On January 6th, the Spanish celebrate Los Tres Reyes, Three Kings day. This holiday is actually bigger than Christmas for Spain. The children go to sleep on the 5th hoping to get presents on the 6th from the Three Kings. Santa Clause is definitely not as popular as Melchor, Baltazar, and Caspar (are those their names???). When you go shopping, you will not see kids lining up for Santa; They are lining up for one of the Kings. I've heard that some are lucky enough to get presents on both days, but some only get it on the 6th. This holiday is so big that the big sales don't start until after Three Kings. They also get the 7th off from work, hence me not working today.
I don't really know anything else about the holiday. I didn't notice anything different besides the fact that most stores were closed. I guess I will never really know what it's like unless I have family here. So if you all want to know more about it, look it up!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Starting Over
Coming back to Madrid was kind of weird. Even though I was only gone for a little less than two weeks, it felt like I was away longer. It felt like I had to relearn everything. I think the part that stores languages in my brain was ready to explode. I had English, Filipino, German and Spanish all mixed up. It couldn't quite decide which language switch to turn on (and I barely know two of those!). Maybe I was tired, but there was definitely a time on the train when I couldn't remember how to say thank you in Spanish. I just kept thinking, danke or thanks.
It just felt like I was new to the city all over again. It didn't help that I came back to it being a big ass mess. It literally looked like a tornado had hit the Metro. There was shit everywhere (train tickets, soda cans/bottles, food, pants, half of a shoe, etc.). It made me wonder how crazy it was here on New Years. I heard later that the cleaning people might be on strike, hence the nastiness that has taken over Madrid...you gotta love the Europeans and their strikes!
Because I was too cold to leave the house in Germany, I had a lot of time to think about anything and everything. Idle time for Fran is never good. I found myself thinking about my future and its stability. I started to doubt myself and wondered if I could actually be a teacher. What if I end up a horrible teacher? What if I just hated teaching? What if I get fired and have to find a new job? What if my wages are not enough to live on? I kept focusing on the disadvantages of my current job: very long commute, lots of extra work at home, no vacation time, and no paid holidays.
Then I started to think about my personal life. What if I don't make new friends? What if my apartment situation doesn't work out? What if I don't get over my boy problems and I will become an old bitter woman with cats (and I hate cats!)??? Did I make the right decision of leaving Chicago? Should I just give up now before I'm in too deep and go home?
I was a disgusting mess. It was like a cloud of negativity and bitterness and self-pity was constantly hovering over me. I hated myself for thinking these things, but I couldn't stop. It was very unlike me. I never let myself dwell on stupid shit like this...there are way bigger problems in the world.
Thankfully, by the end of my holiday in Germany, I was able to slap myself in the face and tell myself how stupid I am. I mean, there's no need to have a pity party for myself. When you're sad and alone and not in your usual comfort zone, it's easy to forget why you made a huge change in your life in the first place. I forgot that I was also miserable in Chicago. I forgot how much I hated my job. I forgot how stagnant my life was at home and needed something new. Once I allowed myself to remember all that, I was okay again.
So I've decided that new year means new beginnings. I will do my best to make the most out of this experience. Plus, I told myself I have to stay here at least a year. I have to stick it out. It's too early to quit. I'm also slowly erasing/shedding all the bad juju from 2007, and it feels liberating. I know I will still have my random panic attacks every once in a while and that's okay. But one thing is for sure: I'm not going to let it get to me. Old happy annoyingly cheerful Fran is making a comeback!
It just felt like I was new to the city all over again. It didn't help that I came back to it being a big ass mess. It literally looked like a tornado had hit the Metro. There was shit everywhere (train tickets, soda cans/bottles, food, pants, half of a shoe, etc.). It made me wonder how crazy it was here on New Years. I heard later that the cleaning people might be on strike, hence the nastiness that has taken over Madrid...you gotta love the Europeans and their strikes!
Because I was too cold to leave the house in Germany, I had a lot of time to think about anything and everything. Idle time for Fran is never good. I found myself thinking about my future and its stability. I started to doubt myself and wondered if I could actually be a teacher. What if I end up a horrible teacher? What if I just hated teaching? What if I get fired and have to find a new job? What if my wages are not enough to live on? I kept focusing on the disadvantages of my current job: very long commute, lots of extra work at home, no vacation time, and no paid holidays.
