October Orientation

I love AFS orientations! Seeing all the other exchange students from all over the world and getting to know them on a deeper level is just the coolest thing in the world! And then on top of that knowing that these people are riding the exact same emotional roller coaster as you are throughout this experience and going through the same day to day ups and downs as you is just so so comforting and just an all around amazing feeling! 

So on Saturday morning I woke up at 8 AM got my stuff together and hoped aboard a 9:15 train to meet the other AFS students at Barcelona Sants. Little did I know that once I got there, we simply hopped aboard the same train that I was on before, literally the exact same train (the monitors were broken so I am 99% sure it was the same one on its return trip), and headed the exact same direction I had come from. I could have just hopped aboard this darn train when it rolled into my station on the return trip and gotten more sleep! But I didn't mind, because this would mean that I would spend less time with my favorite AFS group, and that would be the last thing that I would want! 

Let me just say that if you ever find yourself in the Barcelona area, take the time to simply ride the train down the coast. SO PRETTY! I was never really a big landscape person before I came here, but how could you not enjoying riding a train in and out of man made holes through mountains and just on the edge of the same mountain looking right over the Mediterranean Sea!? I could have ridden that train for hours!

Once we got off the train we had a bit of a walk to the hostel at which we were staying. This hostel was much cooler than the one we stayed at for our last orientation, and in addition, we were just a bridges distance away from the beach! Upon arrival we dropped our bags and sat in a circle to play none other than Duck Duck Goose, but the Spanish play a bit differently. Here you only touch the head of the person you want to run, and then not only that person but also the people on either side of the "it" person have to run around the circle and race back. Similar to the US, last person the sit is it. 

After that we stayed in a circle and had to memorize each others names. I was fortunate enough to be one out of about four others to be chosen for that massive group of about 30 to go around the circle and name everyone else in the group. I am horrible with names and it definitely showed. My face got all red as is so often does, and Quinn, an exchange student from California who was sitting next to me, helped me with all the names I didn't know... which were more than I would like to admit. So if any of you guys are reading this I am truly sorry!

After that we did some talking and stuff and ate some self serve hostel food. OH for lunch we had THE largest sausage I have ever seen in my entire life definitely surpassing one foot long with french fries. 

That night we had some interesting tribal ceremony where the returnees dressed in like togas and painted themselves and clucked their tongues, pushed our heads to the floor, feed us yogurt, all in only a candle lit room. Very hard to explain, but pretty cool as well. Afterwards they explained to us that it was to show how difficult it is to understand what is going on when you can not communicate with a language very well, with strange new customs and habits at the same time, as if we didn't already know! 

The next day our families came and the students, volunteers and host siblings went to the beach and played dodge ball, again different than the way we play in the US, but I could not even begin to explain the rules of this one, and just had fun in the sun! Leaving these orientations is so difficult because they are like a break from reality where everyone around you simply understands and we all just have such a bond with one another. It sounds cliche, but it is simply the truth! I had a great time this weekend and can't wait for the next orientation (which I cannot believe will be the half way orientation)! Hope you all had a great weekend as well!

I am sure you have already seen it, but this picture says it all!

Weekend!

So I am just going to start this one off by saying how much I love my weekends here in Spain! For the most part my whole family, all five of us, find at least one day to do something all together, and it is just so great! I love these guys!

Saturday started off with a visit to Anecblau, the shopping mall that happens to be walking distance from my home, with Victoria from New Zealand. We looked around a bit, I bought a pair of jeans because to my dismay, one of the pairs I brought with me doesn't fit. ALREADY! And I also bought a pair of white converse, a birthday present from my parents, because that's all ANYONE wears on their feet here. Well, white converse or platform sneakers and I am already tall enough here!

After shopping I walked home, had a little family lunch out on the balcony, and then we took a little road trip into Barcelona to explore the Gaudí park. This place was awesome! Like something out of a fairy tale! I give that man props! He was one good architect! 

 

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, I am pretty sure you can, but the style of Gaudí is broken pieces of porcelain pieced together to form a bigger picture. Well, I guess this one lady at the park didn't get the memo, or the appreciation for art gene, because as we were walking by I heard her say, "You see how these pieces are cracked? I think its from old age and weathering." ... O.K. lady, you go with that! 

