tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33317882647166961132024-03-19T04:30:48.776-07:00ALEspanaA Canadian in her mid-thirties, living her dreams in Spain and working as an EFL teacher.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-26910970037162699752016-10-14T09:10:00.000-07:002016-10-14T09:10:44.897-07:00Taking the Fork in the Road<span style="font-size: large;">In my entire three years of writing this blog, this has got to be the most painful one to write. Because after starting this blog with <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2013/05/prepping-in-canada.html" target="_blank">my decision to uproot my life in Canada and move to Spain</a>, and after having felt that I'd become immersed in Jaén and would be continuing to live there, I've actually decided to stay in Canada after all. The decision wasn't easy. It was something I'd thought about and agonized over for many months, and after a series of unfortunate events in Spain, it made sense to return to the comfort of home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My last few months abroad were a bittersweet ending to a story. Most people who leave the auxiliaries (NALCA) program throw grandiose going-away parties, have a thousand tearful goodbyes with friends, and visit as many European cities as possible before returning home and saying goodbye to cheap airfares. That wasn't how <i>I</i> ended things. Many months ago I wrote that <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2016/04/why-i-always-use-seatbelt-on-bus.html" target="_blank">I'd been involved in a serious car accident.</a> In the aftermath, I became a bit reclusive and did not develop as many friendships in Jaén, because I wasn't in that mindset. Of the few friendships that did blossom, almost all ended because they were auxiliaries who left once their contract ended. I stayed on and therefore spent the last several weeks in Jaén sadder and lonelier than I'd ever been in a long time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3V2wbko2iA9ZFPStpCtnj5u3yxjCjDYwZ5jLXfXVCoPTAKVfQe84QT-N9cI_vc6iT7Bu1SL6XgZOCuG7n9viaqLi7A-lLDxEv-8MXdR-sGU6b1tzIvTDzubSfmuPhWKftZa1FnQ5TYcW/s1600/14OctBailar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3V2wbko2iA9ZFPStpCtnj5u3yxjCjDYwZ5jLXfXVCoPTAKVfQe84QT-N9cI_vc6iT7Bu1SL6XgZOCuG7n9viaqLi7A-lLDxEv-8MXdR-sGU6b1tzIvTDzubSfmuPhWKftZa1FnQ5TYcW/s200/14OctBailar.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My last night in bar Guzzi.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, I visited friends in Madrid and Villacarrillo, to express how grateful I was for their support and kindness. For me, not knowing when I'll ever see them in person again is <i>such</i> a horrible feeling. It's hard on either side of the fence: when I left Canada, my friends here were sad to see me go. Now, it's my Spanish friends who are sad, as am I. Because of the auxiliary program, <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2013/10/impressions-of-village-life.html" target="_blank">I ended up living in a <i>pueblecito</i></a> and <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2014/10/jaen-impressions.html" target="_blank">a city "in the middle of nowhere"</a>, and met so many people with whom I had an amazing connection, despite me coming from a large, cold, Canadian city 8,000 km away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If I'm to be honest, my re-entry into Canada has been a mixture of relief and horribleness. Relief to be with my "family", a.k.a. my closest friends, again. I missed them terribly when I was going through my difficulties overseas, and they have lovingly welcomed me (and my cat) back with open arms. The freedom to eat alone at a restaurant table if I want, not feeling like an alien walking on the streets, the career and lifestyle opportunities available to me...it's fantastic being back home. Actually, one of the coolest things that happened was back when this journey started, <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2013/09/career-change.html" target="_blank">I was afraid of leaving my old t.v. career and not being able to return to it.</a> When I came back this summer, I managed to land the exact same job, but with a competing t.v. station. I'm receiving a higher salary and have a better work schedule to boot!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeNZ5rDWzeuRrhgBNPqZLjMw09PRNqCodDARv8UxMmNwFBAZGYg6E957QXS78K9Ftg4eDaVtkjZITFwGFJ4hJDkBQKLrg1aMrukTVknmZPZ_akAiYg1aLh8-K0tRDJQgVGMFFSmc_DokH/s1600/14OctTrabajar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeNZ5rDWzeuRrhgBNPqZLjMw09PRNqCodDARv8UxMmNwFBAZGYg6E957QXS78K9Ftg4eDaVtkjZITFwGFJ4hJDkBQKLrg1aMrukTVknmZPZ_akAiYg1aLh8-K0tRDJQgVGMFFSmc_DokH/s200/14OctTrabajar.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Work work work work work....</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, many times I still cry, missing my friends in Spain, the sun, the plazas, the quaint streets to walk in, the beautiful scenery of olive trees, speaking Spanish every day, laughing with my dear friends...re-entry has been very hard for me, but I knew that my friends would help me out, which is why a return home made sense. I needed comfort, and it's here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But coming home hasn't meant I've stopped traveling. I see Canada with new eyes. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, I feel differently about my hometown, because <i>I</i> am different. </span>Things have changed since I left, and it's been a riot seeking out new places to enjoy. In my city, I've been able to find a boatload of opportunities to practice Spanish as well. In fact, I'm studying in the Spanish translation program at the provincial university. My career goal? To work as a translator and interpreter to help those in need. Currently, I'm training to be a volunteer Spanish interpreter for the Red Cross.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Long term, I hope to take my new career skills on the road. When I moved to Spain, I got bit by a restless travel bug, and there's no vaccine for that! It's very possible I'll be moving again in a year or two. I can't help it, this world is too big not to explore. It's been an intense three years, and there's more years to go. May as well pursue all that is possible, so that when the end of the road comes, I can look back and say, "Yeah, I did that."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">May the roads <i>you</i> take be just as satisfying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">AL </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-82655111111241921022016-07-16T22:28:00.000-07:002016-07-16T22:28:15.716-07:00Meet the People<span style="font-size: large;">Oh man, seriously has it been two whole weeks since I last posted? Well, I've been incredibly busy, thanks to my personality adjustment. Before Spain, I kept to myself in public, and didn't make too much effort to say hi to strangers. Since returning, starting conversations with strangers has led to fantastic opportunities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">First off, I was able to get multiple job offers within two weeks of arriving thanks to not just blindly sending my CV, but actually making a huge effort to meet hiring managers in person. Whereas in the past I would just email it in and hope for the best, now I ask for even a scant five minutes, just so they can put a face to a name.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm also connecting with locals, striking up conversations in coffee shops, elevators, on public transit... I laughed out loud when I came across an old diary entry shortly before moving to Spain three years ago, in which I was angry that people in my hometown seemed so cold and dour. It may have been me - my extroverted side blossomed while living abroad and has helped me connect multiple times.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm also very nicely settled in the ground-level suite of my friends' house, co-habitating nicely with their family, thanks to word of mouth. Just as I was resigned to living with strangers found on Craigslist, only a few days before leaving Spain I sent a message to a friend I hadn't talked to in years, and now I'm living comfortably in his house. Not only am I seeing locals in a different light, I'm also viewing friendships for the special quality that they have. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-30326265678166354322016-07-01T15:00:00.000-07:002016-07-01T18:43:09.332-07:00O Canada<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Canada's 149th birthday, but instead of celebrating, I'm actually going through reverse culture shock. <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2013/09/letter-to-my-spanish-teacher.html" target="_blank">It's similar to what I went through when I arrived in Villacarrillo</a>. Whereas here I feel very comfortable being Asian, because I'm no different from the majority, I've become so used to Spanish customs that Canada is weirding me out right now.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfncOi3ipQzTvmNDeVZCU3MI7nVNNotUREK__hanEisl_gWyS1ZOqvZNa8p0DA5G44tNZodpzyzFwEydb0BVS3V3cKWv8sXixP4bF9B0WbgQHkHJqR6ln5FqTHSlAKiWYoPmFsMZbGRnm/s1600/Zoolander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfncOi3ipQzTvmNDeVZCU3MI7nVNNotUREK__hanEisl_gWyS1ZOqvZNa8p0DA5G44tNZodpzyzFwEydb0BVS3V3cKWv8sXixP4bF9B0WbgQHkHJqR6ln5FqTHSlAKiWYoPmFsMZbGRnm/s200/Zoolander.jpg" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fought sadness on plane to Canada by drinking Spanish wine, and watching Zoolander 2...in Spanish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWpSYFrQoiZV3IT6Fe8YpJTqDrTA1v-9jYm_tDTjhAD7NPDOJ9kuzNIoHvutkmPyAeWzbz3cg_RJsPdtXHHoc3e-E68VTAbsKPGmuQltMDQ0uT3e-NfPe6xBE6prBXGB1tV2ptsULNThC/s1600/Alreves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWpSYFrQoiZV3IT6Fe8YpJTqDrTA1v-9jYm_tDTjhAD7NPDOJ9kuzNIoHvutkmPyAeWzbz3cg_RJsPdtXHHoc3e-E68VTAbsKPGmuQltMDQ0uT3e-NfPe6xBE6prBXGB1tV2ptsULNThC/s200/Alreves.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reverse culture shock makes me feel like this.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Take the weather, for instance. 