Then I started to think about my personal life. What if I don't make new friends? What if my apartment situation doesn't work out? What if I don't get over my boy problems and I will become an old bitter woman with cats (and I hate cats!)??? Did I make the right decision of leaving Chicago? Should I just give up now before I'm in too deep and go home?
I was a disgusting mess. It was like a cloud of negativity and bitterness and self-pity was constantly hovering over me. I hated myself for thinking these things, but I couldn't stop. It was very unlike me. I never let myself dwell on stupid shit like this...there are way bigger problems in the world.
Thankfully, by the end of my holiday in Germany, I was able to slap myself in the face and tell myself how stupid I am. I mean, there's no need to have a pity party for myself. When you're sad and alone and not in your usual comfort zone, it's easy to forget why you made a huge change in your life in the first place. I forgot that I was also miserable in Chicago. I forgot how much I hated my job. I forgot how stagnant my life was at home and needed something new. Once I allowed myself to remember all that, I was okay again.
So I've decided that new year means new beginnings. I will do my best to make the most out of this experience. Plus, I told myself I have to stay here at least a year. I have to stick it out. It's too early to quit. I'm also slowly erasing/shedding all the bad juju from 2007, and it feels liberating. I know I will still have my random panic attacks every once in a while and that's okay. But one thing is for sure: I'm not going to let it get to me. Old happy annoyingly cheerful Fran is making a comeback!
My Third Home in Madrid
I've been in Madrid for almost two months and I've already moved twice! Hopefully, this is the last one for a while. I was planning on moving to the new piso on the day I got back from Germany. However, my roommates were working and didn't get out of work till 7. By then I was too tired to move all my stuff. So, I just picked up my keys so I could move all my stuff in slowly Friday morning. I also knew my roommates would be at work so I wouldn't be in their way. By the way, I will take a picture of my key to show you guys. It's pretty freaking awesome!
Anyway, Friday I lugged all my stuff to the Metro, onto the train, out of the Metro and to my new apartment. It was hellish! For some reason my bags are all super heavy. I haven't even bought that much new stuff. I just had a lot of books for my classes and I came back with a ton of tea and chocolate from Germany (compliments of my Aunt...god, she's awesome!). The worst thing was that my new Metro stop has no escalators or elevators. And then there's a bit of an incline as you walk to my apartment (I'm definitely not in the Midwest anymore!). Moving was a bitch. I guess I could've taken a cab and moved it all at once without having to do much lifting and continuous carrying, but why would I spend my money on that.
I am all finally moved in although my room needs major help. I am still lacking sheets, the room needs to be cleaned (the person who lived here before left lots of shit), and it just needs a nice girly touch (like flowery, colorful accents). I also wanted to put up some pictures and I realized I brought only a few. I was packing so last minute that I didn't have a chance to go through my pictures and bring a lot. I also planned on going to Ikea this weekend but I just didn't quite have the time to do that. Plus, it's still the holidays here so I don't want to risk going all the way there when it's actually close.
My roommates have been fine so far. I haven't really seen either of them that much. One has a girlfriend and he's been hanging out with her all weekend. The other one? I'm just not quite sure where he is. I haven't seen him in a few days and I haven't had a chance to ask where he is. It's definitely still in the awkward stage. I'm still waiting to have that bonding moment so we can all feel comfortable around each other. We probably just need to get drunk together...that usually breaks the ice.
So piso #3, so far so good.
Anyway, Friday I lugged all my stuff to the Metro, onto the train, out of the Metro and to my new apartment. It was hellish! For some reason my bags are all super heavy. I haven't even bought that much new stuff. I just had a lot of books for my classes and I came back with a ton of tea and chocolate from Germany (compliments of my Aunt...god, she's awesome!). The worst thing was that my new Metro stop has no escalators or elevators. And then there's a bit of an incline as you walk to my apartment (I'm definitely not in the Midwest anymore!). Moving was a bitch. I guess I could've taken a cab and moved it all at once without having to do much lifting and continuous carrying, but why would I spend my money on that.
