Lets get crazy in Cadiz....

I must say, I am very thankful that Sunday is a day of rest here in Spain. I returned from the carnivales at Cadiz at 5:30 in the morning. The Cadiz carnivales are like Halloween in the US, only much more intense. People come from all over the world to the small port city dressed in crazy costumes. The city is PACKED, think Times Square on new years....

Here's some pics from last night:



Tracy and I before leaving for the bus...

A trio of men/women chillin at burger king

Random Shot of me and some cow next to me..

(all of us..omg I LOVE Josh's costume...haha)

All in all it was a fun trip and I'm glad I went, but I don't think its something I would want to do again. It was super crowded and there was broken glass and trash everywhere. I literally waited in line for the restroom for an hour and a half. People were pushing and shoving, and at some point during the evening, a woman accidently smacked me in the knee cap with a wine bottle.

But it was definitly an expereince, and I don't think I will ever see men so shamelessy dressed up as women again.

I mean check this one out!


(I have no idea who he was but he was a good sport when I asked to get a picture with him!)

I'd write more but the internet cafe is closing...

hasta luego(xoxo)

Una Vida Saludable

Una Vida Saludable
So now that I am more settled and adjusted to the way of life here, I have to say, going abroad has probably added years back to my life.

Life here is so much healthier. The way of eating here is healthier, people are more active, and really just the lifestyle in general is better. They say that stress takes years off your life, and Spaniards, they don´t do stress. If you´re late, your late. No big deal. Workaholics? No hay. Places aren´t open enough for there to be workaholics. At first, I was frustrated about the fact that the stores don´t open until 10 and then they close for 4 hours in the afternoon, and that NOTHING is open on Sunday. But it has forced me to de-stress, I am essentially forced to relax during that time, and I’ve found myself doing things I´ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time. Like read about places i want to travel too, or paint my own nails, or write in my diary. Yesterday, I bought a copy of Elle (which was in Spanish of course) and laid out on the roof of our apartment building to read and get some color.

Thats another thing. Except for the first week or so, the sun is always shinning here. People are always outside, getting exercise, and soaking in that Vitamin D. Spaniards are very social and have tons of friends and so they are happy and content with their lives. As Aristotle said, ¨Man is by nature a social animal.¨ Its better for our health to be out with friends on a Sunday instead of slaving away trying to catch up on homework from the past week.

Portions are normal sized and as a result, people enjoy cakes, and pastries, ice cream without becoming overweight or obsessing about being thin. Food is cooked in olive oil, instead of butter, which is so much better for your heart. There is no fake sweetener here, which, since the age of technology has given me the ability to preach to anyone who reads this, IS HORRIBLE FOR YOU. Sure, it doesn’t have calories, but umm it its FULL OF CHEMICALS. Sucrose (splenda) was discovered when trying to create a new pesticide....Do you really want to drink it? It contains chlorine, and oh small traces of arsenic. You know, poison? No lie. Read skinny bitch, or go to splendainfo.com. Plus it slows down your metabolism, and is, like aspartame, linked to may chronic diseases. This is why the leading seller of natural foods with outlets in both North America and Europe refused to carry any sucrose or Splenda products of any kind. Dont believe what you hear - its not safe.

Anyway, so yeah, life here is so much better for you. In fact, the main things that stress me out are things that relate to home or my American perspective -people not walking fast enough in the streets, not being able to call people back home, getting 55 emails about the Ripon library being out of ink, (what else is new?), and things of that nature.


I wanted to write about my adventure with Nieves yesterday, but I really need to study for my test tomorrow. I´m only in Spain for a few months - I have to return to that super stressful, high paced, competitive American life at some point. I want to still have top grades.....

until next time, put down that diet coke.....

Dia de San Valentin....

I wrote this last night but couldn't get internet so uploading it today.....

So I had a pretty good valentines day….

I woke up, went to the gym, and then came back and showered and such. Apparently Christina slept over in Carolyn’s room and so she had lunch with us. Lunch was the same meal we had the first day we got here (the rice in that really good sauce with the fried bananas) but with two small additions; eggs and hot dogs. I don’t particularly like the way they cook (or should I say don’t cook) eggs here, but the aside from that the meal was just as amazing as our first day.

