Things Lately (:



Jose y Anais



I passed the first two tests I took! (History and Spanish Language and Literature). I have also taken a Math and Economy test and tomorrow I have English. The tests here are much different. Most of the tests I take in the States are mulitple choice or short answer with maybe an essay. Here the tests usually consist of about five questions. But they are complex and you have to explain everything. "Elaborate on the agriculture during el Antiguo Regimen." That was a question on my history exam.



Go Team!



Jose and Anais are playing in a Padel tournament. I went to be the photographer/cheerleader/ball-retriever. They have won the first two games!

I decorated a pumpkin for halloween, but everyone yelled at me because I didn't cut out the meat of the pumpkin; I just gutted the seeds and mushy stuff. They use the meat to make a soup. haha. I did however bake the seeds! Then I went to the candy store to buy some sweets to celebrate. I watched Sleepy Hollow with some friends, but I fell asleep.



The cemetery



Terra Mitica



The next day we didn't have school since it is el dia de los muertos. We went to Terra Mitica to ride all the rides. Yesterday I went with Noemi to the cemetery to see all the flowers people had put by the graves of their lost loved ones. The cemetery is all above ground. And Noemi explained to me that if a husband dies first and later the wife dies but wants to be with her husband, they move the husband to be in the same spot as the wife. There are always flowers at the cemetery, but people put more on the day of the dead. It is a different atmosphere, very interesting.





Cumplemeses feliz

view from the apartment

Last weekend we went to Benidorm which is considered the "NYC" of Spain because it isn't really like the rest of Spain, it's more of a tourist attraction, full of big buildings and shops. We went with Emilia and Andres because Andres (the son) had a basketball game there. We rented an apartment for the night and stayed. While we were at the pool in the hotel nextdoor I went into the sauna and began talking with some of the people in there. A Scottish kid asked me if I speak some English. hah, it was one of the strangest things I've ever been asked. We had a nice conversation, and I did a lot of back and forth with Ines and little Emilia and the boy.

On Sunday we went to Alicante for the Lucentum basketball game and Miki's basketball game, but I left early to go to Minguez's birthday celebration with some friends. I rode on the train all by myself. (;
When the ticket collector came to talk to me, I told him I was American and here learning Spanish. I'm sure people either think I am deaf or dumb after asking what two or three times. haha. A lot of people here practice their English with me or just say random things in English at me, but it's funny because at first I assume they are speaking Spanish and have absolutely no idea what they are saying.
So for I have taken two tests (Language and History), but I haven't gotten my grades yet. My history teacher is super nice and after seeing how nervous I was told me "Whatever you do will be fine." Yesterday he said I am definitely improving in Spanish.
I am speaking more and participating more in school and with friends. Friday I went to the movies to see Lo Imposible (The Impossible) and I understood the whole things. Last night I went out to eat with the kids from my class at school. When I got home, I caved and watched Psych (in English) I had a dream last night and in it I started talking in English and then suddenly I remembered that I wasn't supposed to and began in Spanish again. haha

shopping (:

We went for a shopping trip yesterday and I went all out. Five pairs of stockings, three pairs of shoes, a jacket, some bracelets, two pairs of pants, a scarf, five shirts... Anais and I had about ten bags at the end of the morning! I'm finding that I love having a sister my age. We share clothes and shoes and jewelery, ask if things match, help each other out. haha

We were working on grammar in English class the other day... I had to bite my tongue a couple times. It is not okay to put in commas just because you want to emphasize a pause. They have to have a reason. And using the word whom isn't just a higher level of language, it's proper language. It is not interchangeable with who. haha

Today marks two months after arriving... Solene says we need to buy a cake to celebrate my "cumplemeses". The greatest thing about spending four months here is that it isn't just a vacation, it's life.

(Old blog that didn't post from October 17th)





Last weekend Noemi and Yaya came home from madrid and on Friday we all went out for Solene's birthday. On Saturday I had padel and we spent the day in el campo de Emilia and Andres, eating, singing karaoke, playing games... and we went to watch Andres (the son) play basketball.

