Llama me una Maestra de Ingles

Porque yo tengo un trabajo :) 

Call me an english teacher, becuase I have a job. :) Every Wednesday starting next week, I'll teacher two children English to help their pronunciation, grammer, and conversational skills. This will be good practice for me as well. It's only two hours a week with a 9 year-old boy and 4 year old girl. :D I'm so excited and can't wait to start. :) 

I'll send more details or upload a photo when I have it.

Sabes tu espanol es mejor cuando...

You know your Spanish is better when...(finish this sentence for me and I'll be able to gauge how learning I'm learning). Comment below. 

Besos (kisses) <3 

LT

The Roomies and life at my flat

Mis Compañeros de habitación y vida en mi piso  

Living en mi piso is interesting. There are a few things to get used to. For instance, our mashing machine handle is broken, so you have to bang it a few times, and shimmy a stick behind the handle to flick the latch open. Ha there were many times I thought I would never get my cloths back. 

Then I have to hang dry my clothes. The patio fills up quickly with everyone's stuff. 

A gas grill that is a little more manually intensive than those in the States. I don't have to take a lighter to it (thank goodness), but there are a few more steps to turning it on and off. In addition, the pots and pans get covered in soot, which makes it interesting to clean things. 

My internet goes in and out, so I need to move around el piso or restart the modem every now and then.

It's really not bad. Just different. Different things to get accustom to. A smaller space, less things, low quality equipment, city noises, but it works. It's easy to get by. 

I took a photo of my roommates. Our conversations are interesting. It's a mix of Spanish, Italian, and English, and we always have Google translate nearby. :)

Linda is from Italy, studying Psychology for her Masters/undergraduate. (She's taking a mix of both here because it's necessary for an exam she'll take back in Italy). She's a delight. Always happy and talkative. Ha when she doesn't know the Spanish word for something though, she says it in Italian, because it's usually similar. Half the time I don't even know what I'm hearing ("is it Spanish or Italian?") ha, but that's why I use Google translate frequently. We practice congicating verbs together as well. Our conversations are simple, typical, and not necessarily correct, but it's the practice that is important. If I don't have to think about the words I'm trying to say, I can speak more rapidly and understand more quickly tambien. 

Jose is a cook at a slightly upscale restaurant called Bar & White. He shows me the traditional dishes of Murcia. I love it! I love food and he's always bringing or making something new and different. :) A MI ME ENCANTO LO! He showed me a lot of the city as well. My tour guide and go-to person when I have a problem. 

Below is an example of one of the things he brought back. This is a like a little apple. About the size of a cherry with a pit and everything, but the consistency of an apple. There's not much flavor to it. Only slightly sweet with a hint of apple flavor. An example of Murcian frutas. 

La Plaza de Toros 

un sitio y experiencia

One of the things Spain is well known for is the Plaza de Toros--where Bullfighting is held. Before coming here, I didn't realize the bulls were actually killed. The thought of making death a spectaor sport gave me mixed feelings. On one hand I love the sport of things. I love games, entertainment, and demonstration of skill. On the other-hand I hate seeing others (including creatures) in pain. Others in Spain have the same feeling. There's plenty of plotical debates and groups of people advocating the termination of it. 

In the end, I was here to experience the culture and wanted to do just that. 

It was a quite the experience. 

It began with a crowd covering the streeting, making their way to the stadium. Vendors were out selling sunflower seeds, otros bocados, y cushions for the four hour event. Six bulls were waiting inside. After the compenzing song, the first was released. Six or more toreros stood in the ring with pink flags. Their objective was to attract the bull's attention, play with it, get it to run around, and wear it out a little. 

Soon the horses would come out. Their purpose was to be bait for the bull. They were clad in thick matts for protection. The bul qould charge and spear the horse (you just pray not to see the horse injured). Stuck and vunerable, the man on the horse makes the inital strike peircing the back hump of the bull.  After that, a couple banderilleros come out. They play chicken with the bull, taking two banderillas and attempt to stab it in the same spot as the inital strike. Some stick and some don't. After that, the final round begins. 

The main Torero enters the rings. Es solo el Torero y el Toro. The elegance and egotism shows in the way they dance together. The torero shows just how close he can be to danger without getting hurt. At times he turns his back to the bull and walks toward the crowd, his chest puffed out in pride. Teh crowd goes wild. Whenever the flag flips the crowds cheers "Ole!" This repeats for some time. 

