Sevilla

Today (Tuesday) was the first day that I went outside of a two-block radius of the hotel. Sunday I had gone for tapas at a mall around the corner (it was literally the only thing open on a Sunday afternoon). We had a mix of random potato dishes and I had an omelet with onions on top (here, an omelet is called a tortilla and almost always has potato in it). Sunday night I walked around with Cecilia, who is also going to Priego, but we wound up eating in the hotel restaurant because nothing was open. I had a tapa- seared tuna. Monday, I literally did not leave the hotel except to eat a tortilla sandwich (yes, that’s a potato omelet on bread) in a park down the street. CIEE had a tapas and cocktails party for us in the lobby of the hotel. We were really occupied with orientation and I napped during our down time. All of the girls from Priego are finally here. Erin is going to teach at the same school as I am. She’s from Indiana. Cecilia is from California (the bay area) and went to UC Davis; Jess went to UMASS and is from Sharon, MA; Christine went to Smith and is from Chicago. They all seem really nice and would be fun to live with.

So, today, after many hours of orientation and even eating lunch in the hotel, I decided to go for a run because I wanted to get out and see Sevilla. Armed with 5€, my iPod, hotel key and a map of the city, I ran down to the center of the city (.75 miles) and did a loop around the tourist area where the cathedral and university are. I also ran along the river, which was pretty. It wasn’t a very long run because I had to stop periodically to make sure I was not going too far and could still find my place on the map. The city is really old and the architecture is pretty. Many of the streets are extremely narrow and nothing in the center runs parallel or even makes sense (it’s the Boston of Spain).

After returning from my run, I showered and got ready. The program took us to a flamenco show. We walked back to the center of town and went to this cultural center. During the show, which lasted an hour, a man sung flamenco songs while another danced. Then, a woman danced with the man – most of their routine was synchronized, which was almost like watching figure skating pairs. They had really good chemistry and flamenco was both interesting and powerful. Flamenco dancing is loud: dancers smack the heels of their shoes on the stage and dance around each other. The man and woman barely touched for most of the dance, then they embraced and continued stomping. It’s not a careless stomp; there is a lot of precision in the movement. The show was really enjoyable, but I was so tired that I found it hard to stay awake. Our days are filled with orientation classes and activities – all the sitting around is pretty exhausting.

weird signs

i drove to NJ yesterday.

while crossing the tappan zee bridge, there was a new sign giving motorists/other people more information (ok, a phone number) in case they were having suicidal thoughts. this wasn't a very ghetto sign, it was just like all the other road signs on the highway....

i thought it was kind of weird for a bridge to have this although it also made me think of the time my bro and dad were unable to cross the bridge because it was closed because of a jumper...

Just back from Israel and Jordan....and classes have resumed

its been a while since i last blogged....okay, thats a major understatement.

anyway, winter break is over, classes have started and i am beyond confused as to what i am taking. i don't want to take a lot because its my last semester, but there are so many things i want to take still....

i'm currently enrolled in way too many classes: chicano lit (last spanish class for the major!), latin american social movements (last class for the IR major), intro to yiddish culture (just for fun!, easy and interesting), journalism (if anyone is actually reading this blog they can understand that i need/want more practice writing), yoga (this is a must), epiic (i don't want to stick with this anymore, but have to), and a CMS project (i'm losing interest.....). i'm also signed up for yogalates, but the teacher was a major bitch, and color photography, but its at the museum school and the teacher was super boring....

really, i don't know what i'm doing post-graduation.....although i might be peace corps-ing it.....we'll see if i get offered a position and if i get the med stuff done in time. i just want to travel. israel was chaotic....birthright was only somewhat worth it. ok, the free plane ticket was majorly worth it....the group-ness of the trip was majorly not. i cherished my 5 days of freedom to go to southern israel, explore jerusalem more and go to PETRA!

