Got Some Spainin to Do

More Spring stuff

2011-04-15T17:20:00.002-05:00

Hurray! Spring has sprung! The weather is super awesome and there hasn't been even the hint of rain in days. It's so sunny, I've been wearing face sunscreen and sunglasses just in case! (you can never be too prepared to start prevent obvious aging). Things have kind of settled down, one of my most difficult private classes had to cancel for the month of April because she got a job (unemployment here is super crazy, in my classes it is almost depressing seeing how many of them are jobless [I know it is a skewed statistics because if they are unemployed they are more likely to be enrolled in classes and attend them-either wanting to get an advantage for new jobs or simply because they have more time], it is really looking at all the scary statistics they talk about in the face), so she is hoping to restart private classes again in May. Meanwhile, I still get random calls asking about private lessons. I usually get them while I'm sleeping.

The school is getting kind of old. Because I switched levels at semester, February, I am repeating some of the same lessons but going slower since these are intermediate instead of advanced classes. This means I did the lesson about me again. That means I talked about me for 24 hours first semester, and something like 48 hours the second semester. On the bright side, I love talking about myself, haha, and I got really good at delivering jokes. It is like practice for being a stand-up comic! Except the subject matter isn't really universally appealing, I guess. Also we are talking about food, traveling, and now FINALLY something new: planning events. I chose weddings because then they can talk about the reception menu, the honeymoon (things relating to what we talked about in the previous classes) AND bachelor/bachelorette parties! There is nothing like talking about something borderline scandalous to get their creativity and enthusiasm going. I'm still hoping that we can watch some tv for the last weeks, but I have low expectations with the level of the students. In fun news, one guy gave a presentation about Houston! I was all like, been there! My sister goes to that school! NASA! Anyway, it was kind of difficult to understand (did I mention the level is lower?) but that is why powerpoint is such a useful tool.

Aside from school and private classes, I've still been going to the gym pretty consistently - minus things in the mornings and a few days where I fell a little under the weather and when I all of a sudden can feel that I have random muscles and they are sore and then I don't want to move any more than I have to. I'm getting all buddy-buddy with some people there, so it's nice to be able to meet new people. Speaking of people, I went to an Erasmus party a few weeks ago and it was kind of lame. I never really felt old here, but not being a University student - for awhile, even - made me feel a little out of place at a college study-abroad party. Not because we didn't have things in common, but because I would never seem them on campus, in classes, at UVIGO meetings, etc. Also, there were some weird people who must not have gotten the social awareness gene. Then the teachers and I have been having a good time! We went to one of the two mexican restaurants in the city. Disappointment. The enchilada was like swimming in salt. The quesadilla was like cheesy, but the cheese was salty. And the margaritas cost 9.90Euros!!! Also, there was a paella party. It was delish and fun and tiiiipical espaniiish.

In Vigo, after Carnaval, they did a reenactment about a battle with the French from like 1809 or something. It was packed. And they had French soldiers and old-timey costumes and people dancing and horses and allegedly some battle but we missed it because the crowds were all crazy. Then soon after, Manu and I took a brief trip to Gijon. Gijon is a city in Asturias, also the north of Spain, which is kind of isolated except for the capital city sort of nearby. Well, Asturias is kind of isolated. It is super mountainous and lakey/rivery, so that wasn't especially conducive to connective infrastructures. Anyway, there are lots of little villages on the sides and valleys of mountains and Gijon is one of the two large cities in the province. Anyway, it's a pretty cute town with a really nice boardwalk. The most famous thing about Asturias is the cider (and cheese but people always say cider first). The thing is that the bartender pouring it does so from over his head. I don't think I liked the cider that much, I thought it was kind of bitter. But then I found out it isn't for sipping but to drink all at once, so maybe I just tasted it wrong. We were only there for like two and a half days, a lot of the time was traveling on a bus, but that's ok because there isn't really a ton of stuff to do in the actual city.

Now we are coming up on Semana Santa. This is essentially Spring Break part 2. Only this year, it isn't planned out as well as it was last year. I have a few ideas of what to do, but with random schedules it makes it a little challenging. There's always the beaches!!

Well that about sums up what has been up the last few weeks. After semana santa I will fill you in on the crazy hijinks I get myself into - you know there's always something! haha. PS-if we are facebook friends, you can see the album from Carnaval, the Reconquista and when Manu and I went to Gijon. Blast in a glass!

xoxo

Photos

2011-03-13T13:18:00.002-05:00

Ta da!! I have finally put an album of recent photos online. It's best to see them through facebook because there are a ton, so check it out! Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Long Overdue

2011-03-06T16:06:00.003-06:00

Big news!

I am finally updating my blog! Yay!! A lot has been going on, and adding that to my faulty internet and not having a powercord to plug my computer in to use the wonky internet has really made things difficult.

Here are some of the big things as of late:

Kansas Day! This is always one of my favorite holidays, I'm pretty sure it's because I always liked the frosting on graham crackers but now that I'm not in Kansas it's some fun Kansas pride day. Last year we did it pretty big in Ourense, free shots for the Kansan!, and this year we moved the party to Santiago. Last year I was the only Kansan (plus Manu, honorable mention). This year it was insane. There were like 8 or 9 Kansans! That is a crazy number of Kansans in Galicia. So we started the party with the other teachers from Vigo, then the night diverged to Kansans then Americans. Mega fun.

Then a few weeks later, I went to Salamanca. The plan was to go with both the other teachers who went to Kansas day, but it ended up being just me and Luc the French-Canadian. We were there for like 3ish days, the logistics were very poorly planned. We thought we would be able to maximize our time there by 'leaving on the midnight train to' Salamanca, but really we just got there really tired - we were stuck in Zamora for awhile waiting for the bus to Salamanca - and when we got to the hostel just crashed for a few hours. The rest of the day we wandered around aimlessly, trying to get a feel for the place without trying to look too out of place. The next day we met up with Manu's friend from Pontevedra and he gave us a quick tour and pointed out all the quirky things there, so it was really cool. We went out-ish with his friends then the next day we finished up going to the museums and stuff (let me just say, the Flour Musuem is just as fascinating as it sounds xD) and then tried to kill time until the bus to Vigo leaves at midnight. This was definitely one of those needing a vacation after the vacation vacations with all the crazy transport schedules.

Then the next weekend Manu and I went to London! It was totally awesome! We were there for like four days and saw all the big things: the aquarium, we all know how much of a fan I am (shout out to KC and their new future aquarium!), the non-art museums, the big building things (btw, Big Ben was seriously shorter than I thought) and walking around a lot. We did not go to Madame Tussauds, totally kind of freaks me out. The weather was much nicer than I had feared, hurray!, so it only rained one evening but kind of drizzled a little some afternoons. The hostel we stayed at was really central, so we were able to walk to all te big places and not have to take the subway - it is like 4 GBP each ride! All in all it was a very pleasant and enjoyable trip.

In fun and exciting news, the other teachers and I have been going to trivia nights and being totally awesome. We won the first time and were runners up the second time by one point (I am blissfully skimming over the part where my correct answer was changed haha). I also joined a gym because I have been feeling lazy and Vigo is not really conducive to running - it is super hilly, there is a lot of traffic on the streets and sidewalks, and that makes it kind of polluted stinky and not so safe.

This week is Carnaval. I went to Pontevedra to watch the parade, it was kind of cute with all the people wearing miniature Rio outfits and the marching bands and stuff, and they are still all about Spain winning the World Cup. This is totally Halloween. Except EVERYONE dresses up. We went out on the town and I was able to see my ex-roommate from Ourense! The rest of the days there are things in the small villages (although they are frustratingly not as easy to get to relying on trains and buses) and here in Vigo there will be something about burning 'the king and queen' of Carnaval and then they will be burying a sardine. I know. You can't make things like that up. Awesomely, this is vacation for me! I have some private classes but classes at the school are out until Thursday. Yay! I feel like I can catch up on sleeping in since I have been missing out on it the last week or so.

Ok, I think that about sums it up. I hope that one of these days I can link to a photo album so everyone can visual my not-so-hot descriptions of recent events. Hope everything is fabo wherever you are!

xoxo

2011-01-18T10:02:00.002-06:00

I realize that last post sounded a little melodramatic, so I thought I would write about some of the nice things about being back.

When I step out of the shower, I don´t have to lather myself in lotion.
The school unblocked fb so I can do whatever I want on the internet in between classes, if things aren´t working at my apartment.
Manu thoughtfully is contributing to my continued indulgence of Reese´s peanut butter cups, even though I don´t know how/where he got them.
I can go outside with just a light jacket, not all bundled up.
The party don´t start till I walk in, and it don´t stop until 7am. Which equals a lot of fun party times.

OK, that is a brief list. When I get the fb album finished, I´ll link it up here!
xoxo

Back to school

2011-01-17T18:13:00.003-06:00

Hola amigos!

I officially am a horrible blogger. I forget I have this so I don't bother to update and adding pictures when my internet is so sucky (but free, so I can only complain so much, right?) that it frustrates me and I am anti-frustration.

Anyway, let me divulge the fascinating events that have transpired lately. Winter in Spain: winter in Galicia = rain. Fortunately while I was back in KS I missed the bulk of it, yay! Then we get to the Christmas season, which is decorated pretty similar to American-style. Lights on the streets and Santa Clauses everywhere. Since the faculty is muuuuch larger than in Monforte, we didn't have a special faculty Christmas dinner and I seemed to miss the class' Christmas dinner with the students.

Then I went back home. It was awesome. I lounged around WITH WORKING INTERNET AND TV WITH MORE THAN TWENTY CHANNELS and enjoyed CONVERSING WITH PEOPLE I LIVE WITH and was able to have fancy drinks when I went out. And drive. All really important things.

