I'm moving forward with full force trying to make my internship in Argentina happen. However, raising $15,000 will not be an easy task if I don't get a large chunk of it from these scholarships that I've applied for. While I'm staying optimistic, I need to think of what I'll do in the next year if I end up short of funds.
I would go back to school, but I'm not ready to do that. Plus, it's already too late to apply to the schools that interest me. I've hashed out a few options just in case:
1) I could go to Germany through a similar program, work on my German and get to know another culture. This would be amazing, but I'm not sure if I can get my German to the level of where I'd be comfortable living on my own before next August.
2) I could stay in Spain, renew my contract and get placed in a city that would be a bit more stimulating. On my list of preferences I 'd put Bilbao, Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona. I think I'm just too much of a art and music nut to live in this city for another year.
3) I could go back to Grand Rapids (or maybe another U.S.), work a menial job, save some money, continue my informal education and enjoy my friends and family before I really leave for good.
I'm definitely not down about this, it's just a bit daunting because I don't feel like I do enough contingency planning in my life. I just go head first into one thing. On one hand, it's good because I probably do things better because of this. On the other hand, things might fall apart for me pretty quickly if I don't have a plan B.
Either way, I'm lucky to have these options in front of me and I'm sure they'll change before the moment of truth comes.
12/13/2009
12/07/2009
Spanish eccentricities
I just realized that I haven't complained too much about life here, talked about what is cool or strange, what is different or similar. So I'm going to make a short list here of things that stand out to me for those of you at home.
1. No carpet! All homes here are tile floored, which means a lot of sweeping. Beyond that, there is no home heating, so slippers or house shoes are a necessity. I guess it's an excuse to buy some sweet Spiderman slippers or something.
2. Meal times. The big meal is lunch, which takes place at 3 or so. That is why all shops close down here between 2:15 and 5:15. It's a bit inconvenient at times, but nice to know that a culture can value a time of day for families and friends to get together and enjoy a meal.
3. Really bad drivers. I expected bad driving in South America due to the lower level of economic development and law enforcement, but good grief! I have been hit on my bicycle and almost hit several times at pedestrian crossings and many other instances on my bike; I'll keep these to myself so my mom doesn't send me a ticket home right now. It is obligatory to stop at the crosswalks, however it seems that drivers like to try and drive as fast as possible to intimidate you into not stepping out so that they may continue. Rude!
4. Punctuality, or lack of. People aren't pressed to be on time to the minute as most of us are in the United States. This is quite nice once you get used to it. At first, I was always on time waiting for people and got a bit frustrated. Now, I realize that people take care of things and then move on to the next task, rather than leaving something half-finished and moving on to the next obligation; there is something to be learned from this for us I feel. I benefit from this as well, because when I'm running late the professors simply reply "No pasa nada", which means more or less "don't worry about it" or "no big deal".
5. The importance of outward appearance. People are on average more concerned with what they wear, how their hair looks and how they smell here than I am comfortable with. There are adds everywhere for age-defying creams and plastic surgery. This is something that really bothers me, especially because I feel like I draw looks sometimes with my clothes that are a bit informal and OBVIOUSLY from the U.S. We're all subject to consumerism and putting value in appearance and other things that don't matter. It's just that the level of importance that is placed in these things here is a bit bothersome.
6. The way youth talk to adults. I thought that my generation was bad, but good god! The way that current middle schoolers, high schoolers and young adults speak to their elders here is god-awful at times. Many people say it is a generational thing, much like the U.S. experienced in the late 60s and early 70s, which could make sense being as Franco's dictatorship only fell a generation and half ago; new freedom is always a bit more extreme I guess.
7. Farmers' Markets are common and not just part of some hippie movement. 6 days a week I can walk down to a HUGE market and buy fresh fruit, jams, vegetables, bread, spices, etc. It's awesome and I take advantage of the amazing quantity of fresh produce that Spain has to offer.
That's about all for now, although I am sure there are others that are escaping me at the moment. Please keep in mind that many of these things are generalizations that do not apply to all Spanish people or all areas of Spain. This is just what I have seen in my city that has stood out to me so far.
1. No carpet! All homes here are tile floored, which means a lot of sweeping. Beyond that, there is no home heating, so slippers or house shoes are a necessity. I guess it's an excuse to buy some sweet Spiderman slippers or something.
2. Meal times. The big meal is lunch, which takes place at 3 or so. That is why all shops close down here between 2:15 and 5:15. It's a bit inconvenient at times, but nice to know that a culture can value a time of day for families and friends to get together and enjoy a meal.
3. Really bad drivers. I expected bad driving in South America due to the lower level of economic development and law enforcement, but good grief! I have been hit on my bicycle and almost hit several times at pedestrian crossings and many other instances on my bike; I'll keep these to myself so my mom doesn't send me a ticket home right now. It is obligatory to stop at the crosswalks, however it seems that drivers like to try and drive as fast as possible to intimidate you into not stepping out so that they may continue. Rude!
4. Punctuality, or lack of. People aren't pressed to be on time to the minute as most of us are in the United States. This is quite nice once you get used to it. At first, I was always on time waiting for people and got a bit frustrated. Now, I realize that people take care of things and then move on to the next task, rather than leaving something half-finished and moving on to the next obligation; there is something to be learned from this for us I feel. I benefit from this as well, because when I'm running late the professors simply reply "No pasa nada", which means more or less "don't worry about it" or "no big deal".
5. The importance of outward appearance. People are on average more concerned with what they wear, how their hair looks and how they smell here than I am comfortable with. There are adds everywhere for age-defying creams and plastic surgery. This is something that really bothers me, especially because I feel like I draw looks sometimes with my clothes that are a bit informal and OBVIOUSLY from the U.S. We're all subject to consumerism and putting value in appearance and other things that don't matter. It's just that the level of importance that is placed in these things here is a bit bothersome.
6. The way youth talk to adults. I thought that my generation was bad, but good god! The way that current middle schoolers, high schoolers and young adults speak to their elders here is god-awful at times. Many people say it is a generational thing, much like the U.S. experienced in the late 60s and early 70s, which could make sense being as Franco's dictatorship only fell a generation and half ago; new freedom is always a bit more extreme I guess.
