Happy Halloween!

Happy Wednesday, Happy Halloween, I hope all is well back in the states! The news about the hurricane has been aaaalllllll over the place here, so crazy! I have a ton of new east coast friends here, too. Praying for everyone !

Let's see...what have I been up to? Well, last Friday was my final, it went well. :) I got a good grade in the class, so I'm happy. I already miss all of my classmates but I'm also absurdly glad that I don't have to go to grammar class 3 hours a day, 5 days a week any more. Haha.

Then Friday night Zoe, Andrew, Saki, Tsunako, and I went to Elche. There was the coolest little Medieval Market thing and some really good tapas! We enjoyed some wine and tapas and explored a little bit. It was fun, but by the end was I tiiiiii-iiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiired!

I woke up on Saturday excited for the international luncheon thing with all the girls from my class, but I just was NOT feeling up for it. My throat hurt, my body ached...basically, the two months of go-go-go had caught up to me and I needed a rest. I ended up sleeping until noon and then taking a 3 hour nap later...sheesh! Ya think I needed some sleep?! I ended up the weekend feeling a lottttt better. Didn't really do much but I was a-okay with that. Lord knows I needed some rest. Sunday we went to the MARQ (an archaeological museum) and really there's not much to say about that...not exactly thrilling.

Monday we had our cooking class and we made tapas and then ate more than one EVER needs to eat...and it was absolutely lovely. Zoe and I made a freaking bomb ensaladilla rusa, no biggie, it was the hit of the night...

Then yesterday we had a party at a high school, teaching the high schoolers some stuff about halloween. It was a lot of fun! Zoe put it on, she's such a stud. And I was a green crayon...easiest halloween costume ever.


Interesting Spanish language fact (do not read if you don't speak Spanish):

My host mother just told me that I use the verb 'deber' too much and that I should be using 'tener que'. She said everyone from the states always uses deber ('puedo imprimirlo aqui, o debo ir a la universidad?') when we should be using tener que ('puedo imprimirlo, o tengo que ir a la universidad?'). I feel like this is bizarre and sounds weird. However...when in Spain...

GRANADA! (And more!)

Woooooooooah, this weekend/week has been CRAZY, so I haven't really been able to get around to posting much here...sorry!

Let's seeeeeee...Friday, we went to an almaraza, which is basically a place where they grow olives and make olive oil. The guy there was really passionate about his olives, it was sort of bizarre. But I mean, more power to him. The olive oil was freaking GOOD and I am baffled why we don't use more olive oil instead of butter in the United States...according to every Spaniard I've ever met in my entire life, it's way healthier than butter. So, uh...yeah. Anyway, at the end we got to try a bunch of different olive oils, which basically meant stuffing myself with bread, tomatoes, and olive oil. Can't really complain there...it was delicious.

Saturday we went to Granada. YOU GUYS. Granada is literally my new favorite place in the world (I'm sure that might change again, but really...amazing.) Want to know why? Here's why: 1) The city is absolutely beautiful. 2) There are mountains (SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS) and green and FALL COLORS (okay, I know, there aren't ALWAYS fall colors but I mean, there aren't any fall colors in Alicante and it's fall here!). 3) There's such an awesome mix of Spanish culture and Arabic culture down there. It's so cool! 4) Their accent is freaking awesome. I wish I was an Andalucian.

Me, Clara (our program director's [adorable] daughter), and Zoe

Granadaaaaaaaaaa

La Alhambra

Green, blue sky, snowy mountains.

In Granada, Zoe and I spent most of our time with Pepa (our program director), Clara (her daughter), and Ana (our tourguide)...because we are THAT cool, guys. I'm not kidding. We got kebabs (DURUM), bought genie pants, drank tea, saw the tomb of the Reyes Catolicos y Juana la Loca (who I'm minorly obsessed with and not sure why), visited a catedral, visited la Alhambra, saw a Flamenco show, walked more than our little feet could handle, and had a lovely time. It was a short visit, we came back on Sunday, but it was so worth it and I hope we go back next semester because there is so much more to explore!! :)

Then Monday we had our cooking class again, and we made PAELLA! Guys, paella is so good. I'm so excited to come home and make it for everyone (aka make it for myself...and share). Anyway, we all got to see how it's made and chop up the vegetables and stuff, and then they served it with sangria, obviously, because everything is better with sangria. And one glass in, Zoe and I were already dizzy. I'm not sure if we're lightweights or it was really strong...or both (I choose to believe both), but we both felt silly about the fact that it was a Monday. But you know...when in Spain...?

