Also...

....today marks one month since I left the United States. Time sure does fly...

Picture Post!

This week has been super busy with the start of my University of Granada class (Anthropology of Ethnicity) and A LOT of homework (joy). So, this post is going to be pretty quick with pictures telling most of the story.

Thursday night I went to a flamenco show (which I do not have pictures of), which was incredible and made me realize I will never be that good. Friday I went on an incredible field trip with my Mediterranean Ecosystems class to the coast and had an amazing view that I will share with you. Saturday, a few of us took a paseo (stroll) up and around the Alhambra which I wish had pictures to show you but my battery was dead.

This weekend (aka tomorrow night) I begin my trek to PORTUGAL! I am really excited; a bunch of us are flying out of Madrid early Friday morning and coming back Monday because we don´t have class. I will be sure to take lots of pictures and be a little more descriptive than this very short post right before class!


Hasta luego!

This is the view from my hike. It was a little cold, but notice how there isn't a rain cloud in sight!

My view at lunch!

This random, awesome tower that was at the top of the mountain/hill that we hiked/walked

And for the surprise of the post...

MY ROOM!! A tad messy, but you get the idea.

And the sala, or living room, where we eat lunch everyday (to the left is where Juanie hides the chocolate)

Cold in Cadiz

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I FOUND BLACK FLAT BOOTS! It's a very exciting time. Props to my amazing roommate for spotting them yesterday.

Also, it rained all last week and will continue to do so until at least next week. So much for gorgeous weather.

Now for the subject of this post: Carnival in Cadiz!

For those that don't know what Carnival is, I don't either (thank you Hebrew School), but I do know it has something to do with a celebration before the beginning of Lent. It lasts for a week and a half and I believe Saturday, when I went, was the first night. There were THOUSANDS of people in Cadiz, a small peninsula Spanish city on the opposite side of the country, dressed up (I was a pirate), drinking, and enjoying the atmosphere and music around them. We left Granada at 11am on Saturday, got to Cadiz around 3:30pm and stayed up until the bus picked us up at 6:30am. Yup, 6:30AM. Needless to say, the bus was silent on the ride back.

I wish I could say that I felt like I truly experienced all that Carnival had to offer, but it was cold. Really, really cold. Val and I had to buy children-sized Cadiz sweatshirts to keep warm, souvenir? The woman at the store said that it was the first cold day in Cadiz in 6 months--awesome. Anyway, the day was great. We played on the beach, explored a little of Cadiz, and we were really excited for the night. However, at around 12am, it became really cold and we still had 6.5hours. Also, those thousands of people I just mentioned? They were basically in one area, making it impossible to move in any orderly way. It was also hard to stand in the cold with the masses and listen to satirical songs and skits that I couldn't understand. Thus, I felt like I wandered around most of the night looking for a place to warm up and meet up with everyone because as a group of 12, we were bound to get split up and get lost. Overall, by 5:30 we were all huddling together at the bus stop praying for the bus to be early.

However, I would say overall I had a lot of fun. It was a once in a lifetime experience, mostly because I don't want to repeat it although I would be curious as to how it is when it is warm. It was a great bonding experience with the group of people I went with because it was our first time on a trip that wasn't IES sponsored so we could go and do what we wanted with who we wanted. The friends I am making here are great and different in a lot of ways which is exciting. We get along really well and all the girls and then some are going to Portugal in 2 weeks for a 3 day weekend that we have.

Two days recovered, I can look back at Carnival and laugh at the craziness and remember the stories that we are going to have for a lifetime. But one of the most lasting impressions was the impression that everyone left on the streets of Cadiz.
This picture was taken at around 5am and its not
even in the biggest plaza where everyone was.
There were bags upon bags of broken bottles
and glass--needless to say it was not fun
walking through! But, we made it home in one
piece ready to start the second week of class! This weekend we plan on staying at home in Granada (along with the rain) so it should be pretty relaxing and enjoyable--minus all the homework I have, so much for "study" abroad. Now, I must go eat because I am HUNGRY and we are having pasta for lunch!