7. Farmers' Markets are common and not just part of some hippie movement. 6 days a week I can walk down to a HUGE market and buy fresh fruit, jams, vegetables, bread, spices, etc. It's awesome and I take advantage of the amazing quantity of fresh produce that Spain has to offer.
That's about all for now, although I am sure there are others that are escaping me at the moment. Please keep in mind that many of these things are generalizations that do not apply to all Spanish people or all areas of Spain. This is just what I have seen in my city that has stood out to me so far.
12/03/2009
Two weeks until Christmas Vacation! Wow, when did all that time pass by?
Eric and Laurie are getting married. Good god. Two of my best friends have decided to get married and I couldn't be more happy for them. Hopefully they wait for me to come back so that I can see this whole thing go down...and give it my blessing (very necessary).
Last weekend we had a Thanksgiving here in Algeciras amongst the American contingency (Meghan, Hannah, Alexa, Abby, Matt and myself) and I am pleased to say that it went quite well. We invited a solid group of Spanish friends that we usually hang out with and had a come newcomers, which was a nice addition.
I cooked three sweet potato pies, homemade applesauce, mashed potatoes and a homemade green bean casserole; this last one was especially good, because Campbell's doesn't exist over here. Nothing like making your own cream of mushroom soup. I might have bragging rights to the most popular dish, as several people have asked me for my sweet potato pie recipe. Can you say eBay?
I'm getting really excited to head to Germany and see Ben on the 19th of this month; it's been over a year since I've seen the kid. I'll be gone until the 9th of January, so there is quite a bit that I would like to see while I'm there. I'm thinking of heading southward and eastward, so as I don't double dip places that I am going to see next summer. So on the tentative destination list we have Bonn, Aachen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Berlin and Prague. I think I can make it all happen since my school is going to be paying me early. Word!
This weekend is another "puente" or long weekend due to a national holiday. I'm thinking about making my way to Almeria, a supposedly very beautiful city, to see a friend from orientation. It's about 7 hours by bus, but at least I can get quite a bit of reading done and get to see more of Spain. It's still tentative however, since I am going salsa dancing for the first time on Friday, I have a ride on Saturday morning and possibly two couchsurfers for tonight and tomorrow. Did I mention that I am also teaching here? Haha, sometimes that is so far to back of my mind since it is the only solid part of my routine here.
I'm also going to try and start some fundraising rather quick here since I need to get paying for this internship in Argentina. We'll see though...My big focus next week will be figure out how to pay for that.
Last weekend we had a Thanksgiving here in Algeciras amongst the American contingency (Meghan, Hannah, Alexa, Abby, Matt and myself) and I am pleased to say that it went quite well. We invited a solid group of Spanish friends that we usually hang out with and had a come newcomers, which was a nice addition.
I cooked three sweet potato pies, homemade applesauce, mashed potatoes and a homemade green bean casserole; this last one was especially good, because Campbell's doesn't exist over here. Nothing like making your own cream of mushroom soup. I might have bragging rights to the most popular dish, as several people have asked me for my sweet potato pie recipe. Can you say eBay?
I'm getting really excited to head to Germany and see Ben on the 19th of this month; it's been over a year since I've seen the kid. I'll be gone until the 9th of January, so there is quite a bit that I would like to see while I'm there. I'm thinking of heading southward and eastward, so as I don't double dip places that I am going to see next summer. So on the tentative destination list we have Bonn, Aachen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Berlin and Prague. I think I can make it all happen since my school is going to be paying me early. Word!
This weekend is another "puente" or long weekend due to a national holiday. I'm thinking about making my way to Almeria, a supposedly very beautiful city, to see a friend from orientation. It's about 7 hours by bus, but at least I can get quite a bit of reading done and get to see more of Spain. It's still tentative however, since I am going salsa dancing for the first time on Friday, I have a ride on Saturday morning and possibly two couchsurfers for tonight and tomorrow. Did I mention that I am also teaching here? Haha, sometimes that is so far to back of my mind since it is the only solid part of my routine here.
I'm also going to try and start some fundraising rather quick here since I need to get paying for this internship in Argentina. We'll see though...My big focus next week will be figure out how to pay for that.
11/26/2009
Sick for the first time in Spain and thankful.
It may be the widespread panic over la gripe A (h1n1) or it may be the fact that I have been working with sick little kids, but this morning I woke up feeling a bit strange. I went to school not thinking much of it, and didn't really want to ask to go home since I work so few hours in the institute. However, when I told Alfonso - one of the best teachers you will ever meet - that I felt strange, he said "Go home! What are you doing here?! Health first!". I was surprised and relieved at the same time. My buddy Matt is coming later today for our weekend long Thanksgiving celebration and I want to feel well.
So here I am, sitting in my bed, listening to some Andrew Bird (which I highly suggest if you don't know him already) and contemplating the ways in which I can be thankful. So let's list a few: my family for being supportive of my education, my interests, even though they may lead me abroad for long periods of time; my excellent professors that have motivated me and opened doors both mental and physical for me; my friends, Ellen and Eric, that helped me make this possible financially; my friends, Kendell, Laurel, Kevin, Laurie, Jake, Nicola, Annie, James, Uma and for sure many others that helped support me when I was doubting myself in this or anything else; and last but not least, that all-controversial being, God, who I believe keeps the good works and love circulating on this big rock. If I didn't include you and should have, feel free to comment and tell me what I jerk I am.
The point is, there are innumerable things to be thankful for, but yet I think we find ourselves thinking about desires and goals that haven't been fulfilled or will be able to be fulfilled. I'd like to not focus on those, -which is often my number one flaw - but rather on what has gone well for me. Try and do the same today, I think it will make you feel better, even if you are already feeling good. Think of how many people have helped you or tried to help you, how many people have said kind words to you and meant them or even of the good things you have done unconsciously and have helped others.
This all may sound a bit preachy, but I do it more for myself than anything, because I like to get these thoughts out of my head and down on to "paper". Either way, I hope you find something useful or at least worth reading. Today I am thankful for each and everyone of you.