I am all finally moved in although my room needs major help. I am still lacking sheets, the room needs to be cleaned (the person who lived here before left lots of shit), and it just needs a nice girly touch (like flowery, colorful accents). I also wanted to put up some pictures and I realized I brought only a few. I was packing so last minute that I didn't have a chance to go through my pictures and bring a lot. I also planned on going to Ikea this weekend but I just didn't quite have the time to do that. Plus, it's still the holidays here so I don't want to risk going all the way there when it's actually close.
My roommates have been fine so far. I haven't really seen either of them that much. One has a girlfriend and he's been hanging out with her all weekend. The other one? I'm just not quite sure where he is. I haven't seen him in a few days and I haven't had a chance to ask where he is. It's definitely still in the awkward stage. I'm still waiting to have that bonding moment so we can all feel comfortable around each other. We probably just need to get drunk together...that usually breaks the ice.
So piso #3, so far so good.
Trains, Planes, and A Vomiting Guy
January 3rd was a very long day for me. I didn't really sleep the night before because I had too much on my mind. And then after semi sleeping for about an hour and a half, I got up at 3 AM so I could take my last nice hot relaxing shower at my Aunt's. We left the house at about 4:40 to catch the 5 o'clock train to Munich. From Munich, we had to catch another train to the airport. That was about an hour and a half train ride.
Thankfully, my aunt and uncle were with me at the airport. They are so awesome that they woke up early too and took me to the airport despite all my protests. If my uncle wasn't there, I probably would have missed my flight considering I was half asleep. I got on the plane and slept for most of the 2 hour flight back to Madrid.
I was lucky enough to pick out my favorite seat, which is the window seat. But of course, I'm never that lucky because a little kid sat behind me and kicked my seat a lot. He was also crying and screaming like a baby for most of the flight. My tolerance for kids that day was at an all time low. If I wasn't so tired, I probably would have made a scene.
The middle seat was empty and a guy about my age sat on the aisle seat. Across the aisle from him was, I assume, his brother of about 20 years of age, and their mom on the next seat. As we were landing, the 20 year old started vomiting like crazy. It was weird because he was completely fine and the next thing I knew he was barfing, while his brother pointed and laughed at him. I tried really hard not to laugh at him also. Not to be mean or anything, but has anyone actually seen anyone use those barf bags before? I thought those are just for show. Ok, I admit it. I used it once. But that was when I was 6, it was my first time on a plane, and it was 1987 Indonesia. Planes weren't as stable then!...because we all know how stable they are now :) This kid was seriously huge! It was hilarious!
Even funnier was that I saw him later on that day in Madrid. I was walking around (like a zombie) with my friend and saw a family walking in front of us. I thought, man these people look familiar! Sure enough it was the barfing kid. What are the odds?! Such a small world!!!
Thankfully, my aunt and uncle were with me at the airport. They are so awesome that they woke up early too and took me to the airport despite all my protests. If my uncle wasn't there, I probably would have missed my flight considering I was half asleep. I got on the plane and slept for most of the 2 hour flight back to Madrid.
I was lucky enough to pick out my favorite seat, which is the window seat. But of course, I'm never that lucky because a little kid sat behind me and kicked my seat a lot. He was also crying and screaming like a baby for most of the flight. My tolerance for kids that day was at an all time low. If I wasn't so tired, I probably would have made a scene.
The middle seat was empty and a guy about my age sat on the aisle seat. Across the aisle from him was, I assume, his brother of about 20 years of age, and their mom on the next seat. As we were landing, the 20 year old started vomiting like crazy. It was weird because he was completely fine and the next thing I knew he was barfing, while his brother pointed and laughed at him. I tried really hard not to laugh at him also. Not to be mean or anything, but has anyone actually seen anyone use those barf bags before? I thought those are just for show. Ok, I admit it. I used it once. But that was when I was 6, it was my first time on a plane, and it was 1987 Indonesia. Planes weren't as stable then!...because we all know how stable they are now :) This kid was seriously huge! It was hilarious!
