Wow…yesterday we went to Ronda, which is one of the most differently beautiful places I’ve ever seen. We went to the oldest built-to-regulation bull-fighting ring in Espana and took in the view. During our free time, Andy, Nils, Sarah, Kelsey, and I went to the site of an old mine and ended up at the bottom of the cliffs we had been admiring from the bridge earlier. We found some cactus fruit, the defenses of which I am still finding stuck in my fingers, and some almonds (I think) during our second little trip to the other side of the cliffs. That doesn’t sound amazingly impressive, but it definitely was. It’s not always super easy to only speak in Spanish, but I’m pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to laugh and to be understood.
Kelsey and I have been lost more times than not, I think, and our house is a healthy 40 minutes from school, hour and a little from the palacio del congreso, where we met Saturday morning. But the walk is definitely worth the time.
Today we’ve been lounging around, mostly : ). On Sundays, basically everything is closed (except restaurants, and who wants those when your mom cooks like ours?), so it’s just you, the people, and the nature. And church. Which happens to take place in all of the aforementioned, but this time I went to a building. Iglesia Evangelica Bautista, the closest to my house, another great walk, (I was early) and this morning was beautiful! There’s a really pretty park across the street from the church, so I chilled there for a while and listened to the band practicing. There was a wedding at church last night, and apparently there were leftover flowers, so I brought my red and white carnations home to Ana. I have rarely been so nervous about speaking in Spanish as when I introduced myself as a newcomer to the rest of the congregation. We talked about knowing who we are as followers of Christ, and though I can’t say I understood everything, a few things I did. There is a ‘reunion de jovenes’ every Saturday night, and I’m stoked. There might be something for me to help with at their summer school for ninos in the second week of September.
I returned to our apartment for a typical Spanish Sunday meal, aperativos, sangria, paella, pan, ensalada, y fruta.
We definitely took advantage of the Spanish siesta, and studied a bit for our “prueba de nivel” for which we really can only really review.
I’m out of ‘interesting’ things to say. The life of most Spaniards runs at a totally different pace than that of the typical American, and I can’t say I’m complaining.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
how to tell you...
It’s 10:30, and I’m sitting in my house watching a cooking show dubbed into Spanish downloading pictures onto my computer so I can take my camera to Ronda tomorrow. (which is probably better said as Saturday) It’s still hotter than hot, but I have a little hand fan, just like the ones that most of the women carry around with them. I think it’ll take more than a fan to overcome my chacos and confused look, but I’m definitely not the only blonde in Granada.
Bueno…there’s so much to say I don’t know where to start. I’ve been writing a bit, and it’s been hard, even in these first few days, to switch between Spanish and English, especially when I’m speaking one to my family and writing the other at almost the same time : ).
We had our first classes yesterday, effectively, but today we learned about las corridas de los toros, and I learned that I know basically nothing about the history or culture of Spain. In fact, we took a small pre-see-what-you-know test on Spain, during which we were to answer those of which we were sure. Of the six I answered, four were correct. That’s why I’m here, though, I guess.
I just had my second ‘major’ Spanish-English slip-up, my first ‘en casa.’
I feel like I’m not saying anything worth my first big blog from Spain…I promise there’s a ton going on…I’ll sleep on it and try again tomorrow.
Now we’re watching the Spanish version of candid camera.
Bueno…there’s so much to say I don’t know where to start. I’ve been writing a bit, and it’s been hard, even in these first few days, to switch between Spanish and English, especially when I’m speaking one to my family and writing the other at almost the same time : ).
We had our first classes yesterday, effectively, but today we learned about las corridas de los toros, and I learned that I know basically nothing about the history or culture of Spain. In fact, we took a small pre-see-what-you-know test on Spain, during which we were to answer those of which we were sure. Of the six I answered, four were correct. That’s why I’m here, though, I guess.
I just had my second ‘major’ Spanish-English slip-up, my first ‘en casa.’
I feel like I’m not saying anything worth my first big blog from Spain…I promise there’s a ton going on…I’ll sleep on it and try again tomorrow.
Now we’re watching the Spanish version of candid camera.