Hasta luego!



shwarma (best I've had since Israel)
pistol (basically a ratatouille of all these yummy veggies in tomato sauce with rice on the side)
pescado en blanco (a light soup with fish that Juanie gave us Sunday after Cadiz because it is good for "upset stomachs" hint hint wink wink)

Wait, We Have Class?

ALLISON'S SCHEDULE (ALMOST)!

MONDAY
9:55-10:55 Spanish
I have this class every morning switching between 9:55 and 8:50 Monday-Thursday. Right now it is not thrilling at all and we are barely learning anything, but I am utilizing Spanish so I guess that counts, right?

1-2 Flamenco practice
Yup. No one believes me but I am dancing flamenco. Twice a week. It is so much fun but so much work. I have the utmost respect for these dancers.

3:15-4:30 Flamenco theory
Sadly, I don't have time to go home in between these two classes for lunch, but its well worth it. Here, we discuss the origins of flamenco culturally, musically, etc. Flamenco is so much more than just dancing and singing so I am excited that this is included.

(TENTATIVE) 8-9:30 Anthropology of Ethnicity
I'm taking this class at the University of Granada (UGR) which is extremely nerve racking, but I think another girl is taking it with me (and she speaks Spanish at home in the US) so I am happy about that. I don't know exactly what it entails yet since class doesn't start for another week and a half, but I do know that we will be discussing a little bit of the foreigner in Spain which is of obvious interest to me because I am one. More information after I go to the class.

TUESDAY
8:50-9:50 Spanish

11-12:30 Islamic Art and Architecture
This is hard. Really hard. My professor doesn't speak any English, so there is nothing to fall back on if I don't understand something which happens a lot. On Tuesday, she went through the entire birth of the Islamic religion in an hour and a half. I can't even understand that in English.

4:15-6 Mediterranean Ecosystems
This is my only class in English and honestly, it confuses me. I sit in a classroom all day and hear Spanish, so hearing English really screw with my head, especially so late in the day. But the professor is adorable, reminds me of Dan Perlman my Con Bio professor, and work at UGR in the Ecology Department. We are going on 4 trips throughout the semester to various locations throughout the Granada province (the first one being next Friday), an added bonus to being a tree hugger. I seem to have a step up on the subject than the other people in the class which is also nice.

WEDNESDAY
9:55-10:55 Spanish

1-2 Flamenco practice

4:45-6:15 Islamic Art and Architecture Visit
We get to go to various locations throughout Granada and discuss influences and origins and such. Yesterday, we went to a Plaza that I have been to on numerous occasions, so it was cool to know the history behind it.

8-9:30 Anthropology of Ethnicity

THURSDAY
8:50-9:50 Spanish

AND THAT'S THE END OF MY WEEK!! It's cramped in the front, but to be done at 10am is a great feeling, especially since Wednesday is a big going out night! I'm loving all my classes, seemingly the perfect balance of work and free time, and the professors are great.

Okay, going to buy new black boots because if I get wet socks from wearing my black boots during the rain one more time I'm going to scream.

BUEN FIN DE SEMANA!!!

xoxo


(I found out today that the potato/pepper/onion thing that I described in the first post is called patatas pobres, or poor potatoes, because they are cheap and easy to make!)

SEVILLA Y RONDA!

Let me first start off by saying, sadly, that there will be limited pictures on this post. Due to stupid ideas and cameras, I lost all 160 pictures that I took in Sevilla and only have Ronda pictures. My friend Katie will be sharing with me though, so it will still be documented!

After a relaxing night at home on Thursday, Val and I had the distinct pleasure of getting on a bus at 8am to go to Sevilla. When we got there, we split up into our Islamic Art and Architecture classes to go through the city. When the Americas were first discovered, Sevilla was the only European port that had ships going in and out from the Americas and therefore there was extreme wealth and power in Sevilla which is seen throughout the city in the old architecture. We first went through Alcazar, a palace built for a Christian king (Pedro I) by the Arabs of the city after Pedro had admired the Alhambra in Granada (yeah, that's right) so much. This combination, and the obvious Arab influence on the architecture, reflects the city's cultured and difficult past.

