As sad as it is to admit this tragic fact, I think tapas will be my downfall. They are delicious and amazing and mouth-watering and usually not on the side of healthy. Usually they are heavily fried in lots of olive oil and crunchy and salty and the minute you take a bite you just want to eat more.
I've noticed my jeans are more snug than I would like, and I'm starting to dread swimsuit season. The obvious solution is unbearable - give up tapas! Eat my healthy, home cooked meals of vegies and whole wheat pasta. And for heaven's sake, start working out more! This last bit I can do. Today Holly and I biked for an hour. We also bought lots of fruit and veg at the Chinese store. In an attempt to be healthy. And no, no tapas today.
But you walk by those cafes and the smell drifts over to you and you're hooked! Because you know how tasty those treats are, and you see other people enjoying and indulging and not having issues with their pants fitting and you think, what the heck, just one more?
Oh, tapas! Thank goodness we don't have them at home. :)
On another note, last night was quite eventful! Holly, Meghan and I were out getting dinner and a crazy man was there and they the security guys were roughly shoving him into a room and then the police arrived on little mopeds! You'd think it was the only problem in the whole city, so many cops arrived! We pulled up better chairs and watched the scene unfold. The hippie, dread-locked haired man with clown pants yelled and waved him arms, then laid on the ground and prayed. Then he was up again yelling and arguing with the cops. Half an hour later nothing had changed and it was getting chilly so we left. Later that night we went to the new Moroccan hookah bar and smoked hookah. Then a real live belly dancer came out and it was quite a show. What a night!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
I'm in love
My students seem to be giving me advice on life and their observations about my life as of late. I find it amusing but not overly intrusive. They are always telling me I will learn Spanish and not to worry.
Today my painter looked at me and said, "I think you are a person that does not have patience." I thought he had misspoken, and I asked him. No, he meant exactly what he said. "I think you need to be in control always," he added. Wow. Ouch. Then he smiled and made that Spanish gesture of raised hands signifying that he didn't mean to offend, and not to take it too personally. So my student thinks I'm a control freak with no patience? How did that happen?
At this point I was slightly indignant, as I work with small children everyday and think I have enough patience. But I took a moment to consider, and I think there may be some truth in his accusation/observation.
As I left my next class, the father of my students was asking if I was working this weekend. I said yes, I had a few classes. He looked at me disapprovingly and in broken English stated that, "in Spain we works for live, but I think you lives for work". You get the picture. I argued that I was working much less here than I had been at home and I take time everyday to enjoy. I go for coffee or sit in the sun or meet my friends for tapas. He just smiled at me like I was a little kid making excuses. Inwardly I sighed, wished him a good weekend, and started walking home.
On the way home I decided to take the advice of two of my students and stopped by Nueva Florida (a bakery) and asked for a "napolitana de chocolate", which Cristina told me I had to try sometime. The lady showed me what it was (a sort of chocolate croissant thing with chocolate inside that tastes like Nutella). I promptly went home, made tea, and sat down and devoured the treat with great indulgence. By the time I was finished (yes, I ate it all in one sitting, don't judge) my hands were sticky with icing and chocolate and there might have been just a tad on my chin. And nose. Talk about enjoying!
This morning I woke up way too early to meet Holly on the Alameda so we could bike across town. I had to drop off rent and she was off to an English teacher conference of sorts. The guys at my apartment office are so sweet, and they have two dogs in the office! Afterwards I took the other way around town, cycling down by the river. It was chilly (high 30s) but beautiful. There were people out rowing in the river, people jogging and walking on the paths, and I will have to do that again soon! Sadly I missed the ramp up to the main road and carried the heavy Servici bike up waaaaaaaaaaaay too many stairs.
I also ran into my Italian neighbor today. She's so nice! She spoke to me in Spanish and I understood most of it. Right now I can hear her boyfriend practicing his guitar (flamenco).
Today my painter looked at me and said, "I think you are a person that does not have patience." I thought he had misspoken, and I asked him. No, he meant exactly what he said. "I think you need to be in control always," he added. Wow. Ouch. Then he smiled and made that Spanish gesture of raised hands signifying that he didn't mean to offend, and not to take it too personally. So my student thinks I'm a control freak with no patience? How did that happen?
