Edad de Pavo.

This will probably be the most random blog yet.

Edad de Pavo is a new frase I learned here in Segovia. Edad de Pavo means you are in the primetime of your life, when you have no worries, no responsibilities, and like to party, and you have a hard time concentrating in school. That basically describes a college student to a T.
I think Georgia Southern is in their Edad de Pavo. These past couple of weeks have flown by. I never thought I was ever going to leave Spain, but we are winding down the days very quickly and America is right around the corner. I am trying to seize the day, and do everything I can before I go home. So with that in mind, I have a few stories that have been going on for the past couple of weeks.
FOOD:

This past week I ate bacalao which is a common fish that most spainards eat.. It was delicious, and she fried it which made it even better. She kept the eyes in it though it was really weird. That poor fish was staring at me.

I also ate a kebap.. Which is turkish and ate french fries with the hottest ketchup of my life.

Eggs. I can not eat another egg. Please for the love of God. No MORE EGGS. ha. Eggs fried, scrambled, boiled, sunnyside up, eggs in pasta, eggs with some kind of lamb, eggs in a cream sauce, eggs on sandwiches, eggs in salad.. I sound like Bubba off of Forest Gump but instead of shrimp, with eggs.

One night this past week Raquel asked me to make dinner. So naturally I chose pancakes. But when I went to get the ingredients their is no syrup... How am I supposed to eat pancakes without having jarobe de arce (maple syrup) so I decided to use melted strawberry jelly. They did not notice the difference, and they loved them!!!!

During this past week also Raquel and I went on a walk to the outskirts of Segovia with her two friends. It was so funny hearing them gossip in Spanish and talking about their husbands and children and all of their problems. Sometimes I forget that all people have the same problems.

But we walked all the way towards the mountain wear the mountain looks like a dead woman buried in the mountains...

Here is the legend although there are many versions. There was a beautiful woman who fell in love with this man and his best friend. Well one day the woman was pregnant but did not know which man it was from. So both of the men were fighting with swords, well the woman got in the fight because she did not want to ruin their friendship. Well one of the men ended up stabbing her while she was pregnant. This is why there is a huge hump in the picture because when she died she was still pregnant. What a horrible legend right? ha but the picture sure does look like a pregnant woman laying down..

Pizza, Pasta, Pinot. Three days thee different places to live.

Ah. getting to Rome. An experience I will never forget. We decided to leave Segovia with a group to go to Madrid around 8:30 on Wednesday night. After getting to the bus station in Segovia we hopped on a bus to go to Madrid. We arrived in Madrid about 10:15 pm. When we got to Madrid we took the Metro to the airport and arrived there finally around 11:15 pm. We found a comfy spot to set all of our belongings and began the long 7 and a half hours of waiting until check in at 5:30 am and flight at 7:30am. Well so we were like what are we going to do for 7 and a half hours?? So we went to a cafeteria to get a coffee.. Me and cassie ann asked for a machiatto. and all u coffee drinkers out there... its not what i thought it was going to be. It was a shot of coffee lol.. It was a joke. I actually could not contain myself when he gave it to me. 

So after that incident. I went to charge my phone in the bathroom for two hours. I listened to music, charged my phone, watch someone go from long hair to short hair (this girl was hacking away at her friends hair), and read a magazine in spanish. 

Around 4:30am I am starting to grow weary by the second. Us 8 americans had two different flights. Me and Cassie Ann were on one flight and the other six were on the other one. Well the other peoples flight was at 6:30 so their check in was earlier. SO when they went up there three noticed they different have their passports. So they were out of luck, and had to change their flight for a 100 euros, go back to segovia to get their passports, and take a bus back to Madrid to get on their flight to go to Rome. too much work to ask me. but they really wanted to go. So it was worth it to them .

Me and Cassie Ann checked on fine and we were finally on the way to Italy. When we arrived in Italy around 10 am. We arrived at Terminal 1. so one would think your luggage would be at Terminal 1 baggage claim.. WRONGO. it was at Terminal 3 and it took Cassie Ann and I an hour to find our luggage sitting off the conveyer belt all alooooone. I know that was spelt wrong. We were so happy that no one took our luggage. 

