Thanksgiving, and other weird encounters in Granada

Please, the next time you see someone you care for, give them the biggest bear-hug in the world. 

I have 22 days until I see my family next and I cannot wait for the hugs I will get!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing about studying abroad is, all of these people in your program, and the friends you meet, are in the same boat. We all are here without our loving families and our best friends. Most of us come here without knowing anyone and I wont lie, it is tough. It's impossible for us to NOT get homesick during the holidays but I got some wise insight from my very best friend Danielle: 

"Just remember these bumps are all temporary, don't let the homesickness keep you from enjoying anything." 

She's absolutely right! Even if some of us are getting homesick, it wont be long until I'll be back at home, and then I'll be missing Spain. How ironic...

So this weekend we had our Thanksgiving dinner celebration and a very nice restaurant where we gorged ourselves with: TOO MUCH BREAD, a turkey loaf with blueberry sauce, perfectly mashed sweet potatoes, and then some traditional pumpkin pie. And what is a Spanish meal without some red wine?!

Food will never fill the void of missing your family, but fortunately, it comes REALLY close. 

So naturally, the next night I went out with a few friends for a mexican dinner. I've been craving guacamole and chimichangas like no other. After dinner we met up with our friend Dorothy and hung out with her friends that live here in Granada! Our first Spanish house party guys....let me tell you about the culture difference. 

The Spanish are NOT out of control (well, for the most part). The stereotype is that the Spanish party all the time, and I would agree, but the partying is not reckless like "some stories I've heard about college parties". I do agree that the drinking age should be lowered in the U.S. because it seems that when we finally reach that legal age of 21, it's almost like playing catch-up. I mean, my parents were allowed to drink at 18 and they turned out half way sane (It's a true statement: Have you met my dad? Have you seen my mother's dancing in the kitchen?!)

I want to show you all how our friend dances. I cannot name names, but I'm not sure he's never danced before in his life. Hint: He's in the military. With this knowledge, I am only guessing that he thinks dancing is a lot like wresting or fighting someone. At this house party we decided to document his dance moves. This top photo displays me holding Dorothy by her arms behind her back preventing her from...well basically moving. This is one of his signature dance moves..

And this bottom one is our all-time favorite. He loves to put you in a 'gentle' choke hold and dance the night away. Dorothy is demonstrating this dance move on me. 

So we 'gently' let him know that you cannot put women into choke holds and think it's dancing with them. I cannot stop laughing, he's quite a gem :)

Later, we talked with a guy originally from the Canary Islands who speaks German, English and Spanish! SHEEEEESH!!! How accomplished!!  We asked him to be totally honest and give us his thoughts and impressions of the United States.....

Here it is folks: "We pretend we have a culture, when in fact, we have no REAL culture at all. We act like we're so laid back and cool with everything, yet half our laws conflict with each other (gay marriage rights or none, death penalty or none etc. It's a different law in each state) and we have this "high-fashion" that no one would ever really dream of wearing" 

Don't get mad. It's the truth. When I talk with the kids at the school I volunteer at, I ask what their favorite American food is and they answer with "hamburger and hot dogs". WHAT?! But it's sadly true. The U.S. isn't a uncultured place though, we're just lucky enough to have a mixture of EVERYTHING and anything. No country is perfect, and I'm pretty happy with where I was raised. 

For a lighter subject, something peculiar has been happening to me while running in the park lately. A a week or so ago, I was running along sweating profusely and sounding like I was working with only one lung or something. I've got my music in, no make up on and hair up in a bun. This is NOT a pretty sight. As I am running along, this man comes out of the corner of my eye and starts walking toward me. There are not a lot of people in the park and he clearly saw me running toward him (again, imagine a stressed out ostrich running and panting at you. Thats about what I look like running). This silly man almost walked straight into me as he was talking out loud, TO NO ONE! He was looking at me and I'm convinced he was trying to start a conversation. What, did he think I was going to stop and have a cup of coffee? The whole situation was weird and it made me run a tad faster...