16 - 20 degrees Celsius. I AM COLD, because in Jaén right now it's between 35 - 45. At last week's Greek festival, my friends ran towards the shade while I kept walking amongst the stands, soaking up the sun. When we ducked into air conditioned bars, I was shivering. While at the festival, I noticed something amongst my friends when we accidentally got separated - it's almost as if people don't care where their friends are. I know we care about each other, but when we got split up, no one tried to search for the others nor call their phones. Everyone said, "Whatevs, we'll just see each other at the pub at 6 p.m.", and we did. In Jaén, my friends and I would've circled and circled until we all found each other. No soldier left behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This seemingly "I don't care" image extends to people in general in my gigantic city. I know people actually <b>do</b> care, it just ends at a certain point. While the intense staring I experienced in Jaén sometimes drove me crazy, I adopted this lookie-lou habit, in that when there is a situation I look and look, making sure everything ends okay. During one metro ride, at the opposite end of my car a man collapsed on the floor. While the paramedics were treating him, about half kept looking but the other half went back to their cell phones. I guess they assumed the paramedics had it covered, but while <i>I</i> may have acted this way before adopting habits from small-town Jaén, now it seems...cold. Now when I enter an elevator or board a bus, I want to say hi but sometimes people don't even look at me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have two
massive pet peeves in terms of public transportation. 1) There are
soooooo many mentally insane or drug-addicted people in my city. 2) I
absolutely hate being able to understand people's idle chitchat. At least when it was in
Spanish, it was an opportunity to practice. But here, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">everyday conversations seem so inane.</span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know what <i>does</i> bring me great joy? The diverse food choices here. Jaén has maybe one or two mediocre Chinese restaurants, and I know of only one incredibly expensive sushi joint. My hometown restaurants are extremely diverse, but eating or drinking outside of the house is SO EXPENSIVE here. No free tapas, and alcohol is taxed heavily. I begged the waiter for a little bowl of nuts to go with my beer and he didn't know what to make of my request.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwf94sX066JP4DmPQvAyfxI_Myg_j0v-BZgovLmK1wMwVUnP-p7GruT_yef7DN0IusuczqeoiDflFCLekguKjupbKJ_6mWuCkbp_EB8Hq8rF1cd31jhik66sDXlyOZavGOtXZwkRS_Hj3/s1600/Menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwf94sX066JP4DmPQvAyfxI_Myg_j0v-BZgovLmK1wMwVUnP-p7GruT_yef7DN0IusuczqeoiDflFCLekguKjupbKJ_6mWuCkbp_EB8Hq8rF1cd31jhik66sDXlyOZavGOtXZwkRS_Hj3/s200/Menu.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The HUGE breakfast menus are so different from Jaén's 'Tostada y café'</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg334895jFMvAPRkOlpfueXcNYMJSAUeQd1rgZlb22FeFjLLUKXItqtFY7fTGnZL57l1xGqHdu7vBnl4INc1BiPba5uKE8Z8gd42EtW6S_ftCHeqXFFpfZ7CcBoZXNSOpLK0TUAI8cwnI1Q/s1600/Desayuno.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg334895jFMvAPRkOlpfueXcNYMJSAUeQd1rgZlb22FeFjLLUKXItqtFY7fTGnZL57l1xGqHdu7vBnl4INc1BiPba5uKE8Z8gd42EtW6S_ftCHeqXFFpfZ7CcBoZXNSOpLK0TUAI8cwnI1Q/s200/Desayuno.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had an interesting experience while in my hotel near the Barajas airport in Madrid. When I arrived in September 2013, I never left my hotel to eat. <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.ca/2013/09/cant-eat-alone-in-spain.html" target="_blank">I was too nervous to go out and speak in Spanish.</a> This time, I searched for a bar crowded with people (a sure sign that you'll eat well). I was confidently able to order my 'pincho' and tinto con casera, ask questions about the food, and chat with the bartender. Two days in a row. It amazes me how much I've grown in the past three years.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqRMtyfC8rvqKBw4h3f7zQR012jacMg3PKReJCGmaBlcwVV8fOBFlNqx8zQ_zUsCfJ7-uKH_m3wh8G1Z_xjX7nQS5DZiwCoTU6m7cpzwuCllI0D_3gIVBGld6JXuc8k2XSa6OTod_ag5F/s1600/HotPot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqRMtyfC8rvqKBw4h3f7zQR012jacMg3PKReJCGmaBlcwVV8fOBFlNqx8zQ_zUsCfJ7-uKH_m3wh8G1Z_xjX7nQS5DZiwCoTU6m7cpzwuCllI0D_3gIVBGld6JXuc8k2XSa6OTod_ag5F/s200/HotPot.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy Hot Pot. I gladly burped all the way home.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm home, where the selection is unbelievable....I have eaten Asian food EVERY DAY and I'm happy to report that I'm getting fat. :) When I went to the local market to buy cereal, it took me like FIVE hours, there were so many brands to choose from. Expensive, too.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoRBWkv6djw605lMiRBSHZ3BS3QOTHvXGI2_UT8dVYrz8scmUBfUqa_1vm2XvpYanmZD8Jc-EpMhL2EYosebrd3PAF-FNJmzB757msuh4Foaumvgm0zIhMTOYwD840xru4_fhN8xfBbSB/s1600/Casa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoRBWkv6djw605lMiRBSHZ3BS3QOTHvXGI2_UT8dVYrz8scmUBfUqa_1vm2XvpYanmZD8Jc-EpMhL2EYosebrd3PAF-FNJmzB757msuh4Foaumvgm0zIhMTOYwD840xru4_fhN8xfBbSB/s200/Casa.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This mansion is NORMAL where I live. My god.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since my arrival, I've been going through periods of sadness and fear, because I really miss the good times in Jaén. I'll be taking advantage as much as I can in seeing my friends, catching up, and celebrating what is good about Canada.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-42225589945554047802016-05-17T08:49:00.000-07:002016-05-17T08:51:15.315-07:00Changes<span style="font-size: large;">My blog posting will be erratic for the next few weeks. It's that time of year again where auxiliaries are saying goodbye to friends, tears are shed, and people move on with their lives. Some will stay because they've fallen in love with small-town Jaén. Some have received new placements in bigger cities. Some will go home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The common denominator is that we came together and shared our tears, fears, and laughs. We created memories that we will look back upon fondly. Every experience we've had, good or bad, can't actually be classified as good or bad - they're just life experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I'll be heading to Canada soon, to say hello to friends and family, as it's been a long time. I've got a month to catch up with everyone. Once I've had a good rest, I'll post on here again and let readers know what's up. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-79969683834798028572016-05-06T09:59:00.000-07:002016-05-06T09:59:10.047-07:00Another Move<span style="font-size: large;">Number of times I've moved, <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/he-llegado-ive-arrived.html" target="_blank">starting with moving from Canada to Spain in 2013</a>: Four</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Number of items for Move #1: 1 large suitcase, 1 backpack, <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2014/08/so-you-wanna-bring-your-pet.html" target="_blank">1 cat</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Number of items for Move #2: 1 cat, 6 boxes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Number of items for Move #3: 1 cat, 8 boxes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Number of items for Move #4: 1 cat, 12 boxes, 3 angry friends </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I've moved house again. <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2016/04/my-roomate-almost-killed-my-cat.html" target="_blank">The fiasco with my former roommate and his candles</a>, amongst other things, didn't help my living situation. Luckily the move was only a short walk away. To compensate for my friends' hard work, I treated them all to Chinese takeout and fabulous sweet wine from Jerez de la Frontera.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Now for the hard part: unpacking umpteen boxes. I would love to say that living in Andalucía and making less money than I did in Canada has taught me to make do with less and still enjoy life. The last part is true, but the former definitely is not, as evidenced by the guest room filled with stuff. I really don't understand where everything came from. Meanwhile, my new roommate has graciously moved aside his six items in the bathroom <span style="font-size: small;">(can you tell he's male?)</span>, leaving me to figure out where to store an entire box of beauty products when there's only two small square shelves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The worst has been finding things that I haven't touched since I bought them years ago: a camera tripod, which I said I'd use to work on my photography hobby; an expensive acoustic guitar, a gift that is used more by visitors than by me; unfinished books; discarded makeup. The list is never-ending. Time to reach for that garbage bin and make space. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-76593485304879546302016-04-29T02:03:00.000-07:002016-04-29T02:03:05.825-07:00My Roomate Almost Killed My Cat<span style="font-size: large;"> You all remember how much I love my cat, right? <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/the-airlines-almost-killed-me.html" target="_blank">So much that I paid a fortune to fly him over here with me.</a> So it goes without saying that when I received a panicked call last week from my roommate, saying that my cat had escaped while the front door was open, I wasn't exactly pleased. But when he explained <i>why</i> he left the door open, I was pissed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Background info: my roommate likes to meditate. He had a small altar in his bedroom, a cardboard box covered with fabric. That morning, he lit a candle and read a book during his session. He then left the apartment without putting out the candle. Which was burning beside the book. And both were on top of the fabric-covered, cardboard altar.