You can see the chest of the toro heave heavily in exhaustion. It's reaction slows. It's head bows lower and lower. At times it even kneals accidentally. At this time the Torero straightens his sword. I get anxious :(

They stare at eachother, the sword pointed at the bull. I think the bull knows what's about to happen. 

It takes a few more heavy breathes then charges one last time. The Torero charges back, striking, and dodging out of the way in the last second. If it's a good strike the bull wavers, wandles a few steps, then slowly comes to the ground. If it's bad, well...it takes some time. 

The mayor of the city sits up top having observed the whole show. He is to judge what prize the mandator gets. If it's an excellent strike and show, the Teror can recieve the highest prize--both ears and the tail. If it's bad, he recieves nothing. 

The crowd stands and waives white tissues, towls, and cloths, similar to the ones the mayor displays. Everyone is cheering and yelling, and waiving their cloth. 

One white flag is shown by the mayor. But this doesn't please the crowd. One prize is not good enough. Everyone continues to stand and yell. The Mayor and his companions converse intensively. As if it was a reluctant decision, another white flag is shown. The Madator gets two ears for his kill and the crowd is pleased. 

Helpers flock in to rack the stadium, and drag the bull out of the ring. It's off to the carnicero (butcher). Meanwhile, the Torero takes his victory lap with his prize in hand 

It was a little upsetting to see, but at the same time fascinating. This was a tradition held for centuries. It's like an ancient art. They know how to dazzle it, but the purpose of the event cannot be hidden. I enjoyed myself. I was intregued by the whole show. We made friends with those sitting next to us as well (it's hard not to when you are elbow to elbow with them). With free drinks, food, and laughes, it made the event more enjoyable. I ended up interacting with the people around more than watching the show. Ha It was fun though and well worth it. 

Dog Days of Summer

27 C = 82 F
33 C = 91 F

HEAT
It's hot.
hot
hot,
hot.
It wipes you of energy and drives your body into thirst.
Give me nothing but ice cold beverages and shade.
Please
It feels like a savannah.
Oh the dog days of summer.
Oh the heat.
Hace muchos calor.


Some reason it feels hotter than it seems. Perhaps it's because I'm always outside, in the sun, and walking around. Murcia is technically a desert after all, or so I'm told. Looks like it will be this way for a while. Good thing I packed plenty of tank-tops.

Hola, mi nombre es Lyndsay ¿y tú?

Jueves y Viernes was orientation and thus began the parade of events and introductions. Most people associated with our program were from America, but we were quickly introduced to the Europe exchange program. Languages flew everywhere! Itilian, German, Polish, French, English, and of course Spanish. I'm extremely impressed by the many European students who are trilingual, quadralingual, or simply polyglots. 

Puedo entiendo la mayoría de que es siendo decir en espanol, pero cuando yo no se como responder, personas me hable en mi idioma materna. I wish they wouldn't. 


My language intensive courses just started. It was a day of games getting us to talk, understand, and use basic spanish words--numbers, names, pharses, adjectives, etc. I even have a homework assignment. Now I'm caught between obligations and desire to explore more of Murcia life. 

Ah! It's a tug-a-war. Ha can I have more time to do everything? :) 


Tomorrow is holiday so no school and nothing's open...ha gah, that's something I'm going to have to get used to.

LOVE LOCKS 

This was the cutest thing I have seen.
Walking across one of the bridges in Murcia I saw locks clung tight to the railing. On them were the names of lovers. In the river below were the keys, forever lost and never to unbound their love. :) Awhhh....muy mono!

  Life on the country side 

 The second day of my stay, my landlord invited me for lunch at their country homestead. It's the two month long holidays for them, so they are relaxing at their large country home. Just outside of the city it's an ideal image. Two story home, swimming pool in the back, an assortment of fruit bearing vines and trees, animals, and peaceful country-side view.

For lunch, they were cooking a feast! The main course: chicken paella! Along with it was an array of dishes: tuna and tomatoes, clams, oysters, salmon-cream cheese sliders, melons, banana, and for dessert--almond/honey helado (ice-cream). Yum! Another staple to their diet is lemons. Lemons are squeezed over everything. It adds a nice accent of freshness and sour bite. I love it!

The girls showed me their pets as well. Un Pato, muchas patitos, un gallo, gallinas, tres gatas, doce gatitos, dos peros, y un tortuga. Tantos animales! Y muy mono. Yo quería llevar a casa conmigo. :) Then father excitedly showed me all of his delicious plants. I was greatly impressed and would have been satisfied eating all the fruit they had. Tienen tal abundancia!