So I went back to Vigo on the 9th, just before the huge storm that closed or delayed the airports or flights. Phew. Especially since it is such a long journey anyway, I don't need any extra delays. BUT WAIT! I still got there late and had to wait forever in the Madrid airport - but this time I didn't get pickpocketed, yay! - and then the flight to Vigo was delayed which means that I would miss the bus that goes to the city. Super. Anyway, I put on my social face and started talking to the group of people waiting and complaining about the plane being delayed and got to talking and met an old couple and they invited me to share a cab with them instead of getting one by myself. Yay! Then I showered and went to sleep because the next day I had class.

Speaking of class, this is the penultimate round of classes with advanced students before I am moved to intermediate level. This essentially means that I can repeat all the lectures I've done so far, yay for no more 'lesson plans'! This weekend there was a British birthday party (the birthday part was just convenient I think for the day, no one actually knows whose birthday it was) and it was like a UN conference: Greeks, Germans, Iranians, Afghanis, Austrians, Brasilians, every kind of Brit, and me and Luc rounded out the North American continent. Oh and someone from Spain, just for variety's sake. Next next weekend we are planning a Kansas day celebration since it is the sesquicentennial of Kansas, and there are a lot of us here in Galicia and Spain!, so it should be really fun to meet the other Kansans and catch up with those I already know.

That's about it. Just trying to readjust to being back here. After an incident involving spices TRAGICALLY falling into my ravioli and something else involving pants, I miss home and how pleasantly spoiled I am there. OK, I think that is enough of an update. I think once I get photos on facebook, I will set up a link and that way I won't stress out and you can see more than 10 photos at a time. Win win!

xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T06:32:00.003-06:00

I thought I would take some time out today -- EVEN THOUGH I AM WORKING, SPAIN, WHY DO YOU NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AMERICAN HOLIDAY, TOO -- to update my blog!

I am thankful for having internet even if it doesn't work super super awesomely because now they have blocked facebook at the school. And I am thankful for the friends I've made in Vigo because my roommates are kind of lame. And I'm thankful for Manu and his sister so it's kind of like family on Thanksgiving day. I am also thankful that the weather here is still pretty good. I'm mega thankful that there is a grocery store literally across the street and I can get my chips, yogurt, cookies and juice there for super cheap. And I'm thankful that EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TO WORK TODAY that I really only 'work' for like barely any part of the week. Also I'm thankful that although each time I update and say that I will include photos and then I end up not, no one has tried to find me with torches and pitchforks to 'inspire' me to add photos.

I'm thankful for other stuff, too, but sometimes it isn't as funny or interesting as aforementioned things: like my family, getting my stuff done for grad school, the new harry potter movie, etc. etc.

In other news, a few weekends ago I went to Santiago to see the Pope. It was mega lame. Everything was gated off so you couldn't GO anywhere and it was so crowded I couldn't SEE anything. But there was a protest and tv screens so I could see the Popemobile and the bazillions of people there.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving break and I look forwarding to seeing everyone Dec 15!

xoxo

And back!

2010-11-01T13:49:00.003-05:00

Sorry I have not written sooner. I know my legion of loyal fans have been anticipating the day when I would update this xD but, what can I say. I'm almost busy and still adjusting to my new city and job, well 'job'. And I don't have internet in my apartment so it's been kind of annoying getting online if I'm not at the school and it's closed on the weekends.

Anyway, I thought I would do a quick compare-and-contrast about last year and so far this year! See, the simplification of English process has taken root and I make little diagrams to explain things. It's an epidemic!!

Things that were more awesome in Monforte/Ourense:
I had internet in my apartment
I had awesome roommates
The teachers gave me photocopies of activities to do in class so I didn't have to plan anything

Things that are more awesome in Vigo:
My apt is walking distance from the school, and super super close to the train and bus station
When I prepare a lesson, I use the same thing for two weeks, so I only have to do some preparation once every two weeks!
My roommates are barely there so it's not like we are fighting for space (except for how I don't have any space to put food in the freezer)
I made quick friends with the French teacher (who speaks English) so if my brain needs a break from all the Spanish I just go hang out with Luc.
I have a TV AND SOFA IN THE LIVING ROOM!

Most of what I've been doing if I haven't been in school talking about myself for 24 classes has been going out at night. I'm getting pretty hip on the cool places to go, there are a few 'going out zones' so you sort of have to figure out how all of it works. But it's tons of fun! And I'm meeting lots of new people.

The craziest thing that has happened relating to Kansas: one of my students studied at Bishop Miege high school for a year about 12 years ago!! That is nutty. One of the teachers went to KU and married a guy from Wichita, but that isn't so strange since KU-Santiago have an exchange program, but Bishop Miege?! What a small world!!

Ok, well I will try to update later. I want to show everyone some pictures of Vigo and all the crazy statues that are here, which are fun to see everywhere, so it will be like a taste of my reality. But that will have to wait until I get a better internet connection, haha.

Until next time!
xoxo

2010-07-27T13:04:00.005-05:00

Look at this! Two posts in one month! Could be considered a record. Unfortunately, I have been feeling really rushed all the time for no particular reason so am feeling too rushed to put pictures up. But, I finished the Camino! Which means very little. I got this sweet little certificate thing though and I can say that I've walked over 200 kilometers (120-ish miles), so I will put that up on my 'accomplishments you might say at an interview to prove something but you won't actually put on your resume'. Other things like that are the marathon and reading the entire Harry Potter series in Spanish. Also I can do summersaults.

Currently I have been going to the beach in the afternoons and have slightly dimmed the blinding reflection my bare stomach causes and going for lots of walks around the town and stuff. There was an international jazz fest recently and I went up and talked to the jazz group afterward, they are from Detroit and one of their next stops, after some other Spanish town and Paris is Helsinki, Finland. Also I met the mormons here. Then I kept running into them. July is like Americans in Galicia Month! Who knew!! I didn't even get an invitation so I would know what to bring!

In annoying news, getting my residency card is becoming a big pain in the behind. I have made three trips to Ourense (the first one being a bust since I was misinformed of when I should be there and the bus was late, bad combo) but yesterday it FINALLY went through. So when I come back to Spain I can just go over there and pick it up and be all like legit. Hurray! I also tried looking for an apartment, no dice. Fortunately, the people at the school in Vigo will help me when I get there so I am not too panicked.

This is also my last post! When I was not in Ourense this week, I went to a barbecue party at a beach house and finally jumped in the frigid Atlantic waters because it has been mega hot here recently. Additionally, today is Peñas which should be quite the fun fun time! I would think about adding some words of wisdom here, but since I will be back in two months time it doesn't seem necessary as a finality or anything. So I'll just leave this as my last post, hopefully during the summer break I can post some pictures of what I'd been doing recently. Cross your fingers! See everyone soon in Kansas!

xoxo

2010-07-13T06:22:00.003-05:00

So, ironically, even though I have been on vacation since June, I have not put in the time to update this blog. Well, maybe not ironically, it IS summer and everyone is a little lazy during summer break. But my summer break is like 4 months, so tsk tsk me for not being on the ball.

As everyone IN THE WORLD knows, Spain won the World Cup. What does this mean? Very little, except for the huge people gathering to watch the last few games and celebrate downtown. Oh, and typically non-patriotic Spaniards have been chucking up the Spanish flag all over the place, so everything is littered in red and yellow. And they win like $30 million, which all the economists - with the excitement and increased tourism and drinking in bars/restaurants - claim will get Spain out of their economic crisis. Which is kind of laughable, but I guess positive thinking doesn't hurt? But it was fun watching and seeing the spectacle and how famous Pulpo Paul has become! Yesterday I was watching TV (omg, finally a tv, don't judge) and it was kind of like when KU won the national championship. There was a huge welcome home rally and parade and they were up on stage and giving speeches. Except more singing and dancing and fun little Spain cheers. Anyway, I'm considering offering my OBVIOUS talent for being in the place where a team WINS IT ALL to the highest bidder. So, professional sports teams, please get in touch and we can work out a fair and advantageous contract for both parties.

As another update, I moved out of Ourense and am bumming around in friends' apartments until I fly back to Kansas for two months. It sort of complicated my running schedule because Ourense had the perfect trail and I knew all the distances, but change is good even if I have to use more math. And now I'm using a different super market, so it's both exciting and frustrating all at once! It's more expensive but there are some new fun things to try in these last few weeks. This week Manu and I, and hopefully some of our friends, will be finishing the Camino de Santiago. We will be starting where we left, in Baamonde, but it would be much appreciated if everyone could do the rain dance where they are so it doesn't follow us on the pilgrimage, thanks. xD Also, hoping it won't be mega hot. My sleep schedule is typical summer (wake up after 11), so adjusting to wake up early to walk in the cool dawn will be trying at best.

In other news, I met a group of Texas Tech med students who are doing a course/practicum in Santiago. It was hilarious. They didn't speak much Spanish so when a group of Catalans came by wanting to talk with AMERICANS, they had me translating a lot. And didn't even buy me a drink for all that work! Texans. xD Actually, they were mostly really nice and didn't glare at me when I kept giggling at how they said y'all the entire time. Well, I guess that's it. I spend most of my day reading, watching tv, running and buying gummi candy (I've moved on from zaps and it seems to have transferred to things like gummi ham hocks, which don't taste like ham but instead a juicy piece of heaven) so nothing too particularly crazy happens. Next time I feel inspired, I'll put up some pictures of Ted's and my trip through Spain and some summer photos. Until next time!
xoxo

May-June happenings

2010-06-19T04:27:00.004-05:00

So after temporarily quitting the Camino, my life went back to normal. I would play squash on Wednesdays, occasionally go for a run, have conversation classes in Ourense, and then you know, actually go teach classes in Monforte. I fill my time watching some of my favorite movies and bad tv shows online and read on trains. I went to a 5.5k race in Santiago for women and against breast cancer and I placed pretty well! I sort of have a horrible sleep schedule on the weekends after getting back to the apartment around 7am and then recuperating that day or the next. There aren't tons and tons of things to do, especially without a car, but I have kept myself active and entertained.

