tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897723344562954132024-02-19T02:39:05.707-08:00Bretaña en EspañaBrittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-8627260234885544742013-01-15T15:09:00.000-08:002013-01-15T15:09:03.215-08:00A Month Late and a Euro Short: Salamanca, Budapest, Vienna, and Barcelona<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, again I am making excuses about my long absence away
from my blog…I could site all sorts of crap that kept me away…my crappy job
that clearly has no regard for the terms of my contract…pintxo comas…homesickness…drinking to
forget said homesickness (not really, as I am actually trying not to drink at
all—I simply have got to stop thinking of wine as water…just because Jesus did
it for one party doesn’t mean I should I should just go jamon!)…hell, I
could even blame the very travels that I am supposed to be writing about…but
honestly, I just didn’t feel like it…(when keeping it real<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>goes wrong).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This entry will primarily be showcased through photos and I
will do my best to update again soon. I think it best to stop making promises,
as that does not seem to be working in my favor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So first up in the recounting, was my trip to Salamanca (Dec.
6-9, 2013): </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a lovely (mostly college town) in the Castilla y
Leon region of Spain. It was a blast. We traveled in a pretty big group so we,
of course, all had different experiences. Most of the guys spent the first
night getting hammered out of their minds and thus only saw the back of their
eyelids or into the mouth of the porcelain god the next day. A small group of
us <s>more highly evolved</s> females opted to call it an early night so that
we could journey forth and be proper tourists. We saw nearly everything there
was to see in that town.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a lovely little garden that overlooked the entire
city, a wall with a hidden frog (that looked more like hickey on a skull’s
forehead) that is supposed to bring good luck if you can find it, and the most beautiful Plaza
Mayor in all of Spain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The highlight of the trip was going into the old cathedral.
We were able to climb through all of the church’s towers and even out onto the
roof, from which you could see quite far into the distance over the city. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t say that there was any particularly great food in
Salamanca. However, I will suggest that if you are ever there when there is a
chill in the air, grab some churros and go for an evening stroll across the
bridge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" height="384" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="http://files.photosnack.com/iframejs/embed.html?hash=pdpavsl5&t=1358261865" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="576"></iframe>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next up was Budapest, Hungary (Dec. 20-26, 2012):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is by far the most amazing place I have ever been thus
far! I loved everything about Budapest (mostly true, if you ignore the part
where I couldn’t feel my toes for much of the trip). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was finally able to visit a Christmas Market, which has
been a life-long dream of mine (clearly the aspiration of a child that spent
too many Christmases wrapping lights around palm trees and spraying foam snow
onto the windows). The people were so cheery and the mulled wine left me with
perma-grin for the entire week. I felt like I was in an ABC Family special. We
tried a few restaurants off the beaten path where I fell in love with goulash
soup and stuffed sour cabbage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And the people were beyond gorgeous (I felt ever so slightly heterosexual in this country...if all men looked like that, my mother would have nothing left to worry about...just kidding!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Parliament building was absolutely stunning and should
be experienced by everyone. Be forewarned that you should purchase tickets very
early as they sell out very quickly. Also, you must walk across the Chain
Bridge at night; the view from every angle is stunning. Castle Hill should not
be missed either, but eat before you go because you will be there for hours and
all of the cafes there are overpriced and the food is underwhelming. Every
visitor should also include a trip to the Old Synagogue…. standing in the midst
of such a traumatic historical location gave me chills and was extremely
powerful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just take my word for it…if it isn’t there already, add
Budapest to your travel bucket list!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table style="width: 194px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="background: url(https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left; height: 194px;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108507294467028450895/Budapest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKCVireivqyIgQE&feat=embedwebsite"><img height="160" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mcUvnQF1Gec/UPXOO0YDcpE/AAAAAAAABPs/U2VCcwrpXgI/s160-c/Budapest.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0 0 4px;" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108507294467028450895/Budapest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKCVireivqyIgQE&feat=embedwebsite" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Budapest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We then swung over to Vienna, Austria (Dec. 26-28):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This stint was thankfully quite short. I had more than my
fill of Vienna. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will say that the Palace was worth the visit but my
compliments stop there. The city was stunningly beautiful, abrasively cold (and
this is not a reference to the chill in the air) and senselessly expensive. Let's not even discuss how over sexed the entire city was in its advertisements while simultaneously not having really any attractive people in sight.<br />
<br />
Sample conversation with an Austrian Police Officer:<br />
<br />
<u>Me</u>: Can you tell us how to get to the synagogue?<br />
<u>Officer</u>: (Looks at us-- a Black girl, a Jewish girl, and a Mexican guy) Where are you from?<br />
<u>RG-1</u>: America.<br />
Officer: You don't sound American. (Goes into most offensive backwoods country accent ever) Y'all is supose a talk lak dis!<br />
<u>Us</u>: (Blank stares.)<br />
<u>Officer</u>: So how is the Civil War going?<br />
<u>Us</u>: (Walking away)<br />
<br />
I guess we're still hoping for the best...fingers crossed for a Northern victory... -_-<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I have nothing nice to say, I shall move along. <br />
<br /></div>
<table style="width: 194px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="background: url(https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left; height: 194px;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108507294467028450895/Vienna?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK6FicaEiYvPbg&feat=embedwebsite"><img height="160" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-udXd2xw0qTM/UPXRdvpW3dE/AAAAAAAABXc/mC3dxbNkMqU/s160-c/Vienna.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0 0 4px;" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108507294467028450895/Vienna?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK6FicaEiYvPbg&feat=embedwebsite" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Vienna</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last stop of our winter travels was Barcelona, Cataluña
(Dec. 28, 2012-Jan. 3, 2013):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now the original plan was to spend the New Year in Prague,
but since Spain is so slow in dragging its heels in just about everything (and
yet consistently surprised as to how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">el
crisis</i> has happened), I did not have my long overdue documentation that
would allow me back into the country after the 28<sup>th</sup>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So after some last minute rerouting of our plans, we found
ourselves in Barcelona. Imagine a drunken night where Miami goes out for a
night of the town, catches New York’s bad boy eye and they enjoy a late night
tousle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nine months later, Barcelona would be birthed. This analogy was absolutely unnecessary and
probably more confusing than needed but I enjoyed it! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We partied, we ate, we heard no Spanish. I was mostly
excited to enjoy Subway sandwiches again…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>(Note to future self: When you book a 12-person hostel dorm room, expect
an 18-person room that is filled to capacity and no matter what they called for, know that Spanish police are not “ ‘bout
that life”—witnessed a drunk guy assault an officer and NOT get dropkicked, tased
and/or arrested).<br />
<br />
We partied the New Year away in a fantastic club until about 7:30a.m. and then paced ourselves for the remainder of the trip (mostly because we were slowly bleeding out through our wallets at this point and lovely La Rioja didn't see fit to pay us on time...AGAIN!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table style="width: 194px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="background: url(https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left; height: 194px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108507294467028450895/Barcelona?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ-uy_fi19yQngE&feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H9d7_-IbXvg/UPXTeeHjgpE/AAAAAAAABf8/1tJm7QA6lZU/s160-c/Barcelona.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1px;" width="200" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108507294467028450895/Barcelona?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ-uy_fi19yQngE&feat=embedwebsite" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Barcelona</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(SN: Can I get a WOOT WOOT for me finally figuring out how to make a slideshow for my blog!)<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So those were my winter adventures! There are a few more on
the horizon…(Prague has been pushed back to the week of Spring Break). Also, I
am in the process of containing my utter excitement because two of my best
friends are headed across the pond to join me here in Spain and for a quick hop
to Amsterdam. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Update you again….soon-ish!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¡Hasta Pronto!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-20039153937506002852012-11-21T06:17:00.002-08:002012-11-21T06:17:20.951-08:00Better Late...: Bilbao, San Ascencio, Halloween...just stuff you missed<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I am totally behind on updating my blog…I know, I know…I
suck. But, to be fair, if I were typing all of the time, would you even believe
me when I said that I am having a good time?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will pause there to say that homesickness is, in fact, real.
No matter how good of a time you have traveling, there is a definite hole that begins to
form and grow in your chest when you are on the opposite side of the world from
all that you know and love for an extended period of time. I will not dwell on
this or go into monotonous sappy detail. However, for future folks in this
situation looking at this blog for advice and an idea of what’s to come (like I
did with other blogs last year) I felt it would be a disservice to not honestly
disclose that sentiment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving right along…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks ago (told ya I suck) I made a lovely trip to
Bilbao with a lovely group of girls and we had a lovely time eating lovely food
and seeing lovely sites. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
visited the Guggenheim and the Basque History Museum, we watched a beautiful
impromptu violin concert in the street that brought us to tears, we walked
through the most picturesque plazas and squares, rode the cleanest subway
system on the planet, and ate food that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tasted</i>
like art.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There really aren’t very many words that can describe how
much I loved this city and I hear tell that pictures are worth a thousand so I
shall let a few photos do the talking…</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK8WmZiHMsb4gzooeyvk2OiPi3IRL3Ih2J2gzh2aMymytfAtJY0iLudOrbq6v8zAxBYnNgagxuD8LkYOxD9FkbfTZlpQ2N-DMkBk_BAQYC_6PVDV2zo1-Bi2KmoTRSW95CgsWpOOPkav_/s1600/IMG_20121101_152325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK8WmZiHMsb4gzooeyvk2OiPi3IRL3Ih2J2gzh2aMymytfAtJY0iLudOrbq6v8zAxBYnNgagxuD8LkYOxD9FkbfTZlpQ2N-DMkBk_BAQYC_6PVDV2zo1-Bi2KmoTRSW95CgsWpOOPkav_/s320/IMG_20121101_152325.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even on a rainy day...it was beautiful...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYoLhbkAF-IUwH1yraiMKaWquEJWmyd_MaBk4AVOy9VXoxylxXKD6p8LWaDDMuLWqtG8yzO-vmE-rFYkDApgStq2-WGRNX_C_qTZp2Ghu7IeJ-iNkaIlMxuHa_PNW5Ko_7_UBgmm1YOFs/s1600/IMG_20121101_163334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYoLhbkAF-IUwH1yraiMKaWquEJWmyd_MaBk4AVOy9VXoxylxXKD6p8LWaDDMuLWqtG8yzO-vmE-rFYkDApgStq2-WGRNX_C_qTZp2Ghu7IeJ-iNkaIlMxuHa_PNW5Ko_7_UBgmm1YOFs/s320/IMG_20121101_163334.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really appreciate Spain for automatically cooking steak medium -rare.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAodN3N9CfDutr55xtsokWTtRFPHxm_thw_lClZRnBuGYaj0p6kjD_JNs0EsN6KGn37DUcSpufTICT7IGjg0aBhsc9xn2a0_y5w_34DzwtXZ7tZWoQSBa41UTgIjsswXOrH8uW0EzyHXG/s1600/IMG_20121101_172553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAodN3N9CfDutr55xtsokWTtRFPHxm_thw_lClZRnBuGYaj0p6kjD_JNs0EsN6KGn37DUcSpufTICT7IGjg0aBhsc9xn2a0_y5w_34DzwtXZ7tZWoQSBa41UTgIjsswXOrH8uW0EzyHXG/s320/IMG_20121101_172553.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-_olmO31pNsLKFSwRo4FJy1ANJst6B5KERND6Na2tP5fOWm9FLxvIzoKJ9-sPp98MYRy6zB8d8GY7iVXdkybtRs43_gfY61FhI2DhG8lss0gFol-m4gazfhSxhcPHv6F6jduEurD3jbE/s1600/IMG_20121101_172601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-_olmO31pNsLKFSwRo4FJy1ANJst6B5KERND6Na2tP5fOWm9FLxvIzoKJ9-sPp98MYRy6zB8d8GY7iVXdkybtRs43_gfY61FhI2DhG8lss0gFol-m4gazfhSxhcPHv6F6jduEurD3jbE/s320/IMG_20121101_172601.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoQI5xZJs3dZtz1MLXFy3WFb6njbeSRTVTlyLqCznav8B83mZwSdXmYC2-iU6wXXrRmbwgU5gsyftWmy7bwBR_cQy8UBRa3ARUPksrvh-175Bw-FPxQOA9C5DzdROp-XBsEWH_2SKK0Tl/s1600/IMG_20121101_180759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoQI5xZJs3dZtz1MLXFy3WFb6njbeSRTVTlyLqCznav8B83mZwSdXmYC2-iU6wXXrRmbwgU5gsyftWmy7bwBR_cQy8UBRa3ARUPksrvh-175Bw-FPxQOA9C5DzdROp-XBsEWH_2SKK0Tl/s320/IMG_20121101_180759.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was really incredible...I'm sure he must be an actual professional moonlighting for fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNualuUYwysgJQ_2opQmAQPXlo4x7wNIkr6q0v1NPnWo5meyWSQmBX3EDhh677PewQYku3gLIOIPmkM1tTyTVpjn_xEWIMInSNTRoc7Jqo9sVW3PdkRUXe5i38f_J0mrQu9gdlIijWawZ/s1600/IMG_20121101_182627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNualuUYwysgJQ_2opQmAQPXlo4x7wNIkr6q0v1NPnWo5meyWSQmBX3EDhh677PewQYku3gLIOIPmkM1tTyTVpjn_xEWIMInSNTRoc7Jqo9sVW3PdkRUXe5i38f_J0mrQu9gdlIijWawZ/s320/IMG_20121101_182627.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicer than American water fountains...but I'm just as scared to drink from them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtDTX8j5H_AY3zd6ZKMOjbK5kOAlIPmrBZcM0HJCbUPHVU1JvIljBQvCUSB6nH8jtJBB3F4anF_CdP2w6TqE88Sw4HpcnDjmQSMmgnQ_Ea78SfF_iopdJPq2VdphUzZuP2Scj81fs7ncv/s1600/IMG_20121102_124948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtDTX8j5H_AY3zd6ZKMOjbK5kOAlIPmrBZcM0HJCbUPHVU1JvIljBQvCUSB6nH8jtJBB3F4anF_CdP2w6TqE88Sw4HpcnDjmQSMmgnQ_Ea78SfF_iopdJPq2VdphUzZuP2Scj81fs7ncv/s320/IMG_20121102_124948.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qQyqZm-yfaTaa5jttpW4IImpOP_ouKUWY27ZUVfGCtCtmULQhCFQZ4tArJlaIpmf_mlWCUbWz_5N-tuG9VaiFY_Q58dYktXR0qXxozN5U32olaKFxlS0l1sh1afxz4x-MAipBGs-QQbp/s1600/IMG_20121102_140222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qQyqZm-yfaTaa5jttpW4IImpOP_ouKUWY27ZUVfGCtCtmULQhCFQZ4tArJlaIpmf_mlWCUbWz_5N-tuG9VaiFY_Q58dYktXR0qXxozN5U32olaKFxlS0l1sh1afxz4x-MAipBGs-QQbp/s320/IMG_20121102_140222.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64I4saF-2s4bS-BFOey8trHHHvrguDj7c3GttV05tUJsBiPZjSViZZ-W408OZOnNGwBr0PgZxYAZMnQOJPDZem_0Z_aEALtLFIodAZibLuGdUyNCL09Q6boZNAdy9zjRg9ZpcsFTArmdZ/s1600/IMG_20121102_140303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64I4saF-2s4bS-BFOey8trHHHvrguDj7c3GttV05tUJsBiPZjSViZZ-W408OZOnNGwBr0PgZxYAZMnQOJPDZem_0Z_aEALtLFIodAZibLuGdUyNCL09Q6boZNAdy9zjRg9ZpcsFTArmdZ/s320/IMG_20121102_140303.