I'm not dead...obviously! Some - actually just one - of you have wondered why I haven't been blogging and seemed worried about me. Well, don't worry. I'm still kicking. I've been MIA because my family was here in Madrid and I was busy with that and work and spontaneous travels, and so much more. I have so much to write about and I promise I will get them on here hopefully by next week..my family left for Munich today and I'll be meeting them there on Friday, so I can't promise.
As for now, this is all I can write. It's my birthday (woohoo!) and I'm celebrating it by not doing anything (besides work, of course). This much is all I can do today...that and drinking port wine I got from Lisbon while watching the Champions League final (I heart penalty kicks!).
Ok, I think I need to go past out. Head...throbbing...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
You're fired!
If there's one thing I will gain from this living/working abroad thing, it would have to be indifference to job instability. This week I lost two classes. The funny thing is I just started both the the past two weeks. One, I've only had class once, and the other, twice. One class is canceled because of the company is currently having financial problems. They decided to take away this benefit from their employees. The second class was taken away from me because...(whispering) I don't have a work permit. Apparently the office building is making sure that all their tenants only employ legal persons. Now, even though I'm not working for that particular company, I am still considered an employee since I conduct the classes there. Thus, I am not allowed in the building...boo!!!
Oh the life of an illegal immigrant! After all those years of mocking and joking around about me being an illegal alien in the States, now I am actually living the life of a real illegal immigrant. Granted my life here is not as difficult or complicated as many illegal immigrants in the States, I'm still getting a little taste of it - unstable work, lack of health insurance, having enough money one day and not the next, lack of a real family, etc. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how my family will be notified if something bad were to happen to me, or if I die here. Who's gonna call them? It's not like I gave someone my emergency contact info...this ain't a field trip! (Ma, please don't freak out! I'm just being crazy!)
Anyway, I think this will all just make me a better person...I hope. I'm just so used to constantly changing classes that it doesn't even matter anymore. As long as I can put a roof over my head and feed my fat ass, I don't care.
So if for some reason I ever hear the words, "You're fired!", in any of my future "real" jobs (if I ever decide to go back, that is), well, then, it will just be like losing another class.
Oh the life of an illegal immigrant! After all those years of mocking and joking around about me being an illegal alien in the States, now I am actually living the life of a real illegal immigrant. Granted my life here is not as difficult or complicated as many illegal immigrants in the States, I'm still getting a little taste of it - unstable work, lack of health insurance, having enough money one day and not the next, lack of a real family, etc. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how my family will be notified if something bad were to happen to me, or if I die here. Who's gonna call them? It's not like I gave someone my emergency contact info...this ain't a field trip! (Ma, please don't freak out! I'm just being crazy!)
Anyway, I think this will all just make me a better person...I hope. I'm just so used to constantly changing classes that it doesn't even matter anymore. As long as I can put a roof over my head and feed my fat ass, I don't care.
So if for some reason I ever hear the words, "You're fired!", in any of my future "real" jobs (if I ever decide to go back, that is), well, then, it will just be like losing another class.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Gotta love those Asians!
Ok, I know I said I'm going on blog hiatus, but who am I kidding???!! I can't keep my mouth shut!!! There is way too much shit that goes on in my head and really, no one here can understand me so I might as well get it in writing.
This morning, I was trying to push my way into a Metro train when I noticed an Asian man with a surgical mask on. I couldn't help but laugh and think, "Oh shit, is SARS back???" Hahahaha. Maybe I'm being inappropriate and totally rude, but seriously??? A mask? I haven't heard of any SARS outbreak...just that terrible virus currently spreading among Chinese children. But that's just in China, right? Wow, I sound like a heartless asshole! Not that I'm not concerned about the children, but as far as I know, it's not happening here. So no need to go crazy. Am I maybe just completely removed from American media, which tends to scare the hell out of people - SARS, threat level orange, etc.? Or is there really something serious happening and I just don't know about it because I can't understand Spanish? Or maybe the Asian man is sick and he is kind enough to protect the rest of us from his virus.