After this lovely visit to the park we strolled along the streets of Barcelona stopping at the Palacio de La Musica (a concert hall) and La Catederal (one of Spain's many, many cathedrals). And after that, we went to a cute little resturaunt where I had... for the first time since in Spain.... a BURGER! I do not care what people say about burgers not being the same when out of the U.S. this thing was good! Maybe different, its been about 50 days since I have been in the U.S. and possibly more since I have had an American Burger, but I couldn't tell!

That was Saturday for you! 

Sunday started off with a walk to the grocery store to buy some materials for the first meal I ever made for my host family... TACOS! Now I know tacos aren't exactly an all American food, but come on, they don't have tacos here! Think of the greater good people! The first batch we made was a little different because Ana Maria had fajitas in mind and we got a little lost in communication in the process of cooking, but then, when we realized we hadn't made enough meat for all of us, the second go, made by Emma, was the winner! 

After lunch Román and I played a little Rummy. It was his first time playing and lets just say that man had some beginners luck in him!!! After that at about 8 o'clock, on a school night might I add, Ana Maria, Román and I went to the movies to see La Gran Família Española while the little children studied!

When we returned we found Emma and Ana watching Weekly Vines on Youtube and I joined right in, had a good laugh and went to bed, ending another great weekend with the family! This coming weekend is going to be a bit different because I have my second AFS orientation which I am SO excited for! Talk to y'all again soon!!!

Love,

Emily

P.S. Sorry for the picture spacing job again, I really did try to make it look presentable!

All Things Spanish

Adjusting to the Spanish life is something that I have actually had a relatively easy time with! Sure there are still those little things that I miss on a daily basis, hugs for example, I really, really miss hugging people (and I am just talking things right now, adjusting to life with out my friends and family constantly by my side, not so easy), but for the most part, this transition has been a smooth one.

What are these mannerisms that I am having to get used to you might ask? 

1. People cutting you off on a daily basis. Now this might just be an exchange student thing because I still don't have the whole language thing down, but I am getting there! Slow and steady! 
2. People constantly grabbing your things. If your iPod or phone is sitting on the desk in front of you (very common in school here), you can be sure as hell that someone is going to take it and either start taking pictures of them self, or simply looking through your personal notes, pictures, Facebook account, emails, etc. This is just their way of getting closer to you.
3. On a similar note, if you are writing anything at all in your free time at school, whether on paper or on your iPod, the people here will do their very best to read it and, without any guilt or shame, ask you what it means if they do not understand. Again, this is just their way of getting closer to you.
4. Dressing by season rather than the daily weather report. Now personally, I wear whatever the heck I want, always checking the weather first. But on a 85 degree day in October you can bet that there will be more people wearing scarves and boots, than shorts and a t-shirt. As an AFS volunteer said before I came to Spain, "The Spanish are a bit hipster. They take their fashion very seriously."
5. Someone is always touching you. It could be accidentally pushing you in the hall, which might I say us students in Pine Plains do very gracefully and respectfully compared to the students here, but maybe that's because I am close to the city and that is just the way they learned to survive. Or making a grab at your necklace (yes I am talking about the one you gave me Marina, its the only one I have, I love it to death and everyone here does too) without asking you first. So they are basically just reaching for you all the time and you don't know why. LOTS of touching.

That's all of the things I can think of right now, but Mama Thompson asked about dance so here is how that is going ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................AWESOME! 

Here I am taking a Street Dancing class, which oddly enough they call Street Dancing, rather than something in Spanish. Now I figured, going into this class, that it was going to be a lot like hip-hop. I was right, and also very wrong. Even though there are a lot of aspects that are similar to hip-hop, there are also new movements that are new to me and VERY hard to learn, walking and convulsing at the same time for example. Ya... I haven't really got that one down yet... In this dance class we also learn the dances at a different pace than I am use to. In my dance class at home, we take about 5 months to meticulously learn and perfect one or two dances. Here, my very first night we completed one whole dance that we will be performing, then forgetting in a little over one month. So that's a change.

The people in my dance class are so so nice! There was actually another girl who joined the class at the same time as I did, so we always smile and laugh with each other about how insane it is that we are learning a whole other dance, on top of the one we learned in one night, that everyone else is so so good at and we are doing our best not to trip over our own feet. And everyone is always so willing to help and give each other positive criticism. Its just a really happy, fun environment and I always leave with a smile on my face. Oh and did I mention I can wear jeans to dance class? Its crazy and I don't even really like dancing in jeans, but since I can I am doing it!!!