THEN, a few days ago, I was running through that same park, working on my fourth mile. At this point in my run, I'm just a running zombie trying to make it home without collapsing. The man in a tight fitted gray shirt and gray sweat pants starts sprinting at me, across the park like he was trying to start a game of freeze tag or something. Maybe he thought I didn't see him sprinting, but when he got about 30 feet from me, we made eye contact and he slowed into a walk. AGAIN, this man is trying to walk right into the path I am running towards. There was a drinking fountain about 15 feet away and he makes it there staring at me as I am about to pass this fountain. He bends over to take a drink, while still staring, but doesn't actually drink any of the water. He just stands, bending over the water acting like he is drinking but not ACTUALLY drinking the water. Are you getting this yet? At this point I'm running and staring at this situation and he is bending over the water fountain staring at me with the water running. Yet another moment for me bust ass and run faster home. Spanish men are actually so weird.... or maybe it's this park I run in. Who knows.

I leave for Scotland and Ireland in two days! We have a long weekend off of our classes so Molly, Maeve, Abby and I are taking advantage. We booked a 6 day trip! After we get back, there is one week of regular classes, our finals week (AND MY BIRTHDAY) and then we're done! Unreal.... 

Look at how adorable my nieces are. I cant wait to snuggle them!!!!!!!

Winter is coming..

Food tasting: La Oliva 

Our program has some sort of Spanish culture activity, or excursion ALMOST EVERY WEEK for us. I really am impressed with our program SOL Education Abroad; We have young and helpful directors, activities all the time and we lucked out with a really diverse group of students! Last Thursday we had a Spanish food tasting inside an extremely old building that has been gently restored from a few centuries ago. 

Francisco, is the bilingual owner of the fancy restaurant called La Oliva. He was so sweet and informational. Francisco and his assistant made us tapas that are very "Grandina" (for ya'll non-Spanish people, its like being a "Wisconsinite" or a "Minnesotan" but for Granada). We had a few types of dried and cured ham, two different types of salads and two different types of wine local to Granda.

Francisco is the short one,and his assistant has the glasses on (I also stole this picture from Trip Advisor..don't give me credit for being this creepy)

My favorite dish was a salad called "Ensalada de Granada". Granada is actually the spanish word for pomegranate (if I haven't mentioned this already) so this salad, naturally, had: pomegranate seeds, green onion, white onion, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette and PIECES OF COD! Im not a fish fan most days, but this was surprisingly delicious! Im planning on making this for my parents when I come home, Im excited for their reactions....

Bike Tour/ Las Apujarras

 This past Friday we went for a little bike tour. We hopped on some sweet mountain bikes and road along a path that has a name that translates to the "cholesterol path". It was named this because people who had heart problems were told to get active. So they did, but walking this path and calling it the "Ruta de Colesterol". These people are clever.

It was also raining and cold. It was fun at the time, but my butt is paying the piper now. My roommate Molly and I have been complaining to each other about your mutually hurting butts from the bike ride. People go biking for fun right? Umm....

This is Eileen. She is hilarious and also from Winona State University BUT born and raised from Wisconsin like me :)

Saturday we hiked part of the Sierra Nevadas called Las Apujarras. It's really fun to say with the rolling 'r'.  ("Las Ahh-poo-harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-as") This was a pretty neat-tur-y hike with a perfect little chocolate factory at the end where I honestly ate too much and felt sick. Typical.

Ronda, Espana 

Some famous people, whom you may have heard of: Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles and Jerianne Blau. We've all been to Ronda, Spain.

But for real, these writers came here for inspiration. I just can't imagine why:

These are my people: Tyler, Ben (me) and Ana!

During the Spanish Civil war (1936-1939, not that long ago!) prisoners and other bad people would be thrown from the cliffs here.

Staring down off a cliff!!

The patio of our hostel. HOW LUCKY!!!!!!!

One of my favorite views, where I am NOT on a cliff.

My pals: Ana and Ben (missing Tyler, he gets lost easily)

So meet Tyler. Wow..

Confession: I am a Zipline tour guide, avid rock climber and outdoor sport enthusiast. I just really like being outside, climbing trees and being active (after this post I'm headed out the door for a run).

But I have a fear of edges.

Rock climbing and Zipling doesn't bother me at all because I am tied in. I know exactly how many pounds a carabiner can hold and how many pounds of pressure a Zipline pulley can withstand. But if I am freestanding next to a cliff, or an edge, my heart starts beating faster than ever. I've also had a few anxiety attacks where I can't control my breathing and it takes a lot of mentality to focus on the fact that I need air to live (yikes this is personal, sorry). I've never had a REAL ISSUE, it's always handled. So in conclusion: Im a big chicken.