Afterwards, I met up with my intercambio. He was soooooo nice, I really lucked out. We met up at city hall (el ayuntamiento…vocab word…) and he had a plan all set up as to what sights to show me. It was really cool. First he took me to el Puente Isabella and pointed out all the surrounding sights. Then we walked a while further to go to the Plaza espana. It is absolutely gorgeous. Before the entrance to the plaza, there is a large park where people can walk their dogs or jog or simply go for a stroll. Then, inside the plaza, there is a beautiful water fountain in the center. All around the plaza there are little seating areas – one for each province of Spain. The entire plaza is huge and apparently, according to my intercambio, it’s the largerst building in the world that is made completely out of brick.

Then afterwards we decided to go grab some coffee. We stopped at a café near my apartment and after we sat down, I realized that two of the girls from cc-cs were sitting at a table right by us. We joined them and the four of us all just talked for a long time. Then the cathedral bell decided to randomly go crazy….so we took it as a sign that maybe we should start heading back to our houses to get ready to go out tonight.

Tracy and Laura – the girls from CC-CS walked back with me to my apartment, and I showed them my room and clothes and we did girly stuff like that. Then they left to go get ready to meet up again later to go out for Tapas. Meanwhile, Ashley called me and I talked with her for a bit and while I was on the phone with her, Steve sent me a message saying Happy Valentines Day Love, I’ll call you in a bit.

And omg…it totally made my valentines day. He called me while I was on the bridge waiting for the other girls and it was just so romantic to be talking to him while looking at the beautiful light up city. Couples were everywhere holding hands, making out, looking out at the river together. Women everywhere were holding flowers that their boyfriends or husbands had bought them and, not to be cliché, but love was definitely in the air here in Sevilla. And even thought he was even further away than usual, I still felt like he was right there with me.

Anyway, so enough loveydovey nonsense….So I met up with Laura and Tracy and some other girls and then we took two taxis to some tapas restaurant in (neighborhood). But the place was PACKED and we couldn’t even put our names on the waiting list because there were so many people already on it. So we walked around a bit finally decided to eat at this random hip looking restaurant. I was very happy because they had tinto de verano and it was officially my first glass in Spain. Fue Buenisma!

By the time the food arrived I was already exhausted. It was already midnight and I decided not to go out to the bars with the rest of them and I took a taxi back home. The taxi driver was very friendly and spoke with me in Spanish the whole way back – asking about my hometown, the weather there, what I like to do, what my major is, do I like Spain…..the whole nine yards. He was patient with my broken Spanish and said I speak better than I think. I hope so.

He dropped me off at the Plaza Nueva and so I had to walk a little bit. But that was fine because there were still couples everywhere out enjoying the evening and it was just a happy atmosphere to be in. I stopped by a chocolate store for some ice cream and inside there was a huge line of men waiting to buy chocolate hearts and candies for their sweethearts.

But luckily, my sweetheart knows that I would shoot him if he bought me chocolate. However, apparently, something that is not chocolate is in the mail for me…..

Sigh, well I really should get some sleep. I have a ridiculous amount of homework to do tomorrow…..

Hasta manana…..

So I thought i would escape that stupid Pink song here, but uh no.....

Europeans apparently LOVE american music. Its really funny, because most people here don´t know what they are saying, but they still sing along. Its also kinda funny cuz in the stores and gyms, they don´t edit the songs, because they don´t know the lyrics are dirrty, and there´s nothing quite like hearing about Ja Rules sexual fantasies while shopping for make up brushes.....

Another cultural note: Apparently it´s extremely rude to strech in front of others in Spain. Nieves was talking to Aushley about it last night. I don´t really understand it but I guess Ill make a mental note of it.

Anyway, tomorrow Nieves is taking Carolyn and I and possibly Kate to go Flamenco dress shopping. She´s gonna take us to the second hand shops so we can buy a dress really cheap. Apparently we need one for our final class of flamenco and also for the feria in April.

K well night. The Spainards might not sleep, but i do.

Let me introduce myself....part 1

So since i wrote my last entry about socks, i kinda decided i would spice this one up a bit. I realize this is only a travel blog so a lot of entries will be boring, and i shouldnt care so much about represnting who i really am, but i do, so lets see, what is the real Kirsten like?

um well lets see, im completely random, i love frozen yogurt, hate incomptence, and my friends mean the world to me. They go on tons of crazy random adventures with me, add spice to my very quoteable life, and are always there for me when life just gets too tough.


My best friends in the whole world are Ashley, Jenni, Steve, Sam, and Abdel.