So here I am, sitting in my bed, listening to some Andrew Bird (which I highly suggest if you don't know him already) and contemplating the ways in which I can be thankful. So let's list a few: my family for being supportive of my education, my interests, even though they may lead me abroad for long periods of time; my excellent professors that have motivated me and opened doors both mental and physical for me; my friends, Ellen and Eric, that helped me make this possible financially; my friends, Kendell, Laurel, Kevin, Laurie, Jake, Nicola, Annie, James, Uma and for sure many others that helped support me when I was doubting myself in this or anything else; and last but not least, that all-controversial being, God, who I believe keeps the good works and love circulating on this big rock. If I didn't include you and should have, feel free to comment and tell me what I jerk I am.
The point is, there are innumerable things to be thankful for, but yet I think we find ourselves thinking about desires and goals that haven't been fulfilled or will be able to be fulfilled. I'd like to not focus on those, -which is often my number one flaw - but rather on what has gone well for me. Try and do the same today, I think it will make you feel better, even if you are already feeling good. Think of how many people have helped you or tried to help you, how many people have said kind words to you and meant them or even of the good things you have done unconsciously and have helped others.
This all may sound a bit preachy, but I do it more for myself than anything, because I like to get these thoughts out of my head and down on to "paper". Either way, I hope you find something useful or at least worth reading. Today I am thankful for each and everyone of you.
11/23/2009
Weekends go by so quickly.
So it's Monday. What the heck. I feel like my weekend just started. It seems like everything goes quickly though, not just the weekends. I plan so much for classes outside of school and in between classes that by the end of the day I don't even realize that it has happened. Much better than time dragging if you ask me.
Friday I only have one class, so it feels like the weekend starts a bit early. I only had 6 students show up because of the swine flu. I would complain that no one came, but I guess I am going to consider myself lucky for not getting sick so far. Knock on wood. I had a football game - that's right you patriots, I am calling soccer, the original football, "football" - with the faculty team again this Friday and we won. I maintain my perfect record and killer rep with the students. They started calling me "portolazo", which means monster goalie. I'm honored. Little do they know, I am so nervous every time we play because there are 300 students watching us, especially me, being the foreigner. I thought I left this pressure back in high school...
Saturday I had a great ride with the UCA. We did 110 km again on the less hilly route. Less hilly, but super windy and one MONSTER hill. The first time I did this ride the hill almost killed me. Now, as I am getting used to maintaining a certain cadence and controlling my breathing, the rides are going much better for me. I was the first up the hill this time, which gave me the giddiest, most idiotic grin I have ever had. The best part about hill climbs is that there is usually an awesome descent on the other side, which there was in this case. It is a sweet series of curves and corners that I push 40 mph on. We also did a ton of "aflojando" which is where the peloton changes positions constantly to share the burden of breaking the head wind. It's a good skill to learn and made the ride much easier.
Later on Saturday I went back to Gib with the new English teacher, Dave the Canadian, to check it out for a bit, grab some fish and chips and then meet up with Billy and his dad. Billy's dad was in town from London visiting, so we decided to go watch another Manchester game with some Brits. I think I am quickly becoming a "Manc for life". We had a great time watching the game and listening to Billy's dad talk about the glory days of traveling, playing football and drinking pints until 6am with his mates. It's funny to hear the parallels between his stories and my own father's, even though they are from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Yesterday we had a barbecue at our friend Jose's new apartment. It was a great time and I got to spend some time with him and a few other friends that I hadn't seen lately. Definitely a great finish to a quick, but fun weekend. I'm looking forward to having him and his friends over for our Thanksgiving feast this weekend. Yours truly, the vegetarian, is in charge of cooking the turkey.
Friday I only have one class, so it feels like the weekend starts a bit early. I only had 6 students show up because of the swine flu. I would complain that no one came, but I guess I am going to consider myself lucky for not getting sick so far. Knock on wood. I had a football game - that's right you patriots, I am calling soccer, the original football, "football" - with the faculty team again this Friday and we won. I maintain my perfect record and killer rep with the students. They started calling me "portolazo", which means monster goalie. I'm honored. Little do they know, I am so nervous every time we play because there are 300 students watching us, especially me, being the foreigner. I thought I left this pressure back in high school...
Saturday I had a great ride with the UCA. We did 110 km again on the less hilly route. Less hilly, but super windy and one MONSTER hill. The first time I did this ride the hill almost killed me. Now, as I am getting used to maintaining a certain cadence and controlling my breathing, the rides are going much better for me. I was the first up the hill this time, which gave me the giddiest, most idiotic grin I have ever had. The best part about hill climbs is that there is usually an awesome descent on the other side, which there was in this case. It is a sweet series of curves and corners that I push 40 mph on. We also did a ton of "aflojando" which is where the peloton changes positions constantly to share the burden of breaking the head wind. It's a good skill to learn and made the ride much easier.
Later on Saturday I went back to Gib with the new English teacher, Dave the Canadian, to check it out for a bit, grab some fish and chips and then meet up with Billy and his dad. Billy's dad was in town from London visiting, so we decided to go watch another Manchester game with some Brits. I think I am quickly becoming a "Manc for life". We had a great time watching the game and listening to Billy's dad talk about the glory days of traveling, playing football and drinking pints until 6am with his mates. It's funny to hear the parallels between his stories and my own father's, even though they are from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Yesterday we had a barbecue at our friend Jose's new apartment. It was a great time and I got to spend some time with him and a few other friends that I hadn't seen lately. Definitely a great finish to a quick, but fun weekend. I'm looking forward to having him and his friends over for our Thanksgiving feast this weekend. Yours truly, the vegetarian, is in charge of cooking the turkey.
11/20/2009
I'm tired, but happy.
I have had a lot to do in the last few weeks. I have had guests nearly every weekend. This will be my first weekend without a friend here to hang out with, which may sound sad but it's kinda nice. This isn't to say that I haven't enjoyed my time with my friends, Matt, Sam, G, etc., because I really have. But, when you are around so many people all of the time its easy to get out of touch with yourself.
