Where the Heck is Matt? (2008)

This video is so cool! With the combination of the song track and all the people gathering together to dance, it never fails to put a smile on my face when I watch it. I hope it does the same for you :)

Soy de California

I have said these three words numerous times over the past two months and it inevitably invokes a great reaction. Whether the reaction is "oh que guai!" (how cool) o "en serio?" (seriously) o "no lo creo" (I don't believe it), or just a nod and smile of acknowledgement, I alway appreciate it.

Today Meeka and I went on a double date with our intercambio friends, Laura and Nerea, and we had such a good time just hanging out and talking with them. In Spanish class, we were discussing general events that can change a person's life. One of them was living in another country and learning another language. For me, I can see that change happening in my life. After living in Spain for only two months, I am beginning to see how other people live and think(particularly Spaniards) differently from me. For this, I am also learning a lot about myself. It's pretty cool :)

As a side note, this past weekend I was fortunate enough to visit my good friend Sarah in Prague. Given that it has been about a year since we have seen each other, we had a great time to say the least. I was pleasantly surprised to find that beer is cheaper than water in the Czech Republic and that per capita, the Czech people drink the most beer in the world- crazy! Well, cheers to catching up with old friends and getting to know new ones! What a blessed life.

Andalusia and all of its intricacies

The past two weekends I have had the pleasure of visiting three distinct areas in the Andalusian region, and I must say it has left a strong impression on me, from the architecture to the people to the nap on the beach. Here is a picture from the mosque in Córdoba, a close-up of the detail in an arch. I was amazed by the intricity of every column and arch.

The first weekend I went to Córdoba and Granada with my EAP program. Although both cities were very different, I feel that we were there for such a short time that I more so returned to Madrid with a taste of what Andalusia was like. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the bus drive from Córdoba to Granada which took us through groves of olive trees that completely covered the hills as far as I could see. We had just passed what looked like a castle on top of a distant hill, and then the bus pulled over for a bathroom break. My friend Alli and I had been intrigued by the castle so naturally, we went to try and find a good view of it. We ended up within an olive grove where we stumbled upon wildflowers and a Spanish villa. There was a moment where we looked at each other and I think it was Alli that suggested that we frolicked. So indeed we did- we frolicked in an olive tree grove, laughing the whole time about how ridiculous we were being. After we got a good picture with the castle on the hill, we promptly returned to the bus.


The mosque in Córdoba and the Alhambra in Granada were so awesome; I found myself imagining what it would have been like to live in that time period and I concluded that I would have been just as weird. (Side note: After Bianca commented today that I was weird, I told her at least I'm not boring haha) Here is a picture of a horse show that we saw in Córdoba, in which I saw horses in a whole new light and experienced a depth within the human-horse relationship, albeit in third-person as the observer.

We saw a flamenco show in Córdoba as well, which made me want to not only be a dancer, but to be a Spanish mujer with the romantic intensity she held in her eyes. Though I realize I would have a hard time not smiling for two hours.

The following weekend I went to Cádiz for Carnaval, and though I was only at Carnaval officially for one night, I had such a great time meeting gente from all over Spain- Granada, Málaga, Sevilla, Bilbao, todo. All of the costumes were crazy and everyone was having a great time, more or less. I juggled with the "Barcelona" futbol team, I was asked what kind of shampoo I use, my friend was saved by real-live Power Rangers, and I learned the meaning of ´chulo´. It is something like arrogant but the Bilbaon man explaining it was saying that the people in northern Spain in his region are chulo, and also gentlemen. He proved that true as he waited with me while I looked for my friends, oyy veyy. The crowd was huge, and what I was expecting was a big spectacle of lights or a performance. But really what I experienced was a large boteon (street drinking) and a performance of traditional Spanish songs from a group of men that looked like a bunch of mad-hatters with their wigs. That part was kind of weird, to be honest. It is mostly because I didn´t understand and it was far from what I expected. Evenso, it was all just amazing!


Besides that, I had gone down with the Eurovibe group and we were staying outside of Cadiz, where all the Carnaval activites were happening. But it turned out to be the best thing since Spain itself- I got to walk on the beach, which I haven´t done for months! Actually I should clarify- I first walked on the beach, and then on our way home Javier and I took a different route and ended up walking barefoot through the streets of a town that I couldn´t tell you the name of hah. Luckily, it wasn´t tourist season and it was oddly quiet. I also ran and took a dip in the water on Sunday, and felt so alive and refreshed after. Anyways, I really love Andalusia after my experiences there, and I have only heard great things about Sevilla so I am looking forward to that time in my life. This summer I will be staying in Sevilla for two months and volunteering with VIDES, where my sister is currently. She said I am in for a [re]treat...Palmer joke!

On another note, I found myself listening to Christmas music. That is always a sign that I miss home. So saludos to home, I will indeed be home well before Christmas!

On the beach napping, quite typical.