Wednesdsay

The question I keep getting asked this week has been "are you excited to come home?" Honestly, I don't know the exact answer to that.  I am very excited to live in Manhattan and very happy to know that I will always be carrying this fresh, new perspective I have acquired from my time here.

I will miss the amazing people I have met on this program, especially my roommate.  I will always remember Mati and Luiqui and hope that when I'm 80, I can have as much life in me as they do.

I will not miss speaking Spanish all the time and am really looking forward to expressing myself completely again.  I am happy that I will be taking a Spanish class next semester and will be able to practice it.

I miss my friends a whole lot.  I feel very removed from New York and Ithaca and Cornell.  I hope that I can make a smooth transition back and not be shocked by the workload. 

These past six months have been so much fun.  More fun than I could have ever expected.  I want my reality to be as fun and I will be sure to make it happen.

I cannot wait to approach my house in the car from the airport, knock on the door and be greeted by my mom, dad, and Eric.  I can't wait to smell the house- it's such a strong Padilla scent.  I can't wait to play my piano!!!!! I can't wait to eat my mom's macaroni and play golf with my dad.  I can't wait to sing with Rico.  I can't wait to hug Kater and hang out all day.  I can't wait to see Ashley and Melissa and laugh until we all cry.  I can't wait to see Courtney and share stories and drink wine together cause we can, legally, now.

Gazpacho

Just learned.  Enjoy.

-2 kilos of normal sized tomatoes (which equals about 13)
-1 big cucumber (pealed, cut into quarters with the seeds removed)
-1 red pepper
-1 green pepper
-1 clove of garlic
-8 teaspoons of salt
-1 cup of olive oil

Mati made two batches.  Add 7 tomatoes, 1/2 the cucumber, 1/2 the red and green pepper, 2 pieces of garlic, 4 table spoons of salt, 1/2 cup of olive oil and blend. 

Next, strain the soup and throw away (or Luiqui says eat) the seeds/skin that is left over from the strain. Put it in a jar and refrigerate.

I will be making this forever. 

Nearing the end

I just had a 1 on 1 dinner with Mati as I do every Monday/Tuesday when KJ has class till 10.  She made my all time favorite food: gazpacho, as I had requested yesterday.  When she surprised me with it, I gave her a high five and she couldn't stop laughing.  She told me the next time she makes it, she will teach me.  She doesn't use water in her gazpacho, just tomatoes.  Not even vinegar and def no bread- she says it makes you fat.  I can safely say that I will be making gazpacho for the rest of my life.

Mati also made me a fried egg last night for dinner and told me to slurp it.  I was very confused as to what she meant by this but she told me to cut a hole in the middle and slurp out the yellow until all of the runny stuff was gone, then eat the egg.  Despite my hesitations, I did it.  I don't think I can ever eat a friend egg the same way again.  The new method left no mess on your plate and was, oddly, very fun.  She says I should do it in public, too, and when people ask what I'm doing say "es la culpa de Mati."

I'm writing an essay right now that I really really don't want to be writing.  I'm on page 3 of 10.  I can't believe I'm going to be going home on June 1st.  I'm going to miss this place so much. 

Parent's Visit/Feria/Mallorca

1.  Parent's Visit- Thank you guys so much for coming to see me.  I was getting a little bummed to leave, but once you guys came I was reminded how great my home is and how much I truly missed you.  Thank you for the great trips through Southern Spain that we took- Tarifa, Gibralter, Carmona (which was my favorite.  We had the most fabulous lunch overlooking the campo).  The bullfight was epic, as well.  I can't believe we stayed the whole time.  Our initial shrieks may not have made us too many friends, but it was an interesting experience.  I love you guys- can't wait to see you in less than 4 weeks!

 

Tarifa

 

 

Carmona

 

2.  Feria- The Feria in Sevilla is quite the spectacle.  Women dress up in flamenco dresses that are so beautiful.  I have decided that my wedding dress is going to be flamenco dress inspired.  I just love it.  The upper class owns casetas- little houses- and have private parties there all week.  There were a few public casetas that we explored but it was more fun to peek into the casetas and see how they were decorated and to catch a glimpse of the fabulous people inside.  I went on a few roller coasters, drank rebujitos (manzanilla, a type of sour wine, and 7 up) and hung out with people on my program.  My friend Steph's intercambio had a caseta and even gave her a dress to wear for a few days!  She looked great!

 

 

Portada de Feria

Rides!

3.  For the second part of Feria, my roommate Kirsten, Steph, and our friend Allison went to Mallorca.  We stayed at the Iberostar, which is an all inclusive resort.  I had so much fun with them.  They all feel like such old friends, but we've only known each other a short period of time (except me and Steph, who are sorority sisters).  We couldn't believe that we only have a few more weeks here.  I'm leaving on June 1st. 

Today I had class from 8:30-6:30 with two one-hour breaks.  It was also super hot here.  I have so much work to do, it's unreal.  I am actually reading a book in Spanish for my center class without a dictionary.  I read part of it in Mallorca and am really liking it.  It's called "Soldados de Salamina" by Javier Cercas.  The receptionist at the Iberostar told me it made her cry.  I'll let you know.

 

Our mini kitchen

 

Right before sunrise