I'M HERE!
the title says it all...
well, except that i'm safe and all is better than i expected and the city is really hot but wonderful (and that i need to learn the spanish word for wonderful) and that i can't wait to see the alhambra and that i don't have a cell phone but that's quite alright with me and that we're going to Ronda tomorrow and that bullfighting isn't all it's cracked up to be and that a 40 minute walk to school is going to make kelsey and i champion walkers by the time this four months is up : )
i'll write more later...which might be monday, might be later, i don't know.
in the mean time, if you could be praying for our level test, it's on monday.
i'm sorry i've been writing so little lately, thank you for your patience!
love you all
L
well, except that i'm safe and all is better than i expected and the city is really hot but wonderful (and that i need to learn the spanish word for wonderful) and that i can't wait to see the alhambra and that i don't have a cell phone but that's quite alright with me and that we're going to Ronda tomorrow and that bullfighting isn't all it's cracked up to be and that a 40 minute walk to school is going to make kelsey and i champion walkers by the time this four months is up : )
i'll write more later...which might be monday, might be later, i don't know.
in the mean time, if you could be praying for our level test, it's on monday.
i'm sorry i've been writing so little lately, thank you for your patience!
love you all
L
Sunday, August 24, 2008
today's the day. rather, these are the beginnings of the many waking and sleeping hours that will end with kelsey and me in Granada.
we're currently eating breakfast, packing, and tidying up the lovely home that has been ours for the past two days, and preparing to spend another day with the wonderful Anne, our relative/friend/tour guide/all-around-great-person. After another drive through the countryside, some visits to abbeys and relatives, we will be deposited at the bus station in Galway, where we will catch some sort of transportation back to Dublin in time to get a shuttle to the airport and make our flights...but those are at 6 AM tomorrow morning. At the airport we will bid farewell to our travel buddies, some of the best people in the world as far as i am concerned, and send them off to London and back to the US. Kelsey and I will continue to Madrid, (enter spanish-only for three and a half months : ) ) and then to the central bus station for our bus to Granada. After more bus system navigating and map reading, our final destination is Hostal Cedran for some much needed rest. The following morning (the day or date of which i can't remember right now) is a very strictly planned "exploration of granada," guided by a map and our imaginations.
Hopefully somewhere along the way we'll meet up with two other travel buddies.
And finally, between four and seven on the 26th of August, 2008, we will make our way to our host mom's apartment and thus begin our Spanish adventure.
i'll have to fill you in on the last couple days in Claremorris and the surrounding County Mayo countryside, because it's been a definite highlight for me.
until then, prayers for safety would be greatly appreciated, as well as prayers that we meet up with our travel buddies.
i'm so excited for my UP friends...freshman move-in is today (i think)! I'm praying for you all.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
we're currently eating breakfast, packing, and tidying up the lovely home that has been ours for the past two days, and preparing to spend another day with the wonderful Anne, our relative/friend/tour guide/all-around-great-person. After another drive through the countryside, some visits to abbeys and relatives, we will be deposited at the bus station in Galway, where we will catch some sort of transportation back to Dublin in time to get a shuttle to the airport and make our flights...but those are at 6 AM tomorrow morning. At the airport we will bid farewell to our travel buddies, some of the best people in the world as far as i am concerned, and send them off to London and back to the US. Kelsey and I will continue to Madrid, (enter spanish-only for three and a half months : ) ) and then to the central bus station for our bus to Granada. After more bus system navigating and map reading, our final destination is Hostal Cedran for some much needed rest. The following morning (the day or date of which i can't remember right now) is a very strictly planned "exploration of granada," guided by a map and our imaginations.
Hopefully somewhere along the way we'll meet up with two other travel buddies.
And finally, between four and seven on the 26th of August, 2008, we will make our way to our host mom's apartment and thus begin our Spanish adventure.
i'll have to fill you in on the last couple days in Claremorris and the surrounding County Mayo countryside, because it's been a definite highlight for me.
until then, prayers for safety would be greatly appreciated, as well as prayers that we meet up with our travel buddies.
i'm so excited for my UP friends...freshman move-in is today (i think)! I'm praying for you all.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Friday, August 22, 2008
i'm here...chillaxense
contrary to popular belief, i did not fall off the edge of the world. although today i got to stand very very close. in your spare time, google the cliffs of moher. actually, that's not true. stop what you're doing right now and look at some pictures of that beautiful beautiful area. the cliffs stretch something like 15 kilometers (i overheard from the talking telescope)down the west coast of Ireland, and i think we would have hiked them all had it not been for the huge "extreme danger" signs at either end of the park.
as if that weren't enough, we happened upon a harp player in the middle of this awesomeness.
and now we're staying at the house of kelsey's relative, an amazingly sweet teacher who spent her summer in france and spain, and has now offered herself as our personal tour guide.
that doesn't even begin to cover the memories of killarney or cork, and trust me, they are many.
and so, as i am off to sleep, (skip the time conversion, i'll just tell you it's late)i'll leave you with this thought that's been rolling around in my brain for a while. it seems to apply to a lot of life, and definitely to this last week.
