Motril, Hello New Home

It's a little past five in the morning on Saterday and I'm packing up my suitcase for my last stop in Motril, my new home for the next eight months.   My Abuelita is yelling at me "Venga, Venga!!" Which in English means -let's go, let's go!  She starts packing my suitcases for me as I'm hurrying to get dressed.  Five minutes later she has all three of my suitcases out in the hall near the elevator and I'm still in the bathroom brushing my teeth.  Let's just say she was very willing to see me leave.  Why?  I'm not sure.  Maybe it was because I burnt her dish towel trying to make her an American meal, or maybe it was because I snuck chocolate milk and peanut butter in my room which I tried to hide under my bed and she found it.  It might have also been the fact that I never understood a word she had said and I always left my room quite disorganized.   Not messy, just disorganized.  I'd love to say that I enjoyed every minute of being waited on but having my laundry done for me (my undies folded)  and having every meal made for me was quite uncomfortable. Safe to say I was glad to be gone as well but will also miss my abuelita from Sevilla very much.

A six hour bus ride, my new roomie/friend Tad  and I made it to Motril.  Exhausted and hungry we took a small nap in our hotel rooms then headed out to the streets to find some food.  We stumbled across a small place which looked busy and had plenty of cigarette stubs on the floor.  Loud, smokey and amongst all the chatter we ordered two cervezas which came out with a free tapa.  We both look down at our tapa and realize it has purple suction cups.  Yes, our tapa was grilled octopus.  Hesitant to try it, I grabbed a toothpick anyways and ate my first piece of octopus.  The taste was great, but dang those things are chewy!

Today (Sunday) we explored more of Motril and looked for "se aquiler" signs, which in English means "for rent."  Later this afternoon we searched online for more pisos--apartments and both came across one that caught our eye.  We both emailed the landlord saying we were interested in looking at the apartment and a few hours later Tad got a call from the guy.  Not only was the apartment gorgeous but the family who was leasing it out were so nice and took us out for beer and tapas which we weren't allowed to pay for.  They chatted to us in their broken English while we chatted back in our broken Spanish while eating, you guessed it, more octopus and fried fish.  The food was great and they seemed to like us, the older gentlemen told me I was very pretty on more than one occasion.   Yet later after telling him I wanted to buy a Moto , he commented on my belly (twice) saying I should just walk,  that I needed to walk to get rid of my little pudge.   They did warn us at orientation that Spaniards are very blunt and honest about one anothers appearances.  Yes, I was a little embarrassed but then laughed it off and thought "it's a lot smaller than it was three weeks ago!"  Plus he is right, the more walking I do plus living off of small portions of seafood -aka tapas- I'll get rid of my belly in no time.   Back to the piso,  we think this might be the one, yet it was the first place we looked at and we have more to look at tomorrow.  The plan is to do some more searching tomorrow, compare those to the one we looked at tonight and if we can't find anything better, then this one is a keeper.  I've posted pictures, yall tell me what you think?

It's 500 euros a month split between 3 people--what you see in the pictures is ALL included.

Sevilla is One Interesting City

Can you believe it another week has flow by here in Sevilla.  The whole week I have been attending spanish immersion courses Monday through Friday.   I wish I could say I love my Spanish classes here in Sevilla but I'm very close to loathing them.  Why?  Well first of all they are very lengthy, 3pm-7pm with a small 10-15 min break in the middle.   Secondly, they start right in the middle of siesta and limit us from eating almuerzo (lunch) with our host families, this being the biggest meal of the day.  Lastly, with our awesome, lousy class schedule our days fly by leaving us limited free time in the early morning.  Well, ok maybe 9am-1pm isn't really that early. Yet I can never seem to get up early enough to go explore the city before class starts.

My typical day starts off by eating breakfast with Abuelita (my host Grandmother) which always consists of cafe con leche and tostado con crema.  In English, coffee with milk and toast with cream cheese.  Not the healthiest of meals but it will have to suffice.   After breakfast and taking a shower that consistently changes water temperature (cold, hot, really hot, warm, freezing...)  I finally head out for the day.  I'm on the sixth floor which here in Spain is actually the seventh floor, for the first floor is often called floor zero so surprise surprise another teeny tiny elevator down to level zero and then I can finally breath again.  To get to the middle of town (which is called Centro) for my classes each day I have to take a Bus and a Tram.  YAY!!!  How I love public transportation!  Waiting is my favorite part, its such a surprise when I have know idea how long it will actaully take me to get to my final destination.  My other favorite part is the smell.  It's a mixture of sweat, urine and a special funk that I can't quite put my finger on.  Again, let me emphasize how much I love public transportation.  Did I mention how much it costs per ride?