I went to dance class again on monday and I did much better (I think so, anyway). haha

This week there are stirkes against the education budget cuts so school is more or less optional tuesday through thursday. (:

Andres cooking

Yesterday we hung out with some kids in our class and then went to help Jose in the factory. Today I got my haircut, made some banana bread and we are going to hang out with a friend of Anais in Elda while Ines has basketball practice. Due to the strikes, our test has been post poned to Friday.



rabbit stew



The two exciting things I have eaten lately are rabbit and snails. The snails I liked, but the rabbit not so much. However, that could be on account of the fact that I saw it with all it's skin and face first. haha

That's solid!

On Saturday I went out with some friends to eat. We went to a place owned by some people from India, so they speak more English than Spanish and I made friends with the girl who works there. Then some of us when to the tea place in Elda, which is super mola. I taught Juan Fran some of the essential English vernacular such as, "that's solid" and "BA", both of which he proceeded to use all night. I laughed the whole time.Sunday I went to the mass of San Blas, which is for the fiestas, after we went to the brunch of la comparsa and then the Basketball game in Alicante... what a game! They had three overtimes before they finally won! Later in the day we went to Andres and Emilias to watch the soccer game, Barceona v Madrid.
On Monday, I tried a dance class, where you learn spanish dances. I was terrible (especially in the hip area) but I had such a great time, and the people are all so nice! I am going to keep going for sure.
Tuesday was a holiday for the Valencian Community, which is where we live. So we didn't have school. I got some studying done and we went into town where there were bounce houses for kids and lots of people.
Tomorrow is Solene's birthday. She is turning 20 with 24 years of experience, says she. Friday is another holiday which means no school again!
My first test is on tuesday and it is in history. I went to the library today to study. The trouble for me isn't a matter of understanding so much as being able to recompose it on an exam, they aren't multiple choice. But we will see (:
Miki has introduced me to all his friends at school and we are always sharing jokes and they all say hello to me in the hallways and when they see me on the street. I love it. haha
I am definitely talking more fluidly, and more willing to try even though I make mistakes. People laugh at me, but in a nice way. If that makes sense. I'm sure I say things really funny. But they also tell me I speak well which is nice (:

(:

Another week has passed... I am getting a lot more comfortable at school. I talk to more people, make friends, play cards, ask more questions in class. I love it here (:

I've been running a lot lately; I still love the fact that I run by a castle! I'm going to join a gym and take some dance classes, and last night i went to padel again. If I don't do some exercise I will definitely get fat... haha. Everyday when we eat our sandwhiches at school, Anais gives me what she doesn't want of hers, and if we are at home eating a snack, like a nutella sandwhich, I always end up finishing hers. haha

dama ceremony

Last weekend we went to watch a band concert at the town theatre... I was really tired and kept falling asleep, but I would always wake up at the end of each song to appluad. At one point I got into a really good sleep and then suddenly woke up at starting clapping. They hadn't stopped playing. haha my friends are still making fun of me. After we went to a bar called sunami to hang out.

andrea, andrea, anais, me

jumpin in some puddles

Saturday we went to the coronation of "la damas" to find out if Anais would be la reina... it is involved with the fiestas of the town. There are different groups and each one has a dama that represents the group, well two: a young one and an older one. Then one is selected as the queen. It is full of culture, and tradition... the whole thing is very cool.

Last friday it rained like crazy. Afterward I got to put on my rainboots and jump in some puddles (:

I was walking through the park the other day and this adorable little girl started yelling hello to me. So I stopped and said hi. Then she said "ball" as she had a ball. So I said "for me?" and she said "noo" and then "the ground" haha I laughed and talked to her some more, and when I tried to leave she follwed me. I told her I was going home and she couldn't come. haha her dad was laughing and she just kept yelling at me. Then last night I went to a dance show put on my the gym I want to join and I was talking to this lady next to me. I feel like like I live here more. haha (:

I have been exchanging jokes with Miki and his friends at school. But just lke in the States, I'm the only one who laughs at my jokes. haha

palacio real de madrid

 Some old pictures:

in the palace

how goregous

at the basketball game

alvaro, jose, yo, minguez, juan fran

Mola

Jose y yo

This is my friend Jose. Upon reading my blog, he got upset that everyone else was on it except him. I just met him last weekend when we all went out, but he is a good friend. He told me to call my next blog "mola" which is a word for cool.