May was a month of tension at the school. And I mean tension. Suffice it to say, I am more than content to not have to go there and sit in the teachers' lounge while people are purposefully not talking to each other to avoid a repetition of a screaming match.

Oh, speaking of match! USA hasn't lost yet! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

At the end of May, my brother came to visit me all the way from Kansas! I bussed down to Madrid to pick him up because maneuvering the subway system can be slightly difficult and no need to cause extra stress. We work our way through the metro to the bus station again and then head off to Seville! Seville is one of the prettiest cities ever. There is almost always a cloudless, blue sky and the tiled roofs add a nice touch. Shade from trees and buildings is a godsend, this place was like Kansas but in July or August. In May it is just nuts! After visiting the typical tourist things, the Real Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Tower of Giralda (you will notice the resemblance next time you are at the Plaza in KC and glancing at the Cheesecake Factory), we tried to do less typical tourist things, but sometimes luck just didn't go our way. The hostel we stayed in was nice, although on the street where they were doing a neighborhood block party each night that was kind of killing the sleep-ability.

After Seville, we went to Granada. Granada is one of my favorite cities in Spain because it is so college town-y. So you can eat cheap and stay cheap and there are always lots of people in bars. Since the only real tourist thing to do there is the Alhambra and the viewpoint thereof in the gypsy barrio, and flamenco, but that's in the gypsy barrio also. We were able to walk around a bit more and enjoy the eats. At the gypsy cueva, it was THE SAME GYPSY TROUPE AGAIN! I do not know how all their information gets to every hotel I've been at, but seriously, that is ridiculous. The third performance I've seen. On the bright side, the angry old lady was smiling at a kid this time and wasn't death-staring anyone who held up a camera. Also, it's kind of weird to see how the young girls have aged. Doubly weird is that now I could understand what they were saying!

After Granada, we tried to go to Córdoba. This is where things got annoying. We missed the bus by literally 1 minute, after waiting in line for 30. So we had to stay at the bus station and wait for the next bus, 2.5 hours later... Which meant that we missed the check-in time for the hostel/hotel. So I was on the phone with the guy and updating him every few hours so that he wouldn't close and lock us out. We finally got there, showered, then looked to get something to eat. Except at 11.30 pm, apparently all the kitchens were closed! A wave of panic hits as I realize I am going to starve. WHO IN SPAIN CLOSES AT 11.30!!!!! Seriously, that is like a crime against humanity. Here I am all adjusted to eating late and now they are closing the kitchens. So we go to bed so we can wake up to have breakfast. Thank Allah (hey, we are in southern Spain) for breakfast. We visit the Mosque-Cathedral and then spend most of the time in the hotel (with a tv!) and go out to eat. Since we don't have a map and my navigational skills, while they have been greatly honed on this trip are still not a GPS, we don't wander too far so that means many places with food are kind of tourist traps so we hit up a mom and pop grocery store. The next morning we get to the train station to go to Seville. From Seville we bus to Madrid. From Madrid we get on the train to Ourense. Let me tell you, the worst is the overnight train. You have to be ready to be awake at 4:45am to get off the train at 5:00am, and there are no announcements about where you are.

Once in Galicia, we spent the first day or two recuperating. Now that I'm old (24 as of last week!) I needed to recuperate. Also I had internet withdrawal. Don't judge me. Then we went to Vigo to go to Isla Cies, a world-renowned beach. From there we walked around the island than laid out in the sun. I tried to go in the water but it was pretty much glacial and I decided it would be less than fun to be in a wet swimsuit on a 45 minute ferry then a 2 hr train ride. The boys, Ted and Manu, did not think the same. The beach was gorgeous and the fact that there were trails to go around the island was amazing! The water was cold, so I feel like the Caribbean islands win in water temperature while they lose in the lack of walkable trails.

We also went to Santiago where Manu gave a fabo tour of the city, while trying to avoid the rain, and we went through the Cathedral and hugged/kissed the saint or whatever there. Like every time I've ventured near the Cathedral this year, there has been a huge line. Holy year. We walked around Ourense, but because there is only the thermal fountain and thermal springs way far away, we opted for a bit of nightlife with my roommates. It's nice to see a difference between what tourists do and then what locals do, since we didn't do tons and tons of local stuff while in the south.

And that's about it! Ted went back to KC, my responsibilities in Monforte are over, no more conversation classes in Ourense... After recovering from my vacation, then recovering from my birthday week, I have about 2 weeks left in Ourense. Trying to really start my pre-training for my next marathon, thinking about the night marathon in Bilbao! It came highly recommended to me - well, going to the city, obviously not doing a marathon - from other teachers at the school and some students, for being a really uniquely beautiful city. And it's at night, so we get glow-y, reflective gifts! Unfortunately, my plans for a summer camp were basically DESTROYED! by people changing schedules and then people deciding that it really won't be an English camp but a crafts camp or beach camp. Very convenient.. but on the bright side it will give me more time to be lazy but get some running in, I've gotta start now to be ready for October!

Next time I'll post some pictures of our trip to southern Spain and around Galicia, so you all can sit there salivating for the next post! haha.

xoxo

Camino de Santiago

2010-05-12T15:52:00.006-05:00

So, one of the best things about working/studying in Spain is all of the vacation days! After spring break in February, there was another one at the end of March! Hurray! For this spring break, Easter week, everyone travels so it is mega expensive. Instead, opted to go on the Camino de Santiago. It's a pilgrimage to the Cathedral in Santiago and since this is a 'holy year' then it is like, important or something. Anyway, started in Ribadeo and ended in Baamonde (not quite Santiago) and walked over 60 miles in 4 days I think.

Ok, you have to read this backwards. Sorry, I fall prey to this everytime. The first 4 pictures are while on the pilgrimage. You can see the muddy river trails (this is actually a really wienie one, you can see grass!) and how I became one with nature (with cows) and the signs so that we wouldn't get too lost. And a picture of scenery with my should-be-patented Anti-Wind/Rain hat (just add water to a rain hat and sunglasses!). Then comes pictures of the Praia das Catedrais (Cathedral Beach) in Ribadeo. That's pretty much the only thing in Ribadeo, but how amazing is it!

Never 'actually' 'made' it to Santiago, stopped in Baamonde because the weather was being particularly disagreeable. But what I could see (in the midst of torrential rains, near hurricane winds and borderline Siberian temperatures) was a gorgeous landscape, abandoned villages and tons of farm animals. ALSO! While escaping muddied impassable trails, ducked through pastures avoiding cows and electric fences - not always as successfully as I would have liked - and swinging on trees. It was like an adventure!

Then at night we stayed in albergues, traveler hostel things, especially for the pilgrims (those who do the pilgrimage, not the settlers of New England). These were about as minimal as possible: bunk beds, no sheets. But they had bathrooms that you shared with anywhere between 12-92 people and a kitchen.

After abandoning the Camino, it was essentially Easter! I'm not going to put any pictures of it right now because it frustrates me, but next time I'll reveal some photos of the creepy ceremonies I saw (if you have a Confederate flag, get it ready!). Ok, enjoy what few pictures I'm posting now and next time there will be more fun things!

xoxo

Photos from Valencia

2010-04-17T05:54:00.008-05:00

As promised! One of my favorite and most apt sayings is 'better late than never', and that is why these photos are being posted almost two months after my trip...
These, like all others, are probably in reverse chronological order, if any order at all.

Spring break in pictures (Paris)

2010-03-24T10:35:00.008-05:00

OK, so today, on my day off, I have decided to FINALLY put up some photos from Carnaval spring break (Easter spring break is this week coming up and me and a few other people are going to be doing the Pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago which means something like walking 100 miles in 8 days. Luckily my feet are nearly blister proof! [I hope]), so you can enjoy them. I still am slightly incompetent regarding putting various pictures on here with text, so sorry about how they will probably be in no order. But anyway, here we go!

Carnaval 2010, aka best spring break ever, PART TWO

2010-03-17T06:30:00.003-05:00

Sorry this took so long! I've been doing some bureaucratic things and appearing in the regional newspaper and having to schedule appearances for autographs (just kidding), but now things are looking on track so I thought I would fill my loyal readers in on what exciting things I did after my trip to Paris.

So, once I got back in to Santiago - ok, it was another crazy flight. Darn Ryanair having cheaper tickets but being more complicated (pretty much like all my international flights seem to be) - from Paris/Madrid, I reorganize my suitcase hoping for warmer weather! Paris was basically arctic, so anything south should be an improvement. So, then Manu and I hop on the plane and do another crazy Ryanair circle. This time from Madrid to Valencia. Yay! At the airport in Valencia, there was no one there. Seriously. No one. When we wanted to get tourist information there were two kiosks actually open and the subway guy kept leaving his post. But we finally managed to make it to the subway stop to meet up with Manu's friend, Ania. After plopping our stuff down and noshing a bit, we go to make pizzas! We stay in this night because it is raining and the Valencians are wienies when it comes to rain, haha.

