the beginning of the end

I guess i would say the way way beginning of the end started with my sister. The lovely lady come to visit me in spain if yall didnt already know that. After a small mix up at the airport (which involved me getting mixed up with the gate number) we went home and WENT TO THE BEACH.

What a great welcomer i am. I honestly don't know how to sum up such a trip. We definitely got a little special attention for our height, and there were even a few people who went as far as to ASK how tall we were. Those idiots.... how shameful. Anyway, things we did. Went to the beach, slept, watched friends, went out to eat, went the the beach, went out, walked around the city. You get the picture. I'm not the best tour guide since i also need a tour person to tell me what i'm looking at, and quite possibly a map to get around. I could be looking right at some extremely famous, religious sanctuary where an old and important person is buried and pass by it saying.... oh, and this is ANOTHER church without thinking twice. But i don't think she particularly cared. (if you did sorry) i guess i wouldnt really want to walk around a bunch of old churches that look exactly the same on my vacation in spain, so i just kinda took that concept and ran with it. We ended up on the beach 2 times... once for the whole day, spent a lot of money on needless items, ate a lot of crap and did very little boring things.... although i did take her to class one day. I guess you could call that boring, since i actually had to pay attention a little bit since it was finals week (yes i had 2 finals when nora was here.... PASSED BOTH OF THEM.... not with flying colors though) but i managed to dip out early a few days, and skipped the friday entirely. School was as cool as i thought. I mean they were impressed with the whole height thing, and the class got into a class discussion about if i did or did not look alike (i think the final decision was that no, we look nothing alike) To sum things up, we ended up spending a lot of time with the rather tall, very nice, Argentinian boyfriend of mine named Nicolas (that i'm sure you all know about from my mom) which may have been a subconscious way for me to feel really short for once in my life. We went out with 2 swedish people, although i dont think that was fair because swedish people are all really pretty, and me and nora were putting on quite the circus with our largeness. But those are just little details compared to the awesomeness of the zoo we went to. It's called 'oceanografico' if you'd like to look it up, and it was probably he best thing that ever happened to me. First of all, its a LOT of money to get in, but guess what. For once in my life it was worth it. The shark place was awesome... nora says its like the one in the mall of america, but it was a new experience for me.... there was a tunnel with shark or all shapes and sizes swimming above you. And after, we payed a visit to walruses who were extremely difficult to get a picture of, but enjoyed bouncing of the walls of their tank.

After that and feeling a little hungry, we went to the fancy zoo restaurant which had a fish tank as a wall, so there'd be fish swimming around while you ate. Well turns out i'm going to have to kill everyone that works there... talk about expensive food and bad service. We sat there for 20 minutes (exaggeration) waiting for MENUS ONLY. Once they figured out to deal with an immense amount of about 5 customers int he whole restaurant, things started to go a little smoother. After the initial shock of the food prices, i settled on a nice pasta, and nora got a salad. They of course took our order after a very 'reasonable' decision making time of half an hour. Right after ordering, a group of business men came in for a meal and a chat (i never did understand that... why to business men bust all their money of 8 course meals and then complain that they dont get paid enough) They ended up getting their food before us, and being offered things like nice bread and stuff. Upon getting my food i had had enough. i got served but 2 large round noodle, half filled with pesto. It might have been enough food for an infant of 2 year, but i doubt it. i decided to show them whos boss, and went the unfancy way and ate the whole thing in 3 or 4 minutes to show them that normal people can eat more than 4 bites. After paying an unreasonable bill which included a hefty price for the bread which is normally free if offered without saying anything, we left. The idiots.

To lift the spirits, we took a trip to the dolphin show. normally having to pay to get in (a whole 15 euros) we just walked right up there without paying and no one said anything. I think thats good karma. The show really gives the minnesota zoo a run for it's money. I'd just like to give valencia kudos for having a profesional diving/dancing squad there to make the dolphin jumping just THAT much more exciting. Not the mention the dolphin trainers all look like sims... i enjoyed imagining the show as a computer game. But i think i have to give the most credit to the amazingly pumped up crowd who started a dancing mob in the middle of the audience. I never knew a dolphin show could be so emotional. The last stop was at the sea lions (i think thats what they were) They we hilarious. and cranky. There was obviously a couple with a bunch of kids. The dad was the ugliest thing id ever seen, but the little chillin were adorable. Theyd yell at each other if one would wake up another one. There was one little guy who was sleeping standing up, and he just sorta fell backwards every once in a while (considering these creatures dont have bones basically) He was funny. We gave them all names. And that basically ends the trip.