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Guggenheim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ekLBAaQk1oMMTQ2vKuQ4KMbCHRQLHd-1yfxgVjLNGTLb83OWBGbWprOAvYsFQ2LgEYwBgIW5D0v4GuwOZRiXVs5ZI94muk4gGevFDIwtp9wKGFjAiVjsHbAgb7ZdfPauS8gKznduzJ9r/s1600/IMG_20121102_140551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ekLBAaQk1oMMTQ2vKuQ4KMbCHRQLHd-1yfxgVjLNGTLb83OWBGbWprOAvYsFQ2LgEYwBgIW5D0v4GuwOZRiXVs5ZI94muk4gGevFDIwtp9wKGFjAiVjsHbAgb7ZdfPauS8gKznduzJ9r/s320/IMG_20121102_140551.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A river runs through it...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsEPo_8HhGC2LleDN3f9qAljDCWh9X3Z0KemnEXcz27I611t1lHsRNe8FXbe7qfSWpRgUsVcqS5Lhq7uRT4pQ2E1n22aAoXv0x6ddhATS6rTK0tDNMeWz5EFx7RfYCK3XyAzUfLkM3YMx/s1600/IMG_20121102_141019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsEPo_8HhGC2LleDN3f9qAljDCWh9X3Z0KemnEXcz27I611t1lHsRNe8FXbe7qfSWpRgUsVcqS5Lhq7uRT4pQ2E1n22aAoXv0x6ddhATS6rTK0tDNMeWz5EFx7RfYCK3XyAzUfLkM3YMx/s320/IMG_20121102_141019.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything worth seeing was outside...trust me on this! Very strange art...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIauHjvA44ZtyxOsMRRUH-p7zEzEDNYAbuEhsDPq7Z3yRmxYvTN6theyqG1HqzMmCs7Xegjfu4AF-fU88Kphh6cFS9ua_Qz7vRE_d9WRqyDN2cGezreyw3X7O44eKggCz5h8tKYdln3Tu-/s1600/IMG_20121102_141009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIauHjvA44ZtyxOsMRRUH-p7zEzEDNYAbuEhsDPq7Z3yRmxYvTN6theyqG1HqzMmCs7Xegjfu4AF-fU88Kphh6cFS9ua_Qz7vRE_d9WRqyDN2cGezreyw3X7O44eKggCz5h8tKYdln3Tu-/s320/IMG_20121102_141009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllWKNL1asPKqB1mHELy7NNvYi1xUmFQDw7x2sLEpzokuhfr5cppfbUZ650oK2f46DIwcFwYx5KT4TNebh4Nt3rVNsDnnXdy9F89cE2zeU4iO6Eobi0Ikf1_o1_WHrMSXmUsbiW2VX77cF/s1600/IMG_20121102_141634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllWKNL1asPKqB1mHELy7NNvYi1xUmFQDw7x2sLEpzokuhfr5cppfbUZ650oK2f46DIwcFwYx5KT4TNebh4Nt3rVNsDnnXdy9F89cE2zeU4iO6Eobi0Ikf1_o1_WHrMSXmUsbiW2VX77cF/s320/IMG_20121102_141634.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were actually white balls in the bottom that looked like spider eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe_2CvrMWO518Bn3h5RNL60vrBEJMAFvys3AE3rIHfBrBA6ixox8pueAfONrWSkDeSw6uopnnvIkbmnDoR4gVJIyADKO-na2e8Os0DPWl_m9Z5-zdSqMeiS1Jl-ZmazLjH9nIBX-9YCeh/s1600/IMG_20121103_131647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe_2CvrMWO518Bn3h5RNL60vrBEJMAFvys3AE3rIHfBrBA6ixox8pueAfONrWSkDeSw6uopnnvIkbmnDoR4gVJIyADKO-na2e8Os0DPWl_m9Z5-zdSqMeiS1Jl-ZmazLjH9nIBX-9YCeh/s320/IMG_20121103_131647.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could live in this bar...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0i6ZEgZQDurmbWB4aEh5517qIlBZkYqBrWsfY-vswk4SlUqglkT-FEHug5-jp4hQLzvD-nxIrOZm2QCaa3YiDhdeUiOh8Pm0up8FcA0mpUj6u3Gp-zP_wUe2uytjS6VrhZP1URSemKs4/s1600/IMG_20121103_135102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0i6ZEgZQDurmbWB4aEh5517qIlBZkYqBrWsfY-vswk4SlUqglkT-FEHug5-jp4hQLzvD-nxIrOZm2QCaa3YiDhdeUiOh8Pm0up8FcA0mpUj6u3Gp-zP_wUe2uytjS6VrhZP1URSemKs4/s320/IMG_20121103_135102.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan seared pork with a curry dijon sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzu1zS-E21Y_wGMJv6DMG9SBtOnPRDDH7EYIhGPSQXY7ekhJAfqG1bPVISMdvtj2c-7WS6i2GXbP9XWBEBWiHCfFAdWLA3W51-BTGQWmiAqwsg0z1YWMMHihdE6yom6jYmrPl0xDl-WPbO/s1600/IMG_20121103_135108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzu1zS-E21Y_wGMJv6DMG9SBtOnPRDDH7EYIhGPSQXY7ekhJAfqG1bPVISMdvtj2c-7WS6i2GXbP9XWBEBWiHCfFAdWLA3W51-BTGQWmiAqwsg0z1YWMMHihdE6yom6jYmrPl0xDl-WPbO/s320/IMG_20121103_135108.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinach and Potato Mousse...yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ7-1KaMzniqEu_B1aVlGTnzqw-aRuxeH1b6HM-6YQJIKBsn7sdjK6P7oZlsloTZMjKxzBmat93EWOOP6j0_OcEACvQZqlTSbG3wI1PkbdofmmsY6Id3YC2xIq5ZwkmOujGVMqqdJuktX/s1600/IMG_20121103_135120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ7-1KaMzniqEu_B1aVlGTnzqw-aRuxeH1b6HM-6YQJIKBsn7sdjK6P7oZlsloTZMjKxzBmat93EWOOP6j0_OcEACvQZqlTSbG3wI1PkbdofmmsY6Id3YC2xIq5ZwkmOujGVMqqdJuktX/s320/IMG_20121103_135120.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious ceviche</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsIJ6mb0w3MTDoucUy9LsDp9HptTowI-VFnH5JTtRka9cqomUtuZanXzt0K_dAWtwBCsSMm7h0lG5__5a1h32ob1Tu9og8o75iRZPt4RHNjMt-_Ut-llediyxPfb3PhreLlx21JJGKfm7/s1600/IMG_20121103_135132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsIJ6mb0w3MTDoucUy9LsDp9HptTowI-VFnH5JTtRka9cqomUtuZanXzt0K_dAWtwBCsSMm7h0lG5__5a1h32ob1Tu9og8o75iRZPt4RHNjMt-_Ut-llediyxPfb3PhreLlx21JJGKfm7/s320/IMG_20121103_135132.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cod fish with fruit and and veggies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb-dMVZX7E587gzdGZ-m8F5639bG_xbvBeTlvKVb88JIK5_JCQpRFj5gicMkKbdmXPNRNbN8J6FTnlBUfSHzp2kx8MuqFoq1RhIM_YRj3pLC5rbLS_-Nh3llh_FdtlRHPGeQK5vZkSAhb/s1600/IMG_20121103_232416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb-dMVZX7E587gzdGZ-m8F5639bG_xbvBeTlvKVb88JIK5_JCQpRFj5gicMkKbdmXPNRNbN8J6FTnlBUfSHzp2kx8MuqFoq1RhIM_YRj3pLC5rbLS_-Nh3llh_FdtlRHPGeQK5vZkSAhb/s320/IMG_20121103_232416.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German Dinner: BEFORE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx0AokZBcUL0rPaQO2ao5su2Tpo9NvrnnO5bLreETmDf0oz70Y5TmWjuZlEWF_S5en7aCyKtHY82xAx8r5uWk-lSvThOQiPaNfHDZXIwOofYAMvJU1EXyCZFCB-AIqIxEpDWfU9y_NMmi/s1600/IMG_20121103_234352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx0AokZBcUL0rPaQO2ao5su2Tpo9NvrnnO5bLreETmDf0oz70Y5TmWjuZlEWF_S5en7aCyKtHY82xAx8r5uWk-lSvThOQiPaNfHDZXIwOofYAMvJU1EXyCZFCB-AIqIxEpDWfU9y_NMmi/s320/IMG_20121103_234352.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">German Dinner: AFTER</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(One day I will learn how to bunch my photos and not present them all in a line...one day...but not today...)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are ever in Bilbao you MUST check out these
restaurants…some of the BEST food I have ever had…and that is saying
something…. I’m Southern….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://hatari.es/">http://hatari.es/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.irrintzi.es/">http://www.irrintzi.es/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://bilbao.salir.com/ein_prosit-plaza__del_ensanche_7">http://bilbao.salir.com/ein_prosit-plaza__del_ensanche_7</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.bertonsl.es/">http://www.bertonsl.es/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was exactly the type of vacation that I was in need
of…really relaxing, cultural and consistent stuffing of my face with delicious
goodness. I spent several hours in a food coma and it was fantastic. It was, in short....LOVELY!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and we also had Halloween here, of course… we didn’t do
much, as Logrono is sorely lacking in the Halloween spirit. But we did dress up
and go out to confuse passing Spaniards and have a drink before calling it a
night. I went as Medusa!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi9LpGewQjO7D0AUKL8kntXHePcKNwJkG0MzL1rsvUYWgPadEIBHbC0q3HPgoXovUnk2M1KEXzdBIgOFqkScrEu6SnLLecCrRIg3I7oDhszSqrNkfWuabujdnSIHfclsZGOUtdh1BDI1h/s1600/IMG_20121031_213858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi9LpGewQjO7D0AUKL8kntXHePcKNwJkG0MzL1rsvUYWgPadEIBHbC0q3HPgoXovUnk2M1KEXzdBIgOFqkScrEu6SnLLecCrRIg3I7oDhszSqrNkfWuabujdnSIHfclsZGOUtdh1BDI1h/s320/IMG_20121031_213858.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj6NJdd9muFNNI2iBsr0V_Q9LzF9Rvayu4TdsCqhj_uIzNfQbtd4bT_u_YXSPWy7OOQ3AobrvToivhGa4FP3dK0iZXVvbWoZeoBPeRmN2yFw82z-WHbLU04kwhna-6w47jPMW5XvgyhqV/s1600/IMG_20121031_213947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj6NJdd9muFNNI2iBsr0V_Q9LzF9Rvayu4TdsCqhj_uIzNfQbtd4bT_u_YXSPWy7OOQ3AobrvToivhGa4FP3dK0iZXVvbWoZeoBPeRmN2yFw82z-WHbLU04kwhna-6w47jPMW5XvgyhqV/s320/IMG_20121031_213947.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another quick item that was crossed off of my bucket list
recently: Grape Stomping!!! We went on a quick day trip to the nearby town of
San Ascencio where a local bodega was hosting a wine event. We were able to
tour an underground wine cellar, taste some of the best wine on earth, eat some
of the best chorizo I have ever had and of course smush our toesies into some
grapes…note for future stompers: Get a pedicure first. You will be judged for
chipped polish. I learned the hard way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
(I wanted to include some pics from San Acencio--there were plenty--but my comp is just not having it today! Sorry)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I believe you are all caught up on my shenanigans…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are planning a big AmeriBrit
dinner (I’m trying to convince the Brits to dress as pilgrims…this feels
appropriate to me). And we possibly may head into another nearby town for a
night to stave off any residual holiday blues…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is on your bucket list? Where did you have the best
meal of your life? Please share, for every one thing I cross off of my bucket
list, I want to add more…keeps the heart pumping and whatnot…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¡Hasta Pronto!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-7208952674681342422012-11-09T04:26:00.001-08:002012-11-21T06:19:32.027-08:00Feeling the Thrill Across the Pond: Obama!!!!!It is a very unique experience to be on the other side of the world, knowing that the very landscape of the home you left behind is going through the most major shift of your lifetime.<br />
<br />
I have not been immune to the propaganda and mudslinging just because I have been transplanted. In fact, it was quite a heady thing to realize how much the people of the world, not just citizens of the USA, have been waiting with baited breath to find out the results of this 2012 election process.<br />
<br />
Of course, I was rooting for Obama, again...I believe in him and his vision, I believe that it takes a country to move a country and I generally shy away from the "every man for himself" mentality. I am always confused by the push for Christian morals on politics while those very "Christians" eschew any and all responsibility to care for and uplift their fellow man...you know...like Christ did? ((I would not normally shove my ideas down anyone's throat but ummm..yeah...it's MY blog! lol))<br />
<br />
Whatever!<br />
<br />
The race is over and we can steer away from these controversial topics once again and focus on such important matters as whether or not Kanye and Kim will make it last and how I will see the final Twilight Saga movie without having to suffer through awful Spanish dubbing.<br />
<br />
I stayed up as long as I could (dozed off about an hour before he was announced--cut me some slack, that was around 5am my time) and woke up to great news!!<br />
<br />
I, of course, then accidentally slept through work and have spent the remainder of my week paying for it by making up the time on my days off... One of the teachers tried to give me crap about it but I was quite unapologetic. I always admire Spain's involvement in their government and there have been 2 strikes in the past month. So, I felt no shame in missing a day in support of my nation...<br />
<br />
I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying all of the congratulations that I have been receiving...Yes, dear Spaniards, I also believe that this was all my doing and that I am now about to lead America as Obama's right hand woman...yes, indeed! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Jogz55ZausxtheIsAM_NYvgQA24hklhR1Us_Nl3nMPT-Tcfrr8eOgOynisduvWYyUsI3r_Qc5uZgS85H2Ri1a8Psf60YJ33dClqT2BXWhh2pgYkm_EnjsdXCO4LPGKJlg8oXSVNF8A6N/s1600/barack_obama_nov7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Jogz55ZausxtheIsAM_NYvgQA24hklhR1Us_Nl3nMPT-Tcfrr8eOgOynisduvWYyUsI3r_Qc5uZgS85H2Ri1a8Psf60YJ33dClqT2BXWhh2pgYkm_EnjsdXCO4LPGKJlg8oXSVNF8A6N/s320/barack_obama_nov7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barack is Back!!! Photo Credit: Getty Images<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-36676987609228110072012-10-20T07:36:00.000-07:002012-10-20T07:39:21.523-07:00One Night in Zaragoza: Fire, Brimstone, and a Bus Station<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The plan was simple. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A group of 12 friends would get together and spend one
amazing night in Zaragoza for the Fiesta del Pilar. Great! Sure we didn’t have
a place to stay. Sure we would be there for 27 hours straight. Sure our funds
were limited. But hey, the intention was to party non-stop and have the time of
our lives with a great story to tell afterwards. What could possibly go wrong
with this plan?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah. Everything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trip started out well enough. We packed our book bags
with sheets and enough liquor to get an elephant drunk and headed off to the
Logroño bus station at 9am on a Saturday morning. We made sure that we all got
our tickets and ended up on the same bus and headed off to, what we thought,
would be a great time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived in Zaragoza at about 1pm. We saw some great
sites. Beautiful architecture. Interesting alters for Pilar. Spiritual parades.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqMFES9xFsW6EciDYTFOzZm8zKyfQc1mnUEj9WSiecBdHCaLbZvZ84Xgla11T98Mzt8BgQkPJSMGDYdMmNrCsg9IcgkmS-bDNrfuka8HjNS1y4F1waA0XSNR3umPKElbGcmuPEEkWZ1zy/s1600/alter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqMFES9xFsW6EciDYTFOzZm8zKyfQc1mnUEj9WSiecBdHCaLbZvZ84Xgla11T98Mzt8BgQkPJSMGDYdMmNrCsg9IcgkmS-bDNrfuka8HjNS1y4F1waA0XSNR3umPKElbGcmuPEEkWZ1zy/s320/alter.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alter in the middle of the plaza.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we first got to the city, we were a bit confused. We
couldn’t figure out where all of the infamous crowds were and had to find our
way to the tourist office to get maps and directions. We did manage to make it
to the main plaza and saw this huge live flower alter made to honor the Virgin
Pilar (I’m not positive, but I have been made to understand that all of these
virgins are merely variations of the Virgin Mary…I should research this more
but let’s be honest, we were only there for the parties).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now this is where the story takes a turn….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fae (she shall be called because I consider her to be a
Scottish fairy) thought this would be a GREAT time to start making jokes and
calling into question the validity of Mary’s virgin status. And thus began the
smiting. From that moment forward, anyone that chose to remain in Fae’s company
was met with God’s wrath and sense of humor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ-WKDDGa0m5EJmZp5_m4b0ic9Ok7qpn4y47b1khy6UfblS0AcgCOZ6hnqFVxVb9EZCeyLa_fOhXBJzsoRYNozn3X2BanHA1kna67u3D-2Y21R3jI87QfXURtukTItgFUTJtaSfNs2JoJ/s1600/smiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ-WKDDGa0m5EJmZp5_m4b0ic9Ok7qpn4y47b1khy6UfblS0AcgCOZ6hnqFVxVb9EZCeyLa_fOhXBJzsoRYNozn3X2BanHA1kna67u3D-2Y21R3jI87QfXURtukTItgFUTJtaSfNs2JoJ/s320/smiting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We actually managed to capture the smiting on film.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We left the plaza and went to lay around in a nice local
park for a bit. I would hate for you to believe that we seek out these sorts of
tranquil settings for their aesthetic value. In fact, I couldn’t tell you what
that park looked like now to save my life. We had one purpose, and one purpose
only. To get wasted. We quickly spread out our sheets on the grass and got to
the bottle poppin’ portion of the program. And boy did we pop bottles! We all
quickly found ourselves in a drunken haze and only abandoned our tipsy retreat
when we were, suddenly, overrun by even more drunken 12 year olds (no, you
didn’t read that incorrectly- they were in fact 12...14 at best).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviC8TL-WdsvBoC3crhEDw8kgZm1qGSEmT3QbUGkLvtE4XoAvLFZlqGVakiCL5MwyRQa4ir1WOuyhkhPuEtHVfhzVlmCaDmVgLCbnz-O-T2vdI1APyjzOBdHjl9V8OkhpfYlWwe-DFcBBJ/s1600/IMG_20121013_195511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviC8TL-WdsvBoC3crhEDw8kgZm1qGSEmT3QbUGkLvtE4XoAvLFZlqGVakiCL5MwyRQa4ir1WOuyhkhPuEtHVfhzVlmCaDmVgLCbnz-O-T2vdI1APyjzOBdHjl9V8OkhpfYlWwe-DFcBBJ/s320/IMG_20121013_195511.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aforementioned drunk children taking over the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We ran to the nearest city bus and then proceeded to head in
the direction of what we thought was the Oktoberfest event. Wrong! Clearly our
communication was already taking a turn for the worse because we were, in fact,
headed to another grand tent party. No big deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Half way through the bus ride, my roommate, S, was overtaken
by her blood alcohol level and looked to be on the verge of vomming on the bus.
