Fallen underwear dilemma

GeoTagged, [N38.69135, E4.08973]

So do tell me, since I am new to living it apartment buildings and hanging clothes outside to dry... What does one do when a man's bikini Calvin Klein underwear from one of the apartments above falls down into his or her private "patio" area? Haha I mean really, the patio ground level is only open to my apt and the other ground apartment neighbors---it's and enclosed square courtyard, if you will. There are many apartments above, so it's impossible to know which culo these tight underpants belong to. Do I hang them by the mailboxes? I mean, they're not just going to disappear! They have to be removed by someone on this level. The question is, whooooo will be the one the touch the fallen man panties??

Adventures with Julie, Part I: Malaga

Julie's visits!  My first visitor!! How exciting!!  I had been feeling a little homesick like a big baby, so this is just what I needed. 

So to start the trip off right, Julie and I went out in Puertollano with my roommate, Noelia, and some of her friends.  Good times.  Please notice how I strategically only chose one picture from the whole night to post.  Hey, I'm trying to get a teaching job in the future! :)

So to start off the trip, we went to Malaga in the south of Spain.  Julie brought the rain!  We were only there for one night because the cheapest direct flight to Amsterdam left from Malaga the next morning.  Yes, people, I said Amsterdam.

Every city in Spain has an awesome catedral.

So Picasso was born in Malaga, and this is a pretty trippy painted wall of his museum. 

Some big fortress castle.  This is so normal in Spain, no big deal. Castles everywhere.

We also walked through the house/apt where Picasso was born.  It was lame, but I guess it's cool to say I've been there.

That night we went to a restaurant that advertised a flamenco show.   This is a pic of some amazing cheese.  I'm a big fan of cheese, especially Spanish cheese.

 My Spanish friends laugh at me and say I'm such a tourist for going to anything involving a live performance of flamenco.  Listen Spanish amigos, we don't have flamenco in the US.  Get over it, I'm a TOURIST! :) 

We had prime seats for the show, literally a table away.  These pictures were not taken with any zoom.  She was fantastic.

She was also very small.  I am a giant. :(

So during the show, the girl pulled Julie and I up to dance.  HYSTERICAL.  The videos are dark and sideways (my bad, can't figure out how to rotate it...), but they're great.

Club Nasty

GeoTagged, [N37.18330, E3.58682]

Only in Amsterdam there would be a place called Cafe/Club Nasty (the cafe sign lights up during the day and the club sign at night haha)

Dog sweatsuit

GeoTagged, [N37.18330, E3.58682]

Forgot I had taken this in the airport in Malaga.

My bro=Justin Bieber of my school

GeoTagged, [N38.68455, E4.08750]

Zach came to school with me today and yesterday. Hilarious. The teenage girls were so out of control. They said "Spain doesn't make guys like him". Thanks girls, my bro's head is not going to fit on the plane to go home ha. Good times.

So it's been like a month since I've updated... I know you all are just in suspense bc let's be serious, my blog is just soooo entertaining haaaaa. I've been super busy because last week, my friend Julie came to visit, and now my parents and bro are visiting! It's been such an amazing week so far. We just arrived in Granada this evening, and we will stay until Saturday before we head back to Madrid. The fam heads back to the US on Sunday. Wish they could have stayed longer than 10 days, but hey, I'm soo thankful for the time we've had together traveling Spain. Fantastic pictures to come...

Buenas noches to everyone :)

Life is good!!!!

So I had a great weekend and week with my friend Julie. I would post pictures now, but I need to pack (last minute of course) for a trip to Valencia with my PARENTS AND BROTHER WOOOOOOOO! It's 215am, I need to start packing, I'm taking a train at 625am, and I'll see my fam around 8 if all goes well with their flight!!!! Ahhhhhh so excited!!!!!

Had fun celebrating St Patrick's Day today at school and also at the only Irish bar here in puertollano. Also, good pictures to come...

Until next time!

RIP Babe - Vegetarians, look at your own risk!

Yesterday, some friends invited me to go to a little pueblo outside of Puertollano to eat cochinillo asado (roast piglet), which is apparently a very traditional plate of la cocina castellana (Castillian cooking, of the region, Castilla).  Of course, I've had pork and seen a roasted pig. But this was definitely an experience!

So here is the little guy.  It was sad/kind of comical how they just...chopped...him up into sections, serving a big section onto each plate.  So really, this guy filled only 6 plates lol.