But I love all my friends, and really, I only have good ones. I have always been one to prefer a smaller number of true, loyal, selfless, genuine friends that i know i can count on than a large number of friends that are fun to hang out with but are fake, and don´t really have my back.

5 things you might do if you lifed a day in my life:
Wake up to Abdel yelling at you in a sweedish accent.

Get stuck in a revolving door.

Accidently order an omelet with tons of blueberries instead of oatmeal.

Get mugged by 13 yearold girls at the Spice Girls Reunion concert.

Forget basic English. For example, you might forget the word you are looking for is hot, and order a sandwhich by saying ¨the opposite of cold....whats that word....?

25 Things that make me very happy

Mine and Steve´s combined sense of humor (do you mean yes...?)

Egg white omelets.

City life.

New episodes of gossip girl (ugg i can´t get it here...i need a itunes card....donde lo compro)

Escada perfume.

The fact that i know my dad is proud of me and loves me for who i am.

Dancing to obnoxious hannah montannah songs.

The randomness of my life.

My adventures with Ashley and Jenni.

COMPETENT PEOPLE.

Funny tv shows - family guy, icarly, boy meets world, drake and josh, Scrubs...

The friendship cds ashely makes me.

Sleeping in sheets recently washed in Victoria Secret Laundry detergent.

When resteruants have veggie burgers.

When somebody randomly does something really thoughtful for me.

3 Things that would make Me Very Happy

A Loves Yogurt in Ripon

A mac book air laptop (ya know the mac super light ones?)

Chuck Bass.......here. Now.

Las calcentines.....

This morning we had an exam in my spanish grammar class. I thought it was pretty easy, but maybe that's because I studied alot. Yesterday, one of the boys in the class (there are only two) organized a study session for all of us at the main internet cafe in town.

Then, after our exam, the whole class took a walk to the mercardo in Trianna. It was a beautiful day to do so.....omg everything is so pretty here. We had to walk along the bridge, and the view over there is gorgeous. The market, if i understood right, opens really early in the morning so all the women can go shopping and get food and things for the day. They have fruit, meat, fish, clothes, etc. It was pretty uneventful, except for Christina saying hola to to all the stray animals and pinapples she passed. haha....

Oh, and I bought some of grey socks, as i was in great need of a pair.

Fasinating no?

Tonight, the Sevilla soccer team is playing England and Nieves is throwing a celebration. They play at ten. Ay Ay Ay I have much to do before then.....homework mostly.

Lunes 9 Feb

So this post, and all posts forward, will actually read the correct date in the archive.

Today has kinda been a slow day, nothing too exciting. I had my spanish expression and grammar class today as usual, and as usual, it was interesting. We reviewed the subjuntive, watched the news (apparently Penelope Cruz won an Oscar) and did some activities with a map of the city. Then I went on the computer for a bit before heading back to the house for lunch.

Yesterday, Nieves had her brother and his wife over for Sunday lunch. She prepared a huge meal - with chicken, ham, Spanish tortillas (a tortilla is kinda like an omelet), bread, garbanzo bean soup, avacado salad, sweet patatos, and I can't even remember what else. So for lunch we had the left overs, and it was delicious. I don't really like ham, especially the way they cook it here, but the left over chicken and soup made an awesome lunch.

After lunch I showered and attempted to organize my room. Then I went to flamenco dancing class, and exhausted from that, I stopped at a cafe afterwards for some coffee. I sat for a while and did some homework and then went home to change so i could go work out. And now im just chillin, about to go home for some soup and bed.

Tomorrow, Veronica and I are going to go to the soccer stadium to buy tickets for a soccer (futbol) game. We wanna look at the schedule to and buy tickets for a game during the time her boyfriend is here. This adventure involves taking a bus so I'll let you know how that goes

Viernes 6 Feb

Today nieves did laundry. Currently they are drying on the roof. Very European no?
I just finished up lunch and im going to the gym. Later, Kate and I are going to a nail salon that Nieves showed me. The manicures are sooooo cheap because it’s a beauty school and the people arent’ professional yet. For a mani, its 3 euro, which is like 5 american dollars. Its hard to find a manicure for less than 13 dollars in Wisconsin or Glenview and here its less than half the price! Estoy emocionada.

Jueves 5 Feb

Nieves returned tonight. When I had talked to her on the phone earlier, she said very excitedly “I have a surprise for you and Carolyn”. We found out after dinner that the surprise was…drum roll….dunkin donuts. Apparently they have a location in Granada. It was cute, she’s always thinking of us. Well, that’s really all for today. Just wanted to make a quick entry.