Even funnier was that I saw him later on that day in Madrid. I was walking around (like a zombie) with my friend and saw a family walking in front of us. I thought, man these people look familiar! Sure enough it was the barfing kid. What are the odds?! Such a small world!!!
 |
| Munich |
How To Answer The Phone In Various Countries
USA: "Hello"
Italy: "Pronto"
Spain: "Si"
Germany: "Stiegler" (or whatever your last name is)
This post would be way better if you could actually hear them being said. I'll make sure to do my imitation for all of you when I get a chance.
Italy: "Pronto"
Spain: "Si"
Germany: "Stiegler" (or whatever your last name is)
This post would be way better if you could actually hear them being said. I'll make sure to do my imitation for all of you when I get a chance.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Gluckliches Neujahr!
Germans really know how to celebrate New Years...food, booze, a british film, lucky pigs and loud explosions. What more could you ask for???
Every year, my relatives have a New Year’s Eve party at their house. The guests involve family, friends and neighbors. Unlike Christmas when we had a nice fancy 5 course meal, New Year’s Eve is more of an informal buffet style dinner. My aunt and I started cooking two nights before the party. We were basically cooking for 2 days straight. I promised my relatives I would bake a cake. Of course, I made this promise before I remembered I was in Europe, the land of wonderful homemade baked goods. There was no way I could get away with baking a “cake from a box”. So, for the very first time ever I made a cake from scratch. Thanks to Natania, I got a really good recipe for banana nut cake with cream cheese frosting. It was pretty freaking good. I’ve also finally figured out how European cakes are almost always perfectly moist…they have this powder thing you add to the batter. I’m totally buying a bunch of those before I go home for good.
We finally finished cooking right before all the guests started to arrive at 8. We had so much food I didn't know where to start. The good thing was we had all night to eat so there was no need to eat everything all at once. Of course, beer and wine was served with food. I restrained myself and just drank water (without gas!..yuck).
While taking a break from stuffing ourselves, we watched an old short British film called, Dinner for One. Every New Year's Eve, this film is shown sporadically all throughout the day on TV, and it has nothing to do with New Years. It's pretty hilarious. It's about an old lady celebrating her birthday with friends who have already died and her butler. If you want to see it, it's on Youtube. It's about ten minutes and pretty awesome...you gotta love the Brits and its humor.
At midnight, we all drank champagne and greeted each other. After that, it was time to bundle up and create chaos in the backyard. Everyone brought all sorts of fireworks. It was ridiculous. The entire neighborhood was going crazy. Apparently, everyone competes with each other as to who has a better fireworks show. It was kind of scary because these things were literally exploding just a few feet away from me. Obviously, they don't have as many regulations here as we do in the US. Also, this is all happening in the freezing cold. It was kind of funny to see fire on the snow.
Sadly we ran out of fireworks (I didn't want it to end) and it started to get really cold. When we got back in, a neighbor gave each of us a lucky pig. In Germany, a pig brings you good luck, so on New Year's everyone gets some kind of pig paraphenalia.
Another tradition is to get your fortune from melted metal. Each person got a piece of metal. You put it in a spoon and melt it over a candle. Once it is completely melted, you dump it into cold water, which will solidify the metal in some other weird form. You take out the metal from the water and look at its shadow. Whatever shadow it creates will determine your fortune for the next year. My metal had a shadow of a hammer. The fortune said that I will make my own luck. I was pissed! It was like getting a fortune cookie with a fortune that said, "You are a caring and loving person". WTF!!! That's not a fortune! Luckily, there were a few more metal pieces left. So I melted another one and got a shadow of a tree this time. My fortune this time was true friendships. That sounded a lot better to me, so I was satisfied. Hopefully, it comes true here for me.
Every year, my relatives have a New Year’s Eve party at their house. The guests involve family, friends and neighbors. Unlike Christmas when we had a nice fancy 5 course meal, New Year’s Eve is more of an informal buffet style dinner. My aunt and I started cooking two nights before the party. We were basically cooking for 2 days straight. I promised my relatives I would bake a cake. Of course, I made this promise before I remembered I was in Europe, the land of wonderful homemade baked goods. There was no way I could get away with baking a “cake from a box”. So, for the very first time ever I made a cake from scratch. Thanks to Natania, I got a really good recipe for banana nut cake with cream cheese frosting. It was pretty freaking good. I’ve also finally figured out how European cakes are almost always perfectly moist…they have this powder thing you add to the batter. I’m totally buying a bunch of those before I go home for good.
