Ice, Spice and Good Tidings.

Clara is gone for a week. Which means the secador is gone for a week as well. I thought it couldn't get any colder here, but then I went outside with wet hair. And thanks to James Cameroon, I know that being wet and cold is basically fatal. I need the hot African sun like never before. And mark my words, when I get back to Oklahoma I am sleeping in the dryer. Almost as an anti-protest. Just a love-fest. I miss the machine that makes my clothes hot and snuggly, so very much.

Ok now something about Spain? Ummm...... if they say something is muy picante, this means it has little to any spice at all. Ask for muy x 45 picante (this doesnt translate dont actually say this). I had a dinner party recently and made curry. Knowing that spice levels were skewed to the bland side, I made it not very spicy. I'm not some spicy oficianado (please don't dump a jar of cayene in my dish as a test when I return) I just like some zazz. Anyway, all the Spanish friends were basically in tears after eating the curry. I guess I next time I'll be more curryful.

Must go. Im preparing for my classes and we are teaching Christmas Carols. I hate teaching words like "good tidings" and "kin". Its a thorn in my side to think that one day when they are traveling in Arizona, they won't be able to remember "paper towel" or "roadside assistance" because back in 4th grade the American taught them words used once a year in Christmas carols.

Researching Morocco

While researching my imminent adventure to Marrekech, Morocco, I have discovered some truly quirky descriptions online that I just can't seem to get enough of. Seeing as there is no one next to me to share a cackle with at the absurd translations and phrasing, I'll share with my blog. Sometimes I really feel like this is a "Wilson" I am talking too.

Anyway here goes:


El Badi Palace is a palace now in ruins and inhabited by storks and stray cats. There are some underground passageways to explore. Admission is DH 10. The view from the terrace is majestic. A must-see.

Equity Point Marrakech - Riad Amazigh, 80, Derb El Hammam Mouassine ....  extremely tricky to find. Some good advice would be to print off a map and stick to it, and dont assume you will find it when you get there, as there will be many people who claim to know where it is for a small fortune.

Riad Zara, 294 Derb Ben Salek ... In the evening, candles are lit and guests gather around the pool, enjoying wine and if you're lucky Hassan might give a live music performance.

Some of the hostels include "warm water" as an ammenity. This makes me concerened that it was not a given. Maybe I should bring toilet paper since I didn't see it listed.

 I kept reading "Hammam" and finally asked google for some explaining. Basically its the Moroccan version of the turkish bath. Here's a funny article describing one woman's experience. I think this is a must.

Also a must will be this:

Anyway, very excited for this adventure. From what I remember, we will most likely be bombarded from the moment we step off the plane due to the fact we are three American girls not wearing hijabs. I cant wait til Saturday. I'm also pretty sick of Jamon so Im ready for some Moroccon food. Mmm! But for now, I need to go fine-tune my haggling techniques. Love to all!

P.S. Nineteen dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyys until I'm Oklahome!

Writing a blog is the hardest thing I've ever done.

But I will attempt and in current fashion I will write about whatever bizarre topic Im thinking about right now, which happens to be......about my recent rendezvous with the website Stuff White People Like. I try not to frequent it often.

As a generic white person, I feel extremely accosted when I read about myself being a stereotypical white person doing stereotypical things such as this year off. Its nice to laugh at but I'm sure there's an entry for you too. Stuff White People Like Entry #1899 Reading Camille's Blog About Nothing. What's the name of that restaurant where they yell profanities at you during your entire meal? (We never had such thing in Oklahoma but we heard about it). Anyway, its the same kind of personal assault I feel now. (So I hear).  I think we both know that if I actually went to one of these restaurants and anyone used such a caustic tone with me when I asked for water, I would probably just cry my own glass instead.

I try not to look at the list of Stuff White People Like because when I do I get depressed and realize they know everything about my pigeon hole. Of course I prep for a year for my favorite holiday, Halloween. I carry my disposable grocery bag and throw away my coke can when the recycle bin is too far away. Its a good thing my only outlet to the White World is through the internet now. What is the new trend? Are we still harrassing people wearing Ed Hardy? Taking pictures of cute old men? Everyone (erudite twenty-something year olds such as myself) knows being old is cute and envied.


Oh by the way, I am alive. I went on a hiatus from my blog. That may be a euphamism. I am also "soaking" about three pans in my sink right now, and I think we all know that is the glorious cop-out for putting off dishes until you are disgusted with your messy kitchen (and needing one of the said pots). How about I just upload some pictures and you all can guess the rambling that otherwise would have been supplemented? Travel pictionary.






They call this beauty "hot chocolate". Goodbye weight loss. Hello tastebud fiesta.

Halloween was done right in Madrid. That is, until I paid an arm and a leg to get into a horrible 7 story discoteca, then paid another extremity for a drink and later was almost trampled as the stampede left the building. Our lights actually saved us and we were able to find each other amidst the chaos. At the end of the night, I felt like a true Chilean miner.

Estamos vivos! We're alive!

Strolling on the beach before we had a Magosto (event where you roast chestnuts).