The Spanish clearly do NOT play that! The bus driver made an impromptu stop and
several riders <s>shoved</s> helped her off the bus. Luckily, before the doors
fully closed Sweet P jumped off the bus to help her out. The last image I had
of them that evening was S waving sadly as the bus pulled away and she resumed retching.
And then there were 10. (Smite #1) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it to the tent shindig and ran through the line (they
made us throw out our remaining liquids, which included my Redbull that I
planned to help me stay awake). But this was okay because we were pumped and
ready to start the party!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After getting through security with our lightened loads we
were quickly informed that we had gotten into the wrong line and needed to go
around the block to the line for people without a prepaid party pass. (Smite
#2) We were sad to have wasted our drinks but headed off with faces stretched
with smiles anyhow. Silly us! The line that we were supposed to get into
stretched for about a mile and a half -and this was by no means a single-filed
line. (Smite #3) We decided to give it a go regardless. I mean, really, why the
hell not? Where else were we going to go?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 2 hours and only ¾ mile progress, I grew delirious,
restless, and worst of all…sober. Luckily, I wasn’t alone in this feeling.
Unluckily, I was not alone in this feeling. The line was completely still. Due
to a strong wave of delirium and the cold night that was steadily settling into
my bones, I decided to rally the troops and <s>vehemently insist</s> suggest
that we find a bar. RG-1 was busy macking it to a scarecrow and a few other
people in our gang seemed to have been frozen to their spots. The rest of us
were ready to move on to greener pastures but, of course, we couldn’t just bow
out gracefully and walk away. We left with a bang! Cursing, calling the other
people morons, berating them about every ill decision that they had ever made
in their miserable existences and stormed off. (Ok, it wasn’t THAT dramatic,
but the aftermath was equally embarrassing). And then there were 6.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We stomped off in search of a bus and finally found one that
said it was heading back into town. As we drove past our friends in line we
quickly realized that we had actually been only moments away from entering the
party. However, our pride just wouldn’t let us go slinking back. (Smite #4)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eventually the bus pulled up to the curb and the driver
yelled out that it was the last stop and told us all to get off… We had
absolutely no idea where we were. And even better, there was not an open bar in
sight. (Smite #5)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, the night had grown colder and we had all
grown more bone weary. We found a café and ordered some hamburgers (something
my stomach still has not forgiven me for) and C. Beezy went off in search of
possible hotels. That turned out to just be a late night stroll because it
turned up no results. (Smite #6) Not for most of us anyway. One hotel was way
over priced and quickly vetoed by the group at large. However, one of the
group…let’s call him “The Deserter”…decided that he would prefer to cough up
the cash and snuggle up on his own in the available room. To be “fair” he said
one of us could split the tab with him. We decided to stay together and off he
went into the night with nothing but a t-shirt and a night of restful sleep
ahead of him. And then there were 5.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We roamed aimlessly for a while longer hoping against hope
that a hotel room would become available to us. It never did. Also, the irony
of the evening was not lost on me. Fae just HAD to insult the Virgin Mother and
now we were doomed to wander the streets unable to find any room at an inn.
Thanks, Fae! (Smite #7)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally we decided to just head back to the bus station where
there would at least be shelter and the possibility of sleep. Please note that
by this time it was nearly 3:30am. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our way to the bus station, I noticed a group of revelers
headed in our direction. They were pretty drunk and rowdy and had already made
some disparaging remarks to a few of the people in our group ahead of me. As
they past me, the guy at the end began to stare at me strangely. I gave him my
best Miami girl “What the hell are you looking at?” face and kept walking. He
decided he wasn’t through with me yet and suddenly grabbed my arm with enough
force that my free hand began to become a fist. He then yanked me toward him,
saying something in Drunk, and palmed my butt with all the force he could
muster before sprinting away. I, being of sound mind and Dade County spirit,
immediately swung for his face. He managed to dodge my hit and went running off
leaving me screaming like an insane banshee in the middle of the street. I was
with a less…reactive…group than I am accustomed to so they were all for
brushing off the moment and continuing on to the bus station. I continued to
seethe and stomp around like a petulant 5 year-old for the next hour of our
walk. (Smite #8-10)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We finally got to the bus station and apparently stumbled
into homeless heaven. I know how insensitive that sounds, but truly there were
people sleeping everywhere, travelers and vagabonds alike. We quickly found an
available corner, spread our sheets, and tried to get down to the business of
trying to catch some zzz’s on freezing cold tiles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After some readjusting and group spooning, we were finally
on our way to sleep (Geordie was getting suspiciously close to a homeless man).
We actually managed to squeeze in about 30 minutes of sleep though. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then came the Doppelgangers. A group of Brits with the same
names as a few of our British group members and their very own Scottish girl
that sounded rather like Fae entered the bus station and shushed each other
because of all of the people around them trying to sleep. I guess they didn’t
take their own request seriously because they promptly began to yell at the top
of their lungs. Somewhere in the night, I completely lost my mind and began
yelling “Literally! Shut the hell up!” from my floor bed. (Smite #11)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They eventually tired themselves out and went to sleep and
thus we were allowed to pass out as well. As soon as we settled into slumber,
the lights came on and two Spanish police came in yelling that everyone had to
wake up. New rules: If you were homeless you had to leave. If you had a ticket
you could stay but you had to sit up. They had a respectable business to run. (Smite
#12)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, we were all at that lovely place where
laughter is nothing more than a mask for tears. We were so tired that were near
to hallucinating and everything felt surreal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And because Fae just doesn’t know when to quit, she chose
that moment to look up to the sky and say “Really God, what more can you do to
us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His answer: Just watch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enter: The Spanish girl that needed her phone charged. We
were sitting directly over the power outlets. We told her sure, go for it. She
plugged in and sat unusually close to us. She tried calling someone a few times
and when this failed apparently, broke out into loud sobbing. At this point the
night had just gotten too ridiculous and I couldn’t hold myself together
anymore. I burst out laughing right in the girl’s face. I couldn’t control
myself. To be more polite, I swiftly ran to the closest bathroom to get the
laughing/tears out of my system. (Smite #13)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She soon fell asleep right next to us (with her eyes
creepily cracked open the whole time) and we started to settle back into our
sleep as well. An hour or so later, without warning, the sobbing disaster woke
and ran off leaving her charger behind. She did collect some souvenirs before
departing: C. Beezy’s face wipes and Granny Rose’s water. The whole encounter
was more than a little odd. (Smite #14)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHergqdLSWgeC18zCw0IlKf6Xx046LMTm3a-w7BIzIP8Dmt43h8ot08o0S74XcaJtB4RzJF8P2LjM1fds1Jbu-ah4ablhVSIH8Vx60AX3J6C2_WvLw_wfcqUOhkZkTvarVOiQ0pQNSgSZ/s1600/psycho+sobber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHergqdLSWgeC18zCw0IlKf6Xx046LMTm3a-w7BIzIP8Dmt43h8ot08o0S74XcaJtB4RzJF8P2LjM1fds1Jbu-ah4ablhVSIH8Vx60AX3J6C2_WvLw_wfcqUOhkZkTvarVOiQ0pQNSgSZ/s320/psycho+sobber.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was very serious about her phone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally the light of day arrived and with it came back all of
the lost members of our tribe. First the partygoers trickled into the bus
station touting stories of a fantastic night (of course). Then S and Sweet P
showed up. Turns out they also spent the evening in the bus station but they
managed to find a warm, quiet area to sleep in and had a completely restful
night. Last came “The Deserter”. He shared with the partygoers the tale of his
fabulous sleep. Fae and I gave him the look of death, to which he responded
with “I was really worried about you guys”. We… lost… our… minds! I’m pretty
sure that at some point our heads began to spin and we started spewing green
pea soup like a scene out of the Exorcist. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After several more hours in the bus station our bus home
finally arrived. Fae was smited yet again. This time by some guy that was very
serious about sitting in his exact seat number leaving Fae pinned into a corner
window for the entire duration of the ride home. (Smite #15)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived later that afternoon in Logroño to a lovely walk
home through the rain. (Smite #16)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was definitely one of those trips that were only fun in
hindsight. And while Zaragoza may never see my face again, it was definitely a
memorable trip that has laid some awesomely hilarious foundations of friendship
here in Spain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever had insane trip that you will never forget and
never repeat? Ever made any spontaneous roadtrips with serious backlash? Ever
slept in a bus station? Do share!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¡Hasta Pronto!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-5271901498400055702012-10-02T01:16:00.001-07:002012-10-02T01:16:26.162-07:00First Impressions: PART TWO—Culture Shock<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, immediately after A (henceforth referred to as RG1—don’t
ask…that was his creation) snagged us from the bus station, we dragged my
massive load of luggage to our apartment (thankfully only 5 blocks away…less
thankfully in the rain).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We dumped our stuff, toured our place (which is awesome!!!),
sat for a few minutes and then prepared to head off!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqhQ8iVZOyu3rcuYgdTliAZrPAqAnzxQA2Q2ysM1Vqd_vg3xcpf2N7J-SYcnD8j8k83kVPSIy8gjXWn7t4LxRkkZkQ2Rrk5DQXGtd1_cokr3SI8bLa3jwm7zUxP4EXd5urI8yypJeUIpU/s1600/IMG008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqhQ8iVZOyu3rcuYgdTliAZrPAqAnzxQA2Q2ysM1Vqd_vg3xcpf2N7J-SYcnD8j8k83kVPSIy8gjXWn7t4LxRkkZkQ2Rrk5DQXGtd1_cokr3SI8bLa3jwm7zUxP4EXd5urI8yypJeUIpU/s320/IMG008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">A glimpse of our lovely living room</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jm2ENLobEmkFQb1YJFkXWkneqnLafcT1XKNxdwpE4fBsf2leBuLi6fTVk5mVV_xReiNLW0z8dlN79ElsZYLNOGZ1hlu_0Px_Na-wdS-gLGjGj1cA-Z-ZLbGgbYnZMME-wkVaC2cJsY09/s1600/IMG017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jm2ENLobEmkFQb1YJFkXWkneqnLafcT1XKNxdwpE4fBsf2leBuLi6fTVk5mVV_xReiNLW0z8dlN79ElsZYLNOGZ1hlu_0Px_Na-wdS-gLGjGj1cA-Z-ZLbGgbYnZMME-wkVaC2cJsY09/s320/IMG017.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very inaccurate look at my room...things have been moved around and completely redecorated...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3PQvmWWKbNFse5ZwyTm8U1JRB39z4K8wloA7iemN3NSOefs-xMKs9MADnKU71Kbc_W6ERLR0uXMvuV65E9L2UgbHBOmaAVrHsG8LkDl7cmgMI3qaV3mdL3dVDtH444KITLVsszrG_zKB/s1600/IMG011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3PQvmWWKbNFse5ZwyTm8U1JRB39z4K8wloA7iemN3NSOefs-xMKs9MADnKU71Kbc_W6ERLR0uXMvuV65E9L2UgbHBOmaAVrHsG8LkDl7cmgMI3qaV3mdL3dVDtH444KITLVsszrG_zKB/s320/IMG011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have already begun putting this room to good use.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Culture Shock 1: Hundreds of angry Africans. There is a
rather large population of African immigrants here and many, not all, have
taken to street vending here in Logroño. Some of the things that they sell are
actually rather nice. However, their marketing pitch leaves a lot to be
desired. Cut to: African woman essentially wrist raping me with a bracelet that
she was insistent that I buy. I begged her repeatedly not to put it on me (My
body, my choice!) but she was not having it... She then told me the price
expecting me to just hand it over. I, of course, still said no, to which she
painfully ripped it off of my arm and proceeded to call me everything BUT a
child of God under her breath. Ummm…l’chaim to you too, ma’am!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We decided to go try some <i>pintxos</i> (Northern Spain’s version
of <i>tapas</i>) and lots and lots of wine. Pretty chill evening because we definitely
needed to unwind after that whirlwind trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZxK34n16DEMYxi9cX2pMZ-Dtmjbm9PO1Ki3twy9Zl6yEj0IP89eoQicPr1LfiKs0bvsPCAqCFE0SJirZrQXn58JJElJf47xjItIqqk5VjU1uKhDbndCr7uEcV8Yg3X8zIbKJNzKRnQbL/s1600/IMAG1039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZxK34n16DEMYxi9cX2pMZ-Dtmjbm9PO1Ki3twy9Zl6yEj0IP89eoQicPr1LfiKs0bvsPCAqCFE0SJirZrQXn58JJElJf47xjItIqqk5VjU1uKhDbndCr7uEcV8Yg3X8zIbKJNzKRnQbL/s320/IMAG1039.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yummy <i>tortilla</i>...how I love thee!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next few days and nights became a whirlwind of parties
and festival processions thanks to San Mateo. Man, these people go hard!!! I
mean really, there was nothing in my sad little American experience (see: lots
of tailgating and frat house keggers) that could have adequately prepped me for
how intensely these Spaniards can party. To give you a small idea, let me
explain that clubs in this city do not OPEN until 2am. The temptation to just
sleep in the street was immensely strong.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe7ChmDfXZQVHuHr2XEJMlNHapXPjgRJ03ZuMPJMrPGbMqLUGKVQLfwhVv2kd3la73KVVO3T5RfrRonNk2WME9etVHpJxb-yZt5ojFqEbwxHsQ1eSzIOh39i24faqiLSrWarVZJdMcHBr/s1600/IMAG1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe7ChmDfXZQVHuHr2XEJMlNHapXPjgRJ03ZuMPJMrPGbMqLUGKVQLfwhVv2kd3la73KVVO3T5RfrRonNk2WME9etVHpJxb-yZt5ojFqEbwxHsQ1eSzIOh39i24faqiLSrWarVZJdMcHBr/s320/IMAG1022.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free midnight concert so that people can pre-game before the clubs open</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwi2CoVVUbgaTbwPJr7GUKyS3d6vSahfoYFKdq92NYN8U1I6gjAHmi4mbe8JJyZqUK-1rTfW2gnsJE80QqQPtZFqsGwS7acy5ns3FFeZSyEgWHvGcN4bADIyXDxE_nyGIDt_VLLaqIvei/s1600/IMAG1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwi2CoVVUbgaTbwPJr7GUKyS3d6vSahfoYFKdq92NYN8U1I6gjAHmi4mbe8JJyZqUK-1rTfW2gnsJE80QqQPtZFqsGwS7acy5ns3FFeZSyEgWHvGcN4bADIyXDxE_nyGIDt_VLLaqIvei/s320/IMAG1027.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its 3am...let's just dance it out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Culture Shock 2: Pee-Pee Cobblestone. Sleeping on the
streets here would probably be the easiest way to instantly contract
herpaganasypholitis. I’m pretty sure at this point that these beautiful cobblestone roads are
paved with dried pee. Really, after a long night of partying it is perfectly
normal for people to just whip it out and get to releasing. And while the
mental picture that first leapt into your head was more than likely that of a
drunken frat boy, and this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> the
overwhelming majority, you should now stretch your imagination to include
ladies in hot heels and skimpy dresses popping a squat in a side alley. Should
we at least find a car or trashcan to duck behind? Nah! Just do it where you
feel it, I suppose! (This part of immersion I think I’ll pass on)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Saturday night, we, the oldies but goodies of the group,
decided to pretend that we were 22 again and attempt to party until dawn. There
was face slapping (not my face), drunken stumbling, pregnant women smoking (no
worries, she was the recipient of many sneers and nasty commentary, shaming her
into putting out the cigarette) and me trying unsuccessfully to tell a Moroccan
man that only spoke French, I believe, in Spanish that I thought he had
beautiful teeth. Good times! <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CJ1pLCjx1vSgbVcJrbmL-Xk-Eez2V42x7omfxk4v3cycyN3UxKdPN-AiiWSgultUSCXPkUbX3tC_JcsrRBmiUZ_ZD33IC5OM3u1CtjCMNCpDTTahNikngvm3GUdVx5174ShQGngrm9um/s1600/IMAG1051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CJ1pLCjx1vSgbVcJrbmL-Xk-Eez2V42x7omfxk4v3cycyN3UxKdPN-AiiWSgultUSCXPkUbX3tC_JcsrRBmiUZ_ZD33IC5OM3u1CtjCMNCpDTTahNikngvm3GUdVx5174ShQGngrm9um/s320/IMAG1051.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With RG-1 and Estrella (our resident Italian)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a massive tent set up in one of the town squares
where all the youngins had flocked to get down with their bad selves (showing
my emotional age for this venture). This is where I learned the joy and curse
of black Vodka. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now before, the
vodka I was merely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pi-di-pi</i> (I’m sure
I spelled that horribly wrong but that is what the Spaniards here call tipsy)
but I soon hit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">barracha</i> status with
force. My memories of this evening now flicker in my mind like some old TV with
foil-covered antennae. There was just so much to see and take in and the major
amount of weed smoke being blown into my face all night surely has helped to
cloud this evening further.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cprMhNpi_3UEtuC3-AghjgajETaRaA1QbPeu5SVGSRDTNgfIG_uyM2sSiybNGzml1K8VpEtGMIzch28i6SlEekhdZoRtP-DCv7azvSAej5UCRyTaUzJqEIN5ljAfRDZfakHqCyf-a1XC/s1600/IMAG1029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cprMhNpi_3UEtuC3-AghjgajETaRaA1QbPeu5SVGSRDTNgfIG_uyM2sSiybNGzml1K8VpEtGMIzch28i6SlEekhdZoRtP-DCv7azvSAej5UCRyTaUzJqEIN5ljAfRDZfakHqCyf-a1XC/s320/IMAG1029.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No level of <i>barracha</i> could make this a good idea...<br />
(Written on the inside of the tent)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Culture Shock #3: Mullets!!! Mullets EVERYWHERE!!! I mean,
its like no one turned on the televisions back in 1999 to let Spain know that
the new millennia had arrived. And it would be bad enough that mullets were
accepted, sometimes even admired, here in Spain. However, these people have the
downright audacity to have styled mullets. There are curly mullets…spiky
mullets…and yes… even DREADLOCK MULLETS!!!! WTF?! What is that supposed to be?
