Tuesday, March 25, 2008

How beautiful is it??




Ok, so at first I was travelling and didn't have my laptop or a dependable internet signal in order to post anything, but now here I am after my first two (twelve-hour) days of the TEFL course, and I'm bloody tired (picked up some new british expressions from my classmates) and have absolutely NO time in which to post anything.


However, I'm stopping from productivity and lesson planning and worrying about my first teaching session tomorrow to impart how absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous this country is, how warm and loving the ppl are, how delicious the food is (when you know how to ask for it and what to ask for...), and in general how you've all got to get your asses over here and experience it for yourself.


I love Europe. I don't know that I want to leave. Ever. I feel like I fit in here as a traveller, a lifelong student, a language teacher, and a human being. You find connections in the strangest placest, really, when you're not even looking for them.


The first pic from above is a view of the Calle Darro (a street which runs along the base of the hill on which sits the Alhambra), and the other is a view of the olive groves and amazing landscape from the train ride through Andalucia - we rode direct from Algeciras, through Ronda, and back to Granada for the weekend of Semana Santa. I don't know how I chose these two out of the 700+ photos I've taken so far, but they at least show how amazing the scenery is around here. There are so many other sides just of Granada, let alone the rest of Andalucia.


I think gradually, or maybe one night when I'm all caught up on my studies, I'll post a flickr page with all my pics for you all to see. Until then, they'll have to come in bits and bobs (british english, which is the standard my course is adhering to, by the by) by way of my blogspot.


HOLA, de Granada!!




Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Estoy en Madrid!!!

Jetlag was a bitch, but after the tapas dinner and 14 hours of sleep I got, my first official day in Madrid was amazing. I started with a cappuchino outside at a cafe, with flamenco guitar serenading me in a madrilño street pocket, got lost finding the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia but finally found and saw Guernica, ate paella and drank rioja for dinner, and now I´m off to try gelato or maybe churros y chocolate, depending on my mood. Not too shabby! And I think all I´ve spent today is about 30euros (Madrid is pricey).

Tomorrow, it´s off to Granada by bus. I overpacked, most definitely, and it is miserable lugging around all that stuff. Luckily, my friend Ann in Granada agreed to keep my three suitcases while I travel around Andalucia.

Also of note, I had crazy anxiety dreams while dozing in and out of jetlag sleep. Too much luggage, "What have I done?", and "Where the hell am I?!" were some of the themes. I never knew jetlag also brought with it a sense of depression. Good thing the majesty of Madrid counteracted all that!

BTW, London SUCKS (at least the airport, I mean...$50 for two hamburgers!! And they were SHITTY).

Pictures to come, once I figure out the wi-fi system. I have lots already!!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

In these final hours

Just a quick note, this being my VERY LAST HOUR on my VERY LAST DAY of work!

Not that this is such a great thing. It would be different if I didn't actually like my job. The new firm (recently split from its other half) had a goodbye lunch for me today from Five Happiness (my favorite!).

How coincidental can you get?!????



Ok, so I asked around and nobody had read my Feb. 7 blog about wanting a surprise party. Well, SURPRISE!!
I got it. And I was quite embarrassed, too, but not as embarrassed as I'd have been, had everybody in fact read my blog. I feel like a big sissy pants for worrying.
Anyway, this picture sortof warmly captures the evening. There were a lot more ppl there than this - just about everyone was there that I wanted to see before I go - and I felt very special and loved. I now feel a little bit of closure on these past few years in New Orleans, which is all I really wanted in the first place.