I have no idea! But considering there was only that one Asian man with a mask on, I'm gonna assume everything is alright. He's just being Asian. Loove it!
...I swear one day, the Asians are gonna take over the world and just laugh at everyone, especially at Asians who like to make fun of other Asians. I should move to China...
I went to my 8 AM class today just to find out from my student's employee that she is sick and couldn't come. As annoyed as I was about getting up early, I was also excited to get paid for doing nothing. That's a whole 25 Euros and 50 cents!!! Woohoo! I heart late cancellations!
This morning, I was trying to push my way into a Metro train when I noticed an Asian man with a surgical mask on. I couldn't help but laugh and think, "Oh shit, is SARS back???" Hahahaha. Maybe I'm being inappropriate and totally rude, but seriously??? A mask? I haven't heard of any SARS outbreak...just that terrible virus currently spreading among Chinese children. But that's just in China, right? Wow, I sound like a heartless asshole! Not that I'm not concerned about the children, but as far as I know, it's not happening here. So no need to go crazy. Am I maybe just completely removed from American media, which tends to scare the hell out of people - SARS, threat level orange, etc.? Or is there really something serious happening and I just don't know about it because I can't understand Spanish? Or maybe the Asian man is sick and he is kind enough to protect the rest of us from his virus.
I have no idea! But considering there was only that one Asian man with a mask on, I'm gonna assume everything is alright. He's just being Asian. Loove it!
...I swear one day, the Asians are gonna take over the world and just laugh at everyone, especially at Asians who like to make fun of other Asians. I should move to China...
I went to my 8 AM class today just to find out from my student's employee that she is sick and couldn't come. As annoyed as I was about getting up early, I was also excited to get paid for doing nothing. That's a whole 25 Euros and 50 cents!!! Woohoo! I heart late cancellations!
Happy 100!!!
This is my 100th blogpost!!! Woohoo! Considering I didn't quite know how to do this whole blogging this when I started in November (Ok, I admit I didn't even know what a blog was until about a year ago), I'm pretty proud of myself. Yup, I'm giving myself a P...O...B.
To celebrate my 100th post, I've decided to post more about futbol...you all must be so sick of me talking about it. Frankly, I don't care. Plus, I don't know what else to talk about. As Amanda says, she don't like a stale blog. Guess what, now that I've reached 100, this will be a stale blog...hahaha. What more can I possibly talk about??!!
Anyway, Real Madrid has just won the La Liga championship. Yay! Let me just give you a quick explanation as to how the championship works. The league doesn't actually have a playoff period. A team can win the championship by accumulating the most points of the season. Every match won is 3 points, a lost is 0 points, and a draw is 1. As of Sunday, Villareal, the team right behind Real Madrid was 10 points behind. Late afternoon on Sunday, Villareal won and got them closer to Madrid. At about 11 PM, Real Madrid won the cup by beating Ososuna during a really close match that ended with a score of 1-2 (Madrid score both goals in the last 10 minutes of the match). They were able to secure the championship title with that win - there are only three matches left in la temporada, the season; thus, even if Villareal won their last three matches, it's just not enough to pass Madrid's 10 point lead.
So Madrid celebrated and everyone gathered at Plaza Cibeles. It is a tradition for Real Madrid to celebrate with the fans and also for Raul, the captain, to wrap the Real Madrid scarf around the statue of Cibeles. I, of course, really wanted to go. But I had to come to my senses and decided not to. The team played in Pamplona, which means they would still have to get clean, fly back to Madrid, and take a bus to the Plaza. By the time they would get there, it would be the crack of dawn. Instead, Iñaki and I watched the celebration on TV and didn't go to be until 3 on a "school" night. I will definitely go next year if they win again.
With the season ending, I've decided to rate the jugadores, players. This is based on hotness and talent...mostly hotness. Here are my top jugadores de Real Madrid:
1. Casillas - Sexy Hot: portero (goalkeeper); Madrid, Spain; 26 years old (only a day older than me!)
2. Raul - Veteran Hot: delantero (forward); Madrid, Spain; 31 years old
3. Marcelo - Cute Smile Hot: defensa (defense); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 20 years old
4. Sneijder - White Man Hot: medio (midfielder); Utrecht, Netherlands; 23 years old
5. Cannavaro - Italain Hot: defensa; Naples, Italy; 33 years old
Enjoy everyone! This might be the last time you'll hear from me for a while. I'm going on blog hiatus!