At this point I was slightly indignant, as I work with small children everyday and think I have enough patience. But I took a moment to consider, and I think there may be some truth in his accusation/observation.
As I left my next class, the father of my students was asking if I was working this weekend. I said yes, I had a few classes. He looked at me disapprovingly and in broken English stated that, "in Spain we works for live, but I think you lives for work". You get the picture. I argued that I was working much less here than I had been at home and I take time everyday to enjoy. I go for coffee or sit in the sun or meet my friends for tapas. He just smiled at me like I was a little kid making excuses. Inwardly I sighed, wished him a good weekend, and started walking home.
On the way home I decided to take the advice of two of my students and stopped by Nueva Florida (a bakery) and asked for a "napolitana de chocolate", which Cristina told me I had to try sometime. The lady showed me what it was (a sort of chocolate croissant thing with chocolate inside that tastes like Nutella). I promptly went home, made tea, and sat down and devoured the treat with great indulgence. By the time I was finished (yes, I ate it all in one sitting, don't judge) my hands were sticky with icing and chocolate and there might have been just a tad on my chin. And nose. Talk about enjoying!
This morning I woke up way too early to meet Holly on the Alameda so we could bike across town. I had to drop off rent and she was off to an English teacher conference of sorts. The guys at my apartment office are so sweet, and they have two dogs in the office! Afterwards I took the other way around town, cycling down by the river. It was chilly (high 30s) but beautiful. There were people out rowing in the river, people jogging and walking on the paths, and I will have to do that again soon! Sadly I missed the ramp up to the main road and carried the heavy Servici bike up waaaaaaaaaaaay too many stairs.
I also ran into my Italian neighbor today. She's so nice! She spoke to me in Spanish and I understood most of it. Right now I can hear her boyfriend practicing his guitar (flamenco).
Thursday, January 28, 2010
My favorite street names in Seville
I have to smile every time I see certain street names. Secretly I wished I lived on them, just so I could say that was my address. For example, Amor de Dios (the love of God) which I walk on daily. Or, "Madre de Dios" (mother of God), which I tend to say when I'm exasperated. Or "banos" (with line over n, which means bathroom/toilet). I also walked down "Jesus del Gran Poder" today (Jesus of the great power). And there are a million Saint So and So streets, of course.
Today I went to the Chinese store to get some construction paper to make animal flash cards for my kids, and I had an actual conversation with the man at the register! I asked him some questions, understood his answers, he asked where I was from, he told me he has relatives in the U.S., etc. I was practically beaming when I left the shop! A real conversation in the old espanol! Granted, it was a very, very basic conversation, but that is sooooo not the point. We have progress!
Today I went to the Chinese store to get some construction paper to make animal flash cards for my kids, and I had an actual conversation with the man at the register! I asked him some questions, understood his answers, he asked where I was from, he told me he has relatives in the U.S., etc. I was practically beaming when I left the shop! A real conversation in the old espanol! Granted, it was a very, very basic conversation, but that is sooooo not the point. We have progress!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Mi sumidero no funciona y hay un olor malo
Translation: My drain isn't working properly and there's a funny smell coming from it. Unfortunately I didn't look this up until AFTER I made a fool of myself in the Chinese store. Naturally.
My new apartment, while a blessing and lovely, has an odor problem in the bathroom. At first I thought the previous tenant was just smelly and it would go away after I cleaned the bathroom thoroughly. Um, no. I tried incense, oils, (can't find decent candles). But it still smells bad.
So tonight, after my last class (at which point I had been caught in the rain twice and my feet had been soaking wet for hours) I stopped by the closest Chinese shop and had a look around. I found bleach for clothes (or what I thought was bleach for clothes) then made the mistake of trying to ask the owner of the shop if he had something for drains. He beckoned his daughter (who is always working in the shop and can't be more than 14, hmmm) and between us it got quite comical. I had to act out having a shower and then noticing the drain wasn't working well. Then I made funny sounds and also indicated that the drain smelled weird. I think she thought I was crazy. It wasn't until I was finished that I remembered my small dictionary was in my backpack. Well, of course it was.