We finally finished cooking right before all the guests started to arrive at 8. We had so much food I didn't know where to start. The good thing was we had all night to eat so there was no need to eat everything all at once. Of course, beer and wine was served with food. I restrained myself and just drank water (without gas!..yuck).
While taking a break from stuffing ourselves, we watched an old short British film called, Dinner for One. Every New Year's Eve, this film is shown sporadically all throughout the day on TV, and it has nothing to do with New Years. It's pretty hilarious. It's about an old lady celebrating her birthday with friends who have already died and her butler. If you want to see it, it's on Youtube. It's about ten minutes and pretty awesome...you gotta love the Brits and its humor.
At midnight, we all drank champagne and greeted each other. After that, it was time to bundle up and create chaos in the backyard. Everyone brought all sorts of fireworks. It was ridiculous. The entire neighborhood was going crazy. Apparently, everyone competes with each other as to who has a better fireworks show. It was kind of scary because these things were literally exploding just a few feet away from me. Obviously, they don't have as many regulations here as we do in the US. Also, this is all happening in the freezing cold. It was kind of funny to see fire on the snow.
Sadly we ran out of fireworks (I didn't want it to end) and it started to get really cold. When we got back in, a neighbor gave each of us a lucky pig. In Germany, a pig brings you good luck, so on New Year's everyone gets some kind of pig paraphenalia.
Another tradition is to get your fortune from melted metal. Each person got a piece of metal. You put it in a spoon and melt it over a candle. Once it is completely melted, you dump it into cold water, which will solidify the metal in some other weird form. You take out the metal from the water and look at its shadow. Whatever shadow it creates will determine your fortune for the next year. My metal had a shadow of a hammer. The fortune said that I will make my own luck. I was pissed! It was like getting a fortune cookie with a fortune that said, "You are a caring and loving person". WTF!!! That's not a fortune! Luckily, there were a few more metal pieces left. So I melted another one and got a shadow of a tree this time. My fortune this time was true friendships. That sounded a lot better to me, so I was satisfied. Hopefully, it comes true here for me.
 |
| Gluckliche |
Eating miniature trees
Before I moved to Madrid, I made a promise to myself to be as open as possible to everything. Even though I've traveled to many places, I find myself holding back every once in a while when I encounter completely unfamiliar territory. One of the things I always have problems with is food. I'm a pretty picky eater: very limited fruits and vegetables, no seafood, no weird looking things, etc. But with this "new" life, the rule is: if the food looks edible enough, no matter what it is, I have to eat it. I don't ask questions about what it is until after I eat it. This way I don't have bad thoughts about it before eating it.
The past ten days in Germany has definitely been a culinary experience for me. I've eaten things I never thought I would eat: goose, brussel sprouts, eggplant, sauerkraut, mushrooms, lots and lots of fish, and broccoli and cauliflower (I always use to say, "Why would I eat miniature trees??"). Of course, I drew the line when my uncle offered me liver (yuck!). But other than that, I've pretty much eaten anything given to me. The funny thing is that I enjoyed eating them. They weren't bad at all. I've been missing out on some good ass food the past 26 years! I've been such a fool!
Now, I feel like I've overcome one problem already and it feels liberating.
About a hundred more to go...
The past ten days in Germany has definitely been a culinary experience for me. I've eaten things I never thought I would eat: goose, brussel sprouts, eggplant, sauerkraut, mushrooms, lots and lots of fish, and broccoli and cauliflower (I always use to say, "Why would I eat miniature trees??"). Of course, I drew the line when my uncle offered me liver (yuck!). But other than that, I've pretty much eaten anything given to me. The funny thing is that I enjoyed eating them. They weren't bad at all. I've been missing out on some good ass food the past 26 years! I've been such a fool!
Now, I feel like I've overcome one problem already and it feels liberating.
About a hundred more to go...
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