Yet another heartwarming, fun-filled day of Phraseology class.
We´re talking about slogans, mottos, and such, and for the first hour of class we just talked about different symbols from the Spain, the United States, and China. A few examples of what we talked about are, "E pluribus unum," the flag of Spain, and a national seal from China. Then, when we were talking about mottos, the professor asked if each state in the US really has it´s own motto or slogan. We said yes, yes they do. So he asked us to write each of ours on the board. I jumped up, went to the board and wrote: "Nebraska, the good life"...
And then I sat down and realized that isn´t the state motto... it´s what the welcome sign on the interstate says. Oops. Anyone could make that mistake, right?
(The actual state motto for Nebraska is, "Equality before the law"... a fun trivia fact for ya.)
At the end of class, the professor thought it would be fun to come up with a motto for our class in groups and then vote on our favorite. There were some good ones in the mix, but we finally chose, "Muchos origenes, un propósito," which translates to the title of this post.
I think I´m gonna miss that class...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Syntactical nonsense
Makenzie and I have literally been working on homework for our Syntax class allllllll dayyyyyyy. We started out being really productive - we finished the corrections to an old assignment (on which we got a B+, I might add) and then we each got started writing summaries of these ridiculously long (ridiculously boring) articles that we have to read to help us prepare for the final.
But for the past 20 minutes we've been telling stories, quoting Modern Family, giggling and singing "Hey Ya."
...this class is driving us crazy.
But for the past 20 minutes we've been telling stories, quoting Modern Family, giggling and singing "Hey Ya."
...this class is driving us crazy.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
"Excuse me, could I draw on your face?"
So, I got drawn on yesterday while I was sitting in the plaza waiting for Makenzie. I could tell something weird was going on because I saw all these people running around in costumes; there was a pirate, a demon, Scream, a clown, and a witch. They kept running up to passers-by and asking them questions or having them do something (like play Hopscotch.) Then, the clown approached me on the bench where I was sitting and asked if she could draw something on my face. It turns out they were doing a scavenger hunt and had a whole list of funny little tasks like that. Well, anyway, she drew a heart on my cheek.
Oh, Spain, you're always full of surprises...
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Earthquake
Today around 5:00pm there was a 4.4 earthquake in the Region of Murcia. Another happened about 2 hours later which was a 5.3. Most of the damage is in a city called Lorca, which is about an hour away. Our apartment shook for about 30 seconds and my roommate and I were really scared for a few minutes. We're all fine, though, so I thought I'd let everyone know.
Here's a link to a news article that I found about it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13368599
Here's a link to a news article that I found about it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13368599
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
"It's pronounced Ibitha"
That title made me laugh, so I thought I'd use it twice. If you don't get it, go start watching Modern Family. Seriously - watch it now, thank me later. :)
Anywho, this past Thursday my friend Sarah and I jetted off to the Balearic Island of Ibiza for a little bit of vacation. And you know what, it was the first trip I've taken that actually felt like a vacation. As much as I love map-reading, navigating, site-seeing, and city-trekking, it was really nice to just go to the beach and read a magazine and swim in the ocean. Which is what we did for 2 of the 4 days we were there.
The third day we went walking around in Eivissa (the biggest city on the island) and climbed up to the castle to see the Medieval Fair that was up there.
Then the fourth day, Valery, the guy we were couch-surfing with, showed us around the island by car, which is the only way to really see Ibiza because the buses only run certain routes and the rest of the island is a network of tiny roads.
The last day with the car was by far my favorite day. All of the little coves and cliffs that we saw were so amazing. We drove out to see Es Vedrà, which is a rock formation a little ways off the coast.
What was weird is that as we were driving, you could see the top of it behind the hills in the distance, and it looked HUGE. Then as we kept getting closer to it, it kept getting smaller. I´m not sure how that works...
After taking in the scenery and snapping some photos (while perched on a pretty steep cliff, I might add) we went for a little hike. And by "little hike" I mean a trek through the wildnerness. We climbed down the ledges toward the coast. Part of the way was sand so you could literally just run down the mountain and roll to slow yourself down or stop. It was really exhilirating. At the bottom, we shook the sand out of our shoes and climbed around on the rocks and took more photos.
