Blog number 4 featuring: Spanish school, tapas, tears, Guiness, Irish comedy, and so much more!
La primera, debo dicer "los siento" porque no he escrito desde de 7th de enero. He estado muy occupada con actividad divertida!
Translation: Firstly, I must say sorry becuase I have not written since the 7th of January. I have been very busy with fun activities!
So that was an example of what I was doing in Spain for a month - studying and practising Spanish.
In my last blog from Spain I described volunteering with the kids Christmas party. I use the word volunteering very loosely, as I think I received more benefits from the experience than I contributed. I was also fortunate to "volunteer" in the food distribution program the organisation runs in Madrid, which is in partnership with the European Union food program. Twice a week a long line forms outisde the office of the organisation, and a team of volunteers give a nutrious bag of food to the families, along with a smile. It was a sad and eye opening experience to see the families from all walks of life come through the doors.
Visiting and volunteering over the Christmas period was a great time to be in Spain, the Spanish hospitality was AMAZING!!! I was invited along to many festivities and Xmas drinks. I had to brush up on my table manners to have lunch with the International President of the organisation, who welcomed the many questions I had but only if I asked one in English, then one in Spanish...gulp!!
I am a hardcore soccer/football fan.. I can confidently claim this after sitting in the SNOW to watch Real Madrid play Mallorca at Bernebeu Stadium in Madrid. Never thought I would be hardy enough to sit in minus 2 degrees and cheer with all my Spanish vocab for 11 men running around kicking a round ball. I got all prepared though... six layers of clothing. Watching the snowflakes drift down, sparkling in the lights of the stadium did distract me at times from the buff men however.
I began to feel like a local and to be very settled in Madrid, could definitely see myself living there. Although I think this was due to how well I was treated by friends and even friends of friends. I had a local coffee shop, breakfast spot, museum to hang out in. One of my last nights I walked outside and bumped into some friends who were going for a drink - which definitely made me feel like a local as I joined them. This "settled" feeling was definitely needed after 2 months on the road.
I finally "got" the whole Tapas thing, after being taken for tapas with some mates from the organisation...it was a completely different experience to the tourist tapas I had previously been exposed to. My taste buds had a field day, and it was such fun standing at the bar and eating gorgeous food, casually chatting together. Funny enough, my Spanish was flowing better after a couple of beers too!
Sadly, it was tapas and then tears as I said goodbye to some amazing friends. I cannot thank my Spanish friends enough - it was such an amazing experience. Muchas gracias! Hasta proxima ano!
Just before I left Spain I squeezed in some more sight seeing of the magic towns of Toledo and Salamanca. Both have a great tradition of education, as well as stunning architecture. I don't think I can really decribe them in words... just check out the photos! I did have one interesting proposition in Salamanca however - to be the girlfriend of a 60 yr old Spanish gentleman. It revealed to me a prejudice I had, I had viewed our conversation in the central Plaza as a friendly exchange, perhaps I reminded him of a granddaughter. Nope, just becuase he was "old" didn't mean he wasn't looking for a girlfriend! Being the nice girl I am, I paid for our coffees and bolted.
After my Spanish life it was off to Ireland for the weekend, as you do. It was a whirlwind trip but so much fun. It was a very pleasant place to visit, mostly blues skies, very pedestrain friendly and lots of yummy vegetarian food to satisfy my healthy food cravings. (I think I have put on about 10 kilos since Australia.. damn the travelling lifestyle). I got to experience some good old Irish fiddling, along with a pint of guiness. Also went out on the Dublin town with a motley crew, we commenced an International Dance comp with Ireland, US, Australia and France represented, Apparently Australia fared well, but the smooth moves of the Irish lass won the crowd over. Another funy experience was seeing my friend explaining to her new French room mate that she didn't eat meat or drink wine - the look on his face was as if he had been personally wounded.. but he bounced back and swore to convert her to French cuisine and wine.
As we were in Ireland and not Australia we decided to do a day trip from the east coast to the west coast town of Galway. So so pretty - great weather too.
Another highlight was catching an Irish comedy night in Dublin. It was new material night and very intimate. Crazy coincedence - the guys sitting next to me lived int he same suburb of Perth as I did, and we shared the same local pub. Also, one of the comedians was Australian and because we were late was bantering with me as we sat down. For the Perthites among you - he was on Nova 93.7 radio which I wish I had known before I said it was a s*** station! Woops.
My Irish weekend was the best - I highly recommend Kati as a great tour guide... cheers mate!
Right now I am in Guatemala, after a trip through the States. I will sign off now and next blog (promise within the week) will be an update on my 3 weeks as a honourary American!
Cheers,
Tricia