because of time issues, i was only in jordan for a day, but petra was really really cool....the day was validated when my petra guide asked me why i didn't bring my boyfriend on the trip. i told him that i didn't have a boyfriend and he got rather quiet than said, "well then, i wish you luck." i was somewhat floored when he said this, but realized that i had to put myself into a cultural relativism state and understand that in jordan it was not normal for single females to travel alone.

i then went back to israel and had an absolutely fabulous time....but now i'm back on campus, where its freezing cold and i can't figure out what classes to take. there are so many things i have to take, but don't want to. i'm not giving up yoga, my mental and physical health is too important. but at the same time, i don't want to give up yiddish culture or journalism.

i'm between a rock and an epiic place....i don't want to take epiic, but am forced to....which majorly sucks. why did i get myself into this mess?? (i know how. stupid igl....me and my big ideas).

anyway, its off to the library for me.....and so it begins.......

Asado at Gaby´s

On Sunday we went to an asado (all-day barbeque) Gaby´s house. Gaby is Mariana´s sister. Both Marianas’ sisters were there, as well as her bro-in-law, 17-, 15-, and 2-year old nieces and 4-year old nephew. There were also the other two American students and the brother, his girlfriend and friend of one. So we were 6 Americans and an army of Argentines.

When the other Americans walked in, they thought I was Argentine. One told me I spoke English well (that’s the second time this has happened this year). We ate all day and then I had tea with some of the girls (the Americans had left to go check their email). It was fun and I really think I will miss all of their crazy loud familyness (even though they have absolutely no volume control when they talk). I am actually looking forward to this weekend’s gathering.

Dinner and a movie

For the past two Tuesdays, Mariana (host mom) and I have gone to the movies and then out to dinner. Last week we saw Paris, J t’aime, which is a series of vignettes which are love stories that take place in Paris. Then, we went to a Spanish restaurant, which was ok. The wasn´t enough spice in the food and we wanted it spicier. We asked for some spicy sauce and the guy brought us some warm soupy stuff with a little bit of pepper in it. We sent it back and he put more pepper into it. The stuff was still a bland warm soupy sauce.

This week we saw Perfume, the story of a murderer. It was amazing. The movie was 2.5 hours long and really really good. It was about a man who kills women to extract their scent. He is on trial for the murders and charms the entire town with the new scent and therefore is set free. After the movie we went to a fancy pasta/Italian restaurant and ate really well. I had gnocci with sea food and she had salmon. Its really funny how we eat very similar foods.

Julieta Venegas

On Sunday, June 3rd, I went to see Julieta Venegas at an auditorium near my house. As far as concerts go, it was an interesting experience. The mendocinos weren´t really all that into the concert. They pretty much sat down the entire time waiting for something to happen. My friends met at my house before going and we had a singing session and Jerin danced (from one of Julieta´s videos). We couldn´t handle the lack of energy at the concert, so Anna, Jerin and I left our seats and danced in the aisles. Then we were allowed to go up the stage and dance near Julieta. Anna´s sister met us and danced with us. After the concert, we found the stage door and waited for her to come out. When she did, I got some pictures, but we didn´t get any autographs. She was so cute. Julieta Venegas is a very quirky singer. She had guys in trenchcoats with pig´s masks walking around the stage during one song! We had a really good time at the concert after we left our seats and went to dance up front.

Palm Trees Covered in Snow

Monday, I woke up and my room was freezing, as usual. I got dressed and made myself oatmeal. While I was heating the water to make the oatmeal I looked outside. I was somewhat, okay very, surprised at what I saw: snow flurries. I was under the impression that it didn’t really snow much in Mendoza, just in the mountains outside the city. On the way to class, my micro (bus) passed through the city park. The palm trees in the park were dusted with snow! It was weird to see palm trees, a symbol of summer and warm climates, with snow! Anyway, the snow only stuck to the grass, and it was really just a little flurry, but still very cool! The Argentines were really excited by it. So excited that only ½ the class showed up to anthro (usually about ¾ show up).