It astounds me that people in Spain are not heavier. Despite the fact that everyone walks (or drives a vespa), the food is unreal. Pastelerias (pastry and chocolate shops) are on every corner and tapas (small plates of food) are free with drinks. (Alcohol and free food?? Could it GET any better??) Last night my host mother served me 1. fried ham and cheese, sans bread 2. a spanish version of mozzarella sticks 3.french fries 4.and then some fruit and tomatoes. I just don't understand... I am in the process of finding a polite way to tell my mother my stomach can't handle all of that fried food (although my bowels were a little less blocked up after...TMI I know)
Today another girl moved into the house, Julia. She is from Italy but speaks some English. It turns out her sister went to Rutgers - WOOT WOOT. Today at the table she said to me "no podimos hablar en ingles" which means "we can't speak English". Awesome. So now there are 2 languages in the house which I cannot speak, AND this girl has a leg up in the competition. My host family is bound to like her more, simply because she can speak Spanish better. Julia tried to tell me I can speak really well, we all know I can speak Spanish as well as a two year old.
On that note, I took my spanish proficiency test today to see which spanish class I belong in. As per usual everyone did better than me and I'm in the intermediate class while everyone else is in the advanced. (This is what I get for using freetranslations.com for all those years). I think one boy may be in my class though; god I hope I'm not alone.
The jet lag and sleep issues are still...well issues. I sleep about 4 hours a night but I think that may be something I inherited (;) thanks Dad). A restless mind will never rest.
Also the city-wide rebajas (sale) has come to an end :( we got here 2 days before it ended, but I managed to snag a few nice things from Zara in time! Picture racks and racks of clothing for only 6 euros...
My group (Bucknell students) did a small bar hop the other night. Knowing what to order is still an issue for us; I tried to order a gin and tonic and the barista looked at me thinking (O jeeze not another American). But I did feel like I was home with a nice G &T. Needless to say we found other, more foreign-friendly bars. Trivia: did you know they don't tip here?? No one gets any extra money! Not taxi drivers or waitresses! Nadie!
Lastly, our group, along with Profe McKinney and Fatima, went to a teteria today. A teteria is a hookah bar where you can order all different kinds of flavored tobacco to smoke out of these huge hookah pipes; these teterias are very popular in the Arab district of the city. Of course I was wondering why our teacher and director were taking us to smoke, but I didn't ask questions. When we got there, sadly, they stayed professional and we had tea, fresh squeezed juice, and free crepes! No one can go hungry in this city if one enjoys alcohol or hookah.
I checked out the hotel my family wants to stay at; let me just say, if they're staying there, they had better make room for one more (or two if I continue to eat all this unbelievable food)
My short term goals for here are as follows:
-learn to speak spanish
-join a gym
-stay away from the pastry shops
I'll let you know if I accomplish them haha
Hasta Luego!
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