We then went to the biggest catedral in all of Spain which I am so sad that I lost the pictures of. We climbed 37 flights of ramps to the top of the bell tower for an amazing view of the city on the gorgeous, clear day that it was. Back on the ground floor, there were a lot of ornate pieces for mass and there were also huge statues symbolizing the death and body of Christopher Columbus. It was really incredible, mere words don't give it any justice. I felt a little uncomfortable while staring at a huge crucifix, which I have never felt before. I think that being Jewish here is something very different than I have ever experienced and I have been thinking a lot about it. I don't have anything concrete to share right now--everything is still formulating in my head--but I am sure it will be a topic later on.

Val, Katie, and I then went on an amazing walk down the river to the Plaza de Espana which is this HUGE building that is completely empty. It was incredible. Of course, the one time I don't have pictures to show you is the one time I cannot put into words the sheer brilliance of what I saw in Sevilla. We also walked through a park filled with green and water and DUCKS which was fun. Walking around with them really got me thinking about how lucky I am to be here and experiencing these great moments.

We ended the night with a flamenco show. There is so much power and strength behind this dance, we all sat there with our mouths open simply staring at the dancers. As someone who is taking a flamenco class this semester (I have a final show and everything) it only got me more pumped for my class to start. The entire show is improvisational and beautiful. We walked into a open room with vines and flowers and candles and the guitar brought us back centuries to the Spanish homes where flamenco originates. I am sure there will be more discussion about flamenco as the semester progresses and I become the pro that I expect to become (HA).

The next morning, we got up bright and early and went to the Museo de Bellas Artes which was less than thrilling. All religious, repetitious, BORING paintings, I was able to utilize my one semester of modern art history knowledge to explain why I disliked the paintings so much. However, one thing that cannot be denied is the talent that was around in the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th centuries; whether or not I liked what they painted, I can appreciate their talent. And with that, we started the trek to the mountains.

Ronda is gorgeous. I could end it there no problem, but that just wouldn't be like my superfluous self. First, we are going to start with the most important thing--food. Val, Katie, and I (noticing a pattern?) literally went left when everyone went right to find lunch and oh did we find it. A little hole in the wall (always the best) with minimal English and plenty of Spanish families, we walked in cautiously optimistic. Well, hands down best meal of the trip (sorry Juanie). I started with a caprese salad except the cheese was queso fresco which is best described as a mixture of feta and mozzarella. Most of the world's olive oil comes from the olives of Andalucia and therefore we have THE BEST OLIVE OIL EVER, seriously. It was the definition of a simple dish being prepared in an amazing way. Then, I had veal on a kebab with grilled zucchini and peppers with a salsa that I couldn't deconstruct. On the side came the best baked potato I've ever had with this sour cream THING on top--it was delicious. And just in case I could barely move before, homemade tiramisu closed the meal. All 3 courses, along with a glass of wine, was a whopping 12.50 Euros. Amazing AND a bargain? Momma would be proud.

We then went to the Arab Baths and a bullring, but those were not the highlights. That was the view. Below are a few pictures. The view was simply breathtaking and one of those moments that you feel incredibly small in a world that is as big and gorgeous as the view that is ahead of you.



And that was my weekend. Not too shabby. If you haven't guessed it from the post, I have started classes this week and am utterly exhausted. Everything is in Spanish and even in my one English-taught class, I'm thinking in Spanish. I come back home wiped and it is definitely seen in my composition here tonight. Later this week I'll summarize the class schedule because I want to leave the weekend post free for CARNIVALE IN CADIZ!! It's very very exciting and I can't wait to share with the stories because I am sure there will be!

SEE ABOVE!

The 4 Stages of Culture Shock

A few days ago, we had the "distinct" pleasure of meeting with a therapist regarding culture shock in Granada. For the most part, she has simply become the butt of many a joke and provided us with little to no information that we didn't already know. However, her 4 stages of culture shock, while key to many of the jokes cited above, provide a good way to approach the discussion of the vast cultural differences that we have encountered since arriving. The stages are: honeymoon, anger, negotiations, and acceptance. Most of us have seemingly skipped over anger and are either still in the honeymoon or are negotiating the good with the bad. I'm quite happy wherever I am (I would say between negotiations and acceptance, go me), but am going to negotiate the differences so that you understand.

