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.
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