that's right, translators! my feet hurt!
it's funny because many people think that going abroad for a semester means that you will gain all this weight because you gotta eat all the rich food and drink up because you're legal and there's no time like the present, yada yada yada... not only is that one way to see all your euros go, but it's true. it is a great way to pack on the poundage. however, i foresee myself not having that problem. i walk A LOT. yesterday i had that song "i would walk 500 miles, then i would walk 500 more..." in my head, probably because it was so appropriate! from my homestay to the 'palacio' where all my classes will be - it is a 45 minute walk. good times. and i'm not the most punctual, neither are meal times, so i'm usually hustling to make it to the study center on time. i mapped it out (thank you google) and it's about 2 miles one way. therefore, i will walk at least 8 miles per day. (one's gotta go home for siesta and lunch!)
come una manzana y no lleva al médico. (~an apple a day keeps the doctor away)
this week has been quite the food experience. tapas are awesome. at las tapaerias, there are SO many to choose from. each is a small portion, compared to dinner in america, but it feels just the right size. do you know how good goat cheese is with a small piece of toast and jelly? it's the bomb. my señora is pretty classy in the kitchen, too. i'm fortunate that she's very health-conscious, too. i've heard many things from other kids that they haven't had an vegetables yet, but we're good! she's to provide all my meals. since i moved in on wednesday, breakfast has been the same. 2 pieces of toast with butter and honey, tea and sometimes oj. the first day she asked if i liked oil or butter. not really hearing everything due to her fast lips and my nervousness, i only caught "mantequia" so i said "si!" what i didn't know is that oil was my other option and that she doesn't use butter. so we had to leave the house and go to the store... we stood in front of all the butter, which is margarine, and she told me that she doesn't use it, it's bad for your heart. awesome. but she picked out one that said it was made with vegetable oil, contained omega 3 and 6, then she asked the guy stocking next to us if it contained salt. he said 'no' so we bought that one! she talks about potassium in bananas and calcium in yogurt a lot too. the first day we had beef and cooked carrots together. and with that was gazpacho (a cold soup made with tomatoes, and garlic and some other stuff in there, i'm sure). delicious. twice we had salad for dinner. with cheese, a hard boiled egg, tomatoes and lettuce. then yogurt to finish it off. dinner is much smaller than lunch. lunch is at 2 or 3 ish, and dinner is around 9 or 10ish. it's pretty weird to get used to. lunch yesterday: fried sardines. i don't think i've ever had sardines before...i tried to tell her i'm not real big on fish, i guess she didn't really get that. i couldn't see the head or spine, but the tail stuck out of the fried business. i tried it, of course. but i wouldn't need to eat it again! today was fishy too, paella almost exactly like the paella we had during orientation earlier in the week (yes. with the whole shrimps). i ate one, but left the other, eyes in tact and everything. tonight's dinner was una tortilla española... basically an omelette (eggs) with potatoes in it. i told her i don't like potatoes, too. the tortilla wasn't bad though. paired with it were sliced tomatoes (with salt, vinegar and oil on top). not my favorite dish, but i didn't not like it either! after every meal (lunch or dinner) we always have a piece of fruit, whether it be a banana, melon, peach or apple. all are awesome!! the melon is unlike anything i've ever had at home. the seeds are in the middle and look like they're a little orangey (like cantelope) but the actual melon is white, sweet, delicious! she cuts the skin off everything. and eats it with a fork. i told her we eat bananas like "los monos" at home (like monkeys)... she said she didn't mind which way i ate it! (i guess i can throw that "no switching hands with your silverware" stuff out the window!
registered for classes yesterday! i'm all set. monday starts the intensive session: intensive advanced spanish grammar. 12-3, monday through friday for 2 weeks. then i have a final on saturday. then that next monday (the 27th), regular class session starts. i'll have 4 classes: 3 cultures in spain (jews, christians & muslims), academic writing and critical thinking, women writers in 20th century spain, and the one for which i'm most excited - social justice and community service practicum. i'm excited to get into a routine. not that i want my life here to be so routine...because it's obviously not! but when my body won't be so mad at me and how messed up i've made it. when i have a schedule, goals, homework (yeah, i never thought i'd say this, but i'm ready to be in school-mode).
"what is the feeling when you're driving away from people, and they recede on the plain until you see their specks dispersing? it's the too huge world vaulting us, and it's goodbye. but we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." -jack kerouac
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