My lovely days in Madrid- Capital of Spain

Last weekend, I had a terrific Halloween weekend enjoying the simplicity and beauty of the capital of Spain. It was incredibly fun! My friend and I found a nice little "apartment" that happened to be in an odd area of the city but we made the best of it and had so many wonderful memories come from it. We arrived late Thursday night, and had a hilarious time trying to order Pizza on the phone in Spanish while the people hadn't a clue what we were talking about. But we got our Pizza and the lady ran away quickly from our neighbourhood, which concerned us a little. Friday, we decided to do a Hop on Hop Off Bus tour to see all the special places the city had to offer. We found incredible shopping areas, huge theatres, and an incredible market with food of every kind. It was absolutely AMAZING. We saw so many monumental, and important historical buildings. It was incredible. Friday night was definitely my favourite part though, we got to see Imagine Dragons live at the Barclaycard Centre. The show was absolutely breathtaking. You could feel the excitement in the air and the place was packed and huge! 

Saturday we toured the city by foot more and in the evening took part in a super fun Halloween Running Race. I had been training up for this for awhile and I was very pleased with my results! It was a blast. My favourite way to spend Halloween! 

And Sunday, we relaxed and went shopping in the ginormous stores all over Gran Via. It was really fun to be tourists and take pictures, since even though we are new to Vigo too, we feel silly camera glued to hand. Madrid was definitely an incredible city to see but I think the experiences made it the real prize. It was also comical to see the name of a Norwegian Band that was opening for Imagine Dragons and their creative name. 

Below is the outside and inside of the wonderful, tasty market we found! Definitely a must see.

 In this plaza, on Halloween there was all kinds of people in costumes and excitement going on. It was incredible. I also bought illegal sunglasses from immigrants and had to run with him, away from the police to pay for them.

                                         

This wasn't before it was even FULL!

 The Norwegian Band

Getting Lost in my Most Rehearsed Hobby

This week I got lost too many times to count. Buses droped me off in random places far from my intended destination and Google Maps betrayed me and sent me to locations that were kilometres from where I was supposed to be. Thanks to that though, I had so many Ahah moments. Yesterday, I had an interview to be a babysitter and teach this woman's children english. She sent me the link and it lead me to the middle of nowhere. I was lost, confused and apparently another 15 minutes away. In the mean time though, I asked these older ladies for directions. Now usually, the older women here just look grumpy and angry all the time. I feel like the grimace at me as I walk by because I am different and foreign. Well, I talked to these two ladies that fit that profile, and they turned out to be the sweetest people I have met in a while. They were saying how lovely I was,  how my spanish was very good and all these wonderful things. They even walked me part of the way I was supposed to go. After that, they gave me kisses and hugs ( The Spanish hello and goodbye) and wished me luck. 

I felt so incredible after that. I broke through my the stereotype I built and got hit with love and acceptance. It gave me such a good feeling. I then went to my interview after getting lost a little more, and felt like it went very well. Afterwards, I saw a pretty view being the big-eyed, gawking Canadian that I am, and followed it. Turns out it led me right to where I got lost the previous week before. So instead of having no idea where I was, I found my way. I sure was exhausted after walking close to 4km, but the experience was worth it. 

I suppose there really is a silver lining in every situation. You just have to be patient enough to see it. 

Is Technology really such a help?

Since I have come to Spain, I have had CONSTANT difficulty with anything that requires technology. I have been here for a month and my roommates have failed to get Wifi. I am positive I will be prepared to leave in June before they actually do so. I could not for the life of me connect to the internet at my University (it took three of us a half an hour of playing around to get it). I bought a new phone that does not emit sound to make phone calls or listen to music. And once repaired, it still does not work.. Also I pay for data on it and websites don't load. At all. And now, my lovely, beautiful laptop has possible water damage in the mouse trackpad.

It is literally one thing after another. If I wasn't so stubborn, and homesick for netflix, I would surely give up and see this as a sign that the higher power wishes I would not have communication with the world. Also apparently Netflix is only a North American concept as I was talking to my roommates about my need for Netflix and they had no idea what I was talking about (but continued to let me blabber on for an hour without wanting to speak up :P ).

