I'm officially sipping on my last Starbucks (although honestly I'll probably get one for the road on Tuesday, as it's a road trip staple). Yesterday I went to a park in Vallecas that had spectacular views of Madrid, and I took one last walk around Chueca.
I'm not going to be upset about not getting to go out one last time in Madrid. As I was walking around Chueca, I accepted the realization that I had a few weeks ago. Chueca is not for me. I'm neither a twink nor a bear, neither am I attracted to twinks or bears. So no wonder that place had so much pain for me. It doesn't mean I'm a bad person for not liking those scenes. I do like to go out dancing with friends, but in a big city like Madrid, it's next to impossible to make friends. And I've struggled the entire time I've been here to try to force myself to like something I don't like so I could fit in.
I saw someone who I met my first weekend in Madrid in 2009. Every time I go out, I see him with a completely different pack of friends. I ducked so I didn't have to deal with his fakeness.
I've been told like I'm a Spaniard of the north. I might seem a bit more reserved, a bit more aloof, a bit more "cerrado", but once you get under my exterior, I'm a good person and loyal. Madrid, for the most part, is superficiality and nothing under the surface. Me, I'm all under the surface.
Two years ago, when I moved back to Madrid after a year in Valencia, I had such high hopes of turning things around and applying the awesomeness of Valencia to make Madrid work. And there were some good moments. I made it to Extremadura and Asturias, being the last two autonomous communities I needed to visit. I learned catalán and now have a B1 level (I need a B2 to work there). I finished my second novel. I trained with Dan freaking Cohen at a special Body Combat in November. I recovered from a broken heart, and I am on the road to anxiety and depression recovery. I worked at the most amazing school ever, and I cliché alert learned as much from my students as they hopefully did for me.
My last week in Valencia, when I thought I was leaving for Barcelona to do a master's, my heart was breaking every day. Every time I said goodbye to one of my favourite places, I wanted to cry.
Leaving Madrid does not feel that way at all. I got my tears out of the way my last day of work, as that was really the one thing I had an attachment too. I said goodbye to catalán back in May. All the positives have already been bid adieu to. (Or bid adeu to be more catalán.)
I am excited for a new fresh start in Bilbao. I will most likely be there at least two years, one year for sure. I'm looking forward to learning a new language (Basque/Euskera), continuing with catalán and the gym, developing a group of friends and slaying Anxiety Monster for good (it has the face of Beyonce), and learning how to surf and kayak. I am looking forward to Aste Nagusia, being near the sea, and tons of hiking and breathtaking scenery. I am looking forward to my first winter winter since 1998-1999. (Kentucky and Madrid do not know winter, and every time someone from Valencia started to complain about the "cold", they'd then look at me and say "ufff, lo siento, no es frío como lo conoces, però jo sí tinc fred."
The chapter of Madrid ended on June 21st. July has been a painful postdate (root canal root canal pain pain pain camp from hell.) In less than 48 hours, the Bilbao chapter will begin with an amazing road trip.
Agur Madril, Aupa Bilbo.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
mi Top 10 de Madrid
The top five things of Madrid that were positive for me admist a sea of negativity.
5.
Parque de Oeste. Much nicer than the more famous Retiro, and it has Templo de Debod and views of the mountain sunsets.
4.
La sierra de Madrid. Amazingly beautiful and peaceful.
3.
Catalán Who would think one of the best things about Madrid would be learning catalán?
2.
Fisico, the best gym in Madrid. I pretty much lived there trying to get a tabla de chocolate. Too bad I like napolitanas de chocolate so much which keeps me from getting that tabla de chocolate...
1. My school...wanting to keep this blog away from my school, but it has been an incredibly experience working there, and it will be the thing I miss most in Bilbao, I'm sure...despite all the stress!
5.
Parque de Oeste. Much nicer than the more famous Retiro, and it has Templo de Debod and views of the mountain sunsets.
4.
La sierra de Madrid. Amazingly beautiful and peaceful.
3.
Catalán Who would think one of the best things about Madrid would be learning catalán?
2.
Fisico, the best gym in Madrid. I pretty much lived there trying to get a tabla de chocolate. Too bad I like napolitanas de chocolate so much which keeps me from getting that tabla de chocolate...
