The nightlife of goats

Warning: Lots of words coming atcha. This post was going to be long no matter what but the plan was to break it up with pictures. Sadly, the one place in my Piso where I got fast internet service has decided to be absurdly slow as well and I can not get any pictures to load. If you read until the end I'll know you're a true friend (guilt trippin') or just really really bored.

I’ve been in España for almost two weeks now and slowly but surely I’m starting to adjust.

This weekend turned out completely different than I expected. This is a lesson to keep in mind: As much as I think I know what’s coming next, life will always surprise you. This can work in both good and bad ways. Luckily, this weekend things turned out for the better.

My roommate left to go home for the weekend (something I think she’ll do every weekend because it’s customary in España and she lives close enough) and I anticipated another lonely and boring weekend wandering around the pueblo by myself. Friday night was nice as I was able to skype with a couple of friends and family. Saturday I made myself get up early and leave the Piso so that I didn’t get sucked into just vegging on the couch and sinking into a state of lonely depression. I walked around the park, read at the biblioteca (library) until it closed at 2pm and then I sat at a bar to order a coke and prolong my time away from the Piso.

Sidenote: I used to be totally paranoid and uncomfortable doing anything by myself. Four years of college slowly broke me of that. I’m pretty ok doing things by myself now. However, España is testing my self-confidence. Nobody is ever alone here (at least not in Puente Genil). They’re in large groups of family and friends. I still don’t really mind going in and sitting by myself, but everybody stares. Literally. Spaniards are not afraid to stare you down. I always bring a book which I think freaks them out even more. Ja! (That’s “ha” in Spanish.)

Anyway, I was considering ordering another coke when my friend Danica, who I met through the Auxiliar Facebook group and traveled here with, texted me and told me to hop a bus and go to Cabra with her and her roommates for her friend’s birthday. I like spontaneity. But sometimes I suck at it. So I waffled for a bit. From the moment I got the text I had about two hours to head back to my piso and then pack up, figure out how to get to the bus station and head back out. Knowing I needed to do this for my own sake, I figured out how to leave my roommate a note in Spanish, stuffed a bunch of stuff in my purse and walked the half hour to the bus station.

Did you catch the part where I packed for 2 night and 2 days in a purse? I feel pretty awesome about that part.

So I was off to Cabra. Cabra means “goat” in English. I love that.

Cabra was a whirlwind. This post is really long and I haven’t even gotten into any of the real trip yet! I will try to stick to mostly photos from here on out. I owe all of my photos to my friend Samantha because since I was only packing in one purse, I decided to leave the camera behind.

Danica’s friend, the birthday girl Alex, and her boyfriend, GM, were fantastically fun hosts. We got to hear a little history of the pueblo and a lot of gossip. We walked through the oldest park in Andalucía on our way to their piso.

{Can you picture that park? You'll have to because the picture won't load.}

The night was a crazy marathon of going out. I have pulled several all-nighters in my life, although it should be noted that they’ve ALL been for the sake of reading Harry Potter books when they came out at midnight (4, 5, 6, and 7 HOLLA!) but never for studying or partying.

Well, Spain nightlife is not friendly to those who want to sleep before 8am. But I was determined to keep up! We all went to a bar to watch the Barcelona fútbol game from around 10am to 12am and then went back to the piso for a bit of low-key hanging out before hitting some more bars at 2am. The main event of the night was the discoteca but that wouldn’t get started until 4am. That’s right, 4am. I was shocked when 3am rolled around and I wasn’t just passed out on the floor from exhaustion. We left the discoteca around 6am.

{There were going to be fun pictures here of things like discotecas and me singing Celine Dion 4 in the morning. Don't you wish there were pictures here?}

On Sunday I returned to Estepa where the girls (Danica, Rachel and Samantha) live. They were kind enough to invite me there for the night. We mostly just relaxed because…well, did you read the description of our Saturday night? But we did go out to a delicious dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. We had this fantastic mixed salad, shrimp in garlic sauce and stuffed mussels. I also took a walk around part of the city with Danica. Estepa is on a very steep hill so no matter what you will always have to climb up, either going somewhere or returning. The view from the top of the hill makes it all worthwhile, though. It is astounding, you can see for ages to the surrounding country side and scattered pueblos in the distance. It made me regret that no-camera decision.

This week I have a lot of little errands to run. I begin my teaching job on Friday! I’m getting really nervous about it…any last minute advice on teaching little children English anybody?

I hope everyone had a truly delightful weekend.

P.S.: Danica’s boyfriend mailed her red and orange leaves so she could enjoy a bit of Fall from home. It’s still in the 80s and humid here. :( First person to send me leaves wins….um, all my love and affection? Jaja!