"A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered."
- C.S. Lewis (Out of the Silent Planet)
as if that weren't enough, we happened upon a harp player in the middle of this awesomeness.
and now we're staying at the house of kelsey's relative, an amazingly sweet teacher who spent her summer in france and spain, and has now offered herself as our personal tour guide.
that doesn't even begin to cover the memories of killarney or cork, and trust me, they are many.
and so, as i am off to sleep, (skip the time conversion, i'll just tell you it's late)i'll leave you with this thought that's been rolling around in my brain for a while. it seems to apply to a lot of life, and definitely to this last week.
"A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered."
- C.S. Lewis (Out of the Silent Planet)
Monday, August 18, 2008
amendments
you thought those were only for the constitution...
1. kelsey's absolutely right. i've been calling it (which is actually them)the westminster chapel all week, but it is in fact two very different places, the abbey and the cathedral. they are both incredibly neat places.
2. check out kelsey's blog for the full story on today's events: tortugakelsey.blogspot.com
3. we're going to some of the places they filmed once tomorrow!!!
4. i can't remember what else i had to amend.
5. oh yeah! so it was raining in dublin today, and i felt very much like my friend michael ryan with my chacos and rolled up jeans.
that's all.
1. kelsey's absolutely right. i've been calling it (which is actually them)the westminster chapel all week, but it is in fact two very different places, the abbey and the cathedral. they are both incredibly neat places.
2. check out kelsey's blog for the full story on today's events: tortugakelsey.blogspot.com
3. we're going to some of the places they filmed once tomorrow!!!
4. i can't remember what else i had to amend.
5. oh yeah! so it was raining in dublin today, and i felt very much like my friend michael ryan with my chacos and rolled up jeans.
that's all.
adventure: enter the unexpected
i don't even know where to start...and thanks, nathan, for your comment. i'm definitely not skimping on european adventureness, in fact, y'all are getting only the most recent of stories. there are many many more. like sprinting through the tower of london, or giant ice cream buckets or westminster chapel (which was so incredibly cool).
but today...today was supposed to be a restful day, a day of travel, a day of trains, boats, busses, and well-planned happiness.
until we stayed up really late talking, and i set my ipod alarm for 6:00, but turned it down to listen to a couple songs and promptly fell asleep. until kari woke me up and asked me what time it was. 8:20. we missed our train, i replied. we sat and stared at ourselves for a few moments until brilliant kelsey: well, we could get a cab. the room came to life, and we were emptying out the bathroom, stuffing bags, saving locks, calling said cab, checking out, grabbing breakfast, finding money (our last few pounds left with the aforementioned ice cream). this first part of our adventure took a few wrong turns, but along the way we met our cabbie, an almost 70 year old man who had served with the british military for 20 years, couldn't believe we weren't visiting scotland, and was going golfing later today. we left Bankside House at one of the two times our train may have been scheduled to leave, and made our way through London traffic to Euston station. (Kari asked our cabbie how long it would take, he asked: how long is a piece of string?) he charged us a very kind rate, and sent us on our way, assuring us there were trains out that way every half hour, and that we would be just fine. we hiked up the stairs to the self-service kiosk to get our tickets; it spit out 11. still unsure of our next move, we asked the information desk. oh, your train is at platform 4, leaving in five minutes. after a quick trip to the wrong platform set and more running, we stepped on the train. the doors closed. we proceeded to walk most of our lovely train before realizing we were in coach e, not coach a. we found our seats, stashed our stuff, and sat down.
so, when did our actual train leave, kari asked.
then i think it finally hit all of us...this was the train.
9:46, the time the internet confirmation said would be incorrect.
then began a series of moments throughout the day when we would stop and look at each other and just shake our heads. i can't believe we're here. here, on the train, here, on the second train, here, on the third train with lunch, here on the ferry. i think it took me until the ferry to realize that we weren't going to be arriving in Dublin ridiculously late, and that we were, in fact, jetting our way across the Irish Sea.
our only issue is that it was about the rockiest crossing we've been on in a while. but we're here now, after navigating DART in the Irish mist and paying a 20 euro deposit for our towels.
we also found some of the nicest people in the universe during our little adventure today. and we have new stamps in our passports.
if this was our quiet, predictable day, i can't wait to see what tomorrow holds.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:
make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Psalm 98:4 KJV
"and i love what it says right here...not a little bitty quiet noise. a loud noise."