To celebrate my 100th post, I've decided to post more about futbol...you all must be so sick of me talking about it. Frankly, I don't care. Plus, I don't know what else to talk about. As Amanda says, she don't like a stale blog. Guess what, now that I've reached 100, this will be a stale blog...hahaha. What more can I possibly talk about??!!
Anyway, Real Madrid has just won the La Liga championship. Yay! Let me just give you a quick explanation as to how the championship works. The league doesn't actually have a playoff period. A team can win the championship by accumulating the most points of the season. Every match won is 3 points, a lost is 0 points, and a draw is 1. As of Sunday, Villareal, the team right behind Real Madrid was 10 points behind. Late afternoon on Sunday, Villareal won and got them closer to Madrid. At about 11 PM, Real Madrid won the cup by beating Ososuna during a really close match that ended with a score of 1-2 (Madrid score both goals in the last 10 minutes of the match). They were able to secure the championship title with that win - there are only three matches left in la temporada, the season; thus, even if Villareal won their last three matches, it's just not enough to pass Madrid's 10 point lead.
So Madrid celebrated and everyone gathered at Plaza Cibeles. It is a tradition for Real Madrid to celebrate with the fans and also for Raul, the captain, to wrap the Real Madrid scarf around the statue of Cibeles. I, of course, really wanted to go. But I had to come to my senses and decided not to. The team played in Pamplona, which means they would still have to get clean, fly back to Madrid, and take a bus to the Plaza. By the time they would get there, it would be the crack of dawn. Instead, Iñaki and I watched the celebration on TV and didn't go to be until 3 on a "school" night. I will definitely go next year if they win again.
With the season ending, I've decided to rate the jugadores, players. This is based on hotness and talent...mostly hotness. Here are my top jugadores de Real Madrid:
1. Casillas - Sexy Hot: portero (goalkeeper); Madrid, Spain; 26 years old (only a day older than me!)
2. Raul - Veteran Hot: delantero (forward); Madrid, Spain; 31 years old
3. Marcelo - Cute Smile Hot: defensa (defense); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 20 years old
4. Sneijder - White Man Hot: medio (midfielder); Utrecht, Netherlands; 23 years old
5. Cannavaro - Italain Hot: defensa; Naples, Italy; 33 years old
Enjoy everyone! This might be the last time you'll hear from me for a while. I'm going on blog hiatus!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
My future husband
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am quite infatuated with no other than, Iker Casillas. Never heard of him??? Well, it's about time you get to know about him. He is the goalkeeper for Real Madrid and he is amazing. I love watching Real Madrid games because he always puts a smile on my face. I have also regressed back to my teenage years and I have recently adorned my room with pictures of him. Hopefully, these videos will show you what he is all about.
If you think I'm creepy, I'm definitely not as creepy as the person who made this video...but I do appreciate her (or him) for making it.
Now you may think he's only a pretty face, but this kid's got skills too!!! He's considered one of the best in the world; definitely the best in Spain.
When I watch him in interviews, he always seem so nice, someone you can take home to mom and dad. And best of all, he's got a good sense of humor. I love these commercials with him...they're pretty funny.
One of my favorite things in futbol (besides Casillas, of course) are penalty kicks. I heart penalty kicks. Now, most of you might know that penalty kicks are like freebies; most football players will make the goal because it's difficult for goalkeepers to save the ball. But when the goalkeeper does get to save the ball, uuuff! It's pretty freaking awesome...well, unless he's for the team you want to lose...then that just sucks.
There you go! That's my man Iker Casillas.
Now, if only I can get him to break up with his former Ms. Spain girlfriend...bitch!
If you think I'm creepy, I'm definitely not as creepy as the person who made this video...but I do appreciate her (or him) for making it.
