Una fiesta grande en Oviedo :)

Today is a holiday only celebrated in Asturias, which is the part of Spain I live in here in Oviedo. The holiday dates back to the thirteenth century to celebrate the donation made by Balesquita Giraeldez the guild of tailors in Oviedo. She used to give little "bollu preñau" or a pastry with sausage in the middle to the poor. Now on martes de campo everyone gets the day off of school and work and heads to the park for a day of fun and sausage sandwiches! My friend Katy, who lives here in Spain, invited me to go and it was SO MUCH FUN! It was an awesome time being able to really experience the holiday from the inside. We went to El Parque Invierno which is huge! Scratch that, gigantic! I swear it goes on for miles and up into the hills. They have tables, places to buy snacks, a huge indoor field house of some kind, playgrounds, skate parks, workout machines and much much more. It's basically the most fantastic park known to man. We met up with a bunch of people there [the kindest you will ever meet] and enjoyed a day of fun in the sun.

First we all played card games and if you know me you know I LOVE card games. I'm obsessed so it was great. It was really Interesting to learn the card games that kids play here compared to back in the states. They have some fun games that I came home and wrote down all the rules so I can come home and play them with my family and friends. Excited. It was also interesting being taught a game in Spanish. At times it was incredibly confusing but they were all so patient and helped. Most the games turned into a major competition and we ended up playing for hours. There was also soccer to play and this game that was sort of like steal the flag but everyone on the two teams gets assigned numbers and your race. Even the adults participated it was so fun. Then it was finally time to eat [i starve waiting for it finally to be meal time]!! They brought food for me which was so nice! I had tortilla [once again, the best thing ever], bread, and my own little bollu preñau. My host mom had given me a little sample one the night before, so cute of her, so I knew it was good but it was delicious! Then to top it off silvestor made us some "cerveza mormóm" aka cerveza, which Asturias is famous for, without the alcohol. It was so fun and delicious! And I finally got to try some cerveza... Well sort of :) so once again the food was to die for. I've just come to the conclusion that that's how all the food is in Spain. After lunch we played more and more card games and then Matthew let me take his bike for a bike ride. It was so fun to back on a bike again! I miss the bike rides on Saturday mornings with my mom! Definitely going to start those up again when I get back home. Anyways it was a great ride.

After our adventure at the park which was basically the entire day, Douk and I went and walked all over the other side of oviedo that we hadnt really been to yet. The beauty of this city just never ends. Its all so clean and full of character! The only tough thing is just the streets of Europe that make no sense with all their twists and turns! It was a great adventure. And i have found earned something from all my walking here. Some of the traffic lights take forever to go red. You could be sitting there waiting forever. But lesson learned: if the spaniards Jwalk Jwalk with them. Some how they know the perfect time to do it with the confusing lights and cars. If an American Jwalks DO NOT FOLLOW! Major danger. Words to live by I promise.

The main park where martes de campo is celebrated is el parque sanfranscico. So me and Douk stopped here on our way home and boy was it nuts! My host mom told me that's where she was headed and everyone else and she wasn't kidding! They had blow up rides, tons of food, different music playing everywhere, and a fun flee market! So we had a good time walking all through that. Check out the picture of the balloon man, what will people think of next! When I was little balloons were round and only one color! Imagine up with balloons like that! During our walk we found the best panadería [bakery] in Oviedo. Their eclairs are also the best thing ever. I'm aware I have said this about many things but it's the truth. Looks like we've found our new favorite place to hang out, they've got great food, free wifi, and tables with room to play cards (we play hearts religiously. It's cut throat).

I'm so grateful that i was able to celebrate martes de campo today. It was awesome to be surrounded by the Spanish atmosphere and just soak it all in. I learned not only new card games but spanish well! Tomorrow after school we get to go to the aquarium in Gijón should be fun so stay posted for that! Audios :)

A real spainish experience!

