "Stoke Travel."  Stoke provided us with food and drink, as well as tents and sleeping bags.  The tents and sleeping bags were nasty...you HAD to have a good buzz and then some to sleep in those things...but it was really fun anyway.  

(campsite)

The first day we were tired and cold but eager to make good use of our time in Munich, we took a shuttle to the Oktoberfest grounds.  Most of the people wore traditional clothing (even if they weren't German): Lederhosen (guys) & Dirndl (gals).  The first day we just wandered around the grounds and sampled all the food (brats, soft pretzels, etc.). The next day, we got up early and went to a beer hall by 9am.  A stein of bier was 10 euro!  It was fun to be able to say we had a beer at the REAL Oktoberfest...ok maybe two or three :) 

(nothing like a stein of beer & a donut to start the morning off right!)

Although we had a blast at the Stoke campground, our next stop was to another town in Bavaria, called Fussen.  Fussen is a cute little town, famous for its two magnificent castles: Neuschwanstein (this is what Disney based the castle off of in Sleeping Beauty) and Hohenschwangau.  It pains me to say this, but we planned too many activities in the next two days, and were not able to go in the castle because we had to catch our next train to Heidelberg, Germany.  Boooooooo! It was really depressing.

Neuschwanstein Castle...from afar :( 

Heidelberg is a picturesque town, located on the Neckar River.  We arrived in Heidelberg at night and stayed at an amazing little hostel (with the nicest beds and pillows EVER...a god-sent after those damn smelly tents in Munich)  The next morning, we woke up early, before most of the town was up and went sightseeing.  Heidelberg also has an old castle, though not nearly as magnificent as the ones in Fussen (it's actually considered to be "ruins").  The Neckar River area was my favorite part of the town, especially the beautiful Old Bridge.  We also visited a couple of famous churches and Philosopher's Walk- a place where philosophers and professors from the famous Heidelberg university would walk and talk back in the day.  

(Heidelberg & the Old Bridge)

Overall, we had a wonderful time in Germany.  I would definitely like to go back someday and see the things I missed...but ahhhhh! so much world to see!!!!

Yes, I'm alive!!

Hello WORLD!

It has been a crazy first month here in Madrid!  Unlike studying abroad, when you teach abroad/work abroad, everything isn't set up for you upon arrival!!  We have to look for our own housing, set up our own appointments to allow us to stay in the country past what our visa says, find your way around, set up our own phone/internet/etc...

So what have I been up to?  In a nutshell:
- finding an apartment-- it was no easy task!
- settling in w/ Lauren...THANK GOD FOR IKEA!
- exploring Madrid
- eating, drinking & siesta-ing
- traveling! (stay tuned to hear about Germany & Barcelona...)
- starting school

Thanks for bearing with me the last month..lots of blogging to come in the next few days :)

(my room...it was NASTY prior to my big IKEA binge)

(bathroom, equipped with a bidet!)

(dining room)

(nasty floral print living room furniture...I guess it could be worse)

(part of the kitchen)

He who would travel happily must travel light. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Yeah, obviously this guy doesn't know what the hell he was talking about.  I'm living in Spain for nine months- three seasons, mind you- and will be carrying 2 large suitcases weighing 44lbs each..and I'm ECSTATIC! In fact, I'm pretty happy with myself that my bags have six pounds of leeway (the max. weight is 50 lbs).  I don't leave for another week, but I'm so excited I wish I could go now!  Truthfully, I'll probably be uber-nervous en route to the the airport but...C'est la vie.  That said, here is my top 5 list of things I'm most excited for and my top 5 list of things I'm most sad to leave behind...

Top 5 things I'm most EXCITED for...

1. Travel! Obviously this one's a no-brainer.  Before I graduated college I promised myself that I would backpack throughout Europe.  I won't be exactly backpacking, but MAMA'S GOIN' TO EUROPE nevertheless! 
2. New Friends- now, this is actually super nerve-wracking and bittersweet at the moment, but I know it'll all turn out.  If I make friends anywhere as great as the ones I met when I studied in Buenos Aires, everything will be great. (SHOUTOUT to Lara, Meghan, Estaci, Karen, el Nene, etc. etc.)  Also, I'd like to point out a friendship that has already began thanks to good ol' Facebook, what up Freddy/Lauren Fredericks?! seriously, thank god for FB.
3. Public Transportation- right now I'm confused as all get-out about the metro, buses, cercanias (maybe that's the metro?), high-speed rail, etc...but hopefully I'll figure it out quickly *fingers crossed*  It'll be weird not being able to just hop in the car and go where you want to go, when you want to go..but it's all about livin' the Spanish/European lifestyle.  (plus, my car still sort of smells like vom, so I'm over driving, haha)
4. Improving my Spanish-  Again, a no-brainer.  My Spanish is definitely sub-par right now.  Right when I get to Spain, I am going to enroll in an intensive Spanish review class to jump start my Espanol. If all goes according to plan, I will be living with a couple of Spanish girls, which will also be of great help!
5. New Foods(?)  You see, I put a question mark here, because although I love food, I can be a bit picky at times.  I mean I like the basics, most seafood (even sushi), but I have issues when a.) the food still looks like it did when it was alive (i.e. octopus), b.) when it has a funky texture and c.) if it has a funky & pungent smell (goat cheese, bleh!).  That said, I will usually try something before I completely rule it out! Vamos a ver...

Top 5 things I'm most SAD to leave...

1. Dryers- I just love the smell of the dryer sheets and the soft feeling of stuff when it's all freshly dried.  This is especially true when it's super cold out and you put on something fresh from the drier...heaven!  Apparently dryers aren't very widely used in Spain though...even in Madrid.  I guess I'll have to get used to the stiff semi-dry feeling again (like I did in BA)
2. Tex-Mex-- ahh there's nothing like a delicious barbacoa burrito or tacos after a hard days work...or cheese dip & a margarita. Or chips and salsa.  yummmm.  I'm sure they have some sort of Mexican food in Madrid, but somehow I feel it just won't be the same.
3. My beloved iPhone- I'll probably cry when I have to shut my phone off for good.  Seriously, ever since I've gotten it it's been my sidekick.  It's quite common for me to not know where the hell I'm going, but no problem!  My iPhone knows where I'm going.  Hmmm..feel like going to the movies you say? Well, what movies are playing? I don't know, but my iPhone knows!  
4. The value of the dollar-  Gosh, if only there was a way to make euros, but be able to pay in dollars.  That would be the life!   Oh but wait, today looks promising as "The euro fell below its average of $1.4016 for the first time since July 12 (Bloomberg)...SCORE! But still not that great...
5. Duh, my family & friends- Love you all...you know who you are!!!

 

^^ the BEST gram in the WHOLE world...seriously people.

^^ my "little" cousins <3 <3

 
 

Hola a Todos!

Hey Everyone- Welcome to my new blog which will serve as to update everyone about my adventures (& not have to repeat myself a ton of times ;)) as well as help me record some of my memories.

As many of you know, I am moving to Madrid Spain for ~9 months to serve as an English Language & Culture assistant through the Ministry of Education to Spain.  I will be living in Madrid in the city, however I will be teaching at a colegio (elementary school) in a town ~30km northeast of the city, called Alcala de Henares.

I am so excited and so thankful to be able to do something like this (again).  I am very much looking forward to living in a new city, but also traveling throughout the country & Europe.  Thank you to everyone who has been supportive of my adventure... 23 days until I leave!!!

xoxo, 
Christina