Hasta Luego Espana, GOODDAY LONDON

Sitting here, in the Madrid airport….have officially spent about 20 ish hours sitting (thank god not consecutively) near the British airline desk, praying that London can pull there sh** together, and learn to deal with the 2 inches of snow that have very much shut the country down.  Can you tell I am a wee bit bitter?  2 canceled flights and about 35 hours of waiting really is not much to complain about considering the number of horror stories I have heard from my fellow “wait-ers” however.  One night of waiting is not too shabby; I shared a hotel with my good friend David, whose flight left early this morning.  The company was great to have in the slightly stressful situation. NOW, KNOCK ON WOOD this flight will go through.  HUGE shout out to my pops- who literally spent the last day booking different flight options, leave it to Mr. Zupsic to figure it out….i honestly don’t know how he does it. 

As I sit here, I find myself quite overrun with sadness.  Spain has given me more then I could have ever imagined.  The places ive seen, the new customs I have learned, the language I have practiced and most importantly, the wonderful wonderful people I have met – have had a tremendous impact on me.  The Spanish culture, so warm, friendly and inviting, quite frankly has made me really evaluate the oftentimes selfish culture that defines America.  I have never met so many wonderfully caring, open and simply HAPPY people as Spaniards.  Nothing seems to bother them; no pasa nada.  I am sure that is different from region to region however- Oveido was just INSANELY chill. 

Picnic at Loreto's country casa

More over- I think, even in this ubsurdly short time, I have gotten a real grasp on Asturias and the beautiful people who live there.   On our last night in Spain, the “crew” and I were enjoying our last Beleynos (an Austurian beer) when someone said, “wow- look at the ratio right now” (in Spanish…claro).  There, in that little Spanish bar, sat 4 Americans and 4 Spaniards-  We were sitting there, about 10 pm on a Sunday, speaking Spanish and watching the Real Madrid game in a packed, smoky bar in Spain and acting like it was no big deal….the usual.  The relationships we formed, not only among ourselves but with others who don’t even speak our mother tongue- is something to be ecstatic about.   

From my conversation partners, Galo and Encarna who literally took me on their family vacation, to my wonderful Spanish girlfriends, Loreto and Icear, whose wonderful houses we have hung out in and who have shown us all the local hotspots.  The connections I’ve made here in Spain are ones that I am sure will last into my future….i really lucked out.

 



And then, there are my American friends, those who embarked on this epic journey with me…my closest friends- the crew.  Tom, David, Flex, Sean, Nick, the Bostons, and of course, Ryan.  I don’t think I have ever formed such strong friendships so quickly, and there is not a doubt in my mind they will be there forever.  There is nothing like the connection you make to those when in a totally foreign place- You people are wonderful- Ive never laughed so hard, been so consistently happy and content, and learned so much from a group of people.  I freaking LOVE you people.  I miss you all already-  I still find myself tearing up that I will not be able to see you every waking second.  Haha-

So that is that.  Adios Spain y HELLLO London!  (If I ever get there!!)

Little tid bits of spain I will never forget:

-          Day one.  When to a bar and ordered beer which I called “maahoy” when it is really pronounced “mow”



-          Watching an amazing live band in Portugal

-          Walking my dogs

-          Hiking up to “Christo”- a huge statue on the highest mountiain in Oviedo…the trail was essentially in my backyard.  We even hiked it in the snow once!

-          Getting asked directions in Oviedo (in Spanish) and being able to give them

-          ESPECHA- a school fundraiser aka an all day, all day student party to raise money

-          KEBOBS- the most delicious Greek creation ever. A late night go- to.  We even created a verb, Kebebar: to eat a Kebab. 



Hasta luego espana- echare de menos.

So that is that.  Adios Spain y HELLLO London!  (If I ever get there!!)





LISBOA

Ryan Tom and I made an EXTREMELY last minute trip to Lisboa, Portual for a 5 day mini break.  Despite the very complicated travel process, we had one hell of a time. 



10 hour night bus....i thought it was only 6- opps.



 I with that...I am just going to go ahead and let my pictures do the talking....

It all started saturday, with a 6 hour bus ride to madrid.









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Ryan...pre train.