When she left i was suddenly faced with the next day: the 23rd of may. 23RD OF MAY ALREADY. The last time i'd really cared about the date was christmas, but it hit me hard that i really only had a month left. It was sad, and i started think of all the things i had to do. There are a lot.
Now a days, maybe since its so nice outside all the time, or maybe because i now have zero percent mental focus capacity, i spend my days reading books in class or coloring in my text books. I still do the homework and go to school and take tests, but i have to admit that i'm not 'giving it my all' as they would say. I know some of you are all like... it would be such a proud moment to pass all your classes blah blah blah, but honestly id rather pass a few fail a few and still have time to do and see things before i return home. i mean i guess i'd rather like to say, 'oh, and i wen to madrid for the weekend and saw a bunch of cool stuff' than 'oh, i passed my biology test. Go me!' I mean, what are you going to remember for longer, passing a chemistry test or traveling around wherever? If you say chemistry, you're stupid. Anyway, this is my latest project:

I'd actually like to take a moment to talk about the politics here in spain: It's actually pretty complicated, but i've become pretty interested in it, so bare with me. So basically my knowledge on the subject started when my sister came here and we went to the demonstration thing in the city where everyone was sitting down on the ground in the middle of the 'plaza del ayuntamiento' protesting against the spanish politics in general i think. Everyone that i've talked to has given me a different reason as to why they are protesting, so i just going to sum up that everyone it pretty upset. Anyway, what the world is calling it is the 'Spanish revolution' or '15-M' (may 15th which was when it all started.... election day was the 22nd) As says the internet, the people (both democratic and republican) are generally protesting against the politicians, the fact that there are only 2 main parties (PP and PSOE), the immense amount of corruption here in spain (mostly in the south and in valencia), and for the general respect of the basic rights of the people. (they deserve the right to know whats going on, to get an education, to work, to their own culture and mostly to participate in the politics.) There have been a lot of camping out around government buildings and protesting and talking to people on the streets etc etc. The night before elections it was crazy, but the next day when the same people won all over again, you could tell there was a general disappointment about the country. There are still people camped out on the streets all over the place. People have tents up, signs, and it's actually very well organized. They provide food and water for the people who stay there adn live in peace and harmony. The last time i passed by where people are sleeping, it was sort of converting into more of a hippy site, but i guess it stikes me as interesting anyway. They are trying to show that tehy don't agree with what's going on and that the politicians need to recognize that.

Thats all for now....

Pascuas/ Semana Santa

For those who have not found out 'through the grapevine' i took a little trip during my vacation. We had a 2 week (almost) break at the way end of april for easter (i know.... we only get 2 days.... i live in a very religious country) and i decided to take advantage of the time and the continent that i have/live in. I do not regret a single thing, except for a few small mistakes i made in the rode. That is only to be expected when traveling alone and having no way of communication. That being said, the communication problems i have and will have in the future are no longer 'problems'.... they are just normal things that i have figured about to get my way around. My communication problems are comparable to vision problems, you just have to try a little hard and pay a little more attention to the little hints around you and you're just fine. I've learned to read facial and hand expressions so well that it's scary. That is a warning. If you want to try to talk about me behind my back, I WILL KNOW. Anyway, my trip went something like this:
First i went to italy. It sounds like a simple concept, but it turned out to be a little more difficult and annoying than i thought. The plane was fine except it was really small and it was really weird because you go to pick your seats.... that had never happened to me before, but whatever. i decided to sit next to a nice looking lady, but it turns out she was cranky and didn't appreciate the amount i was moving. But it was all worth it when i saw Ambra. That was an awwww moment if i've ever seen one. Very hollywood in the airport hugging and everything. It was really easy to just go back with her.... we get along very well.