So we got our luggage and preceeded to find a taxi to get us to our "hotel" that we suppppposedly book for three nights.. But I'll get to that in a second. Our hotel is about 40 min outside the airport so we had to take a private taxi to get us their... It costed us 40 euros which in translation to American money about 60 bucks... A little ridiculous if you ask me... But we did not care at that point because we were food deprived and exhausted. So we were riding along and we ended up having to share the taxi with a couple.. they looked like they were worth a million dollars and got dropped off at the ritz carlton of Rome, Italy for a million dollar wedding no big deal. 

When we arrived at our hotel we went upstairs to our hotel to find out we just booked the hotel for Saturday night so we were out of a hotel for two nights... Very disappointed, sad, tired, and hungry Cassie Ann and I set out to find another hotel. We ended up finding a place close to our first restaurant in Italy. When Cassie Ann and I were eating lunch which was a fresh creamy pasty with spinach and persuitto with a bottle of white wine!

we met three guys from Colorado were eating next to us and later that day they ended up being our tour guides because they had been in Italy for three days. At 4:30 we met the guys outside of the restaurant, it was pouring raining.. But we did not care, we were in ITALY! They guys ended up showing me and Cassie Ann where termini station was (which is the big metro station to basically get everywhere in Italy), showing us how to buy our ROMA passes which got us free into everywhere and free metro and bus tickets, and to us to Vatican City!! 

Let's talk about the metro for a second. It was NASTY and people do not know what deodorant is. I have never smelled something like that in my entire life. They like to go all natural here, and that's just not ok people. 

Vatican City was breath taking, but me and Cassie Ann couldn't go inside because we were wearing dresses and you have to be wearing sleeves and pants to enter... 

After the Vatican the guys, Cassie Ann, and I went to dinner at a Pizzeria and got pizza!! Basically I can never eat pizza ever again because Italian pizza is unbeatable. It is fresh cheeses, sauce, and bread, and different kinds of toppings like potatoes. YUMMY! 

The Colorado boys after dinner got swindled into buying me and Cassie Ann a half of a dozen roses lol because the guy who was selling them basically robbed one of the guys of the money. Then the guys took us to the famous Gelato place to get gelato. I got Nutella. 

 Later that night, we met up with the rest of the guys later that night to have a bottle of wine.. and when we went to pay we saw a charge that you have to pay to sit outside their establishment. Ok italy. That next morning we walked Rome up and down... We first visited Coliseum which was beyond anything I could have imagined. We went outside and inside. 

Then we went to the Fontana de Trevi... Beautfiul. Threw in three coins (backwards).

1. Signifying you are coming back to Rome one day

2. Find Love

3. Marry your Love

Then we went to the Roman Forum, but we did not go inside because it would have taken forever. 

Then we went to the Pantheon. LARGE. I have seen it in pictures, but going inside and sitting in the pews made it feel like real life. After a long day around Rome. We decided to go to this cliche Coliseum party... which was very fun. We were able to meet other Americans, go to a few bars around Rome, and have complete transportation everywhere and free pizza. So at the end it was very worth it! The next day we went to eat pasta, but instead I got a calzone bigger than my whole body. 

A couple of random things cause I did not know where to fit them in my blog. 

1. I love Italian accents.. can i marry an Italian please?

2. When i wanted my passport stamped she would not stamp it because she said Italy and Spain are both in Europe... Well I know that DUMMY. but i still want the pretty stamp. She did not get that. 

3.  Piacere.. means nice to meet you. 

4. I only learned like three words in Italian in three days.

5. We had to move three different times into three different hotels. 

6. Italians are very cocky and touchy. 

7. And it took me and Cassie Ann from 6:30 in the morning til 4:30 in the afternoon to get home that Sunday. 

Lastly.....

I love Rome, Italy. 

Next update: Segovia so quaint. 

12 things I learned while in Madrid...you know you are an American when..

12 things I learned in Madrid...