The first difference that was discussed was the lack of personal space in Espana. As a fan of hugs and snuggling, I greeted this disappearing act with open arms (pun initially unintended, but now I like it). But let me tell you, if you think New Yorkers are rude walking down the street then don't come to Espana, especially Andalucia. I have had old ladies push me off the sidewalk and professors standing mere inches away from my face. More importantly, its okay for me to nudge an old lady draped in a mink to get to class on time or to walk in front of a woman who is window shopping. The key is this--it is not rude here. Once you get it through your head that you are going to pushed and poked, caressed and kissed (two kisses every time you meet someone) it becomes easier to handle dodging umbrellas on the rainy walk to school this morning. Even at the discotecas, its easy to spot the Americans dancing in a nice big circle with plenty of room in the middle and the Spaniards who are back-to-back with them. As a girl, the only time I really feel that it is an issue is with Spanish men. It is hard to draw the line between what is the cultural norm and when he is being a creeper, but that too will come with time. In all honesty, it isn't that difficult since I've been walking in NYC all of my life, but it should be interesting when I come home and cut people off and don't apologize.

That leads in very nicely to the please's and thank you's, or lack there of. If I ask for "the check, please," I'm being too nice. If I nudge shoulders with someone on the streets not only will there be no apology, there is no reaction, period. To get the attention of a waiter, stare at them. Don't thank them as you leave the restaurant, just hand them the bill say it's all good and goodbye. At home, my manners are adequate; here, I am the equivalent of a nun. It is hard to get used to not saying please and thank you, but again I think the difficulty will be remembering to say it once I return to the US. Also, a fun fact for those that have studied the Spanish language at all. Granaderos, and most of Andalucia, do not use the el/ella/usted/ellos/ellas/ustedes forms unless you are asking an obviously older person for directions on the street (I exaggerate only a little). The informal tu form is what is used, as well as the extremely scary and hard to use vosotros form. It takes a little getting used to, but I have seen no need since I've been here to use any formal 3rd person conjugation.

The final biggie I think would be the schedule. The best way to help you understand is to walk you through my day yesterday as it was my first real Spanish night.
7:30am wake-up, shower, breakfast (2 pieces of toast, tea, clementine)
8:30am walk to class
9:00 orientation class
10:00am orientation language class
12:30pm media manana coffee and toast
2:15pm walk home
2:45pm comida (lunch) (seafood stew with calamari, baby clams, carrots, potatoes and green salad with feta cheese)
3:30pm siesta!
4:30pm back to school
5:00pm language placement exam
7:00om cocktail party
8:30pm churros! (think fried dough dipped in melted hershey's bar)
10:00pm leave the house to go to the bars
12:00am go to the discoteca
3:30am leave the discoteca
4:30am sleep!
(and for those that are interested I had to wake up today at 8:30am--joy.)
As you can see, the days are very long and the eating schedule is extremely different. Comida is the most important (and biggest) meal of the day and the entire city shuts down because everyone returns home for a break from their busy days. Here, usual business hours are 9/10am-2pm and 4pm-9pm. The two hour break makes the morning move really slowly (especially 12-2) but the night creeps up on you very quickly. Dinner usually consists of drinks and the free (only in Granada!) tapas (small plates) that come with them. On nights that don't including dancing, we usually are back in the house around 12am since dinner isn't usually until at least 9:30pm (a concept Dylan cannot comprehend). Slowly, I am getting used to the differing schedule, but I can assure you that I am more than hungry when comida comes around.

Overall, the culture shock has been minimal, but there has been an adjustment period that is still going on. However, I think with an open mind and lack of judgment, my movement into a new culture has been relatively smooth. Tomorrow we are going to Sevilla y La Ronda for 2 days 1 night and Monday starts classes! Hasta luego!


PAELLA =)
lentil soup with blood sausage
seafood stew
pasta bolognese