This dance class I am taking is located in a theater school (I feel so cool saying I study dance and the school of theater in town, just saying) and so the recital is a whole big mash up of singing, dancing, acting and all things theater! The show takes place on two separate dates in two separate cities, which is also pretty cool, and the theme of the show is Dracula. This means that I will be dancing with fake vampire teeth in my mouth. Ew. The other day in class we filled these teeth with a mold thing that tasted GROSS, and one of mine didn't even work, when we pulled the tooth off, the tooth came, but the cement preferred my actual tooth... so I have to do it again :( not looking forward to that. On the actual day of the show I will do my best to take lots of pictures and post a whole bunch, I know I haven't done that in awhile, sorry 'bout it.

So ya that's my life for now! Hope you are all doing well! BYE!

Did you know...

Hey guys! 

So I haven't written in awhile (awhile for me, but when compared to some of the other AFSers I am a freaking machine pounding out these blogs!) simply because I couldn't think of anything to write about. However, I had some time and figured that since so many of you are living vicariously through me throughout this experience, I could tell you about some little things I have seen or noticed here that I may take for granted, or not think much of because I now see them every day.

1. Dreadlocks. Dreadlocks are everywhere. EVERYWHERE! Sometimes a full head of dreads, other times just one or two and the rest a normal head of hair.

2. Roller skates / blades, scooters, skateboards, and bikes are used 10000x more often, and sometimes more than one at the same time. For example, on more than one occasion I have seen someone riding a bike, with someone holding onto their shoulder while cruising along on roller blades. Or, a person on roller blades, while pushing a stroller. In addition, it is rare that their is only one person on a bike at a time. The norm is two, whether the second person is on the handle bars, spokes, who knows where, you see a bike, you will most likely see two people on that bike.

3. Saying bless you (salud in Spanish) is not as habitual as it is in the U.S. I find this one very strange, considering the people here are so warm, friendly, and willing to help each other out.

4. Arrows painted in the street actually point in the direction the traffic is coming FROM! This is actually kind of important, so if you ever find yourself in Spain keep that in mind!

Now to set some stereotypes straight, or confirm their validity.

1. All Spaniards are tan. False.
Although their are those girls and boys in my class or around town with the perfect tan you are just as likely to find a pale chico here, as you are in New York.

2. All Spaniards are very friendly. True.
For the most part true. There is definitely less of a barrier between friends groups and new comers, however I strongly believe that we are almost just as friendly and welcoming in good old Pine Plains. Also, I have found that it is actually a lot easier to make friends with other AFSers than it is to make friends with the people in your town / school, but no worries, I am making both!

3. Everything is really delayed and relaxed when it comes to time. True.
This is most definitely, 100% no 150% true. School starts at 8:10, students still walking in at 8:25. Dance class at 6, I am the first to arrive if I get there at 5:58. Hungry at 7:30, dinner is at 9. Tired at 10:30 at a school night, that's ok.. but your family might give you some funny looks or think you are feeling sick if you go to bed before 11 on a school night.

I am sure there are many, many more things that I am leaving out, but I simply cannot think of them right now! If you have any questions or are really really curious about something, put it in the comments or inbox me your questions on Facebook, because I am just not sure what to write about now that most of the initial firsts are all done with.

Escuela

I am in such a writing mood right now that I am just gonna keep on going!

    Before  I touched base on what a day of school is like, but right now I am gonna bring you up close and personal with what a true day of school in Spain is like!

    At 8:10 AM the gate to the school is opened. We all flow through the halls at a relatively leisurely pace, because although our schedules say class starts at 8:10, it really starts at like 8:20, or whatever time the teacher decides to show up. The schedule here is DEFINITELY very laid back. 

    

     Not only is the schedule more relaxed here, but so is the teaching method / classroom etiquette. Students call their teachers either "Profi" short for professor or by the teachers first name. Students also talk ALL through class, and teachers just keep right on going. Its like paying attention here is an option rather than a requirement. 

    Class goes on for an hour and then when the bell rings both the students and teachers switch classes. Having teachers switch classrooms along with the students creates a different atmosphere in the classroom. Since the teacher is not assigned only one room, they do not decorate their classrooms. I know you might think this wouldn't make that much of a difference you are wrong. The ONLY things found in the classroom are desks, chairs, a teachers desk, and a smart board. It is actually quite sad learning in such an empty setting.

    After my second class we have break time. Here, if your parents give you permission like mine did, you are given a card that permits you to leave the school campus during this time. My friends and I do either one of two things. One, we just walk across the street and sit on a bench where other students are chilling from other classes or the other school located all of 20 feet away from mine, or two we go to the grocery store. So that's cool. 