On the way home, her family took me to a pizza place to eat, and even though there was a language barrier, it didn't seem to get in the way much. Their house and neighborhood is wonderful. Their house has a certain charm to it. Everything flows together quite nicely. Their kitchen has an interesting ceiling that slopes down really low, so i hit me head quite a number of times getting snacks and things from the kitchen. I actually hit a lot of things in their house..... Ambra had a really annoying light in her room right above my bed to every morning i stood up and hit my head. It was always right in my blind spot so i would also just run into it if i was walking across the room or getting dressed or something. You could always hear when i hit my head on that lamp. Whenever it happened i could hear people in the other room giggling. The other time i ran into the bathroom door. i was a little disoriented from sleepiness and it was early in the morning and everything was dark, so i though the darkness of the door what just the darkness of the bathroom, so i kinda just walked right into it. That one kind of hurt. I'm sure there were more times, but it might be best not to share everything.
Anyway, i went to rome with their family for 2 days. It was amazing.... i love how when i think of rome, i always think of mary kate and ashely but really it's so much more. The Olson twins really ruined the whole historial aspect rome's got going on. I saw columns from ancient Egypt apparently brought over my Caesar. And the coliseum where actual gladiators fought adn famous sites like the fountain and saint peters church which was supposedly the first catholic church WHICH CONTAINS MICHAELANGELO'S PAINTING which i didnt actually get to see, but just the knowledge that i was near it impresses me. Literally around every corner there's something at least 800 years old, and it was just really impressive. Having commented ont the historical aspect, theres actually a lot of new stuff going on as well. Theres a lot of street artists and new little cool hipster neighborhood s going on as well. There was this really cool and funny and awesome artist there who did a bunch or street art. Not like graffiti, but just little clever things. I think he was crazy, but thats ok.

column from egypt





cool street artist

cool street artist

Returning from rome, we went by florence just for the day. (it's really cool to say i 'stopped by florence on the way home') THAT was an artsy city. i guess it was only to be expected since a bunch of really famous artist were born there. I think my favorite part was all the really expensive shops on the bridge. That would be a very expensive bridge collapse.... I don't really know how to sum this all up. Italy is amazing and old and historical and has yummy food. It's way more than pizza, pasta, the mafia and super mario. I promise.

expensive stores on a bridge

Back at the house, we didn't really do so many super exciting things, although i had just as good of a time there as i did exploring rome. That says something about good company. One night, we went to go see a group of gypsys play music. It was amazing. That was probably one of the best live concerts ive seen in a while. His name was Goran Bregović, and i'm pretty sure he sings in his own language, although i am ignorant to what he is actually speaking. Anyway, here's a link:

Good Music

The last night there, i spent trying to figure out my train tickets (not an easy or fun task having to speak to a german train company) and making friends with their cat manon. He was cute.
THEN I WENT TO AUSTRIA. The train ride there was a little more than notable. I feel like i could write an entire book about my train ride there. Well it all started when i got to the train platform. I was saying goodbye to ambra, and there was an older man watching us and giggling to himself. I was at first annoyed because he was kind of a mood killer, but i tolerated it and continued saying my goodbyes. When i finally go on the train, this man offered to help me with my suitcase which i readily accepted since the first time i tried to put it up on the rack, it almost fell and killed someone. So once that was all said and done, i awkwardly looked of a seat seeing as the only one left was next to the older man that had helped me. He seemed a little more than content to have me sit next to him, which was annoying and kind of creepy. Anyway, staying away from all little details, and avoiding freaking you all out, he decided to do his little flirting thing which i obviously ignored, trying ot do everything in my power to seem unattractive and annoying (listen to music really loud while air drumming, sniffing and blowing nose loudly, reading a philosophy book, calling people on the phone, coughing on him, moving around a lot...) which didn't quite work out. turns out you need to be very direct with the italian grandpas. So after a while when i thought he had given up, he asked if i was married and if he could have my number. I dont know exactly what he was thinking considering the fact i was reading a high school philosophy text book, dont look any older than 18 or 19, and obviously a lot younger than him, but i decided to be as clear as i could just saying 'no' like they teach us in kindergarten, but even then he persisted by asking why, and when i didn't answer, he offered a few posible reasons as to why i wouldn't give him my number. The best one was: if i were dating 'that girl i was hugging' (asking if i were a lesbian) as if that was the only reasonable explanation as to why i wouldn't want to date a man 50 years my senior. Anyway, after a firm 'no please leave me alone' he left. Just as a side note, i was sitting next to a young mother and her child, 2 grandmas and a group of bicyclists so no harm could have been done. Please dont worry about me.
Anyway, once he got off, a middle age African woman came one. She was traditionally dressed from nigeria, very pleasant and spoke english. She was very interested in my travels, and shortly after all of my plans had been told and we had made friends, she took her opportunity to slip me a Christianity pamphlet. Somehow i knew deep down that it would end in a religious discussion. Anyway, after she thought she had converted me to the catholic church and pushing me to get reconciled, she had to leave as well, leaving me awkwardly with the grandmas and the young mother and her child. Teh young mom and i ended up bonding a little as she had though that the old guy was my boyfriend or something, but when i told her what had actaully happened, she seemed very relived by telling me that she would have 'kicked his ass' (her words, not mine) if i had said something to her about him bothering me. I liked her. She spoke 4 or 5 languages and traveled around Asia half her life. Crossing the italy-austria border was gorgeous which all the mountains and houses and stuff.