This week has been especially great for me. My classes and lessons went really well with the exception of two private lessons; the kids are a bit spoiled and less than enthused about having an English teacher after they get out of school. This is my biggest challenge at the moment, so I'm going to dedicate some time to it this weekend. Otherwise, I had a few "workshops" that I gave at the school on how to understand readings from context and expand vocabulary using various literary tools. I'm proud to say that I created the activities myself, and with the help of Mane, a fantastic prof at the institute, they went really well.
I didn't get a chance to really go for any bike rides this week other than the two 16km round trip rides that I take to get to a few private lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings. However, I'm not to worried because I am sure over 200km of riding is in store for me with the cycling team tomorrow and Sunday morning (For our less conversion savvy friends, that is around 135 miles). I need to keep up with Kevin's training so that we have a good cadence match-up next summer for our bike trip across Western Europe.
I really miss my family and friends, but in a way that I haven't before. I don't resent being here at all. In fact, I feel lucky knowing that everyone's got my back in whatever I do (within reason). Which is good, because I would do it anyway!!!
I've made a good friend in Xabier, a friend's roommate from the Basque Country of Spain. He's a really funny, honest guy that I can relate to. It's nice to have a guy friend here, because I have been surrounded by girls and was needing a bit of testoterone (haha, you know me, a true macho). Anyway, Xabi's taught me some cooking secrets, because in the Basque Country (El Pais Vasco), the men are in control of the kitchen. I think I may have found my future home. He's also promised to take us on a tour of his region during one of our breaks.
I really don't have many deep thoughts at the moment. Just keeping everyone in the loop and organizing my thoughts via my keyboard. Peace and love to all.
This week has been especially great for me. My classes and lessons went really well with the exception of two private lessons; the kids are a bit spoiled and less than enthused about having an English teacher after they get out of school. This is my biggest challenge at the moment, so I'm going to dedicate some time to it this weekend. Otherwise, I had a few "workshops" that I gave at the school on how to understand readings from context and expand vocabulary using various literary tools. I'm proud to say that I created the activities myself, and with the help of Mane, a fantastic prof at the institute, they went really well.
I didn't get a chance to really go for any bike rides this week other than the two 16km round trip rides that I take to get to a few private lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings. However, I'm not to worried because I am sure over 200km of riding is in store for me with the cycling team tomorrow and Sunday morning (For our less conversion savvy friends, that is around 135 miles). I need to keep up with Kevin's training so that we have a good cadence match-up next summer for our bike trip across Western Europe.
I really miss my family and friends, but in a way that I haven't before. I don't resent being here at all. In fact, I feel lucky knowing that everyone's got my back in whatever I do (within reason). Which is good, because I would do it anyway!!!
I've made a good friend in Xabier, a friend's roommate from the Basque Country of Spain. He's a really funny, honest guy that I can relate to. It's nice to have a guy friend here, because I have been surrounded by girls and was needing a bit of testoterone (haha, you know me, a true macho). Anyway, Xabi's taught me some cooking secrets, because in the Basque Country (El Pais Vasco), the men are in control of the kitchen. I think I may have found my future home. He's also promised to take us on a tour of his region during one of our breaks.
I really don't have many deep thoughts at the moment. Just keeping everyone in the loop and organizing my thoughts via my keyboard. Peace and love to all.
11/09/2009
An eventful week and a half or so.
Since my last entry, I've had quite the number of interesting experiences. So much so, that I haven't really had the time to organize my thoughts enough to write them down. So here we are...
Last weekend, I went with a few of my friends, Hannah, Meghan, Abby, Joaquin, and Billy, to Cadiz, to see the city and visit my friend Matt. He and I were roommates during orientation in Sevilla and became good friends pretty quickly; so quickly that it's hypothesized that we are dating. I'm pretty sure we're not. Either way, a visit was long overdue, especially because I had heard so much about Cadiz.
We left on Thursday night and stayed with Matt and his roommates until early Monday evening. The first night we went out with his Spanish roommate Sandra and a few of their friends from the city. I surprised myself as I am usually the grandpa in the group, and I was the only one to stay out and hang with the Spaniards all night, until 7 am. We had a great time, hanging out near the old city gates, on top of this ancient wall, having a drink. Later on, we went to a few dance clubs, which aren't my favorite, but I was in good company.
The weather was fantastic all weekend, staying near the low to mid 80s. We went to the beach every single day and went swimming, in November! I got a bit jealous of Matt's placement and apartment since it is so beautiful, in a city far more interesting than Algeciras and so near to the beach. But then I thought, I would probably not appreciate it so much if I lived there. Whether or not this is true, its put my jealousy to rest somewhat (haha).
The week that followed my trip to Cadiz went by so quickly. I returned on the 2nd, with enough time to lesson plan for my classes that were the following day and to call my mom to wish her a happy birthday. The week never slowed down, as I had three couch surfing requests for the weekend that was coming as well as Matt coming to visit Algeciras for the first time.
I got my first couch surfer on Thursday night. A Malaysian physics student, living in Manchester, who was hitchhiking from England to Morocco in order to raise money for juvenile cancer research. His name was "G" and was one of the coolest most interesting people I have ever met. He ended up staying with me for two nights and we hung out for the better part of his time here. He came out with our normal group of friends and everyone had a great time with him. I was a bit sad to see him go, but I plan on staying on his couch when I go to England.
Friday, two girls arrived on their way to Morocco, one from the US, one from England (Hannah and Bethany). We didn't get to know each other too well, since both nights they stayed with me, they were only here long enough to brush their teeth and sleep. Needless to say, they were both super nice and invited me to stay on their couches during my travel whenever I want.
The couch surfing experience has been awesome so far and I'm really glad I signed up. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it really is very safe and a great way to help out travelers and meet new people. A few blogs ago I said I felt like I wasn't really putting much back into the world at the moment. Couch surfing has given me a way to do that I feel. Helping people see new things, meet new people, expand their knowledge and understanding of other cultures. All of these things are so important to me and I am stoked that I can help people enjoy them for themselves.
My house has been quite full as Matt came to stay this weekend. So at one point, I had four guests staying in my house. You would think it might be a bit crowded, but I have two couches, a pull-out bed and a spare room at the moment; our roommate from Morocco is still MIA.