Anywho, this past Thursday my friend Sarah and I jetted off to the Balearic Island of Ibiza for a little bit of vacation. And you know what, it was the first trip I've taken that actually felt like a vacation. As much as I love map-reading, navigating, site-seeing, and city-trekking, it was really nice to just go to the beach and read a magazine and swim in the ocean. Which is what we did for 2 of the 4 days we were there.
The third day we went walking around in Eivissa (the biggest city on the island) and climbed up to the castle to see the Medieval Fair that was up there.
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| Medieval Fair |
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| Olives |
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| A man making bread in a wood-fire oven. |
Then the fourth day, Valery, the guy we were couch-surfing with, showed us around the island by car, which is the only way to really see Ibiza because the buses only run certain routes and the rest of the island is a network of tiny roads.
The last day with the car was by far my favorite day. All of the little coves and cliffs that we saw were so amazing. We drove out to see Es Vedrà, which is a rock formation a little ways off the coast.
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| The view from straight down the cliff. |
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| The sandy stretch of the hike |
The water is such a stunning color. It´s so clear that you can see straight down to the bottom where it´s shallow. We tried to climb down to go swimming, but when we got there, we saw that the water was full of pink, iridescent jellyfish. They looked so peaceful suspended in the water, not really caring where the waves were carrying them. They were in a pretty sweet spot if you ask me.
Next came the difficult part - the climb back up. It was about a 40 minute hike, but it takes so long because the gravel was loose so you had to take baby steps. There were also some prickly shrubs and brush along the trails, and I got a nice scratch on my thigh - a souvenir, I guess??
After that we just kept driving around the island (which is about 45 km [27 miles] at its widest) and saw some more beaches and coves.
Sadly, our vacation had come to an end. Valery dropped us off and the airport where we caught our flights back to Alicante - then came the really fun part... sleeping in the airport. The thing is, our flight got into Alicante (which is about an hour from Murcia) after the buses stop running for the night. So we were left with 2 options: take a cab all the way to Murcia (which comes to like 90 euro) OR take a cab into Alicante and get a hostel (which would come to about 60 euro.) So, we chose the secret 3rd option and slept on the airport benches, with my head on my backpack, my money/passport tucked in my bra strap under my arm and my purse clutched to my chest. However, there were really no people around, so I actually slept for a few hours. I checked in the morning and still had all my belongings, so all's well that end's well, I suppose. Not sure I want to that again anytime soon, though.
And thus ended one of the funnest trips I've had as of yet in Spain.
Hope all is well with everyone. I've been thinking this week of all my friends who are finished with/finishing their finals for the semester. I'm sure you all did well on the exams ;)
Much love to all from Spain, xoxo
Semana Santa 2011
While my dad and aunt were here we had the opportunity to see the Holy Week processions through the cities here in Spain. During the processions, groups of people from churches walk through the streets in cloaks carrying candles, lanterns, and sculptures that depict the final days of Jesus' life.
We saw 2 or 3 in Murcia, and 1 or 2 in both Córdoba and Sevilla. We actually only sought one out to watch (the one we saw in Murcia on the night of Palm Sunday) - all of the others we just kind of came upon while walking around. It's hard to find your way out of the crowds of people once you come up on a procession. It's kind of rude to walk through it, but some of the pathways are several kilometers long, so it can take a while to find your way around it. An added wrinkle is when you're in a foreign city navigating through tiny, narrow streets that start and stop like in "Alice in Wonderland."
The first procession we saw in Murcia brought a lot of questions to our minds. Luckily, we were on our way to dinner with my friend Agustín, who was kind enough to explain things to us, even though he probably felt like he was being interviewed after a while. Here´s a recap of some of what we asked:
"Why the hoods?" The hoods are worn to cover the person´s face and to keep their identity a secret.
"How is it decided who walks in the processions?" The people walk in the procession as a way to ask forgiveness for their sins or to thank God for His blessings. The people who feel they have the most to ask forgiveness for/be thankful for are the ones who carry the statue, some of which weigh over a metric ton! There´s usually an average of 40 people carrying the figure. In Murcia, the statues were carried one the shoulder, but in Sevilla, the people are actually underneath the statue carrying it on the nape of their neck! There, there´s a curtain around the base of the statue to cover the legs of the carriers, which makes it appear to be floating. Other people choose to walk with the procession, which we playfully described as the "10 Sins or Less" group. Some walk barefoot; some carry stones in their robes so as to make the walk more strenuous and therefore more meaningful. It´s all a matter of choice and how much gratitude and/or repentance you want to show.