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He came home hours later to find the apartment filled with smoke. He suddenly remembered the candle and ran into his bedroom, only to find smoking remains.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkmabb5Eg3f4a1oyK8KIbAAbkSX5c0LCMBTPRzzG1txx1h2KxV0wye5Hbwpex3-a_iuqy9hhuFdX0sQHhNP2HDL94dPwIieZqDUj6r1mhI-0M-dRxT9zfeOPY-sGStXeJJ8ZxqbRhoDdH/s1600/Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkmabb5Eg3f4a1oyK8KIbAAbkSX5c0LCMBTPRzzG1txx1h2KxV0wye5Hbwpex3-a_iuqy9hhuFdX0sQHhNP2HDL94dPwIieZqDUj6r1mhI-0M-dRxT9zfeOPY-sGStXeJJ8ZxqbRhoDdH/s200/Fire.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Not only had the altar burnt down, he'd also charred a wooden desk, which luckily didn't burn. A piece of fabric that hung on the wall caught fire and burned, melting the plug of the air conditioner that sits near the ceiling. Luckily we're not in Canada, where there's carpet, whereas </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spain has</span> non-flammable, marble tile floors.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> When my roommate called, saying the cat had escaped because he'd left the door open to clear the smoke out, what had actually happened was that my cat became scared of the fire and smoke, and hid behind the television. My roommate found him several panic-filled minutes after calling me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I came home, furious, and checked on my anxious cat. Normally I'd forgive a mistake such as leaving a candle burning, but he obviously hadn't learned his lesson. Right before I arrived home, we had run into each other in the street, as he was throwing out the burned book. I went upstairs alone, only to find stick incense burning, which in itself is safe but <i>not</i> on top of paper and <i>not</i> near the sofa (!). I also saw that he'd left the gas on while boiling a pot on the stove. When he returned to the flat, I asked if he wouldn't mind putting the damn incense out. Needless to say, my cat got extra cuddling from me this whole week.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-51799181900307487252016-04-15T11:43:00.000-07:002016-04-15T11:43:06.613-07:00Why I Always Use a Seatbelt on The Bus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvOQQfJot0ZpDlM8_51stRib0IXZzhBpKv8ddmdYs4_WI7oBxVZ2ikBOjrSMkV7k1nahTfZmVQMwl6oYqaNT50gJY0QdKMVpSDaK4ryTBPi8k_UQxVE1XrpwTY4MX5hXDV3dA4RcXB1ou/s1600/Seat-belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvOQQfJot0ZpDlM8_51stRib0IXZzhBpKv8ddmdYs4_WI7oBxVZ2ikBOjrSMkV7k1nahTfZmVQMwl6oYqaNT50gJY0QdKMVpSDaK4ryTBPi8k_UQxVE1XrpwTY4MX5hXDV3dA4RcXB1ou/s200/Seat-belt.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Taking the bus is extremely common in Spain. It's one of
the cheapest forms of transportation for vacations, or when working in a
pueblo while living in a bigger city. Sure, there's Blablacar, which I
used to use when travelling but now I try to avoid it. I'll explain why,
but first, a question: when you take the bus, do you buckle up?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
I ask
because several days per week, I take the bus from Jaén to a pueblo 20
minutes down the highway. And I seem to be the only one who buckles up.
For as long as I can remember, I've always done it. I recall two years
ago that a woman boarded my bus and placed her toddler in the seat next
to me and sat in the seat across the aisle. In Spanish, I asked the
child, "Do you want your seatbelt?" to which she nodded no. Minutes into
the trip, the bus braked suddenly, and the mom threw her arm across to
try to hold her daughter in her seat, but <i>several seconds </i>too
late. The braking was too sudden for anyone to react quickly enough.
Only after that incident did she buckle up her child. The bus filled with the sounds of clicks, as other travellers did the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
Last Christmas, a seatbelt saved my life. I was in an extremely serious
highway accident, in which the car I was in flipped several times
across the road. During the flipping, the extremely large suitcases that
were beside me in the backseat, with almost all of the items in the car,
went flying out the windows. All of the glass was smashed, of course.
When the car came to a stop, it was sitting on its roof and we were
suspended upside-down by our seatbelts. Myself and the driver were
extremely lucky; we crawled out with hardly any physical injuries. But
our friend, who was sitting in front of me, died. Everytime I think
about that night, I realize how lucky I was. 'What ifs' play across my
mind, such as "What if I'd unclicked my belt, for just a second? For
example, to remove my coat?" I recall times when I was young, removing
my belt so I could crawl into the backseat and grab a snack or CDs,
while speeding along the highway. So foolish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Having had healing and enough time, I'm now able to sit in the work carpool without feeling
anxious during the 20-minute highway journey. I'm still cautious though,
and haven't used Blablacar since the accident. A friend told me that
years ago, the car he was in broke down, and when the Blablacar
passengers asked the driver to call a tow truck, he said, "I don't have
insurance." Although I pay more and spend more time taking the trains
and buses, I prefer that to the risk of unskilled / uninsured drivers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
I hope my story reminds people to use seatbelts, even when it's not the
norm, such as on buses. It's a stupidly simple action, but it can
change your life. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-80044382020308043972016-04-08T01:38:00.001-07:002016-04-08T01:38:06.837-07:00The Reluctance of Going Back to School<span style="font-size: large;">Now that I've lived in Spain for many years, <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2016/02/i-passed.html" target="_blank">and have passed the C1 DELE</a>, I see several options in my goal to obtain more translation work. I have applied to several companies, but many ask for proof of formal education or training. Besides the classes I took at the local university, and my DELE from Instituto Cervantes, I don't have much else at the moment. I wonder if I need to take formal training, in case my experience and exam marks aren't enough.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some people go for a Masters. That's two years and thousands of euros out of my life. Besides not wanting to sacrifice so much of my life and money, there's also the fact that I never enjoyed going to school when I was younger. I'd look at the essay assignments that required a 200-word answer, and think to myself, "The answer's easy; it's either 'yes' or 'no'. Wtf." I really wish I had <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2015/09/the-new-students.html" target="_blank">the drive and life stability to sacrifice that much time</a>, but alas that's not the case.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I suppose I could try <i>enchufe</i> (using a personal connection to get a job). I'm sure if I really tried to meet people, eventually someone would think of me the next time a conference came up and they needed a translator. Or perhaps one of the hundreds of students that are obligated to write a summary of their thesis in English may remember the Canadian they met at the last party, and give me a ring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then there's online courses. This certainly could be an option, as it's much cheaper and a good way to spend my summer. But I wonder if they're considered valid in the eyes of future employers? Once I make a decision on what to do, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I'm keeping my eyes peeled. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-86430790445018243092016-04-01T04:12:00.000-07:002016-04-01T04:12:14.064-07:00Goodbye<span style="font-size: large;">I'm writing to say this will be one of the last posts I write in Spain. In a couple of months, my contract will be over, and I have decided to go back home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't enjoyed my time here lately. It's too hot, there's so much noise I can't stand it - whether at home or in the library, of all places. I hate the way people stare at me. After almost three years living here you'd think I'd get used to it, but nope - I still feel like an alien.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've tried very hard to integrate myself, but no matter what I do, there's one thing that will never change - the way I look different from everyone else. And in Jaén, that's not a good thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I would like to thank all of my friends that tried hard to make me feel welcome. You'll always have a friend in Canada, should you ever decide to visit. Thanks to you, I went to lots of great parties, and celebrated some important moments with you all. <i>Muchísimas gracias, desde el fondo de mi corazon, y hasta luego.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">P.S. In case you're not familiar with the North American calendar, today is April Fool's Day. The above post is completely untrue. I'm still loving my life here and I'm intending to stay!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDQEX403zVUf-vpzu5CZP-aYmGAyH41cJmIA4BAxJRgAOtm8HOB5Gz9HXVxuc7-pAMu_XNTv0OLi3B5GEC7sXktXLYHzy21IxTyn2W5WtQcC-gFxcRh08gFMGWQYqs6LWJFHhZ5CN61-6/s1600/laugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDQEX403zVUf-vpzu5CZP-aYmGAyH41cJmIA4BAxJRgAOtm8HOB5Gz9HXVxuc7-pAMu_XNTv0OLi3B5GEC7sXktXLYHzy21IxTyn2W5WtQcC-gFxcRh08gFMGWQYqs6LWJFHhZ5CN61-6/s200/laugh.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><i> </i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-82274678773018510872016-02-26T03:34:00.000-08:002016-03-01T09:18:06.142-08:00I Passed!