1. My school...wanting to keep this blog away from my school, but it has been an incredibly experience working there, and it will be the thing I miss most in Bilbao, I'm sure...despite all the stress!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
mi Café Farewell Tour 2013
It's been a while since I've updated my public blog, and I figure now that my time in Madrid is coming to an end, it's time I start updating again with some lists.
Three lists I plan on making: The current Farewell Café Tour 2013, List of Places that Had a Positive Influence on my Time in Madrid, and Top 10 List of Things I Am Looking Forward to in Euskadi.
For those of you who didn't know, I was only able to have my job in Madrid for two years due to stupid Madrid law. While I'm excited to get out of Madrid, which is not a fit for me at all, I'm super excited to go to a brand new city (Bilbao) that I love. I think the city will be a fit for me, and I hope my job is as well of a fit as my schools in Valencia and Madrid were.
Some of these cafés I have never been to. Some of them I frequent a lot and wanted to go to one last time. But these are some of the coolest cafes in Madrid.
Sunday, 21 July 2013: Agur, Casa Mono.
Monday, 22 July 2013: Agur, Café Escalón. I'm not really a fan of the recent makeover, but before they had good tostada con tomate with free orange juice.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013: Agur, El Bombo: On the way to the metro for my daily commute and open, it was convenience. I had to go just to get my mayorship back on FourSquare.
To Come: Agurs to Café Mur, my Spanish Common Grounds,
Café do Nuno
I JUST FOUND OUT IT CLOSED MAY 31 :( It was my fave bar in Quevedo, when I lived there. A Portuguese bar. I wish I had known it was closing!
Café Mama Inés: A Café near Chueca mentioned in the latest John Irving novel.
Café de la Luz:
and to have café on the terrace of Parque de Oeste
and the top floor of El Corte Inglés in Callao.
Three lists I plan on making: The current Farewell Café Tour 2013, List of Places that Had a Positive Influence on my Time in Madrid, and Top 10 List of Things I Am Looking Forward to in Euskadi.
For those of you who didn't know, I was only able to have my job in Madrid for two years due to stupid Madrid law. While I'm excited to get out of Madrid, which is not a fit for me at all, I'm super excited to go to a brand new city (Bilbao) that I love. I think the city will be a fit for me, and I hope my job is as well of a fit as my schools in Valencia and Madrid were.
Some of these cafés I have never been to. Some of them I frequent a lot and wanted to go to one last time. But these are some of the coolest cafes in Madrid.
Sunday, 21 July 2013: Agur, Casa Mono.
Monday, 22 July 2013: Agur, Café Escalón. I'm not really a fan of the recent makeover, but before they had good tostada con tomate with free orange juice.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013: Agur, El Bombo: On the way to the metro for my daily commute and open, it was convenience. I had to go just to get my mayorship back on FourSquare.
To Come: Agurs to Café Mur, my Spanish Common Grounds,
Café do Nuno
I JUST FOUND OUT IT CLOSED MAY 31 :( It was my fave bar in Quevedo, when I lived there. A Portuguese bar. I wish I had known it was closing!Café Mama Inés: A Café near Chueca mentioned in the latest John Irving novel.
Café de la Luz:
and to have café on the terrace of Parque de Oeste
and the top floor of El Corte Inglés in Callao.
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 review and 2013 goals
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?: I practiced nudism. Not much but...I also renewed a year at my job.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?: Some, and I always have goals for the new year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?: Barb. And a few others from high school
4. Did anyone close to you die?: No, but the deaths of celebs John Ingle and Kathyrn Joosten affected me.
5. What countries did you visit?: I live in Spain, so it doesn't count. Andorra, Italy, United States.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?: A boyfriend. Don't I say this every year?
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?: Nov 21, Body Combat with Dan Cohen!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?: Getting renewed at my job at the third best school in the entire Comunidad de Madrid, and all my travels.
9. What was your biggest failure?: Roommates, boys, friendships, social life...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Faringitis in February.
11. What was the best thing you bought?: A trip to Greece next year :P Concert tickets to Lady Gaga
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Lady Gaga!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?: Partido Popular, Republicans
14. Where did most of your money go?: Travel
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?: Travel, Lady Gaga concert, cute Spanish Boys, Body Combat, Catalán.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen (a Canadian) and Jennifer by Els Catarrers.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder I think
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?: Writing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Procrastinating, being afraid to be who I am
20. How will you be spending Christmas?: I spent Christmas Eve on planes, then Christmas with my mom opening 3,5 years of presents and seeing Les Misèrables.