Moving on.  Besides classes I have a had a fun yet exhausting time of exploring the city on foot and by bicycle.  Sevilla offers this interesting rent-a-bike system that comes in very handy when I run out of money on my bus card.  It's called Sevici.  A small deposit and 30min free each time you check out a bike with 1hr costing only one euro, its' easy and so much fun.  My friend Katie and I have taken full advantage of the system and have been exploring Sevilla everyday. On Sunday and Saterday we rode around in Sevilla's famous park called  "Parque de Maria Luisa."  It's gorgeous and smack dab in the middle of the city.  I could go there every day and not get tired of it.  My favorite part is the ice cream stands located every few yards throughout the park.  Did I mention that Spaniards love their ice cream?

Its true they they do.  I have never seen so many ice cream stores in my life!!! They're obsessed I swear.  There are ice cream stores across from ice cream stores.  It's similar to our Star Bucks in Houston, they are everywhere!!!!!!  Another thing Spaniards love is their Cruz Campo.  Their version of Budlight. I think it's the only beer every bar or restaurant serves in this town, I haven't seen any other brand.  All this makes me miss American food even more.  That is one thing I can honestly say makes me miss home the most.  Yes, I have to admit I was the first person to give in, I ate at a Burger King the other day.  All I wanted was a real chicken sandwich.  Here they serve you these things called Bocadillos, their version of a sandwich.  If your thinking subway or even a homemade turkey on rye, your wrong my friend, very wrong.  homemade sandwiches are made with Iron kids white bread without the crust----yes, in the stores every loaf of bread has the crust cut off--- and if you buy one at a shop expect a stale piece of french bread with salami or ham maybe cheese, that's it.  No lettuce, no tomato , no mayo or honey mustard, nada!!   I gave in, I had my seven euro value meal and ohh how happy I was that day.  You can even hear me singing "Oh happy dayyyyyy , oh happy day!"

One more week of Spanish classes, trying to understand what Abuelita is saying to me , smiling as I eat whatever food she puts in front of me, having my underwear folded for me, walking and biking miles all around town, trying to find real food, and trying not to get ran over by a tram.  Sevilla I will definitely miss you when I'm gone!

September 25th----my new life in Motril.

Life in Spain has Started

Short dialog between Me and my Body

Body: Soooo....
Me: Sooo.... what
Body: I'm not feeling so great lately.
Me: Yeah I know.
Body: You don't understand, Stomach has been complaining about this new food you have been giving him and Colon won't even talk to me.
Me:  Yeah I know I haven't heard from Colon in a few days either, he hasn't paid Mr. toilet the rent, he's pass due.
Body:  What are you going to do about it?
Me: What do you want me to do about it?
Body: Something, this whole situation sucks.  Mr and Mrs. Feet keep barking like dogs and it keeps me up at night.  I'm a little dog-tired too but damn they are loud.  Not to mention dirty looking. 
Me: I'm sorry.  I've been walking around more than usual.
Body: Lets maybe call a cab next time.
Me:  You wannna pay for the cab?!?  Go right ahead.
Body: Have you seen the Ankles?  They became obese over night or something.
Me: Come on, be nice now.  They're just a little swollen.
Body: Swollen? They're huge! Look at 'em.
Me:  I'm sorry, this week has been hard on all of us.  It's going to take some getting use too.
Body: So what are you telling me?  I have to endure more complaints and sleepless nights?  This is bullshit!!
Me:  I know, I know I feel the same way.
Body: Start making me feel better and maybe I won't have to kill you.
Me: Wouldn't it be me that kills you.
Body:  Uh... Yeah whatever, but seriously this situation better get better soon.
Me: Better get better?
Body:....
Me:  Ok, ok I'm working on it, I mean resting on it.  No more crap out you understand?  But let Colon know it's ok coming from him. 
Body: Sure whatever.  Can I have some more of that Ibruprofin?
Me: Sure here ya go.