So I dug it out and looked up "drain" and "bleach". They didn't have bleach, but she pulled some funny powder off the shelf and told me to put it in the drain and add hot water. I was highly skeptical, but for 60 cents I decided to give it a shot. So I came home and did as she said. I am not expecting a difference, but we'll see. Where are the real American cleaning products when you need them? I need something that will kill things, dang it!
Another slightly embarrassing moment of the day (what a great day it was, too!) was the first instance of getting caught in the rain. I rented a bike this week from the Servici (look it up, it will take too long to explain) and I couldn't return it before my second class because the station near my class was full. So I hauled a bit across town and returned it somewhere else, then was quite late to my class. At which point I was a bit tired of Servici. But to get to my next lesson quickly I needed to use it again. So after class I grabbed a bike and realized it was not working well. At the next station I went to change it, and it wouldn't lock in. I started arguing with the machine, something like a four year old might do, for example "I did TOO push it all the way in!" Then I proceeded to say some, sorry to admit, profanities at the machine. At this point, a nice young man approached me and with his heavily accented English, smiled and offered to help. In the pouring rain. Yes, he managed to win the battle with the machine. He grinned again, then told me I could take another one now. Quite nice of him. After that I rode home in the rain.
I would say the city has beaten me today, but all in all it wasn't a bad day. I even remembered to take my drying in before the rain came! Ok, that's not exactly true, but let's just pretend like it is. My drying is no longer out in the rain, at any point. Where the heck can I buy cheap rain boots here? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Hasta luego! :)
My new apartment, while a blessing and lovely, has an odor problem in the bathroom. At first I thought the previous tenant was just smelly and it would go away after I cleaned the bathroom thoroughly. Um, no. I tried incense, oils, (can't find decent candles). But it still smells bad.
So tonight, after my last class (at which point I had been caught in the rain twice and my feet had been soaking wet for hours) I stopped by the closest Chinese shop and had a look around. I found bleach for clothes (or what I thought was bleach for clothes) then made the mistake of trying to ask the owner of the shop if he had something for drains. He beckoned his daughter (who is always working in the shop and can't be more than 14, hmmm) and between us it got quite comical. I had to act out having a shower and then noticing the drain wasn't working well. Then I made funny sounds and also indicated that the drain smelled weird. I think she thought I was crazy. It wasn't until I was finished that I remembered my small dictionary was in my backpack. Well, of course it was.
So I dug it out and looked up "drain" and "bleach". They didn't have bleach, but she pulled some funny powder off the shelf and told me to put it in the drain and add hot water. I was highly skeptical, but for 60 cents I decided to give it a shot. So I came home and did as she said. I am not expecting a difference, but we'll see. Where are the real American cleaning products when you need them? I need something that will kill things, dang it!
Another slightly embarrassing moment of the day (what a great day it was, too!) was the first instance of getting caught in the rain. I rented a bike this week from the Servici (look it up, it will take too long to explain) and I couldn't return it before my second class because the station near my class was full. So I hauled a bit across town and returned it somewhere else, then was quite late to my class. At which point I was a bit tired of Servici. But to get to my next lesson quickly I needed to use it again. So after class I grabbed a bike and realized it was not working well. At the next station I went to change it, and it wouldn't lock in. I started arguing with the machine, something like a four year old might do, for example "I did TOO push it all the way in!" Then I proceeded to say some, sorry to admit, profanities at the machine. At this point, a nice young man approached me and with his heavily accented English, smiled and offered to help. In the pouring rain. Yes, he managed to win the battle with the machine. He grinned again, then told me I could take another one now. Quite nice of him. After that I rode home in the rain.
I would say the city has beaten me today, but all in all it wasn't a bad day. I even remembered to take my drying in before the rain came! Ok, that's not exactly true, but let's just pretend like it is. My drying is no longer out in the rain, at any point. Where the heck can I buy cheap rain boots here? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Hasta luego! :)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Happy Lunes!
La semana empieza tambien. Hoy hace sol y no hace mucho frio. He tenido mi clase de espanol, lo me gusta. He tenido tambien cafe con mis amigos.
Yeah, that's about it for the espanol. It was a lovely start to the week, bright and sunny and hopefully my washing will dry on the roof this time! People have told me that in about a month it should be warm enough to go to the beach. By bus or train it's about 1 or 1.5 hours to Huelva, and 2 hours to Cadiz. I'm excited!