21. How will you be spending New Years? Eating grapes at 6 PM Eastern Standard Time and packing.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?: Nope :(
23. How many one-night stands?: A few
24. What was your favorite TV program?: True Blood, 30 Rock, Veep, Community
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?: No.
26. What was the best book you read?: Quijote in Spanish :P The Count of Monte Cristo and The Stand by Stephen King. I have a few new Spanish writers I like.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?: Els Catarrers
28. What did you want and get?: Buffy the Complete Series.
29. What did you want and not get?: A boyfriend. Do you see a trend?
30. What was your favorite film of this year?: Les Misèrables and Tengo ganas de ti
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?: 31, worked and then went to the gym and then VIPS
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?: a boyfriend and a permanent job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?: Pijo casual
34. What kept you sane?: Jordi, my iPod
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?: David Villa, Cesc Fàbregas, Mario Casas
36. What political issue stirred you the most?: LA PUTA CRISIS DE MIERDA. RECORTES.
37. Who did you miss?: I don't think I miss anyone anymore.
38. Who was the best new person you met?: Umm hmmm I didn't meet anyone that stuck around outside of work who I already knew so let's go with Elena from work from 2011.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012: You will regret not doing something more than doing something.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Here's my number, call me maybe. Oh wait, your straight.
2012.
A year of travel. Barcelona four times, Sevilla, hiking, hiking, hiking, Cáceres and Mérida, País vasco Spanish and French, València, Alicante, Murcia, Jerez (those last two for work), a week in La Alberca with Pueblo Inglés, Zaragoza, Asturias, Italia....
Body Combat, gym and catalán dominated my other extra-curricular activities.
I wrote 58.000 odd words in my second novel (as my third became my second).
Boys...I had a few dates that went nowhere, trouble making friends and finding a place to fit in.
Work...going great. It's incredibly stressful, and I complain a lot, but at the end of the day I enjoy my job. Teaching is one of the most frustrating-yet-rewarding professions, and unless you're a teacher, you're not going to see the second part. You're just going to hear our complaints because there is a lot to vent about. But when you see the fact that students are actually learning...it's a feeling you cannot describe.
What goals did I accomplish in 2012?
I changed my diet to more healthy (it could use some improvement). I gave up soda/pop/cola/refrescos/fizzy drinks, I kept up at the gym, and I am a steady 68 kg/150 pounds (145 at the moment even with the change to American diet for a week).
I read Don Quijote in Spanish, and quite a few other books.
I read the Bible every day, or I should say SKIM heh.
I went hiking more but not as much as I would have liked.
I spent a bit more time watching films, but I am nothing like I used to be.
I went to Italia. Greece, Morrocco and Ireland lacked me.
With that said...what goals do I have for 2013?
1. Find a "trabajo estable" in Spain. I want stability in my life, and 2013-2014 could very well be my last school year in Spain if I cannot find the stability I am craving. The stability includes my own place and building a life somewhere...eventually with someone.
2. Finish novel 2 (that was 3), edit 1 and 2 and send them off to be published, and do the research and groundwork for novel three. Don't forget that Esperanza Aguirre will be a brothel owner (think Mme. Thenandier in Les Misèrables) and Paco Camps sells suits on the black market *giggle*
3. Come out to my mom. I know I should have done it this visit, but things just didn't feel right and I don't feel mentally prepared to do it. I am looking at sending a letter in March before Greece.
4. Reduce anxiety and depression, fully beat social anxiety. This may involve a lot of hard pscyhological work. I am skipping catalán once or twice a month to go to a gay group therapy that should help a lot.
5. Figure out where I want to go to grad school (U of Valencia, UA of Barcelona, U of Barcelona, etc) and a financial plan to make that happen.
6. Read a book in Catalán. Read at least one classic a month in either English or Spanish (If you have recommendations, please advise me).
7. Clean out, sort and have my iTunes back up to date. This is an ongoing process.
8. Get my B1 certificate in catalán and perhaps valenciano too, since they are not interchangable in Comunitat Valenciana. Take the DELE and have my degree homologized.