1. Mojitios are the bomb in Spain
2. Fanta Límon is Awesome! (why doesn't America have this???)
3. They say Jesus everytime you sneeze bc they think you are casting out a demon when you sneeze
4. People will always stare at you no matter what, and think you are a dumb American
5. Check out of the hotel... or you will get charged another day
6. Boys wear capris
7. Madrid= disney world (minnie mouse and circus acts around every corner)
8. Asians and African-Americans speak perfect Spanish
9. They serve beer in vending machines (no joke) 
10. They serve beer at Mcdonalds as your drink
11. You can't put your feet on the metal bench in the middle of a public bus station or the police will get on to you
12. Policeman look like strippers :)  

You know you are an American when..

1. You ask for WIFI every café you go into
2. You ask when the next meal is
3. You ask for separate checks at the cafés
4. Wonder where the water fountains are
5. You ask for tacos and expect shells
6. Wear cowboy boots
7. You would like ice in your drinks
8. When you are out of breath when you get somewhere
9. You have blisters from walking so much
10. When you get whistled at every five seconds
11. Carrying a map in the Metro station in Madrid
12. Take the wrong bus to the middle of nowhere 
13. Carrying your Vera Bradley around Madrid
14. Wearing Chacos, Raybans, and a Canon Cameron around your neck
15. Nike Shorts

Welcome to Madrid. Where the policeman look like strippers..

So everyone can get a picture of what Madrid looks like. Let me put a picture in your head.. Everyone has seen movies where New York has been seen. Well, picture that times a 100. Let's be serious it is the capital of Spain. It's massive with tall buildings, lots of shopping where the stores have three or four floors at the minimum, and the arquitecture that has been in existence and has been preserved over hundreds and hundreds of years.

 And to our luck elections were going on in the middle of the plaza in Madrid so we had the opportunity to witness riots, protesting, and hippies.. Here are a few pictures and a video.. This people were truly crazy and I can say I have never seen anything like this in my entire life.


 Ok getting to Madrid... Is difficult for the Americans that I traveled with. Story time... We went to the Segovia Bus Station to buy our tickets, they ended up being 6.85 euros. awesome because Madrid is about a hour and a half away from Segovia. Well all of us "Americans" thought, oh we can sit anywhere we want and not bother to look at the ticket with our seat number on it... So we all sit where we want.. well the spaniards start to get on the bus and look at us all like we have lobsters crawling out of our ears and start to get angry.. Then the bus starts moving and everyone is still standing up and moving around. To say the least it was a disaster.. oh well thats the fun part... 




On our second weekend bus ride to Madrid, was even more retarded. I am not gonna let Segovia off the hook here because they messed up... So when I got my ticket this time it said seat 54.. So I preceeded to walk to the end of the bus.. and the last seat is 52. Segovia.... How do you expect me to sit in my seat.. when you dont have enough seats...
Ah.. so finally after a lot of traffic. We arrive in Madrid!! When we got off the bus we looked like a bunch of tourists standing around in our chacos, raybans, bookbags, and suitcases.. and

went down to the metro to try to figure out where and how

Story time. Once upon a time in Segovia...

Before I start talking about how amazing Madrid was the past weekends... I have to start off by telling two stories....
One night last week after dinner around midnight.. typically. I was just minding my own business when my mom and dad here are tearing up the place looking for our cat "SIMBA". Simba is a mean mean cat... that constantly stays on my pillow and hisses at me even if I get close. Well I ventured off a little. My parents were looking for simba and all I could think of while they were looking was the last time I saw Simba, Cassie Ann was leaving the house to go to back home. I thought to myself. What if that cat got out while I wasn't looking...? I thought I had lost the cat... But after a hour of searching we found that stupid cat zipped up in my suitcase.. whoops... here is a picture to prove it.

Second story.. One day me and Cassie Ann were walking to the Plaza or as they say it Plattthhhha because they have a lisp... A young girl was walking by us and screams MIRA MIRA!!!! which means look look and points to us.. I mean... Do I honestly look like a freak of nature... am i that much of a tourist???

ok maybe I do look somewhat of a tourist. but that girl should learn some manners and not point and stare at the tourist. I can not tell you how many stares I have gotten in Segovia.. But they act like they have never seen a blonde southern girl in there whole life.

Culture Shock. Segovia the land I call my HOME.

