Hola from Espana once again! As we progress into our 11th week, I'm still plugging away here in Granada.
To say that I was exhausted after the first week of our internship is a complete understatement. My brain felt like mush because of all the active thinking I'd had to do. I was certainly ready for our spring break that was scheduled for the next week. I needed a rest! We started the weekend off with a perfect event for relaxing, a picnic with sunbathing at our friend Petra's house! She introduced me to a new yummy Spanish cuisine called Gazpacho. It's a tomato based soup that's traditionally served cold and is quite delicious! The afternoon was filled with good conversation and soaking up some warm Vitamin D.
Karrie and I had to end the picnic a little earlier because we had a soccer game to attend! During the week at my internship, Mariano, my tutor, asked me if I liked futbol. After I replied with yes, he proceeded to ask me if I wanted tickets to the game which just happened to be the upcoming weekend. I think my energetic, resounding, "SI!!!" was enough to confirm that I'd love to go. So that next day Mariano presented me with two tickets for the game that Saturday. It was definitely a great memorable experience! Karrie and I had initially planned on riding a bus to the stadium, but we weren't sure which bus to take, so we ended up catching a taxi. After getting through the gates, we attempted to look for our seats, to no avail. Absolutely NOTHING is labeled in the stadium. So after roaming around aimlessly and asking various people, we decided just to walk down as close to the sidelines as we could, find two open seats, and grab them! We ended up getting to second row. Our plan to avoid any stern ticket checkers was to bat our eyes and smile. That's always a solid plan, right?! Good thing the Spaniards are ridiculously relaxed because we had no trouble at all. It was a scorching afternoon but that didn't stop the fans from screaming their heads off or the players from giving the fans a good game. I'm surprised I didn't have ringing in my ears for the next couple of days, hearing the uproar of the crowd after Granada would score. The Spanish definitely love their soccer! I remember leaning over to Karrie saying that I kind of wanted an injury to take place, just so we could see what it was like. Well, luck was on my side, because there was a fantastic collision between two of the players that resulted in one of the Granada team members to be taken out on a stretcher, in which we later learned was a definite broken nose. It was cool to see and I was most definitely 'that person' standing up to get a better view while I also took pictures, haha. Granada still ended up winning 2-0 and I'm so glad I got to go!
Our Semana Santa ("Holy Week") spring break began that following Monday with me working at my internship for the first half of the week. Slowly but surely my Spanish is improving. Speaking a different language involves accessing a completely different part of your brain, one that's pretty rusty in my noggin'. But the gears in my head are gradually getting greased and I'm starting to be more conversant with everyone instead of being that awkward kid in the corner. My coworkers and I have begun to establish a relationship, telling one another about our lives outside of the clinic. I told them that I really enjoy theatre and singing even though that that is something quite different from Athletic Training. I probably should've kept my mouth shut because after numerous attempts of nagging, I told them I would sing for them. So, one afternoon, I swallowed my nervousness and whipped out the only Spanish song I know from church, 'Pescador de Hombres' for Mariano. No words, no music, just me. I guess he must have enjoyed because just yesterday I had to sing for everyone in the clinic including the patients. Despite being super nervous it was great to sing again because I haven't been able to since being here in Granada, and that's just too long.
The rest of the week was finished out with some visitors, Karrie's aunt Tia and grandma Sonja! We had fun touring some new tapas places, discovering a great pizzeria that is close to our apartment. The ladies and I also attended a flamenco show, which was outstanding to see. The passion and focus involved with both the singing and the dancing took my breath away. It was so refreshing to watch a performance similar to a theatre production! Those that I know that are involved with dancing and the arts (all my theatre geek buddies) would certainly appreciate because the dancing is along the lines of extreme tap dancing. So cool!
To say that I was exhausted after the first week of our internship is a complete understatement. My brain felt like mush because of all the active thinking I'd had to do. I was certainly ready for our spring break that was scheduled for the next week. I needed a rest! We started the weekend off with a perfect event for relaxing, a picnic with sunbathing at our friend Petra's house! She introduced me to a new yummy Spanish cuisine called Gazpacho. It's a tomato based soup that's traditionally served cold and is quite delicious! The afternoon was filled with good conversation and soaking up some warm Vitamin D.
Karrie and I had to end the picnic a little earlier because we had a soccer game to attend! During the week at my internship, Mariano, my tutor, asked me if I liked futbol. After I replied with yes, he proceeded to ask me if I wanted tickets to the game which just happened to be the upcoming weekend. I think my energetic, resounding, "SI!!!" was enough to confirm that I'd love to go. So that next day Mariano presented me with two tickets for the game that Saturday. It was definitely a great memorable experience! Karrie and I had initially planned on riding a bus to the stadium, but we weren't sure which bus to take, so we ended up catching a taxi. After getting through the gates, we attempted to look for our seats, to no avail. Absolutely NOTHING is labeled in the stadium. So after roaming around aimlessly and asking various people, we decided just to walk down as close to the sidelines as we could, find two open seats, and grab them! We ended up getting to second row. Our plan to avoid any stern ticket checkers was to bat our eyes and smile. That's always a solid plan, right?! Good thing the Spaniards are ridiculously relaxed because we had no trouble at all. It was a scorching afternoon but that didn't stop the fans from screaming their heads off or the players from giving the fans a good game. I'm surprised I didn't have ringing in my ears for the next couple of days, hearing the uproar of the crowd after Granada would score. The Spanish definitely love their soccer! I remember leaning over to Karrie saying that I kind of wanted an injury to take place, just so we could see what it was like. Well, luck was on my side, because there was a fantastic collision between two of the players that resulted in one of the Granada team members to be taken out on a stretcher, in which we later learned was a definite broken nose. It was cool to see and I was most definitely 'that person' standing up to get a better view while I also took pictures, haha. Granada still ended up winning 2-0 and I'm so glad I got to go!