Business in the front, Rasta in the back?! Are you kidding me?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was some nice down time as I settled into the
wonderful world of siestas, sat in cafes, went grocery shopping (<i>where are all the microwave
dinners and sauces??</i>), watched loads of Jersey Shore (gross but addictive) with RG-1 and M, and set up my room to make it feel all homey and nice. I
even managed to successfully navigate laundry in Spain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT_Ow2eoIscXWv_etkXMTAMQCl4c-ZxzwbXu7iBCSfnRJFr5Bb2rQ_oXWalJm8x3Bw1TF8GqvzjOqyFA3L3TAkH-j2EeNCueIh3dIz1PSpyaMCDx2eoJA52mGfQFb2f5vrFsVPl4HegH9/s1600/IMAG1032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT_Ow2eoIscXWv_etkXMTAMQCl4c-ZxzwbXu7iBCSfnRJFr5Bb2rQ_oXWalJm8x3Bw1TF8GqvzjOqyFA3L3TAkH-j2EeNCueIh3dIz1PSpyaMCDx2eoJA52mGfQFb2f5vrFsVPl4HegH9/s320/IMAG1032.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and M...(or Granny Rose as I like to call her)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Culture Shock #4: Panties on the Line. Now, I knew coming
here that I would have to use a clothing line to dry my clothing. I was all
mentally prepped for the crunchy jeans and over-stretched sweaters. I somehow,
though, managed to never think about hanging my delicates outside the window
like flags waving in the wind for all of España to see. I have nearly toppled
over the balcony at least three times already trying to hang the heaviest
towels I can find on the farthest line so that I can make a shield for my
unmentionables. Listen, I have not even met and given <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dos besos</i> to most of my neighbors yet. So I think it is a bit early
for them to be able to describe my underwear in vivid detail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went on one really interesting meeting for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">clases particulares</i> (private tutoring)
where I was all by my lonesome with Spaniards for the first time and had to
painfully bash my way through a conversation using no English. Luckily, they
seemed to understand me pretty well and I think I will have a nice little side
income coming in (to be used solely on awesome travel). One woman was
attempting to talk me down from my price. Sadly, I was actually on the verge of
giving in. Unfortunately for her, her <s>demon</s> lovely daughter chose that
exact moment to hurl a bowl at my head. I instantly hit her with the straight
face and jacked up my price by 5€ an hour. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, basically it has been a really incredible, wild,
confusing, mis-stepping, wine infused, rollicking good time so far. I’m
learning something new everyday and (I would like to believe) I am meeting each
new challenge with a smile and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">salud</i>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_WhOm0QYI5_xgdGf-3V4mnSw1eMmAlyDofPcQ7ARzOq80Jz8sVTD5KoR7KMrIemHdLkK_Hb23hvdrFrLZxm7RnYzUTHyaI04pNTg-c668uYkjveYkwDK9wYYD2rzncktZolxSgeGtZXZ/s1600/IMAG1069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_WhOm0QYI5_xgdGf-3V4mnSw1eMmAlyDofPcQ7ARzOq80Jz8sVTD5KoR7KMrIemHdLkK_Hb23hvdrFrLZxm7RnYzUTHyaI04pNTg-c668uYkjveYkwDK9wYYD2rzncktZolxSgeGtZXZ/s320/IMAG1069.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any challenge becomes fun when you rock your Oompa Loompa tights!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you every encountered any sort of culture shock? Made
any silly mistakes or attempted any ridiculous conversations? Know the correct spelling of <i>pi-di-pi</i>? Please share!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hasta Pronto!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-70938282921350976622012-09-20T05:11:00.001-07:002012-09-20T05:11:07.753-07:00First Impressions: PART ONE<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
An Italian, a Black, a Jew, a German, some Spaniards, and a
Texan walk into a bar…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah. I know that sounds like the beginning of a very
complicated, racist, and beyond corny bathroom humor joke. It is in fact a
pretty simplified explanation of my nights out on the town thus far here in
Logroño.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we will get back to that. Let’s start at the beginning of my journey across the sea. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starting
on Monday, September 17, I woke up at about 5am (Keep in mind that my flight
was not leaving until 11:15). I was so anxious that I couldn’t even feign sleep
anymore like I had been all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My three massive suitcases were waiting patiently by the door and I was
all too ready to get them rolling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKhJ6gaGLb4t1XeoLVZm8UWxf72H08d5cxA_-7VTGgpTgeedaUX2ftUlaqNcC7ADkJrHwyYUzYhSAVTWaq5e6UpF4Sq2OgiyM-II_nei7KvEuwsTIm-3Np0NlkWN1YKojYiec3wobd7hU/s1600/Luggage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKhJ6gaGLb4t1XeoLVZm8UWxf72H08d5cxA_-7VTGgpTgeedaUX2ftUlaqNcC7ADkJrHwyYUzYhSAVTWaq5e6UpF4Sq2OgiyM-II_nei7KvEuwsTIm-3Np0NlkWN1YKojYiec3wobd7hU/s320/Luggage+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Infamous Luggage: I should have known...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We loaded the car and headed out around 8am toward Miami
International Airport. My sister and I did our hug/love thing at the curb and I
(unaided and looking ridiculous) proceeded in to check myself in for my flight…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yE4ek_-FLayl6E3q3c7QeocY4skiwuhxwNE3GF7AbImWhDbmok_Nsqp5s4oHiabqz9lNQGiLc_bfv11fortwC-OTbT3UL8NmPoQL-7_2m1PCAJafvvbbrRpB2qvcM9W3CU4_aShqEx8w/s1600/Luggage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yE4ek_-FLayl6E3q3c7QeocY4skiwuhxwNE3GF7AbImWhDbmok_Nsqp5s4oHiabqz9lNQGiLc_bfv11fortwC-OTbT3UL8NmPoQL-7_2m1PCAJafvvbbrRpB2qvcM9W3CU4_aShqEx8w/s320/Luggage+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Brandi!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hiccup #1: Of course my damn luggage broke every airline
regulation known to man! My largest suitcase weighed in at a whopping 74 lbs!!!
No biggie! Only 20 lbs to get rid of as a line of some 20 other<s> irate</s>
patient passengers waited to be assisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I tried to shove as much as I could into my carry-on bag and even
swallowed my pride and chose a few items that I would toss all together if
needed, creating a pile of crap at the ticket counter and looking like a crazy homeless woman in the process. Of course this made my carry-on too wide to qualify and I was promptly
informed that it would need to be checked and would require a small fee of $450. So
I did what any mature responsible adult would do in this situation…. I
immediately began to cry and pray out loud for God to deliver me. LOL. Well,
apparently God was on the hotline that morning and took pity on my pathetic
self because the lady said nothing and walked to the back room and left me
there. She came back with a luggage tag and a BeBe bag. She put the tag onto my
carry-on and told me to put my discarded items into the BeBe bag and count it as
my carry-on. She them looked me square in the eye, without smiling, and told me
to just walk away. So, thank-you, Mr. Jesus for looking out for a sistah…a
third checked bag for FREE!!! Lovely!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The flight to DC (in a baby jet- ugh!) went without incident and I even managed to get a nap in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I got to DC, I ran into a few other assistants waiting
for the same flight as me to Madrid so we passed the time together eating food,
chatting about the year to come, and generally j<s>udging</s> getting to know
each other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our flight to Madrid boarded and left on time, thus allowing
us to avoid the notorious United Airlines delays.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hiccup #2: So I was completely nervous about the idea of
flying over open water, as it is not something that I have ever done before. So
I came prepared with Unisom with the intention of putting myself into a
drug-induced coma until we arrived. Well about an hour or so into the flight it
still hadn’t kicked in and I was still nervous so I decided to give it a little
nudge… hello, Chardonnay!! Horrible, horrible idea. Yes, I did fall asleep. But
then I randomly woke up… and everything fell swiftly down hill from that point.
I blacked out. Not fell asleep. But actually had a fainting blackout. From
which I awoke drenched in sweat and dizzy/nauseous out of my mind. The lady next
to me, who was a bit larger than is comfortable to sit next to for an 8 hr
flight, was passed out cold and no matter how much I prodded her, would not
wake. And I knew if I didn’t get to the restroom soon this flight was about to
suck for everybody. So a decision had to be made. I literally threw myself over
her and into the aisle and ran/crawled my way to the <s>closet</s> bathroom.
Luckily, I did not throw up but I did sadly sleep for another hour in the
bathroom as the meds kicked in again and put me back to sleep unexpectedly. So
lesson learned: Unisom and wine are not friends and should never coexist
together in your system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that debacle, I arrived in Madrid feeling surprisingly
rested and ready to get to Logroño. M and I were both heading that way so we
joined forces to get our bags through customs and head toward the bus station.
We got our phones turned on in the airport and proceeded to the Alsa ticket
office. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hiccup #3: Now, my father came to Madrid with me. However,
he was on a separate flight and apparently adverse to following instructions
after a “miserable” flight in first-class with bottomless champagne and filet
mignon (WTH?! Really? HE gets the free upgrade) ~Love you, Daddy~ Anyhow, we
discussed meeting in Terminal 4 at the Alsa bus station BEFORE leaving America.
I sent follow up instructions in various emails upon arrival. I couldn’t text
him because Sprint decided that it no longer wanted to be of assistance to me
abroad. Well, my dad just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knew</i> that I
would communicate with him via text or calls and never checked his email. He
also presumed that I must have had a grand change of plans so never went to our
designated meeting place. Cut to: Me waiting with M and B (who was on the same
flight as him) for about 3 hours and them leaving on the bus to Logroño without
me with my father still nowhere in sight. It took us talking through my sister
as a third-party VIA EMAIL for us to connect and for him to finally find me in
Terminal 4 at the Alsa station. The next bus didn’t leave for another 5 hours
so we buckled in for a nice long wait in the airport lobby and tried to sleep
while not getting robbed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally we made it to the city around 7pm after a very
picturesque 4 hr bus ride. My roommate, A, met us at the station and we lugged
my body bags on to our apartment. Phew!!! What a damn day!!! We rested, showered and hit the streets for the first of some amazing nights!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This story seems a bit endless already so I get to more on all of that in PART TWO. Stay tuned!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever embarrassed yourself that many times in one
trip? Please share so I don’t feel to insane!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hasta Pronto!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-56489467555551278532012-09-03T05:36:00.001-07:002012-09-03T05:36:18.925-07:00Lessons in Breathing: Visa in Hand and Apartment Hunt OnSo, I finally have my visa in hand (I picked it up on the 27th as scheduled) and now I have exactly 2 weeks before I hop a plane to start my new adventure on the other side of the world.<br />
<br />
In the interest of keeping up with how this process truly goes, I feel I must talk about this apartment hunt situation....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
((insert heaving sigh here))</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>So, bright side first</b>: I have found what I believe are two really awesome roommates that I am genuinely excited about living with. They are both people that are not exactly fresh out of college, so their mindset is a bit closer to mine. You know, ready to party 'til our geriatric bones fall apart but still understanding how to show up for a job and make sure household needs are tended to...So we should be able to kick up some awesome/insane stories together...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Less shiny side</b>: We found a great place that was basically a guaranteed <i>piso</i> for the three of us (a past assistant was moving from her place and offered it out--this is definitely a route that future assistants should try...don't be shy...ask around). There were a few issues with the place, but overall it was basically perfect for us. However, we found another place that seemed as though it would accommodate us a bit better and was in just as nice of an area. We decided to go for it. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Long story short</b>: The original place was rented out, the new place bailed out from us and decided not to rent the place anymore, we may be living under a bridge in two weeks...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Just kidding, I'm sure we will work it out, but I am sure we will be far more discerning in the future.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Lesson learned</b>: The grass is not greener. In fact it is nothing but crappy 70's plastic carpet grass. Keep the real thing...plants will like you better for it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, even as we speak, I am emailing every <i>piso</i> I see advertised anywhere and hopefully soon I will have better news to share.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This hiccup, in the grand scheme of things, is really minor and I realized a while ago that after the glow of excitement wanes and the real process begins, there is bound to be the Murphy's Law phase. I'm there now I guess. I also know that, while trying to move to another country, if I let every setback and upset wind me all up, I will be a crazy person before I even get my first paycheck.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I am learning to breathe through these moments...maybe this is one of the things I need to learn before coming back to the States anyhow...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Have you attempted to find housing overseas? Any horror stories? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Wish me luck guys!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
¡Hasta Pronto!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
XOXO</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-80939242578148105832012-08-03T07:31:00.000-07:002012-08-03T07:31:00.027-07:00All that for ten minutes?: Visa AppointmentSo, after much stress, OCD, and anticipation, I finally went in for my visa appointment on Monday, August 30, 2012. My time slot was slated for 10:45am and I showed up, of course, with over 30 minutes to spare. During this visa process, my organization compulsions knew no bounds. I was the Santa of legal documents. Making lists...checking them twice...or rather a hundred times in most instances. I wanted nothing missing, no stone unturned, no excuse to be denied entrance to this lovely country that I feel so close to that I can practically taste the jamón!<br />
<br />
Now, remember that my appointment was with the dreaded Miami Consulate...(dun dun dunnnn). All of the horror stories and unanswered phone calls/emails prior to this day left me feeling extremely uncertain...scratch that...I was absolutely certain...certain that something was bound to go wrong and screw everything up.