May 15 - May 29 (let's just keep in mind im skipping around because it has been two weeks)

We have a lot of information to cover so I will just begin with the basics. I have been giving the opportunity of a lifetime to study spanish in Segovia, Spain for six weeks. I know what you all must be thinking where is Segovia? Segovia is about 50 to 60 minutes outside the capital of Spain which is Madrid.

I guess I will start off by talking about what I was feeling before I left the United States on May 15. A lot of emotions ran through my head like. Will I like the food? Will I get accustomed to living in a different country without my family and friends? Will I be living with a great family? Will I feel alone sometimes? Will I miss the commodities of the United States such as my bed, food, toilet paper (yes, they dont believe in it here for some strange reason)? Well let me tell you the feeling I got when I did get off that plane. I basically felt like I was home. These past two weeks have been the experience of a life time and honestly.... I feel like I should have been born in Europe. I have never felt more relaxed, happy, and excited about experiencing the world that has been so distant from me for the longest time. I honestly never want to leave. If I got the chance to move my family and friends here, I would never go back to the United States ever. I know what you all must be thinking, she is a horrible American, but life on this side of the world is completley and utterly different, and thats why I think I like it so much. Ok done with all that sappy,emotional stuff.

 OK DETAILS. DETAILS. DETAILS. What the heck have I been doing for the past two weeks in a nutshell here we go.
Basic schedule every day:
Wake up at 7:15 am, get dressed, eat breakfast. Let's talk about breakfast for a sec. We get zumo de pina o uva(pineapple and grape) which is juice in Spain and then magdalenas... Which is a muffin type bread thingy.. Im honestly can NOT eat another one... Im all magdalena out... But this week I got the courage up to ask my "madre raquel" for some cereal and she asked me what kind and I said anything chocolate like a child... and just so you know.. the milk aint cold here either. Its like luke warm... I don't even wanna talk about it, but it is ok. I got used to it. My sisters on the other had Aroa and Naomi eat wierd stuff. Like the other day.. I came into the kitchen and she was eating crackers crunched up into a thick chocolate milk substance.. It was odd to say the least, but that is what I like about Europe. Everyone is constantly doing odd things. It's like a new adventure everyday watching these Europeans.


8:45 am off to school to meet Cassie Ann (another American student/best friend) outside of her house and we walk a mile to school everyday. OK can we talk about walking for a second. Walking is NO JOKE here in Segovia. They do not mess around about walking. We walk everywhere, probably more than 8 miles every day on average, but me and Cassie Ann have recently figured out the bus system so we are taking advantage of that every chance we get.

9:00 am- 1:50 pm. Time for school... 9-10:30 Spanish Grammar Class, then on to History class in Spanish for another hour and a half. Then Spanish Literature Class for another hour in a half. Can I just say it is not easy to sit in the same chair, in the same classroom when it is blue skies and rainbows outside and you are in a desk... BOO ON SCHOOL. I know it is why I am here, but can we not at least have fridays off??

After class Cassie and I scurry home (one mile again...) to have COMIDA which is lunch here in segovia. Around 2-5 stores, shops, and work closes down so all the families can come home to eat a bountiful lunch together as a family. This is the biggest meal of the day for segovians and spaniards. We typically start off with a carb like rice, potatoes or some type of vegetable. Then we proceed to the next course which is usually a filete (fillet) of fish, lamb, or chicken which is either plancha o frito (seered or fried). In my family we usually eat lamb.. and honestly not a big fan but oh well. Then after that we usually clean the palate with a piece of fruit. I usually ask for honey due or watermelon. Then we have an ice cream or something. Then off to my favorite part of the day SIESTA (nap time).. YIPPEE. until around 4:30 or 5.
Then me and Cassie usually meet up to go down town where the famous aqueduct is to go to a café and meet up with other students to do homework or have a glass of wine or have a tapa (appetizers).

Around 9:30 we all head home to have dinner. My dinner as well as many other segovians do not have dinner until 11:00 at night, and our dinners usually consists of some type of egg, bread, and fruit...
Although we did have enchiladas the other night which were very yummy and good for a change.
My next post is about my weekends in Madrid.