Hello, ladies and gentlemen!
I am very happy today. You know why? Because my mother is here in Spain and it is the most refreshing thing. To have one of the top five most important people in my life in Spain with me, to show my world and daily life, is amazing.
I picked her up from the airport on Thursday last week with flowers. I took her back to my apartment and make (well, burned), paella. We also went to meet my friends for a little bit and get drinks. On Friday, we didn’t do much besides go to the store and buy some “mom friendly” food…aka stuff for salad and all those green things I don’t eat. We went to dinner with my friends at our typical haunt, La Plaza, and then gravitated to The Shakespeare where we had drinks and played Arkansas Rummy. I had taught my friends Lisa, Sophie, and Claire how to play the game that has been an integral part of my upbringing. My mom won of course. It was just a lovely night. I honestly couldn’t stop smiling because I was surrounded by people that I care about doing things that I like.
I am very happy today. You know why? Because my mother is here in Spain and it is the most refreshing thing. To have one of the top five most important people in my life in Spain with me, to show my world and daily life, is amazing.
I picked her up from the airport on Thursday last week with flowers. I took her back to my apartment and make (well, burned), paella. We also went to meet my friends for a little bit and get drinks. On Friday, we didn’t do much besides go to the store and buy some “mom friendly” food…aka stuff for salad and all those green things I don’t eat. We went to dinner with my friends at our typical haunt, La Plaza, and then gravitated to The Shakespeare where we had drinks and played Arkansas Rummy. I had taught my friends Lisa, Sophie, and Claire how to play the game that has been an integral part of my upbringing. My mom won of course. It was just a lovely night. I honestly couldn’t stop smiling because I was surrounded by people that I care about doing things that I like.
The following day, Saturday, my mother and I took a bus to Nerja, which is a small beach town about an hour east of Málaga on the coast. We stayed in a beautiful beachfront hotel called Paraíso del Mar, which had a pool and personal beach chairs. So for two days we just hung out and relaxed on the beach. Our TV also had Spanish programs, so we watched the Iron Giant in Spanish!
We ate a lot of cool food, but most importantly was the “American” style pizza. This pizza had cheese, sauce, hot dogs, and French fries as topping. We also went to an ice cream place that served ice cream in cups bigger then my head! At another restaurant we ate an avocado and prawn “tart” which was basically guacamole with cold shrimp on it. It was absolutely glorious.
The following day, Saturday, my mother and I took a bus to Nerja, which is a small beach town about an hour east of Málaga on the coast. We stayed in a beautiful beachfront hotel called Paraíso del Mar, which had a pool and personal beach chairs. So for two days we just hung out and relaxed on the beach. Our TV also had Spanish programs, so we watched the Iron Giant in Spanish!
We ate a lot of cool food, but most importantly was the “American” style pizza. This pizza had cheese, sauce, hot dogs, and French fries as topping. We also went to an ice cream place that served ice cream in cups bigger then my head! At another restaurant we ate an avocado and prawn “tart” which was basically guacamole with cold shrimp on it. It was absolutely glorious.
Last week on Friday I met with my literature professor who once told me my Spanish was mediocre. We talked about two different articles for her class for an entire hour. Lots of professors here assume all the Erasmus are lazy and don’t care about class and are only here to party. Sometimes this is true, but in my case, it is not. I mean, I have to have these classes transfer! So, I have to break the predetermined idea about Erasmus students held by teachers to show that I do care and I do want to do well. Through asking for help from this professor, I think I am beginning to show that I am willing to work for what I want. I know it will be a long road to show that I am dedicated, because so many Erasmus who have come before me have thickened the skins of a lot of professors. Dude, I just need to pass.
Momma and I are planning on going to the cathedral and some museums this coming week, as well as visiting university and just hanging and cooking food together. I highly recommend that “cooking playlist” on Spotify. It makes me feel like I’m cooking in a fancy restaurant in Italy.
Also, yawning in class will get you called out in front of everyone. I have a 9am class in which my professor smacked me on the shoulder with his laser pointer and told me to sleep at night and not during his class. I was nowhere near asleep; I was taking notes and making eye contact with the professor. I just had to yawn several times because, yes, I am tired, but no, I am not falling asleep. It’s like yawning is an involuntarily bodily action or something!
Until next time,
Natalie
Momma and I are planning on going to the cathedral and some museums this coming week, as well as visiting university and just hanging and cooking food together. I highly recommend that “cooking playlist” on Spotify. It makes me feel like I’m cooking in a fancy restaurant in Italy.
Also, yawning in class will get you called out in front of everyone. I have a 9am class in which my professor smacked me on the shoulder with his laser pointer and told me to sleep at night and not during his class. I was nowhere near asleep; I was taking notes and making eye contact with the professor. I just had to yawn several times because, yes, I am tired, but no, I am not falling asleep. It’s like yawning is an involuntarily bodily action or something!
Until next time,
Natalie