[Left to right:] Noemi (the oldest at 24), Pepita (the mother),
Laurena (the youngest at 13), Fransico (the father)
[in the back]: Fran (the only son. 18 yrs old)

Cooking is a family affair

They had everything imaginable growing in their yard.
 Figs, oranges, mandarines, apples, almonds, and grapes 

The girls showed me their pets as well. Un Pato, muchas patitos, un gallo, gallinas, tres gatas, doce gatitos, dos peros, y un tortuga. Tantos animales! Y muy mono. Yo quería llevar a casa conmigo. :) Then father excitedly showed me all of his delicious plants. I was greatly impressed and would have been satisified eating all the fruit they had. Tienen tal abundancia! 

Meanwhile, back in the city...

vuelta en la ciudad...

My place is a bit more rinky-dink, but hey it's home. Cheap, livable, and in the heart of the city. As a college student, I can't complain. It's right in the heart of the city and near la plaza de toros :) (and hospital...convenient!). What I find interesting is water is included with the rent (about 200 Euros a month) even though the city is technically a desert. It's not as expensive as the luz (lights) which I have to pay separately for. I find myself in the dark most of the time to save on expenses. 

It's not bad, just noisy and hot. I can hear everything and everyone outside, but can't shut the window without overheating. In addition, I can't differentiate where sounds are coming from. The doorbell, moved chair, phone call, etc. sound like they are in my apartment, but they are from next door, above, or below me. It's too hard to tell. It's a different, but I can grow accustom to it. 

Tomorrow is orientation. Funnzies!

  

Blanco

Finally not living out of a suitcase

View from the kitchen patio

My washer and patio #1

Dinner table (mesa cenar)

Love this shot! 

My dryer and front patio (patio #2) 

The street/alleyway

La Plaza de Toros :) 

First Couple days in Spain  
Primero dias en Enspana

The language of Spain
La idioma de España 

It was a long day of traveling, but I've made it. I spent a day flying and arrived in Madrid in the morning, luckily avoiding any fiascos. Ha This summer I've slept in airports, had a 9 hour layover, and so many cancelled flights, I am happy to say nothing happened on the way to Spain. It was as smooth as butter. :) Once in Madrid I took a 6 hour bus down to Murcia.

I am extremely thankful that English is such a widely used language. I've had to revert to it on occassions. Understanding the dialect is the hardest thing right now, but luckily I'm pretty good at charades ;) 

I know basic words in Spanish, but Spain's pronunciation is different. Even though I was told this, nothing could prepare me like actually being here. Ha I feel I am learning everything all over again.

The words here are spoken with a lisp and more throat sounds. For example, C's are pronounced "th" instead of "k". T is sounds like "d" or "te". As well, they sometimes don't pronounce the letter 's'. For example, "adios" is "adio" or "pescado" (fish) is pronounced [pe-tha-do] (no 's' sound). Some letters like 'G' and 'J' are prounced deep in the throat. You sound like you're hacking a luggie when speaking.
What's more is it's different in different areas! The accents got stronger as I went south, and I felt more and more confused. Ha I find myself asking them to speak really slowly and write things down. Haha but it's good for me. I'm learning. 

The food of Spain
Le comida de Espana 

Their staple seems to be ham, potatoes, sea food, and tomatoes. I've frequently had the combination of tuna and tomatoes, or ham, potatoes, and cheese. Sometimes an egg is thrown in there as well. :) And everything is served with a carbohydrate (bread, pasta, rice, etc.). Their empanadas are delicious and remind me of pasties, it also goes by the name of pastel murciano. I had one of tomoates, tuna, and eggs. 

Ha and yes they have a different lifestyle:

Breakfast: 8-10 am (usually light)

Lunch: 1-3 pm

Tapas (small plates): 8-10 pm

Dinner: 8pm -11pm

Dessert: 10pm-12 pm

Clubs/bars/dancing: 12pm to 6am

It hasn't been hard to adapt to the lifstyle though. With the time difference, it's like eating just a few hours later than I usually do. 

I'd post pictures, pero I left my camera at my land owner’s house (I'll tell the story later). :)
So for now this is it. I'm happy I made it and am slowly learning the language. Orientation begins the 6th. Till then, I'll be exploring. 

More to come: my space, the family of my landlord, the people, and my roommate.