Anyway, I got to take my friends around the city, show them some of the nicer things, eat some great tapas and even go to Gibraltar. It was my first time in Gib, which is sad considering that it is 40 minutes away by bus, but I wanted to take Matt. We met our British friend Billy there to watch a Manchester United game and eat some legit fish and chips. I was pumped that I could have the fish, since it is all caught locally right here in the area! Billy said that it is better than fish and chips you'll get in England because its fresher. The game was a lot of fun and the Brits lived up to their reputation of being rowdy during football matches. I even got called a "Manc ****" because I was rooting for the Reds instead of Chelsea. I took it as a compliment. To top it off, we got to see an airplane take off from the Gib airport, which shuts down the road and uses part of it as the airstrip. Kendell had told me not to come on account of this savage fact, but I thought it was pretty cool...
Now I find myself lesson planning, wanting to give better lessons than I have lately. So, I'm spending a better part of the day trying to think of how to reach my students most effectively, which is tough considering there isn't a uniform level of English. Oh well, its a much needed challenge that I can use some of my free time on.
I have another visitor coming this weekend, my friend Sam, who I studied in Argentina with. He is on break from school in the Czech Republic and decided to come here. We're going to check out Gib again (I want to see monkeys and the other stuff there), Tarifa and Malaga and then he's taking off to Lisbon. It will be fun and makes me anticipate even more the other visitors that I have coming (Kevin, Annie, Mom, maybe more...).
A little side note, I went on my biggest ride yet with the cycling club. Over 100km on the biggest hills I've ever done. It was brutal, but rewarding. It's giving me a good challenge every weekend, as I have a TON to learn about road cycling. And so the adventure continues...
Last weekend, I went with a few of my friends, Hannah, Meghan, Abby, Joaquin, and Billy, to Cadiz, to see the city and visit my friend Matt. He and I were roommates during orientation in Sevilla and became good friends pretty quickly; so quickly that it's hypothesized that we are dating. I'm pretty sure we're not. Either way, a visit was long overdue, especially because I had heard so much about Cadiz.
We left on Thursday night and stayed with Matt and his roommates until early Monday evening. The first night we went out with his Spanish roommate Sandra and a few of their friends from the city. I surprised myself as I am usually the grandpa in the group, and I was the only one to stay out and hang with the Spaniards all night, until 7 am. We had a great time, hanging out near the old city gates, on top of this ancient wall, having a drink. Later on, we went to a few dance clubs, which aren't my favorite, but I was in good company.
The weather was fantastic all weekend, staying near the low to mid 80s. We went to the beach every single day and went swimming, in November! I got a bit jealous of Matt's placement and apartment since it is so beautiful, in a city far more interesting than Algeciras and so near to the beach. But then I thought, I would probably not appreciate it so much if I lived there. Whether or not this is true, its put my jealousy to rest somewhat (haha).
The week that followed my trip to Cadiz went by so quickly. I returned on the 2nd, with enough time to lesson plan for my classes that were the following day and to call my mom to wish her a happy birthday. The week never slowed down, as I had three couch surfing requests for the weekend that was coming as well as Matt coming to visit Algeciras for the first time.
I got my first couch surfer on Thursday night. A Malaysian physics student, living in Manchester, who was hitchhiking from England to Morocco in order to raise money for juvenile cancer research. His name was "G" and was one of the coolest most interesting people I have ever met. He ended up staying with me for two nights and we hung out for the better part of his time here. He came out with our normal group of friends and everyone had a great time with him. I was a bit sad to see him go, but I plan on staying on his couch when I go to England.
Friday, two girls arrived on their way to Morocco, one from the US, one from England (Hannah and Bethany). We didn't get to know each other too well, since both nights they stayed with me, they were only here long enough to brush their teeth and sleep. Needless to say, they were both super nice and invited me to stay on their couches during my travel whenever I want.
The couch surfing experience has been awesome so far and I'm really glad I signed up. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it really is very safe and a great way to help out travelers and meet new people. A few blogs ago I said I felt like I wasn't really putting much back into the world at the moment. Couch surfing has given me a way to do that I feel. Helping people see new things, meet new people, expand their knowledge and understanding of other cultures. All of these things are so important to me and I am stoked that I can help people enjoy them for themselves.
My house has been quite full as Matt came to stay this weekend. So at one point, I had four guests staying in my house. You would think it might be a bit crowded, but I have two couches, a pull-out bed and a spare room at the moment; our roommate from Morocco is still MIA.
Anyway, I got to take my friends around the city, show them some of the nicer things, eat some great tapas and even go to Gibraltar. It was my first time in Gib, which is sad considering that it is 40 minutes away by bus, but I wanted to take Matt. We met our British friend Billy there to watch a Manchester United game and eat some legit fish and chips. I was pumped that I could have the fish, since it is all caught locally right here in the area! Billy said that it is better than fish and chips you'll get in England because its fresher. The game was a lot of fun and the Brits lived up to their reputation of being rowdy during football matches. I even got called a "Manc ****" because I was rooting for the Reds instead of Chelsea. I took it as a compliment. To top it off, we got to see an airplane take off from the Gib airport, which shuts down the road and uses part of it as the airstrip. Kendell had told me not to come on account of this savage fact, but I thought it was pretty cool...
Now I find myself lesson planning, wanting to give better lessons than I have lately. So, I'm spending a better part of the day trying to think of how to reach my students most effectively, which is tough considering there isn't a uniform level of English. Oh well, its a much needed challenge that I can use some of my free time on.
I have another visitor coming this weekend, my friend Sam, who I studied in Argentina with. He is on break from school in the Czech Republic and decided to come here. We're going to check out Gib again (I want to see monkeys and the other stuff there), Tarifa and Malaga and then he's taking off to Lisbon. It will be fun and makes me anticipate even more the other visitors that I have coming (Kevin, Annie, Mom, maybe more...).
A little side note, I went on my biggest ride yet with the cycling club. Over 100km on the biggest hills I've ever done. It was brutal, but rewarding. It's giving me a good challenge every weekend, as I have a TON to learn about road cycling. And so the adventure continues...
10/27/2009
Support my internship in Argentina!