The rest of the week has been normal. Haha :) Tomorrow I'm going to Elche because they have this tapas thing and a Medieval Festival or something...so rad. I'll be sure to update you all. And then on Saturday we're having a party with everyone from my class, and we're all bringing a dish that's typical from our country...I'm thinking apple crisp or my peanut butter cookies? Or both! Because apple crisp says America to me...and so does peanut butter. Who knows, though :)

Tomorrow I have my final for my grammar class. Grossssssssssssssssssssssssss! HOWEVER, despues de esto no voy a tener clase los jueves no los viernes! WOOH! 4 day weekends for the rest of the semester! I think that calls for a celebration. :)

Joooolines

I can't believe it's only Thursday...and I can't believe it's already Thursday.

There's not really much to say about this week. I've been really worn down and kind of nauseous all week...I feel like I've been on the edge of being sick all week (my host mom keeps saying any day now I'm going to come down with the flu...) but I haven't really felt that sick, just uncomfortable. I felt better today though, so I'm hoping that by tomorrow I'll be back to 100%!

A couple stories from my week:

1) I absolutely adore everyone in my grammar class and, honestly, I wish I was able to keep taking grammar classes the next few months with them. Yes, I just said that I wish I were able to keep taking a 3 hour a day grammar class, 5 days a week. What is wrong with me? It's just that I love my classmates so much! We're having an 'international dinner' next weekend, ha! Everyone is bringing something 'typical' of their country...guys, I'm stumped. What do I bring?! I was thinking apple crisp or something...not too difficult to make and pretty typical, right? Or is that just me wanting fall treats? Anyway, I'm hoping that I stay in contact with them. They're all so awesome. And it's nice that they don't speak English, so we have no choice but to speak in Spanish (although Mariana speaks English and some of the Japanese students know some English). But yeah, I'm psyched for next weekend.

2) Yesterday I met the SWEETEST little Jehovah's Witness ever. Seriously. She stopped me in the street to talk to me. Her name is Maria Salud and she's like 80 years old, I swear. She was the nicest lady ever, and she wants to get together some time and talk (about religion...lovely). I can't decide if I want to, because I don't really know very much about what Jehovah's Witnesses believe, and I already feel like I can't communicate my thoughts very well in Spanish...I can't imagine trying to express my beliefs. I mean, I can, and I have, but I wouldn't want to say something wrongly, you know? I guess if my intention is good then that's that. I don't know, I want to see her again, she seriously was the kindest, sweetest little Spanish lady I've ever met in my entire life. Hahaha.

3) So I have these (super cute) flats that have beads on the toe area, and a couple beads had fallen off a couple weeks ago. My mom saw them when she was cleaning my room, and asked what they were for, and I had told her they were from my shoes, and that was that. Or so I thought. Today, I wore them again for the first time, and when I went into the kitchen my host mom was like "Did you see that I sewed the bead back on your shoes?! I even found clear string that I had so you can't even tell that I did it! Don't they look good?!" You guys. Seriously. It was precious. In that moment my love for her, like, DOUBLED. I don't even know if that's possible, but I seriously get spoiled every day by how much I'm cared for and I feel so loved here.

In other news, I have been craving candy corn and Moulin Rouge. No surprise there, really...

This weekend the group is going to Granada...should be fun! I'll update again at the end of this weekend...or beginning of next week, maybe. :) Miss everyone at home and wish you could send some of the WONDERFUL Oregon fall weather my way...I'm missin' me some cold weather and rain over here! It's been cooling off here, enough to wear pants and my jean jacket in the morning (although I feel a liiittle warm in that), but by the middle of the day it's like 80 still. Which is fine in pants and a tank top, but carrying around the jacket is sort of annoying. Uh, first world problems? Also, I don't know what has happened to me that I'm like "Huh, it's going to be eighty degrees today, sounds like I'm gonna be wearing pants." Gosh, going back to Oregon's cold weather will be rough. At least I'm coming back in the summer? Hahaha

<3

Guadalest

This week was so rad, with only three days of school and whatnot. Yay for random Spanish holidays! :)

Wednesday and Thursday were just school days...nothing very exciting.

