Deusto

Not only does my family not speak English, but there are very few international students who speak English as their first language as well. When I went to take my entrance exam this morning, we were a bit confused as to which room it was in. Through process of elimination (one room had no blond students in it) we opted for the other room, and later found out that the first room was for the Spanish students retaking their exams that they had failed in the Spring. How nice to be able to retake an exam if you fail. At least I have that security blanket going in.

For lunch, Lindsey, Terese, Terese´s roommate (Reizchlein), and I went out for a real Spanish meal. We each had a paella which is a rice based dish with various toppings in it. The didn´t have the chicken paella in stock, so I opted for the vegetable paella plate instead. It was quite good, a recipe I will have to learn.

After we decided to walk through the old city, which has small shops, narrow streets, and big churches. After exhausting our legs, we opted to see the view of the city from a nearby park which has a bridge that has quite a nice aerial view. The park also has a full turf field, which will be quite nice if I can gather enough people to play soccer. Speaking of soccer, I am off to my park to see if a pick-up game is underway.

All is well in Denmark.

City Life

Walking outside the only places that are open are the bakeries and the churches, a dead give a way that it is Sunday. Even the park had less people today. Today is recovery day, as Omar (el amigo de mi señora) told me; a day for watching futbol, as the kids told me; or a day for sleeping, as mi señora told me. I followed her lead, and slept during the afternoon, because I was planning to go out after dinner. Dinner has still been around 9:30 every night, and the streets are busier at midnight than they are at noon.

However, my plans changed a bit, as we decided to go to the fair instead around 8:00. Bilbao had their annual festivals last week, and the fair stays a week after, so today was the last day. There were thousands of people, as everything at the fair was on sale. 20 bottles of wine for 10 Euros. I don´t quite know how people carried these things to their cars, but I saw armfuls of wine and pig legs today. After the fair, Daniel, the youngest, insisted that we go to Burger King, since he didn´t win a crown at the fair. So went to Burger King, where mi señora ordered a beer with her meal en lieu of a soda. No extra change. Simply a way of life here.

I still have not figured out the bus system here, which would have come in handy last night, as I had to walk nearly three miles back home. The metro, apparently closes at midnight, a fact I wish I had known before I went out. So when I was done for the evening and went to the station, it was gated shut. Which meant that I could take one of the 75 buses, or walk. I opted to walk, as I felt I should know my way around anyways, and did manage to find my house quite easily amidst the dark streets and absence of street signs.

This week will be my first week of immersion classes at the University, which I am rather anxious for. Next week the kids start school, neither of them are excited however. They quite enjoy their days of cartoons and biking. Everyday I am learning more though, and thus my adoration for Spain is increasing.

On a side note, I have decided that if I ever need an escape vehicle, that I am having a European be behind the wheel. The maneuvering tactics and incredibly parking abilities are both smooth and dangerous. A seemingly impossible combination, until you are in the car you may not realize how true it is though.

Tonight will be an early night. ¡Buenas Noches!

I quickly arose this morning, feeling terrible that I had slept in again, and went to the sitting room to see everyone. Luckily, everyone was still sleeping at 10:00am. Perfect. I was going to throw some clothes on and go for a run, but mi señora woke up and insisted that I eat breakfast. I can´t complain, I am getting quite used to the croissants and fruit in the morning. I haven´t yet had a fruit that I recognize, but they are quite tasty. Alas I did not go on my run but instead played soccer with the boys.

I also haven´t adjusted to a three course lunch yet. Mi señora is very pleased at how I like everything. Little does she know I am simply starving, because I haven´t quite grasped the concept of only eating during meals and not in between. This afternoon was filled with a Spanish book that mi señora purchased for me, a bit above my level, but a compliment if nothing else. The boys watch endless amounts of TV, the only stations that I fully understand are the nature channel (because they speak slowly) and the futbol games. Not bad channels though, much better than the dubbed over simpsons and bugs bunny shows. Now, I am actually off for a tour of the night life aspect of the neighborhood, as mi señora wants to make sure I know where not to go. Entonces, hasta luego!

First Day on the Town

I had success in acquiring both a metro pass and confidence while out in the city yesterday. I met both Lindsey (my roommate at Richmond) and our tour guide, Noelia, a girl whom I wrote to a few times over the summer. She attends a university very close to mine, which she pointed out as we came to our stop. The metro itself is much easier than any system that I have previously experienced. There are only two lines, though most of my travels will take me on the main line. You sit in virtual silence while on the metro, no ramblings on cell-phones, no yelling across aisles, I am a bit weary that if I were tired that I could very easily miss my stop due to taking a brief nap.

My university is gorgeous. It is right next to the river, and directly across the street from the infamous Guggenheim. The campus itself is full of outdoor hallways, and thankfully not too much smoke. Though I could be speaking prematurely, I have not found that as many people smoke here as I had expected. After exploring the University, we walked along the river to the old city, which I envisioned as a very traditional Spanish town. Cobblestone roads, lots of cafes, and busy streets.

We also went to the mall to pick up a few odds and ends that we needed, and when we passed the supermarket, I asked Noelia if all their milk was boxed. As the day before when I had gone grocery shopping with my family, the milk was not in the refrigerated section, but rather in the non-perishables. She laughed and asked me how else it would be served, and her friend piped in, “Their milk is like it is in the movies, in those plastic containers”. So they envision my life much like what they see on TV. No wonder foreigners aren’t too fond of Americans, if they think that we are all like the characters on the OC or Desperate Housewives, then I can see no reason of why they would have much respect for us.

Breaking In

Toto, we´re not in Kansas anymore. I was reminded of this before I even arrived in Spain when the charming flight attendant gave me two bottles of wine, one red and one white, as he was unsure of which flavor I would prefer. How thoughtful. I quickly gathered that this meant I would have two more presents to give to my host family. However I didn´t quite make it through London security since silly me forgot to place them in three ounce containers and seal them in a plastic bag. At least I´ll keep that in mind next time I try and smuggle wine into a foreign country. The flights themselves were perfect, enough time for me to read one of my Spanish books cover to cover. Not enough time for tame my anxious nerves.

Once I arrived in Bilbao, I found it quite accessible and easily navigable. I had the option of taking a bus, the metro, or a taxi to my house. I opted for the taxi simply due to the luggage factor. My taxi driver, turned out to be quite a nifty tour guide as well, pointing out all sorts of places for me to visit. So if finding the house was indeed the hardest part of my trip, as I believed it would be before I left, well I am home free. My Spanish improves with every meal. Speaking of meals, I am rather unsure of how the Europeans stay so slim, as it seems that the focal points in their days´are their meals. Not that I´ll complain, because hey, who doesn´t like to eat?

My host family is quite amicable and comical. It consists of Reme, mi señora, and her two sons, Jouandar y Daniel. They are quite entertaining, though rather timid. The mother does have an "amigo" whom has not left the house since I have been here. He is from Argentina and is the one whom I have talked to the most. He does all the cooking, which gives the food a bit of an Argentinian spice. No pun intended. However, I am off to explore the city, so I will return with a metro pass and more stories soon. Ciao.