9. Try new classes at the gym. Body Balance, Fisico Total, I'm looking at you. Continue with Body Combat. Stick to the schedule Monday Combat, Tuesday off, Wednesday weights, Thursday Balance (if the monitor is good, if not free day to explore Madrid), Friday weights, Saturday hiking or a class, and Sunday weights.
10. With #3, a life free of lies and a meaningful relationship. I am still looking for someone. This means nothing more than a kiss until after the third date. This is incredibly hard.
11. As I say every year, try SNOWBOARDING.
12. Give up Starbucks. No more after 6 Jan. Madrid has many wonderful cafés where I can go to write. Why do I always settle for Starbucks?
13. Write an hour a day, and limit myself to Facebook, Twitter and SZ to an hour a day.
14. Make it to the 12 provinces that lack me (me falta :P) and either Morroco or Ireland.
15. Develop a social circle and speak as much Spanish as possible.
16. Camino de Santiago. At least start it.
17. Get back into music and films like I used to be.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?: Some, and I always have goals for the new year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?: Barb. And a few others from high school
4. Did anyone close to you die?: No, but the deaths of celebs John Ingle and Kathyrn Joosten affected me.
5. What countries did you visit?: I live in Spain, so it doesn't count. Andorra, Italy, United States.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?: A boyfriend. Don't I say this every year?
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?: Nov 21, Body Combat with Dan Cohen!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?: Getting renewed at my job at the third best school in the entire Comunidad de Madrid, and all my travels.
9. What was your biggest failure?: Roommates, boys, friendships, social life...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Faringitis in February.
11. What was the best thing you bought?: A trip to Greece next year :P Concert tickets to Lady Gaga
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Lady Gaga!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?: Partido Popular, Republicans
14. Where did most of your money go?: Travel
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?: Travel, Lady Gaga concert, cute Spanish Boys, Body Combat, Catalán.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen (a Canadian) and Jennifer by Els Catarrers.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder I think
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?: Writing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Procrastinating, being afraid to be who I am
20. How will you be spending Christmas?: I spent Christmas Eve on planes, then Christmas with my mom opening 3,5 years of presents and seeing Les Misèrables.
21. How will you be spending New Years? Eating grapes at 6 PM Eastern Standard Time and packing.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?: Nope :(
23. How many one-night stands?: A few
24. What was your favorite TV program?: True Blood, 30 Rock, Veep, Community
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?: No.
26. What was the best book you read?: Quijote in Spanish :P The Count of Monte Cristo and The Stand by Stephen King. I have a few new Spanish writers I like.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?: Els Catarrers
28. What did you want and get?: Buffy the Complete Series.
29. What did you want and not get?: A boyfriend. Do you see a trend?
30. What was your favorite film of this year?: Les Misèrables and Tengo ganas de ti
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?: 31, worked and then went to the gym and then VIPS
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?: a boyfriend and a permanent job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?: Pijo casual
34. What kept you sane?: Jordi, my iPod
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?: David Villa, Cesc Fàbregas, Mario Casas
36. What political issue stirred you the most?: LA PUTA CRISIS DE MIERDA. RECORTES.
37. Who did you miss?: I don't think I miss anyone anymore.
38. Who was the best new person you met?: Umm hmmm I didn't meet anyone that stuck around outside of work who I already knew so let's go with Elena from work from 2011.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012: You will regret not doing something more than doing something.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Here's my number, call me maybe. Oh wait, your straight.
2012.
A year of travel. Barcelona four times, Sevilla, hiking, hiking, hiking, Cáceres and Mérida, País vasco Spanish and French, València, Alicante, Murcia, Jerez (those last two for work), a week in La Alberca with Pueblo Inglés, Zaragoza, Asturias, Italia....
Body Combat, gym and catalán dominated my other extra-curricular activities.
I wrote 58.000 odd words in my second novel (as my third became my second).
Boys...I had a few dates that went nowhere, trouble making friends and finding a place to fit in.
Work...going great. It's incredibly stressful, and I complain a lot, but at the end of the day I enjoy my job. Teaching is one of the most frustrating-yet-rewarding professions, and unless you're a teacher, you're not going to see the second part. You're just going to hear our complaints because there is a lot to vent about. But when you see the fact that students are actually learning...it's a feeling you cannot describe.
What goals did I accomplish in 2012?
