My New Work/Spanish Roots III

Ah, how different it feels to be working during the day. We have no subjects coming in for a while, so it's back to the office environs for me. I must say that it is terrible having to sit in an office chair in the afternoon--I get so sleepy and can barely concentrate. (Are you noticing the ironic pattern with my work here?) I've got a bunch of new tasks to accomplish. It's always good to be challenged, especially when you're having fun doing it.

And wow, have you seen the footage of the hurricane's aftermath? It looks like a wasteland--I really feel for those people. What really struck me was when one reporter poignantly noting conditions were so bad that the rescuers themselves had to be rescued. Emotions must be running high there.

___________________________________________________________________

Here's another journal installment...

Wed., 9/15

Monday night I chilled with Liz (from Washington) for the night. I wanted to head to Carbonería, but we got a bit lost and ended up at a nice bar at the beginning of the street where, unbeknownst to use at the time, Carbonería is also located. I later found out that we in fact walked right by it, but there is no signage; there weren’t many people entering at the hour we arrived, and right now no one hangs out inside—they are out back on the patio during the summer, since it's way to hot to accomodate a crowd indoors. Oh well.

Tuesday night was the Paco de Lucia concert. Era fantástico. He did not disappoint. The particular style of music calls for three cantaores, or backup singers. Two of them were female, and one was an older male with the biggest gray hair you've ever seen. The vocals are an acquired taste, but you learn to appreciate its fit. The concert got a little repetitive 2/3 of the way into it, but it picked up again toward the end. He is a phenomenal guitarist. He can pluck those strings so fast and fluidly. I’m excited to start lessons once orientation ends and see if I can't learn the flamenco-inducing motions.

I finally found a Marsans travel agency and peeked in for the first time, after catching the bus. The flights for the “puente” weekends were much more expensive than I thought, but I don’t know when else I would make my bigger trips, so I might just take the ones I found at Marsans. I will have to check prices online later, though.

Tonight I am going to stay in and catch up on some sleep. A bunch of people are heading to Tribal again, but if last week was any predictor of tonight, I will be out waaaay late again tonight for the third time, and I don’t think I’d last tomorrow. Thank God for these siestas.

Compro poco cocos porque como cocos pocos porque I’m already lost…

*acantilados=cliffs

Fri., 9/17

Ugh, it’s so hot in our room again. Jon and I share a room at the end of a hallway that receives the least amount of circulation possible. And living in the hottest city in Europe, that's a big disadvantage. We need to buy a fan, or just continue to borrow the one in Conci’s kitchen.

Last night was kind of lame. We went to the Alfonso botellón again, but this time no one had alcohol and we wandered around aimlessly until we found some American girls. We talked to them for a bit and headed back just as the party was getting started, ironically. Must bring the alcohol again next time…

Meals with the fam continue to be fun. The conversations are always entertaining, even if it's sitting back and listening to the family banter. And Benito never fails to exhibit his spasdic self. He is very misbehaved, yet his mom doesn’t always reprimand him; in fact, she usually laughs at his immature behavior, so I wonder if he's ever going to grow up. But who am I to criticize the culture here. I mean, everyone here smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and still manages to live longer than the average non-smoking Americans :p

Tonight I shall head out to a symphony concert at the Teatro de la Maestranza (which boasts the best acoustically engineered concert hall in Europe). Hopefully the tickets will not be too expensive, especially with the purported student discount. The theater's house band is supposed to be particularly talented, so it shouldn't disappoint.

I am really looking forward to the trip to Lagos, Portugal, next weekend. The more I hear about it, the more it sounds like a real blast. It's free (even though we technically already paid for it in up front in the program fee) for a boat excursion around the rocky coastline and two nights in sweet hotels right near the waterfront, and only 30€ more for a surfing excursion—wet suit, board, and group trainer for an whole day. We are kind of jealous of the kids in other programs, though—they have several other excursions included in their program to nicer citiesfarther away like Barcelona and Madrid with nights over in hotels. It’d be nice not to have to pay 100€ for a train ride to the capital. Oh well…