Oviedo is one giant adventure. These last two days we have been going nonstop between excursions and school. Yesterday we had school, went to meet the mayors cabinet and be welcomed to the city, and then took a tour of Oviedo. Which is a city full of history I wish I could show everyone my photos and tell you all about it but unfortunately it'd prob get pretty boring on a blog. Today we had school and a special dinner party called "Una Espicha." Step one: Se bebe sidra (o vino o agua, agua para mi haha)We get off a five minute bus ride and walk into the most incredible restaurant yet. Huge barrels with tables placed inside, green sidra bottles hanging from the ceiling, Celtic music and dancers, waiters and barrels everywhere. They immediately hand you drinks, more importantly Sidra. It's a special alcoholic drink that Asturias is very well known for. I personally just stuck to water but I heard good things. Some kind of cider but because of the way it's made and stored its best drank the second it is released from the barrel or bottle and this is where you see all the crazy pictures of it being poured from up high or far away from the pressure it's stored under. I got to help pour a few even though I don't drink and it was really fun such a great atmosphere. Step two: Se come! So much food to eat! And the tables are mostly for show it's tradition or expected to stand while you eat talk to people take a break and dance or drink and eat some more. Tons of authentic food: tortilla (my favorite of course), eggs, loads of different kinds of cheese, breads, calamari (best Ive ever had by far), fish, empanadas, and embutidos etc etc. I ate so much but it was all fabulous! One thing that was really cool is these dishes are so,e that Spain is well know for and almost all of them my host mama has made me this last week (and honestly just as good if not better I'm so grateful I got such a fun host mom)! Step three: Se tome de postre Aka: dessert! Some delicious crepes and marañuelas. I'm more of a chocolate person but these still were divine. Spain has a way with the pastries! It was quite the experience so glad I can finally add pictures! Today has been a great day. Some days are slightly awkward with my host mom but some days we just have a great time and today was one of them! Started out on a good note I went and got myself breakfast which I never know if I should but I was going to be late otherwise and she was so pleased! At my progress I guess? Who knows haha. Lunch was great as well we actually sat and chatted the whole time. It helped that I was extra hungry and ate just about everything she laid I front of me I think she was happy that I finally ate what she considers enough! Topped off with some AMAZING pineapple. The fruit here is divine. All the food is really but especially the fruit. A wonderful day in Spain and now only one more day of school until the weekend and my first real excursion. Can't wait! Spain is AWESOME! I love the friends I've met the food the people the classes it's all so wonderful! More to come later! Hasta Luego :)

Oviedo update

:)

La vida en Oviedo :)

Update en Oviedo. I now have met my host family and have gotten all settled in! I have a mom, a dad, a brother (32ish?) and (drumroll) a dog!! It's wonderful! The cutest little puppy named sacro he always comes running to greet me when i get home and loves to come sit with me on my bed i am a lucky girl! I live in an apartment on the sixth floor about a 25 minute walk from the school. Which is by far longer than anyone else but my host family is great! My mom is an amazing cook she has cooked me tortilla (like an egg potato and onion omelet) shrimp stew, steak, and lots more. It's all delicious def got lucky with her! We've talked a lot but the first day I won't lie there were a lot of conversations of just pure confusion. No one in the apartment speaks a lick of english so when we get confused its either a Spanish-English dictionary or just smile and nod and laugh (as of either of us understands the other!). Day one was overwhelming but just after that day I felt like I had learned so much! Now talking to my host family has gotten a lot better and understanding! Today was my first day of school and it was full of adventure. I was up off and on all night stressed that my travel alarm wouldn't work so running low on sleep my friend Taylor who lives downstairs and is from Ohio walked me to the university. It is one long walk! The teachers are awesome and so are our classes. We started off with a welcome meeting where I'm pretty sure the only words I caught were "grupo de Utah" basically I had no idea what the director was saying but once we split into classes things started to make more sense.  More about school when I've been the longer. School goes from 9:30-2 when it's time for lunch and siesta and we all head home. Or try to at least. I most definitely got lost. The streets here are a maze and not marked! Turns out I just got off the wrong exit on the roundabout but boy was I confused until I figured it out! To top it off I have two keys to my apartment and after struggling with the outside door for a good five minutes my host dad came and helped me from across the street where apparently he had just been watching me struggle. Awkward! Me and him struggle with conversation so I'm sure that only raised his opinion of his new blonde American kid. Fabulous! I came home to a delicious meal of shrimp stew with bread and yogurt. For some reason their yogurt here is exceptional! Love love love it! After lunch was meant for a quick nap but I caught up with friends from back home before meeting up with my new friends here. We ventured all across Oviedo finding where we all live, planning how we can walk to school together and on the hunt for the so called chino stores (aka dollar stores on crack as rumor would have it). We walked through the giant beautiful park el parque San Francisco and there were so many dogs and peacocks!! Spain loves dogs!! And so many little dogs since everyone lives in apartments but they are all so cute one little yorkie followed me and Liv around during our photo shoot and afterwords we talked to its owner this cute little old man who informed us that he speaks not only Spanish and english but French too! Taking pictures with the giant butt statue we had some guy literally walk away cranking his head to keep watching the whole time as if we were walking around naked! What was his deal? No one knows we never know but he was a crazy. During our exploring adventure we had some of Spain's amazing chocolate and watch out its addicting! We also hit up their modern mall which is incredible. Still have come to the conclusion that Spain has the worlds cutest clothes. I don't know how they do it. Me and liv need to go shopping! Dangerous! I've learned that Spain is gorgeous! Apparently they hose their streets down every night so no wonder it's extremely clean! Also, people let their dogs off the leash everywhere but they are extremely well trained stopping for red lights and etc! Not as many people stare here in Oviedo I think they are a little more used to tourists.... and blondes! Although we still def stick out like sore thumbs. Time to get into this new routine with classes at the university of Oviedo and their professors along with my host family! Its a little terrifying! All the time I have for now and still can't figure out how to add photos! Que Trieste :( I'll keep trying and write more about school later! Def living the dream so grateful to be here and so grateful for all my friends and family! Love you guys!! Audios :)

