Carnaval in Cadiz!

Carnaval in Cadiz. I don't think there is any one word to describe the experience I had there. Let's start from the beginning shall we? The carnaval in Cadiz is a festival that is like halloween on sterroids. Everybody dresses up in crazy costumes and drinks in the streets. Awesome right? There are performers, shops, and tons of people everywhere! When we first got there, we went to the beach, which was absolutely beautiful! We sat and drank on the beach and took a lot of pictures for a couple of hours and then headed to town. We wondered around the town, got something to eat, and enjoyed the music. It was SO much fun! We made some new Spanish friends, Kristin finally got a balloon (Rafael) and everybody had a great time. Then, disaster hit. At about 1 am, it started to rain. Actually, let me refrase that, it started to MONSOON! On top of that, all of the activity and the bars were starting to shut down because of the rain. Well, we took a bus that was coming to pick us up at 6 am; which in theory, was a great idea. Being stuck in the middle of a monsoon on Cadiz with nowhere inside to go was not what I had planned. We wandered around lost for a little while and then found our way to an underground parking garage. Most of the time, being in a cold, parking garage with a blackout guy laying in his own puke next to me isn't my cup of tea, but it was dry. After we were shooed out by the police, we found a little doorway. It was the only salvation from the rain. I watched as the street in front of me turned into a lagoon as I lost all feeling in my feet. After 4 hours of standing in the rain, I never thought I would be so happy to hear somebody yell CUATRO!!! Our bus was finally there! the ride home was uncomfortable and long, but it made me appreciate the squeaky, twin sized bed I have at my senora's house. Cadiz: you can take my money, my sanity, and my ability to hold a healthy body temp, but you can't take my EYELASHES! bahaha Those puppys were the only healthy survivors. All in all, it was a good time with a fatal end.

Rain.

Rain. That's all there is here is rain. They say it has rained here more these past few weeks than it did in the past year. Just my luck right? I would like just ONE day with a glimpse of sunshine! An umbrella is staple this year in Granada. I bought one once, but it broke immediately. I don't know whether to just utilize my scarf for while longer and wait it out, or possibly throw away another several euro. The chance we had to go to the beach in Malaga was ruined by the sky spitting on us the entire weekend :( I am trying to be optimistic, though. Let's see....good things that come from the rain: 1. I will thoroughly appreciate the sunshine when it FINALLY comes....2. I get to watch people battle for room on the crowded streets for both themselves and their open umbrella (and if I am lucky I get to see the unexpected get jabbed by an unknown umbrella)....3. The countryside is so much greener than it usually is and also, the Alhambra is probably going to be the most beautiful sight ever after this is all done....okay that's enough optimism for one day. I just keep thinking happy thoughts and hope that there is a beautiful rainbow at the end of this everlasting storm!!

Arrival in Spain

The first couple weeks in Spain were out of control! The first weekend was a full excursion of Madrid and Toledo, leading into a week of testing and tours around the city of Granada. All the while, trying to get acclimated and at the same time live it up before we actually had to go to school. Meeting my host family was a little bit nerve racking, but now that I am settled in, I feel a lot better about everything. My senora makes the BEST food, which is only negatively contributing to the obesity problem I thought might be cured by coming a country that doesn't have a McDonald's on every single corner. WRONG. I eat anything and everything she puts in front of me and then some haha! The food here is so different than at home. I eat literally a single piece of toast for breakfast. That must last me until 230 when we have our big meal at lunch. I eat until I wanna puke at lunch and then eat dinner at 830. This schedule is not unlike the one I have at home except for the fact that there is no such thing as snacks here. I don't really have the luxury of a bag of tostidos and some salsa con queso like I do at home. Enough about the food. What about the culture? I think the most surprising thing to me is that cars can drive anywhere they want to. All of the streets that people walk on double as streets for the cars to drive down...minus the big main streets. The city is made for pedestrians, which is optimal for an extranjera like myself. All of the people here have a cigarette in one hand and a lover in the other. Can you say PDA?! Not my cup of tea, but I guess spaniards don't have to keep it in their pants. Who knew? My life before school is sleep all day and explore and then at night discover a new discoteca...(or try to make it to the discoteca and end up stranded in gypsyland at 3 am) but that only happens to unlucky rubias like myself. I am excited to see all the Spain has to offer and maybe actually learn how to speak spanish along the way! ha