- David Crowder
but today...today was supposed to be a restful day, a day of travel, a day of trains, boats, busses, and well-planned happiness.
until we stayed up really late talking, and i set my ipod alarm for 6:00, but turned it down to listen to a couple songs and promptly fell asleep. until kari woke me up and asked me what time it was. 8:20. we missed our train, i replied. we sat and stared at ourselves for a few moments until brilliant kelsey: well, we could get a cab. the room came to life, and we were emptying out the bathroom, stuffing bags, saving locks, calling said cab, checking out, grabbing breakfast, finding money (our last few pounds left with the aforementioned ice cream). this first part of our adventure took a few wrong turns, but along the way we met our cabbie, an almost 70 year old man who had served with the british military for 20 years, couldn't believe we weren't visiting scotland, and was going golfing later today. we left Bankside House at one of the two times our train may have been scheduled to leave, and made our way through London traffic to Euston station. (Kari asked our cabbie how long it would take, he asked: how long is a piece of string?) he charged us a very kind rate, and sent us on our way, assuring us there were trains out that way every half hour, and that we would be just fine. we hiked up the stairs to the self-service kiosk to get our tickets; it spit out 11. still unsure of our next move, we asked the information desk. oh, your train is at platform 4, leaving in five minutes. after a quick trip to the wrong platform set and more running, we stepped on the train. the doors closed. we proceeded to walk most of our lovely train before realizing we were in coach e, not coach a. we found our seats, stashed our stuff, and sat down.
so, when did our actual train leave, kari asked.
then i think it finally hit all of us...this was the train.
9:46, the time the internet confirmation said would be incorrect.
then began a series of moments throughout the day when we would stop and look at each other and just shake our heads. i can't believe we're here. here, on the train, here, on the second train, here, on the third train with lunch, here on the ferry. i think it took me until the ferry to realize that we weren't going to be arriving in Dublin ridiculously late, and that we were, in fact, jetting our way across the Irish Sea.
our only issue is that it was about the rockiest crossing we've been on in a while. but we're here now, after navigating DART in the Irish mist and paying a 20 euro deposit for our towels.
we also found some of the nicest people in the universe during our little adventure today. and we have new stamps in our passports.
if this was our quiet, predictable day, i can't wait to see what tomorrow holds.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:
make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Psalm 98:4 KJV
"and i love what it says right here...not a little bitty quiet noise. a loud noise."
- David Crowder
Friday, August 15, 2008
ADVENTURE!
HELLO! We made it!
this is the e-mail we sent to our families, but our time here has already been super.
We want to let you know that we did indeed arrive safely into London Heathrow this afternoon around 12:20 PM local time. We're not thinking about what time that was in seattle or denver : ).
As you probably know, the seattle-philadelphia flight was delayed on the ground in pennsylvania because of a recent thunderstorm. Jennifer, Kari, and I ran from our gate on the c concourse to the a concourse, where we boarded the plane and found Kelsey. We sat at the gate for a while, and waited while more people from other delayed planes met us. We left Philadelphia after midnight local time, and arrived in London only about an hour late.
Adding to our adventure, however, two pieces of luggage decided to take their time meeting us in the UK. Kari and I filed reports, and we will be calling the airport in the morning so that they can confirm the address where they will deliver our backpacks. In the meantime, we've been resting up, exploring the city, eating well on under $30 US, and checking out the local free wi-fi cafe, Leon. The phone card store was closed this evening, but we'll pick one up tomorrow.
We love you all, and are so very excited to be here! Thank you for your prayers, and we will keep you posted as we are able.
Jennifer, Kelsey, Kari, and Laura
we're totally amazed by really old buildings, and can't wait to explore tomorrow. we're staying in a dorm at the London School of Economics, and if space were really an issue for me, I'd transfer. we have four twin beds in our room that is definitely for two people, lots of extra space, and a really cool set of windows that follow the rounded edge of the room. i could explain that better. oh well.
anyway, i'm enjoying a mint steamer, which is basically mint leaves in really hot water, and we're moving on to plan tomorrow's chapter of our adventure.
enjoy!
this is the e-mail we sent to our families, but our time here has already been super.
We want to let you know that we did indeed arrive safely into London Heathrow this afternoon around 12:20 PM local time. We're not thinking about what time that was in seattle or denver : ).