<span style="font-size: large;">Remember how down I felt <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2015/11/despues-el-dele.html" target="_blank">after taking the DELE Spanish exam for C1</a> last year? Turns out it was all for naught. While studying Spanish (heh heh heh) in the library yesterday morning, I received an email with my results:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJap0BrTr1YqES_Awz4hheEOrkTbT8Qe_qP3_JpXX1fcZkMXXn-nJNGxPUkRt8Te7fKOp2fjAG1uk7TtX8jT9dm95cwdNEuzwfnV_5nGuaCYbbrfHxzQew09J48bYTMJPsmDNg7oXUaBOF/s1600/12779226_10153996256141155_4350348313902997349_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJap0BrTr1YqES_Awz4hheEOrkTbT8Qe_qP3_JpXX1fcZkMXXn-nJNGxPUkRt8Te7fKOp2fjAG1uk7TtX8jT9dm95cwdNEuzwfnV_5nGuaCYbbrfHxzQew09J48bYTMJPsmDNg7oXUaBOF/s200/12779226_10153996256141155_4350348313902997349_o.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was expecting to fail, so when I read the email I immediately wondered, "What the hell does 'APTO' mean?" (insert headsmack here) It means I passed. What did I do once I realized the good news? I grabbed the Spanish grammar and writing books on my table, threw them to the side, told my friends, and treated my roomate to lunch. <a href="http://www.tusclasesparticulares.com/profesores/sevilla/spanish-teacher-in-seville-sevilla-638313" target="_blank">My Spanish teacher was quite pleased to read my email.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What will I do with the time liberated from my study schedule? Look for translation work, plus get back into projects I had pushed aside for studying for the exam. I'd always dreamt of being fluent in another language. I knew I was, but now I have a piece of paper to prove it!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-63470748225886420332016-02-19T03:46:00.000-08:002016-02-19T03:46:12.435-08:00Chinese Restaurants of Jaén<span style="font-size: large;">Good lord, I miss good Asian restaurants. The ones from my Canadian hometown are pretty spectacular, and low-cost, too. We've got a lot of Asian immigrants so it's not hard to find a restaurant in pretty much every community.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <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/AVvXsEiU8GGXXAM-T08eCnbcjJzxVigI0zk5i8-Fs2sAKKXJGZYRQbxTdRB2Ihc-XM8p8aHbKcqb1-0R0GbQx4gNS4MQL4nWh9GvrdoUQWsEJ0vQiNUEJW3e98vjd5O8H7KCOpQx1Nw-wNjBlfFN/s1600/LSheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8GGXXAM-T08eCnbcjJzxVigI0zk5i8-Fs2sAKKXJGZYRQbxTdRB2Ihc-XM8p8aHbKcqb1-0R0GbQx4gNS4MQL4nWh9GvrdoUQWsEJ0vQiNUEJW3e98vjd5O8H7KCOpQx1Nw-wNjBlfFN/s200/LSheep.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I love you, Mongolian grill.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jaén has a handful of Chinese restaurants, none of which match the quality of home but they'll do in a fix. I remember visiting the equivalent of "Uncle Willy's" in Úbeda, much to the horror of my Asian friends back home. Here in Jaén, I haven't visited any of the buffet-style mega-restaurants, which people here love due to the low cost (hence, bad quality, I presume) and unlimited amounts of food. I have, however, ordered at a few other restaurants:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) <u>Xin Xin Restaurante</u> <span style="font-size: small;">(Pl. Jaén por la Paz, 7)</span>: Worst. Name. Ever. However, best Chinese restaurant in Jaén, in my opinion. You pay about E1 more for every menu item compared to the other places, but the quality and taste is the best here. Plenty of room in the restaurant, but delivery and pick-up is available, too. Free WiFi. On the menu itself, there's Chinese and Thai food.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) <u>Gran Muralla</u> <span style="font-size: small;">(Plaza de la Estación, 31)</span>: Almost exactly the same as Dragón Rojo, the only difference being less oil.</span><span itemprop="streetAddress"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3) <u>Dragón Rojo</u> <span style="font-size: small;">(Dr. Eduardo Arroyo, 1)</span>: This one gets a shout-out because I live close, hence the delivery is fast. The food tends to contain a lot of oil.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: large;">4) <u>Restaurante Chino Peking</u> <span style="font-size: small;">(C/ Cruz Roja Española, near the Plaza las Batallas)</span>: This was my go-to restaurant whenever I had to come to Jaén capital from the village, to process my TIE, as it's almost directly across from the extranjería office. During lunch hour the huge restaurant was always empty. The portions are large and the quality is pretty good. I always asked for their spicy-as-hell oil, to top my food. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-89349965387228063392016-02-12T02:00:00.000-08:002016-02-19T03:46:52.251-08:00Things I Never Tell My Students<span style="font-size: large;">During my career as a teacher, I've taught everyone from adults (up to retirement age) to children as young as four years old. Here are some things I always think but never say:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) <b>I love the hugs I get.</b> Coming from a country where hugging a kid who's not family can practically get you jailed, it warms my heart when the little ones come and hug me when I enter the class. Warms it more than the Cadiz sun.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) <b>Flattery gets you nowhere.</b> Whether it's a kid drawing me too many pictures, or an adolescent saying I'm <i>guapa</i>, saying nice things doesn't put you at the top of my list. When I'm teaching, I don't give a f*** how I look. I only care if you're behaving in class and doing the homework.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3) <b>Don't tell me you don't have time to study.</b> I've had C1 adult students with families, full-time jobs, dogs, and a house to clean. They passed. I may nod my head in fake sympathy as you wax poetic about how there's no English in Jaén, but if those C1 students can sacrifice and pass an English test, so can you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4) <b>Don't call me expecting a miracle.</b> I don't understand why students wait all year until<i> two weeks </i>before their exam to call me, begging me for private lessons. Two weeks is not enough time to get your sh*t together and pass if you haven't been studying the entire year. <span style="font-size: small;">(That said, I <b>have</b> given these lessons, and 99% of my students pass. Just sayin'.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5) <b>I have cried in the teachers' washroom.</b> There's, like, no privacy at school. Once or twice I've had to lock myself in a stall and have a cry, just to de-stress.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6) <b>Sometimes that smile of mine is fake. </b>A good teacher must walk in cheery, in order to animate the students. There have been mornings where I've actually paused outside of a classroom, pasted on a smile even though I wasn't in the mood, and marched in.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, those adorable little hugs turn my fake smile into a real one.</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/AVvXsEjVfnRpEsihPG7DgC0Bmhm954OXPsuG0LVDjVvbxexJcQpZ_vEJ0TWe6PnTXH4AZAq1Njusd9mDSwJ8t2IsxL9ykK2I67jyDNQ8JxY7ET3qcFDHhulD6Bw-QK3TrWbjW6xwh1IrrHAQUgYz/s1600/Cervantillos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfnRpEsihPG7DgC0Bmhm954OXPsuG0LVDjVvbxexJcQpZ_vEJ0TWe6PnTXH4AZAq1Njusd9mDSwJ8t2IsxL9ykK2I67jyDNQ8JxY7ET3qcFDHhulD6Bw-QK3TrWbjW6xwh1IrrHAQUgYz/s200/Cervantillos.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It doesn't get more Spanish than cute kids, Cervantes, & fútbol.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-84927287117098335292016-01-22T01:58:00.000-08:002016-01-22T01:58:02.968-08:00Away With the Shoulds<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Something I've learned over time is
that, for me, making lots of goals is counter-productive. When I was
in Canada, I went along with the mentality of “Do lots; be
<i>productive</i>”. That word <i>productive</i>, ironically, was
counter-productive for me. I'd feel guilty if I didn't have plans for
any given day, and I'd push myself to fill that space with something:
go out with friends! If friends aren't available, go to a social club
and meet people! Go to the gym! Find a class to join! Make money
online! Instead of trusting my instincts to do whatever I felt like,
I'd stress out and try to overcome my guilt over wanting to just <i>be</i>.
If I wanted to stay home and do nothing, I'd feel guilty. If I wanted
to spend hours reading a book, I'd feel guilty. If I wanted to bake a
shitload of sweets, my jeans would feel guilty. Instead of listening
to my short-term need to chill, I'd stress myself out with the guilt
and push myself to do SOMETHING.</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And in the end, what for? Out of the
umpteen people I met at those social clubs, only one is still a
friend. My closest friends are those whom I'd already forged
relationships with, and they blossomed <i>tranquilamente</i>, with
time. Plus, this former gym bunny is currently not going to a gym
right now. Neither do I have extra money to join a class (actually, I
do, but I prefer to spend it on travel and vermouth). And I still
haven't finished reading that damn book.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The lesson I learned, which probably
applies only for me, is that listening to my guilt and not my
personal instinctual needs didn't help me enjoy the present. I was
more concerned about how I appeared to others rather than how I felt
at that moment. Right now I have a lot of time on my hands while I
work through a personal situation. I've caught myself worrying about
how to be productive, but then realized that right now I need to take
care of myself: read, sleep, spend time with those closest to me,
snuggle under warm blankets at home. There's a Canadian guilt inside
of me wanting to get out there and start running on the track
(metaphorically speaking), but I've had an injury and need to rest. I
don't think a temporary absence of a month or so will hurt me. So
fuck the Shoulds; I'm going to go with the Needs.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-28342097493074381542015-12-18T06:43:00.000-08:002015-12-18T06:43:00.067-08:00Living Without Internet
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't had internet at home for two
years.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It started when I moved to Spain.
