Hola!
I figured Sundays were boring and all that, they are at least relaxing in comparison to Mondays. English for scientific and technical purposes, Spanish and then again off to school in the evening to attend my first (Sol's fourth?) lesson in European integration history. My god! That's all I'm going to say. I was sitting there looking completely like a questionmark (I'm sure of it) trying to get at least the general idea of what the professor was saying. I think I wrote down one word every 5 minutes. This course will not be a vacation at all and the professor in charge of it speaks Spanish really, really fast and looks like a cartoon while lecturing. I think I won't be getting a lot of new input to my knowledge well from her.
In contrast to it though, we have the English class which deals with pre-writing activities at the moment. We had another class of it today and all I want to say is 'Hey lady, listen! I have been writing academic papers for 2,5 years now and all of this that you're talking about, well, it's all unnecessary.' But then I remember that we are in Spain, and in Spain the teacher (or professor) is always right. (Even when it is obvious to anyone that they aren't...) They almost even get a bit angry if you question them! Completely loco!
As for the Spanish class, there wasn't much drama going on as to the little soap opera I was talking about in previous blog entries. Maybe I was to fast in my judgement of the situation? Or maybe something has happened when I wasn't there. Who knows! I spent my class talking to a really nice Irish girl asking questions like 'Con quién hablas espanol?' (with whom do you talk Spanish?) and 'Qué desayunas normalmente?' (what do you normally eat for breakfast?) etc etc. We have really nice conversations in class as you might understand. ;-)
But the Italian guy who played one of the leading roles in my Spanish class soap opera have started to talk to me in like hallways and other places around campus. Today he stopped me and asked what I was looking for as I looked really confused. I thought that was kind of nice of him. Even if I was only confused 'cause I was on the wrong floor, and that he couldn't help me with it.
Otherwise Sol and I (especially Sol) take every opportunity to sit outside and enjoy the nice warm weather. Today it wasn't necessary to wear a jacket even! I long for the following weeks when they say it will become even warmer.
Beccis I envy you! I also want to go to the premiere of Allsvenskan! If I was in Sweden I would have come up to go with you. But most probably we would have had to sit on different sides of the stadium... ;-)
Well, well. Tonight our next visitor arrives - Sol's boyfriend. He is bringing loads of movies and tv-shows for us - in English! ;-) I know, that will not increase our knowledge of the Spanish language. But we are increasing it as we speak anyway just by being here so I think we deserve some relaxing time with some good movies. Am I right?
/k
Tuesday 27 February 2007
Sunday 25 February 2007
I'm missed...
Hola!
I just had to write about something my mother told me over the phone a little while ago. She said that I had received a letter from Malmö FF where they ask where I am and that they miss me! I knew my team and I had a special relationship and that we miss each other equally. :-) Oh, MFF, I will be back soon. ;-)
/k
I just had to write about something my mother told me over the phone a little while ago. She said that I had received a letter from Malmö FF where they ask where I am and that they miss me! I knew my team and I had a special relationship and that we miss each other equally. :-) Oh, MFF, I will be back soon. ;-)
/k
sunday, boring sunday
Hola!
Today it is sunday, and sundays in this country (at least in Valladolid) are rather boring. Nothing is open (not even grocery stores), well maybe some bars and cafe's but that's it. At least the sun is shining, but it still feels like a day for doing nothing. I could have been doing my Spanish homework of course, but the book stores have finished their books and won't have any more until tuesday, wednesday. So what is a girl to do?
In a few minutes Real Valladolid starts playing a game which is supposedly shown on local television. Maybe I could check if we have that local TV channel. Earlier we watched some basket ball and a dubbed Scooby Doo movie. That is about as exciting as it gets here on Sundays. Of course, if you party like the Spanish you might need a day for resting before the new week starts...
Yesterday Sol and I went to see a Champion's League game. But it was the wrong sport, at least for me, the players were scoring with their hands rather than their feet. It was handboll, BM Valladolid vs Gummersbach (a German team). Sol was excited since several players from the Icelandic national team plays for G, and so we sat, amongst only Valladolid fans, cheering quietly for the Germans. I must say handboll is rather exciting. Then again seeing any sport live is more exciting than seeing it on TV, but it really made me curious about the game and watching more matches. In the end the two teams landed on an equal score of 36-36.
On wednesday we will hopefully go to the football stadium for the first time in order to watch the white and purple players of Valladolid meet Deportivo in the Spanish cup. I don't even know if it is possible to get tickets, so keep your fingers crossed.
Moving on to more football. Ronaldhino is being called Gordinho here in Spain (Gordo means fat in Spanish) and pictures of him are on every news channel. Sol and I talked about going to Barcelona and letting him know we don't think so. He is still a brilliant footballer.
Tomorrow starts another week of classes, and hopefully the spring is here to stay now. Enjoy the snow back home in Sweden! ;-)
/k
Today it is sunday, and sundays in this country (at least in Valladolid) are rather boring. Nothing is open (not even grocery stores), well maybe some bars and cafe's but that's it. At least the sun is shining, but it still feels like a day for doing nothing. I could have been doing my Spanish homework of course, but the book stores have finished their books and won't have any more until tuesday, wednesday. So what is a girl to do?
In a few minutes Real Valladolid starts playing a game which is supposedly shown on local television. Maybe I could check if we have that local TV channel. Earlier we watched some basket ball and a dubbed Scooby Doo movie. That is about as exciting as it gets here on Sundays. Of course, if you party like the Spanish you might need a day for resting before the new week starts...
Yesterday Sol and I went to see a Champion's League game. But it was the wrong sport, at least for me, the players were scoring with their hands rather than their feet. It was handboll, BM Valladolid vs Gummersbach (a German team). Sol was excited since several players from the Icelandic national team plays for G, and so we sat, amongst only Valladolid fans, cheering quietly for the Germans. I must say handboll is rather exciting. Then again seeing any sport live is more exciting than seeing it on TV, but it really made me curious about the game and watching more matches. In the end the two teams landed on an equal score of 36-36.
