Kaixo!

Kaixo!

That's Hello in Basque... I'm glad I don't have to learn that language. Here's a few other phrases in Basque:

Eskerrik Asko- Thank You

Ez Dut Ulertzen- I don't understand

Bi Garagardo Mesedez- Two beers please

Ingelesez hitz Eligen Al Duzu- Do you speak English?

Aizu- Excuse Me

Aio- Goodbye

Thought I'd Blog since I just got home from a WONDERFUL weekend up north in the Basque country (speaking of basque). I went to 'La Rioja' and stayed in a very (VERY) modest little hostel type thing. I was there for 4 days hiking and taking pictures and talking doing the whole tourist thing. When people asked me where I was from, and I said I was 'from Valencia'. I don't really know why, but I decided it would be fun to try out. I have come to the conclusion that the whole foreign exchange thing is a better conversation starter. These are my two conversation options:

CONVERSATION ONE:

"Hi, I'm blah, Whats your name?" "Hi Blah, I'm Jane. Where are you from?" "I'm from Blah, Where are you from?" "I'm from Valencia." "Oh, Cool." "Yeah." "Ok, well I have a prior commitment I have to attend. Have a nice Day Jane!" "Thanks Blah. See you later!" END OF CONVERSATION OPTION ONE.

CONVERSATION TWO:

"Hi I'm Blah. What's your name?" "Hi, I'm Jane. Where are you from?" "I'm from Blah, Where are you from?" "I'm from the United States. I'm a foreign Exchange student in Valencia." "Oh my god! That's so cool! Have you ever been to New york?" "Oh yeah!!! It's Great! I met a whole bunch of famous people!" "Oh my god that's amazing! Like who?" "Oh you know, the usssee. Zac Efron, Brittany Spears, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise. My dad has an apartment in Manhattan!" "Oh my god! Were gonna be best friends so I can come visit you in the United States!" "That's wonderful! So, do you want to go to a nice cafe and discuss movies and music with me?" "Of course, Lets Go!" JUST THE BEGINNING OF CONVERSATION TWO!

Those are just example. I didn't actually tell people I knew famous people. I want to try it though because it would be good spanish practice and it would be fun to be famous for a little. Plus they really like Zac Efron over here so maybe I would win a few popularity points. I decided that I would use conversation one if I was in a hurry or feeling a little quiet or something, and conversation two if lets say a talldark'nhandsome type approached. or something of the sort. I don't know.

Anyway, back to La Rioja. The actual place was wonderful. The driving, on the other hand, was tremendously uncomfortable. The whole way there I felt like I was gonna puke. It was the most uncomfortable situation ever. Listen. 5 person car, 5 people, 6 hours, mountains (high altitude), Stick shift, smelly food in car, iPod low battery. Holy crap could not have been worse. My ears were dying, I couldn't sleep, and I felt like I was on a roller coaster that smelled like ham and cheese. (Mom, I know you know what i mean.)

But it was all worth it when I got there. GORGEOUS! It was like the movies, you know? Small little pueblos that are all old and close together which cool things like castles and old churches. It was even better because it was raining so it was REALLY like a movie. I was speechless.

I'm not entirely sure why we went up there, i think it was just to see old churches and cities and things like that. I know we stayed in a pueblo called Soto and a pueblo called Matute, but the other names have slipped my mind. That keeps happening.

That's pretty much what everything looked like. I'm almost jealous of myself..... I want to live in a small pueblo in the mountains!!

One cool little fact, I visited this cool little town, and I was informed that in the olden days, they would close the doors to the city at night so no one could leave or get in. How crazy is that!! I thought that didn't really exist the whole 'closing the doors to the city' thing. Here's a picture: Above the door, there's a picture of Jesus. How old and religious is that?

Also while I was there, a few weird things happened. #1 I whipped out my sketch book while we were there because my friend wanted to to draw her, so I did, but at the end of the trip my other friend (who also wanted me to draw her, but I didn't have time) was looking through my other pictures and saying which ones she liked etc. etc. When she cam across my newest one which was a picture of myself and my friend Maria. Then she said something that I understood to be "I really like this one, Will you draw me like that?" So of course i said "of course!" So then she gets all happy and stuff, and tears out the picture from my book! I quickly realized that she had asked me if she could have the drawing, whch is a little sucky because I really liked it myself. But I got over it quickly because now my art is worldwide. YES!

#2 At the spanish chinese buffet I went to, I went all amercian on everyone without thinking. You know how we sometimes eat french fries with milkshakes? Well, I ate my icecream with my leftover fries. I got so many weird looks.... In my head I was like "There are frog legs on your plate, and you think I'M weird...." OH YEAH!!! There were frog legs. Gross.

SCHOOL!

UGH!

SO HARD!

So guess what I did? I got out of 3 classes of English AND Dibujo Tecnico to have free hours to do homework. How awesome is that? Really really awesome is the answer.

Well I should wrap it up because I have to read "Invitacion A La Filosofia", but before I go I promised to make a few shout outs:

AMBRA is my friend from Italy who lives next door. It's actually worked out really well because I always have a friend, and her family has a cat so sometimes I like to go visit it. I'm making her an american breakfast on Saturday. I'm secretly super excited.

NORA PEDERSON is #11 on my list of things I miss.

Ok that's all.

OH WAIT! Dad, look at this cool teeter totter I saw! I know you like teeter totters so I thought of you when I saw it.

OK that's really all. Hope all is well. Here's a cool Museum AND some popular spanish music:

Eskerrik Asko

Aio!

Jane

Four most heard songs on the radio.

They all suck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3S4dBk4E1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moD5UE1wtf0&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPpmbhOK3xQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE9IchvpOPk