Our Semana Santa ("Holy Week") spring break began that following Monday with me working at my internship for the first half of the week. Slowly but surely my Spanish is improving. Speaking a different language involves accessing a completely different part of your brain, one that's pretty rusty in my noggin'. But the gears in my head are gradually getting greased and I'm starting to be more conversant with everyone instead of being that awkward kid in the corner. My coworkers and I have begun to establish a relationship, telling one another about our lives outside of the clinic. I told them that I really enjoy theatre and singing even though that that is something quite different from Athletic Training. I probably should've kept my mouth shut because after numerous attempts of nagging, I told them I would sing for them. So, one afternoon, I swallowed my nervousness and whipped out the only Spanish song I know from church, 'Pescador de Hombres' for Mariano. No words, no music, just me. I guess he must have enjoyed because just yesterday I had to sing for everyone in the clinic including the patients. Despite being super nervous it was great to sing again because I haven't been able to since being here in Granada, and that's just too long.
The rest of the week was finished out with some visitors, Karrie's aunt Tia and grandma Sonja! We had fun touring some new tapas places, discovering a great pizzeria that is close to our apartment. The ladies and I also attended a flamenco show, which was outstanding to see. The passion and focus involved with both the singing and the dancing took my breath away. It was so refreshing to watch a performance similar to a theatre production! Those that I know that are involved with dancing and the arts (all my theatre geek buddies) would certainly appreciate because the dancing is along the lines of extreme tap dancing. So cool!
We also took part in spectating some of the daily processions that take place in the streets of Granada during the entire Semana Santa week. These processions are a huge tradition in which large amounts of people dress in full robes, carrying crosses and candles while different women are dressed in all black as a symbol of mourning. They process through the streets with these massive floats of scenes from Jesus’ life and death. The floats, beyond extravagant and complete with gold décor, are carried by 25+ men and I’m told each of them hold about 30-40 kilograms while they walk. Bands play a processional type of music while hundreds gather to catch a glimpse of all the hulabaloo. The girls and I got a front row seat, not once but twice during two different processionals! The first was while we took Karrie’s grandma and aunt out for tapas. We were enjoying our meal when all of a sudden music and massive amounts of people started advancing towards us. On Easter Sunday, we decided to wander around the city a bit and we ventured into the large cathedral. Not ten minutes are we’d been there, we once again heard the sound of music (you like how I got that one in there?!) getting closer and closer. We turned toward the giant doors and a float, this one of Jesus being resurrected, was being carried in by all the men on their knees!!!!! They carefully maneuvered it until setting it in place towards the back of the church. This was all followed by a loud, well-deserved round of applause. It was definitely something spectacular to see!
Apart from wandering the city, Easter weekend was pretty low-key. On Saturday, Karrie made us Sloppy Joe’s from the recipe and ingredients that her grandma had brought over with her. Oh, were they good! That night we had a movie night and watch a chick flick, “Love and Other Drugs.” We all got the chance to talk to/Skype with our parents who were celebrating Easter with our families. I was so happy to get the chance to Skype with my Dad’s side of the family at grandma’s house. I’ll admit I was definitely homesick that day, but getting to say hello to all of the cousins, aunts, and uncles really put a smile on my face.
As all vacations do, Semana Santa ended way too early and before I knew it, I was back to my full schedule with class and my internship every day. Not only that, but this past week I had my first exam of the semester in Biomechanics! Eeeeeekkk! I had no clue where to even begin studying, so I went to a café about a block away from our apartment. I then attempted to translate all of my notes into English so I could remotely understand what in the world we might be tested on. This made for pretty much double the amount of studying I had ahead of me because I had to decipher my notes between two different languages. Whew. One good thing though, was this little treasure trove of a café I found. It’s called ‘Café Picaro’ and is just the cutest little nook! It has an older piano inside, along with a lot of antique 30’s Swing Era décor. To top it off, they were playing such things as Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and the ever classic Ella Fitzgerald while I studied. This soothing music warmed my heart because it reminded me of when I go to visit you, Tutu and Jim! I will be back to this place more than once before I depart for back home. Not real sure how the exam went, but we'll find out soon enough. At least the professor knows we're not fluent so maybe he'll take pity on 'los Americanos.'
Still missing everyone back home. I think about you all on a daily basis and while I am truly enjoying my experience here, it will be nice to be surrounded by family and friends.
BESOS!
Getting ready for the futbol game!
Check out this crowd!
Post-collision.
Yes, I took many more pictures.
Woman dressed in black to portray mourning.
The costumes were quite elaborate.
Look at these floats!
Gazpacho!
Paella! Another Spanish cuisine: a rice mixed with a special paella spice
complete with calamari, shrimp, and mussel.
The start of the flamenco show! I'll try to post a video on here, because pictures don't do it justice.
The cathedral.
Enter the massive float! At this point the men are still carrying this thing on their knees.
This thing is huge.
That float looks more like a statue they are carrying. Beautiful. I think I would love paella. It is so pretty. The futbol looks so exciting!
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