In the previous entry I had stated that I was looking for several ways to fund my internship in Argentina that will hopefully start next fall. However, I am having some difficulty finding grants and scholarships that are directed at college grads looking to volunteer/intern abroad. While I am keeping my hopes up and continuing my search for these kinds of funding, I want to reach out to my friends and family to help me in whatever way they can.
Ideally, I'd like to remotely set up fundraisers in Grand Rapids and possibly my hometown area (Sandusky) that would help to cover the program costs. This would be quite a process, but I feel like it is more than possible with some hard work and patience (from those of you that are daring enough to offer to help me). Whether the fundraiser be a silent auction at a place where people who would support sustainable development projects congregate (they exist, I'm thinking you know Uma!) or a concert with some of my musician friends, or whatever your brilliant minds come up with! Please, send the link to my blog to as many people as you feel may be interested. I will be soon putting up a "Donate Now" link by which people will be able to make monetary contributions to this project.
I'd like to set any concerns about how the money will be used to rest by quoting the following information from the FSD's website:
Specifically, FSD program fees go directly to funding a participant's expenses:
1. Pre-Departure Support
2. Room and board
3. Transportation to and from the airport, as well as to and from FSD sponsored events, and to and from the
host organization while in-country
4. In-Country Support, including ongoing trainings (see http://www.fsdinternational.org/whyfsd/devtraining)
5. Program Maintenance and Growth, including legal and logistical costs
6. Access to FSD’s grant funds to implement project work
7. Health Insurance
8. Safety and Security Infrastructure (for example, our programs in Kenya needed to be evacuated in January
due to political turmoil).
9. Re-entry support through FSD’s AlumniConnect Program
It is these fees that the host organizations cannot afford to pay. FSD makes every effort to ensure that these
costs are minimized, thereby allowing a maximum number of participants to travel abroad. By funding his/her
trip, a participant benefits a host organization most effectively while gaining meaningful, hands-on international
development experience.
So, as you can see, this money will not go to me to spend as I please. All of it is well-allocated as per a system developed by the FSD that is true to their motto of supporting community based organizations in developing nations at minimal to no-cost to them.
Please, feel free to send or post as a comment any ideas that you may have for me to fundraise the nearly $15,000 that I will need. Thank you so much for reading and pass it on!
Ideally, I'd like to remotely set up fundraisers in Grand Rapids and possibly my hometown area (Sandusky) that would help to cover the program costs. This would be quite a process, but I feel like it is more than possible with some hard work and patience (from those of you that are daring enough to offer to help me). Whether the fundraiser be a silent auction at a place where people who would support sustainable development projects congregate (they exist, I'm thinking you know Uma!) or a concert with some of my musician friends, or whatever your brilliant minds come up with! Please, send the link to my blog to as many people as you feel may be interested. I will be soon putting up a "Donate Now" link by which people will be able to make monetary contributions to this project.
I'd like to set any concerns about how the money will be used to rest by quoting the following information from the FSD's website:
Specifically, FSD program fees go directly to funding a participant's expenses:
1. Pre-Departure Support
2. Room and board
3. Transportation to and from the airport, as well as to and from FSD sponsored events, and to and from the
host organization while in-country
4. In-Country Support, including ongoing trainings (see http://www.fsdinternational.org/whyfsd/devtraining)
5. Program Maintenance and Growth, including legal and logistical costs
6. Access to FSD’s grant funds to implement project work
7. Health Insurance
8. Safety and Security Infrastructure (for example, our programs in Kenya needed to be evacuated in January
due to political turmoil).
9. Re-entry support through FSD’s AlumniConnect Program
It is these fees that the host organizations cannot afford to pay. FSD makes every effort to ensure that these
costs are minimized, thereby allowing a maximum number of participants to travel abroad. By funding his/her
trip, a participant benefits a host organization most effectively while gaining meaningful, hands-on international
development experience.
So, as you can see, this money will not go to me to spend as I please. All of it is well-allocated as per a system developed by the FSD that is true to their motto of supporting community based organizations in developing nations at minimal to no-cost to them.
Please, feel free to send or post as a comment any ideas that you may have for me to fundraise the nearly $15,000 that I will need. Thank you so much for reading and pass it on!
10/22/2009
New, big things! New, big challenges...
So, two days ago I called the office of the Foundation for Sustainable Development in San Francisco. I wanted to know how far along in the process of reviewing applications they were, especially since it had already taken a week longer than I was originally told (2 weeks). The delay in the processing of my application caused me to send in my Fulbright grant application without a letter stating that I had been accepted by the FSD. I felt like this may hurt the viability of my application a bit; however, I am going to keep my hopes up (especially since it would cover the expenses of the program).
I was getting a bit ahead of myself though, as I had not even been accepted yet. But, my impatient phone call to the FSD office allowed me to hear the news that I wanted: that I had been accepted to their Microfinance/Community Development program in Rio de La Plata, Argentina!!! They originally thought I wanted to start in January of this year, but obviously that won't work with me being in Spain until June of 2010. So after a bit of talking, I have been able to defer my application, which means I just tell them when I want to start my program.
At the moment, I am signed up for a 9-month program (starting in September) that would allow me to go home for the summer, save some money, go to Argentina and return summer of 2011 to do the same for my next adventure. Just to touch briefly on this: my dream school is the Institute of Social Studies in the Haag, in the Netherlands. Ideally, I would start my studies there for my Master's in Fall 2011. But, first things first. Argentina.
I need to start figuring out how to fund this internship with the FSD. As of right now, my program fee is $10,000, which includes insurance, housing, food and money for my own seed grants (money that funds my development projects). I am figuring about $1200 for the flight, and another $3000 for miscellaneous expenses. All in all, nearly $15,000. If I were to win the Fulbright it would cover absolutely everything, although I would start six-months later than my ideal time. This has prompted me to search for other grants and scholarships to help defray the costs that are about to swallow me. If anyone reading this has any fundraising ideas, please, feel free to let me know. I am able to get tax-exempt status for all donations, etc. because the money goes to a non-profit agency.
It's nice to know that all I have to worry about is money now. I feel like getting into the FSD's Argentina program was really a huge stepping stone to my long-term, life goals. As a product of the social welfare system of the United States, I know that I have been given many opportunities that have helped me better my situation and ultimately quality of life. I feel like my passion is being able to do that for people much less fortunate than myself, in an area that is under-served by professionals (in which I happen to speak the language). Sustainable community development (social and economic) has been the part of my studies that has grabbed my attention from since before I even knew what it was called.