Hello fareros! (lighthouse workers)



Isn't she a beauty? Best day yet. Getting to go with the workers
to service the lighthouses on the Isles Cies.

I think I made Manuel nervous because I kept asking to drive the boat.

Um yeah we hiked that. Had to service that lighthouse!

Trip to Portugal

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Went to my teacher's house in her home village. Turns out her house is older than my country.

Ok now for update with words: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Life's a peach. I teach English. I learn Spanish. I eat bad food. I watch trash t.v. in Spanish (I didn't know trash t.v. could get more awful and confusing). And I don't even feel remorseful that I have since forgotten such words as resume, interview, 1040 ez, forbearance, etc. My fingers even stuttered typing them. Its going to be a hella transition coming back to reality.

Here are some goals:

Stop ignoring my blog.

Give more attention to the gym. (The front desk guy actually say things like "You came back! -in spanish- and Im like yeah... that doesnt translate to something nice. Or maybe its ok to be more blunt here.)

Attempt to talk to understand old people at the bus stops. They always talk to me in mumbly spanish-gallego and I smile and offer a peice of gum. I wonder how I am percieved here.....

Get a camera and take pictures. Iphone is great but I dont think it substitutes.

Spanglish word play

Today I asked my students "Como se dice 'award' en espanol?" And one cute little boy replied, "una palabra?"

 I think I'm in love. Its a shame my soulmate is a 9 year old.

Profe! Profe! Camille is down.

I have to start rationing my hugs at school. Today I was literally pulled to the ground by 20 little six year olds. I have no idea how to discipline these precious little things. I mean they chant and cheer when I walk in, so secretly, I don't want to discourage this habit, I love being loved. But at the same time I think the English teachers may be getting annoyed of the chaos when I'm around. All of the children were told that I don't speak Spanish to discourage them from trying to speak to me only in Spanish. As I was tackled I tried to shoo them off me using simple English that they might understand, "Ok ok enough, please stop, back to your seats, please please". Of course, they did not understand. I also don't have a very stern voice so I think they might have thought I was encouraging them. The teacher stood behind me and watched this whole debachle. And then yelled at the students in Spanish and told them that Camille told her if they continued acting out then she wouldnt ever come back. I was like wait, I didn't say that. I like the wild rumpus......

I also brought Ginger today so that was extra exciting and I put post-it notes on her "head" "shoulders" "knees" and "toes" and then, we had a song to learn our new words! I really enjoyed class today.

xoxo.

Lady Gaga gets flamenco-fyed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=ES&feature=player_embedded&v=O8XJP-xSKak


Oh yeah. That just happened. What now, Greyson Chance?


Ole!

I learned a valuable lesson today.

When your supply of chocolate suddenly runs out and you crave something sweet, it isn't recommended to go overboard on the digestive cookies. It's dangerous how delicious they are.

The story of how I acquired my chocolate "supply" is kind of interesting. I was walking home yesterday and found a shiny euro coin in the street. I was ecstatic. It was like a suprise party in the gutter. So like the classic American, I assessed the economical benefits of saving verse spending for about three seconds, and then nearly tripped over two homeless men on my way into the bakery to spend my new money as fast as possible. Truth is, I have quite a picky sweet tooth. Don't get me wrong, I love cavities, but I get downright disgusted when I choose an innocent looking crossiant and then bite into a landslide of yellow custard. I was getting the chills just thinking about the nightmare of a Russel Stovers box without the information sheet, when I decided I should just do things organic and stick with a plain bar of chocolate.

Of course the bars of chocolate they had were monsterous and actually cost a little more than a euro but I was far past any economical analysis once I realized the theatrical reference I had stumbled upon. I. Am. Charlie. Unfortunately there was no gold wrapper, no invitation to a chocolate factory and instead of people gathering around to make outrageous offers for my recent purchase, I just had the typical gawking directed at the American scarfing a candy bar in the street.

As a side note, I really do like when references as such happen. I just imagine 8 second musical numbers where I am the star, I have thick hair and I can actually sing. And sometimes I'm asked to play British parts. On a really more embarassing side note, I went to Portugal this past weekend and met someone with British accent and because of too much drinking implored for an impersonation of Oliver Twist when he says  "Please sir, can I 'ave some mo'?" Of course, its not as funny today and I'm glad I'll probably never see this person again.

How come things are never as funny? I hate that. Also I discovered another thing I strongly dislike. (Is it bad I keep track of a "strongly dislike" list?) Anyway here it is, I recently met a drama teacher who was quite undramatic. I couldn't get over it. Undramatic is one thing, but being bland and huffy is another. For someone who had a degree in Drama, I of course had imagined asking for the salt to be passed and then experiencing a lively bit with a twirling salt shaker and maybe a few spins in the air pecisely showering my food with salt and exquisiteness. I would have applauded and demanded an encore for the pepper as well. Instead I was met with a monotone voice and there was no condoment spectacles nor charades nor accent impersonations.

It seems todays theme is deception in all things theater. Now this is a Spain blog!