On wednesday we will hopefully go to the football stadium for the first time in order to watch the white and purple players of Valladolid meet Deportivo in the Spanish cup. I don't even know if it is possible to get tickets, so keep your fingers crossed.
Moving on to more football. Ronaldhino is being called Gordinho here in Spain (Gordo means fat in Spanish) and pictures of him are on every news channel. Sol and I talked about going to Barcelona and letting him know we don't think so. He is still a brilliant footballer.
Tomorrow starts another week of classes, and hopefully the spring is here to stay now. Enjoy the snow back home in Sweden! ;-)
/k
Friday 23 February 2007
Soap opera in my Spanish class
Hola!
So, mom and Jocke left yesterday. Therefore I thought that it was about time to update the blog a bit.
Last Monday I was supposed to hand in my course plan at the international relations office. Was it possible? Of course not. Apparently it is impossible to do that if you don’t have your professor’s signature on your learning agreement. And Sol’s and my professor is not in Spain so now we have to go and chase him or someone else to get the signature. Brilliant!
Instead I went to another course that we are taking, English for scientific and technical purposes and oh my that was crazy. The teacher is like a military and she acknowledges herself each time she has said anything. The actual course seem to consist of things that Sol and I already have studied so it shouldn’t be a problem.
I also had my first Spanish lesson and the teacher refuses to speak any other language than Spanish. One guy, who apparently didn’t know any Spanish at all, tried to ask a question in English and then the teacher just told him he had to ask in Spanish because she didn’t understand any other language. ‘Solo español’, she said. It freaked me out a little, but then, as the lesson continued, it was apparent that she was fully able to explain things in a way that I could at least understand.
My Spanish group consists of a majority of Italians, some Germans, a few Eastern Europeans (nationality unknown for me at this point, although there is one girl from Hungary and one from Lithuania) and me. I really am angry at the Italians at the moment, seeing as they already know so many more words than I. I asked one Italian guy why he was in the initial Spanish group if he was Italian, and he said it was because he didn’t know the verbs and stuff. Oh well, they’re all quite funny.
Also there is a soap opera going on in my Spanish classes. Let me explain, that Italian guy that I had talked to, he seems to have a crush on a German girl in the group. And he was rather disappointed being stuck working with me instead of with her. He took every opportunity given to him to talk to her anyway. Next class he found himself not even able to sit next to her and was rather upset about it (although he tried to hide it, no one can trick me though! ;-). And then at the end of the class another Italian guy talked to ‘his’ girl and the first guy rushed over to get an opportunity as well. Now I have decided to keep a close eye on future happenings. Something in the midst of being confused in general that brings me some joy…
Otherwise this week has meant further holidays for me. I decided it was more important to be with my family and show them around then going to classes. But we all went to celebrate Sabine’s birthday with good food and drinks, watched 2 champion’s league games (Real Madrid-Bayern München and Barcelona-Liverpool). It seems my dream about Arsenal-Roma in the final is becoming further and further from reality. Jocke believes in Valencia. I still believe that both Arsenal and Barcelona has a chance. Otherwise I don’t really know.
Harlem Café was one of the few places I had time to show to my guests, and they both enjoyed it and understood my liking of the place, although mom thought the beers were a bit too small. But that’s the way it is here in Spain, things are small, the coffee is small, the sandwiches in cafés are small, the people are small… etc…
We have now met and talked to some more Erasmus-students; one English girl, a few Irish people, a Lithuanian girl and some Germans. The Irish are rather appreciated as one might understand – Paddy’s day is coming soon and since I have adopted the Irish holiday as my own, I will need some to celebrate it with. Am thinking that the Dublin Bay can be a good place to do it at, even though the waiters working there never have heard of Sambuca. Crazy one, offering us free shots and not having the best one!! It’s a disgrace.
Now it’s anyway weekend again, and in an attempt of not being so disturbed by the noise in our street, we are planning to go out for a round or two. Spanish people don’t believe in having the weekend as a recreational oasis, they believe that the weekend (from Thursday night) is there only for drinking and screaming and other weird things! ;-) And I, who am a bit tired after the intense week with Spanish class starting and meeting new people and having my family over, would actually prefer to stay in tonight and relax with my newest issue of ‘Offside’ that Jocke brought for me. It has an article about the best Larsson ever existing, Bosse Larsson. Am looking forward to reading it, but there will be time for everything I am sure.
‘Til next time, hasta luego!
/k
So, mom and Jocke left yesterday. Therefore I thought that it was about time to update the blog a bit.
Last Monday I was supposed to hand in my course plan at the international relations office. Was it possible? Of course not. Apparently it is impossible to do that if you don’t have your professor’s signature on your learning agreement. And Sol’s and my professor is not in Spain so now we have to go and chase him or someone else to get the signature. Brilliant!
Instead I went to another course that we are taking, English for scientific and technical purposes and oh my that was crazy. The teacher is like a military and she acknowledges herself each time she has said anything. The actual course seem to consist of things that Sol and I already have studied so it shouldn’t be a problem.
I also had my first Spanish lesson and the teacher refuses to speak any other language than Spanish. One guy, who apparently didn’t know any Spanish at all, tried to ask a question in English and then the teacher just told him he had to ask in Spanish because she didn’t understand any other language. ‘Solo español’, she said. It freaked me out a little, but then, as the lesson continued, it was apparent that she was fully able to explain things in a way that I could at least understand.
My Spanish group consists of a majority of Italians, some Germans, a few Eastern Europeans (nationality unknown for me at this point, although there is one girl from Hungary and one from Lithuania) and me. I really am angry at the Italians at the moment, seeing as they already know so many more words than I. I asked one Italian guy why he was in the initial Spanish group if he was Italian, and he said it was because he didn’t know the verbs and stuff. Oh well, they’re all quite funny.