I still cannot get those pictures from Madrid up... I have to figure out what is going on with my computer.

School is getting easier and harder... haha. Easier because I am understanding a lot more of what is going on and I am more comfortable because I know more people. But it is harder because I have to study a lot to understand everything and they tell me that the tests are harder here. Instead of a bunch of multiple choice questions (where you can sometimes make an educated guess) there are just a few questions that you have to write descriptive answers to. Oh boy! So far I have been trying to reread everything, and of course doing all my homework. My favorite class is still English... we had to write a 100 word paper about ourselves the other day. Today in Economy we watched the graduation speech Steve Jobs gave at Stanford in 2005 and it was of course in English, which was nice! hah. But aside from skyping home, I don't listen to or speak much English, which is really neat. I think going to school has definitely helped me a lot.

The teachers are getting better about saying my name... some call me Rah-chel, and others just don't try and revert to Raquel. I have an hour free a couple days that I hang out on the patio with some others who have free time and they taught me some card games... even the cards here are different. hah

Anyway, I am studying hard, speaking Spanish, having fun... (:

This is a "sheet" of paper...

Today was the second day of school! Almost everything is very different about school here. First off, it's classes are given in Spanish. Haha but the schedule is completely different too. Each day of the week is a different schedule, but you have the sane class more then once. And there isn't really a "lunch" time, but there is recreo or patio which is a 30 minute break where everyone eats and walks around and talks and then another one later for 20 minutes. You have a set group of people that you go to each class with, with a few alternatives. For example, I don't take French class so instead I take informática which is a computer class. Even the bathrooms are different... Haha for one thing, there are no doors in the entryway (to prevent smoking) and there is not toilet paper in the stalls... You have to bring your own tissues to us, and there is not any soap. This is because they are in an economic crisis. Also, I'm not taking valenciano, which is another language, so I have a free hour. Haha and it's like that for quite a few people. If it happens to be the last hour of the day, which it is on Monday's I get to leave early. I still don't understand everything, actually most stuff but I know it will get better with time everyone keeps telling me "poco a poco" haha (: it's really nice to have Anais  in class with me and she has introduced me to her nice friends! English is my favorite class... Haha in te  beginning of class the teacher jokingly said, "this is a sheet of paper, not a shit of paper." I was te only one laughing! Haha
 Last week on Friday  we went to the basketball game in Alicante, Lucentum v Real Madrid and afterwards I met some of the players. Solene says I better tell the truth on my blog that I spent most of the game talking and laughing (miki and victor and alvaro were sitting behind me) rather than watching. Haha
Then we got up early Saturday to go to Madrid. We went to noemi's new apartment and then walked around the area where she lives which is actually just outside Madrid. We went to the Royal palace of Madrid and a cathedral and walked around the city a bit! It is very beautiful and packed with people!
I went for a walk around town yesterday and stopped to talk to four people I know... That is exciting for me! I am definitely improving and meeting more people and getting more comfortable! (:
I am on my iPod because my computer was being difficult, so pictures are to come later! (:

El castillo de sax

School started today... but it was only for an hour. We just got our class assignments and our schedules. The schedules are very different here; every day of the week is a different schedule. So next week is when it really begins... oh boy!

Something exciting: I went to the Castle in the town this week with Anais and Andrea! It is empty, just a couple towers, but nonetheless incredible. You can walk all the way up it and then there is the most amazing view of the town. It was a really neat experience.