    Oh! Another thing about break time! Break time is the ONLY time you have to go to the bathroom. Even if your teacher is perfectly willing to let you go to the bathroom during class time like mine was, (she must not have gotten the memo, because she let me go and let me find out on my own that) you will not get in to the bathroom because it is locked. Not only is it locked, but even when you ask for the key at the front desk with the sweetest, most innocent face (like mine) they will not let you in. So if you ever go to school in Spain, pee during break, or spend the rest of your day trying not to pee your pants.

    Then there is more class time blah, blah, blah. On Wednesdays everyone in my level of school has a class 8th period called TUT. TUT is basically a study hall, except you aren't expected to study, you just talk and talk!Today the main focus of TUT was Emily the American, and it was hilarious! The kids in class, all of whom are really nice and talkative, asked me a bunch of questions and it was just really, really fun! 

    Then at the end of the day, at 2:50 or before, depending if you teacher feels like teaching until the end of class time or not, we all flow out of the school and go our separate ways and eat at home with our families. So ya! School is good, life is good! I hope yours is too! BYE!!!

  

Things are looking up!

SO! Its been a week since I lasted posted and a good amount of stuff has happened. 

     First of all, I had my post arrival AFS orientation last weekend which was fantastic! It was really, really nice to hear other peoples struggles and mishaps and to know that I am not alone in this extremely challenging time! Of course my family and friends are all there for me, but its really hard to understand the things that I am going through unless you are experiencing them yourself too! At this same orientation, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that my Spanish speaking abilities are at an average if not a little above average level! And I am learning more and more everyday! Also at this orientation I got the privilege of meeting a lot of cool returnees! Those guys are funny let me tell you! No matter what the topic, serious or not, those guys never failed to make us kids smile! So if any of you are reading this right now THANK YOU! It was a great weekend that was much needed and helped me regain my optimistic outlook on the 9 months ahead of me!  

    Second of all, I have decided not to play soccer and pick up a dance class instead. I know this may come as quite a shock, considering I am in Spain and it seems almost unnatural NOT to play soccer here, but there are many reasons why I made this decision. 

1. The soccer club that I practiced at was pretty far away. I had to take a train and a bus just to get to the field and then afterwards I had about a 15 minute walk to the train station to ride back home. So my 1 hour soccer practice actually took up about 3 hours of my time. The dance studio I now plan on attending is just a short walk away! 
2. Practice was late! Practice would start at 8 or 9 and then end whenever the coaches decided we were done which was usually around 10:30 or 11 o'clock.
3. Practices could be scheduled whenever the coaches felt like it. For example, practice was scheduled for every Monday and Friday, but if the coach thought we needed to run a bit, practice on Tuesday night this week, or we are gonna practice on Thursday night next week. TOO MUCH!
4. Games are EVERY weekend. Now this may not have been a bad thing if I was really, really into soccer and it was like my main purpose for coming to Spain, but I came here to experience a whole bunch of different things. If I decide that I want to head on into the city spontaneously on Saturday afternoon, I want the freedom to be able to do that!
5. The team I was on was pretty serious about their soccer. Hey I don't blame them! If I commit to a team and spend that much time practicing and giving up time with friends on Friday and Saturday nights I wouldn't want someone screwing up my chances of winning either. But I am here for fun, and I don't want my time here to be a constant competition! I want lots of fun, laughs and stories to tell!
6. It was SO hard to understand the drills when they were explained in a different language. In time, once I knew the language better I know this wouldn't be a problem, but it will be so much easier in dance because everything is visual!

   I will totally resume playing school soccer next year in the fall when I am back home, but for the time being, I don't think playing soccer is in my best interest.

     Third of all, I am FINALLY truly happy at school! I have found my type people to hang out with that have similar interests as I do and its a social group so my friend group can only grow from here! One week ago, I am not gonna lie, I was MISERABLE at school and I literally counted the seconds until it ended. I would stay up late at night just to prolong the start of a new school day, it was honestly that bad! But now, I sing right along with my alarm at 7 AM (yes I also have the privilege of waking up at 7 here rather than the terrifying 5:40 at home) and head to school with a smile on my face!

      I am so glad I took a chance, stepped out of my comfort zone, and made more friends because now I am 94853678563875698756398746583748539534685x happier for it! Now I am getting pumped to head out to dance class and meet more people in my town and make even MORE friends! YAY! Its just been a really, really good week! Hope ya'll are having a great time as well! Happy October!