Also there is a soap opera going on in my Spanish classes. Let me explain, that Italian guy that I had talked to, he seems to have a crush on a German girl in the group. And he was rather disappointed being stuck working with me instead of with her. He took every opportunity given to him to talk to her anyway. Next class he found himself not even able to sit next to her and was rather upset about it (although he tried to hide it, no one can trick me though! ;-). And then at the end of the class another Italian guy talked to ‘his’ girl and the first guy rushed over to get an opportunity as well. Now I have decided to keep a close eye on future happenings. Something in the midst of being confused in general that brings me some joy…
Otherwise this week has meant further holidays for me. I decided it was more important to be with my family and show them around then going to classes. But we all went to celebrate Sabine’s birthday with good food and drinks, watched 2 champion’s league games (Real Madrid-Bayern München and Barcelona-Liverpool). It seems my dream about Arsenal-Roma in the final is becoming further and further from reality. Jocke believes in Valencia. I still believe that both Arsenal and Barcelona has a chance. Otherwise I don’t really know.
Harlem Café was one of the few places I had time to show to my guests, and they both enjoyed it and understood my liking of the place, although mom thought the beers were a bit too small. But that’s the way it is here in Spain, things are small, the coffee is small, the sandwiches in cafés are small, the people are small… etc…
We have now met and talked to some more Erasmus-students; one English girl, a few Irish people, a Lithuanian girl and some Germans. The Irish are rather appreciated as one might understand – Paddy’s day is coming soon and since I have adopted the Irish holiday as my own, I will need some to celebrate it with. Am thinking that the Dublin Bay can be a good place to do it at, even though the waiters working there never have heard of Sambuca. Crazy one, offering us free shots and not having the best one!! It’s a disgrace.
Now it’s anyway weekend again, and in an attempt of not being so disturbed by the noise in our street, we are planning to go out for a round or two. Spanish people don’t believe in having the weekend as a recreational oasis, they believe that the weekend (from Thursday night) is there only for drinking and screaming and other weird things! ;-) And I, who am a bit tired after the intense week with Spanish class starting and meeting new people and having my family over, would actually prefer to stay in tonight and relax with my newest issue of ‘Offside’ that Jocke brought for me. It has an article about the best Larsson ever existing, Bosse Larsson. Am looking forward to reading it, but there will be time for everything I am sure.
‘Til next time, hasta luego!
/k
Sunday 18 February 2007
Tomorrow vacation is over...
Hola!
Tomorrow is the first day of Spanish class and the day to hand in my study plan. We have so far decided that we will take the English Literature course that we visited last friday, another course in English about scientific and technical texts, a course in European Integration (in Spanish) and a course in cinema history (also in Spanish). The two courses given in Spanish will be hard, but seeing as Sol and I already have studied European integration that course should be okay. The other two will hopefully be less work (even though we are supposed to read loads and loads of books...)
My dear mother and brother are also coming for their visit tomorrow. They will stay for most of the week. It will be nice to see someone from home and show my new home town with pride. At some point I will probably add some pictures here of the city, but I haven't been too much of a paparazzi so far. (Don't know what has happened with me...)
Oh well, otherwise there aren't that many news. Sabine and I went out for a few beers on friday and yesterday I saw the Spanish Mision Eurovision on TV. The songs weren't great, but then again how often are the Eurovision songs brilliant? I did, however, hear a very good song called "Mastarna" (the Champions). It was about MFF's brilliant history and predicted great things in the nearest future... :-D
Anyhow, I will be back soon.
/k
Tomorrow is the first day of Spanish class and the day to hand in my study plan. We have so far decided that we will take the English Literature course that we visited last friday, another course in English about scientific and technical texts, a course in European Integration (in Spanish) and a course in cinema history (also in Spanish). The two courses given in Spanish will be hard, but seeing as Sol and I already have studied European integration that course should be okay. The other two will hopefully be less work (even though we are supposed to read loads and loads of books...)
My dear mother and brother are also coming for their visit tomorrow. They will stay for most of the week. It will be nice to see someone from home and show my new home town with pride. At some point I will probably add some pictures here of the city, but I haven't been too much of a paparazzi so far. (Don't know what has happened with me...)
Oh well, otherwise there aren't that many news. Sabine and I went out for a few beers on friday and yesterday I saw the Spanish Mision Eurovision on TV. The songs weren't great, but then again how often are the Eurovision songs brilliant? I did, however, hear a very good song called "Mastarna" (the Champions). It was about MFF's brilliant history and predicted great things in the nearest future... :-D
Anyhow, I will be back soon.
/k
Friday 16 February 2007
getting used to watching dubbed programs
Hola!
The life here is starting to shape itself and today we went to our first lecture, although it was merely a try to see if we would understand anything and think it was interesting. The class, english contemporary literature, was in English (yeah baby!) although it was apparent that the teacher was struggling somewhat when it came to expressing herself. She did say some pretty weird things, but I figure it might be because of her lingual problems or even another culture clash. I really think that a course in English lit probably looks quite different in another country and thus it can be a study in Spanish culture and their way of doing things at the same time as an update of the literature which is out there. Oh well, we will see how it goes I guess.
Also I found out today that I, as I thought I would, ended up in the beginners Spanish course. It is probably for the best, I can only bull shit my way through some things and this might actually lead to me learning the language properly. (Let's hope so)
Am starting to get used to watching Friends dubbed into Spanish. It's kind of freaky how easy it is to get used to it. Now it is more a reaction of 'yeah, friends is on!' rather than reacting on the fact that it is in Spanish. Although watchinbg something in English is a great relief and so yesterday Sol and I rented 'You, me and Dupree' on dvd and saw it in its original version - English! I was laughing really hard, so see it, it's really funny. Owen Wilson truly at his best!