The next day we leisurely wake up, walk around the city, explore the City of Arts and Sciences (http://www.cac.es) and get info about their schedules before taking a detour to the beach. Here we watched the sunset while I was paranoid about getting sand in my running shoes. Anyway, the sunset was gorgeous and I did not get sand in my shoes. It's the little things in life, isn't it? After walking around a bit more and seeing all the boats in the harbor for the little boat racing thing that Valencia is famous for, America's Cup or something like that, we hopped onto the subway/trolley system (what is it with these cities having connected systems just to be confusing!) to go to a huge hotel for the Runners' fair. I picked up my number, 2361 ftw!, and got my swag bag and technical running shirt. And olive oil and socks! The most hilarious goody bag ever. After that we went back to the hostel and just crashed, because the next morning is a breakfast fun run! The important part is breakfast.

So we wake up, have breakfast in the hostel, then stroll over to the fun run site. Unfortunately, we got there late, so I sort of cheated on the run so I would know where it stopped. Fortunately, it doesn't matter because the only goal was horchatas and fartons (not kidding!! Feel free let loose that stifled giggle) at the end of the track lap. Horchatas are pretty much milkshakes. And fartons are like a sweet bread (not sweetbread, the space is important) that is cylindrical and has frosting drizzled on the top. This was the first year for the breakfast run, so the participation was minimal, maybe 40 people? After that, we explored a tower from like the Middles Ages and got a view of the city from above, it was nice. Then after eating the kind of lame pasta dinner for the marathoners and their guests, we made it to the aquarium!! Ah, the aquarium. I am sure many of you know of my affinity for aquariums and you can imagine the delirious delight at being at the (allegedly) BIGGEST aquarium in Europe! (I also love how aquariums always say they are the biggest at something, like, this one is the biggest because it is open air so the complex takes up more space. But I'm sure there is an aquarium that is the BIGGEST because it has the biggest tank.) Anyway, this aquarium is totally bomb. You get to go to each odd looking building and inside it is set up like, arctic/antarctic, temperate waters, Mediterranean, oceans in general, the Red Sea, etc. And then NOT in building but each in their own little area are birds, seals, and dolphins. And we watched the dolphin performance!! We basically stayed until the aquarium for real closed (who is surprised?) and were shuffled out. Since Valencia has not ACTUALLY FINISHED the subway line to the City of Arts and Sciences, we decided to catch a bus because it is mega far away. Bad planning, Valencia.

Now today is the marathon day! I wake up before the crack of dawn to get dressed and put all my running things on and get my bag ready for after the race. Now it is kind of chilly when yesterday was kind of hot, better for running a marathon, but a little too cool for walking to the starting point. I discard my sweats and put on my number (mentally note, next time do this the night before) and get into the starting block. And by starting block I mean the back of the pack. They fire the gun, set off the fireworks and blast Chariots of Fire and off we go! Every few kilometers (not miles, I know) they had a group of men dressed as cheerleaders and nurses, or a very small band playing music, or a gate marking each 5km with water - apparently there was a station with oranges but I didn't get there fast enough, haha - and then either every 10km and/or at the half marathon mark we were timed by the fancy chip I tied into my shoes. There were even some guys wearing costumes, like a few judges, a matador, and other people who were really fast and I didn't get the chance to pass them to see their costumes. The course is allegedly pretty easy, mostly flat, but we do go underground and then above ground following the streets going in tunnels, way awesome!, and it rained, but I was already prepared for that - Thank you, Galicia! When I finally finished - not last, yay! - I got a medal, a bag of oranges, a can of aquarius, and a bi hit of adrenaline and pride at having finished. But there was no buffet!! Come on, I just ran 26.2miles/42.2km and they don't even have food!!! So instead, I hopped up on the massage table and let some girls jiggle my legs for a few minutes then went to take a shower. After stuffing my face with food, NO THANKS TO YOU, MARATHON LACKING A BUFFET, we walked around the city a bit more then went to the IMAX at the City of Arts and Sciences. It was nice to be able to relax and watch a movie for a bit. By this point I am totally zonked and can barely walk up stairs, which is kind of entertaining to remember now, so we bus back to the hostel to pack because we are waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to go to the airport.

The most remarkable thing about the flight back was, after being delayed in Madrid a few hours because of weather conditions and missing the buses back to Monforte for work from Santiago, as we were descending to the landing strip in Santiago, the pilot instead GOES STRAIGHT BACK UP INTO THE AIR. It was mega windy and he couldn't land the plane so we had to go back up, circle around, then he went for a second landing attempt. It was intense. After FINALLY landing, we ate and relaxed a bit before I had to go to Ourense.

In conclusion, in the 11ish days of my vacation week, I was on 8 different flights and walked millions of miles around Paris and Valencia, then RAN millions (26.2) of miles in Valencia. This is why people say they need a vacation after a vacation.

Next up, photos from my vacation! Stay tuned!!
xoxo

Carnaval 2010, aka best spring break ever, PART ONE

2010-02-27T06:23:00.005-06:00

Hello! Bonjour! Hola!

A snippet of multilingual spring break part one this year! In France, I spoke spectacularly hilarious mangled French and then listened to spectacularly hilarious mangled English in response (am now convinced that all stereotypes about Parisians replying in flawless English to anyone speaking lackluster French is completely false, their mastery of English [despite being obligatory in their formative years of education] is only slightly better than the French I've never learned, which is yet ANOTHER strike for Europeans not living up to the reputation that they are all polyglots.) while speaking in Spanish to clarify through my interpreter friend, Anna, what was missed through the other two languages. In short, hilarity ensued. Also, at times it was really boring because everyone only spoke French so no one could translate fast enough so I was just hanging out listening.

Anyway, so, to begin explaining my awesome adventures!! My flight got into Paris on Friday evening and then I was on a 70 minute bus ride to actually GET to the city. By this point I am exhausted because RyanAir and Madrid were sort of being complete jerks and I had to run around the terminal trying to find stairs so that I could find the desk to get a stamp that I was told I didn't need but actually did, all right before the flight. I was running through the tunnel to board, too! Luckily, I made it and my running skills paid off while I was schlepping around a suitcase and going up- and downstairs. Ok, right, the bus. This was boring. It was dark and snowy so I couldn't see anything anyway. When I got to Porte Maillot (some congressional palace thing), I waited for Anna and then we had a huge miscommunication trying to find each other inside and outside this massive building. Eventually, success. Then her friend Elodee came to pick us up and take us to her apartment. OMG SHE HAD PET RATS. I STAYED IN AN APARTMENT WHERE THEY HAD RATS ON PURPOSE. Sick.

After chomping on some food, we fine-tuned our plans for the next four days and then went to sleep. Thank goodness, I was zonked. Once we woke up, there was definitely no rush here, haha, we went to the grocery store IN THE SNOW and then ate lunch and then meandered to the Louvre. Holy cow, this place is nuts. To say it is gigantic would possibly be an understatement. Also to say it is easily navigable would be a lie. But it was quite the spectacle, and in low season!, and had very fascinating little sections. Of course the Mona Lisa is the big draw, so we fought our way through the crowds to take pictures of the tiny painting encased in glass then pictures of all the people taking pictures. After we made our way out, we walked toward the Cathedral of Notre Dame and then the Pantheon where Napoleon is buried then went to meet up with Elodee and her friends at the Bastille. Don't be fooled, IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE!! I sort of had this expectation that there would be a huge prison tower there and basically they just had a memorial obelisk statue thing. But it wasn't for nothing, I had some tasty crepes and chocolat chaud! The less than ideal part was waiting outside for nearly 2 hours to get a cab to go to Elodee's apartment, in freezing temperatures, fighting in line with all the other people.

The next morning, Anna and I got up early and headed to Versailles!! We had to take a special train to get there (their metro system leaves the most to be desired. It is like two systems in one, quite illogical and confusing.) and then we went into the palace. I think I have sort of reached the point where a palace is a palace is a palace. I kind of wish I had gone in the summer/later spring because I could really see how the gardens would be really impressive, but in the winter they were muddy, snowy, dead and walking around on the ice was kind of perilous! But not to worry, we survived. Back in Paris, we went to Notre Dame again but this time went inside. Regretfully, we couldn't go up the tower because of the icy weather, but still. After this, we went to the D'orsay museum with all the impressionist paintings, then on to the Arc du Triomphe. We passed through a park with other memorial things (Paris is sort of parallel to the Louvre, there are so many gorgeous works of art, but people only focus on the really famous things, so they miss all the smaller ones) to get there. And then stand in the middle of the street to take pictures!! This was even more hazardous than all the ice. Actually, probably borderline stupid with all the traffic, but whatevs. We were able to go up the elevator for a city vista, but they didn't accept my fake French student ID so I actually had to pay, haha. The view was gorgeous; on the hour, the Eiffel Tower has special sparkly lights so we got to see that from the Arc as well as a general plan of the city. Very beautiful! Very cold!

The next day we went to the Eiffel Tower, this day was a little more relaxing because we did so much yesterday, but still, waiting in lines and ascending the tower took like FOUR HOURS. Then we went on a boat tour which was TOTALLY COOL! AND IN ENGLISH! We hung out on the Seine for an hour and heard stories about the buildings that are architecturally gorgeous but basically have some unknown purpose, then we learned about silly traditions involving bridges, and where famous ex-pats lived while in Paris. It was a very interesting tour.