However, I must say, regardless of their inability to hold a phone to their ear for a mere second and lend counsel, they were surprisingly adept at efficiency and the entire ordeal took a matter of minutes.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8o_Byq5nNXnHKs_kcthpKNJ5cpH3I-sHC-ufzO0-cXjGlvXyqu8Ku32irdkn2dYrtZN8TVl7gV01xxwEVlu1qwiAlQB40D0roYjFb3H4hfGDJG_LoKIy_j4nPuUD78HsYMo2A6zPICy0/s1600/IMAG0948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8o_Byq5nNXnHKs_kcthpKNJ5cpH3I-sHC-ufzO0-cXjGlvXyqu8Ku32irdkn2dYrtZN8TVl7gV01xxwEVlu1qwiAlQB40D0roYjFb3H4hfGDJG_LoKIy_j4nPuUD78HsYMo2A6zPICy0/s320/IMAG0948.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snuck this photo on the way out lol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I walked in with my handy dandy documents folder where I held each completed and appropriately signed item that they requested in the order that it was listed on their website: (Note: On the Miami Consulate page, under student visa, there is an option to see the requirements for Language Assistants)
<a href="http://www.conspainmiami.org/pdf/visado/ASSISTANT.pdf"></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.conspainmiami.org/pdf/visado/ASSISTANT.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.conspainmiami.org/pdf/visado/ASSISTANT.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<br />
When you go into the office, they give you a number to wait in line regardless of your appointment time. Now I'm pretty sure that numbers are not physically different in Spanish, so it will never be clear to me exactly how my number '12' that I was given actually meant '32'. There was a definite moment of confusion when the lady repeatedly called my number (32) and I, being the only one in the waiting room (with the number 12) did not immediately move. Is this the sort of thing I should be getting used to? Did I skip a chapter in my Spanish book that said that in Spanish 1's are in fact 3's? *sigh* Oh well...small hiccup in the grand scheme of things...and a sprinkling of humor on an otherwise stressful morning for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p-93JlQJUmFDbpVII36uBYgeVVOJwU8ZgO5g9ZShIJTOQ9pJCuBtMr6NiDySCPjZ_ZlL3u_IBhSE0yHVOZoY2BwOzZB9kX-lHLZQ-YtIHq6Cdf3csQKML8HbcbJ7IK2RO6IeeaGXTAt5/s1600/IMAG0947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p-93JlQJUmFDbpVII36uBYgeVVOJwU8ZgO5g9ZShIJTOQ9pJCuBtMr6NiDySCPjZ_ZlL3u_IBhSE0yHVOZoY2BwOzZB9kX-lHLZQ-YtIHq6Cdf3csQKML8HbcbJ7IK2RO6IeeaGXTAt5/s320/IMAG0947.jpg" width="191" /></a>Once I realized I was being summoned, I jaunted up to the window...yes, window, there is no desk. I handed over each document as requested to the (insert: stunningly beautiful) woman behind the counter, <s>gaped at her</s> sat for a moment while she reviewed my information, stamped some things, made additional copies of things (although I had like four of everything), and shuffled some things around.<br />
<br />
<br />
She walked to the back of the office, came back, flashed a gorgeous smile (I promise to stop gushing now) and handed me back my application, photo firmly attached, with a flimsy receipt on it that proclaimed (in the faintest of blue ink as to be nearly illegible) that my visa would be ready for pick up on August 27, 2012.<br />
<br />
<br />
So voila!!! That is done and now I am on to the next long wait!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
How was your visa experience? Any blunders? Were you a crazed organizer before hand?<br />
<br />
Hasta pronto!!!<br />
XOXO<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu67-9hrhtTFIHFDLsUqM9WGMyY_FEF04_gTU6eXniajQkRlu8OhJswWX7eDUQPmdra12X2RLkTsdT7uezSEjLbkCqx3l8I01z5E7Z866esdsH8NGApmYf53fEOqRq5cLParq2xGDZuOe/s1600/IMAG0951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu67-9hrhtTFIHFDLsUqM9WGMyY_FEF04_gTU6eXniajQkRlu8OhJswWX7eDUQPmdra12X2RLkTsdT7uezSEjLbkCqx3l8I01z5E7Z866esdsH8NGApmYf53fEOqRq5cLParq2xGDZuOe/s400/IMAG0951.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-80192069537301845082012-07-25T12:06:00.002-07:002012-07-25T12:06:05.827-07:00Spain is Calling, Help is Needed<object width="250" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/2d05f4cbfbaab8de"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="event_title" value="Spain%20is%20Calling%2C%20Help%20is%20Needed"></param><param name="event_desc" value="Moving%20to%20Spain.%20Startup%20costs%20abound%2C%20money%20is%20tight%2C%20and%20the%20economy%20is%20rough.%20Any%20help%20is%20appreciated%21%21%21"></param><param name="color_scheme" value="red"></param><embed src="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/2d05f4cbfbaab8de" flashVars="event_title=Spain%20is%20Calling%2C%20Help%20is%20Needed&event_desc=Moving%20to%20Spain.%20Startup%20costs%20abound%2C%20money%20is%20tight%2C%20and%20the%20economy%20is%20rough.%20Any%20help%20is%20appreciated%21%21%21&color_scheme=red" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="250" height="250"></embed></object>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-63280366449249427542012-07-14T08:41:00.001-07:002012-07-14T08:55:03.733-07:00One Way TicketSo... I bought my plane ticket to Madrid.<br />
<br />
Yes...yes!!! I know...shouldn't I have waited 'til after my visa appointment to book this? Well, no! Tickets were steadily rising and I couldn't bear to pay an arm and a leg after I've seen dirt cheap flights.<br />
<br />
I purchased my ticket through StaTravel (<a href="http://www.statravel.com/">www.statravel.com</a>). I first had to apply for a discount international student card ($25) which also doubles as a prepaid Mastercard (not a bad deal since it gets you tons of travel discounts for a year and the withdrawal fees are cheaper than most American banks when used abroad). <br />
<br />
Because I am over the 26 year old age limit for STA and I have been out of college for a while, I purchased my card first (using the name of the school I was placed at) then called their help line and chose the option to speak to a representative for the student card. I explained the program to her and she helped me to book my flight over the phone and added a note on my reservation about the fact that I was traveling on a student visa under a governmental educational grant.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
I decided to only do a one-way trip for now and deal with the rest later since I am pretty sure I want to travel around Europe a bit next summer before coming back to the states (or staying on for another year). Best part...my flight is a lovely overnight flight (see: me drugged up on Melatonin and passed out for the whole thing) and it was only $350!!!! SWEET!!!<br />
<br />
So the official plan is this: Leave Miami on Sept. 17, quick layover in DC, land in Madrid early on Sept. 18, catch a morning bus to Logroño, check into lodging, crash until a reasonable time to grab some wine and pinchos!!!<br />
<br />
As for lodging, that part is still a bit up in the air. A few assistants have been talking about getting a vacation apartment rental and splitting the costs while we all apartment hunt. Unfortunately, Logroño has very limited advertisements for cheap hostels. So, this is a kink that I still need to work out.<br />
<br />
Completed Tasks:<br />
- Finding a home for my doggies. (It is awesome)<br />
- Collecting all needed documents for my visa appointment<br />
- Packing (I had to move anyway!)<br />
- Purchased plane ticket<br />
<br />
<br />
To-Do List:<br />
- Relocate to Miami until the end of the summer<br />
- Visa appointment at the Miami Consulate<br />
- Find a hostel in Logroño<br />
- Purchase a bus ticket from Madrid to Logroño, then back to Madrid for orientation<br />
-Stress about getting my visa back in time<br />
<br />
<br />
So yeah...still a few things left to get together...but I'm feeling the excitement again (this was lost temporarily in the teary anguish of giving away my pups and moving out of my house)...bring on España!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Hasta Pronto!!!!!<br />
XOXOBrittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-21388155314736382532012-06-25T10:27:00.000-07:002012-06-25T10:27:50.390-07:00Seattle State of MindSo, this summer I have been on this whole "discover the home front" kick. I have been forcing myself to try to enjoy more of the things going on in my own neighborhood, see some parts of America that I have not seen before, and explore some places that are on the fringe but not so far from home.<br />
<br />
My first trip (not in America--I'm not that slow) was to Jamaica... Now here's the thing... Jamaica is my <i>special</i> place. Not unlike Vegas. And like Vegas, there is not a chance in hell that I would attempt to recap the experience on a website for all the world to read...if I were to tell you, I'd have to kill you. And no one wants the mess. So instead, enjoy this lovely photo of Jamaican scenery:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi2QUeNvLuSZj0OoD96BPwvvlJcl8wCW4kKZ3XIkEe0REFzz90iMhDTWY5_1PNSdyNcdThP27QIczEoJD8AyPdgIVW9XKu8G4GAZSmjKrM4uimYx2y0GCpFe-KMZglSCT6f2IVkWoYQZD/s1600/IMAG0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi2QUeNvLuSZj0OoD96BPwvvlJcl8wCW4kKZ3XIkEe0REFzz90iMhDTWY5_1PNSdyNcdThP27QIczEoJD8AyPdgIVW9XKu8G4GAZSmjKrM4uimYx2y0GCpFe-KMZglSCT6f2IVkWoYQZD/s320/IMAG0567.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ain't it lovely?!<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that I head over to Alabama and had a short weekend visit with some friends that Swift and I met in Jamaica. I'm on summer vacation, right? So, why not?<br />
<br />
Most recently (see: last week), I headed up to Seattle, WA. A very good friend of mine was having brain surgery and we decided to go be cheerleaders for her recovery. (She is doing amazing by the way and I couldn't be happier) While she was getting her much needed rest, Swift and I jumped around the city, exploring all of its nooks and crannies.<br />
<br />
Now, let me explain my feelings toward Seattle....if that's its real name...<br />
<br />
I do not believe in Seattle. I don't believe in Montana. Or Wyoming. Or any version of a Dakota. They make no sense to me and I have never met anyone from these places. They are made up little lands, constructed to keep Texas and California from taking over the west side of the country. Really. It's true.<br />
<br />
Visiting Seattle only managed to reinforce this idea. Sure I saw the beautiful snow-capped mountains while standing on piers and inhaling delicious salt-tinged air. But there were nurses named Tinkerbell and Elf. No one knew that the 90's were over and that grunge long ago died a swift and painless death. People were nice nasty and there was not a scrap of even mildly tanned skin for miles.<br />
<br />
So you see, this place is a fairy land that does not truly exist. I am chalking the whole week up to a high that I don't know how I got and a camera that captures images from mental trips.<br />
<br />
Go ahead...put on your best psychedelic look and ride the wave with me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUYC4LLQqezP2_43y0VEkwlbA9jg5LtjeJgBz3JYEolZhmsLzQLTa6ashHxDuoV0FLWL-0k2lznArz6oF7aLk5uxHnT6h_sEaLZbavAukMfi8bTwcn7wSItfJGENgDFWZH9XXSbAJAzHP/s1600/Seattle+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUYC4LLQqezP2_43y0VEkwlbA9jg5LtjeJgBz3JYEolZhmsLzQLTa6ashHxDuoV0FLWL-0k2lznArz6oF7aLk5uxHnT6h_sEaLZbavAukMfi8bTwcn7wSItfJGENgDFWZH9XXSbAJAzHP/s400/Seattle+Bridge.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbZPf9Zme5B0XBNvVwNLKWCl6AkaEpaDs5hejQqi4sPtRKZsu_uhhsPCExjf_HUIe5pggT6bgZTCh-h_gMX2V_aaIIxj_FK9jvAqSvuwF4Va6p0Lau83yhPg41sxiEiA1W77BMYsgJuSs/s1600/Violinist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbZPf9Zme5B0XBNvVwNLKWCl6AkaEpaDs5hejQqi4sPtRKZsu_uhhsPCExjf_HUIe5pggT6bgZTCh-h_gMX2V_aaIIxj_FK9jvAqSvuwF4Va6p0Lau83yhPg41sxiEiA1W77BMYsgJuSs/s400/Violinist.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoUiIoGD5fcJxShmg7oIHmbOO6fdG0xr9AAjlXdzbyxiPI-J18olqXsQ84LAirC4uGajddYNOe6v3ot2HFonYQxpZfnDPcxEg2ZEt9Ls1-W1PQIc1kMGOwcuGy6lnDiG1hG4TthPmrUxa/s1600/Scary+lady.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoUiIoGD5fcJxShmg7oIHmbOO6fdG0xr9AAjlXdzbyxiPI-J18olqXsQ84LAirC4uGajddYNOe6v3ot2HFonYQxpZfnDPcxEg2ZEt9Ls1-W1PQIc1kMGOwcuGy6lnDiG1hG4TthPmrUxa/s400/Scary+lady.png" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lady was soooooo creepy. I love street performers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYjmEWYo-TjsbNca_7q_4fZANArShCOOi4G9UuIR1_QObQSoftmSUwLJwWBYGEqlhz6LmN2YiyzvmbE8nxZLRCK7OFSK32brYMskcoBGkiFK0PMQ8ovSiWCZWDDIZbLc0vW3pWvo5HDO5/s1600/IMAG0762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYjmEWYo-TjsbNca_7q_4fZANArShCOOi4G9UuIR1_QObQSoftmSUwLJwWBYGEqlhz6LmN2YiyzvmbE8nxZLRCK7OFSK32brYMskcoBGkiFK0PMQ8ovSiWCZWDDIZbLc0vW3pWvo5HDO5/s400/IMAG0762.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cgUwuY5c0hnwEaSDH_0_wM0DzGpn8VGI6Q0MbXUSagsYhIud006bORSCBzvJJcYI4tBS1lq8fpyZ9nfC9yk3Jvh5CxuPARpQqoCHRP4VfwEwssu5GsC72SU2B5p9eIn6Xk2zWa7Zlf8N/s1600/IMAG0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cgUwuY5c0hnwEaSDH_0_wM0DzGpn8VGI6Q0MbXUSagsYhIud006bORSCBzvJJcYI4tBS1lq8fpyZ9nfC9yk3Jvh5CxuPARpQqoCHRP4VfwEwssu5GsC72SU2B5p9eIn6Xk2zWa7Zlf8N/s400/IMAG0764.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTDdbhyphenhyphenY70z4JO4dp9T14vSEPbGTTstltdoWr-R-MGk-zUe2U0q9Z30YGTyqNBsoGpbdsqhIOVz0FMpsSRoa7ZvUCmOxI0csMfgRWauCHUWKboYdGTbgXOmFhY4icRntfVUP2nRl8WaoL/s1600/IMAG0768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTDdbhyphenhyphenY70z4JO4dp9T14vSEPbGTTstltdoWr-R-MGk-zUe2U0q9Z30YGTyqNBsoGpbdsqhIOVz0FMpsSRoa7ZvUCmOxI0csMfgRWauCHUWKboYdGTbgXOmFhY4icRntfVUP2nRl8WaoL/s400/IMAG0768.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg-lKZF5X9gnIj-Sqw9kho1-RSyG-GKviUfqSbUIfI5j0y-dK2wf4PkQNs2aUwnAayEGVMvuKEhrTzKU6Bfgb8hpqNBKUxKlEaDfArN6ceVgtmdBuC6lenxEdjhogpMM82VQohIJMipQW/s1600/IMAG0769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg-lKZF5X9gnIj-Sqw9kho1-RSyG-GKviUfqSbUIfI5j0y-dK2wf4PkQNs2aUwnAayEGVMvuKEhrTzKU6Bfgb8hpqNBKUxKlEaDfArN6ceVgtmdBuC6lenxEdjhogpMM82VQohIJMipQW/s400/IMAG0769.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzSLeFzZM1EZ780f3m_TdxgT2bfIpnDmaTdf10jVGBOG9QvLV-r_H2KjA4N6AHh1UF96wicJsATMNH6e17FUNKdtHACkYO3EcHQp9sPNTNCA0bQCqKALqK1P4kTyXG_ZFEIpgZYOfIGR-/s1600/IMAG0783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzSLeFzZM1EZ780f3m_TdxgT2bfIpnDmaTdf10jVGBOG9QvLV-r_H2KjA4N6AHh1UF96wicJsATMNH6e17FUNKdtHACkYO3EcHQp9sPNTNCA0bQCqKALqK1P4kTyXG_ZFEIpgZYOfIGR-/s400/IMAG0783.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnLopCy4SaYupJzBscRaz4XoSzf-wvthH6C57jrKAxFC3W8qrL4NWZvrMnX0mABRPUlVRhY6vQTF8Vh65rbAL3mWBKM6f7UvpCwEw26z_qI9rjI52q1pIwd9YGBqLAxEY5Mkk9c7_nXb1/s1600/IMAG0790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnLopCy4SaYupJzBscRaz4XoSzf-wvthH6C57jrKAxFC3W8qrL4NWZvrMnX0mABRPUlVRhY6vQTF8Vh65rbAL3mWBKM6f7UvpCwEw26z_qI9rjI52q1pIwd9YGBqLAxEY5Mkk9c7_nXb1/s400/IMAG0790.