Before that, I'd always had internet in Canada. I couldn't imagine
being without it. Even at work, I was always
online. When I didn't have plans to go out, I didn't mind because I
could stay home and entertain myself with my computer.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/impressions-of-village-life.html" target="_blank">Then I moved to Villacarrillo.</a><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/impressions-of-village-life.html" target="_blank"></a> With my limited Spanish, it was difficult as hell reading the
contracts and stipulations on internet company websites. At the only computer store in the village, the clerk said he'd look for a company
that wouldn't force me to sign a one-year contract (auxiliary
contracts are only worth 8 months of salary). “</span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Te
llamo,</span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;">” he said to
me. I thought I'd understood him.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Except
I returned to his shop the next day. I obviously had no idea that he
said <b>he</b> would call <b>me</b>. “</span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Nooooo,
te LLAMO.</span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;">” he
bellowed. Oops. I never did get that internet. The difficulty in
signing up for it was too much.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I learned to
live without it. I learned to get a cheap mobile data provider, so I
could use Whatsapp and check email on my phone. I used WiFi at my
workplaces so that I could Skype.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><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/AVvXsEhFFRFtMiPl4fsziUsdPOURzC987bP_iBo5guwjxMxaRnIrt-ikjI9ayFWNTxiOyX_sj20dPLoaCs7PJpMN0Y6ek4a9-_R2FcwQ8ajimWg_UKz88u9lje7VCOiWarfyfmaJ1VcAkjMmrR5r/s1600/SinInternet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFRFtMiPl4fsziUsdPOURzC987bP_iBo5guwjxMxaRnIrt-ikjI9ayFWNTxiOyX_sj20dPLoaCs7PJpMN0Y6ek4a9-_R2FcwQ8ajimWg_UKz88u9lje7VCOiWarfyfmaJ1VcAkjMmrR5r/s200/SinInternet.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stealing my friend's internet</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">A
Canadian friend, who taught English for years in Korea and Turkey,
told me she purposely didn't get internet because it forced her to go
to internet cafes or pilfer WiFi at eating establishments. In
essence, it forced her to get out of the house and interact with
society. I agree that not having internet makes you integrate with
your community. Unfortunately, this year the internet access at my
workplaces isn't great. However, when planning lessons it forces me
to be creative and rely on more “organic” activities, rather than
Youtube videos or fancy presentations. Recently I walked into a 5</span><sup><span style="text-decoration: none;">th</span></sup><span style="text-decoration: none;">
grade class without any planning whatsoever. I suddenly remembered a
question and answer game I'd read about, and explained the rules to
the kids on the spot. They ended up loving it so much that they've
played it over and over again. I'm glad they love a game where
everyone is obligated to speak and practice their English.</span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sure in the
future I'll sign up for home internet. Hopefully by then, I'll feel
the lull of the outside world calling me, shut down my computer each afternoon, and step out into the community.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Have you ever dreamt of not having internet at home? Would you try it? Share you thoughts below.</span></i> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-921295994165669072015-12-11T06:31:00.001-08:002015-12-11T06:31:17.899-08:00Facebook Cleanse
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When you travel, or move, it's normal
for relationships to wither and die. Without regular in-person
contact, the will to hold on to the connection gets weak. In light of
this, applications such as Facebook seem to have a way of artificially
keeping a dying relationship alive. Is the tether between two people,
based on electronic communication, of the same quality as regular
face-to-face contact?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The first time I came to Spain, I made
great, great friends at <a href="http://www.sunseed.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sunseed</a>. Back then, I wasn't on Facebook, so
I tried to email once in a while. After a couple of
exchanges, we let it go. I hold on to wonderful memories, and
I have pictures that make me smile everytime I look at them.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I signed up for Facebook. As I
made friends along the way, I added some to my account. I have moved
a lot over the past few years, and some people have moved in and out
of my life. Every few months, I “cleanse” my list of friends. I
sometimes delete people I'm 99% sure I'll never see again, because I
don't see any point in viewing snapshots of their lives. I don't have
a need to know what's happening with them. We shared a part of our
lives with each other, and now we've gone on separate paths. In my
opinion, it's artificial to hold on to an electronic connection with
someone and claim them as your “friend”, without ever seeing them
in person. Even though years go by between visits to Canada, I still
maintain my connection with my Canadian friends because I know I'll
see them again in person.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><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/AVvXsEiMHKNRFhP4EY6h_XQalqCflzUnro6kFWK1z5AANFPSXlOqDz0luJEv-iCfB28Z5JEQF15cej7n4V8E5rIbUDv2gY6K30VeAyuX7-quzz88uliYGvjkG-4TwJYazoi7JxWbehnDOllrbOOA/s1600/FacebookClenase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHKNRFhP4EY6h_XQalqCflzUnro6kFWK1z5AANFPSXlOqDz0luJEv-iCfB28Z5JEQF15cej7n4V8E5rIbUDv2gY6K30VeAyuX7-quzz88uliYGvjkG-4TwJYazoi7JxWbehnDOllrbOOA/s200/FacebookClenase.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>See you soon!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've had a few negative comments from
people I've dropped from my account. Yet I haven't seen these people
in person for an extremely long time, and I doubt I'll ever see them
again. Perhaps one day, if we do bump into each other, we'll rekindle
the friendship. But it'll have to be over coffee, and not over the
internet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do you agree with this blog post? Or do you think I'm a cold-hearted *****? Share your comments below!</span></i> </span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-89741941786241688012015-11-27T09:49:00.000-08:002015-11-27T09:49:03.330-08:00Spanish Food Refusals<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">Last year three Canadian friends came to
visit me in Spain. By Day 2, one of them complained, “Can we PLEASE eat
something that's NOT ham? Or bread? Or fried? Like, how about a salad?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">I honestly had no idea where to get that.
I'm now used to the limited choices in Spanish bars. It makes it easy to order
quickly when the waiter / waitress comes swooping in to ask what we want. I
think Spanish people hold the world's record for knowing right away what to
order.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">Although I love the food here, there are
some food-related things I still haven't been able to do:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Follow Spain's eating schedule.</b> Here's a
typical schedule my friends follow:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">Breakfast at 8:00 = coffee and a cookie or
two</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">12:00 = fruit</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">Lunch at 15:00 = lunch cooked by Mom</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">18:00 = coffee</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">Dinner at 22:00 = a small plate of
something</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA">I tried to follow these hours and the same
amount of food during my first year in Spain...and almost fainted.<span> </span>I now eat whenever I feel like it. The kids
at my elementary school are lucky I eat my way.<span>
</span>If not, I'd eat one of <i>them</i>.<span>
</span>There'd be “missing person” posters all over their village.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Drink coffee at any hour of the afternoon
and night.</b><span> </span>My friends can have coffee at
19:00 and sleep just fine.<span> </span>If you see me
do that, it's a sure sign I'm about to go to a rave or something.<span> </span>My cutoff?<span>
</span>12:00.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Polish
off every single drink.</b><span> </span>I get booed
sometimes for leaving my glass half-full when leaving the pub.<span> </span>What my friends don't understand is that I
have to draw a very fine line between “drink only half of the last glass and
quietly hide the rest”, and “finish the drink like a polite Canadian, go home,
and paint the walls with my vomit."</span></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/AVvXsEid6nuiHwH6RRt_VUI2qbF33v-H-hE0okQIYXYNvPq4QXFXM3oZtWQvAWsyfnNDZYZIlDVc615kFREKzl7rht45Su21w2EqeO9BrShyb3OlTMWsADq-dPnWRWdYIDGJ3ZOVbTzPZS8L97HR/s1600/Penultimo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6nuiHwH6RRt_VUI2qbF33v-H-hE0okQIYXYNvPq4QXFXM3oZtWQvAWsyfnNDZYZIlDVc615kFREKzl7rht45Su21w2EqeO9BrShyb3OlTMWsADq-dPnWRWdYIDGJ3ZOVbTzPZS8L97HR/s200/Penultimo.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A penúltimo disaster</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-48954608590621922032015-11-21T04:13:00.000-08:002015-11-21T04:13:47.868-08:00Después el DELE<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My DELE exam was divided between two days. The first day was the speaking test. I jumped on the bus and made it ten minutes early, only to be told there was a backlog of candidates, hence I'd start half an hour late. Great, I thought, rolling my eyes.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I spotted a message on my phone which made me smile: "<i>Chiquitilla que tengas mucha suerte.</i>" (Little one, good luck.) </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once I finally entered the first room to read and prepare, I was surprised that teachers walked in and out while I was writing my notes. I suppose it would've been best to study in a place with movement and noise, as absolute quiet wasn't considered here at the university.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When my twenty minutes were up, I was shuttled to another room to do the actual test. The examiner spoke very clearly. But when it was time to read Task three, surprisingly she and the observers chatted while I was trying to concentrate on the text! Clearly candidates are expected to have nerves of steel during the tests.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6NlPicgClBtoqUwKfzXeTwf1Zu5P_LuxMVLsU9HsN9PRqZpyie1P4srQ6RJym8WMJVHhn6GzRp9exDOE-DR-QKV2AqFkle752Sun6Kv0U68NNbvWUvjZTktcXu94mIISPg7bqUuobPSL/s1600/DELETalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6NlPicgClBtoqUwKfzXeTwf1Zu5P_LuxMVLsU9HsN9PRqZpyie1P4srQ6RJym8WMJVHhn6GzRp9exDOE-DR-QKV2AqFkle752Sun6Kv0U68NNbvWUvjZTktcXu94mIISPg7bqUuobPSL/s320/DELETalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day was an early start, as it consisted of the reading, writing, and listening tests. Just
in case, I brought earplugs and extra paper, pencils and pens, but
the latter were not needed; everything was provided. Very official.