Finally, the last day we went to the Moulin Rouge (just the outside, no worries), and Sacred Heart and Montmarche or something. We met up with one of Anna's friends who is from southern Spain but is at Anna's school in France, and she was really fun. We went to the Opera and then decided it would be way more awesome to see the Catacombs/ossuary instead. And it totally was. It was like thousands and thousands of bones layered up 60ft below the streets. After that we walked around the Isle of St. Louis, where Notre Dame is, some more and then tried to find the right metro stop to get back to the apartment. There we packed, said our goodbyes, ate crepes (it IS Mardi Gras day after all!) and pastries, and went to sleep. I woke up like 4 hours later, to get on the subway to go to the bus stop to wait 2 hours outside - stupid RyanAir - then finally got on the 70-minute long bus ride, then hustled through security to board. The next non-photo entry will be about going to Valencia with Manu. Stay tuned!

xoxo

Happy February!

2010-02-01T05:41:00.004-06:00

I have the day off today because the students in the afternoon class have their exams. That also means that next Tuesday I have the morning off and on this and next Thursday I will be kind of floating around the teachers' lounge not going to classes for the afternoons. So, enough of rubbing that in everyone's face, I decided to announce how exciting my February will be!

On the 12th, I will be going by train to Santiago, then flying to Madrid, then flying to Paris!! I am so excited, it is incredible! My friend Anna (who studied with me in Santiago three (!!!) years ago), will be my hostess. It will be wonderful because she is French and knows things. Whereas I am perfectly capable of saying my name and that "I don't speak French" and "I don't know" and things like "cold", "hot", "beach", "snow", "flat hair/fallen cake". So, really nothing terribly pertinent to DOING things or ASKING for things in France.

Anna is planning out this amazing trip, involving all the major touristy things. Like Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs du Elysse (sp), the Louvre, the Museum D'Orsay and maybe going out a bit at night. Also, I was doing the math and for my training I'm going to have to do an 8-mile run one day while on vacation. :( While I'm kind of bummed about that, I know it's something I have to do to meet my goal. Anyway, it is going to be totally awesome. I will let you all know how it goes!

Speaking of goal, the day after I get back from Paris, Manu and I are going to Valencia! There are a few events lined up with the marathon, such as runners' fairs, a breakfast run (where I will be reppin' KS!), free guided tourbus tours, a pasta dinner (yay for carbing up!) and then the actual race. It is going to be kind of intense because this is allegedly an 'easy' marathon so a lot of really competitive and experienced racers come out to make personal records on the course, so it's looking mostly like I will be hanging out all by myself in the back. But it is still pretty epic that I'm really going to DO it! And in a gorgeous city! Win win (although not literally, hahaha)! Will also let you know how it goes! Oh! And I get this sweet gift bag. Bonus.

So, there you have it. This will be a phenomenal February (phonetic alliteration forever!) and I am excited for it to get here!
Xoxo

winter photos!

2010-01-19T17:37:00.007-06:00

OK, so once again these are in reverse order and sloppy. But, you can figure out that these are pictures of the Christmas decorations in Galicia, the end of year dinner (yes, just the food, don't judge me for my priorities) at the Parador in Monforte, Christmas in Kansas, snow (and more snow), Ted's Eagle Scout Court of Honor, the Plaza lights on New Year's and the crazy amount of rain that is flooding the riverwalk where I run in Ourense. Enjoy!

The Winter's Tale (but less tragic)

2010-01-17T15:28:00.004-06:00

I know it has been quite awhile since my last post, but that is because of many interesting things! In chronological order, Thanksgiving happened. I spent it with a family in Monforte and we had turkey, it was far from the same thing, but I definitely appreciated the sentiment. Also there were random shellfish, so it was a Galician Thanksgiving!

Then I got sick with whatever was going around at the school and the apartment.

Then there were the three days I worked in December plus the end-of-year dinner. It was mega fancy! We went to the parador and had a full-out feast. My dinner was an entremesa (croquetas, more shellfish [but this time it tasted pretty good], ham, cheese, more ham, octupus) for the appetizer, then hake (mine had more bones than other peoples, a conspiracy!! haha) and then a divine dessert sampler. It was delish. Accompanied with the food was some wine, then cola-cao and a shot of orujo. And we did the secret santa gift exchange! I got a scarf!

Then I went home. The day that I left to go home it snowed outside of Ourense! How crazy! Once I got home, there was snow in Kansas, too. In KS, I frantically did some Christmas shopping and then mostly recovered from being sick. Once feeling like I was less of a mucus-factory, I hung out with my peeps. Christmas was excellent, both times! And New Years' was a blast. Once it came time for me to leave, I was frantically getting together my things and fearing the worst with all the bad weather at airports.

Speaking of, the flights were fine until it came time to go to Spain. I actually was sitting in front of one of my college linguistics professors on the way to Amsterdam! Also, this was my 13th transatlantic flight, not like I'm superstitious but still. Anyway, from Amsterdam to Madrid there was a four hour delay, which effectively erased any hopes I had of getting to Santiago early and blowing off a long layover in Madrid. Once I FINALLY landed in Madrid, there is a line 9 miles long for Iberia. Ugh. I get through the line (2 hours long, no hyperbole) and they tell me I am waitlisted! WHAT!!! So there is 20 minutes for me to get through security and go to my gate before boarding. I get there because I am a Madrid airport expert, and find out it has been delayed AGAIN. Hm, kind of convenient. So I look for an employee to talk to them about my waitlist status and then decide I will just get in line anyway since there are no employees except for the customer service people and they have a 4 mile long line of customers ready to complain. So, while in line, they delay the flight AGAIN. By this time, people just take a seat because honestly, this is getting ridiculous. I wanted to point out how much more snow was at Kansas City than Madrid - which I did to the random people who wanted to talk to me, which was more than usual! - and I decided to get in line just in case. Talking to these random people, we all started hoping that I would get in since I don't know anyone in Madrid and I would be stuck in the airport even longer. Much to my surprise, I got in! And I didn't even wait in the back of the line like they told me to do, deal with that! With high-fives, thumbs ups, and the relief-forehead motions, I passed the randoms and silently celebrated m victory. It really is the little things.

So, now that I'm back in Ourense, I'm trying to get my running schedule back on track. But a PROBLEM!! Part of the trail is washed out! The benches and tables that were on the trail are now submerged and the stairs that lead to them are all washed out, it is totally Titanic.

Anyway, since I do not have the patience to do photos and word posts, the next post I will do will have pictures of winter in Galicia, winter in Kansas and THE FLOODED TRAIL!! I know I'M excited!

xoxo

2009-11-25T05:20:00.006-06:00

I'm deciding to write a new post this morning because it is raining and I don't want to go outside to walk to the bank, so I am taking the time I allotted to write in here instead. Apologies for not uploading pictures, I'll try a picture post next time.

So, to recap everything I've been doing lately, go!
Work: is work. I greatly enjoy it about 90% of the time. The other 10% I am either trying to tolerate spectacularly annoying and pedantic students or one of the awkward professors. Oh, there is probably an extra 5% in there for me trying to understand what everyone is saying in the teacher's room. It makes my brain tired, much like me trying to figure out how to get 90+10+5= 100. Some of the perks about this job is that I am learning about Galician and Spanish politics, mostly I'm uninterested but since it is the topic du jour (du an) I'm picking things up through diffusion. Showing people funny things on the internet. Laughing to myself when the students are talking in Spanish because they think I don't understand it, although lately this has become more difficult because people are getting suspicious when I answer questions they ask each other, however subtly I do it, even after lying and denying I know Spanish afterward! Other perks are that there is usually food in the teacher's lounge all the time and students will treat me to lunch or a drink so they get some extra English time. This is all very lovely as I particularly favor eating. And there is beautiful scenery coming and going to work. The only downers are the stupid people and that Monforte is kind of uggo.

Life in Ourense: is bomb! I've gotten a lot of running in (1/2 marathon distance last week!) so am now exploring more of the outdoorsy nature side of the city (not the mountainside though, that would be ridiculous). Living with the roommates is totally awesome, definitely must remember that living with guys is better than living with all girls, even if the toilet seat is up all the time. I've also gotten a taste for the nightlife here; Thursday nights are mostly on the insane side. I leave my apartment at 2 am, go drink in a park or someone else's apartment until 4, then go to a bar with 1.50euro drinks, then we go dancing somewhere else. I usually get home around 6 or 7 in the morning. But since I don't work on Fridays I figure, why not? Also, because of my roommates, I have met tons of other people, have played squash and also get to play on the piano here, although I have no music and a horrendous memory, it's at least funny.

Additional classes: pretty good. I have a student in Ourense and one in Monforte, so I am raking in a little extra money to pay for random things, like train tickets, a pavillion card, lunches and 1.50euro drinks. The woman in Monforte speaks English remarkably well, while I was pretending not to understand Spanish, she repeated what she said in English and I was impressed!! It was exact! So she is a lot of fun to talk to and it is the easiest hour of work ever. The girl in Ourense is the daughter of one of the teachers in Monforte, it is a little more trying because she is like 8 or something, but at least she is really sweet and it is a fun/funny time.

I haven't been able to travel as much as I would have liked to yet, but once I come back in January I will put my travel agent pants on and get on it. I have, however, gone to a few random places in Galicia so far. Like Duade, which I'd never heard of, but is a wine village in Sober (not kidding, how amazing is that irony!!!) and they have delicious food. I've been to Pontevedra and Santiago and some concello ourside of Ourense. So I am definitely using these weekends to be all Galicia and will be more European once I come back.