Miercoles 4 Feb

Today is Wednesday and I’m just about to go to bed. Senora Nieves left this morning at 6 am to help her sister in Granada and she’ll be back late tomorrow night. Though I had all three of my classes today, it was a relatively relaxing day. I woke up, showered, (happy to now have a working hairdryer that I bought at the Corte Ingles last night along with this amazing perfume for only 4 euros) and had some cereal and coffee before heading off to class.

I love my Spanish grammar and expression class. The professor is very cool – h’es funny patient and doesn’t give a ton of homework. Plus, the class is exactly what I’ve needed all along – a complete review of everything; nouns, vocabulary, verbs in the present, verbs in the preterite, verbs in the preterite pluscampefecto, verbs in the imperfect, irregular verbs, the subjunctive mode – you name it, he’s reviewing it. The class is 4 hours long but it never feels that way because 1) we have a half hour break at 11 to go get coffee or whatever and 2) the activities he prepares are actually interesting. They are not annoying book exercises like the activities we are all used to. For example, yesterday, he put on the previous nights news and told us to try and grasp what the main headlines were about. Then, afterwards, we discussed the history and significance of each one – in Spanish.

At first I was quite confused because the news kept talking about a zapetero that was calling all these national meetings and I didn’t understand why a random shoemaker would have the authority to such a thing. So of course I asked, and well, apparently Zapatero is the name of the prime minister. I think the professor found it funny though. I like when people view my blonde moments as endearing and not totally moronic. This is who I am. I’m Kirsten, and Kirsten’s very blonde. Besides here, you’re practically treated like royalty for being blonde. It’s exotic, as Antonio said.

Anyway, so I had the first day of my once a week Spanish culture class right after so I couldn’t grab lunch until later than usual. Nieves prepared food for us to have for lunch today last night but I decided I’d try an inexpensive cafe since I hadn’t ate a meal out yet. I ate at a cafeteria relatively close to the center because a) it started raining cats and dogs the moment I stepped outside and b) I had flamenco class back at the center later anyway. I ate at a table inside that faced the Avenida Constitución and even though it was raining it felt very European to be enjoying a bocadillo and coffee in a cafe watching the people outside walk up and down the street.
Afterwards, it stopped raining so I walked to an ice cream shop a few blocks down and ordered some apple tart gelato. Then I did some homework on the computers at the center and emailed my mom and dad.

The rest of the night was very chill. After flamenco, it started to rain again so I waited inside the Starbucks on the corner and did some more homework until it let up. (I know, Starbucks, how un-American of me). When I got home, I talked for a bit with Aushley, the girl from Turkey, who also lives with Nieves, Carolyn, and I. Then I got into my pajamas and started writing. I guess tomorrow Aushley is making us dinner since Nieves wont be back to late and its gonna be a Turkish meal. I’m intrigued.

Well…hasta mañana.

La Semana Primera

Welcome to my online account of my adventures abroad. Before reading on, please note that these first few posts were written before I had a chance to upload them, so the date they were posted, is not the date they were written.

Today is Wednesday and tomorrow I will have in Spain a week . Let me just give a general recap of the events that have occurred so far and then I will begin making daily entries. (Or at least try to).

Day 1
I left the United States last Wednesday at nine PM, USA Eastern Time and landed in Madrid Thursday morning. I got absolutely no sleep on the plane and I still needed to take a train from Madrid to Sevilla. At the airport, I began my Spanish language immersion, attempting to get directions from the airport to the AVE station. I was told that the metro – an underground train from the airport to various places in the city would take me right there.

However, taking the metro was definitely the worst decision of my trip so far. It wasn’t a direct connection; to get to the AVE station you need to change trains four different times, all the while lugging two huge suitcases and an assortment of bags. This was made especially difficult since a) I wasn’t entirely sure if I was on the right train each time ( I wasn’t twice) b) my brain was still in English mode and everybody spoke Spanish and c) each time I changed trains I had to lug my suitcases up an escalator or a flight of stairs because I couldn’t find the elevators at any of the stops but the last. This caused everyone around me to resent me, and between being hated, my lethargy, and my struggle to communicate, and my utter confusion as to I was so overwhelmed I wanted to cry.

Finally, I got to the ave station, and a man named Fernando saw me struggling with my suitcases and helped me to the ticket counter. He even waited with me to show me where to go after. I cannot even put into words how grateful I was for this.