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tS9trFdCgA75n3t-7x7cnleiBR_hyphenhyphenaWnBgjKpASBv1hkY7IXHgC-H-j6ksDoeBIgbrh2xutkA83ArxIbeave3xbXlOYUfQ7zND6CERmdyeFygLdd5H_l1nku0OQ_Rlxa5g3FUG8J9Prt/s1600/IMAG0800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tS9trFdCgA75n3t-7x7cnleiBR_hyphenhyphenaWnBgjKpASBv1hkY7IXHgC-H-j6ksDoeBIgbrh2xutkA83ArxIbeave3xbXlOYUfQ7zND6CERmdyeFygLdd5H_l1nku0OQ_Rlxa5g3FUG8J9Prt/s400/IMAG0800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swift always speaks to strangers. One day this may prove problematic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WbfWttjJJedOyY6NVvN3sxSHHo_BJon1C-lUwC2JnyELD8gYwudK8lhP0RZj2fz2vsAg0BInDfTp9oTsSJwdK08zoGXcL7RvdNqXAkcxulumlfXSZnB9uuzrvSxbrPTtTm0jP3btTR0L/s1600/IMAG0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WbfWttjJJedOyY6NVvN3sxSHHo_BJon1C-lUwC2JnyELD8gYwudK8lhP0RZj2fz2vsAg0BInDfTp9oTsSJwdK08zoGXcL7RvdNqXAkcxulumlfXSZnB9uuzrvSxbrPTtTm0jP3btTR0L/s400/IMAG0805.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was around 50 degrees all day....in JUNE!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE28jMQl-BeZkTHW9Kx2LKpAn6R28Vd2DLhJvlHXZQ-5EXlAP29SBKVgnh_ka2cbpxJCu-MDfYH_1DOSGnQp_sQJD76TUQiQnrAZx_ROhJzNDaKawXSk9DI8ZvZ_RbMUO03DSv7N6j1jbQ/s1600/IMAG0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE28jMQl-BeZkTHW9Kx2LKpAn6R28Vd2DLhJvlHXZQ-5EXlAP29SBKVgnh_ka2cbpxJCu-MDfYH_1DOSGnQp_sQJD76TUQiQnrAZx_ROhJzNDaKawXSk9DI8ZvZ_RbMUO03DSv7N6j1jbQ/s400/IMAG0809.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am all about conveyor belt sushi!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzxNwYDsQoR81lH5ts86TkkqXsDa-NEFumPOCWJEHmgOCSUkEOSODKRrq-O07_nu39ElQ8dfBbKvyLyj0qqcB1XILyGtCUoanWjp4-zcRDgzcVTZqxy6j7iUYIgzHOmFvNuKdPWEkE2Rq/s1600/IMAG0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzxNwYDsQoR81lH5ts86TkkqXsDa-NEFumPOCWJEHmgOCSUkEOSODKRrq-O07_nu39ElQ8dfBbKvyLyj0qqcB1XILyGtCUoanWjp4-zcRDgzcVTZqxy6j7iUYIgzHOmFvNuKdPWEkE2Rq/s640/IMAG0817.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A baby crab on an oyster...Swift was the brave one and ate it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujeTvi8Go16qybctIYUR-StqNOR2K3RXfqRTzsDOQDEYCKR38J_nbmZcmdbHbdpGyUMfmls61Tae3_SzapJ50nPhIwE09JA5NFrq23SF2t5Gs6JP44QjrBD2vh8-QrdHeL0S4B7mstdh-/s1600/IMAG0793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujeTvi8Go16qybctIYUR-StqNOR2K3RXfqRTzsDOQDEYCKR38J_nbmZcmdbHbdpGyUMfmls61Tae3_SzapJ50nPhIwE09JA5NFrq23SF2t5Gs6JP44QjrBD2vh8-QrdHeL0S4B7mstdh-/s400/IMAG0793.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally 65 degrees...time to TAN!!!! -_-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So Seattle...land of the unreal...it was awesome to meet you (however much I made you up in my head)...and you shall definitely see me again some day!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hasta Pronto!!!<br />
XOXOBrittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-70445796673910280922012-06-19T12:45:00.000-07:002012-06-19T12:45:28.387-07:00Spotlight on the Microphone: 2So...taking a short, short break from ranting about Spain ((and when I say short, you should know that I may not even take a break. Hell, I have three other blogs already lined up in my head and after this recent lag in posting, I can't be trusted to wait very long before updating)), I would like to take a moment to revisit my Spotlight on the Microphone.<br />
<br />
In preparation of my departure, I have been on a quest to explore my own backyard. You know, check out local markets, go to landmarks that I put off because I knew I would be in this city for at least another decade, do intense artistic critiques on every scrap of graffiti that I come by, finally try juicing...lol<br />
<br />
Well, in that vein, I would like to take a moment to highlight some of the amazing talent that I have been privileged to know during my stint in ATL. Insert: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">RED SUMMER</span></b>.<br />
<br />
Now this sistah is just downright fantastic. She is not only an amazing poet and actress, she is also a producer of ridiculously talented children and the only known person with access to the fountain of youth.<br />
<br />
Sure, sure... I could go on and on about how much her poems have the ability to transport, how her prose are always rhythmical without being gimmicky, how she has managed to make imagery and alliteration her personal bitch. But I won't do any of those things....because some things are just too good to be minimized by putting them into words. Some things just need to be experienced...<br />
<br />
<br />
And so, without further ado.... "Breathless" by Red Summer<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jkOAbHGYQ80?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Ok....ok!!!! You Are WELCOME!!!<br />
<br />
She has just released her latest book of poetry entitled "Raw Sugar" and let me just tell you....it is wonderful!!!<br />
<br />
For a copy of her book, information on her work, or just good 'ole cyber stalking (in a non-creepy won't-need-bail-money sort of way, of course) visit her site: http://theredsummerexperience.com/ . You won't regret it!!!<br />
<br />
Hasta Pronto!!!<br />
XOXO<br />
<br />
<br />Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-31617351474930761712012-06-03T09:26:00.001-07:002012-06-03T09:27:33.322-07:00Logroño on the HorizonSo I have officially received my school placement in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Logroño, La Rioja, Spain!!! (It was quite entertaining trying to explain the difference between a region, city and pueblo to my mom lol)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I sent the junta an email requesting a school in the capital and, although I have no idea if this played a role or not, I got it!!! I do understand that La Rioja is not overly large and that I could have commuted to just about anywhere from the capital. But I really don't like the idea of being reliant on other people in that way. I have heard of many other assistants joining carpools, but I prefer to just have to depend on my own two feet or a bus pass to get around. I don't really do well with working on other people's schedules...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will be teaching post-secondary level (I believe) at a school called I.E.S "Comercio" in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 30px;">Logroño</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 30px;">. I haven't really gotten too much information about it but I plan to contact the school sometime next week to learn more. However, I did come across this video about the school when I attempted to research it:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Gl6jsdYoCU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apparently, the school is something like amazing so that's a relief... and a definite change from what I'm used to...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I have roamed the street of my school and its surrounding neighborhood more times that I care to admit...oh, the joys of modern technology!! Google Maps, I salute you.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's to hoping that it all lives up to the hype!!!!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hasta Pronto</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">XOXO</span></span>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-47542547555628533732012-05-21T21:04:00.002-07:002012-05-21T21:04:56.977-07:00Finalmente!!!!!!!!I finally got my placement today (around 12:20pm) after much hyperventilation and anxiety.<br />
<br />
I will be spending the next year in...((((((insert: written drum roll for dramatic effect that only plays out accurately in my mind)))))<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>LA RIOJA!!!!!</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">YES, YES!! I know that I have been hyping you all up for the past few months about Andalucia. However, due to the many cuts lately, Andalucia was not an option for me (Let's also note the fact that they stop placing people in Andalucia like only 10 ahead of me..oh well...ish happens!). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Am I sad? Am I disappointed? Am I reconsidering Spain now??? HELLS NO!!!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No, I didn't get Sevilla. But I did get wine country. And for this, crappy Spanish government...I Thank you!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In my best Charlie Sheen voice: "Bi-WINNING!!!" lol</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So here is a glimpse of what I have to look forward to next year...commence jealousy sequence.......................................NOW:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bsx78czvGGw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Start planning your visits!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hasta Pronto</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">XOXO</span>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-53684553079659828812012-05-18T17:09:00.000-07:002012-05-18T17:09:01.920-07:00How to NOT Go Insane While Waiting on the Spanish Government….<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
No really…I’m open to suggestions…need a moment? I’ll wait…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m pretty sure that I may be bald by the end of this
wait. I mean, really… @#$%^&#%^!!!!!!!!! We (see: sad little lowly first-year
applicants) have been getting the run around for the past two months.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Forum posts a la mid-April: Yay!!! This is when people were
getting placed last year…this is it! Here it comes!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~~ baited breath…..nothing! ~~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
End of April: Spanish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ministerio</i>
sends out an email saying “Kick rocks and hold your horses…we’ll get to you
first-years by Mid-May”. A collective sigh of relief can be heard across the
country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here comes Mid-May: “Oh look! They’ve started placements!
How exciting!” “Those are all renewals” “That’s ok. It just means it’s our turn
next” “Yeah…I can see that…Woo hoo!!!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell Extra Bold"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SMASH<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SLASH<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CRASH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell Extra Bold"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That would be the sound of the program getting cut all over
the place…Galacia’s out! Castilla la Mancha’s out! No Islands for you people!
CIEE has cancelled its programs all together (thank God I opted out of that
route).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MASS HYSTERIA ENSUES.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Ministerio issues another email that nicely reads: “Stop
f***ing bothering us. Don’t call us we’ll call you!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then they send a prettily decorated newsletter that says
placements will begin IMMEDIATELY!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day passes by. Nothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two days. Nada.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three days. Zilch!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four days. Zip!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cut to: The renewal list steadily increasing with nary a
first-year placement in sight. And now they are even placing third-year (and
even some mutha-flipping fourth year) candidates that are supposed to have
priority over no one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here we have a collective meltdown as no one knows what
to think or feel and back up plans are having to be given much more serious
consideration. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is all extremely daunting and for those of you that
know me, you understand that I have a lot of energy that has been poured into
this adventure. Ideas that won’t exactly pan out on this side of the globe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Either way, I’m keeping the faith and praying intensely that
we hear something soon and that I still have some hair left by then. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, I will focus all of my excitement on my
awesome trip to Jamaica next week and pray I get some good news while
sunbathing!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SN: I am very happy that America has adopted such stringent
laws against hazing due to recent misbehavior. Now I am wondering if I can
convince the American government to arrest Spain as I feel as though this
process has been one of extreme hazing for us poor auxiliaries….just a thought.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hasta Pronto!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(((UPDATE: They have begun placing first year candidates but I still have not heard back yet...#355 was never going to be in the first round of picks...I knew this...but I still hate it...lol)))</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-76097831234969656972012-04-19T20:20:00.001-07:002012-04-19T20:20:56.478-07:00Ten for Ten… with Ten More on the Side<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So I
continue to await my official regional placement in Spain (fingers crossed for
me finding out in the next two weeks even though the newsletter has rained on
my parade with the announcement that we shall hear sometime in mid-May---I am
remaining determinedly obtuse and still hoping for a miracle). I really just
want the regional placement because that makes the decision final. It means
that there is no turning back. It means that when I tell people that I am moving
to Spain next year that there is actual truth behind my words, not just me
claiming it to the Universe and praying for things to come together. *I would
also like to pause for the cause and give myself a mental pat on the back—and I
will go so far as to high-five myself—because I have actually been miraculously
calm about it all and I have not once doubted my decision or questioned whether
or not things <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">would</i> come together.