The End

First night in Spain

After a grueling seven hour layover at DFW, a nine hour flight to Madrid getting lost at the Madrid airport but then finding my way to my last gate to Sevilla I had finally made it to Sevilla, Spain.   Landing at Madrid airport was an experience to say the least.  Going through customs was pretty easy and the airport was gorgeous, (upload pictures later) I eventually followed a big group to where I needed to be.   I went up two escalators, down three, went on one rail and went to two information desks asking questions in my broken Spanish.   Nervous and scared yet excited and snapping pictures all along the way I found a young group of girls at my gate that were in the same CIEE teach abroad program as me.   At the time, as much as I wanted to mingle and to get to know everyone I was also trying to put myself together as best as possible and looking for the nearest bathroom.  Finally about 20  hours later and I was ready to board my last plane.  I'm exhausted, smelly, hungry and thrilled that I made it this far. 

Once off the plane in Sevilla I grabbed my luggage and my new friends and we were off to the bus that would take us to our hotel.  Of course this wasn't an easy task for me.  When you take a luggage cart off the given path it is more than likely to tip everything over to where you have to start all over again, which I did.   Then when the luggage (mind you I have three suitcases around 40lbs each) finally made it to the bus it became an even bigger challenge to get them off the bus into the hotel without any bellhops and one luggage roller thingy-ma-bob.   I press the elevator button for up and go to walk inside with my luggage and realize that the elevator is the size of a refrigerator box.  I get stuck.  I pry myself out elevator and bring my luggage to my room and expect to be in bliss.  It was not bliss.  It took me 10 mins and one more trip to the help desk to figure out how the hell to turn on the lights and air conditioning in the room.  All I wanted was a cool shower and a place to lay down.  Supposedly to save energy you put your hotel key-card  in this little slot to turn everything on.   Small slot to say the least.    Cold shower time.  As I walk into the bathroom I notice two toilets, yet the second one is actually a bide. Never used one and never will.   Then the shower to my amazement was small and cute, perfect for a small person, dwarf or a dog.  


After my shower and orientation the group was treated to a cocktail dinner.  It included many tapas and Spanish wine.  The food was great except for a few things I tried that I had to so graciously spit out in my napkin.  The whole time I kept thinking about Anthony Bourdain and the crazy food he eats while meeting people from every part of the world.  I had a blast mingling with girls/guys from all over the United States and practicing our Spanish.   Gotta say that the first night here was a success.  Food, new friends, perfect weather and a warm face from my Spanish red wine has been the best welcome to my new home here in Spain.  Life couldn't be better, but then again it can because I have only had a taste.  Spain, what else ya got?

Seven Hour Layover

I have a seven hour layover.  What else am I supposed to do with my time?  I found a club-lounge here at the DFW airport and for the first hour or so I had it all to myself it was nice.  I only paid twenty five dollars and it includes free WiFi, snacks, three alcoholic beverages and a shower if I need it.  I would have to be pretty dirty to take a shower in an airport.  After enjoying my time alone a few people started to trickle in and I noticed they were speaking Spanish.  So I thought to myself, "Hey I wonder if they are going to Madrid as well?"   If so they have a while to wait as well.  Bet you anything they are on my flight.  

I did some Skype-ing with the family and got to video chat with my padres and talk to my Tios.  Later after while I might just grab me a brewsky and find me a place to go eat lunch.   First priority is writing my letter to my school in Spain.   Still have no clue what to say in the letter so I hope something clever jumps in my mind quick.  I need to take some pictures as well,  study my Spanish and hopefully make a friend.   I'm looking around and no one looks friendly enough to approach.  Oh well.  So just a small update for yall while I patiently wait (as I look at the clock) 4 1/2 more hours till I get on the plane to Madrid.  UGHHH

Buckle your seat belt and get prepared for take off!

Just got home from a great dinner with my family at the oh so yummy Cheesecake Factory.  My best friend Jason surprised me by showing up and having dinner with us ( I say dinner when really he just drank his rum and cokes while nibbling  off of the bread basket) it was nice to say our last goodbyes.   I'm really not good at goodbyes, I'll cry later when no one is looking.

It's late I'm tired and I have puppy tummy yet I'm up finishing my last minute things I need to pack.   I'm set to go in the morning despite that I haven't reviewed any of my Spanish.  I'm not too worried though, I have a 7 hour layover at DFW with plenty of enough time to study my Spanish phrases and verb conjugations.  Everyone keeps asking if I'm excited and of course I am but the work it takes to get on that plane tomorrow has drained me pretty bad.   It won't hit me till I'm actually on my plane and in the air.  I'll look out over the Atlantic and then the excitement will be at full force.  Lets not forget about the nerves, it's like the first day of school times ten.   Here I come Spain!