I changed my diet to more healthy (it could use some improvement). I gave up soda/pop/cola/refrescos/fizzy drinks, I kept up at the gym, and I am a steady 68 kg/150 pounds (145 at the moment even with the change to American diet for a week).
I read Don Quijote in Spanish, and quite a few other books.
I read the Bible every day, or I should say SKIM heh.
I went hiking more but not as much as I would have liked.
I spent a bit more time watching films, but I am nothing like I used to be.
I went to Italia. Greece, Morrocco and Ireland lacked me.
With that said...what goals do I have for 2013?
1. Find a "trabajo estable" in Spain. I want stability in my life, and 2013-2014 could very well be my last school year in Spain if I cannot find the stability I am craving. The stability includes my own place and building a life somewhere...eventually with someone.
2. Finish novel 2 (that was 3), edit 1 and 2 and send them off to be published, and do the research and groundwork for novel three. Don't forget that Esperanza Aguirre will be a brothel owner (think Mme. Thenandier in Les Misèrables) and Paco Camps sells suits on the black market *giggle*
3. Come out to my mom. I know I should have done it this visit, but things just didn't feel right and I don't feel mentally prepared to do it. I am looking at sending a letter in March before Greece.
4. Reduce anxiety and depression, fully beat social anxiety. This may involve a lot of hard pscyhological work. I am skipping catalán once or twice a month to go to a gay group therapy that should help a lot.
5. Figure out where I want to go to grad school (U of Valencia, UA of Barcelona, U of Barcelona, etc) and a financial plan to make that happen.
6. Read a book in Catalán. Read at least one classic a month in either English or Spanish (If you have recommendations, please advise me).
7. Clean out, sort and have my iTunes back up to date. This is an ongoing process.
8. Get my B1 certificate in catalán and perhaps valenciano too, since they are not interchangable in Comunitat Valenciana. Take the DELE and have my degree homologized.
9. Try new classes at the gym. Body Balance, Fisico Total, I'm looking at you. Continue with Body Combat. Stick to the schedule Monday Combat, Tuesday off, Wednesday weights, Thursday Balance (if the monitor is good, if not free day to explore Madrid), Friday weights, Saturday hiking or a class, and Sunday weights.
10. With #3, a life free of lies and a meaningful relationship. I am still looking for someone. This means nothing more than a kiss until after the third date. This is incredibly hard.
11. As I say every year, try SNOWBOARDING.
12. Give up Starbucks. No more after 6 Jan. Madrid has many wonderful cafés where I can go to write. Why do I always settle for Starbucks?
13. Write an hour a day, and limit myself to Facebook, Twitter and SZ to an hour a day.
14. Make it to the 12 provinces that lack me (me falta :P) and either Morroco or Ireland.
15. Develop a social circle and speak as much Spanish as possible.
16. Camino de Santiago. At least start it.
17. Get back into music and films like I used to be.
Friday, August 31, 2012
mi pueblo inglés
I have to say, this week was one of the best weeks of my entire life.
The past three summers, I have worked as a monitor for the Pueblo Inglés summer camps. I had heard about the adult programs, but I had never put much thought into them. I am so glad I decided to go ahead and finally volunteer to do an adult program.
It was a week full of constant activity and a whirlwind of positive energy and emotion and too much food. About a kilometre from La Alberca in Salamanca exists an amazing resort that has a village for an English-immersion program. From the arrival and lunch on Friday afternoon until the departure lunch today, it was non-stop English for the poor Spanish and me. (Prefiero castellano como todos ya sabéis.)
After the icebreakers on Friday, we had a brief overview of the basic schedule and what we would be doing. Speaking English all day and all night.
A typical day started at 8.15 with the wake up call. Breakfast was at 9, and at 9.50 began the one to ones, where a Spaniard and Anglo were paired up to discuss whatever. Being me, I had to ask tons of questions about Spanish history and government. The Spanish had to do presentations in English, which we could be assigned to be part of the audience of. At 13.00, there was a 2 to 2, which is what it sounds like. 2 Anglos, 2 Spaniards. Lunch was at 14.00, and after lunch there was a siesta until 5. 5 was a group activity which were all discussion based, and then two more one to ones before meeting room at 8. During meeting room, there were performances and theatre acts. I was asked to volunteer to be a part of one of the theatre, an X-Factor parody in which I ended up being a famous porn-star judge. I had so much fun doing it (and I included him quitting at the end to go work with Mariah and Nicki Minaj a troix).