"Are all of the processions the same throughout the week?" No, the processions on Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are typically louder and the crowd claps with the passing of each figure. The processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday are silent and often lit by only candlelight. Unfortunately, the Holy Thursday procession in Sevilla was rained out, so we didn´t get a chance to see it.
Okay, I know the post is already really long, but hang in there, dear reader. :) I´m almost done, I promise.
Córdoba, 19-20 abril
Although we were only there for one night, Córdoba was a great stop on our mini-tour of Andalucía. We took a tour through the Alcázar, which is an old fortress. From there we took a walk through the botanical gardens, which was beautiful. After that, it was back to the hostel for a quick nap then out for dinner and a flamenco show.
Sevilla, 20-22 abril
The next day it was on to Sevilla, where we had a wonderful 2 days of exploring. Here we went to the Cathedral, the Plaza de España, and the Plaza de Toros, among other things. The Cathedral in Sevilla has a few points to brag about - it is the highest and largest cathedral in Spain, the largest Gothic building in the world, and the third-largest church in the world (behind St. Peter´s in Rome and St. Paul´s in London.) I´ve already posted the full album on Facebook, but here are a few pictures.
Madrid, 22-23 abril
For their final day in Spain, we travelled to the capital city. There, we had seafood paella for lunch with Poli and Susana, who were our hosts for the day. From there we went to the Reina Sofia art museum, where Picasso´s famous painting Guernica is housed. We also saw a photography exhibit while there. The rest of the day entailed a tour of the city in the car. The next day, after taking Dad and Jean to the airport, I met up with my friend, Bre, and her family. We had coffee and then went to the Prado art museum, where we saw more amazing art. It was so mind-blowing to see all of those famous painting by El Greco, Goya, Velásquez, etc. that I´ve read about. My only complaint, however, would be that there was too much noise in there. I like a nice quiet museum where you can really think about and appreciate the art you´re viewing, but it´s hard to get to that level when there´s a constant buzz of talking, laughing, babies crying, bored teenagers whining, blah, blah. I saw a kid with his iPod and I thought, "Now, he´s got it figured out. Listening to some music, looking at some art. Off in his own world." I´ll have to remember that for next time.
The next day I took the train back home to Murcia, where I was greeted by the local celebration of Bando de la Huerta. It´s a festival that celebrates farming and agriculture and all that good stuff. These Spaniards love a party! :)
It was a great two weeks, but seeing my dad was definitely the best part. I´m so grateful for everything my parents have done, and continue to do, for me each and every day. I can´t sufficiently express my gratitude, but I try to show it through how I live my life. Love you, Mom and Dad. Miss you everyday.
More blogs to come, including one from Ibiza (in case anyone wanted to vacation vicariously through me, haha.)
Love to all, xoxo
We saw 2 or 3 in Murcia, and 1 or 2 in both Córdoba and Sevilla. We actually only sought one out to watch (the one we saw in Murcia on the night of Palm Sunday) - all of the others we just kind of came upon while walking around. It's hard to find your way out of the crowds of people once you come up on a procession. It's kind of rude to walk through it, but some of the pathways are several kilometers long, so it can take a while to find your way around it. An added wrinkle is when you're in a foreign city navigating through tiny, narrow streets that start and stop like in "Alice in Wonderland."
The first procession we saw in Murcia brought a lot of questions to our minds. Luckily, we were on our way to dinner with my friend Agustín, who was kind enough to explain things to us, even though he probably felt like he was being interviewed after a while. Here´s a recap of some of what we asked:
"Why the hoods?" The hoods are worn to cover the person´s face and to keep their identity a secret.
