Hey all. It’s odd hearing that people actually read this. As a sort of second diary (I should probably be writing a bit more in the one I actually made for this trip) it weirds me out that so many are privy to my thoughts without my knowledge of exactly is reading. My own fault I guess, I signed up for this nonsense.
Friday our ILACA school group got to go to the theater! The show itself was amazing: compelling plot, great character development, relevant themes. Well, I’m sure it would have been if I had been able to understand any of it. All I could tell was going on was that there were a bunch of women in black that squabbled at each other and broke out in song every once in awhile. Poignant right? I heard some sniffles. Oh, and I think someone hung themselves at the end. The Spanish was waaaaay to fast and slurred for me to catch it so I just ended up zoning out after awhile and creating my own dialogue for what was happening. Entertaining to say the least. The theater itself was beautiful though! Spanish architecture is a little gaudy (can’t wait to see actual Gaudy in Barcelona!) but it was a little toned down for the stage, giving at least some sort of cultural consolation prize for the night. I just did the nod/look interested thing when some random Spaniards sitting behind me started talking about it afterward. In May I want to try to go again, see if by then I’ll be able to appreciate a play and understand at least the basics of it.
But the best part of this weekend by far has been hiking in the Sierra Nevadas, it won by a long shot. Got up at seven on a Saturday (true sign of dedication) and met up with a group from school of about fifteen people and a guide to head out just as it was starting to get light outside. Because the mountains are so darn tall, the sun rises later. We started our hike just as the sun was beginning to peek out behind the mountain ridges—gorgeous. The whole path itself was beautiful up in the mountains, we spent most of the time walking next to a river and waterfalls and sticking to a man-made walkway created on the wall of a ravine. Talk about a fun hike, at points we had to crawl under rocks jutting over the path or swing around outcroppings using hand holds drilled into the cliff face with the river rushing beneath. After about five hours we headed back, haven’t been so exhausted in a long time. That’s most likely because I haven’t actually exercised since summer but I’d like to pretend it’s just because the hike was intense. Honestly, if this trip doesn’t whip me into shape I don’t think I ever will be. So. much. walking. everyday.
Through school we have the option of having an Intercambio: getting paired with a Spanish student learning English to meet up and practice speaking both languages. On Wednesday a program director put me on the phone with my partner and we set up a time to meet up this afternoon. Thankfully, I could understand what they were saying when many other students said their partners spoke fast/slurred/accented to the point of unintelligibility (ooo $3 word). Ugh. It’s this afternoon! Nervous! I know nothing about him except that his name is Jose Manuel and he’s about twenty. Nothing. It feels like a blind date, only worse because we don’t speak the same language. I would love to make Spanish friends though so hopefully we’ll hit it off and not be too awkward, maybe even be able to make this a weekly thing. The idea itself is great, the more that I hear native speakers and am exposed to the language the better I will come to understand it and hopefully be able to speak with more fluidity. Just nervous, that’s all. I meet him in three hours! Ah! Jose Manuel, please be patient and nice. And please be a slow speaker!

Side notes: I forgot to take Bunny (I feel like he had a name at some point…Jack?) to the Sierra Nevadas with me :[

I miss desserts!!!! Chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, where are you?

Kristina-I found a Yogurtlandia! I wonder if it’ll be anything like our beloved Yogurtland, have to try it in the near future and report back.

Lisa-I had graham crackerish things and dulce de leche last night and thought of you, it was like the Spanish version of graham crackers and frosting! We’re going to need a big batch when we next see each other…

Heather-I’m going to work on getting some better stories for you

David-A crossbow might be a bit conspicuous. What about a battle axe?

Ashley-Spain must be explored! Ka! Ka! Rawr!

Braden- You win the opinion poll (kind of hard to lose when you were the only vote). Waiting to actually do the full thing would be much better. Interested in a 500 mile hike at some point in the next ten years?