So we're standing near edges and cliffs this entire weekend. It was a challenge, but by the end of the trip I was doing just fine! There was only one instance where the four of us were walking across this little two foot wide trail with death on my right side, literally. Have you ever felt that 'scared to your very core' moment and you thought you ACTUALLY felt warm pee down your leg? That's pretty much how I felt next to these cliffs. But nonetheless: Fear conquered.

Ronda, Spain is also thought to be the place where bull fighting was invented. Cool, but I don't agree with the sport, so next subject.

Winter is coming:

Winter in Spain is really amusing to someone from 'de Nort'. 40 degrees is so chilling to the Spaniards. I volunteer at a bilingual school and I asked them if today was cold to them (honestly 49 degrees that day). They very seriously said "YES, THE MOST COLD" with chattering teeth. How dramatic....I checked the weather for Winona, Minnesota (my college town) and it was 19 degrees. I laughed first, but now Im nervous. When I go back home, it's going to be more of a temperature shock than a culture shock!!!

It snows only once or twice a year here in Spain, and the snow doesn't stick. I love explaining to Spanish folks about my white Christmases, snowmen, SLEDDING and even what a snow-day is! If you can tell, I'm missing Wisconsin winters a little bit.

Current list of food/drink you should NOT take for granted, because I miss it a lllllllllllllot:

Culver's Butter Burger
Clausen's pickles
Peanut Butter and Jellies
Gatorade
Mac & Cheese
Cereal for breakfast
Blended coffees
Coffees to go
Coffee that ISN'T espresso
Wisconsin beer (the beer made in Spain sucks)
Cheez-its
Chocolate pudding
BEEF



 

These signs need to be ALL OVER Spain. I'm sick of dodging doo-doo. 

Now listen to this:
11/25 - 12/2 : classes and Thanksgiving dinner with our program!
12/3 - 12/9 : SCOTLAND & IRELAND
12/10 - 12/15 : final week of regular classes
12/16 : I'll be feeling 22.......and the wrath of a final exam
12/17 - 12/19 : Last days in Spain :/
12/20 - 12/23 : visitin TOM IN LONDON
12/23 : Home for Christmas!!!!!

So, naturally I'm going to show you the goofy family I am missing

All of us (minus the burrito that wasn't born yet, Aubrey!)

the infamous Randy and Mary

Jenna and Grandpa at the light parade this weekend!!

Jenna & Aubrey with their pops and his first buck of the season!

peace out. I need to actually get out of bed and get running. It's 11:45am. The Spanish life isn't too demanding these days ;)

Saa-bee-ya y Cordoba

With our program, SOL Education Abroad, my "SOL-mates" and I went to Sevilla and Cordoba last weekend. We hopped on an early bus on Saturday first to Sevilla then the following day we headed over to Cordoba.

Sevilla/Seville

Burning question: It is Sevilla or Seville?!!?!!!

Sevilla is a large city in Spain known for it's MANY cathedrals, rich history and a home to at least three Starbucks. If you an English speaker, you gringos can pronounce it: "Sa-vill". If you want to sound like a real Espanola, pronounce it: "Saaa-bee-ya". Question answered. 

Sevilla is an absolutely gorgeous city a little bigger than Granada and has a wonderful river flowing through it. I LOVE SEVILLA!!! Holy crap it is beautiful. First we unloaded our things into our fancy-pants hotel then set out to Plaza de Espana.

As you can tell by the excessive amount of pictures, this was the prettiest place we visited!!

In the plaza, there are mosaics of each of the other major cities in Spain. Here is Granada!!

Next stop was the Cathedral of Sevilla. This is the third largest church in THE WHOLE WORLD! This was really amazing, it took HUNDREDS of years to build. It is hard for me to comprehend that NO ONE person saw the entire completion of the cathedral. The day it was finished, not a single person had been there the day it was started. Im very thankful for the patience each artist who had a part in the creation. Whether you like art and history or not, there is no way you'll go into this cathedral without your mouth dropping at SOME point. It's simply amazing. 

A lot of carriage rides are given in Sevilla, these little guys wait around all day for customers!

Check out the stained glass windows, the natural lighting...

the details in the marble, wood and iron gates,

THE CEILING!!!! How long could this all possibly have taken!?!!!!

35 little ramps up to the top of a bell tower. This view is overlooking the courtyard of the cathedral. 

These people looking like ants!

All of this is still part of the Cathedral of Sevilla!!

We ate dinner at a very popular tapas restaurant and spend the night out in Sevilla! If I could live in Sevilla for a summer, I wouldn't think twice. It's absolutely breathtaking. (Not this summer though, I miss my fam too much!)