We started on-time. The reading section was first. It was fairly
easy, because I'd prepared at home with the DELE book “El
Cronómetro”. But the audio test was a fiasco. Listening is one
of my weakest skills, and the C1 DELE really tests you. I was
experienced with the format, but the quality of the audio was the
worst I'd heard in my life. The first part consisted of a conference
speech about Peruvian food. The quality of the microphone that had
recorded the talk was terrible. The third task, however, was
unbelievably bad. It sounded like someone talking through a bad
telephone line, with paper over their mouth. During the break, one of
the candidates complained to the supervisor.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After the quick 30-minute pause, we
headed back in to do the written test. It was easy and I had time afterwards to check and re-check my writing. When we
finished, the director of the language department came in and
informed us that we could listen to the third part of the listening
test again, to try and improve our results. I wasn't pleased to hear
this. I'd already been sitting and writing an exam for four hours.
However, we took a chance. Turned out to be useless, as having
another try didn't change any of my answers; the audio was still
horrible. The supervisor informed us that the university would send a
complaint to the Instituto Cervantes, but as to whether there'd be
any result, he seemed doubtful.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I exited in a slump. I felt so-so about
the reading, writing, and speaking parts, but the listening part did
not give me high hopes. It will take a few months to receive the
results. As I look back, I wish I'd pushed myself to study more during the summer. I also wished I didn't work so much speaking English, in order to have time to prepare for the exam. But, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I learned many valuable lessons during my preparation and during the actual test. Next time, I'll do better.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-54998788135079146562015-10-23T08:58:00.000-07:002015-10-23T08:58:42.307-07:00The Dreaded DELE
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've decided to reduce my writing
schedule to every two weeks, because I've got an incredibly difficult
exam coming up next month. The DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua
Extranjera) is a world-recognized official test proving one's Spanish
level. I've been studying since the summer, although only recently
did I up my game.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't want to reduce my writing time, because I love doing it, but this exam comes first. As it is, it's really difficult
maintaining my Spanish for this level C1 exam, because of work. I
spend many hours per week speaking and planning English lessons. I'm
so grateful that at least I have a Spanish roomate and I go out with
friends who speak Spanish with me. Although a few want to practise
English, they understand that right now I'm ready to pull my hair out
if I speak even one word of English outside of work.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><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/AVvXsEhg5rxgNmCKQmfTsg-0XU7ynrKH7pYSms15N8UmmdPw3w63Po-LFTm-zhQx0p9wj3c3S2BR-_6EQK0IkzZZwv7OoCPZYpHCgCO74qnll_wvom2ASKRwofzSz5NvbLm5LIKBqqXoCJdBJO8v/s1600/EstudiarFuerte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5rxgNmCKQmfTsg-0XU7ynrKH7pYSms15N8UmmdPw3w63Po-LFTm-zhQx0p9wj3c3S2BR-_6EQK0IkzZZwv7OoCPZYpHCgCO74qnll_wvom2ASKRwofzSz5NvbLm5LIKBqqXoCJdBJO8v/s200/EstudiarFuerte.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">How I look when studying<br />(except, not like a boy; I try to look hot, actually)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been using the book “El
Cronómetro”, <a href="http://sunshineandsiestas.com/2011/11/07/dos-and-donts-preparing-for-the-dele/" target="_blank">because of Cat Gaa's blog.</a> The university has a great
prep course, but it conflicts with my work. And I have yet to find
someone in Jaén who's able to have private class with me to prepare.
They say it's good enough to hire a native Spanish speaker, but I
believe it's best to hire someone who's familiar with the exam. Many
Spanish people aren't.</span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm lucky that my test is based on only
one subject and relatively easy to study for. I have many friends
studying like mad for their <i>oposiciónes</i> (national tests) in
order to get work. A friend of mine, who has studied for <i>oposiciónes</i>
before, put it this way: “Fundamentally, it's like a marathon,
where it seems you'll never reach the finish line, but you must keep
running.” I'm tired, but the end is almost here, so until then I'll
have to put writing aside and concentrate on reaching my goal.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-1396403940372600242015-10-09T10:12:00.000-07:002015-10-09T10:12:13.642-07:00Learning the Ropes in a New Country
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was great meeting the new
auxiliaries for this year. Fresh-faced, young, eager to start a new
adventure. As a veteran, I gladly answered their questions.
Because Lord knows, the people in charge won't. Every year,
auxiliaries receive promises and read grandiose statements in emails, intentions against the fact that our bosses don't have
time to help us. The heads of our program give us their phone numbers
and email addresses, and tell us, “If there's ANYTHING at all we
can help you with, contact us!”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Right.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Within a day I was receiving texts from
newbies, because the organizer wasn't answering her phone. In a
way, they were receiving a good lesson: in life, it's sink or swim.
My first year in Spain, I almost <i>drowned</i>. Emails went unanswered, and
when I tried to call I couldn't deal with the Andalucían speed nor
accent. Bank machines spit out my Canadian card. Clicking on webpage
after webpage led to dead ends and more Spanish gibberish.</span></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/AVvXsEjh83-sKVQSCHYQtJRibAjpMBfhlYOSti6Z7-uCaANFQt8iLABTWkEFRstJWjeJJIRqGVDe3GfUgBpu4BnZWhXddt8jwdwL1mNLCYmATN-OgJsoYhuy22zowaVHxN0L_ktSBORaq2pS0pD5/s1600/Aux2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh83-sKVQSCHYQtJRibAjpMBfhlYOSti6Z7-uCaANFQt8iLABTWkEFRstJWjeJJIRqGVDe3GfUgBpu4BnZWhXddt8jwdwL1mNLCYmATN-OgJsoYhuy22zowaVHxN0L_ktSBORaq2pS0pD5/s200/Aux2015.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This year's auxiliaries.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">During my first few weeks back in 2013, I had to
open a bank account and go to a specialist for surgery follow-up. I
was extremely nervous about doing both alone, so my boss said she'd
go with me. Only to be told <i>one </i>day before my appointments that she
had to cancel in order to attend a parent-teacher meeting. I learned
two lessons: 1) things change last-minute in this country, and 2) I
will survive. Without internet on my phone, I ran around like a
chicken with its head cut off, trying to figure out the complicated,
two-bus journey to the tiny town where the specialist was. I made it
to my appointment, the doctor spoke extremely slowly and nicely to
me, and in the end I was issued a clean bill of health.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How are things two years later? I'm
definitely more confident. Thanks to my time in Villacarrillo, my
Spanish is a lot better. In fact, I played Scattergories with Spanish
friends and came in second place! I still balk at calling – I
prefer email or making the trek to talk to the person face to face.