Oh I almost forgot. Sol said something yesterday worth mentioning for anyone who needs a motivation for buying shoes: "to buy shoes is the same as buying a bus card - you need it for transportation!"
And lastly, if anyone believes that my dreams come true (the actual dreams that I dream at night) then Arsenal will play Roma in the finals of Champion's League and win 1-0. But if you bet on it, don't blame me if it turns out to be false. ;-)
Adíos for now,
/k
p.s. a quick comment on the fact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has turned down playing for the Swedish national team from now on. What can I say? I am not surprised. It is a bit sad seeing as he is a good player and seems to have found his brilliance once again, but if he's not motivated to play then do we really want him in our team?
The life here is starting to shape itself and today we went to our first lecture, although it was merely a try to see if we would understand anything and think it was interesting. The class, english contemporary literature, was in English (yeah baby!) although it was apparent that the teacher was struggling somewhat when it came to expressing herself. She did say some pretty weird things, but I figure it might be because of her lingual problems or even another culture clash. I really think that a course in English lit probably looks quite different in another country and thus it can be a study in Spanish culture and their way of doing things at the same time as an update of the literature which is out there. Oh well, we will see how it goes I guess.
Also I found out today that I, as I thought I would, ended up in the beginners Spanish course. It is probably for the best, I can only bull shit my way through some things and this might actually lead to me learning the language properly. (Let's hope so)
Am starting to get used to watching Friends dubbed into Spanish. It's kind of freaky how easy it is to get used to it. Now it is more a reaction of 'yeah, friends is on!' rather than reacting on the fact that it is in Spanish. Although watchinbg something in English is a great relief and so yesterday Sol and I rented 'You, me and Dupree' on dvd and saw it in its original version - English! I was laughing really hard, so see it, it's really funny. Owen Wilson truly at his best!
Oh I almost forgot. Sol said something yesterday worth mentioning for anyone who needs a motivation for buying shoes: "to buy shoes is the same as buying a bus card - you need it for transportation!"
And lastly, if anyone believes that my dreams come true (the actual dreams that I dream at night) then Arsenal will play Roma in the finals of Champion's League and win 1-0. But if you bet on it, don't blame me if it turns out to be false. ;-)
Adíos for now,
/k
p.s. a quick comment on the fact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has turned down playing for the Swedish national team from now on. What can I say? I am not surprised. It is a bit sad seeing as he is a good player and seems to have found his brilliance once again, but if he's not motivated to play then do we really want him in our team?
Wednesday 14 February 2007
I miss the Swedish way of things!
Hola!
The other day we found a wireless network in my room in our apartment, but it only seems to work sometimes, so internet café's and hopefully the university's computers will be home to my internet needs. (which are rather big I must say, Spanish TV don't offer many alternative things to do...)
It is still rather confusing with how it works with choosing courses and having to look up professors and talk to them and all that. Today there was an information meeting in the morning which cleared up some questions, but oh how I miss the Swedish way of things! It is truly so that one gets completely patriotic when one is abroad. Also we did a test today to determine which level our Spanish is, and, even though I hate to admit it, my result isn't going to be beautiful. But as Sol says, we have a lot to learn and that is a good thinbg, 'cause we will for sure learn a lot! (Gotta keep on thinking positively...)
At least in all the confusion it seems we're doing something right as the guys from last saturday told us one should get to know bartenders, and we've already started to do that... ;-) Another one last friday at the Irish Dublin Bay. (He even recognised us on the street and stopped us for a quick chat..)
Otherwise we have been shopping a wee bit. A new jacket for me as the green one broke, a new wallet - the old one was going to break any day - and a pair of earrings 'cause let's face it, they're necessary for survival! ;-)
Life's moving forward slowly but still, and each day is full of new words and experiences. Although there have already been many misunderstandings and troubles it's still great to be here. All's gonna work out, today I'm positive! (and find it necessary to find courses given in English 'cause only Spanish will be a problem. For sure!)
/k
The other day we found a wireless network in my room in our apartment, but it only seems to work sometimes, so internet café's and hopefully the university's computers will be home to my internet needs. (which are rather big I must say, Spanish TV don't offer many alternative things to do...)
It is still rather confusing with how it works with choosing courses and having to look up professors and talk to them and all that. Today there was an information meeting in the morning which cleared up some questions, but oh how I miss the Swedish way of things! It is truly so that one gets completely patriotic when one is abroad. Also we did a test today to determine which level our Spanish is, and, even though I hate to admit it, my result isn't going to be beautiful. But as Sol says, we have a lot to learn and that is a good thinbg, 'cause we will for sure learn a lot! (Gotta keep on thinking positively...)
At least in all the confusion it seems we're doing something right as the guys from last saturday told us one should get to know bartenders, and we've already started to do that... ;-) Another one last friday at the Irish Dublin Bay. (He even recognised us on the street and stopped us for a quick chat..)
Otherwise we have been shopping a wee bit. A new jacket for me as the green one broke, a new wallet - the old one was going to break any day - and a pair of earrings 'cause let's face it, they're necessary for survival! ;-)
Life's moving forward slowly but still, and each day is full of new words and experiences. Although there have already been many misunderstandings and troubles it's still great to be here. All's gonna work out, today I'm positive! (and find it necessary to find courses given in English 'cause only Spanish will be a problem. For sure!)
/k
Monday 12 February 2007
"kartoffeln, kartoffeln, kartoffeln"
Hola!
Just writing a quick blog to let anyone who is interested know that Sol and I moved in to the expensive apartment in the city centre. Unfortunately we do not have internet there, although hopefully we will fix it, and that is why I haven´t been blogging too much recently.