Meet the Neighbors

I live across the street from a...church? Museum? I'm not entirely sure.

I've noticed what looks like a giant nest on top of it but I assumed it was vacant. Not so. Today I came in to the living room to find my roommate taking pictures out the window. She called me over to see who was residing in the giant nest.

Giant birds! I guess that makes sense since it's a giant nest and all.

I managed to formulate a sentence asking what type of birds they were. When Rocio answered with the proper spanish word I realized I still had no idea (duh) but played along nodding and saying "si" as I do most of the time when I'm actually clueless. But then, she brilliantly gestured and said that they carry babies and then I got it...these are storks!

I hope they bring some happy couple a baby soon!

Nothing Lasts Forever

I am here in Spain. In my pueblo, Puente Genil, to be exact.
Things have been difficult. Too many stresses, not enough sleep, a lot of tears. I miss home.
My spirits are low.

I am trying to focus on the small blessings, though. My roommate, Rocio, speaks no English (nor does anybody in my town) but is very friendly and patient as I stumble over my Spanish words. My apartment has no internet but I figured out that there was a USB hook-up I could buy to get internet...and I managed to converse with the sale's lady at the store about it! She was very patient with me as well.

I know things will improve but in the meantime I was hoping if you read this you might take a moment to leave me a note. Words of wisdom, a funny story, a good quote...anything that might give me comfort during these days when I am often disheartened. I feel vulnerable asking this, but my father advised me to trust in others and while I know he meant all of the strangers around me, I didn't think it could hurt to start here.

Gracias, amigos.

Tedauren, Est. 2008

Ted & Lauren,

You are, if you don't mind me borrowing the word, bombspice. Congratulations on your first two years of marriage! I'm sure they've been wonderful, at times trying, and always full of laughter. I wish you an eternity of happiness.

xo,

Kate

P.S.: Lar, if you're wondering, yes, I did cut myself out of this picture so it'd just be the two of you. But hey, it seemed less creepy than stealing one that was actually just the two of you off your blog. ;)

At the Rock of Gibraltar

The last time I was in Spain I was fifteen, and among other memorable events, I had a monkey sit on my head.

Here’s to hoping my upcoming move to Spain is filled with new friends, new adventures, and more monkeys on my head.

P.S.: This is my 100th post. Took me long enough!

Last Call

Email your address to sophistikate88@gmail.com (or my personal email if you have it) to receive postcards from me while I'm in Spain.

I won’t have internet for an indeterminate amount of time after I arrive. It’s all subject to when I can find myself a piso (apartment) and get wireless set up. Will you miss me? I’ll miss you. Send me happy emails so I’ll have pleasant things to catch up on when I finally get all set up.

For those of you who have asked for my address in Spain, I will let you know when I have one. You also may have to remind me you asked.

I'm on skype: Kayemeye*

*People always ask. This username is the phonetic spelling of my initials. KMI. I was feeling silly.

I think that’s it! Just about time for me to hop across the pond.

Xo,
Kate

{Last dinner out in CO}

To Old Friends & New Adventures

September 11 means a lot of things to me.

9 years ago it meant tragedy. It is my fervent prayer that someday we will be able to mark this day with love for our fellow human beings--ALL of them-- instead of the hate that started it all in the first place.

This year it meant joining over 600 others in an "Out of the Darkness" Suicide Prevention walk.

2 years ago it meant leaving my home for my semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria.



This was my home. This will always be my home.



(If you don't recognize this house, we should probably talk about what you missed out on during your childhood.)

As much as I miss Salzburg, I will always miss these girls more.

(January '10)

Luckily, we find ways to meet up for fantastic weekends in California. I know that we will always be an important part of each other's memories and hopefully each other's future lives.

I miss what I had in Austria and I know Spain will be a completely different experience. My time there holds an immovable place in my heart, but there's still room for what's coming next.

I can't wait to begin.

2 suitcases, 10 months

That's all.

Epic AZ Trip: Besties

It feels like a million years since I was in Arizona because I’ve been so busy preparing for Spain. That means it’s the perfect time to finish telling you tales of my trip and putting up pictures. I want to pretend I’m there again.

Saturday we were very busy bees. Perfect, no?

{The Busy Bee herself!}

We explored two Goodwills and both came away with treasures. Some treasures we just photographed because we just weren’t cool enough to purchase and wear them ourselves.

We got mani/pedis. We ate Golden Spoon. We wandered around Downtown Mesa, which I adored. I photographed some strange statues, some Domestic Bliss loveliness, and my gorgeous friend next to what I call the “famous photoshoot steps.”

