Empieza

1 Mujer de Brooklyn+ 2 Maletas= 4 Meses en España
Translation: 1 woman from Brooklyn+2 suitcases= 4 months in Spain

July 10, 2012 6:26 pm

Just finished skyping with my friend, who has been in Spain for almost a year

And my Spanish is terrible!

And she told me that it was (gotta love friends for telling the truth lol).

Idk what I can do to improve- I guess I really have to force myself to talk to my Spanish speaking friends that always want to help out- but what a set back!

No way I’m going to be fluent by the end of the year if I keep it up like this.

For those that are still abroad speaking the language- Get in as much practice as you can.

For those of you that have come back- PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE or you will lose it!

June 3, 2012 2:39 pm

In an effort to keep up with the language, here’s a song I really like. I saw the duo performing it live on a t.v. show, actually understood the words, and fell in love with it since.

La de la mala suerte- Jesse & Joy

May 29, 2012 8:46 pm

Life: Post-Study Abroad

I’ve been back for going on three weeks now, and even though life has returned to normal, I can’t say the same for myself.

Besides the physical changes- slight weight gain, trouble with my sleeping pattern (I’ll touch on those later) my mind is neither here nor there.

I’m bored with day to day life and every day expectations, and seeking something else. I don’t quite want to travel abroad right now, but I can’t stay rooted forever. It just won’t please me anymore.

I start getting inexplicably tired around 10pm, and I struggle to stay up a lot later than that. I’m waking up later, which is better, but not much of an improvement. 

Besides that- not knowing when, what, or how much to eat is driving me crazy!

  • Coming from a world that doesn’t really believe in breakfast, back to America (can you say pancakes, waffles, eggs, french toast, cereal, bagels?)
  • Comparing a society with 2 big meals a day vs. my usual 2 medium sized meals with lots of snacks in between
  • And being too dependent on a señora that had lunch on the table at 2pm (8am for America) and dinner at 9:30 (3:30pm in America), I never know if I really want breakfast, or should I just eat lunch, or try the small meals, or pretend like it’s Spain and ease myself out of it

A lot of the other students in my program can agree on one thing- a slight displacement. We missed our friends and family, and are happy for our old routine, but it was a routine TOO regular. It almost feels as if studying abroad didn’t even happen- it happened so fast!

I’m sure the transition will get better, but I’m only a few weeks in, and it’s just a bit rough.

If any of you are planning on studying abroad, or you’re currently somewhere far from home, please please please don’t take it for granted. Live in every moment and enjoy the time for what it’s worth.

May 11, 2012 6:07 am

One Day

One day remains in this roller coaster ride that has been my study abroad experience.

After the last final, the school’s travel agent/advisor showed us a slideshow of most of the pictures he’s taken. I didn’t realize it, but that was probably the first time all 13 of us have been together in that room since orientation.

This semester abroad hasn’t been cake for me- I’ve been very open about the problems I have with Spain, in regards to gender, but especially racial issues.

However, that does not necessarily negate everything that I have seen and learned in this world, and everything that I’ve learned about myself.

When it’s all said and done, I’m really grateful for this opportunity. Not many people get to travel the world, meet new people, try new foods, see famous landmarks, etc. Not many people have the support system I have, backing me and wanting me to get the best that this world has to offer.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m far from a sentimental person.

With that being said, this was one of the best things I’ve ever decided to do. It’s changed my life, forever.

My advice, to anyone- save up, and when you feel like you’re in over your head, book your plane ticket and leave. You aren’t running away from your problems, you’re running towards a solution, I promise. The first step is the scariest, the first week may be the toughest, but it’s a chance to start something new for yourself, and to realize what you’re made of.

This is my personal guarantee that you will gain a better understanding of yourself- who you thought you were, who you want to become, and who you have the courage to be, at home or overseas.

Entonces- con corazón, con alma, y con todo lo que tengo, por favor

Empieza.

May 7, 2012 2:26 pm
New icon! (old picture)
My countdown until I’m back in the U.S. is up and running- I have 5 days left! (I won’t be blonde anymore either…it was fun while it lasted though lol).
I’ve been wanting to change my icon for a while, and didn’t know what to change it to. I decided on this picture because it’s a perfect summary of my time here& what this blog has been, and what this blog will become.
Gorgeous sunny day in Valencia, during Fallas, with typical treats (churros [without chocolate that time]). I want this blog to grow into a food blog, where I try out different Spanish and vegetarian recipes my señora has cooked for the past 4 months.