I'm going to place links to the two programs I'll be working with so all who are interested can check it out. Take care and until next time!
http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/argentina/cdopps
http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/argentina/mfopps
I was getting a bit ahead of myself though, as I had not even been accepted yet. But, my impatient phone call to the FSD office allowed me to hear the news that I wanted: that I had been accepted to their Microfinance/Community Development program in Rio de La Plata, Argentina!!! They originally thought I wanted to start in January of this year, but obviously that won't work with me being in Spain until June of 2010. So after a bit of talking, I have been able to defer my application, which means I just tell them when I want to start my program.
At the moment, I am signed up for a 9-month program (starting in September) that would allow me to go home for the summer, save some money, go to Argentina and return summer of 2011 to do the same for my next adventure. Just to touch briefly on this: my dream school is the Institute of Social Studies in the Haag, in the Netherlands. Ideally, I would start my studies there for my Master's in Fall 2011. But, first things first. Argentina.
I need to start figuring out how to fund this internship with the FSD. As of right now, my program fee is $10,000, which includes insurance, housing, food and money for my own seed grants (money that funds my development projects). I am figuring about $1200 for the flight, and another $3000 for miscellaneous expenses. All in all, nearly $15,000. If I were to win the Fulbright it would cover absolutely everything, although I would start six-months later than my ideal time. This has prompted me to search for other grants and scholarships to help defray the costs that are about to swallow me. If anyone reading this has any fundraising ideas, please, feel free to let me know. I am able to get tax-exempt status for all donations, etc. because the money goes to a non-profit agency.
It's nice to know that all I have to worry about is money now. I feel like getting into the FSD's Argentina program was really a huge stepping stone to my long-term, life goals. As a product of the social welfare system of the United States, I know that I have been given many opportunities that have helped me better my situation and ultimately quality of life. I feel like my passion is being able to do that for people much less fortunate than myself, in an area that is under-served by professionals (in which I happen to speak the language). Sustainable community development (social and economic) has been the part of my studies that has grabbed my attention from since before I even knew what it was called.
I'm going to place links to the two programs I'll be working with so all who are interested can check it out. Take care and until next time!
http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/argentina/cdopps
http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/argentina/mfopps
10/19/2009
Food for thought.
Yesterday I was having a rough day for some reason, but it got better. My friend invited me over for dinner and some Arrested Development because I had told her I was feeling down. I instantly felt better knowing that someone was concerned about my well-being and would take time out of their day to help me.
I came to a realization that this happens a lot to me in my life. People ask me how I am, and on the off chance I will complain or tell them my current woe. It seems like rather than the traditional "Oh, I'm sorry" or "That sucks", that I am fortunate enough to have people who take my happiness into account and make an effort to help me. Many who read this are these same people, whether you have helped me by lending an ear, putting me in my place, monetarily or whatever it may be.
This is a very fortunate situation to be in, but it presents another problem (outside of being dependent upon others): I feel that I receive so much in my life, whether it be love, help, advice, etc., but I don't feel myself overtly putting back into that cycle. Is this something that I (or we) do subconsciously, overtly or a combination of both? I thought about this and realized that every day I want to make an effort to give, to contribute in whatever way possible, because I feel like I am part of such a wonderful "cycle" that I want to do whatever I can to keep it going and help it expand.
Think about this today, about what you receive, who you receive it from, their intent, etc. and also about how you contribute to that. I feel like many of us will be surprised to find much more than we expect or notice on a day-to-day basis.
I came to a realization that this happens a lot to me in my life. People ask me how I am, and on the off chance I will complain or tell them my current woe. It seems like rather than the traditional "Oh, I'm sorry" or "That sucks", that I am fortunate enough to have people who take my happiness into account and make an effort to help me. Many who read this are these same people, whether you have helped me by lending an ear, putting me in my place, monetarily or whatever it may be.
This is a very fortunate situation to be in, but it presents another problem (outside of being dependent upon others): I feel that I receive so much in my life, whether it be love, help, advice, etc., but I don't feel myself overtly putting back into that cycle. Is this something that I (or we) do subconsciously, overtly or a combination of both? I thought about this and realized that every day I want to make an effort to give, to contribute in whatever way possible, because I feel like I am part of such a wonderful "cycle" that I want to do whatever I can to keep it going and help it expand.
Think about this today, about what you receive, who you receive it from, their intent, etc. and also about how you contribute to that. I feel like many of us will be surprised to find much more than we expect or notice on a day-to-day basis.
10/18/2009
Newness. Follow me here from now on.
So, I've decided to stop using my Photoblog website for good now. They now charge for more than 5 photos, which to me is a bit absurd; you can still check out old photos if you are interested though. So, on here you can find my Flickr account linked and I'll be posting much more frequently since photos aren't a necessity here. I'm going to try and keep this blog as friendly for all audiences as possible...although, I shall make no promises.
I'm thinking that I need to stop drinking coffee, or at least crappy store-brand instant coffee. I get this terrible anxious stomach/chest thing that just refuses to go away. So, as soon as that first paycheck comes, I'm going to run out to the store and buy some good coffee. This is pertinent information because I am one of those sad cases of caffeine addiction (at least one good cup in the AM). I am happy to say that I have made improvements in this area with my (somewhat new, 4 months back) morning yoga/PT stretch ritual.
The rest of my diet is pretty limited right now too, due to financial constraints...which shall be remedied very soon. My menu has consisted of toast (made in a frying pan), cereal, couscous, pasta, fruit and eggs. This doesn't sound too bad to your average person, but I love to cook and am such a foodie that I am finding myself a bit bored. Oh well, I could have worse problems.
I'll be starting my third week at Kursaal (my school) on Tuesday, and I have to say that I really like it. It is much more laid back than what I am used to, in terms of both school and work. I work approximately 14 hours a week for them, doing conversation with teachers learning English, giving lessons to bilingual classrooms (computer science and natural sciences) and writing out lesson plans. The staff is incredibly friendly and has offered me everything from dinner, to vacations with them and family, to you name it.