But I push hard to get a response. In a sea of unanswered requests, I
know that I have to be my own life preserver.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-75601360204402401582015-09-28T04:49:00.001-07:002015-09-28T04:49:39.517-07:00On Becoming More Spanish<span style="font-size: large;">As proud as I am to be Canadian and hold on to some of my cultural qualities, it's only natural after two years that I have changed in many ways and become a bit more Spanish. Here's a lighter look at how I've changed:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I first arrived in Spain, I maintained my productive Canadian habits:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdY-Kr_2c4mN0SqdbAnsyZUrf_zxiGm7pShBd21d62dUcTNu1Tu2Mm0B9pOFiXrjSG48VoNbvOTeGJw_Dviud5KI8wXp1XwHvfr6VCFz6qzhFtDoo7DayjxFk-wN3JtVy2o7LkdeOdRq6/s1600/CanHorar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdY-Kr_2c4mN0SqdbAnsyZUrf_zxiGm7pShBd21d62dUcTNu1Tu2Mm0B9pOFiXrjSG48VoNbvOTeGJw_Dviud5KI8wXp1XwHvfr6VCFz6qzhFtDoo7DayjxFk-wN3JtVy2o7LkdeOdRq6/s400/CanHorar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Within a few short months in <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/work-hard-play-hard.html" target="_blank">Villacarrillo</a>, it changed to:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyNDupjOd1PoelgluqqpL14IRXtYvAuQJ4PZGcjUJc7ISxWB-xW3kG04fbTUwQCYKR15t4hRok8DgAgshlgWrFcasJC07yx_c9yODwsnfAZ7zqXo08dtqeuhu0bpsA3xZLAjYrWsWRghq/s1600/EspHorar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyNDupjOd1PoelgluqqpL14IRXtYvAuQJ4PZGcjUJc7ISxWB-xW3kG04fbTUwQCYKR15t4hRok8DgAgshlgWrFcasJC07yx_c9yODwsnfAZ7zqXo08dtqeuhu0bpsA3xZLAjYrWsWRghq/s400/EspHorar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another way I've changed is that I walk like this:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T8v_VWYNXmjxVwpj2aIEcH813LdbthxTZyMNLRqlSINKu6e2rA8JamZp_QXNA3MB5P5NxXsxtGH3OVISIdNJbyHqyfSHDVrWfLrRuD-tobW8Ah7tOh9n2IFNqShJA7Q5zCvZDzjv_dQ5/s1600/tortuga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T8v_VWYNXmjxVwpj2aIEcH813LdbthxTZyMNLRqlSINKu6e2rA8JamZp_QXNA3MB5P5NxXsxtGH3OVISIdNJbyHqyfSHDVrWfLrRuD-tobW8Ah7tOh9n2IFNqShJA7Q5zCvZDzjv_dQ5/s200/tortuga.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If I walk any faster, I actually start to sweat. It's not good sweat, either; it's a weird mixture of ham and olive oil that comes out of my pores. (If I marry a man whose last name is 'Jamón', I will die a happy bride.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What else? I'm no longer weirded out if someone wears shoes in my house, nor if they use SCISSORS to cut PIZZA. Also, a shot of alcohol in coffee at 11 a.m.? Sure, why not?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In addition, when I talk or write, every f***ing second motherf***ing word is a g**damn swear word, b**ch. Seriously, holy sh*t.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, this isn't 100% what I'm like here. It's just amusing to see the little ways in which I've adopted tiny pieces of the Spanish culture. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-7493877713377173292015-09-21T04:12:00.000-07:002015-09-22T02:29:09.270-07:00The New Students<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm noticing an interesting trend
amongst friends my age. Despite being in our mid to late-thirties,
between one-third and one-half of us left well-paying careers or were laid-off. We're taking classes, or have
enrolled in university or a training school. In addition, we're (mostly) single
women, with no kids, dramatically changing our lives at an age that
traditionally sees people set within their career, relationship, or
family.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXsHsFsVEAkfd0cMJNOOSjqkNKZ_mLW1Fv36SJci7dmLpsigaH5-39kru5BvI96gHK_omxusqH6nj2NG2NByg_7qLau7tXoQiZUgKI3eGzZc13MhwhINuJxVFfioumxVh6pKc5VrtINgu/s1600/WomanHand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXsHsFsVEAkfd0cMJNOOSjqkNKZ_mLW1Fv36SJci7dmLpsigaH5-39kru5BvI96gHK_omxusqH6nj2NG2NByg_7qLau7tXoQiZUgKI3eGzZc13MhwhINuJxVFfioumxVh6pKc5VrtINgu/s200/WomanHand.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite mortgages or rent, these friends of mine have decided to take time to search for work that has meaning for them, and/or re-educate themselves. Those that worked in television are now looking at social media,
film, book editing, or international health careers. One friend who
was a nurse is looking at moving into the world of esthetics. And a
dental assistant I know is extremely interested in private
investigation. The common thread: all of these women made very decent
money but weren't into their jobs. Being happy is what counts more
now. They take the risk of not having a lot of money while in school
or starting a new career, but the urge to pursue their dreams is a
bigger draw. Some of them have commented:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="null"><span class="null">"I'm pursuing a new trajectory...more in line with my long-term objectives i.e.
the ability to work anywhere; the ability to earn more income in the hopes of
retiring early; the chance to pursue <b>meaningful work</b>."</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="null"><span class="null"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="null">"Why not have a wealth of knowledge in something that you are passionate about! Secret weapon for a happy and successful life."</span></span></i></span> </span> </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="null"> </span></span></i> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In my case, three years ago I looked towards Europe and said to myself, "I want to try that." I gave up a a 5-figure salary as a video editor, sold 90% of my belongings including my car, and moved to Spain with a suitcase, a backpack, a cat, and not knowing anyone in the entire region. Cut to the present, where in a few weeks I'll be corraling little kids at an elementary school,
trying to inject a bit of English into their lives. In Canada, my
colleagues and I feverishly worked to piece together stories about
war, the health system, politics, and crime. Here in Jaén, my
10-year old student laughed while I showed her how to boogie down to
“Crazy in Love” by Beyonce. When I edited at the t.v. station, I
never worried about cash. Now, I make less than 800E a month. In addition, contracts run from October to May, so during the summer money is scarce. Last week I was so low on funds, I couldn't attend a birthday
because an emergency came up and I had to buy medz. My choices were:
eat ramen for a week, or buy real food but stay home a few nights.
Real food won.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Spain has won my heart, too. I'm happy
living here because 1) the money stress is short-term and in the
summer, I learn to survive and have fun on little cash. Plus, 2) I
wasn't happy in Canada. I had lots of money but felt bored in my
city, having lived there my whole life. I worked weekends, so I
couldn't do a lot with my friends.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here, people place a big priority on
personal happiness. I used to be confused and frustrated when
students didn't want to study during the summer for exams. Now I understand: who wants
to work or study when the days are long and hot, and the only
solution is a cold drink and the beach? Who wants to stay rooted in
one city when there are so many summer festivals and interesting
places to visit a few hours away? These days, the girl who worked
almost every weekend in Canada for thirteen years does NOT teach English on
weekends in Spain. I've found time to achieve a few goals, such as writing a short ebook and
visiting places I'd only dreamt of while in Canada. Just by living in
Spain, which is such a different country, I enjoy learning new things
and being a student.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-87796846130786195082015-09-14T02:14:00.000-07:002015-09-14T02:14:11.904-07:00To the Jaén Newbies<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear new people,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to Jaén. After living here for
a year, I wanted to let you know about a few things. Most of the stuff you'll learn as you go, so I don't want to give
<i>everything</i> away, just provide a sampler.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jaén is very small, but there's a LOT
to do. It's possible I feel this way because my first year I lived in a tiny village of 11,000 people, but keep in mind that I'm from a large Canadian city. I always find something to do in Jaén: independent music, art exhibits, free entry into monuments, and outdoor activities: hiking, rock climbing (indoors and outdoors).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you're here to learn Spanish, Jaén is the perfect environment for it, although you'll adopt the Andalucían accent. Some people in the north will
laugh when you talk, but I think it's something to be proud of.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Stand firm on your need to speak
Spanish. The fact that you're a native English speaker will make
people clamor to practise with you, but it's important to keep in mind
that you're here to learn Spanish. Once
in a blue moon, sure, it's okay to help someone practise. But not
always, and certainly not always for free.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also keep in mind that who you hang out
with determines your level of Spanish in the end. If you're always
with English speakers, guess how much your Spanish will improve?
Extremely little. During my first year, I spoke Spanish 95% of the
time when going out (<a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/letter-to-my-spanish-teacher.html" target="_blank">because there was very little choice in Villacarrillo</a>). I'm sure that at many parties I was viewed as
“The Mute”, but thanks to immersing myself I can now hold my own
in conversations.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</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/AVvXsEjAONyvQtVlKcHfD2ubX92KSmAbtDB4JY-Mbgn12Mxtvsv9yJf9t2K-uuK6fwg6zxfHsAYfA63B2uFieNp2p_5g86W6YPOwtU5hGV42gOjVGSxZ87tzLDWAAtIXQY86OVao31-yXdNlFz_g/s1600/CampoFiesta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAONyvQtVlKcHfD2ubX92KSmAbtDB4JY-Mbgn12Mxtvsv9yJf9t2K-uuK6fwg6zxfHsAYfA63B2uFieNp2p_5g86W6YPOwtU5hGV42gOjVGSxZ87tzLDWAAtIXQY86OVao31-yXdNlFz_g/s320/CampoFiesta.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My fave way to learn Spanish</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't hold on too tightly to your ways from home. When I moved here, in the beginning I had problems with people wearing shoes in my
apartment, appointments starting late, strangers standing too close
to me, stores being closed at 2 p.m., and <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2014/11/reaching-out.html" target="_blank">people saying I was Chinese</a> (I'm Filipina). Now I understand that <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2015/04/managing-mannerisms-in-spain.html" target="_blank">when in Rome, do
as the Romans do.</a></span><a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2015/04/managing-mannerisms-in-spain.html" target="_blank"></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, don't compromise too much on your culture. For example, I value my privacy (the little that is
left after writing this blog, hahaha). In Jaén some people REALLY want
to know every detail of your life. Their questions can get extremely
personal, such as about salary. If I don't want to reveal, I deflect.
(“Oh, you know, I make enough to cover rent and food. It's enough
to live, so you can imagine.”)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The rest, you'll discover along the
way. Don't be surprised if you make lots of mistakes; often it can
turn out to be the best way to learn. I'm glad you're coming to Jaén.
