Jessica the Giant

Why hello again!

Big news! I finally moved into my new apartment last night and met my new roomies…. But before we talk about that let’s do a recap of the past week…

Fernando was a very gracious host and I kept pretty busy in Madrid. I took the first day and a half or so to get over the jet-lag and mostly just lazied around his house. Friday night reminded me of two things: how one night out in the Spanish bars can ruin a favorite pair of shoes forever; and also that I am going to have to start training if I am going to be expected to stay out till 7am again. Nonetheless, it was a entertaining Spanish night reminiscent of the old days back in Salamanca (can you say MGMT and Kings of Leon?)

Saturday I was oh-so-sad that I wasn’t in good ol’ Nebraskee to watch my friends and family get drunk and yell at the TV screen during the Husker game. However, it turns out you can go halfway around the world and find the exact same thing happening, so I was at no loss. So Saturday night I traded in the red and white for a night spent with four Spanish boys watching the Barcelona fútbol (soccer) game and playing MarioKart.

Earlier this week I finally got contacted by a woman from my school, Begoña, who has been incredibly helpful and sweet. Tuesday I took an 8 hour bus ride from Madrid to Ferrol and Begoña picked me up and took me to our school in Neda to have a look around. Dios mío, I forgot how young high school kids are! They all look super sweet and Begoña tells me they can’t wait to meet me. Up until last night I had been staying at Begoña’s house (overlooking the water with palm trees and cats in the yard) and mostly hanging out with her 15-year old son Pablo, who will be one of my students. Everybody is so excited, I’ll be the first teacher from the United States at the school so they’re really excited to hear more about my “culture”. What a shock it will be when I tell them all the super fun stuff there is to do in Nebraska….

Begoña and Pablo gave me a bit of a tour of the city the first couple days I was here, and I think I’m really going to like it. The first day we drove up this big mountain to see the view of the cities and the ría (no translation for it, but it’s basically a combination of a big harbor/river thing) and luckily it was a sunny day (apparently I won’t have too many of those) so the view was beautiful. The country here is just amazing altogether, with the clouds and moon so close, and little cottages nuzzled up in the mountains in the country. Begoña also showed me around the streets of Ferrol and the outside of my apartment (which she set up for me) and we walked around a little castle that used to guard the entrance of the ría.

Aaaaanyway… my new apartment is AMAZING! Its huge, with about 5 bedrooms, a living room, dining room, extra room thing, a cute kitchen with granite countertops, a dishwasher and AN OVEN… something I’ve never seen in Spain before. Looks like I’ll be making some enchiladas :). It even has a washing machine. I’ll post a virtual tour sometime soon, but right now the place is a bit of a mess while all of us are trying to unpack.

Oh yeah, did I mention the location? Its right next to the city center, on the street that has all the fun shops and eateries, and its right above a store called Zara Home (Spain’s equivalent of Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie). And the street over is where all the bars and pubs are, so it will be really safe easy to get home at night… though the 3 flights of stairs (no elevator, uh-oh Jessica) might hinder us in our drunken states. My roommates are all really nice, one is from Oregon, one is from Texas, and one is from Germany. We had a “fancy” dinner together last night (spaghetti and cheap champagne) but I guess there’s nothing really too crazy to report yet about them, I’m still getting to know them but it seems like we’ll get along really well. You’ll be interested to know though; I’m the tallest one in the house. I’m not really sure how it’s possible, but it is, and I love it.

After going to my school to fill out paperwork and stuff today, I headed home with the excitement of getting a schwarama/kebab… which I haven’t had since last time I was in Spain (every night of the week) but unfortunately I didn’t make it. I got pooped on by a pigeon and had to head home. Instead I had cereal for lunch :(

Monday I’ll start my first real day of work, and the thought of actually teaching has become slightly daunting. The teachers at the school though are very sweet, and I’m sure they’ll help me out when I need it.

Anyway, that’s the end of another blog (battery is about to die, so I really have no choice). Sorry it’s been so long and this was such a mega-long (and rushed!) post, but I’ve gone without much internet lately so I haven’t had much of a choice.

Oh yeah, and I found 20 Euro on the street today, so that's good.

Before you go though, check out today's blog's soundtrack:

Jenny Lewis -- See Fernando (gosh I can't imagine why...):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHXwi4V3kVo

I'd also like to give a special nod to Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" because, thanks to my new friend Max, that song has been stuck in my head since I got on the plane in Philly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niqrrmev4mA&ob=av3e

And and and also Beach House (in general) for being absolutely perfect music for an 8 hour plane ride.

(And maybe also the New Pornographer's Together album for being a stellar bus ride companion)



Until next time lovies....