It was a fun weekend - Mark's birthday and a lot of people came out and we were out late (by Anglo standards, early by Spanish).
I have some editing work this week (just a one-time thing unfortunately, but it will help).
Just studying the espanol, trying to think of new games to play with my kids so they can learn English without dreading it, and enjoying the sun and cafe con leche here!
Yeah, that's about it for the espanol. It was a lovely start to the week, bright and sunny and hopefully my washing will dry on the roof this time! People have told me that in about a month it should be warm enough to go to the beach. By bus or train it's about 1 or 1.5 hours to Huelva, and 2 hours to Cadiz. I'm excited!
It was a fun weekend - Mark's birthday and a lot of people came out and we were out late (by Anglo standards, early by Spanish).
I have some editing work this week (just a one-time thing unfortunately, but it will help).
Just studying the espanol, trying to think of new games to play with my kids so they can learn English without dreading it, and enjoying the sun and cafe con leche here!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Laundry in the rain...
I woke up and heard the lovely sound of rain, not a usual sound in Seville (other than that freakishly prolonged period of rain we had for a few weeks!). It reminded me of being home. I was warm and cozy in my new bed and smiled. Then I realized I'd hung my laundry up on the roof to dry last night. Shit.
I contemplated getting out of my warm bed and taking my laundry down in the pouring rain. But where would I put it? For about five minutes I mentally weighed the pros and cons and retrieving my laundry. Eventually I just rolled over and snuggled further into my blankets.
It's still raining now and my laundry's still up there and I've resolved to leave it. I have, however, decided against doing more laundry at the moment, as I had originally planned. Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. And I still lack water proof shoes. Most unfortunate.
I contemplated getting out of my warm bed and taking my laundry down in the pouring rain. But where would I put it? For about five minutes I mentally weighed the pros and cons and retrieving my laundry. Eventually I just rolled over and snuggled further into my blankets.
It's still raining now and my laundry's still up there and I've resolved to leave it. I have, however, decided against doing more laundry at the moment, as I had originally planned. Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. And I still lack water proof shoes. Most unfortunate.
Friday, January 22, 2010
I had no idea how much Sonia loves Lucky Charms! They don't have them in the UK and Holly brought her back a box. There was a very sad moment when the box tumbled off the table and spilt some on the floor! Sadly, you would not want to eat off their floor, so Sonia stared disheartened at the floor, sighed, and fetched the dust pan.
Mi Piso Nuevo
I just christened my kitchen with the first meal I've cooked at my new place! It's on Divina Enferema, "divine/holy nurse" and next to an old church. Lovely! It's all to myself and I have shared access to a terrace.
Yesterday my friends helped me carry all my stuff from one place to the next. We literally carried furniture and smaller items in IKEA bags across the Alameda and to my new place. My neighbors are quite nice and multi-cultural. A very friendly couple from France and Italy have already invited me over for tea! The Frenchman is a flamenco guitarist. And the guy opposite my flat is a Japanese flamenco guitarist. We also have a British couple upstairs that teach English as well, and Dutch couple. Quite interesting! And Clem is my neighbor (building next door)!
I got things put away today and cleaned up a bit so that if anyone wants to come over they won't have to trip over piles of miscellaneous crap.
I even have luxuries like a microwave! No oven, sadly, but that's normal. Ah how I miss baking!
I'm still close to my work and near the Alameda, which is perfect.
I'll try to get some pics from my terrace up soon. Right now my laundry is up there drying. Lol.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I have a new home!
I got the place today. Signed papers, gave over pretty much all the money in my account (ouch) and got the keys. They were supposed to clean it today, so tomorrow morning I'll start to move things in. I'm recruiting a few friends who aren't working to help me lug my stuff just a few blocks away. Pics to come once I'm moved in and make sure it's tidy!
My lessons were stellar today (not in an egotistical way, but as in my students were great) and my Spanish class was also muy bueno. I am so going to hablar this lingua antes yo voy a los estados unidos! Heck yeah. Or solo un poquito.
Hasta luego!
My lessons were stellar today (not in an egotistical way, but as in my students were great) and my Spanish class was also muy bueno. I am so going to hablar this lingua antes yo voy a los estados unidos! Heck yeah. Or solo un poquito.