New icon! (old picture)

My countdown until I’m back in the U.S. is up and running- I have 5 days left! (I won’t be blonde anymore either…it was fun while it lasted though lol).

I’ve been wanting to change my icon for a while, and didn’t know what to change it to. I decided on this picture because it’s a perfect summary of my time here& what this blog has been, and what this blog will become.

Gorgeous sunny day in Valencia, during Fallas, with typical treats (churros [without chocolate that time]). I want this blog to grow into a food blog, where I try out different Spanish and vegetarian recipes my señora has cooked for the past 4 months.

May 6, 2012 4:39 pm

La Alhambra (Granada, España)

Llegue a Granada a 9 por la mañana, y empezaba el viaje a la Alhambra.

Al principio, la Alhambra fue diseñado como un lugar militar, pero en realidad, era el alojamiento de los reales en el siglo trece. 

Tuve entrada para los jardines a las 2, y la había comprado a las 10 en la mañana. Entonces, caminaba por La Alhambra, y conocí gente interesante y simpática en casi cada sitio.

Subí la montaña para ver lo que pudí, sin entrada a los palacios.

Arriba de la Puerta del Vino (me encantan los detalles)

La fachada del palacio de Carlos V

Y dentro:

I’m sure I wasn’t particularly supposed to be in that area- I could only purchase tickets for the gardens at 2pm- but I wandered around the Alhambra anyways. 

Originally designed as a military base, it turned into palaces for the royalty and their court.

All of the designs are very Arabesque, because they represent a time when Arabs were in control of Andalusia.

I really enjoyed visiting the palace of King Charles (shown above and directly below)

I also loved the old baths! The outside was covered with flowers (more pictures of those to come), and the inside had such amazing designs letting light into the space.

And the designs on the ground were equally as spectacular (they didn’t miss a beat on this one)

Well there you have it- some of my favorite parts of La Alhambra. I’ll have another post with the gardens and the floral aspects of the Alhambra, and you won’t want to miss it!

May 1, 2012 9:54 am

Viaje a: Andalucía

El fin de semana pasada, fui al parte de España que se llama Andalucía (pronounced An-duh-lou-thee-a with a Spanish accent, and An-duh-lou-sha in English).

Aunque queda menos de una semana aqui en España, decidí viajar para ver otros partes del país. 

Fui a la Alhambra (voy a poner más fotos en el próximo post), y vi el palacio de Carlos V, los jardines, y otros sitios.

Fui a Córdoba para visitar mi amigo (el me visitó el fin de semana anterior aqui en Valencia). Vimos un desfile de sevillanos y flamenco…

Él me informó sobre Las Cruces, la fiesta en Córdoba ese fin de.

Era un fin de lluvioso, pero bueno- ¡no pasaba nada para los españoles!

Fui a la Mezquita, mi edificio favorito de todo el mundo

Tambien, vi los partes Romanos de la ciudad, y en esa foto, estoy en el puente Romano, arriba del rio Guadalquivir:

Overall, my trip to Andalusia (the area in the South of Spain) went well. I left Valencia around midnight Thursday, well technically Friday. I got to Granada at about 9 am, had some Cola Cao (hot chocolate), and went to the Alhambra.

I got back on a bus to Cordoba, and not long after I got to my friend’s apartment (where his host family greeted me very warmly), we were off to a show. The dancers danced Sevillanas (which is a lot more difficult than it appears to be), and were AMAZING. I have more pictures and videos (let’s hope I can post them this time) to show you guys.

I also went to the mosque, which is technically a cathedral now. The mosque is my favorite building in the world, and I’ve wanted to visit since I learned about it in AP Art History in high school (quite some time ago).

I was so grateful for the opportunity, and the entire trip, which including dancing, architecture, wonderful sites, and the history of two interesting cities. 3 buses (8 hours, 3 hours, 8 hours) was a lot to deal with, but my trip to the south was well worth it.