Adventures exploring Madrid :)

Madrid is the definition of crazy. Amazing and crazy. It still feels like a dream. I wake up every morning and it hits me all over again where I am... Europe! I thought savannah was gorgeous last summer but it has nothing on spain! Every corner you turn it gets more and more beautiful. There are pretty buildings where you'd least expect and yet they are everywhere! Day one culture shock definitely hit hard but every day it gets better and Spain just gets more fantastic. Yesterday we went to "El Palacio Real" and words can not describe it. It was incredible! Unfortunately you couldn't take pictures... But I may have a few! We saw the armory, la farmacia, and lots and lots of royal rooms. We explored a market, took the metro underneath all of Madrid and just went everywhere. The days go by fast but they're exhausting! So much walking! But the rumors are correct it truly is a small world, coming out of the palace I look up and actually saw someone I knew! Julia Mcarther from my high school is just outside of Madrid doing a Spanish study abroad as well and there she was! So nice to see a familiar face! Somehow we managed perfect timing getting to the palace at three clear sailing no line but when we left at five there was a line wrapping around the building glad we missed that! Dinner at Plaza Mayor and some nice exploring topped off our night.Today was a full one! First we all planned on meeting up at El Museo Del Prado at 8:30 waking up was so tough but it paid off! When we got there we were so confused we thought it opened at 9 but it was dead no one was there. Turns out it opens at 10 so we were a whole hour and a half early and me and Liv were the only ones of our group to show up when planned. As it got closer to nine tourist started to flood in so we started a line and people followed so turns out we were the first people in line at the Prado it was basically the greatest thing ever. Once in a lifetime event! There were these sisters from Sweden behind us and they gave us the greatest news, apparently today is "Día Internacional de Los Museos Acceso Gratuito" aka international free museum day so not only were we first in line but it was free! And equally amazing! The art dates back farther than I have ever seen and it's beautiful. Paintings I've only ever seen in text books I now got to see in real life. Por ejemplo "St Dominic Presiding over an Auto-de-Fé, Still Life with Pottery Jars, The adoration of the Shepherds, y David with the head of Goliath." the museum is huge though full of paintings and incredible statues. To continue enjoying free museum day after lunch we hit up Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and dreams come true I finally saw Picasso artwork in real life! Crazy to think he live here in Spain where I am now. It's even more amazing than I imagined I really cant describe it sadly they don't let you take pictures but if you haven't seen any it needs to be put on your to do list. Checked off another item on my bucket list :) I love art and it was the most incredible day for museums. We run into the funniest and strangest people. Today we were walking back from the Prado, me Liv Nate Ryan and Douk when this local comes crouched down running straight up to me and roars like a lion! I'll admit... I fell into the trap. I was totally caught off guard and may have jumped and shrieked a little and totally amused them. I don't know what it is but people here are fascinated by my blonde hair! Everyone told me they would be but I didn't really believe it. It's true though. I'll look over and someone will be staring at me and instead of doing the normal thing and looking away when we make eye contact they just keep staring!! It's ridiculously awkward! Boys and girls young and old. Still blows my mind. The food is fantastic! They may never eat, but we do! We'll be going on an adventure tonight to try and find some famous chocolate! I've been waiting for this! As for our hostel its... Interesting. Its this tiny little room with two rock hard beds and an itty bitty sink and shower. Like really, when you walk into the shower, better be comfy because you're not moving! There's an air conditioning that doesn't really work and for some reason a pretty nice flat screen tv that never gets used ha. It's a lot of fun though, truly the whole experience. We are required to leave our key when we go and get it on our way back. We have a sweet balcony with a gorgeous view and the absolute loudest kids downstairs! Madrid is just loud in general it seems. We go to bed at a decent hour they're still awake making noise, super loud until the wee hours and then loud again when we wake up around seven. Real question, do they ever sleep?! Seems like a no. Anyways hopefully a trip to Toledo tomorrow and then we head to Oviedo on Sunday to meet our host families. After a five hour bus ride that will be one interesting day! Right when we'll be use to Madrid it will be time to go. Terrified! Wish me luck I will need it. Enjoy Los Fotos :) that apparently will come later because right now my iPad refuses.

