The Madrid apartment

I lived in a fairy-tale apartment for approximately three and a half months in the center of Madrid. I fully realized the dream when it was almost too late. When my parents made a grand trip overseas out of the Brea bubble, we were invited by my host-mom Rosa to come over “for a little snack around 8pm”. Yet she gave us a full reception complete with wine that my mom couldn't stop talking about, and olives that my dad couldn't stop eating. It was great to be able to share my experience with two special people in my life and show them a corner of my life in Madrid. Here are some pictures of the fairy-tale apartment and one of my fairy godmother.

Oh the places you will go!

...With your parents. My parents have been planning this trip for a year now, it was their first trip to Europe and I think they made their mark. Literally, my dad has marked his European territory by stretching on a bench in 5 museums, 1 palace, 1 monastary, and multiple parks. We got a police escort when we got lost and a taxi escort for less than 30 seconds. One pharse of their vacation became “venimos, comimos, vichimos”: we came, we ate, we conquered. It's true, every meal was a different experience. For me, I found it difficult trying to translate the menu and everything the waiter was saying to me. They found it difficult not being able to communicate their several questions to the waiter. But all in all, we ended up with food on our plates and wine in our glasses. It was great to see them enjoy themselves for almost three weeks because I have seen them working hard and consistently all of their lives. For me, albeit it was difficult at times, it was a treat.

Maggie, like the Simpsons

When Spaniards cannot understand my name, I just add in this line after they have attempted to repeat Maggie several times. MaGGie, like the simpsons. Immediately following, a familiar dawning expression spreads across their face and they chuckle. This phrase is so relevant that Martina, my new best friend in Almeria, an 11-year-old girl, began calling me Lisa (Maggie's older sister in the series) by mistake. In truth, I have maybe seen one episode; I hope this other Maggie is giving me a good impression. I think it says something about the transfer of culture and how one additional word can cue a connection across seas. Maggie, like the simpsons: speaks for itself really.

Eggplants and Gatos

My impression of Spain is forever-evolving with every new day, with every person I meet and community I encounter. From my arrival in Madrid with a smooth-talking taxi driver to the Spanish nun Pura who doesn't have a lot to say but makes some great one-liners and delicious gazpacho. Here is dry Pura being attacked by wet Sergio during a water fight...

Similarly my impressions of eggplants and cats have evolved as well. I love the vegetable eggplant for its color and adaptability to any dish. Really it is a difficult vegetable to cook, so when I find recipes that work for it, I get very excited. The Spanish-version of eggplant that I enjoy is beregena rellena (filled-eggplant). Rosa, my host-mom in Madrid, made this plate frequently for Bianca and I; I always loved it. Here at my volunteer service in Almeria, we have a lot of eggplant. After peeling over 50 eggplants, after my right hand turned brownish-purple from the peel, my perspective have changed. Eggplant and I, we now have a love-hate relationship. Love to eat it, hate to peel it.

As for cats, well I don´t like them in general. Yet there are two little kittens that live on the edges of our house here in Almeria, who have found little hearths. Mostly they hang out observing from an exterior wall and run away when Christian, 9-years-old, tries to approach them. I have taken a liking to these cats because I relate them to my position here in Casa Don Bosco in the city of Almeria, province of Andalucia, country of Spain, continent Europe- miles and miles away from California. Because of a slight language barrier, I am like a cat here. I observe a lot. I look different and don't say a lot, thus on the exterior. I catch on to what is going on but I don´t have much response. And when groups of Spaniards approach me suddenly talking really fast with thick accents, I run away. Not literally, but that is a funny image.

I´m being dramatic, but all I have to say is that it is it is easy to put a tag on someone or something from a first-impression. It is harder to break that perspective, yet with an open mind it can be done. Honk for world peace!

Surfing, Couchsurfing

I will say it again, I am a Californian that has never been surfing. Quite a shame. Yet I have been metro surfing and most recently Couchsurfing for the first time. Couchsurfing is this really cool interchange website for travelers where you can search for people wherever you are visiting and either bum a night on their couch or just have a cup of coffee. Well the main attraction for travelers is that it offers a free couch, provided that you extend a good impression on your host via couchsurfing messaging. Here is the website to check it out for further information: www.couchsurfing.org

Anyways, my cousin Beth came to visit my sister and I in Sevilla. We took the weekend to go to Lisbon, Portugal and found a very nice guy to host us for three nights in a beach town 20 minutes outside of the city. Complete with live and authentic fado music (traditional to Portugal), a castle with a terrific view and some feisty peacocks, and plenty of beautiful balconies in the hilly city, us three relatives had a great time.

We were skeptical at first how the experience would go, but it turned out to be a great way to see a big city without having to get lost every ten minutes. More than that, it was an invaluable exchange of culture where we were able to learn more about Portugal and discuss the differences between theirs and ours.

I love these kind of things. In Germany when I was visiting my good friend Anne, we had a dinner with two german guys, a French couchsurfing girl, and three Berkeleyans. Another night to remember, here is a photo that expresses my contentment

Goes to show how genial it is to meet new people from around the world.