After our run to Sprinkles, we went to the blessedly refreshing pool for a long time. It was wonderful and just what we needed although we almost didn’t make it in. Doors can be tricky, you guys.

I won’t bore you with details, but we spent a healthy couple of hours discussing the Hunger Games cast and memorizing the Antoine Dodson video (and song!) after Ted shared it with Lar for the first time. I don’t know how she missed it when it swept the internet several weeks ago, but don’t worry, it’s in her life now.

{Mmm Tia Rosa's for dinner!}

Sunday was a very relaxing day.

Lauren and I had serious business to attend to, though. We spent hours camped at the computer researching really important issues. We kept a healthy handful of candy nearby for brain-food.

And when we weren’t working really hard, we were watching 2nd hand embarrassing television and loving every minute of it, preparing and eating delicious honey-lime chicken enchiladas, laughing at the ridiculousness of the scary movie “Silent Hill” with Ted (“I think there was a fire…”), watching the adorable movie “Penelope,” and exchanging exciting ideas for our new blog project, Real or Not Real. We laughed a lot, we fangirled, we had serious converstions and we pondered these wise words: “It’s not the power of the curse, it’s the power you give the curse”—to which we said “Whatevuh.”


I know I’m a broken record but I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to hang out with my soulsistah-bestie in Arizona this past weekend. I am just sad that we are about to be separated by the Atlantic Ocean.

{Spain.}

{Arizona.}

Lauren & Ted are such fun to hang out with and they both have truly kind and open spirits.

So…

Run and tell THAT, home boy.

P.S.: Lar, next time can we play Marry-o cart?

Epic AZ Trip: We Love Food

Arizona is insanely hot. This is news to no one. But really, you can’t prepare yourself for it. Still, I had such an incredibly fantastic time this past weekend that I’d go back to hang with Lauren and Ted in a heartbeat. Of course, the pool five steps away didn’t hurt either.

I was actually pretty nervous walking out of security to meet my long-time bestie, Lar. But, you guys, she’s such a doll!

.....

.......

Hahaha! I hope you don’t have nightmares from this totally creepspice doll that we found in an antique shop Saturday. No, in actuality, we failed at picture taking on Friday night. We were too distracted by linguine in clam sauce at Rigatony’s (I now have dreams about this dish), the cuteness of Leo the bunny and Gizmo the birdie, and the hilariousness of “Better of Dead.” I immediately loved Lauren (well, I already did, but it was completely solidified) and Ted was just as welcoming and friendly as I’d always imagined him to be. He wasn’t a scary fiend at all.

Lauren is hilarious. So is Ted. They're even extra funny when they're not trying to be. On my list of favorite quotes we have:

“I’ve been thinking about this all day. Somebody offered me a soft taco.” –Lar
&
“Peeta is…the shiz.” –Ted (Preach it, Ted!)

In the past, Lauren and I have talked about how we’re total foodies and pretty much like to eat every five minutes. So, don’t be shocked that food was pretty much every other item on the epic fungenda that Lar created. I have so much to blog about, but I figured this was a good place to start.

{Trip theme.}

First up, the legendary Golden Spoon. Every time Lauren has mentioned their froyo in the past, I have wanted to try it. Dreams come true, guys! The Graham Cracker froyo was everything I'd hoped and more.


Next we hit Sweet Cakes Cafe for lunch. Best cheddar broccoli soup in a bread bowl of my life. I want some right now. Yes, at 10:45 at night.

After a busy and wonderously fun morning (more on that later), we knew we couldn't make it another step without 32oz drinks from QT. Lauren really likes QT. A lot. It's kinda funny. But the drinks were serious life savers in the 100-billion degree heat.

Ted, Lauren and I were on our way to Flancers when they realized they should probably take me to some authentic Mexican. Yes, please. We went to a vibrant and tasty restaurant called Tia Rosa's for our fix.

I like to think that Peeta frosted these Sprinkles treats. How perfect is the one with the cactus on it?

The B*s are so classy that they don't reheat leftovers in a microwave, they go stove top. That and their microwave was broken.

Sunday after church I got to be sous-chef for Lar while she started preparing her truly infamous Honey-lime chicken enchiladas.

This was seriously epic for me. The first post by Lauren I ever read way back when was about these very enchiladas. And I've wanted to try them ever since.

Now that I have, my life may never be the same.

Scared by how invested I am in food? Wondering if we did anything else? Don't worry friends, this is just the beginning. Many more photos and stories to come.

Peace and love.