Then yesterday was another holiday, and my family took Zoe and I to a pueblecito que se llama Guadalest. It was a cute tiny little pueblo with a little castle and a bunch of little shops. And they had a museum of miniatures...like tiny little things sculpted on a grain of sand and stuff. It was pretty crazy. And the view from the top of where we climbed up was absolutely gorgeous. I'm definitely missing all the colors of Corvallis and McMinnville (the valley in general) though...there was more green but it's definitely more desert-y here, it reminds me of Eastern Oregon. Which isn't as pretty, in my opinion. I was imagining all the trees, how beautiful the views from Lookout Point or Bald Hill are in Corvallis, and all the different fall colors that I absolutely love...made me miss it! But there is a different kind of beauty here that I love too. :) And it's still hot as heck, so you know, that's a plus sometimes. (Although I do love me some boots and jackets.)

Blue! Green! I like colors!

The castle up thurrr

On our way there, we stopped at a store to search for candy corn. Seriously, guys, my family is adorable. I mentioned candy corn and asked if they had it and they had never heard of anything like it, so we made a special trip at this store that supposedly has a bunch of stuff from other countries and whatnot, just so I could look for candy corn. Unfortunately, there is no candy corn here. Which is a shame.

On the way back from Guadalest, we stopped in a tiny little town called Polop. It was cute and quaint! And there was this one high point that we hiked up to and the view was sooooooo pretty. However...there were some scary black clouds on the horizon and we heard some very menacing thunder, so I was glad we didn't stay for too long. :P Then we went to the Plaza de Chorros there which had like a bajillion fountains. Okay, I think the actual number is closer to like 70, but it is seriously a ton! And the coolest thing is that the water from the fountains is good to drink! People can drink from them or fill up their water bottles or whatever, which I think is pretty rad.

All the little fountains!

The cute little streets of Polop

Then, on the way home and when we got home, it rained. And I was one happy little Oregonian.

We got back and booked our tickets to Venice...it's official, Italy, HERE WE COME! Planning and booking trips is a pain, but I know it's going to be worth it. Tonight our mission is booking tickets to Paris. Wish us luck!!!

Miss you all! <3

Thoughts from the beach.

Today is a holiday...there was a parade and everything! Zoe and I had fun. Then, we went to the beach. And here, I would like to present to you, my list of six things I may never understand about Spain.


 1) Nudity. Topless ladies, mainly. I mean, I'm all for it, you know, whatever floats your boat. It's just sort of bizarre and frankly, sometimes boobs are not very pretty things.

I am aware that baby butts hardly count as nudity, but isn't it cute?

My tactful picture of a topless lady. Good one, eh?

2. Bikinis. At the beach, everyone is in a bikini. Are you 23 and slim? Bikini. 87 and a little pudgy? Bikini. 50 and reeeally overweight? Bikini.

I like to think this is going to be me and my best friend some day. Older, in Spain, not caring that we're a little overweight, WORKIN' our bikinis.

3. This guy's speedo. You guys, I don't know if you can see it, but it had a drawstring. A DRAWSTRING?! On a speedo?

The abundance of speedos, in general, is alarming.

 4. How Zoe is so beautiful. Yeah, she's rad.

My friend is gorgeous, be jealous.

5. PDA. Seriously. There are always people like maaaaaking out in the streets and on the beach. This couple right here...they were making out literally the entire 2ish hours we were at the beach. On top of each other, next to each other, leg wrapped around each other, hands wandering, everything...I do not understand it.

Yeah, I'm that creeper taking a picture of the couple making out. I  just had to share with everyone at home, y'know?

6. Almost everything in this picture, at least under the umbrella.

Doesn't look so bad, does it?

Okay. You might have to click on the picture to see it better...but you see that lady there under the umbrella in the head wrap? Yeah, that blue scarf over her head. That lade was pregnant, VERY pregnant. And wearing a bikini. With thong bottoms. And head a tramp stamp. I'm not kidding, Zoe and I waited around for a few extra minutes because we desperately wanted a picture of her. I just realized that girl on the very left under the umbrella is topless, woops. And the lady lounging in the front in the pink bikini? I'm not exactly positive what happened, but all of a sudden all I heard out of her mouth were a bunch of cuss words. I don't even know who she was yelling at, but pretty much any cuss word I've learned thus far here, I heard. Everyone was looking. Even the couple making out stopped to stare. I think he even got off from on top of her to look. I'm not kidding.


Never a dull moment at the beach.

First week of October...what?!

Oh gosh. I really need to start writing twice a week.