Once I got through AVE security he said goodbye. Then I stopped quickly at the café in the station to grab something to eat on the train. After quickly scanning and then translating/evaluating my options I grabbed a cheese and turkey sandwich and a dark chocolate bar. Both were AMAZING and I learned later that the delicious cheese on the turkey sandwich was queso espanol. My senora loves it too. (and please note that though I may go to school in Wisconsin, I am definitely not normally a fan of cheese, so saying I loved it means something).

The ride to Sevilla was two hours long. I arrived in Sevilla, took a taxi to the orientation hotel, met my roommate, went to the orientation meeting and then bed. Not really super exciting. I was just kinda glad the traveling part was over. Though, I couldn't believe how much Spanish I had already spoken. It was an immediate immersion.

Day 2
Carolyn, my roommate, and I left the orientation hotel after breakfast in separate cabs (since all our luggage wouldn’t fit in one) and went to our Senora’s apartment. She greeted us warmly and then showed us to our rooms - I was happy to learn we each had our own. Then she went over some general house guidelines and she seemed (as is since I am typing this almost a week later) very relaxed and sweet. She tried very hard to make us feel right at home. Then, while we unpacked, she made lunch.

Lunch was delicious. It was a ball of rice in this really good tomato sauce with fried bananas (or possibly plantains). And then of course, there was fruit and bread and Spanish cheese to choose from as well.

That night, after Cena, Carolyn and I went out to a bar. Inside there were many Europeans (mostly Spaniards but French, Portuguese, and other visitors too) just talking by the bar or dancing on the dance floor. (I envy the European’s natural ability to dance; its something I don’t personally posses.) At first Carolyn and I just stayed to ourselves, but I really wanted to interact with the Spaniards and use my Spanish in a social setting. Therefore, after a while the very bold, brazen, extroverted American in me came out and I tapped an attractive Spanish man named Antonio on the shoulder. I told him my name was Kirsten and engaged him in a conversation. I think he found us as fascinating as we found him. We talked for a while – he seemed very outgoing and not really bothered by my forwardness – and then we ran into him later with his friend Miguel on the street. He asked if we wanted to go back to elephunk (the bar we were at before) and he and Miguel bought us drinks. Around 3:30 in the morning they walked us back to our apartment, saying goodbye to us at the - door (with a kiss on each cheek as is Spanish custom) promising to take us on a tour of Sevilla the next day. It felt very surreal – the whole making friends in Spanish, flirting in Spanish, being hit on in Spanish – being said goodnight to by Spanish men, at my apartment in Spain…I was officially off English mode and in Spanish mode. It was all coming so naturally.

The next night was very similar – excepted it started with Senora Nieves knocking at my door saying there was a Spanish boy on the intercom asking for me. And of course that almost never happens at home.

Anyway so yeah, Saturday night very similar. Sunday I slept pretty much the whole day and Monday I started classes. For the first 3 weeks I only have two classes – a Spanish grammar class in the morning from 9 till 1 Monday thru Friday and a cultural class from 1-2 on Wednesday. Oh and I’m taking flamenco dancing ant night some days. (Again, can’t dance so this should be interesting). So really that’s pretty much the catch-up. I’ve gotten pretty much settled now – my room is all set up, I have my gym membership, I’ve gotten lost enough times to know essentially where I’m going now.

I’ve also adapted to their way of eating and I have to say, it makes a whole lot more sense than the American way of eating. Breakfast is very light –fruit or yogurt or toast and coffee. (oh and OMG they have the best coffee here anybody who knows me knows I always have to put a ton of Splenda or sugar in my coffee back home to be able to drink it but here I don’t need ANY. None. Nada. It just naturally tastes good). Anyway, so then after breakfast you go to class (or work) and you don’t eat lunch until about 2. But lunch is the main meal of the day, Stores close so people can go home for lunch (and take a siesta afterwards if necessary). All of my meals have been homemade because my senora likes to cook. It feels nice to be all mommyied. We all hand-wash our own dishes and if one of us isn’t around when lunch or dinner is severed, Senora Nieves leaves it out and we can have it when we want. But its nice to always have food prepared for me when I come home that I can choose to eat or not to eat and not have to wait for others.
Dinner is around 9:30 to 10 and is a light meal. Nieves usually makes soup, which is always amazing and light and filling. So, so far, in general, I’m loving Spain.