So if you have any advice on how to remain sane and what to do with these situations, I would gladly listen! No picture for now.

Another down so we can have more ups!

I really, truly am trying to stay positive through out this entire experience. And as my family and friends know, it is some difficult. Each day is an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. One minute walking on water, the next sinking quickly to the depths of the ocean. For exchangers, we just hope our friends and family will be patient through out it all and we thank you so much when you do!

Don't worry, I waited until the fire was out to take a picture. I'm not THAT bad. So this is the result of not being fully aware of what to do and what not to do in a new country. Simple mistake, I put my BRAND NEW Italian Coffee maker on a burner too big for it and the handle went up in flames. 

I smelled something burning and ran to the kitchen to see the fire just barely hitting the cabinets above. So I yell in English to my roommate "HELP ME! HELPPPP!" and despite the language barrier he understood and helped me put out the fire. And afterwards, I melted like my coffee pot in a pile of tears and just wanted to go home RIGHT then. I was in hysterics. He assured me that it was a little, understandable mistake (although he definitely was thinking "Damn, do I really have to live with this crazy Canadian? She's gonna KILL me.").  I still felt like crap. So I self meditated, went to the beach and did my best to shake off the feeling. 

As a good friend always says, "You can't always help the cards you are dealt, just how you play the hand."

Confessions of the Exchange Lifestyle

For anyone reading my blog and seeing the lists of photos that all seem so perfect and magnificent, I must confess something. Although, that is certainly true, there is always more behind what we post for others to see (Trust me, I did research in Social Psychology about posting on social media). Exchanges are always difficult. Even Spain being my second trip, I had hoped I could bypass the stages of arrival that contain homesickness and denial etc. But that is not so. Each trip requires its own process of adjustment, and each person will experience it differently. 

This week was my third week of living here, and I still feel it does not adequately describe the feeling of having lived here forever. That being said, once again I am starting fresh with a new place to explore, learn and try to survive. Honestly, those at home don't always understand what it's like to be an exchange student as they just see the fun, crazy times we have that are posted on Facebook. 

In reality, EVERYTHING is much more difficult. Ordering a coffee, going grocery shopping or definitely getting your hair cut (as I have recently found out). As a side note, the water or humidity here was starting to make my hair fry to a crisp and I was hoping just the get the gross, dead part removed. Well, now my hair is too short to put in a pony tail. But hey, I asked for a haircut typical to Vigo, and that is what I got. Just wish I had specified, I hadn't want it to be THAT short. It will grow back. It is good practice letting go of the things we hold on to so dearly. I know that sounds a little morbid, but I love my hair. And to lose it, is a good practice. 

This is how short it is, in case you were wondering. Seems like a bit of a dramatic change personally. But to continue, breathing here even proves difficult. Literally everyone above the age of 13 smokes like a chimney. So a nice seat on the deck of a cafe is likely to be tainted with lots of smoke. So often I have to choose between health and the sun. Also, the Spanish take their time, and more than enough, when doing anything. Walking, taking your order (expect to sit there patiently for at least 10 minutes sometimes before they realize you are sitting in their restaurant), or getting important things done (which drives me the craziest). AKA still Wifi-less. 

All in all, there are the good days and the bad. And believe me, they fluctuate. Just this week I was on top of the world saying how incredible this experience, and this year would be, and within 24 hours had broken down in a Chinese dollar store. All because I couldn't find anything that reminded me of comfort. I tended to read a lot the first couple weeks here, and now I am without a book. I have tried three times walking into a store to buy a book in Spanish and walked back out empty handed. It's bothersome and overwhelming and just darn frustrating. I want to be frugal but I miss reading! I miss the things I do to take my mind off of not being in Canada among normal things. 

But that's the key really. Normal things. Last night, I went to the mall with my friend from Louisiana, Victoria, and went to a movie. Yes, it was entirely in Spanish. No subtitles. And for once, I did not have a headache by the end of it. Heck, I was even able to catch some of the jokes. And it left me feeling so NORMAL, that I floated home in happiness. 