April 30, 2012 4:31 am

Can you guess exactly where I was this past weekend?

*Hint- these are two very famous places in Andalusia (en español- Andalucía)

April 28, 2012 2:40 pm
Change that airplane to a bus, and it’s what I did Thursday night.
I got to Andalucia yesterday (Friday) morning, and I already have plenty of pictures to show for this trip when I return to Valencia on Monday.

Change that airplane to a bus, and it’s what I did Thursday night.

I got to Andalucia yesterday (Friday) morning, and I already have plenty of pictures to show for this trip when I return to Valencia on Monday.

(Source: nicolealyse, via msjessica27)

April 18, 2012 4:17 pm

Otra vez.

  • ***If you can't read Spanish, I'm sorry- not up for translating. But this is the conversation I just had with my friend- about how at lunch (la comida) my señora wanted to tell me that the attention I've gained here is not because I'm Black (it is though)- it's about how I'm just pretty, and how when I leave at night I look like I'm older than 21 (I look like I'm 16). If you do speak Spanish, I apologize for my horrible grammar.
  • Yo: además, cuando llegue a casa para la comida, mi señora me preguntó si me gustaba el tiempo aqui, y empezamos otro diálogo sobre que pasa cuando salgo de la casa, para las fiestas** Y otra vez, me había dicho, que los hombres no dicen piropos porque soy morena, es porque soy mujer, soy guapa, porque me visto en una manera muy diferente, cuando salgo, parece que tengo mas de 21 años y más y más y más. Pero no creo ningun de sus ideas, porque NO ES POSIBLE que cuando salgo, en un grupo con Kat, Liz, Becky, Jules, que cada vez, soy la unica chica que lleva la atención de hombres- borrachos o no
  • Sus ideas no tienen razón, y aunque me gusta ella, no quiero hablar de esas cosas porque me dan rabia
  • Amiga: bueno pero domi un poco tiene razon tambien porque tu eres guapa!! ...claro te entiendo
  • Yo: claro, gracias, muy bien, pero ya lo sé
  • Amiga: sabes no eres una chica fea... es que son las dos cosas
  • Yo: Pero ¿no crees que Kat es guapa?
  • Amiga: no si si tienes razon tambien tu
  • Yo: Pues, exactamente
  • Amiga: es que ya sabes que pasa aqui con las chicas morenas
  • Yo: No puedo creer que en un grupo de 6 chicas soy la unica persona que los hombres le gustan, porque soy guapa todas las chicas somos guapas aqui, pero soy la única (porque kim no sale tanto como yo) que tiene que oir OYE, GUAPA, MORENA, MORENA en todos los sitios
  • Amiga: ya tienes razon... claro. Te entiendo. Mira el sabado tambien y ademas tocan. Esto lo odio a la muerte
  • Yo: SI
  • Amiga: como se permiten a tocar sin que alguien lo quiere
  • Yo: aveces- muy poco, pero aveces- en los estados unidos, los chicos me tocan, no me importa tanto como aqui, porque puedo decir todo que necesito allí
  • Amiga: vale esto me pasa tambien a mi el sabado me tocaron el culo y en alemanaia paso lo mismo
  • Yo: pero allí, siempre no es con mal intención.... aqui, creo que es demasiado mal... De todas formas, no estoy de acuerdo con ella, porque sé la verdad. Sé demasiado hechos y números, y experiencias de otras chicas morenas aqui tambien. Y siempre pasa lo mismo
  • Amiga: Si, ahora ya sabes como es en españa con las morenas
  • Yo: sí- muy mal. Y tambien me dijo que no debiera dar más importancia y pues, está bien y facil para ella, solo tiene que decirme esas cosas
  • Amiga: si pero es que lo hacen todos
  • Yo: pero es muy difícil para mi*
  • Amiga: creo que te lo dijo para tranqulizarte, no lo ha hecho por malo
  • Yo: Cuando quiero salir y cada noche, tengo esas problemas, ella me dijo que no debiera escuchar. Pero no puedo dejar de mis orejas. Es que no me gusta esa tema y ella siempre tiene que decir algo, y especialmente porque no estoy de acuerdo, me da rabia que ella hable sobre mi vida o de las problemas que morenas tenemos.