Santiago: Every time I go back, it is like nostalgia-city. This weekend, after I hopped on a train at 7am Friday night (after botellón this meant I just didn't go to sleep) and recuperated a bit, I met with one of my teachers while I was studying there a few years ago. They are shutting down the KU program there. Sad day! I talked with her about it and what her plans are and she will rebound just fine, but still. It's like the end of an era, what will Santiago be like without all the Kansans!! Also, this weekend, yimbo and I went to see Luna Nueva (New Moon in the Twilight saga) and it. was. osom. ly. bad. I gave myself an invisible pat on the back for being able to understand it since there were no subtitles - except for a few minor characters, but because I read the book I got the gist of it - and so that was super fun! Team Jacob!!

Well, that's about it! I am on a new adventure of trying different cereals from the grocery store. Today I tried something translated to 'chocolate balls' and it is not very good. But maybe it is one of those things where you need more than 2 bowls to start liking it? I also am eating my dinosaur oatmeal and feel like this is something that needs to be imported to Spain, so I intend to write a letter to Quaker Oats when I get home. Anyway, that's all the news that's fit to print! I hope to get a picture post in soon-I also hope it will stop raining today, but let's be real- so everyone who was too lazy or skimmed this post can visualize it better :).

Until next time!
xoxo
k

Fotos of Ourense

2009-11-06T06:45:00.006-06:00

This is a collection of photos taken on a short route where I run by the river. These are actually pretty good, so enjoy!
xoxo,
k

Fotos! Continuity is a rigid standard to which I will not conform.

2009-10-26T16:13:00.011-05:00

These photos might not make sense, but at least I put some up so you can see a little of Monforte!

These two are basically what I see as I walk through town. And the gray is not an effect but how bleak and dreary it really looks in the mornings, ick.

This is art! Actually one is a set up lights in the "Florida" plaza, so I guess it is supposed to look like a bouquet of flowers? I'm not even sure the lights work. The next picture is graffiti pro-Galicia: auto-determiNACION.

Next is a photo of the castle that makes Monforte (semi)famous. Also, there is the language school! We are all in dislike with the scaffolding since it is for another building (allegedly).

The pictures with all the people (I have become incompetent at blogging everyone, my apologies!) are either the staff I'm working with or the view from the stairs where I was standing as they were giving their speeches.

Also, there are 4ish photos about all the signs and stuff the professors made protesting! It's in gallego so you have to use your imagination, and actually a pretty interesting argument, but photos are more fun to look at.

Finally, there is one photo of scenery somewhere in the mix. Isn't it pretty! Galicia has a really gorgeous countryside which I have seen from like eight different viewpoints: Santiago to Monforte (and back), Ourense to Monforte (and back, three days a week!), Ourense to Pontevedra (through Vigo) (and back). Ok, so maybe not 8, but 6, which is close enough to 8 - I round up.

Ok, that's it for now. Next time will be pictures of Ourense, mostly the route I run, and expect it to be similarly chaotic and in a general state of disorder.

Love and miss you all!

xoxo

(ok I just saw a preview of this and it looks really bad. I will certainly not be getting any bloggie awards for this one, haha)

In Spain!

2009-10-13T13:26:00.003-05:00

So I feel like I should inform people of what's been going on. I've been trying to make facebook status updates but those only go into so much detail. Because I have a limited amount of time tonight (and won't have the internet again until Thursday), I'm going to speedwrite so forgive any errors or non sequiturs.

To begin- I flew into Madrid and it was a looong day. Super mega long. I lugged my suitcases up to my room and then took a shower. Briefly spoke to my roommate (who was from Normandy, France) then we headed to dinner. I ate with some Brits who were osom and totally hilar. Then crashed. The next day was training re: things I already knew. So I learned about Galicia, learned about some activities for conversation in English, and learned about the Spanish education system (thanks to lessons from Manu, living in Santiago and working at KU). So at night I went to get a Spanish SIM card and hung out with Rafa. On Friday I had to get another SIM card because #1 didn't work. I lounged around Madrid and made friends with the concierge at the hotel and some random waiter from Ecuador. Then I caught the flight to Santiago.

In Santiago, me and Manu hung out while I adjusted to Spanish eating schedules and tried to fix the SIM card. SIM #2 was also sucky! I'm planning on getting SIM #3 in hopes of FINALLY having a flawlessly functional Spanish number. Over the weekend we did typical weekend things, hanging out in the park, meeting with friends, etc.

On Wednesday I rushed to Monforte de Lemos (to be known as mofo because me da gracia) to meet with the professors. They gave me a tour of the school and of the city (both about equal time haha) and then we all went out for some copas and tapas. I stayed at a local hotel which was sort of costly, but whatevs. Then the next day we hung out and had lunch and then I bussed to Ourense to then go to Santiago. I recuperated for a night then on Saturday I went back to Ourense to look for a piso. There were very few available since the school year had already started and things were filling up, so I was lucky to even look at any. I decided on an apartment that has a nicely sized room, WITH A WINDOW!!, although the view is not as picturesque as it could be, with a nice kitchen and an American sized shower (the other showers were like 2'x2'). There is no living room area - except the kitchen - and the internet hasn't gotten hooked up yet, but my roommates (three guys studying at the university in Ourense) are very friendly and talkative (and don't smoke in the kitchen like in the other pisos). So, it was definitely the best I could do with the options available (which were few [I'm a little parenthesis happy today haha]).

The rest of the weekend I spent getting used to the city little by little, went for a run twice, walks along the avenue and the bridges, and saw the Natural Springs. This week/end I plan to go for a run by the river which is supposed to be awesome and also learn more about the city center.

Today was my first day of classes: this morning was the intermediate level and I spent 45 minutes talking about me for class 1 and 45 minutes talking about me for class 2. My principal job is pretending I don't know Spanish. So I omit the truth about what I studied and where I studied. It's actually more difficult than I thought because when they ask the teacher something in Spanish to say in English I want to answer them but am supposed to be clueless. Oh well, a learning experience. This evening I was supposed to have 3 workshops, which are like small conversation groups depending on the level, but no one showed up since they weren't really advertised since it was the first day. So in conclusion, after catching a VERY early train (although not as early as I thought so I woke up super early kind of in vain) and having 'classes' until 9 where I've been catching up on websites... it's been a long day. Luckily I don't work Wednesdays(!!!!!!) so I can catch up on sleep/go to the police station to fill out my ID information/buy sheets. I know, very exciting.

Anyway, this weekend I'll be better at taking pictures so I can show everyone what my piso and the town is like, but until then I'm just taking it easy (fully adjusting to the Spanish way of life hahaha).

As for the language issues, when people talk to me slowly or NOT SUPER MEGA fast, we can have good conversations and some people are even impressed with my Spanish (!![this is why I like my standards low]), but when I met with the landlady she was like crazy machine-gun Spanish. So I'm mostly hoping nothing happens to my piso where I have to talk to her because she is not very understanding with my foreign-ness.. hm, another learning experience, I guess.

So, voila! That has been what has been happening for the last 2ish weeks. Will talk to you soon!

xoxo

2009-09-28T11:05:00.003-05:00

I sort of feel compelled to write one last entry from the USA for a few months. On the other hand, I sort of feel compelled to finish packing - and look how far that's gotten me! Well, actually, I'm doing ok on the packing, I think, just the stuff I need on a day-to-day basis is pretty much all I have left.

It's weird that it's a Monday and I'm not at work.

Welp, this is about all I can think of right now. I'm sort of frazzled by all the stuff I am supposed to be doing but am avoiding - classic psychology technique, what's up. But I'll make a better one soon!

xoxo

A change will do me good

2009-09-12T22:55:00.004-05:00

So, in big AND exciting news, I quit my job! I've never quit a job in my life; well, officially, I mean. There was that one time at Arby's where I basically stopped showing up and then conveniently winter break was over, but please, that was Arby's. Every other time soccer season ended, or I graduated, or I went back to KU/OP. But this, this was different. I wrote a fancy resignation letter and everything. Possibly the best part? I submitted it before my performance review so I got to skip that. Bonus.

To sum up this job would be almost difficult, except I am really good at summarizing (thank you, AP English). I learned a lot, about good things and bad things, and how to deal with different types of people, in good ways and bad ways. I got some really valuable experience, showed I can hold down a job, have learned a buttload of Spanish (not all I want to, but I will eventually [by using the Force]), been revered for my grasp of technology (granted, only because I was the youngest person there and that naturally lends some advantage in this field) and efficiency, and did generally philanthropic things the whole time. There were some cons, but no need to bring negativity all up in here. There are a few people I will miss though, but if they were cool enough to be missed then they will be cool enough for me to see them again.

So now I will be skating through the next two weeks at work, making lists of what to pack and some things I need to get done before I leave on the 29th - like getting my hair cut, as IF I will risk my hair to the estilistas there! - and random other miscellany like my social life, which is almost as important as packing - seriously, they have stores there so it isn't like a mega big deal if I eff it up. Also, I should probably relearn how to use punctuation.

In other news, I found a Lion King book while I was working on my Charlie Brown. My life has been re-changed. I've never been able to sing before, but these songs are so easy (I remember I learned them with my piano teacher Scott, which is pre-high school, but I can't remember how old I was) I'm hoping to develop a new talent in two weeks! Who KNOWS what you can accomplish in two weeks if you actually try? I mean, I hope I get the boxes finally organized and semi-packed and back to being able to go running, but once those are done, everyone will "feel the love tonight" and it will be amazing. It is said that you develop a habit in 21 days and I leave in 17, so if I get crackin' you might see me on Factor X! Hahaha, omg, ok, I just had a mental image and I am seriously laughing, I'm envisioning a need to fulfill the elementary Disney in English niche while in Spain. I don't know if that niche market is there, but at least I can try to fill it!