6am arrive in Lisboa....and a very necessary redbull

Sightseeing by day

partying by night- (with new international friends!)

Lisboa is incredibly beautiful-

our hostel was AMAZING and dirt cheap- it was called YES if you ever find yourself in portugal!

It all ended with another 8 hours in Madrid.  We got hot cocos and enjoyed the christmasy feel before hopping on the 6 hour bus back home...exhausted.

  :)

another extremely sucessful adventure-

Mi Familia Espanol

As a mentioned before, I hit the jackpot when it comes to conversation partners.  When I signed up for the “Tandem” conversation program, I figured I would be assigned a Spanish student around my age to chat with and grab a café with from time to time- purely to practice my Spanish and teach a little English. Boy oh boy, that is not what I got at all.  Encarna and Galo Blano are an adult couple who have literally adopted me into their lives.  They are without a doubt the most caring and generous people I have ever met. 

 It started off with meeting for coffee, and changed quickly into meals at their beautiful home in the country side- A few times a week, they came and picked me up and took me somewhere magnificent.  Sometimes, we would just go to their home, cook and eat, and sit around, chatting and playing with their few week old boxer puppy (named Frida).  Encarna is an artist, (hence “Frida”) so we also spent a good amount of time in her insanely large and creative art studio looking at art and chit chatting.  Other times, they would cart me around to do whatever they were doing for the day.  We grocery shopped, bought snow tires, looked for baby gifts, went to an Austurian sidra festival…to further explain there generosity and overall wonderful-ness, allow me to give you a scenario of a really special day:

FRIDA.  5 week old boxer puppy- QUE LINDA



There amazing, artsty home



Two weeks ago, Galo invited me over to go for a bke ride.  When I arrive, Galo, Encarna, and there 2 thirtyish year old kids were packed around the TV watching a news report about epic amounts of snow in the mountains near by.  I say, to make conversation, “ah! Me encanta la neive! Antes de marcho, me encantaría ver la neive de Espana!”  (translation: i love the snow! Before i leave, i would love to see the snow in Spain!)  Ten minutes later, the entire family and I are packed in the car, wearing snow boots and ski jackets bound for their cabin in the mountains. 

We spent 2 days and one night in their small, cozy cabin right at the base of the ski resort.  We cooked dinner and sat around the fireplace during the night, and when morning hit, we HIT THE SLOPES.  Yes, that’s right, I got to SKI IN SPAIN.  They lent me absolutely everything: skis, boots, gloves, snow clothes, todos.  I practically had to get on my knees and beg for them to let me buy my own lift ticket (which might I add was only 20 euro!?  Insane.)  The 2 feet of fresh new power made up for the fact that it began to snow from time to time.  When the rest of the family, who are all amazing skiers, got tired- Galo and I stayed on the mountain and tore it up.  A solid 7 hour ski day without resting, left me sleeping on the car ride home- happier than ever. 

Bucket list check off for sure: Ski in Spain.  CHECK. 

I will miss my Spanish family like crazy and already cannot wait to come back and visit them.  Man, did I get lucky.  J

The Cabin

Skiing in Spain (still cant bellive it!)

Thanksgiving...Spain style

Man oh man, I have too much to be thankful for…

Mi Familia de Espana

This year, I experienced a thanksgiving unlike any other.  My first wave of homesickness struck thanksgiving morning, when I realized no turkey, no pie, no family-  Little did I know, thanksgiving came to me, all the way here in Spain.  My friends and I often frequent a little bar/sideria in town where we have become really close with the owner, Alex aka “el jefe” and the cook. We all go out together, help him clean up and kick it with him after the bar closes, and simply hang out a ton.  To get to the point, El Jefe and the wonderful Ecuadorian cook MADE US A FULL ON THANKSGIVING DINNER and served it for us in the bar.  Im talking the works: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, wine, pie..my Spanish “family” and I sat on bar stools and feasted on perhaps the most memorable and utterly different thanksgiving I think I will ever have.  Pie…check. Turkey….check.  Family…check.  I may have tear-ed up once or twice- it was incredibly touching. 

Ryan, Alex (el Jefe), Nick

Thanksgiving....spain style

To my beautiful friends and family back in the States-  I am so thankful to have all of you, and hope you had a wonderful turkey day as well.