Now you may think he's only a pretty face, but this kid's got skills too!!! He's considered one of the best in the world; definitely the best in Spain.
When I watch him in interviews, he always seem so nice, someone you can take home to mom and dad. And best of all, he's got a good sense of humor. I love these commercials with him...they're pretty funny.
One of my favorite things in futbol (besides Casillas, of course) are penalty kicks. I heart penalty kicks. Now, most of you might know that penalty kicks are like freebies; most football players will make the goal because it's difficult for goalkeepers to save the ball. But when the goalkeeper does get to save the ball, uuuff! It's pretty freaking awesome...well, unless he's for the team you want to lose...then that just sucks.
There you go! That's my man Iker Casillas.
Now, if only I can get him to break up with his former Ms. Spain girlfriend...bitch!
Friday, May 2, 2008
I've fallen and I can't get up
After last week's craziness with all the traveling and stuff, I got to thinking how much things change in just a few years. Five, six years ago, the last time I was in Europe on non-vacation status, traveling within Europe was not so expensive. I could hop on a train for about 25 Euros round trip and be in another country. Granted I had a eurail pass then, but it just seems more expensive now. It's rare to find a round trip ticket to another country (or sometimes a city just a few hours away) for less than 100 Euros. Same with low cost airlines. They ain't so low cost anymore. You'll see ads everywhere for 10 to 20 Euro flights, but when you actually go on the website to book a flight, it ends up just being a little less than on a normal airline. They always end up adding all these fees to it!
Note: I teach a class at the Spanish equivalent of the FAA and I got to talking to my student about low cost airlines. She gave me some insight into low cost airlines and basically, DO NOT fly on a low cost airline. I am so done with Ryan Air! So long Easy Jet! Screw you Vueling! I think I'd rather pay 20 Euros more than die.
Anywhoooo, I am also realizing how I'm starting to get old for traveling. I know I'm not old old, but I'm not 21 anymore either. I remember having so much more energy during my Roman times. I traveled every weekend and slept minimally, yet I never got tired! Last week, I was exhausted after 3 days. My body was aching (my back, especially), my head was pounding, and now I'm sick. It's ridiculous! What the hell happened to me?! Thank god I decided to do this whole abroad thing now, not when I'm having a mid-life crisis. Soon, I'm going to have to be one of those oldies that go on bus tours of Europe (no offense to my parents/aunt who will be doing the same in a couple weeks)! How horrible!
I think the day when I can no longer carry that big ass backpack, get on a train or bus, and make my way through cities without a human guide, will be the day I die. I better get to Peru soon and walk that 4 day Inca trail before I get too old to walk it. Machu Piccu, anyone????
Note: I teach a class at the Spanish equivalent of the FAA and I got to talking to my student about low cost airlines. She gave me some insight into low cost airlines and basically, DO NOT fly on a low cost airline. I am so done with Ryan Air! So long Easy Jet! Screw you Vueling! I think I'd rather pay 20 Euros more than die.
Anywhoooo, I am also realizing how I'm starting to get old for traveling. I know I'm not old old, but I'm not 21 anymore either. I remember having so much more energy during my Roman times. I traveled every weekend and slept minimally, yet I never got tired! Last week, I was exhausted after 3 days. My body was aching (my back, especially), my head was pounding, and now I'm sick. It's ridiculous! What the hell happened to me?! Thank god I decided to do this whole abroad thing now, not when I'm having a mid-life crisis. Soon, I'm going to have to be one of those oldies that go on bus tours of Europe (no offense to my parents/aunt who will be doing the same in a couple weeks)! How horrible!
I think the day when I can no longer carry that big ass backpack, get on a train or bus, and make my way through cities without a human guide, will be the day I die. I better get to Peru soon and walk that 4 day Inca trail before I get too old to walk it. Machu Piccu, anyone????
Team Bobo Reunion: Images
There's a ton, so I apologize in advance, but they are awesome! Make sure to check out the videos.
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| Amanda's Spain Pics |
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| Lisa's Spain pics |
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| Team Bobo Reunion |
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