The bridge and river of Sevilla at night. SOOOOO PRETTY!!!

Cordoba

Getting home from the bars at 5am and waking back up two hours later for a full day of touring is not recommended. But I managed. I'm just trying to be an Espanola lady ;)

Cordoba is famous for it's mezquita. A LONG ASS TIME AGO, most of southern Spain was ruled by the Arabic/Muslims. After a while, the Christians took over a lot of cities and destroyed the Muslim's culture/art/historical monuments etc... How rude, I know.

BUT, just like La Alhambra in Granada, in Cordoba there are some standing Arabic/Muslim cultural buildings! Some really smart and nice Christian ruler must have said "NO!" to the idea of destroying these buildings of other religions. I again, thank them. It's an amazing place!

The bridge into the city

Arabic columns in the mezquita

The small windows and ceiling in the mezquita. How detailed...

Not ready to leave, the river is so gorgeous

This is the trophy I'm hoping my Black Katt girls are going to win in December at Nationals. GOLD!! FOR FIRST IN THE NATION!!!!!! 

The mezquita in Cordoba was a giant place of worship for the Muslim religion. When the Christians reconquered Cordoba, they kept this mezquita and but made a few additions of their own. 

Here is the controversy:

1. Some believe that the Christians were very nice and kept most of the Arabic architecture as a gesture of peace. I am more of an optimistic, so I like this idea.

2. Others believe that the Christians were being butt-holes because they tore out the middle of this gorgeous Arabic building and made their own little chapel. 

The choice is yours. Either way, it is an eery place to be in. Two religions and cultures colliding in one building gives you a feeling you just cant reproduce. 

And then we went home. About 30 minutes from Granada our bus broke down. Cool. 

Halloween in Espana

Halloween is a completely American holiday. Every other country has an actual reason behind their festivities and celebrations, while I was caught trying to explain why the hell we even have Halloween as a major holiday....

The Latin American culture has Dia de los Muertos, where celebrate the lives of those past away. Spain has Todos los Santos, being a predominately Catholic culture, they celebrate a day for all of the Saints! Do we as Americans even have a reason to celebrate Halloween?

In all honesty, I did have a hard time explaining why Halloween is my favorite holiday. I mean I love the costumes, I love excuses to eat loads of CANDY, and getting a little scared (Only once a year though! Ask anyone, I am NOT GOOD with scary movies).

How do YOU explain "trick or treat"????? I definitely need to do my research..

So in Granada, if you ask any 'older adult' about Halloween, they basically put a sour face on and say how stupid it is. Apparently over here, the adults have NOT adopted this holiday yet. Students our age and younger kids definitely do though! Families like to dress their kids up as typical, chubby pumpkins and do the whole "trick or treat" things. Students though, its a whole 'nother ball game. THEY GO ALL OUT! My favorite part about halloween here: get as creepy as you can. If you even TRY to dress skanky, you'll look like an idiot. (This is one thing I wish our American culture would revert to. Im sick of seeing girls' butts & boobies. Your overexposure is ruining my favorite holiday!!!)

Halloween began for me when I got a box FULL of my favorite goodies from my family:

CONTENTS: A magical hat that fits a child, drawings & painting from my widdle niece Jenna, face paint, pumpkin spice granola bars, laffy taffy, chocolate kisses, MY FAVORITE PRETZEL M&MS, dried berries, Swedish Fish and of course Hocus Pocus!! Check out the box, those Charlie Brown stickers were put on by Jenna; they're from a Halloween book Teddy got her last year!!

Its always been a big holiday at the Blau's house for decorating: Our coffin made from old barn siding, a bleached cow skull that is kept in our basement the rest of the year, corn stalks wrapped in orange lights and wicked house decorations.

Clearly my prime years of cuteness were a long time ago. My cousin Alyssa (who just turned 21!!) is in the princess costume, typical ;) 

My Halloween escapes included: watched Hocus Pocus and fell asleep in a pile of candy wrappers, skipped class to go to a haunted walk (which fell through, whoops!) and got ready at our friend's Abby and Maeve's apartment for a night out!

My scary roommate Molly & scary Jeri

We were trying to be 'in character'...

The flash just made me look soooooooooooooooo creepy!!!!! I love it :)

These weirdos wanted pictures with my girls. This photo kills me though ahhahahahhahah Molly 

"No smile" Molly with Abby the biker and Maeve the sheep/mouse