See you at the next intercambio.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-9012029493581645562015-09-07T04:20:00.000-07:002015-09-07T04:20:22.685-07:00My (friend's) Big Fat Spanish Wedding<span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of being integrated in a foreign country is that you get invited to intimate family events, such as my friend's wedding, which was the first I'd ever attended in Spain. It was an eye-opener, a stomach opener, and a marathon partying session.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone descended upon Villacarrillo the night before, to have tapas at 10 p.m. and then surprise the bride with a 1 a.m. serenade on the street, below her window. Very romantic!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i7TQnSBDMt7R4KelXKImrjQ6_U5TekQH9P9zwCYLB2c8kk3WRf213uPvNQp5O1dJUmvIAFmHL2ambF-3SkAL0FGRpDQ1-B-yklosHUPhnItWph2zjR9nrxtR607vvgJ5WsAPi-rbRqPx/s1600/Serenade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i7TQnSBDMt7R4KelXKImrjQ6_U5TekQH9P9zwCYLB2c8kk3WRf213uPvNQp5O1dJUmvIAFmHL2ambF-3SkAL0FGRpDQ1-B-yklosHUPhnItWph2zjR9nrxtR607vvgJ5WsAPi-rbRqPx/s320/Serenade.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was at this point that I discovered how crazy Spanish people are; I already knew this, but I soon discovered how much more so. After the serenade, everyone (including the bride and groom) wandered over to a relative's car garage to party some more. At 2 a.m. Despite many having to get up in the morning. Despite the wedding being that afternoon. Despite some having to read at the mass. We sang our hearts out on the street all night and early morning, causing hoarse throats and worry about how some were going to do their church speeches (we joked that they could record it now and do a "Milli Vanilli" at the mass).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I drowsily woke up at 3 p.m. the day of the wedding, ate lunch with my friend's family, and then took a siesta (don't judge, it's practically a necessity to handle the partying in this country). I then got dolled up for the mass, which I ended up missing. I didn't realize that my friends, and many guests, don't attend the mass. Rather, they show up for the rice throwing, then head to the reception hall for the REAL party.</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/AVvXsEiVxGHA997DB48lHep5OFVuYjQ9aeuUlD8_Sac5sYrMZqEPFt_arWHF9q7ByRlIa86E8m06wR2IG9e3EynBPXibL-UN-P9xbEBKDeqKLuF7WIiEheQLk29IY2gf5siTA3Xetsf6vQSPmUAP/s1600/Iglesia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxGHA997DB48lHep5OFVuYjQ9aeuUlD8_Sac5sYrMZqEPFt_arWHF9q7ByRlIa86E8m06wR2IG9e3EynBPXibL-UN-P9xbEBKDeqKLuF7WIiEheQLk29IY2gf5siTA3Xetsf6vQSPmUAP/s320/Iglesia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos and the "rice launch"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were TWENTY items on the dinner menu, all delicious. The wine and beer flowed freely while we ate, although I kept it in check because we had a surprise for the bride. We hid behind a door, and after the cake was cut with a sword, the groom's sisters and I came out with our instruments and performed "<i>No puedo vivir sin ti</i>" by Los Ronaldos, while the groom and guests serenaded the bride.</span><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/AVvXsEjEZwDIIRcwpNKD0hQP9elPCbtXwpV0JtflthPqhJIQr8dZnp80fSyjM3A_8Rx-P10V0kqNb2KWcPJCSJEzd5_CbJ0XMQ_aGXkjTxC6ebS_CASRRR2ADVkuhgzQYlTnvfRET8y9qeB7DA-L/s1600/GuitarraStill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZwDIIRcwpNKD0hQP9elPCbtXwpV0JtflthPqhJIQr8dZnp80fSyjM3A_8Rx-P10V0kqNb2KWcPJCSJEzd5_CbJ0XMQ_aGXkjTxC6ebS_CASRRR2ADVkuhgzQYlTnvfRET8y9qeB7DA-L/s320/GuitarraStill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Nancy Wilson moment</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The rest of the party was a blur of photos, caricatures done by artists, a chocolate fondue fountain, open bar, and dancing to spanish music. We then went to a different bar and, after a couple of rounds, I staggered home early...at 7 a.m. (yes, that's considered early by some). All in all, it was a fantastic party and memorable first-time weekend wedding. I'm so grateful to have been a part of it!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-58631122885210156912015-08-31T03:03:00.000-07:002015-08-31T03:03:53.785-07:00The Family Experience in Torre del Mar
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not very close to my family. Many
of my Canadian friends are the same. It's the opposite in Spain, and
sometimes people here feel sorry for me. They assume that I'm walking around sad all the time, because I'm so far away from my family. It actually doesn't really bother
me, as I've been independent my whole life, but once in a while I attend
family events here that highlight the divide between my family
relationships, and families in Spain.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I visited a friend in Torre del Mar, a small "district" near Málaga, along the coast.
Upon arrival, she announced that we were going to her aunt's birthday. All of the family would be there. She felt
sorry for dragging me to the birthday, but I told her I didn't mind
because I love being involved in intimate spanish family events. It's
always interesting to note that, while there are obvious cultural
differences in terms of language or food, families all over the world
are the same. You have the cool uncles, the overbearing mothers, the
caring aunts, and the incomprehensible grandparents. Adults laugh
about their generation, while children roll their eyes. Nieces ask
for only a <span style="font-size: x-small;">tiny</span> piece of
cake and groan upon receiving the hugest slice ever. Younger cousins
excitedly ask to join in on the adults' plans to go on a pub crawl,
only to be shushed by their parents.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That night, when I thought we would go
out dancing, my friend suggested a game of beach volleyball instead.
At 10:30 p.m., which surprised me. Of course, I was in. I may be the
shortest girl in Jaén but I LOVE volleyball. I was all over the
place, in a very competitive way. Good thing only one cousin
had B1 english and understood my swearing (“Oh my gosh, she said
'shit'!”). </span></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/AVvXsEgfyXqB78TtBtoC7ui2ZLj8pmX-cyQfFzePvD1QtpeqiAY5kiMl3geUZ8sdaL87c36cwIPkVyrjr6bIL_RLZfSvsJCLYD5CrbKpysK4xMvqasVcLBrYqcNZG49-HZRhmN6sGSQmPqZtmfRY/s1600/EspSandia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyXqB78TtBtoC7ui2ZLj8pmX-cyQfFzePvD1QtpeqiAY5kiMl3geUZ8sdaL87c36cwIPkVyrjr6bIL_RLZfSvsJCLYD5CrbKpysK4xMvqasVcLBrYqcNZG49-HZRhmN6sGSQmPqZtmfRY/s200/EspSandia.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Despite volleyball, I still had time to get my drink on.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning, an aunt invited me to a morning of churros and shopping, while my friend was working. I heartily agreed, and we spent the next few hours talking and laughing while traversing the town centre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This vacation was a nice quiet affair, in that I spent time getting to know my friend better, and getting to know her family. They treated me in a lovely way, so much that I hope to see them again. Who knows, could be another family reunion!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3331788264716696113.post-67831916069654332352015-08-24T02:05:00.000-07:002015-08-24T02:05:46.589-07:00“You Bet Your...” Gambling in Spain
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<span style="font-size: large;">For my Dad's birthday, <a href="http://alespana.blogspot.com.es/2014/03/el-dia-del-padre.html" target="_blank">just like Father's Day last year</a>, I decided to buy
him a lottery ticket. This time I chose an
organization that sells lottery tickets for a good cause.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ONCE is very popular here. The
vendors, who almost all have a disability of some kind, walk around
wearing chains of lottery tickets around their neck. The 5-digit
numbers that passerby spot can lead to an impulsive buy if they
contain one or any combination of their lucky numbers. My friend
spotted a vendor so I seized the chance to buy her number, too. Our tickets cost 5 euros each.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgK3FZg6K0jwfdOQtVdUNRjBUl-HSQNRY6qj30KbMrpV4shfUue8BEvley8e_91g5iz2rBRKHuWIUlwr_j5YLEkwcQvVAsHKRlitUuNGiyBy3kkoWhm2n4pN8rQFFigjprHTpcaaJj4B1/s1600/once.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgK3FZg6K0jwfdOQtVdUNRjBUl-HSQNRY6qj30KbMrpV4shfUue8BEvley8e_91g5iz2rBRKHuWIUlwr_j5YLEkwcQvVAsHKRlitUuNGiyBy3kkoWhm2n4pN8rQFFigjprHTpcaaJj4B1/s200/once.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Besides lotteries involving buying tickets, in Jaén there are umpteen <i>Salon de juegos</i>
(Gambling rooms). I am the type that enjoys gambling once in a while;
I once went to Las Vegas alone and ended up having a great time
attending lessons on craps and blackjack. However, these Jaén salons
aren't my thing. It's simply machines and televisions to bet on
races, and of course, a bar. I prefer tables, dealers, and
interacting with the crowd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some of my favourite nights in my
Canadian hometown consisted of dressing up, going to the casino, and
enjoying a drink and live music before hitting the Russian Roulette
or craps tables. I never made large bets, but it was just as exciting
to see my $20 grow with a roll of the dice or a spin of the wheel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was the same when my friend texted
saying we'd won 6 euros on ONCE. Upon redemption, I walked from the ONCE booth
looking forward to using my winnings on dinner. You can bet I'll be
playing again soon!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0