I'm also starting to fill up my schedule (a whopping 30 hours) with private lessons. I currently have two 5 year old cousins, another 5 year old, a 3 year old, a 22 year old and a 30 something for students. Within a week I hope to have a full schedule. I'm finding it a bit difficult to give lessons as effectively as I'd like to the young kids...but it's a challenge that I really need and enjoy. These lessons are allowing me to survive week to week here as I am paid as soon as the lesson finishes. After I receive my first paycheck from the school and have my private lesson schedule full, I expect to make enough money to go on nearly every trip I had planned before coming to Spain: Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, France, England, Belgium, Netherlands and Morocco. For some reason, Italy and Greece aren't appealing to me at the moment, but who knows.
I have so much free time here it is a bit disorienting. I was working between 55 and 80 hours a week this summer in order to get to Spain, and now I am working 25. It's nice to have the time to read and relax, but I'm such a busy body its a bit unnerving. I've taken up French classes at my school and plan on studying that, as well as keeping my German studies going to keep me busy in the meantime. I'll get to use them when I go and visit Ben for Christmas vacation. That will be my first big trip throughout Europe and at the moment the planning is still in the works. I'm also waiting to hear back from the Foundation for Sustainable Development on my acceptance into their program in Argentina. I feel like my chances are really good, now I just have to see if I win the Fulbright to help fund it. If not, I will be asking everyone, including YOU, the person reading this to help me fund it. If the time comes, I'll include details that will make you feel like a bad person for not helping :P
And, of course, I am riding my bicycle an insane amount. This is great because I am getting to know the city, staying active and becoming all the hipster I can be. I'm a trackstand master now, I can even keep one going without hands...a truly useful skill, ha. I need to keep taking long trips like this last one to Tarifa in order to get in shape for my epic ride with Kevawn next summer. I won't even explain that right now since I'll probably get too excited...or jinx myself and break my arm the week before.
I'm a bit homesick at this point, but not the kind that ruins my time here. I was really part of a great community/vibe in Grand Rapids. I enjoyed the work I was doing, the people I was working with, the bicycle and art community, my awesome friends and of course my family. I had never felt so part of something before, and it has truly been difficult to leave that behind. But, I know this is really going to help me get to where I want to be, i.e. The ISS in the Netherlands, to get the job that will help me do what I want with my life. So for all you haters, forgive me for jumping town, but I had to! I just hope to make some friendships like those I had in the GR, although its hard to say if that's possible. I'll be back soon. Peace, love and blessings.
I'm thinking that I need to stop drinking coffee, or at least crappy store-brand instant coffee. I get this terrible anxious stomach/chest thing that just refuses to go away. So, as soon as that first paycheck comes, I'm going to run out to the store and buy some good coffee. This is pertinent information because I am one of those sad cases of caffeine addiction (at least one good cup in the AM). I am happy to say that I have made improvements in this area with my (somewhat new, 4 months back) morning yoga/PT stretch ritual.
The rest of my diet is pretty limited right now too, due to financial constraints...which shall be remedied very soon. My menu has consisted of toast (made in a frying pan), cereal, couscous, pasta, fruit and eggs. This doesn't sound too bad to your average person, but I love to cook and am such a foodie that I am finding myself a bit bored. Oh well, I could have worse problems.
I'll be starting my third week at Kursaal (my school) on Tuesday, and I have to say that I really like it. It is much more laid back than what I am used to, in terms of both school and work. I work approximately 14 hours a week for them, doing conversation with teachers learning English, giving lessons to bilingual classrooms (computer science and natural sciences) and writing out lesson plans. The staff is incredibly friendly and has offered me everything from dinner, to vacations with them and family, to you name it.
I'm also starting to fill up my schedule (a whopping 30 hours) with private lessons. I currently have two 5 year old cousins, another 5 year old, a 3 year old, a 22 year old and a 30 something for students. Within a week I hope to have a full schedule. I'm finding it a bit difficult to give lessons as effectively as I'd like to the young kids...but it's a challenge that I really need and enjoy. These lessons are allowing me to survive week to week here as I am paid as soon as the lesson finishes. After I receive my first paycheck from the school and have my private lesson schedule full, I expect to make enough money to go on nearly every trip I had planned before coming to Spain: Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, France, England, Belgium, Netherlands and Morocco. For some reason, Italy and Greece aren't appealing to me at the moment, but who knows.
I have so much free time here it is a bit disorienting. I was working between 55 and 80 hours a week this summer in order to get to Spain, and now I am working 25. It's nice to have the time to read and relax, but I'm such a busy body its a bit unnerving. I've taken up French classes at my school and plan on studying that, as well as keeping my German studies going to keep me busy in the meantime. I'll get to use them when I go and visit Ben for Christmas vacation. That will be my first big trip throughout Europe and at the moment the planning is still in the works. I'm also waiting to hear back from the Foundation for Sustainable Development on my acceptance into their program in Argentina. I feel like my chances are really good, now I just have to see if I win the Fulbright to help fund it. If not, I will be asking everyone, including YOU, the person reading this to help me fund it. If the time comes, I'll include details that will make you feel like a bad person for not helping :P
And, of course, I am riding my bicycle an insane amount. This is great because I am getting to know the city, staying active and becoming all the hipster I can be. I'm a trackstand master now, I can even keep one going without hands...a truly useful skill, ha. I need to keep taking long trips like this last one to Tarifa in order to get in shape for my epic ride with Kevawn next summer. I won't even explain that right now since I'll probably get too excited...or jinx myself and break my arm the week before.
I'm a bit homesick at this point, but not the kind that ruins my time here. I was really part of a great community/vibe in Grand Rapids. I enjoyed the work I was doing, the people I was working with, the bicycle and art community, my awesome friends and of course my family. I had never felt so part of something before, and it has truly been difficult to leave that behind. But, I know this is really going to help me get to where I want to be, i.e. The ISS in the Netherlands, to get the job that will help me do what I want with my life. So for all you haters, forgive me for jumping town, but I had to! I just hope to make some friendships like those I had in the GR, although its hard to say if that's possible. I'll be back soon. Peace, love and blessings.
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