Hasta luego!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Teacher, entertainer or babysitter?
Sometimes I'm not sure what I really am, but I think all three are correct. As an English teacher you have to get and keep people interested in your subject. Today I used Sonia's game with straws, where students have to find the correct vocabulary word and pick it up by sucking the paper up through a straw. Not as easy as it sounds!
Today I was also unintentionally the source of great amusement for my students. The same ones whose grandmother dried my boots and coat and put my socks up last week (not the ones whose mother insisted I take a pair of her socks - my students' families can be quite sweet!). As I got up to leave my two children looked at my shoes, then looked at each other and started laughing. "Pull up your pants so we can see the rest of your sandals" was sort of what the older one said (I've made it more grammatically correct). "My boots?" I asked. They nodded. I was wearing my comfy comfy fake uggs. They burst out laughing and went on in rapid Spanish and I really have no idea what they were saying. All I know is that for several minutes they stared at my boots, pointed, and laughed hysterically.
I tried to defend myself in both languages, stating they are for comfort, no high fashion. To which I got a "claro" which is like, no duh. Hmmmm. I eventually gave up and started walking toward the door. They followed me, still laughing so hard they could not breathe properly. I may never know why my boots were so amusing, but my students definitely got a kick out of them. I wonder if I should wear them Thursday for their next class?
I think I may have found a place today! It's not far from where I am now and is a one-bedroom. It even has a shared terrace access! Small but decent. Good for drying clothes. If all goes well tomorrow I will empty my bank account and sign over my first born for the apartment near the church. I'll be Clem's neighbor! It will be quite a relief.
Other than that it's been a bit cloudy but warmer. I'm hoping it will just get beautiful and stay that way!
Today I was also unintentionally the source of great amusement for my students. The same ones whose grandmother dried my boots and coat and put my socks up last week (not the ones whose mother insisted I take a pair of her socks - my students' families can be quite sweet!). As I got up to leave my two children looked at my shoes, then looked at each other and started laughing. "Pull up your pants so we can see the rest of your sandals" was sort of what the older one said (I've made it more grammatically correct). "My boots?" I asked. They nodded. I was wearing my comfy comfy fake uggs. They burst out laughing and went on in rapid Spanish and I really have no idea what they were saying. All I know is that for several minutes they stared at my boots, pointed, and laughed hysterically.
I tried to defend myself in both languages, stating they are for comfort, no high fashion. To which I got a "claro" which is like, no duh. Hmmmm. I eventually gave up and started walking toward the door. They followed me, still laughing so hard they could not breathe properly. I may never know why my boots were so amusing, but my students definitely got a kick out of them. I wonder if I should wear them Thursday for their next class?
I think I may have found a place today! It's not far from where I am now and is a one-bedroom. It even has a shared terrace access! Small but decent. Good for drying clothes. If all goes well tomorrow I will empty my bank account and sign over my first born for the apartment near the church. I'll be Clem's neighbor! It will be quite a relief.
Other than that it's been a bit cloudy but warmer. I'm hoping it will just get beautiful and stay that way!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Change of Plans
Eric, if you are reading this, please give me Nayeon's email address. I would love to see pictures of your little girl! Glad to hear you all are doing well.
It seems my plans have changed, as the girls' extra room will suddenly be let this Saturday onward. So I will have to start sleeping at my place again (or rather trying to sleep). I need to find a place asap! Argh. I'm looking online and hoping something decent will turn up. If I were just infinitely wealthy and could rent any beautiful place I wanted! Lol. I suppose that is definitely over the top dreaming. Sigh...
It's still raining here. Actually, we had a day of sunshine this week so that was nice. This much rain is not normal. I am tired of walking in it and getting soaked! I have to bring a change of clothes and shoes with me to classes just in case! Maybe I should look for some rain boots. Hmmm, just don't want to spend the money on them. But my shoes are getting soaked and so are my socks, and after having my students' grandmother dry my boots and coat and put my socks in a bag, I just don't want anyone else to have to do that!
So I'm still looking for a place to live/sleep and more work. As long as Seville doesn't float away!