....aaaaaand I got the culo (butt) and don't forget the cola (tail)!!!! yikes!

When I was reading about cochinillo, this picture came up.  Said it's from a butchery in Madrid.  Aw, poor babe! 

It was quite the delicious feast, accompanied with as always---good company and good wine from the area.  Without a doubt, la gente se come bien aqui (people eat well here).  :)

Carnaval Weekend = excuse for men to dress up as women!

Starting off el puente ("the bridge" aka the long weekend) right with the usual Friday night crew!

Pleather jackets and faux fur coats are really in here.  Here I am with my friend, Maria Dolores.  How gangsta does she look?? woooo!!! And wow, for those of you who know my grandma, you know she will salivate when she sees the leopard print coat I bought here haha.  Rockin it for Grandma whenever I wear it.

Toni and her marido (husband), Federico.  Interesting side note for you language dorks like me, here in Spain, a married couple is el marido and his mujer (woman).  I was corrected when I got here because I said marida, thinking it was wife.  Interesting because in America, it would be offensive to be referred to (not as a joke, that is) as a man's woman. 

This was Saturday in the main center of the town where people dressed up for Carnaval.  Here I am with some of my students who dressed up as the A Team.  Love it.

These groups of people on stage dress up and sing chiringuitos, which are basically songs about a certain topic, ranging anywhere from politics, the economic crisis, cultural stereotypes, Justin Bieber....

My Soccer buddy/Spanish boyfriend, JuanMa!  How cute?!

And then of course, JuanMa's dad, JuanAntonio, had to rock the wig too!

My pink wig was definitely a big hit!

So here is where it gets disturbing haha.  Carnaval, I have learned, is an excuse for men and teenage boys to frollick around like super skanky women.  This guy was so into it that he even flashed me his pink lacey underwear that he had over his shorts, which under his shorts were his fishnets of course.

This guy came up and chest-bumped me.  Alright, whatever!! Just go with it and don't ask questions!! Haha

A REALLY good Italian restaurant here in Puertollano.

This, my friends, is called a Chupito Hilda (Hilda Shot).  It consists of thick, hot chocolate, whipped cream and cinnamon, all in a delightful edible wafer-ish shot glass.  Definitely a tradition with my Friday night gang.

Cheers!  Chupito Hilda with Maria Dolores.  She's the one who introduced them to me!

The newest addition to my apartment, my new roommate Noelia.  She is very cool.  Just moved in a couple weeks ago (after a complete CAT FIGHT between my other roommates that resulted in one deciding to move out---major drama lol).  She is one year older than me and works at the oil refinery here in Puertollano.  It's also awesome because Noelia is from Sevilla, a very cool city in the south that is well-known for Flamenco.  Can't wait to visit.

Bizcocho

GeoTagged, [N38.69243, E4.10997]

Aw tonight at one of my private lessons, a student of mine gave this bizcocho (a type of cake) as a gift. He's 13, one of my little guys, an he was super proud because it was casero (homemade)....he made it himself. It was so sweet of him... It made my day! :)

Red, white and blue

I love Spain and it's wonderful food, beautiful landscapes, intrinsic architecture, it's culture that emphasizes enjoying life at it's fullest. I love the extremely genuine and amazing friends I have made and the very meaningful friendships that we will always have. I love teaching and i love my fun students that never fail to make me smile. I love siestas.

But I have realized even more from being out here that I am --and always will be-- proud to be American :)

FUTBOL game!

Last Sunday, I went with some good friends to the new futbol estadio (stadium) here in Puertollano to see the Puertollano professional team play.  They played a team from Valencia and lost 1-0 in the last minute. 

So sad! 

My little buddy, Juan Manuel, aka "Juanma".  He is such a cute kid, real sweet too.

 This is my fun friend, Maria Dolores. It was her birthday!!  I went to dinner with their family with them to this awesome restaurant. Haha the name of the restaurant was "Harry's".  Ha a restaurant in Spain called Harry's.  Gotta love it. Oh and Juanma is her son.

More jugadores (players)

Me with my new Puertollano futbol bufanda (scarf).

My Spanish family for the day!  Juan Antonio (JuanAn), Maria Dolores and Juanma.  They are muy majos (very nice).  

After the partido (game), I went with the kids down on the field!  Very cool...