As you probably know, the seattle-philadelphia flight was delayed on the ground in pennsylvania because of a recent thunderstorm. Jennifer, Kari, and I ran from our gate on the c concourse to the a concourse, where we boarded the plane and found Kelsey. We sat at the gate for a while, and waited while more people from other delayed planes met us. We left Philadelphia after midnight local time, and arrived in London only about an hour late.
Adding to our adventure, however, two pieces of luggage decided to take their time meeting us in the UK. Kari and I filed reports, and we will be calling the airport in the morning so that they can confirm the address where they will deliver our backpacks. In the meantime, we've been resting up, exploring the city, eating well on under $30 US, and checking out the local free wi-fi cafe, Leon. The phone card store was closed this evening, but we'll pick one up tomorrow.
We love you all, and are so very excited to be here! Thank you for your prayers, and we will keep you posted as we are able.
Jennifer, Kelsey, Kari, and Laura
we're totally amazed by really old buildings, and can't wait to explore tomorrow. we're staying in a dorm at the London School of Economics, and if space were really an issue for me, I'd transfer. we have four twin beds in our room that is definitely for two people, lots of extra space, and a really cool set of windows that follow the rounded edge of the room. i could explain that better. oh well.
anyway, i'm enjoying a mint steamer, which is basically mint leaves in really hot water, and we're moving on to plan tomorrow's chapter of our adventure.
enjoy!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
less story, more snapshot
so...short story:
i came home. i left again. i came back. i left again. i came back. i'm leaving again in about thirteen hours.
short plus details story:
trip home from mexico went without a hitch, a little bittersweet, because i had grown to enjoy mexico, and our group was awesome. if katie and i ever get the chance to switch flights again, we're takin it.
leaving and coming back round one: canada with the fam for good times and birthday fun. we geocached, hiked, saw skookumchuck rapids and all sorts of weird cool wildlife (geocache family). we stayed in a really cool little beach cabin/house thing that looked out over the strait...if i ever doubted that i'm an outdoor person, this summer confirmed it. i really enjoyed the family time, and we got to see my grandparents before this whole adventure. yay sequim!
leaving and coming back round two: portland on the train and catching up with friends i hadn't seen for a few weeks, months, or a year...inspiring courage in purple-haired people, walking around almost aimlessly (but not quite) in the woods for hours, making pizza and arepas, eating ice cream and banana bread, staying up way too late, playing crazy uno with half a brain, and actually talking about the things that matter most in life. couldn't be better. oh yeah, and the bus home.
between round two and round three: home with family and friends. family wedding, small talk with strangers and familiars, watching the passing of our beloved furry friend of fourteen years, our black lab greyhound mix, Spirit, catching up with high school friends who are now very surely friends for life, sushi and laughter, and getting ready to take off again.
i've learned a lot in the past fourteen days. and i'm ready to learn more.
tomorrow at 1:35 kari, jenni, and i are off on the first part of our european adventure: london and ireland
please pray for safe travels, good relationships, and for life.
i came home. i left again. i came back. i left again. i came back. i'm leaving again in about thirteen hours.
short plus details story:
trip home from mexico went without a hitch, a little bittersweet, because i had grown to enjoy mexico, and our group was awesome. if katie and i ever get the chance to switch flights again, we're takin it.
leaving and coming back round one: canada with the fam for good times and birthday fun. we geocached, hiked, saw skookumchuck rapids and all sorts of weird cool wildlife (geocache family). we stayed in a really cool little beach cabin/house thing that looked out over the strait...if i ever doubted that i'm an outdoor person, this summer confirmed it. i really enjoyed the family time, and we got to see my grandparents before this whole adventure. yay sequim!
leaving and coming back round two: portland on the train and catching up with friends i hadn't seen for a few weeks, months, or a year...inspiring courage in purple-haired people, walking around almost aimlessly (but not quite) in the woods for hours, making pizza and arepas, eating ice cream and banana bread, staying up way too late, playing crazy uno with half a brain, and actually talking about the things that matter most in life. couldn't be better. oh yeah, and the bus home.
between round two and round three: home with family and friends. family wedding, small talk with strangers and familiars, watching the passing of our beloved furry friend of fourteen years, our black lab greyhound mix, Spirit, catching up with high school friends who are now very surely friends for life, sushi and laughter, and getting ready to take off again.
i've learned a lot in the past fourteen days. and i'm ready to learn more.
tomorrow at 1:35 kari, jenni, and i are off on the first part of our european adventure: london and ireland
please pray for safe travels, good relationships, and for life.
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