It’s really been more of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">when</i> at
this point. <u>Faith-based superstar, yeah!!!</u>*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in the spirit of being all hyped for this next chapter,
here are some lists of ten (kind of a mental check of my expectations in a <s>cliché</s>
new way)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
10 Things
I’m Looking Forward to in Spain:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Tapas
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Siesta-ing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Becoming
fluent in Spanish</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Learning
to Flamenco</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Trying
to survive an all-night botellon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Semana
Santa</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Carnival
in Cadiz</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>12
hour work weeks</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Sangria
y cervecas…midday lol</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Travel
potential—Hello, crappy RyanAir!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQBbYl93-tFyBWtU3KUS66IoyaX8OGrAqUFs7IrtNUO-EbldO9gGW0VOhkd_Br7t7MTMi268rU44_FSNmK1U1xVzbnxLoDuOgbm3yLCC9u7xsY8C_lQDxlrYn3q9J3qyABHuvLolgptwA/s1600/botellon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQBbYl93-tFyBWtU3KUS66IoyaX8OGrAqUFs7IrtNUO-EbldO9gGW0VOhkd_Br7t7MTMi268rU44_FSNmK1U1xVzbnxLoDuOgbm3yLCC9u7xsY8C_lQDxlrYn3q9J3qyABHuvLolgptwA/s320/botellon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hear these botellon gatherings can go on until the sunrise...time to start practing...off to the nearest bar!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
10 Things I
Will Miss About the States:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>My
people-- family, friends, her [you know who you are], my god-babies, and yes I
will count my doggies in this one]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Clothes
dryers – I do not look forward to crunchy pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Sushi
and Subs—How will I live?!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A
car—I have never been known as “The Girl That Walked”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Sunday
Funday, Group Therapy Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays, Random Family
Cookouts/Crab Boils/Recovery Days, Cabin Trips---basically all the excuses that
my friends come up with to see each other throughout the week and toss back a
few</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Carpet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Movies
in English—Even if I knew Spanish better, I couldn’t imagine myself enjoying
dubbed films.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Eavesdropping—I
will have to actually put in effort to be nosey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Theatre—Again,
my Spanish is not such that I could see myself on too many stages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Baked
Goods—In my best Bernie Mac voice: “Where da cookies and shit?!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54C1K4MPIb3cmYcMv2ySNsvgnp808WGJ-XkCv6wI0KxVtLxCoiHmUI8-0U0KagA5X1PJEPaqdJ_jkQa2BrpziOOjv8SMoYRU_h_bAJJOzbshSiJVCIqjSn1uWIHRF7FgVVZ8-KGJyi1MQ/s1600/sunday+day+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54C1K4MPIb3cmYcMv2ySNsvgnp808WGJ-XkCv6wI0KxVtLxCoiHmUI8-0U0KagA5X1PJEPaqdJ_jkQa2BrpziOOjv8SMoYRU_h_bAJJOzbshSiJVCIqjSn1uWIHRF7FgVVZ8-KGJyi1MQ/s320/sunday+day+party.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C'mon...I mean...Really...Admit it...This group looks something like amazing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10 Places I Must Visit Before Leaving Europe</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>UK—London,
Ireland, Scotland</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Prague,
Czech Republic</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Poland-
Aushwitz and Birkenau camps to lay flowers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Paris
and Nice, France</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Milan
and Venice, Italy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Lisbon,
Portugal</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Amsterdam,
Netherlands</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Lake
Lucerne, Switzerland</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Vienna,
Austria</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Mykonos,
Greece</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, lots to do and so little time… I’m just itching to get
my short little tail on that plane and fly off into something stellar. But I
acknowledge the bitter-sweetness of it all and am trying so hard not to worry
overmuch about everything that I am leaving behind….*le sigh* </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess it’s true what they say: It’s never as sweet without
the sour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Any great travel plans on the horizon? Do share!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hasta Pronto!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-88439423084450298592012-04-02T14:35:00.002-07:002012-04-02T15:32:32.001-07:00DC Days...Teach Me Patience...<div class="MsoNormal">This past week, myself and three other teachers took a group of 32 students to Washington, DC on a 4-day field trip.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjvSxIu_rxjpZ4Zj6UukkFa_3TILCBNOKE9E_O1OIsJpROqnEyRkYxUH0vGVsbuNJ_gCKO4TqliO7yXxs4-btMZPXJrqH19aI267wqq0fsZZVYpjK5p_7TgK65KQJJJWl3cc86A_RBGMM/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjvSxIu_rxjpZ4Zj6UukkFa_3TILCBNOKE9E_O1OIsJpROqnEyRkYxUH0vGVsbuNJ_gCKO4TqliO7yXxs4-btMZPXJrqH19aI267wqq0fsZZVYpjK5p_7TgK65KQJJJWl3cc86A_RBGMM/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Washington Memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now…let’s recap here. I teach 7<sup>th</sup> grade Language Arts at a primarily African-American, economically challenged middle school. Most of my students had never been to the nation’s capitol before. Several were the first in their families to go. And a few were leaving the perimeter of Atlanta, GA for the first time in their lives. To say that the trip was a bit emotional would be a gross understatement.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We visited the usual sites like the Mall of Memorials, Arlington Cemetery and Union Station. But we were also sure to include places like the Holocaust Memorial, Frederick Douglass’s House and Madame Tussuad’s. Overall, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgctIvN7SZqGNoAKcvwV4dCpfoO8768q1lpY3Nztv8gpTdfYJdOgeN3SexFd4-VN5lEn4Gdhi7nao9m8kWKeHDUxZUAtAIKM_ftrXQG9V0wgf-_ocvDvwmCA98AGpjnBiuR6j2a_bpGuL/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgctIvN7SZqGNoAKcvwV4dCpfoO8768q1lpY3Nztv8gpTdfYJdOgeN3SexFd4-VN5lEn4Gdhi7nao9m8kWKeHDUxZUAtAIKM_ftrXQG9V0wgf-_ocvDvwmCA98AGpjnBiuR6j2a_bpGuL/s320/IMG_0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to see Frederick Douglass's home--it was amazing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26ISXmlm6iVuHd2IAAHcB3lgSEIXSEitTuQEKkTM5_iWOYOWlfW_GrBjYA7FujOmMksuPaZcImI3WQSK22rdV1C86_6NM1pW8sQ5MRdCm2wXbUziC490uD_xid3QD74lbPoE1ROECXfXW/s1600/IMG_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26ISXmlm6iVuHd2IAAHcB3lgSEIXSEitTuQEKkTM5_iWOYOWlfW_GrBjYA7FujOmMksuPaZcImI3WQSK22rdV1C86_6NM1pW8sQ5MRdCm2wXbUziC490uD_xid3QD74lbPoE1ROECXfXW/s320/IMG_0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douglass's house--dope by even today's standards</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0FP0qZG_66Nm1rD71rSmhYnhG8izw7XOwjNVfR_iJDq4l7IasUdcdjTj_tsmXzpuB7uohhxJGR3VXYrIEFhD5OUGyt-R3Y0-Ke4g6U_2mMBYsTPU1nYhCxvRTwPa27B8S5M7QUG9aGY0/s1600/IMAG0444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0FP0qZG_66Nm1rD71rSmhYnhG8izw7XOwjNVfR_iJDq4l7IasUdcdjTj_tsmXzpuB7uohhxJGR3VXYrIEFhD5OUGyt-R3Y0-Ke4g6U_2mMBYsTPU1nYhCxvRTwPa27B8S5M7QUG9aGY0/s320/IMAG0444.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now for the honest part! (The other part was honest but there were more feelings than merely proud). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let me begin this tirade by saying…I hate adults!!! Yes. This is extremely backwards. Most people bitch and gripe about the children and how frustrating they can be. But that isn’t what makes me hate my job. When a dumb ass 12 year old starts acting like a dumb ass 12 year old, I think to myself, ”Hmmm…that seems about right…because they ARE a dumb ass 12 year old.” This I can rationalize. This I can handle.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But when grown ups act like dumb ass 12 year olds, I’m pretty much guaranteed to lose my mind! The teachers on this trip were utterly ridiculous. Having students wait for hours on the bus while they shopped for souvenirs. Cancelling excursions that the kids had been looking forward to in lieu of what they wanted to do themselves (see: going back to the hotel for a nap). By the end of the trip I can confidently say that everyone was feeling my wrath. A few people escaped a scathing cuss out due to the close proximity of children, but all were not so lucky.<br />
<br />
I was beyond livid. I mean I was seeing everything in shades of red and refusing to even be so much a civil by the end of the trip.<br />
<br />
While teaching was not my first choice of careers, I still take what I do very seriously. I love my students. Yes, I imagine myself strangling them for most of each day, but I still really want to impact them and I really do love them. For the span of one year, they are my babies. I have exactly one year to prepare them for a world that will be outside of my influence for the rest of their lives. I take this job to heart. And it really gets under my skin when I deal with people who don't understand how precious that is.<br />
<br />
Think of it this way (note to my fellow auxiliares that may not plan to be career educators and especially those that do): If a student sits in front of you for an entire year and they are angry, hurting, neglected, or under-challenged and you do not care, act, or even notice, and that kid later becomes depressed, homeless, non-productive or even abusive/suicidal/homicidal, then you must acknowledge that this is partially your fault. I do stress <i>partially</i>. But there was a moment, somewhere in that year, where you had an opportunity. An opportunity to care, act, and notice. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Uy60c9mAnyPMMIwy3yN_76er618BE4cpt0D7y7jXV5CpYu4XuRmDwHtIsaEoeO0xGfADzoOkc-FKz60LwPfA8Y9cqkmDFae8-3dLQ1Llwqntlhb9ORutJ33W7gEPmGMLsdd2VOJuSdJB/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Uy60c9mAnyPMMIwy3yN_76er618BE4cpt0D7y7jXV5CpYu4XuRmDwHtIsaEoeO0xGfADzoOkc-FKz60LwPfA8Y9cqkmDFae8-3dLQ1Llwqntlhb9ORutJ33W7gEPmGMLsdd2VOJuSdJB/s320/IMG_0065.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lincoln Memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfqjiulV_G_Wd5JM51H9lQcEZVC67nYJrZkDFCH8_kNTRvC3LoO83pqxgAefLC574yMn-sANOXi9PhjHE5ItfkEXa7CvH6wwx7ey5ooC3xIaGwycDkh0VGG16wDhClNwkr9cVmdC_cqQK/s1600/IMAG0427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfqjiulV_G_Wd5JM51H9lQcEZVC67nYJrZkDFCH8_kNTRvC3LoO83pqxgAefLC574yMn-sANOXi9PhjHE5ItfkEXa7CvH6wwx7ey5ooC3xIaGwycDkh0VGG16wDhClNwkr9cVmdC_cqQK/s320/IMAG0427.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlington Cemetery--this was the first time that being in a cemetery didn't make me want to hurl lol</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So the lesson I have learned that I hope to apply to Spain: Travel in small groups. Make sure that those you travel with have the same goals in mind or at least are willing to not infringe on your travel plans. Have an exit strategy if things start to get aggravating. Remember at all times, no matter that you are not the lead teacher, to care, act, and notice the children that you work with.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Either way… I survived and thanks to some amazing kids, I will be leaving American public schools with some beautiful memories. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyone else with a travel horror story laced with a happy ending?</div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-10630940491076946782012-03-16T04:27:00.001-07:002012-03-17T21:03:15.714-07:00WE ARE SPARTA!!!!<div class="MsoNormal">So this past Saturday I participated in the Spartan Race…This craziness….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/M4aM0fpS0IU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So basically 4 miles and some change of pure hell. And it was AMAZING!!! I crawled through mud that was laced with, what I can only hope at this point, was horse shit. I fell off an 8 ft. wall. Trudged through freezing swamps. Got a swift knee-foot combo kick to the face (Thanks Bey lol) And ran ‘til I was too delirious to realize that my legs were still moving of their own volition. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, please realize that I am not at all an athlete (picture a digitized “before” picture on a good day). This is not an attention ploy or "boo hoo, woe is me" type moment…merely an honest assessment of where I am right now (I’ve been working out so Spain shall be treated to a hopefully way hotter me…picture Brittany 2.0)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With that being said…I am sooo freaking proud of myself for making it through. There were several moments in which I was willing to lay on the side of the course and await death, but I pushed through and even scaled a major wall with my fear of heights. It was a bit exhilarating.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now if I am to be completely honest with myself, and all of you, I totally signed up for this race because of the awesome shirts that D-Town chose for the team…too cute! Yes…yes! I did it for the clothes (which were later covered beyond recognition in the aforementioned horse shit mud). Death by Fashion! The only way to go!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ82zwyv_qvm12LeTAd91x20Pb0ck0MJHjAG35Ff5FrItXPKtQjBLJ26Df77tBxw7qEVxlIDiDaPrtofOeybyaqC1Vvp6AI20yWa5YAToPuf6l9iPyEmIKpKIkaLt-AnYUKIjLkpSPIm0/s1600/Fit+Pact.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ82zwyv_qvm12LeTAd91x20Pb0ck0MJHjAG35Ff5FrItXPKtQjBLJ26Df77tBxw7qEVxlIDiDaPrtofOeybyaqC1Vvp6AI20yWa5YAToPuf6l9iPyEmIKpKIkaLt-AnYUKIjLkpSPIm0/s320/Fit+Pact.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bey, Me, D-Town, Professor, and Swift (...and the awesome shirts that <br />
made me feel that nearly certain death was worth it lol)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In hindsight, I think this was one of the best things that I could have done for myself in preparation for my big move across the big pond. I was completely out of my comfort zone. I never knew what obstacle would be thrown at me next. I often times looked up to find myself all alone in the middle of the woods. I had to push myself when I felt horrible. When things got to be too much I had to learn to rely on the kindness of strangers (I told one man that he was my husband now after he miraculously kept showing up just in time to rescue me lol). But by the end of it all, it was so great and I am eagerly signing up for another <s>bout of torture</s> race in May. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So hopefully these lessons will follow me to Spain and I will find myself not only better for every obstacle that I leap over, but excitedly ready to tackle round two during a second year. We shall see…</div><div class="MsoNormal">Any <s>crazy people</s> adventurers out there ready to take on some psycho exciting activities before or after we get abroad? Any <s>ridiculous</s> awesome war stories and battle scars already? Do share….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hasta pronto!!</div><div class="MsoNormal">XOXO</div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-88426080571494543922012-03-04T09:06:00.000-08:002012-03-04T09:06:13.760-08:00Spanish Learning AwesomenessOk...I don't actually have that much to say... but these two links were posted in the Expatiate Cafe forum for Language and Culture Assistants page and they were just too awesome and funny not to share...so enjoy!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ngRq82c8Baw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
This video is so hilarious!!! And the best part is...I have every intention of using this method to attract attention at bars...not for romantic purposes...I can't imagine any sane person finding this hot lol...but maybe I will meet some fellow silly folks that appreciate the humor like me...yay icebreakers!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xyp7xt-ygy0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
That one was just awesome because it is....<br />
<br />
Ok...that's all I want I wanted to share! Any other great videos I should check out?<br />
<br />
<br />
Hasta Pronto!!!<br />
XOXOBrittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-76927334517357465492012-02-29T16:45:00.000-08:002012-02-29T16:45:27.978-08:00A Weekend with St. Simon<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">So this past weekend, on a whim and stemming from pure desperation to run away, Pixie, Swift and I hopped into the car (loaded with enough snacks and crap to feed a small country) and headed off to St. Simon’s Island. It is a little scrap of heaven on the very tip of Georgia; just a little south of Savannah. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes. You read correctly…there is something else to do in Georgia besides party in Atlanta or learn slave history in Savannah. There is actually…dun dun duuuunnnn….a sweet little beach town to visit! Who woulda thunk it, right? (Clearly, I am marred by years of ingrained Florida girl prejudice against the “real” South)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, before you get all ready for some awesome beach bum tales and bikini pics (not that I would ever post those pics before completing a full round of P90X) let me just spoil the thrill by letting you know that it was never above 62<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">°</span> F the entire weekend. Whose idea was it to go to a beach in February?! Oh right…mine! Not exactly what you put on a postcard for the folks back home.</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, hangover from hell notwithstanding, we managed to have a really good time….insert horseback ride along the beach here:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbhozbkG8xtNTf1pPzGAr8l8Y9dH9Vq04rAvA4tDGwPrHnrud3QpFWq44kxlv0dYLeAR_7KM_bFTah9V-TQYGPIekFXMCjorJ5Wb74CNjyriT718YCB3JTJf7hwhk8bvEcFEl4wPv3Zl4/s1600/IMAG0391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbhozbkG8xtNTf1pPzGAr8l8Y9dH9Vq04rAvA4tDGwPrHnrud3QpFWq44kxlv0dYLeAR_7KM_bFTah9V-TQYGPIekFXMCjorJ5Wb74CNjyriT718YCB3JTJf7hwhk8bvEcFEl4wPv3Zl4/s320/IMAG0391.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swift all ready to giddy-up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkjFNp3yJufqK0y7kPlj_veGKgN3ZIrOt1eHY-4RBomh0b-AhNkJTZiQm9ue7spNQguAsHg8UV_rbwCXg5XN2GqYWl0oLKG7boAhWq9ASiQKwNuGBhtiNAiwM9D0tqloJIAyvnj4zv7Ip/s1600/IMAG0392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkjFNp3yJufqK0y7kPlj_veGKgN3ZIrOt1eHY-4RBomh0b-AhNkJTZiQm9ue7spNQguAsHg8UV_rbwCXg5XN2GqYWl0oLKG7boAhWq9ASiQKwNuGBhtiNAiwM9D0tqloJIAyvnj4zv7Ip/s320/IMAG0392.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The heavenly beach that we rode on...there should have been a sunset and pirate involved...but alas...no such luck.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepke0tSbVLBtqYqE3rcW6D-yS6hjIlWu6bxIQG8OMcJTH6CjcDUZWQAu75S68jtJs7lsiDzGPSWe6Zr6mcJQxjCQQ2RHcsCwyReVT5lqAuovAzVk-CpCBUoFUYJF_hABrENd1on6PEArK/s1600/IMAG0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepke0tSbVLBtqYqE3rcW6D-yS6hjIlWu6bxIQG8OMcJTH6CjcDUZWQAu75S68jtJs7lsiDzGPSWe6Zr6mcJQxjCQQ2RHcsCwyReVT5lqAuovAzVk-CpCBUoFUYJF_hABrENd1on6PEArK/s320/IMAG0397.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swift, Pixie, and me! Love them both to pieces!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We went to an awesome little dive bar by the water and got smashed with the locals…see: previously mentioned hangover from hell. We also got to have some amazing food on the way out (Fair warning: Avoid any and all shitty hotel food offerings. It is a little bit more tasteless than your average continental buffet and it comes with a gag inducing bill for over $50 for three people…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no bueno</i>!!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All in all, there wasn’t really that much to do but when you have spent an inordinate amount of time inland it’s just nice to smell the ocean again. Not to mention that anytime us gals get together, it’s going to be something to talk about!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m more than willing to retry this cute little getaway as the weather turns more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">playa</i> friendly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Still counting down to sitting in the Andaluz sun!!! Did I mention that my poor locks may be scattered all over the floor in the near future if I don’t hear about my placement soon. Yes, yes. They gave us a timeline. I know what to expect…but screw that! (I’m channeling a bad JG Wentworth commercial right now on the inside-- a la “It’s my placement and I want it now!!!”—did anyone actually catch that reference?!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hopefully there will be news to share in that department soon. Now to prepare for the deathtrap that I signed up for known as…the Spartan Race…aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!! (I really have to step away from the pipe occasionally so I can stop making these sorts of decisions…* le sigh*)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">*Note: I am not drug user—I just talk to myself, lack sleep, hallucinate occasionally, and regularly engage in poor decision making*</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Hasta Pronto!!! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">XOXO</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">SN ShoutOut: Congrats to my lovely best-friend KJ on getting her dream job in the Big Apple!!! Mazal tov, my love!!!! So very proud of you!!!</div><!--EndFragment-->Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-69810182690882705812012-02-17T07:18:00.000-08:002012-02-17T07:18:45.551-08:00and this is for colored girls...or any girls...and some guys too...<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">So I recognize that many of you have no clue why I have the sub-headline that I do…”for colored girls who’ve considered travel when the US wasn’t enuf…” Well, let me let you in on the pun…it seems only polite…I mean…you came all this way!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, besides being a teacher and a writer, I also like to fancy myself an actress (you know, the kind that goes on countless auditions and gets really geeked when I get the smallest of parts at any theatre that will take me, usually for free, all while paying back thousands of dollars to Sallie Mae for this lovely degree that proclaims me—to myself—a serious actress with an intense focus on her craft). I have been in several productions in my life, but there were a few that stuck with me in a way that no others could. One of those productions was “FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/ WHEN THE RAINBOW WAS ENUF” by Ntozake Shange. This was the first play that I performed in college, fall semester, 2002. (Lady in Purple)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zCapOvUFVgVMVaKssEfaDo8W-UVMqM4v47XrtZp4FV6GgzSqVtv0trae86XhYv-ESN0mw9FCqknLodNED5vSkswZG7cac1z62rxOo13Zy0YCe0PEQ74ueRR9R4DdkWV95ZR0wRS54EyC/s1600/for+colored+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zCapOvUFVgVMVaKssEfaDo8W-UVMqM4v47XrtZp4FV6GgzSqVtv0trae86XhYv-ESN0mw9FCqknLodNED5vSkswZG7cac1z62rxOo13Zy0YCe0PEQ74ueRR9R4DdkWV95ZR0wRS54EyC/s320/for+colored+girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me on the far left corner, passionately staring at the floor lol</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was LIFE altering. If you can imagine an awesome therapy session in which you get to lay down all of your hurt feelings while performing words that don’t expose all of your personal secrets, then you can imagine this play. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was amazing!</i> As a cast, we laughed together, and cried together, and danced together. This was some real live hippy shit! But I was enthralled throughout the entire process. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I went on to be in the weddings, birthing rooms, and child birthday parties of these cast members. This show brought us together in a way that no production of “Annie” ever could. It was a little bit like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">epic</b>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, when it came time to think about fleeing half way around the world to start a life from scratch after years of investment in this one, my mind instantly went back to that play. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEVVwnS9ye87QNN5mlP8kP5lKoTlGRAuiaEn6RzwLyuYXV7gipWDmdc7ENrNEIhZwN1-Rop2SplccC2eKeKXWhkK-kxkdPriBxD9ajbfUTDyzm5p7Ezc3e__cc4sNE0V50dmLo0ViaK8O/s1600/220px-Colorsuicidecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEVVwnS9ye87QNN5mlP8kP5lKoTlGRAuiaEn6RzwLyuYXV7gipWDmdc7ENrNEIhZwN1-Rop2SplccC2eKeKXWhkK-kxkdPriBxD9ajbfUTDyzm5p7Ezc3e__cc4sNE0V50dmLo0ViaK8O/s1600/220px-Colorsuicidecover.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ntozake Shange was responsible for creating a <br />
new theatrical format-- the choreopoem</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I want so badly for this experience to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> on a larger scale. To my fellow <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">auxiliares</span>: this should change our lives! This should make us confront a myriad of feelings both good and bad! This should build a bond between some of us because no one else will know what this feels like! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So with that being said, and going back to those of you who have never had the pleasure of seeing “for colored girls…” here is the opening monologue of the show… (I highly recommend putting this on to your “To Be Watched” list…male or female, black or white…the themes are really universal and quite powerful)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Lady in Brown<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dark phrases of womanhood<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of never havin been a girl<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">half-notes scattered<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Without rhythm/ no tune<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">distraught laughter fallin<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">over a black girl’s shoulder<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it’s funny/ it’s hysterical<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the melody-less-ness of her dance<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t tell nobody don’t tell a soul<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she’s dancing on beer cans & shingles<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this must be the spook house<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">another song with no singers<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lyrics/no voices<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">& interrupted solos<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unseen performances<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are we ghouls?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">children of horror?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the joke?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t tell nobody don’t tell a soul<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are we animals? have we gone crazy?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">i can’t hear anythin<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but maddening screams<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">& the soft strains of death<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">& you promised me<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you promised me….<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">somebody/ anybody<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sing a black girl’s song<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bring her out to know herself<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to know you<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but sing her rythms<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">carin/struggle/ hard times<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sing her song of life<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she’s been dead so long<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">closed in silence so long<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she doesn’t know the sound <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of her own voice<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her infinite beauty <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she’s half-notes scattered<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">without rhythm/ no tune<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sing her sighs<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sing the song of her possibilities<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sing a righteous gospel<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let her be born<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let her be born<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">& handled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>warmly<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">& this is for colored girls who have considered suicide<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but moved to the ends of their own rainbows<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope you liked it!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hasta pronto!!!</div><!--EndFragment-->Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-87578938020792610182012-02-07T15:48:00.001-08:002012-02-17T07:37:17.483-08:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRANDI!!!!!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So today is my big sister's birthday!!! This may not be very relevant to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">this blog or anything, but it's hella relavant to me!! So there! She's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">the big 3-0 now and everyone knows that 30 is the new 16.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeJmAGhUmKr_FC8Mxntib90AcoNZPPM6mWhTa3zoBDqmMwZQP3bM_2D8zktW02Q-DmT4L7rHQ-uDvBGpkm4zKWZ84_vbIE0Yoj6GhHRjgyXy_2-zPLJgsWfOUaMvQTtOQWgXbM1BzAIm6/s1600/brandi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeJmAGhUmKr_FC8Mxntib90AcoNZPPM6mWhTa3zoBDqmMwZQP3bM_2D8zktW02Q-DmT4L7rHQ-uDvBGpkm4zKWZ84_vbIE0Yoj6GhHRjgyXy_2-zPLJgsWfOUaMvQTtOQWgXbM1BzAIm6/s320/brandi.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl!!! Ain't she gorgeous!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This also means that I have an awesome excuse to head on down to Miami </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">and party it up with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">la familia</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">My cousin also had her baby last month, so hopefully I get to gush over her baby cuteness! </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">(I just got back from a weekend trip to Mississippi to visit my friend's family, and I'm still a little pooped. I'm sure that once I catch my breath it will be time to board the plane to MIA...whew!)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Random insert: I will be performing soon in the Vagina Monologues...should be interesting...will update on that soon.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hasta Pronto!</span></span></span>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-85164793074682809442012-01-31T04:57:00.000-08:002012-01-31T04:57:42.146-08:00When Even Your Dreams Turn On YouThis post is kind of short and silly...<br />
<br />
It's just that my dreams always have a way of fanning the flames of any hysteria that I may be experiencing at the time.<br />
<br />
Oy vey!!!<br />
<br />
So, last night I had this whole crazy dream (surrounded by scenarios that in real life would probably make me clinically insane) but at the end of the dream I am sitting in a room that appears to be a high school library. You know, the two level kind where you can look down on the lower level and hold full conversations with the people down below...<br />
<br />
Well there were several people sitting around, some familiar but mostly not, and we were all really anxious. Some people were crying, some holding papers and screaming with joy. There was a girl in a camp counselor outfit calling out names. It took me a minute to realize that with each name, she held up a paper and called out a location. All of them were in Spain.<br />
<br />
The next few people that were called looked confused and started to ask, with growing panic: "But where is this? I've never heard of this!"<br />
<br />
The counselor's face grew more maniacal by the moment. I started to sweat and immediately began to pray. "Please say <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Andalucía</i></span></span>. Please say <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andalucía</span></i></span>! Just let me get to Granada or Sevilla....Granada or Seville...Granada or Sevilla!!!!"<br />
<br />
She called my name...and then I woke up...<br />
<br />
So yeah...its official! My lack of patience may actually drive me insane....I can't take the wait! For anything!!!<br />
<br />
Ok...and scene! Back to sanity...lol<br />
<br />
<br />
Hasta Pronto!!!Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-52823584980488462242012-01-30T16:36:00.000-08:002012-01-30T16:42:25.439-08:00Spotlight on the Microphone: 1So, as a writer there are so many people that I admire, envy, and wish to emulate. I have been surrounded by beautiful writing my whole life. When I was younger, it was books that I snuck from my mother's shelf. In college, the writing circles formed in Creative Writing classes. And as an adult I have been profoundly blessed to meet and befriend several amazing talents that consistently leave my jaw hanging slack on the ground. So this is my writers corner.<br />
<br />
Yes..I know. <b><i>I thought this was a blog about Spain? WTF?</i></b> Shhhh...relax...it is. But I'm not just a girl in Spain. I actually have an existence beyond that which just so happened to precede Spain and I am sure will outlive that experience. Not to mention that a large portion of my desire to travel stems from my desire to have more things to write about.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I realized that since I am constantly sharing awesome poetry/stories with my friends, that maybe some of you might enjoy it too...if this is not true for you, fret not! I will keep the title of these blogs consistent so that it can serve as a sort of DO NOT ENTER sign to you <s>bat shit cray</s> non-literary folk that would rather not be <s>cultivated</s> bothered. lol j/k...kind of...<br />
<br />
Some of these writers will be friends of mine that I am also a fan of and some will just be people that I wish would be my friend so I could hear their poetry all the time...this first poet falls into the latter category.<br />
<br />
Anywho, as my first highlight, I'd like to share one of my favorite poets of all time **insane applause** <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Terrance Hayes</span></i></span> </b>(this poem can be considered a bit controversial to some and if you are not one for homosexual themes, you may want to <s>never come back to my page again</s> bypass this post).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtttd1dsOM1a1ToD_lXnmf9DQ1E0QA8d18kn42MctLNgeVEaE2_-CEY1xgUeA8LgF33_I9U199WA6x9wJYuM9K6cy-_mfBgjyiOCOMJnP1ywDAnBZklFKxxos_xTTE5F4Zy2SFltoQGkDy/s1600/terr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtttd1dsOM1a1ToD_lXnmf9DQ1E0QA8d18kn42MctLNgeVEaE2_-CEY1xgUeA8LgF33_I9U199WA6x9wJYuM9K6cy-_mfBgjyiOCOMJnP1ywDAnBZklFKxxos_xTTE5F4Zy2SFltoQGkDy/s320/terr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrance Hayes- Favorite Book of His: Muscular Music</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<i>Without further ado:</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="table21" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" valign="top" width="100%"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 20px;"><b>At Pegasus</b></span></div><span class="tMsf20px333" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="tMsf20px333" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 20px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></div></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td><td rowspan="2" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;" valign="top" width="100"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="table23" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" valign="top" width="30"></td><td class="wY100px" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 523px;" valign="top"><span class="f14px fntAri clr333333" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">They are like those crazy women<br />
who tore Orpheus<br />
when he refused to sing,<br />
<br />
these men grinding<br />
in the strobe & black lights<br />
of Pegasus. All shadow & sound.<br />
<br />
"I'm just here for the music,"<br />
I tell the man who asks me<br />
to the floor. But I have held<br />
<br />
a boy on my back before.<br />
Curtis & I used to leap<br />
barefoot into the creek; dance<br />
<br />
among maggots & piss,<br />
beer bottles & tadpoles<br />
slippery as sperm;<br />
<br />
we used to pull off our shirts,<br />
& slap music into our skin.<br />
He wouldn't know me now<br />
<br />
at the edge of these lovers' gyre,<br />
glitter & steam, fire,<br />
bodies blurred sexless<br />
<br />
by the music's spinning light.<br />
A young man slips his thumb<br />
into the mouth of an old one,<br />
<br />
& I am not that far away.<br />
The whole scene raw & delicate<br />
as Curtis's foot gashed<br />
<br />
on a sunken bottle shard.<br />
They press hip to hip,<br />
each breathless as a boy<br />
<br />
carrying a friend on his back.<br />
The foot swelling green<br />
as the sewage in that creek.<br />
<br />
We never went back.<br />
But I remember his weight<br />
better than I remember<br />
<br />
my first kiss.<br />
These men know something<br />
I used to know.<br />
<br />
How could I not find them<br />
beautiful, the way they dive & spill<br />
into each other,<br />
<br />
the way the dance floor<br />
takes them,<br />
wet & holy in its mouth.<br />
<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<span class="f14px fntAri clr333333" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Brava! Brava!!! (I'm kind of a groupie for his poetry lol...) Hope you enjoyed it...give me your thoughts? What was the imagery in your mind? Were you drawn in, repulsed? Any great writers I should know of?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hasta Pronto!</span></span></div></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089772334456295413.post-67424910949801837332012-01-29T05:58:00.000-08:002012-01-29T06:05:43.078-08:00There Can be No Rainbow Without a Bit of Rain....Ok...<br />
<br />
In the interest of full disclosure I will admit that last night was not a good night. (The multiple glasses of wine didn't help me out of my whiny sap mode either)<br />
<br />
Randomly, after a night out at art class, it hit me. I am moving to the other side of the world in 8 months. Yes. I know. 8 months? A little early to start the water works. But truly this is where I am in the process. The part where it becomes real.<br />
<br />
I think it might have been easier for me if I was fresh out of college. At that point you are primed to exit your comfort zone and sail off into the world, leaving everyone and everything you know and love behind. It's just what people <i>do</i> after college. No biggy. (slight exaggeration for dramatic affect)<br />
<br />
But what happens if you've already done that move? You already struck out on your own? Sure not across the world...nothing really adventurous. But you did it. You created this whole new life for yourself. Established new friendships. New families (in addition to your birth given one). You have dogs! How do you decide to leave all of that?<br />
<br />
Quick summary of my current state: Afraid, Thrilled, Excited, Selfish, Anxious, Nervous, Confused, Pumped, Giddy<br />
<br />
Yeah...all that...<br />
<br />
A friend once told me (regarding a different situation): "Sometimes you have to walk away to get what you want. Just be prepared because you may have to keep on walking." --this has been ringing in my head as of late.<br />
<br />
So this is not to say that I am not still bouncing in my seat over this upcoming move...but a part of me can't help but wonder, "What part of my world am I throwing away for the chance to see the world?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hasta Pronto!!!Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117014132420305911noreply@blogger.com0