Adventure. The beginning of many to come

The flight itself is always one of my favorite parts of the trip. I know most people would beg to differ but i love to fly no matter how long the flight and there's always a story to tell after. The flight to Spain has been no exception. Today I woke up at 6:30 to shower, get ready, and check my packing list for the tenth time. Then it was off to Salt Lake International. My mom walked me inside and the goodbye of course was hard! After that though it seemed to be clear sailing, no security problems and just the right amount of waiting time before boarding. The only strange thing was how packed the airport was! I don't know if that is just a Monday thing or what. There were about twenty missionaries leaving though (we creatively named it missionary Monday. Clever.). They made me and Liv feel ridiculous. Here they were completely composed leaving their families for two years to jet off to a foreign country and preach the word. Then there was us... Leaving for a short 7 weeks and having a panic attack! What champs. Anyways, the flight to Atlanta wasn't bad at all. Without even having to ask me and Liv got to sit together and turns out delta airlines has just about the greatest country music selection around. It was fantastic. Between that and bob marley I was set. Totally saved my battery on my iPad and iPod. But then we landed and there the trouble began. Our flight to Spain began boarding at 4:50 and what time did we land in Atlanta? Oh about 5 o'clock. Atlanta airport is HUGE and of course, (thanks Murphy) our connection was just about as far away as possible. The second the fasten your seatbelt sign flashed off we booked it! We got some serious dirty looks when we ran off the plane like it was on fire but there was no way we were going to miss this flight! So we took the lovely shuttle 3 terminals down and ran for dear life. Of course every roadblock possible happened and instead of E2 being the closest gate in the "E1-E12" hallway it was at the very end which I swear was a mile away! Carrying a backpack that weighs more than a small child and running for dear life is exhausting! Perhaps it's a sign I should work out more. But I do work out! So I guess a sign to actually push myself harder ha. We literally barely made it in time. We were by far the last people on the plane. And it was one giant plane! Biggest I have ever been on but then again this is my first international flight. We had to nicely ask the lady sitting next to Liv if I could switch her isle seat for mine. We're not sure she spoke English.. But she quickly said yes. So kind! The ladies behind us heard us complaining about starving and feeling like we were going to pass out (neither of us had eaten breakfast we were too nervous and then we were just certain we'd have time to eat in Georgia. Jokes on us! So we hadn't eaten like all day other than airheads and delta pretzels which I assure you is not the food of sprinting champions) so they handed us their peanuts from their previous flight and told us we could use the protein and they didn't want us passing out hahaha some people are seriously SO nice. Our pilot came on the intercom to announce that our flight was slightly delayed due to some baggage that had arrived late (guilty as charged! That had to have been ours but hey that means its not lost right? Knock on wood. Delta's fault though). I was tempted to run out of the airport right then and there. Not because I didn't want to go to Madrid but because I miss Georgia so much! It is such an amazing place. I miss it. But instead me and Liv looked out the window and said goodbye to America. This being my first international flight I have learned a few things. And wondered about many! First how many of these people are headed home? Vacation? Work? And this is an 8 hour flight! Do the pilot and the flight attendants spend the night in Madrid? I feel like a 16 hour work day would not be safe for passengers. But then why not stay in Spain a few days? Do they? Probably not but so many questions. As for the food I'm not sure if I learned much. I thought the dinner they gave us along with my fast break was fantastic but this may have been due to the fact that I was near starvation. So the food quality is still to be determined. Seeing how international flights are so dang expensive they provide you with actual decent entertainment. So many free movies and TV shows to pick from and once again great music. And I have an all new respect for delta... they had a free episode of dexter to watch! It was Christmas. I felt right at home. Also, apparently they have USB ports on the seats in front of you to charge your iPods or iPads or etc. How sweet?! Turns out our brilliant plan of conserving our battery to Atlanta was not necessary. More importantly I came to the conclusion that there should be rules with the "reading lights." our flight was basically a red eye for anyone on the right European schedule. At first the plane was lovely nice and dark after dinner perfect for a nap. Thhhhhen this lady on the row next to us turns on this little reading light and oh my heck it's like a ray of sunshine and not in a good way! Lights up basically the entire back section. So ridiculous! And to top it off she uses it for about ten minutes and then falls asleep! With the light still ON! My heavens. It's on as a type this. I think rules should be enforced for these so called reading lights. Now sleep isn't even an option. Jet lag here we come! Lastly, we have these flight attendants that keep walking up and down the isles watching everyone. I understand it's probably in their job requirement but it really makes me feel like I'm back at the U taking a final and being watched like a hawk. I find it awkward! And the two guys infrint of us have been talking in spanish nonstop since we left. I've understood words and phrases here and there but uh not much I don't find that a good sign! Anyway I plan to post this as soon as I get to Madrid and have wifi so everyone knows I'm safe. Hopefully this is the start of many adventures. Europe here I come! Stay tuned! Audios :)