"How is it decided who walks in the processions?" The people walk in the procession as a way to ask forgiveness for their sins or to thank God for His blessings. The people who feel they have the most to ask forgiveness for/be thankful for are the ones who carry the statue, some of which weigh over a metric ton! There´s usually an average of 40 people carrying the figure. In Murcia, the statues were carried one the shoulder, but in Sevilla, the people are actually underneath the statue carrying it on the nape of their neck! There, there´s a curtain around the base of the statue to cover the legs of the carriers, which makes it appear to be floating. Other people choose to walk with the procession, which we playfully described as the "10 Sins or Less" group. Some walk barefoot; some carry stones in their robes so as to make the walk more strenuous and therefore more meaningful. It´s all a matter of choice and how much gratitude and/or repentance you want to show.
"Are all of the processions the same throughout the week?" No, the processions on Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are typically louder and the crowd claps with the passing of each figure. The processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday are silent and often lit by only candlelight. Unfortunately, the Holy Thursday procession in Sevilla was rained out, so we didn´t get a chance to see it.
Okay, I know the post is already really long, but hang in there, dear reader. :) I´m almost done, I promise.
Córdoba, 19-20 abril
Although we were only there for one night, Córdoba was a great stop on our mini-tour of Andalucía. We took a tour through the Alcázar, which is an old fortress. From there we took a walk through the botanical gardens, which was beautiful. After that, it was back to the hostel for a quick nap then out for dinner and a flamenco show.
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| La Alcázar |
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| Fuente en los Jardínes Botánicos (A fountain in the Botanical Gardens) |
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| La Mezquita - which was closed due to a procession. |
Sevilla, 20-22 abril
The next day it was on to Sevilla, where we had a wonderful 2 days of exploring. Here we went to the Cathedral, the Plaza de España, and the Plaza de Toros, among other things. The Cathedral in Sevilla has a few points to brag about - it is the highest and largest cathedral in Spain, the largest Gothic building in the world, and the third-largest church in the world (behind St. Peter´s in Rome and St. Paul´s in London.) I´ve already posted the full album on Facebook, but here are a few pictures.
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| Plaza de Toros - Bullfighting ring |
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| La Catedral - main entrance to the Cathedral |
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| A view from La Giralda, the Cathedral tower |
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| A fountain in El Naranjo (The Orange Grove.) The Grove was part of the Mosque which originally stood where the Cathedral stands now. La Giralda (the tower) was also part of the original structure. |
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| Plaza de España |
For their final day in Spain, we travelled to the capital city. There, we had seafood paella for lunch with Poli and Susana, who were our hosts for the day. From there we went to the Reina Sofia art museum, where Picasso´s famous painting Guernica is housed. We also saw a photography exhibit while there. The rest of the day entailed a tour of the city in the car. The next day, after taking Dad and Jean to the airport, I met up with my friend, Bre, and her family. We had coffee and then went to the Prado art museum, where we saw more amazing art. It was so mind-blowing to see all of those famous painting by El Greco, Goya, Velásquez, etc. that I´ve read about. My only complaint, however, would be that there was too much noise in there. I like a nice quiet museum where you can really think about and appreciate the art you´re viewing, but it´s hard to get to that level when there´s a constant buzz of talking, laughing, babies crying, bored teenagers whining, blah, blah. I saw a kid with his iPod and I thought, "Now, he´s got it figured out. Listening to some music, looking at some art. Off in his own world." I´ll have to remember that for next time.
The next day I took the train back home to Murcia, where I was greeted by the local celebration of Bando de la Huerta. It´s a festival that celebrates farming and agriculture and all that good stuff. These Spaniards love a party! :)
It was a great two weeks, but seeing my dad was definitely the best part. I´m so grateful for everything my parents have done, and continue to do, for me each and every day. I can´t sufficiently express my gratitude, but I try to show it through how I live my life. Love you, Mom and Dad. Miss you everyday.
More blogs to come, including one from Ibiza (in case anyone wanted to vacation vicariously through me, haha.)
Love to all, xoxo
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A Lot of Movin'
A Lot of Movin'
A lot of moving, a lot of rolling
a lot of driving, a lot of strolling
A lot of leaving here, arriving there
Trying to go just about everywhere
A lot of thinkin' about where I'm going next
This song by the Avett Brothers sums up the past two weeks as well as the remainder of my time here. I've got trips planned for almost every weekend, with destinations including Ibiza, Granada, Córdoba, Zaragoza, Barcelona (again)... and anywhere else that I can get to!
If only all this school would stop getting in the way of my travel time...
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