The sound of music is actually what it looks like there. Almost everyone got off before my stop so i had the place to myself for a while until an older man came on. He didn't talk to me for a while until the very end when he started blabbing in german. Apparently hes an english teacher, so he had a nice conversation. He was going home from a hiking trip in the mountains, has 4 kids and lives in the german speaking part of italy. He asked me, 'if i were to go to minnesota, what would i find?' i honestly had no idea how to answer that question to i just said 'lakes and trees'. Apparently he liked that i told me quite happily 'i really like flowers. What kind of flowers are there in minnesota?' I don't know how to answer that either so i just said The lady slipper because thats the state flower, but i don't really know if that's so common or not. Anyway, all in all, after 7 hours, i got to Innsbruck just fine.
Innsbruck is amazingly beautiful. It's like a little old city thats being hugged by mountains. And the mountains are TALL. they're not like the little lame ones you see in Spain, they are for real. And the air is so fresh and it smells wonderful and there quite an agreeable chilliness about it. It was fun to have a week of mental relaxation (in the language sense) and sort of reconect with my minnesota roots. I hadn't seen the Thene family in quite a while, but it wasn't that hard to kind of fall back into it with them. We had some fun dinner discussions about my awkward past and did a little reflecting on my spanish year. Their house is amazing as well. They have a gasp worthy sauna in which i go rid of my hacking cough, a fun swing and a few interesting details here and there (if you guys are reading this, i like your door handles, your glass doors and the automatic lights) One day i went biking with the mom (lilli) adn let me tell you, i was the hardest bike ride ive ever had to do. I dont understand the concept of mountain biking, and i don't think i ever want to. Just to touch on the language theme.... German is nothing like english. Do not believe anyone if they tell you is similar because its not. I understood nothing.

The train ride back was calmer. I got everywhere on time which no problems, delays or creepy men. My common sense was tested when i had to get myself from the train station to the airport, but what i bus that said 'airport' came around the corner, i decided to just try that one out. The only problem i had was at the airport. i don't know if this lady was just having a bad day or just decided to mess with the tall american, but she definitely got my on my nerves. i though i was fine with a backpack and a small carry on bag, but apparently that was unacceptable and i had to try to go fit everything in one bag. so i had to leave the extremely long line, go back out side and unpack my things. fitting everything in my backpack was unquestionable so i decided to try to be tricky and but my laptop, books, sweatshirt and things like my ipod and phone in a small purse type thing that i had, but after waiting in line AGAIN she didn't like that idea either. So i was sent out again to try again, so i had no choice but to over dress. Before everything fit i was wearing 2 pairs of pants, 2 or 3 sweaters (one sweater type thing and 2 zip ups) and 2 scarves with a 'decorative scarf' on my backpack all on a 90 degree day. It was not pleasant, and i had to do all of this in the open public. My self esteem went down, crankiness when up and my body temperature skyrocketed. After finally getting her ok, i had to undo everything to pass through security. There was a 20+ person line behind me waiting because of the immense amount of things i had to take out of my backpack and off my body. That just about tipped me over the edge so it's a good thing that the thing didn't beep because i think i probably would have lost it. The first thing i did was unpack everything, put it back in my original 2 bags, and go wash my face in the bathroom. That was not a pleasant day. But i got home in one piece. :)
Happy easter to all!