I went to this lovely cafe yesterday where they have crazy fun lights and free internet and the coolest clay tea pots I've ever seen. I just sat there and drank tea. It was lovely.
It seems my plans have changed, as the girls' extra room will suddenly be let this Saturday onward. So I will have to start sleeping at my place again (or rather trying to sleep). I need to find a place asap! Argh. I'm looking online and hoping something decent will turn up. If I were just infinitely wealthy and could rent any beautiful place I wanted! Lol. I suppose that is definitely over the top dreaming. Sigh...
It's still raining here. Actually, we had a day of sunshine this week so that was nice. This much rain is not normal. I am tired of walking in it and getting soaked! I have to bring a change of clothes and shoes with me to classes just in case! Maybe I should look for some rain boots. Hmmm, just don't want to spend the money on them. But my shoes are getting soaked and so are my socks, and after having my students' grandmother dry my boots and coat and put my socks in a bag, I just don't want anyone else to have to do that!
So I'm still looking for a place to live/sleep and more work. As long as Seville doesn't float away!
I went to this lovely cafe yesterday where they have crazy fun lights and free internet and the coolest clay tea pots I've ever seen. I just sat there and drank tea. It was lovely.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Rainy Days
It's still quite rainy in Seville. It definitely has a more winter feel to me with the cloudy skies and rain. Last night I slept at the girls' again and it is such a difference than sleeping above my bar! The street isn't quiet, and you can hear people moving around in other apartments in the building, but once the garbage men come after midnight, the street is fairly calm, minus the odd car that drives by or drunken Spaniard walking home and waking the neighbors as he does so.
I piled five blankets on my bed last night and kept the tiny space heater going the whole time and I was actually warm! I listened to the rain and cars outside and for a few sleepy, Tylenol PM induced moments thought I was back home as I snuggled into my blanket haven.
The apartment next to the girls' is full of younger people that we guess don't work due to the large amount of time spent home smoking pot and playing Wii. And the building to the other side is a convent. I love Europe, you get all sorts of people packed together in tiny and random places. So sometimes we see nuns going in the front door next to ours (girls' place).
My lessons have started back up again and even though I was feeling a tiny bit of apprehension, it was great seeing my students again! My little girls ran up and hugged me until I pealed them off of me, my boys actually behaved, and even the parents gave me dos besos and seemed genuinely pleased to have me back. Definitely a nice return!
Now the apartment search commences and the hunt for more work. Sadly I've lost another hour but have decided not to get too stressed out about it. I'm really looking forward to when it warms up, and to when Dad comes to visit in MARCH!
Back to lesson planning...
I piled five blankets on my bed last night and kept the tiny space heater going the whole time and I was actually warm! I listened to the rain and cars outside and for a few sleepy, Tylenol PM induced moments thought I was back home as I snuggled into my blanket haven.
The apartment next to the girls' is full of younger people that we guess don't work due to the large amount of time spent home smoking pot and playing Wii. And the building to the other side is a convent. I love Europe, you get all sorts of people packed together in tiny and random places. So sometimes we see nuns going in the front door next to ours (girls' place).
My lessons have started back up again and even though I was feeling a tiny bit of apprehension, it was great seeing my students again! My little girls ran up and hugged me until I pealed them off of me, my boys actually behaved, and even the parents gave me dos besos and seemed genuinely pleased to have me back. Definitely a nice return!
Now the apartment search commences and the hunt for more work. Sadly I've lost another hour but have decided not to get too stressed out about it. I'm really looking forward to when it warms up, and to when Dad comes to visit in MARCH!
Back to lesson planning...
Monday, January 11, 2010
Back in Seville!
I made it back to Spain Saturday after a long day of traveling! My first flight was delayed due to snow, and my second flight was boarding at another terminal as my first landed. I had to take two busses but still made my connection in New Jersey! On top of that, I approach the end of the line and Meghan is there! She's not only on my flight, but actually in the seat next to me! How is that for fabulous coincidences? We had awesome seats and it was a nice flight. Then we switched planes in Barcelona and met two more Americans, one who had actually been on all three of my flights, is from KC, and is currently teaching English in Jerez! That was pretty awesome.