Today, the weather is drop dead gorgeous. Where last week, we actually had torrential rain and hurricane type weather (and I made it to class that day actually). So I am going to take advantage of this lovely day and head to the beach. 

Porto, Portugal x2

This weekend I decided to go back to Porto with some new, fellow exchange students I met Victoria and Julie. They are both american (partially like myself) so we had all kinds of things to talk about. Porto was even more incredible this time around. We had insane luck with our date as we just happened to pick the weekend when a huge festival was going on. Free concerts and tons of stuff to do. It was amazing!

 This is Victoria and Julie below. This was our first taste of the famous Porto wine. Unfortunately, wine is STILL not my thing. But boy am I trying.

 I also tried to be adventurous and try a new delicacy. It was salmon with a garlic sauce and mandarin oranges. Then on top you grate a boiled egg. The first three bites were fantastic then I couldn't handle that it was completely raw salmon. So I made the best of it and ate the egg instead. Very untypical of how you are supposed to consume it, but oh well! It was worth the taste of trying it.

 All through the city, there were tons of people playing music and busking. Until all hours of the night. Also the Ice cream was TO DIE FOR!

 Below is the view from my hotel. We were lucky to find a place to stay with the concert going on, but it wasn't cheap, mind you.

 I absolutely love how quaint the little streets are. They are adorable.

 A beautiful church in downtown Porto.

 And this was the breath-taking view from outside of the church. Wow times a thousand.

 Afterwords we took a Tram up the mountain, so we could cross the Point Louis Bridge to the other side and take a beautiful Tram down the mountain to the other side of Porto!

 And here we got to taste two types of wine. As you can see, we are still not a huge fan.

 BUT we did learn all about how to make it and why it tastes delicious to other people :P

 And finally in Oporto, I got to have my sushi fix. Have to admit, it's not at all like I am accustomed but it certainly was interesting to say the least. The last photo is what I got, and some of it is actually cooked. Which to me sort of defeats the whole idea of sushi in my mind. That being said, I am still glad I tried it.

First day of School tomorrow!

I am very much looking forward to my first day of school. Very anxious too. It technically was supposed to be today but I had no idea what classes to take so they suggested I just wait until I talk with a Coordinator before making any decisions or going. I feel very out of my element. I have no idea what to expect from any of my classes. Whether they will be way too easy or much over my skill level. Hopefully, I will find a nice in between. Challenged but not bored. 

I've got to say I have adjusted extremely well to being here. It feels like weeks now when I haven't even been here for two. Here is what I have learned so far. 

- People either look at me like I have four heads or that I am completely Spanish (until I open my mouth and talk). Then I don't fool anyone. The style is so different that everyone just wears what they want too. It's not at all like Canada where everyone seems to have the same American Eagle shirt etc. I could really get along well with the style. Another thing, understanding Spanish easy. Knowing chinese, not so much. The both of them together. Chinese spanish is near impossible. There are quite a few restaurants and placed owned by Chinese immigrants. I also noticed that there seems to be a lot of Arabic language around too perhaps. Hopefully there is no Spanish-Arabic mix either. 

- Many people in this part of Spain speak Galician. Which is a dialect of Spanish but also sort of a mix between Portuguese and Spanish. Many, many places here speak both. So far, I can't tell the difference. As I told my roommate, to me they could be speaking Galician or really difficult Spanish and either way I still don't understand. 

- Liquor is sold in grocery store like the superstore. Wine is HUGE. It will take me the whole year to learn the language of wine, I am sure. Everyone smokes. Even teeny tiny 14 year olds. And there is no penalty for selling cigarettes to them. 

- Spain loves mainstream english music. I barely hear any Spanish music on the radio. Just overplayed Justin Bieber, and whoever else is popular in the US and Canada. 

That's all I can think of for now! I will post pictures of my school soon, it looks like something out of a Sci-Fi film. Alien like.