We moved in last friday and have been spending the weekend with our newfound friend Sabine, going out and meeting interesting people. The first night my two blonde friends were being picked up by 16-year-olds (damn I´m happy I´m not blonde!), one of whom held a beer bottle to his ear and said ´kartoffeln, kartoffeln, kartoffeln´. The second night we found some people our age who brought us to a ´hardcore, underground place´. One of the guys spoke excellent English, but then again he had been in Kalmar, Sweden, to study... ;-) The few words he knew in Swedish are not worth repeating. We have to start teaching foreigners better words, and not only the bad ones...
Yesterday we went to the cinema and saw Babel in its original version with Spanish subtitles. This meant we understood the parts where they spoke English, but if anyone who has seen the movie would like to fill me in on what happened with the Japanese girl´s mother then that would be brilliant!
I wil be back soon with a longer entry describing more of our life here, but for now I´ll just say that it is absolutely brilliant to have found a place to stay at (even though it is situated on the party street no 1 for 16+), where we can wash our clothes (although the drying procedure is a never-ending story) and cook our own meals (although we have still to find more spices).
/k
Just writing a quick blog to let anyone who is interested know that Sol and I moved in to the expensive apartment in the city centre. Unfortunately we do not have internet there, although hopefully we will fix it, and that is why I haven´t been blogging too much recently.
We moved in last friday and have been spending the weekend with our newfound friend Sabine, going out and meeting interesting people. The first night my two blonde friends were being picked up by 16-year-olds (damn I´m happy I´m not blonde!), one of whom held a beer bottle to his ear and said ´kartoffeln, kartoffeln, kartoffeln´. The second night we found some people our age who brought us to a ´hardcore, underground place´. One of the guys spoke excellent English, but then again he had been in Kalmar, Sweden, to study... ;-) The few words he knew in Swedish are not worth repeating. We have to start teaching foreigners better words, and not only the bad ones...
Yesterday we went to the cinema and saw Babel in its original version with Spanish subtitles. This meant we understood the parts where they spoke English, but if anyone who has seen the movie would like to fill me in on what happened with the Japanese girl´s mother then that would be brilliant!
I wil be back soon with a longer entry describing more of our life here, but for now I´ll just say that it is absolutely brilliant to have found a place to stay at (even though it is situated on the party street no 1 for 16+), where we can wash our clothes (although the drying procedure is a never-ending story) and cook our own meals (although we have still to find more spices).
/k
Thursday 8 February 2007
Siesta, oh wonderful siesta...
Hola!
It is truly funny with all of these cultural and lingual misunderstandings. Today we had a meeting with our new landlord and the agency to sign the lease for our new apartment. Yesterday we had decided it was going to be at 9 a.m. Then the lady from the agency called and changed the time. But somehow we misunderstood her or something, ‘cause we understood 8 a.m. and woke up early and went in the rain (yes, today it was raining, for the first time so far) to Plaza Mayor and the office. We were there at 8 sharp and the office was closed and no one was there. We figured maybe we misunderstood and we were supposed to meet at 8.30 or 8 at night. At 8.30 when still no one had arrived we left and went to a wonderful little café for a café con leche and then we just started walking. Of course the woman from the office called us around 9 and asked where we were… Apparently 8 o’clock means 9 o’clock over here… Oh well…
We signed the contract and tomorrow we will most hopefully move in to our new flat, the sweetest little 2 bedroom apartment! We are very excited and longing still for being able to cook our own food (although tonight’s dinner was actually really good – chicken kebab! Yes, I miss Malmö, but that kebab was brilliant!) and being able to wash our clothes and stop living out of a suitcase.
Seeing as we woke up so early this morning, we were fairly tired after lunch and both of us took a nap. I slept like a baby for about 2 hours and finally understood how wonderful it is to have a schedules time during the day for napping! Today it was brilliant. And I mean in general you have an excuse for doing nothing, sleeping or spending time with someone in the middle of the day! This is something I could get used to.
Tonight, after the kebab, we went to our favourite hang out again - the Harlem Café – where we once again were treated very nicely. The owner gave us free drinks and the barman actually spoke English AND knew that Malmö was a city in Sweden! Also another guest at the bar remembered that Malmö FF had played finals in the European Cup in the 70’s! Now we’re for sure going to become regulars there!
Ha luego!
/k
It is truly funny with all of these cultural and lingual misunderstandings. Today we had a meeting with our new landlord and the agency to sign the lease for our new apartment. Yesterday we had decided it was going to be at 9 a.m. Then the lady from the agency called and changed the time. But somehow we misunderstood her or something, ‘cause we understood 8 a.m. and woke up early and went in the rain (yes, today it was raining, for the first time so far) to Plaza Mayor and the office. We were there at 8 sharp and the office was closed and no one was there. We figured maybe we misunderstood and we were supposed to meet at 8.30 or 8 at night. At 8.30 when still no one had arrived we left and went to a wonderful little café for a café con leche and then we just started walking. Of course the woman from the office called us around 9 and asked where we were… Apparently 8 o’clock means 9 o’clock over here… Oh well…
We signed the contract and tomorrow we will most hopefully move in to our new flat, the sweetest little 2 bedroom apartment! We are very excited and longing still for being able to cook our own food (although tonight’s dinner was actually really good – chicken kebab! Yes, I miss Malmö, but that kebab was brilliant!) and being able to wash our clothes and stop living out of a suitcase.
Seeing as we woke up so early this morning, we were fairly tired after lunch and both of us took a nap. I slept like a baby for about 2 hours and finally understood how wonderful it is to have a schedules time during the day for napping! Today it was brilliant. And I mean in general you have an excuse for doing nothing, sleeping or spending time with someone in the middle of the day! This is something I could get used to.
Tonight, after the kebab, we went to our favourite hang out again - the Harlem Café – where we once again were treated very nicely. The owner gave us free drinks and the barman actually spoke English AND knew that Malmö was a city in Sweden! Also another guest at the bar remembered that Malmö FF had played finals in the European Cup in the 70’s! Now we’re for sure going to become regulars there!