Lately I have reverted back to my Olathe band roots. On Friday night, the Poms were at the ON football game. Not because I like football, per se (note previous posts re: caring about sports), but because my brother is in the marching band. Yay! Keepin' it in the fam. Then this morning we went to Old Settlers'. Talk about nostalgia. I remember when I marched it all the way back in elementary school, and we thought we were so cool and I was lucky if I could squawk my clarinet while trotting along. And then in junior high when I envied the high school uniforms. And then in high school where I was like, honestly, people, left RIGHT left RIGHT. What is up with the incompetence in marching in step? It's basically just fancy parallel walking with people on your side. Throughout the many years that I marched in that parade, I never really participated in the actual festival aspect. I did go once, but I thought it was kind of lame so just stuck with watching the parade ever since. It's because deep down I am still a band nerd, don't judge me, so my priorities are slightly different. But it's kind of nice to know that no matter what decade it is, what I've been doing, or how much older/wiser I've become, that at least Old Settlers' will still be there.

So to resolve this slightly anachronistic, flashback-ish post, I will wrap up the nostalgia to get back to the present preparation for the future. "The future" sounds so serious, but really I bet it will be hilariously wonderful; I say bring it on! Also, with margs. Margs make the future sound really comforting and welcoming. So for now, peace out! I'll try to do another post right before I leave, but no promises. I don't want to pigeonhole myself to this while I am busy doing things and being social. Until next time, go fight win!

Chicago, the sequel

2009-08-25T22:30:00.009-05:00

So in what feels like the strangest summer weather ever, my sister and I took a mini-trip up north. What do you know, it was even colder.

Going into secret agent mode, we (I) scheduled the day's activities as such:

Mission 1- breakfast. Must. Carb. Up.
Objective: achieved, but just barely. You would think there would be more cute cafes, but after walking I settled for Dunkin Donuts. Meh. But a smoothie! Hurray!

Mission 2- consulate.
Objective: achieved. Added bonus of showing up before the employee, even AFTER saying 'let's hang out a little so I don't seem overeager and there right exactly at 9'. So we daintily waited until 9.05, an appropriate window. Five minutes after that, the employee arrives. Bomb. I LOVE Spanish time! I am way better at Spanish time than I am at American time. In other exciting news, my visa has my PICTURE on it! I know! Totally showing up my visa from when I studied in Santiago.

Mission 3- The Field museum. Natural history museum + special 3d dinosaur movie + pirates.
Objective: BEYOND achieved. This was so osom. I think we spent a little over four hours here. There were so many exhibits, and as a fan of museums of the natural history variety, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Mi hermana y yo went here, and there, around the bend, on the third floor, to the basement, to the window, to the wall. Even to the lame kiddy ones.

Mission 4- lunch. pizza!
Objective: only barely achieved. Seriously. How many Giordano's pizza places are there? And how did we not find any? So, after the museum we walked for a long time (legit, it was proof from my watchometer - my new favorite piece of technology, sorry iPod) and ended up in a somewhat sketch looking area. At this point, I changed into my thinking pants and we decided to pause and get some better directions. We talked to a guy who was mega nice and just switched up the left/right instructions once we got to the main street, and then, victory! Also, while we were waiting to go to the consulate/eating breakfast/walking through millennium park, there was a Giordano's pizza RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE WE WERE SITTING ACROSS FROM THE CONSULATE! I swear to buddha. I felt like such a numbnut, oh well, still ate pizza! And with canadian bacon! And another midori cocktail! Bonus!

Mission 5- The Sears tower.
Objective: failed. Apparently you have to go through security and then pay $15. And it's called the Willis tower now.

Mission 6- Navy Pier.
Objective: achieved. But why? Also, according to watchometer, it was about an 8 mile walk to get there from the Sears/Willis tower and back. Good thing my feet were acclimated!
Mission 7- Union Station.
Objective: achieved. Ugh. Zonked. Want. To. Sleep. I spramped some water on my face and started pumping iPod to stay up. After a ratito, we headed outside to wait for the bus. And guess what, it started to rain. Osom. And it was cold the whole day, lame!

Mission 8- Ride home.
Objective: achieved! Obv! And I slept basically the whole time. And we had some leftover pizza for breakfast. And I was very responsible and bladder-aware so I wouldn't have to go potty on the bus. V-i-c-t-o-r-y.

So there you have it! Now I am going to put some pictures up to hopefully describe some of this. Cross your fingers! OMG I DID IT! *victory dance*

All right, that's it for now. See you next time!

Best week evar!

2009-08-18T23:13:00.002-05:00

This seriously has been the best seven days since the invention of the television (or introduction of cable, it's a toss-up). Enjoy this!

Tuesday: inaugurated vkt's piso with some hookah, lambic floats, p&l (although that part was actually kind of lame).

Wednesday: hookah with Luis and Liz, more lambic, more p&l (also a bust, though this time because it was too crowded rather than there being kind of nothing going on).

Friday: kickball, blasting "she-wolf"/"loba", team osom celebration, trivia - I won! I never win things! This just goes to show that osom transcends just kickball, it is a way of life and a manner of thinking. Hm, I do not glorify it at all... hahaha.

Saturday: aside from working in the morning, Josh and I went to see Chicago at Starlight. OMG! It was amazing. It was like the good parts of the movie (the songs) sexyfied! They hit all the right double entendres and backed it up with some insinuation. It was wonderful. Also, it was raining practically the whole night, so our ponchos came to be very handy. And attractive - albeit indistinguishable from the innumerable other ponchos. Anyway, the other people in the row all bailed so Josh and I were the row champions! After that we went to missie's, saw Doug, enjoyed some booze, then went home. I was zonked!

Sunday: FINALLY got to sleep in, although it was a little too much because I was running around my house frantically looking for random objects, pants, band-aids, etc. Anyway, after that I go to Luis' house to meet up with him, Sergio and VKT so we can go to the Wizards game! I'm sure I look like quite the KC sports fanatic, but it's about the venue, company and something new to do. Plus, I can't really complain about losing teams, haha!! After that I finished "World Without End", it was very enjoyable. I secretly love happy endings in books, and this one delivered but not in a cheesy "Twilight" way, but rather in a everything happened that you wanted to happen but this does not go to great lengths to achieve this or whomp you over the head with it. Victory.

Tuesday: Fiesta española! La bomba! I'm even more excited about peacing out to Spain, especially for the food and all the opportunities I will have to carb up! And I also enjoy drinking, so that will be perfectly accomodating! More hookah, yoga jokes, borderline blasphemy, new and classic tapas. A picture-perfect evening. It has introduced the idea that as amazing as it will be that I'm going off to Spain, I'll be missing my friends here. Oh well, that is what small breaks are for, right? Right!
Also today I made my cursor at work into a dinosaur. I feel that while this technically improves nothing, at least I have something new to look at while I'm busy zoning out.

Thursday: coming up! Another trip to Chicago. This time to pick UP my visa. I really want to go to the natural history museum and Navy pier- but of course I will let you all know what went down and how it was!

Okie dokie, off to bed! This has been such a busily fun last few days that I feel like I need to catch up on some sleep! Keep it real, REAL OSOM! And I will catch you on the flipside, hopefully to spill a little more info about Chicago!

No guilt in pleasure

2009-08-04T21:50:00.004-05:00

One of my semi-secret semi-guilty completely amazing pleasures is trashy tv. But not just any trashy tv show, no no, I have standards. These standards are low, I admit, but they do exist. I may scrape the bottom of the barrel, but my barrel is still above scraping the bottom of the well.

As such, I confess that now, while in the midst of the summer/fall transition, I am almost too excited to think. However, I am more than capable to reflect and reveal this vice, and then when everyone realizes how RIGHT and how exciting this is, we can get together to talk about it. Much like a book club minus all the pretentiousness.

VH1 and MTV are amazing. Like manna from heaven. Like an extra peanut in the shell. Like cuteoverload.com or gofugyourself. The possibilities are endless! The less than classy dating shows, especially the spawn of spurned suitors and pissed off paramours, offer a variety of entertainment options:

1) the spectacle. Give the people what they want, and the people (me) want to see conflict, smacktalk and ESPECIALLY scandal. This could be because this is all thankfully lacking from my life, so it is a legitimate escape to see what I don't have and to live vicariously through more interesting, although less desireable, scenarios.

2) the superiority/at least that's not me. Granted, this is related to the spectacle, but on a more individualized level. It is easily understood that I am more than pleased to not be making a fool of myself on national tv (viewer number unknown) or looking uggo. So, while I may not be gorgeous or brilliant, at least I am doing better than these fools! Plus, no one but the people around me can fall victim to my short-of gorgeous or genius moments. Furthermore, this is FUNNY. Where else could I hear such gems as "this is Daisy of love not Daisy of kill" or "your credit has been declined" or "will you continue to rock my world?". Classy.

3) predictability/lack thereof. This is a tricky category. On the one hand, everyone knows that the producers play a certain role in the selection/elimination process: if they are stirring up drama, they are staying. But if they stir up too much drama and are instigating violence, they leave. (Look how much they appreciate my anti-violence/pacificism! Violence does not fly, even trashy reality shows are hip to that! An actual point for legitimacy, but that's all they need, we aren't expecting the next Friends or anything.) Being sexy is a plus, being slutty or manwhore-y is treading dangerous ground. You can't become too friendly with your competitors, but if you isolate yourself you have no allies. This genre makes dating strategic. It's brilliant if you can get past the superficiality of the whole thing. Unfortunately, the final episodes are always NOT what I would do. I feel like this is because I usually judge people well, and theses people do not. This goes back to the superiority thing and how I feel like I should be a consultant. Not only would the world be better off, but their summer relationships might make it to the fall!

So there you have it. After I have graduated, these have been the most intellectual paragraphs I have written (not counting editing essays), and I have made it an homage to trashy reality dating shows. Oh well, at least my degree(s) grant(s) me a little credibility.

Next up, summer adventures: continued!
Keep it osom, classy, and off-camera.

Yoga

2009-07-21T19:11:00.003-05:00

Tonight I will take my yoga final. When I first found out about it, I was determined to fail it on principle. And mostly by my lack of attendance. However, I then was told that it was planned to be at the end of a normal yoga class.

So as a change of plans, I will still go take a test I find useless, but at least enjoy an hour and a half of yoga. This is kind of bittersweet: I have ALWAYS wanted to fail a class. I know this seems like a bizarre goal, but I've only failed tests and homework, never an entire class. It would be kind of like an accomplishment. PLUS it would be a good, take THAT, academia! after all the years I have abided by the rules of the system. This further ties into my secret goal of being a farmer who gets paid to grow nothing. How osom is that! You just hang out and are paid to make sure you do nothing! I see no downsides.

I did, however, purposefully not look at the page where all the answers are as my very minute protest against having a final. In the summer. For a yoga class. At JCCC. I know, tell me you wouldn't do the same.

Okie dokie, off to a lovely yoga class with a completely pointless final exam. Wish me luck! Haha!

EDIT: While some people had NOTECARDS to study before the exam, I think I only missed one question. As if I didn't value this exam enough, I don't even care to figure out how to check my grade.

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town

2009-07-11T13:22:00.012-05:00

OK! So here is the much anticipated post about Chicago. Forgive the formatting.
In pictures, this is going to be a better story than even I, Ms. Hyperbole, could develop to explain our adventures in the Windy City.

So, VKT and I are heading off to Chicago so I can submit the paperwork to get a Visa for Spain. Two thumbs up for traveling to other countries with the correct documentation. Anyway, since we are po' folk, we opt to go to Chicago via bus rather than fly or pay for the gas to drive 8 hours. This is such a brill setup! We go to the bus stop at 8:00 pm, roll out around 9:00 pm and the next morning at 7:00 am we are all of a sudden in Chicago!

To clarify, 'all of a sudden' would be so nice. However, this voyage went a little more like this: start off excited and antsy! Try to sleep for the few hours before the first stop. Freeze to death. Wake up in Columbia for a potty break. Get yelled at for going up the wrong stairs in the bus. Stop in St. Louis to pick up more passengers (thank goodness, the 8 of us didn't take up much space on the bus, but luckily I got to stretch out a bit [however useless it was]). Have some jerks sit RIGHT BEHIND US despite THE ENTIRE BUS BEING PRACTICALLY EMPTY and them kneeing my seats. Freeze to death a little more. Wake up in Illinois!

Mk, so, after waking up in Chicago we prioritize our needs, find a baño and then a little cafe for breakfast. Using Val's totally bomb GPS, we manage to not find any of the restaurants that showed up on the map.

But we do have a bite to eat before going to a fancypants hotel to change clothes for my meeting with the Consulate.

In a grand total of two minutes, I had submitted all my paperwork and been told how to proceed to pick up the actual Visa. You read that right, after a ten hour bus ride, a few hours looking for a place to eat and change our clothes, the purpose of the entire trip was over in two minutes. Epic.

So, after that, the second most important part of the trip: The Shedd Aquarium! Because we were there so ridiculously early (showing up early for the meeting and not taking as long as planned definitely helped), we basically zoomed right through. And among the displays, we caught up on what was needed most:
Sleeping.
Eating.

Playing.
Being protective of imaginary young.
And general goofing off with a photo safari.
And look at these losers who had to wait OUTSIDE while we were busy watching dolphins, sharks, motivating children to participate in the activities (if we don't start wearing penguin suits, who will?) and pretending to read the displays! Ha!
After the aquarium, we went to Millennium Park to look at the interesting structures, like the bean, the faces, the amphitheater, etc.

And after hearing some distant music, Val and I venture beyond the lawn to find... The Taste of Chicago! This is huge! What are the odds that the less than 24 hours we were to be in Chicago we would be able to go to this festival!
After that, we wandered around a little bit, ate some ice cream, Chicago style pizza, a midori marg, walking around the 'miracle/magnificent mile' and general picture taking.
A piece of John Brown's cabin from good ol' KS.

The L.
Well, that was about it! We fit about three days of activities into one! And we ate and drank lots, too! We hit up a tapas restaurant before peacing out and enjoyed some white wine sangria, croquetas, potatas bravas and more white wine sangria. We are osom. All that was left to do was be at the bus station before 11:55 pm to drive another few hours before arriving back in KC. Victory!

So that was pretty much the haps for Chicago. Very exciting! And a new experience for me, can't complain there! Okie dokie, good reading, see you next time! Keep it osom!

Summer Adventures! #2

2009-07-04T12:56:00.004-05:00

I forgot to mention that part of the fun of this summer was all the weddings I got to see. As we all know, I love a good time. And weddings are so that! Eating, drinking, dancing, talking, singing - that's like the best kind of party ever! Also, there is love. Some people would consider that to be the most important part of weddings - which I guess it is but, really, the drinking and dancing is a big plus, too. I tried to gank some pictures, but they are either already on facebook or encrypted. Sneaky sneaky.

So, to continue the summer adventures from the previous entry, we have: THE DUCK DERBY! I know, I know, way too exciting.

The ducks zoomed in.
The ducks from afar - NOT RIVER SCUM, actual ducks. And by actual I mean actual rubber ducks. Not to be confused with living ducks.A GIANT DUCK! We support eye protection. Honestly, I don't know what the ducks were supporting this year, but I think eye protection is a pretty good cause anyway.

All right! That does it for today! Next time will be for real even more osom (as if that's even POSSIBLE!) and unless something more intriguing, time-occupying, or otherwise prioritized occurs first, I should be posting about Val's and my trip to Chicago!

Keeping it real.
Real osom.

Summer Adventures! #1

2009-07-03T17:55:00.011-05:00

So, this summer has been particularly exciting. It has walloped last summer, for sure. For those of you who don't get to experience the wonder of Kate's summer, I introduce to you: a glimpse.

The plan is to do this with photos, but as I have low expectations and last time was NIGHTMARISH I will start slowly and work my way up. It's like jacob's ladder - super shaky and if you get to the next rung you are talented. That's where I like my expectations - attainable. So here goes, my summer so far.

This is me pitching at our kickball games! We are Team Osom and definitely that (ignoring the final scores). A look at uniforms:
And the back:
We are all flexing our osom muscles. I know, be impressed and afraid. Also, I am giving myself a pat on the back for having THREE photos up already!

On to the next event:
So this is Naseem and I kicking it at a Royal's game. They renovated the stadium and KC now hosts the country's largest Hi-Def screen (queue "Everything's up-to-date in Kansas City"), take a look!
Woo!! Look at all those pictures! I'm going to call this a post, the next one will be equally exciting involving the DUCK DERBY and an excursion to Chicago. And with more pictures (I'm very pleased that I got this far, and if I could do it once, surely I could a second time, right? Right!), so, stay tuned and patient and osom!

Step 0.2

2009-06-24T21:05:00.002-05:00

So while making this blog, I was considering backtracking to memorialize my trip through Central/Eastern Europe. But then I realized that that would make me want to show everyone about my escapades during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, then my trip to Costa Rica/Panama, which would then want to make me talk about Ireland. In conclusion, I would look like some pretentious elitist (possibly true but not something one should announce), so I have opted, instead, to scribe about current events - to me, don't worry, the ticker is about as news-y as I get - and to hopefully share some interesting or comical insights to which I bear witness.

Also this is good practice to get into a habit of consistency.

Today, I want to commemorate an amazingly historical event: US men's soccer showed up to play. And beat Spain. I'm clearly not an avid sports watcher, but it's one of those things you can talk about later. This is probably how I would classify myself: if I'm going to watch a sport, I'll cheer on my local teams when they play. If they aren't playing, who cares? Not me. Anyway, when Spain plays all other teams, viva la roja! Ditto for USA. But when they go head to head, my nationalism gets the best of me. Like in the Olympics. Or with KU. Another analogy, if KSU makes it into any big games, I will cheer for them as long as it isn't against KU. I still identify locally. Anyway, very exciting. Plus I could taunt and trash talk some co-workers, ALWAYS a bonus.

Coming soon! Valerie and I explore Chicago in the shortest amount of time that would be logical for visiting a large city - oh well, our track record isn't perfect anyway - to start the official visa process. After a relatively simplistic application process, an annoyingly long waiting time to hear the results, and UNUSUALLY suspicious system problems, this is a tangible step forward! I'm providing future readers ample time to prepare to read a retroactive entry about this event; so, heads up.

Keep it real.
Real osom.

Step 0.1

2009-06-22T22:23:00.003-05:00

Oh, hello there!

I see you have stumbled across my humble blog. As the preliminary entry, I am basically just testing all the settings and remembering how to manage such a thing. My last attempt at electronically recording my events, experiences and observations unfortunately must be classified as an epic fail. Too many interesting things happened to me and I totally neglected to share it with people who are bored enough to read about this, I mean, people who love me.

So as my mid-year resolution, I vow to comply with the expectations people have of a blogger - small-scale, mind you - and at least grant you a glimpse of the semi-entertaining and evocative things I experience/get myself into. With that said, here is the unveiling of the blog that is hopefully fascinating enough to keep you coming back for all the posts I hope to remember to submit.

Next up, the processes for the next year of my life and possibly my summer adventures so far! Here's to keeping my mid-year resolution and to keeping it interesting! See you next time!