Well, let's start with last Sunday and work our way to today, shall we? Last Sunday, I tried out a church here in Alicante...it's called La Iglesia Cristo Vive. It was amazing to be in a place of worship again with other people who love Jesus, but it was also sort of overwhelming...lots of people, lots of Spanish, a 3ish hour service, a pastor who sort of yelled sometimes and made me uncomfortable. They definitely love Jesus but I wasn't as comfortable as I would have liked. This week I didn't go to church. Next week I may try out a different one. We'll see. :)

I cannot believe that the first week of October is already over!!! My new grammar class started last week, which is actually a lot more fun than the last one, but also more difficult. (I got my grade from the last class and I got an A, so that was nice.) I'm the only American in my new class (and my professor was shocked that I was an American because apparently estadounidenses don't usually get to such an advanced grammar level...go figure). Besides me, there are my friends from the last semester (3 from Japan and 1 from Algeria), and two Chinese girls, and a Chilean girl from Switzerland. It's a ton of fun! We played tabu (Taboo) on Friday, talk about slang all the time, and have a lot of fun. There is a lot of time to practice speaking, which is like my favorite thing ever. And Laura, the professor, is really nice. She teaches my other new class, too. Social and Cultural Realities of Spain. Not thrilling. Not much to say about it.


Tuesday and Thursday I had tutoring again with Paula...seriously, I have the best job ever. Who can say that they get paid to paint nails, do each other's makeup (you shoulda seen my face...), sing songs, play Simon Says, and dance...?! Me, that's who.

Thursday I went out with Andres, Zoe, and Zoe's speaking partner Javier. Our plan was to go out for tapas, which ended up with us at a bar until 2 am. Not exactly my usual plan of attack for a Thursday night with school the next day but, you know, that's the Spanish way I guess. Haha. I actually had a ton of fun! Zoe and I were giggly and talking about all sorts of things while the guys talked about the economic crisis in Spain...you know, normal stuff.

Then Friday I went out with Kenta (Japanese), Tsunako (Japanese), Andres, and Zoe. We were only out until like 130ish probably, but I had a lot of fun! There are some funny moments when we're all together, though, and trying to communicate. Like trying to explain the word "wimp" or "pussy." ...it just is way more difficult (and amusing) than it sounds.

Saturday was pretty chill. I slept in...a lot...and then Zoe and I went shopping. After that I just sort of lazied around, skyped a bunch of people I love, put of my homework, didn't write my blog even though I told myself I would...

And then yesterdayyyy Zoe and I got up and went to the beach (it was freaking hot...and beautiful, as always) and hung out for a few hours. Then I came back and we had lunch and my hostmom was like "Huh, you wanna go somewhere? Like...wanna go to Benidorm?" "Uhh...sure?!" So after we ate, I had like half an hour to rest, and then off went my hostdad, hostbrother, and I to Benidorm! (My host sister was sick, and my hostmom's ankles were really hurting her and she didn't feel up to walking around Benidorm.) Benidorm is like an hourish away by car (Well, by my hostdad driving. Seriously. I'm going to feel so safe when I get back to driving in the states.). There's really not much to Benidorm...a really pretty beach, a beautiful little lookout area to go out and see the sea all around you, it's really breathtaking, some old houses, and a tonnn of tourist-y shops. Benidorm is much more city-like than Alicante...lots of skyscrapers and big buildings and McDonalds and whatnot. And TONS of extranjeros (foreigners), like, tons. But it was pretty. Then I came back and finished my wonderful day up by skyping my boy and my bros (Jeb and Tyty...sadly, not Daniel this time) and catching up with people back in the states. I love weekends for that reason!

Benidorm!

Part of the view from the viewpoint...imagine that you look more to your left and there's sea, sea, sea, sea, and then finally, the coast line from that first picture. And so sunny and beautiful!

Today, we had class, which was meh...but tomorrow's a holiday! YAY!

My hostfamily was baffled that I had school today. Here in Spain, when there's a holiday on a Tuesday or a Thursday or something, the people do something called "hacer puente" (literally "making a bridge"). Basically, un puente is when you have a holiday on Tuesday so you take off Monday too. That way, you have a 4 day weekend (Saturday, Sunday, Monday=puente, Tuesday=holiday). Or, if you have a Thursday holiday, then you take Friday off, too. My hostdad had puente today...but me, no. Oh well, no school tomorrow makes up for it, I guess. :)


Miss you all! <3 I'll try to write more often...haha, sorry :) Mas vale tarde que nunca?