Ha luego!
/k
Wednesday 7 February 2007
no, we do not want to live in a "cockroach-home"
Hola!
Being away from home can be quite tough. Trying to figure out how to live in a new society equally hard. That is why, I guess, it is easy to find something that you like somewhat and stick to it. As everything is so new, anything that is good or similar to something you know is brilliant. So Sol and I went to the Mexican restaurant we went to the first night here again yesterday. The food was all right and at least it is a restaurant. And again we were the first guests there. Apparently it is too early to eat at nine o’clock at night…
Today we went to say yes to the apartment from yesterday. Now the woman working in the agency is going to draw up a contract and then we will probably sign it tomorrow. We went to look at another apartment as well, with another agency and guy working there who was close to impossible to understand, a cheaper one. That apartment was as Sol put it a “cockroach-home”. Dirty (it looked as if no one had cleaned at all in years) and disgusting. Good it was daylight, ‘cause otherwise the little roaches would for sure show their face.
We also started to investigate the different shops on the shopping street. Zara, Mango, el Corte Inglés… Lets just say that our bags probably won’t be getting lighter during our stay here…
For lunch we found a salad in a bread-place similar to Subway and for dinner we made some food of our own in our room in the hostel – baguette with salmon, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. It was brilliant! Possibly the best meal since we arrived in this country. We are so longing for our own kitchen and the possibility to make food at home. It’s the little things…
On Sunday we’re hopefully going to our first football game at the José Zorilla stadium here in Valladolid. If we can find the stadium. We’re going to go and talk to the guys in the Real Valladolid fan shop just down the street. Hopefully they will be helpful.
Right now we’re watching ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in Spanish. It’s completely ‘loco’ that they dub all TV! Well, well…
/k
Being away from home can be quite tough. Trying to figure out how to live in a new society equally hard. That is why, I guess, it is easy to find something that you like somewhat and stick to it. As everything is so new, anything that is good or similar to something you know is brilliant. So Sol and I went to the Mexican restaurant we went to the first night here again yesterday. The food was all right and at least it is a restaurant. And again we were the first guests there. Apparently it is too early to eat at nine o’clock at night…
Today we went to say yes to the apartment from yesterday. Now the woman working in the agency is going to draw up a contract and then we will probably sign it tomorrow. We went to look at another apartment as well, with another agency and guy working there who was close to impossible to understand, a cheaper one. That apartment was as Sol put it a “cockroach-home”. Dirty (it looked as if no one had cleaned at all in years) and disgusting. Good it was daylight, ‘cause otherwise the little roaches would for sure show their face.
We also started to investigate the different shops on the shopping street. Zara, Mango, el Corte Inglés… Lets just say that our bags probably won’t be getting lighter during our stay here…
For lunch we found a salad in a bread-place similar to Subway and for dinner we made some food of our own in our room in the hostel – baguette with salmon, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. It was brilliant! Possibly the best meal since we arrived in this country. We are so longing for our own kitchen and the possibility to make food at home. It’s the little things…
On Sunday we’re hopefully going to our first football game at the José Zorilla stadium here in Valladolid. If we can find the stadium. We’re going to go and talk to the guys in the Real Valladolid fan shop just down the street. Hopefully they will be helpful.
Right now we’re watching ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in Spanish. It’s completely ‘loco’ that they dub all TV! Well, well…
/k
Tuesday 6 February 2007
blogging too much, I know, but...
Hola!
It really does seem that I have become a blogging-nerd, but hey, when life's circulating around calling Spanish-non-English-speaking people about apartments and going from complete hopefulness and complete distress, it may not be such a huge surprise.
So what’s new? Well, we didn’t get that apartment in the end as the girl didn’t dare to live with us. (They said she was afraid to be left out because we were two and she one, but the real reason was probably that we didn’t speak much Spanish…). Oh well, that’s life. We’ve called almost 30 people about apartments and rooms in apartments and no luck. But then we decided to go to some apartment-renting offices and got to see a quite nice, although expensive, 2 bedroom-apartment that we are currently considering taking. It would be only us living there and it looked okay interior-wise.
Also we were woken up this morning because they were going to change the beds in our room! Crazy one, but we can at least stay without any problem which is a good thing. The apartment, by the way, the one that we’re currently considering, is located only a couple of streets from our hostel. So we already would know our way around…
Otherwise we had some crazy difficulties yesterday finding a place to eat dinner at. It seems Mondays are a slow day and the only places that are open are either really expensive or tapas bars. In the end we found a hamburger joint and my God! It was probably the worst hamburger I’ve ever had! Sol had some problems keeping hers together and so we got a well-needed laugh. But for sure we’re never going back, it was worse than McDonald’s and Burger King. Then you might understand how bad it was.
After that we went to the Dublin Bay, an Irish pub which looked good from the outside (and the inside). Since my Dublin-days I do love Irish pubs abroad, because you can always be sure that you can get a good pint of beer and generally it is possible to order in English. This time, though, that wasn’t possible. I don’t know how difficult it can be to understand “A pint of beer please”. I mean it’s not like I’m talking about science or politics, I’m asking for a beer! Oh well, it’s just to get used to it I guess.
We’ll see where our hungry stomachs and thirsty mouths will bring us tonight. And soon there will be pictures here as well...
/k
p.s. tack Per-Åke för kommentaren! Den gjorde mig mkt glad! :-) Å Aino, gracias por tomar tiempo! ;-)
It really does seem that I have become a blogging-nerd, but hey, when life's circulating around calling Spanish-non-English-speaking people about apartments and going from complete hopefulness and complete distress, it may not be such a huge surprise.