I have gone on a couple walks with two ladies who are friends with Solene, they are super nice. It reminded me of walking at Joyner Park with Rocio and Yeni (: Anyway, one of the ladies wants me to help her daughter with English and she said they would pay me... little bit of dough!

Yesterday I went to Villena with Anais to hang out with some of her friends. One girl has been studying English a lot and speaks it pretty well. So we talked in Spanish for a while so I could practice and then English for a while so she could practice. (: very fun!

Tonight we are going to a big basketball game in Alicante and then tomorrw we are going to Madrid to get Noemi situated in her new place!

I started another book in castellano...it's good for learning!

A conglomeration of photos:



Beautiful Villena



In front of a tower

Me and Andrea

A view of the whole town

From the top of a tower!

Anais y yo

Guapas (;

The church in Villena



The entrance



Han pasado dos semanas

Reading

I finished reading my first book in Spanish! El niño con el pijama de rayas (The Boy With the Striped Pajamas). It was easy enough to read because it is in the perspective of a little boy, so I understand most of it... very sad! I'm definitely getting better at understanding and a little bit at speaking (I am still very quiet, however... often sticking to monosyllables: si, no).

Out to eat

This is the last week of summer vacation and then school starts on Friday, but I have been told that it is not a full day. You go and see your classes and teachers and that's it... very nice! I am feeling so much better now and have been hanging out with Noemi and her friends and Anais and Ines. I went with some of Noemi's friends for a walk around town and we got icecram and then went out to eat and then went to a tea place. And the other day I went to watch Miki (a friend of the family) play basketball and his team won- yay! Then we all hung out playing games and later went out for Chinese. And then played more games. They are all so nice, and helpful... I feel so silly for not getting things and messing up but they are always asking did you get that, and repeating themselves and explaining things to me and encouraging me talk.

Miki's game (number 11)

Yesterday I went to church with "Gramma" which was interesting. The inside of the church was so beautiful. I understood some of the teaching but not all. It is a Catholic church and if I didn't think I knew what all the right responses were in English, I definitely didn't in Spanish. ha ha

The church

Later in the day we went to la fiesta in Villena. Each pueblo (town) has its own time to clebrate their fiesta. There are different groups of people who have different outfits and they have these parades with the groups of people in outfits and different bands playing music and everybody is so enthusiastic. And it lasts for a couple days. Sax has its fiesta in febrero, so unfortunately I will miss it. But Anais played music in Villena so we went and watched. The whole atmosphere is so cool... I loved it!

Today I am going to watch Ines's basketball practice with Jose Luis and Anais. Ines is so funny, always wanting to play and to fight, and she is so easily embarrassed... she cracks me up! 

la fiesta

I have been talking to people about the differences between the people here and the people in the States. To me, people here seem more open because they are more touchy and just over-all comfortable with each other. But Solene says that when she was in the states, Crystal complimented someone's outfit whom she didn't know and she says that they don't do that here, talk to people they don't know so freely. It is so interesting to see the differences in interaction!

Valencia

On the train

  

Lovely...



 Noemi had a meeting to go to in Valencia so she invited me to come to see the city... and how beautiful! We had to get up early to catch a train. Fortunately her friend Alvaro studies there and was going to his new apartment, so we were able to stay with him and his roomates. From the train we road the metro to his apartment and then back on the metro to walk around Valencia. It is known for it's architecture, which is so so beatuiful... We saw the market, churches, the town hall, the train station. It was a lot of walking with your mouth wide open taking in all the buildings and sights. Then we had to go to the meeting, which was just a few people and I ended up falling asleep. ha ha. But after we went to a starbucks and then did some shopping (yay) and later went out for dinner and then hung out at the apartment and again I kept falling asleep.   

Train station

We had to get up super early again to catch a train, but since the buses and metros weren't running we had to get a taxi. So we hailed a cab (very exciting for us) and went to the train station to wait for our train. After a nap we went to the school to meet the principal but he was very busy and so we are going to go back next week. School starts a week from tomorrow!! I'm really quite nervous, but Anais is going to be in my grade which makes me glad.