I am sleeping at the girls' flat at the moment. It's much quieter. Still freezing here, I heard there was actual snow around Seville and in parts of it yesterday. I don't think it's snowed here in about 60 years. I wish it would warm up! We just sit around our space heaters with blankets. lol. At least I'm not buried in snow like at home!
As Meghan and I went to catch a taxi from the airport to our places, the Spanish drivers went into a frenzy about who would take us. Our new friend Nate was not allowed to come with us because they insisted there wasn't room. Our driver also insisted two stops was no problem. However, once we were in the cab, he said it was simply too complicated to drive from my flat to Meghan's. Um, it would take less then five minutes. I can walk to her place in ten. But he simple refused. We just looked at him dumbfounded, and Meghan goes, you mean, you're really just not going to take me? Soooooooo very Spanish. He just refused to do his job. Welcome back to Spain.
She had two large suitcases and I had one, so we lugged mine up to my apartment then we each took one of her bags and walked it home, like tourists. It was a bit frustrating after traveling that long and just wanting to relax and eat, but we enjoyed the fresh, brisk air and sunshine.
I'm hoping to find a new place to live in the next few weeks. Living above a bar is just too crazy for me!
Hope you all are well!
:)
I am sleeping at the girls' flat at the moment. It's much quieter. Still freezing here, I heard there was actual snow around Seville and in parts of it yesterday. I don't think it's snowed here in about 60 years. I wish it would warm up! We just sit around our space heaters with blankets. lol. At least I'm not buried in snow like at home!
As Meghan and I went to catch a taxi from the airport to our places, the Spanish drivers went into a frenzy about who would take us. Our new friend Nate was not allowed to come with us because they insisted there wasn't room. Our driver also insisted two stops was no problem. However, once we were in the cab, he said it was simply too complicated to drive from my flat to Meghan's. Um, it would take less then five minutes. I can walk to her place in ten. But he simple refused. We just looked at him dumbfounded, and Meghan goes, you mean, you're really just not going to take me? Soooooooo very Spanish. He just refused to do his job. Welcome back to Spain.
She had two large suitcases and I had one, so we lugged mine up to my apartment then we each took one of her bags and walked it home, like tourists. It was a bit frustrating after traveling that long and just wanting to relax and eat, but we enjoyed the fresh, brisk air and sunshine.
I'm hoping to find a new place to live in the next few weeks. Living above a bar is just too crazy for me!
Hope you all are well!
:)
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
A Snowy Vacation in Good Old Kansas
Hannah and Brian at old folks' dance.
Hannah and I!
The "youngsters" rocking it with our new older friends. Lol!
That's our pool. Covered in snow.
I know I look ridiculous, but it was really cold! Please notice I'm shoveling snow up to my knees.
I love that Dad is wearing goggles. Go Dad!
The trip home has been wonderful, depite ungodly temps and it barely going above freezing in three whole weeks! Yikes. I hear I've missed an earthquake and flooding in Seville, but I've shoveled so many days here, I think I could handle those little inconveniences! It is nice, however, to have heat and a lovely, warm and crackling fire!
It just keeps snowing and snowing, and I'm putting some pics up of the early days of the snow. That means that when you look at these pics, there have been several inches since then. I shoveled tonight (Dad is in Boston), and the driveway is already deeper then when I shoveled a few hours ago. I debated on whether or not to go out again in the dark or wait til tomorrow morning and just shovel a ton. Auntie said to wait. I'm ok with that.
Needless to say, the awesome snow has canceled many a fun plan I've had this break, so tonight instead of seeing friends I'm doing a first run at packing and cleaning the house, as well as taking down Christmas decorations. Please, don't get jealous, it's beyond exciting, I know!
This break I also made a fun trip up north to Des Moines, and one out to Lincoln, NE. Dad and I have redone two rooms in the house (with the wallpaper from hell!), and some friends and I rocked out at an old folk's single dance! (I was tricked into going, told it was a "ballroom event"! Lol. We had a blast and they asked us to come back, saying it was great to see young folks that enjoyed dance so much. I suppose we couldn't help it, being ballroom dancers and all!).
On Friday I head back to Seville. Am still trying to sort out new housing, getting new clients, and praying it will warm up soon!
I heard on the news it was colder in KS lately than in Alaska. That's just wrong. Seville, here I come!
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