So what’s new? Well, we didn’t get that apartment in the end as the girl didn’t dare to live with us. (They said she was afraid to be left out because we were two and she one, but the real reason was probably that we didn’t speak much Spanish…). Oh well, that’s life. We’ve called almost 30 people about apartments and rooms in apartments and no luck. But then we decided to go to some apartment-renting offices and got to see a quite nice, although expensive, 2 bedroom-apartment that we are currently considering taking. It would be only us living there and it looked okay interior-wise.
Also we were woken up this morning because they were going to change the beds in our room! Crazy one, but we can at least stay without any problem which is a good thing. The apartment, by the way, the one that we’re currently considering, is located only a couple of streets from our hostel. So we already would know our way around…
Otherwise we had some crazy difficulties yesterday finding a place to eat dinner at. It seems Mondays are a slow day and the only places that are open are either really expensive or tapas bars. In the end we found a hamburger joint and my God! It was probably the worst hamburger I’ve ever had! Sol had some problems keeping hers together and so we got a well-needed laugh. But for sure we’re never going back, it was worse than McDonald’s and Burger King. Then you might understand how bad it was.
After that we went to the Dublin Bay, an Irish pub which looked good from the outside (and the inside). Since my Dublin-days I do love Irish pubs abroad, because you can always be sure that you can get a good pint of beer and generally it is possible to order in English. This time, though, that wasn’t possible. I don’t know how difficult it can be to understand “A pint of beer please”. I mean it’s not like I’m talking about science or politics, I’m asking for a beer! Oh well, it’s just to get used to it I guess.
We’ll see where our hungry stomachs and thirsty mouths will bring us tonight. And soon there will be pictures here as well...
/k
p.s. tack Per-Åke för kommentaren! Den gjorde mig mkt glad! :-) Å Aino, gracias por tomar tiempo! ;-)
Monday 5 February 2007
New address?
We may have found a place to live! 5 minutes from campus and 10-15 minutes from Plaza Mayor. Then we would be living on the 9th floor in a three bedroom apartment with a Spanish girl who doesn't speak a word of English... I'll keep you posted on how it goes...
/k
/k
starting to understand how things work
Hola again!
So today we have already done some good stuff – bought Spanish sim-cards, went to the international relations office and received some help in looking for apartments (still no luck though, but we’re calling on some tonight so keep your fingers crossed…). The people at the university were really friendly and we understood most of what they said – I guess they’re used to having foreigners with bad Spanish coming there. We also met a German girl there who seemed nice.
We have also now figured out that the shops are in general open between 10-14 and then 17-20.30. Weird for us, normal for them. I mean what if we get a craving for something in between those times? Then it will be close to impossible to give in to the craving! Planning ahead, sure, but you never know what you’re in the mood for…
Yesterday evening we watched our first Spanish football game in Spain, although it was on TV, Osasuna-Barcelona. It wasn’t a very good game though. But the barman recognised us since yesterday and gave us a free beer! Always nice with friends in important places (in other words, bars!).
Also I must apologise if anyone has tried to write a comment, it seems I had somehow put that I would only allow google-users or members of this blog to comment. It should be fixed now though, so don’t be shy!
Otherwise life’s all right (it will be even better when we find a flat), the weather is still mild, the food and drinks okay and we’re getting by all right with the Spanish we do have (although school will for sure be difficult…
Bye for now,
/k
So today we have already done some good stuff – bought Spanish sim-cards, went to the international relations office and received some help in looking for apartments (still no luck though, but we’re calling on some tonight so keep your fingers crossed…). The people at the university were really friendly and we understood most of what they said – I guess they’re used to having foreigners with bad Spanish coming there. We also met a German girl there who seemed nice.
We have also now figured out that the shops are in general open between 10-14 and then 17-20.30. Weird for us, normal for them. I mean what if we get a craving for something in between those times? Then it will be close to impossible to give in to the craving! Planning ahead, sure, but you never know what you’re in the mood for…
Yesterday evening we watched our first Spanish football game in Spain, although it was on TV, Osasuna-Barcelona. It wasn’t a very good game though. But the barman recognised us since yesterday and gave us a free beer! Always nice with friends in important places (in other words, bars!).
Also I must apologise if anyone has tried to write a comment, it seems I had somehow put that I would only allow google-users or members of this blog to comment. It should be fixed now though, so don’t be shy!
Otherwise life’s all right (it will be even better when we find a flat), the weather is still mild, the food and drinks okay and we’re getting by all right with the Spanish we do have (although school will for sure be difficult…
Bye for now,
/k
Sunday 4 February 2007
starting to feel at home already
Hola!
We have now been here in Valladolid for a good 24 hours and wow, we are amazed by the beauty of the city centre and by the almost complete lack of grocery stores. There are many shops, restaurants, bars and cafés, but to find a place to buy fruits or water to keep in our room – well, lets just say it could be easier. (Sometimes it’s easy to miss Möllan back home and its ability to solve and craving no matter what time a day it is.)
The weather here is dry and a bit cold when the sun goes down, but in the middle of the day it is warm enough to sit outside and have lunch or coffee without feeling even a little bit cold. What’s amazing is the amount of people out on the streets during the days and nights – complete families, people of all ages! But it is a bit frustrating to get used to the new times a.k.a. when to eat dinner, when stores are open and so on. But we will I am sure. Yesterday evening we managed to find a nice restaurant and start to eat just before the big rush and so that is our plan for future meals.
Walked around today to see not only the city centre with the main street and plaza mayor, but also to find where the university is. And the university is so beautiful! Old buildings with beautiful parks, I think we’re going to like it here. (Although I am still afraid of sitting in on lectures given in Spanish and try to understand that… it will be a hard working semester I think.) Tomorrow we are going to the university and talk to them, get Spanish sim-cards (finally), and call about apartments. It’s scary having to talk on the phone to someone in Spanish, you can never be sure exactly if you’re getting it right and whether you’re expressing what you want to express, but a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do. Our goal is to find an apartment as soon as possible, not only because hostels cost more in the long-run, but also since my mom and brother are coming to visit soon and then I will get more stuff to carry around…
Anyway, will be back with more info soon.