 

Last week Ines got a cold, and then Jose, and then Noemi... and now me. It's not as exciting to be sick in Spain as one would think (almost, though). ha ha. So therefore,  I have just been laying around and reading (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in Spanish... very good practice!) But since it's just a cold, hopefully it will pass soon!

If you like grammar like me... they use the haber + past particple contruction a lot here. (:



Beautiful fountain







Little me in front of the huge church



Gorgeous

The roof inside the market

Cumpleaños Feliz



Terra Mitica




Yesterday we went to Roma, Grecia, Las Islas, Iberia, y Egipto... which were all in terra mitica, an amusement park! ha ha we spent the whole day there and had loads of fun, of course. I rode every ride... my favorite was el infierno which Solene doesn't like because that "Hell". It's a stupid name for a ride, she says. But no bother, I quite enjoyed it! Jose made all kinds of noises on everyride and really embarrassed Ines... quite funny if you ask me.   


el mercado



What a wonderful way to spend my birthday today... the family even got me gifts!! In the morning, we went to an outdoor market which takes place every monday in Sax. At the house the family gave me gifts which was such a pleasant surprise. ines gave me a frame with a picture of her, Noemi, and I in it and a keychain, and Noemi and Anais gave me a cute top and a necklace and Jose and Solene gave me a bag from Barcelona and a Spain shirt, the same that Ines just got for her birthday and so now we can match! They took me out to eat and I got a fried seafood plate... this was very daring for me and there was calamari, a whole squid. and I ate it! 



Squid!



Ines, on her phone has the song "Dynamite"... I throw my hands up in the air sometimes... and so I was telling her the words in English and we were all having a good time trying to get the words right.

 
I do appreciate technology because I have been able to talk to my mom and dad and today with my Gramma (my buddy... I have been wanting to share secrets with her!) and later on my brother and my best friend! However...


It is such a blessing to live here with this family. They are so welcoming and generous and there is always a laugh to be had. One week has passed in Spain and it is so lovely! (:

Dynomite

 


 



Pato (quack quack)

 

Dinero

 I exchanged some of my cash for some euros! The exchange rate: $1= .75E, 1E= $1.3. Unfortunately because of the economic crisis, all the prices of things rose today. So far I have only bought a notebook for Ines for her birthday, so me da igaul (it's all the same to me.) Riding in the car the other day, the speedometer was over one hundred, but that's only really a few more than 60mph. 

 Let's see... I have been spending a lot of time with Noemi and her friends who are super nice! We watched the expendables in Spanish (Los mercenarios) but as it turns out, it's easy to understand action in any language... just a lot of fighting and killing. ha ha

Yesterday was Ines's birthday. Now she is eleven. She got a phone and we went and had Chinese food, which was a little bit different than American Chinese food. I ate pato (quack quack) and vaca (moo moo). Which is how Jose described it to me! ha ha

Noemi's friend 

Playing Rummikube

Luisen lives in more of a country setting and so they have land and a pool and a beautiful house! We went there last night, a group of seven. We swam and played water polo (I scored a point!), monkey in the middle, and a basketball game. Then, we played rummikube, scattegories, uno, and some other game. And we ate a lot of food, as always! All of her friends are very nice and they really try to speak slow and help me understand with a bit of acting, which is great. Good news though: I have noticed improvement... I understand more and have started talking more-- Yay! It is so funny to have a lot of thoughts and not be able to say them. My host family is absolutely wonderful and really working with me to say things right and correctly express what I want to.

Noemi and Carolina



Tomorrow we are going to an amusement park, Monday is my birthday, Tuesday I am going with Noemi to Valencia, Wednesday I am going to meet the principal of my school... lots of fun new stuff! School actually starts on the 14th, which gives me a lot of time to learn and practice.

I have discovered it is quite fun to learn a new language because people have to describe things (Taboo) and act things out (Charades) and make noises and so it is like a constant game of trying to figure out "the word". Fun fun (: