So close!

So I got an email saying they are casting extras for the Tom Cruise movie and to email a guy my pic and info if I wanted to try. So I did. And I got an email back saying to meet them tomorrow with my papers. Well, technically I'm only traveling in Spain so I don't really have the papers he wants. Does that mean no movie for Kate? Argh. So close.

Being chased by the garbage man

This morning I committed a faux pas, apparently. I dropped off our garbage in a public bin in the square (Alameda) b/c we don't have cans b/c there's tons of road work, etc. As I walked away this man from the city started chasing me in his car, honking and yelling "Senorita!" I ignored him, b/c in all honesty, the men here do that a lot. So I did what I always do, look straight ahead, keep walking, and ignore him.

But he wouldn't give up! He chased me with his car, people were staring, then he jumped out of his car and literally chased me down. He stopped me, and started explaining in Spanish that I couldn't put my trash bag there. I really wasn't up for this crap, so I said sorry, I don't speak Spanish, and started to walk away. But he wouldn't leave me alone. He jumped in front of me and pointed to a different trash can. I smiled, said ok and tried to walk away again. Again he blocked me. He insisted I go back and take my bag out of the trash can and move it to the one that said "organic" on it. I said it wasn't organic. But obviously the insane man would not be appeased until I did this. Sighing and cursing I walked back to the first can, removed my bag and put it in the one he pointed to. He said Gracias and walked off. I could have hurt him. Ridiculous. Sometimes people here are so laid back, but every now and then you get the crazies. Bizarre.

Hablo-ing the old espanol

So I've been a bit under the weather. As I sat in Spanish class this morning, hacking up a lung and trying to answer questions with a frog-like almost non-existant voice, Sonia turned to me and said, "go home, sleep, don't work, just rest. And get some medicine from the pharmacy." I'm not big on taking medication, but I figured she may have a point there. So after class I walked to the pharmacy just down the street and braced myself. Ok, I can use some of the espanol I've been learning and mime the rest, right?

I walked in, the pharmacist smiled and said "dime" (tell me). Deep breath. "Tengo" I began (tengo = I have), pause. Um. Right. Tengo.....I pointed to my throat and made coughing sounds. She nodded. Then I pointed to my head and made a sad face. She nodded again. Then I thought, how on earth do I describe being congested and having a facet for a nose all at the same time? I pointed to my forehead, then ran my finger down my nose and made a motion like water splashing. She nodded again. Once she realized my charades were done, she turned around, grabbed a box that I could see the Spanish word for "flu" on, and turned back to me.

"Take this three times a day, every eight hours, but no more than three times each day." She said in perfect English. No one in this town seems to speak English, so of course I would make a fool of myself pantomiming my symptoms to the one person who does. I paid, she smiled, and I said goodbye in Spanish. Well, that was fun. At least I have some meds. I've been told the meds here are quite strong. I think I'll take some before my lessons tonight. Might make things more interesting.

Cadiz

I definitely caught the nasty virus/cold my students have had. Thursday (my long day) I started to feel a bit off, shaky and hot and cold. By the time my classes were done (10 PM) I was feverish and shaking. Mark gave me some meds and sent me to bed.

I felt a bit better Friday, but Saturday I woke up not feeling great. However, Sonia and I decided we had to finally get out of Seville and see somewhere else! So we hopped the train to Cadiz, a small town southwest of Seville situated on a peninsula. It is absolutely lovely! The old town is a bit run-down with very small streets and a feeling that you stepped back in time. Sonia said it reminded her of the Victorian era seaside homes in England. I can't make that comparison as I've not seen them, but it seemed fair enough!

We did a quick walk through town, grabbed some sandwiches and coffee, and headed for the sea! We walked around the peninsula, met Nudi and friend for a drink, then played on the beach briefly. It was low 70s, and Sonia wanted to jump in, but we didn't have much time. We did see where they filmed the James Bond movie with Halle Berry, and Sonia did a fabulous impression. For pics of such, please see my Facebook page, as incriminating photos can be found there.

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will also be filming there, so parts of the city were also being blocked off and set up. We walked down Calle Ancha, which is slightly wider, and they will be filming a bull scene there, so the balconies and windows had the red and black scarves hung from them. It was lovely.

Then we hopped an early train home and chilled. This morning I woke up with almost no voice, and now I just sound like a frog. I really need to be able to speak tomorrow, or how else will I teach? Fun stuff! Sonia keeps giving me things to take. Lol.

We are still having crazy warm days here. The nights have chilled to mid 50s, but with Mark's thick and super 70s velvet curtains, our living room isn't as cold as it was. Still, we need to get some space heaters before the cold hits. People keep saying it will just suddenly change one day and you will be shivering in your apartment. I would like to be prepared.

23 days til I get to come home for a visit! I'm really excited.

Big golden Jesus and a shower curtain

So after five weeks we have a shower curtain! Man I was getting tired of crouching down into a small ball to shower everyday. Mark got all manly and drilled into the tile Sunday and put it up. Then today I came home to find him drilling into our living room walls to put up his lovely velvet curtains. I am glad to have curtains so the people in the bar and street below cannot look into our sitting room. It's a bit awkward when Mark is brushing his teeth and rocking out to Abba in his underwear and people start to stare. Lol. Our place is really starting to feel like a nice home.

Nudi was in town visiting this week, up from Cadiz. It was great to see her again! We checked out the city, climbed a big tree, saw a parade with a huge golden Jesus at 11 PM (I love Spain), and had a lovely time. I'm hoping to get to Cadiz soon. I've been lazy in that I've not been traveling, just staying in Seville.

I also finally have furniture in my room! It is WONDERFUL. Yes, I still have children's bunk beds, but one must have patience in Spain.

This weekend Tom Cruise is filming a movie in town and they had parts of town blocked off. Last Friday I ran into Colin Farrell, we just happened to be chilling at the same bar. Seville is funny like that.

I start my Spanish class for real this week. About time! Tengo que aprender espanol! Es muy importante. Y ahora. Whew.

I'm coming home for Christmas, will be home about three weeks. I'm sooooo excited!

It's still in the mid 70s here during the day. The evenings are getting a bit chillier. We will have to buy space heaters eventually as we have no heat and our marble floors are going to get really chilly soon.

That's about for the news from here. Just enjoying teaching, drinking Spanish coffee, living in a city where there are palm trees, and feeling my head spin from trying to cram a ton of Spanish into my head in one afternoon! :)