Adíos for now,
/k
We have now been here in Valladolid for a good 24 hours and wow, we are amazed by the beauty of the city centre and by the almost complete lack of grocery stores. There are many shops, restaurants, bars and cafés, but to find a place to buy fruits or water to keep in our room – well, lets just say it could be easier. (Sometimes it’s easy to miss Möllan back home and its ability to solve and craving no matter what time a day it is.)
The weather here is dry and a bit cold when the sun goes down, but in the middle of the day it is warm enough to sit outside and have lunch or coffee without feeling even a little bit cold. What’s amazing is the amount of people out on the streets during the days and nights – complete families, people of all ages! But it is a bit frustrating to get used to the new times a.k.a. when to eat dinner, when stores are open and so on. But we will I am sure. Yesterday evening we managed to find a nice restaurant and start to eat just before the big rush and so that is our plan for future meals.
Walked around today to see not only the city centre with the main street and plaza mayor, but also to find where the university is. And the university is so beautiful! Old buildings with beautiful parks, I think we’re going to like it here. (Although I am still afraid of sitting in on lectures given in Spanish and try to understand that… it will be a hard working semester I think.) Tomorrow we are going to the university and talk to them, get Spanish sim-cards (finally), and call about apartments. It’s scary having to talk on the phone to someone in Spanish, you can never be sure exactly if you’re getting it right and whether you’re expressing what you want to express, but a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do. Our goal is to find an apartment as soon as possible, not only because hostels cost more in the long-run, but also since my mom and brother are coming to visit soon and then I will get more stuff to carry around…
Anyway, will be back with more info soon.
Adíos for now,
/k
Saturday 3 February 2007
Final destination: Valladolid
Hola!
Today we left a wonderful (and cheap) hostel in central Madrid, and Madrid in itself, for the final destination and our home the next few months - Valladolid! The bus ride was okay (went by Athletico Madrid’s football stadium!!) and the closer we came a feeling in my stomach started making itself noticed. No, it wasn’t one of worry and distrust in my new location, rather the opposite. That everything will work out and be okay. The taxi ride from the bus station to our new hostel showed us that the city is much smaller than Madrid (dah!) and that people seem to actually live here and have sort of ‘normal’ lives. Okay, I know, people live in Madrid as well, but the city is so big that it is hard to see the – how should I put it? – normal lives of normal people… I’m a bit blurry in my description I know, but I’m sure I will come back with more thoughts on that later as I get to know Valladolid and go back to visit Madrid (Miguelito has promised me a guided tour!).
Our first stop in Valladolid was ‘Harlem Café’, just opposite our hostel (the hostel didn’t open until after a while), a nice place where they show rugby on TV and the clientele consisted of mainly men. After a couple of cervezas we went to our hostel and carried our heavy suitcases up the stairs (it seems lifts are a luxury in Spain, and that it was stupid to bring so much stuff here – my shoulders are broken :-( ). It was no problem to stay for longer and guess what!? They have wireless in our room! That was definitely a nice surprise.
Tonight we’re going out for dinner and maybe some more beers and tomorrow we will explore our new home city (and try to find our new home football stadium! ;-)
Will be back soon with further details! Take care
Adíos for now/k
Today we left a wonderful (and cheap) hostel in central Madrid, and Madrid in itself, for the final destination and our home the next few months - Valladolid! The bus ride was okay (went by Athletico Madrid’s football stadium!!) and the closer we came a feeling in my stomach started making itself noticed. No, it wasn’t one of worry and distrust in my new location, rather the opposite. That everything will work out and be okay. The taxi ride from the bus station to our new hostel showed us that the city is much smaller than Madrid (dah!) and that people seem to actually live here and have sort of ‘normal’ lives. Okay, I know, people live in Madrid as well, but the city is so big that it is hard to see the – how should I put it? – normal lives of normal people… I’m a bit blurry in my description I know, but I’m sure I will come back with more thoughts on that later as I get to know Valladolid and go back to visit Madrid (Miguelito has promised me a guided tour!).
Our first stop in Valladolid was ‘Harlem Café’, just opposite our hostel (the hostel didn’t open until after a while), a nice place where they show rugby on TV and the clientele consisted of mainly men. After a couple of cervezas we went to our hostel and carried our heavy suitcases up the stairs (it seems lifts are a luxury in Spain, and that it was stupid to bring so much stuff here – my shoulders are broken :-( ). It was no problem to stay for longer and guess what!? They have wireless in our room! That was definitely a nice surprise.
Tonight we’re going out for dinner and maybe some more beers and tomorrow we will explore our new home city (and try to find our new home football stadium! ;-)
Will be back soon with further details! Take care
Adíos for now/k
Friday 2 February 2007
Estoy en Madrid!!
Hola!
We arrived in Madrid in the middle of the night and it has been crazy so far. But I have ordered my first coffee in Spanish and asked for directions and tried to get around. The weather is warmer than at home but quite cold when the sun isn't shining. We had our lunch at the Plaza Mayor outside today and it wasn't too cold... :-) The people are friendly although their language skills in English could be discussed. This is on the other hand good for our language skills...
Will be back soon with further details. I miss you all.
/k
We arrived in Madrid in the middle of the night and it has been crazy so far. But I have ordered my first coffee in Spanish and asked for directions and tried to get around. The weather is warmer than at home but quite cold when the sun isn't shining. We had our lunch at the Plaza Mayor outside today and it wasn't too cold... :-) The people are friendly although their language skills in English could be discussed. This is on the other hand good for our language skills...
Will be back soon with further details. I miss you all.
/k
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