Monday night was a party that went on all night with too much alcohol (the favourite drink was black vodka). So much music and dancing, and then on Tuesday we had a tour of the pueblo La Alberca.
La Alberca is a historical village of about 1200 people and a pig. The pig is taken care of by the town. If he decides to stop at your door at sunset, you have to take him in and feed him and give him a place for the night. During the day, he is allowed to roam the village as he sees fit. At the end of the year, they raffle off the pig which is usually then turned into jamón serrano.
La Alberca also has the place where the world's first cheques were made for soldiers on their way to fight the crusades.
Wednesday I taught a Body Combat presentation to some of the Spanish girls, which was fun. I was basically out and the only gay boy, but no one had a problem with it or me. One of the older British women commented on how she loved how I lived my life how I wanted and asked me if I were gay. We're being accepted, people.
Thursday was the last day, last chance for everything. Lots of tears were shed. There was a fancy dinner at the castle hotel and another party. What happens at Pueblo Inglés stays at Pueblo Inglés.
And today, I am sad but grateful for this amazing week I have had. I cannot wait until next August when I can volunteer again, and I hope to see some of the Spanish friends again. Trust me.
Save tonight, fight the break of dawn. Come tomorrow, tomorrow I'll be gone.
The past three summers, I have worked as a monitor for the Pueblo Inglés summer camps. I had heard about the adult programs, but I had never put much thought into them. I am so glad I decided to go ahead and finally volunteer to do an adult program.
It was a week full of constant activity and a whirlwind of positive energy and emotion and too much food. About a kilometre from La Alberca in Salamanca exists an amazing resort that has a village for an English-immersion program. From the arrival and lunch on Friday afternoon until the departure lunch today, it was non-stop English for the poor Spanish and me. (Prefiero castellano como todos ya sabéis.)
After the icebreakers on Friday, we had a brief overview of the basic schedule and what we would be doing. Speaking English all day and all night.
A typical day started at 8.15 with the wake up call. Breakfast was at 9, and at 9.50 began the one to ones, where a Spaniard and Anglo were paired up to discuss whatever. Being me, I had to ask tons of questions about Spanish history and government. The Spanish had to do presentations in English, which we could be assigned to be part of the audience of. At 13.00, there was a 2 to 2, which is what it sounds like. 2 Anglos, 2 Spaniards. Lunch was at 14.00, and after lunch there was a siesta until 5. 5 was a group activity which were all discussion based, and then two more one to ones before meeting room at 8. During meeting room, there were performances and theatre acts. I was asked to volunteer to be a part of one of the theatre, an X-Factor parody in which I ended up being a famous porn-star judge. I had so much fun doing it (and I included him quitting at the end to go work with Mariah and Nicki Minaj a troix).
Monday night was a party that went on all night with too much alcohol (the favourite drink was black vodka). So much music and dancing, and then on Tuesday we had a tour of the pueblo La Alberca.
La Alberca is a historical village of about 1200 people and a pig. The pig is taken care of by the town. If he decides to stop at your door at sunset, you have to take him in and feed him and give him a place for the night. During the day, he is allowed to roam the village as he sees fit. At the end of the year, they raffle off the pig which is usually then turned into jamón serrano.
La Alberca also has the place where the world's first cheques were made for soldiers on their way to fight the crusades.
Wednesday I taught a Body Combat presentation to some of the Spanish girls, which was fun. I was basically out and the only gay boy, but no one had a problem with it or me. One of the older British women commented on how she loved how I lived my life how I wanted and asked me if I were gay. We're being accepted, people.
Thursday was the last day, last chance for everything. Lots of tears were shed. There was a fancy dinner at the castle hotel and another party. What happens at Pueblo Inglés stays at Pueblo Inglés.
And today, I am sad but grateful for this amazing week I have had. I cannot wait until next August when I can volunteer again, and I hope to see some of the Spanish friends again. Trust me.
Save tonight, fight the break of dawn. Come tomorrow, tomorrow I'll be gone.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
mi bucket list para los años de 30
I am just over six months into my 30s, and while the first half of it, outside my professional life, has not gone too well, things are already looking up. I think it's okay if I looked ahead to the rest of my 30s with some goals. Who knows what life will throw at me, either good or bad, but I think it's okay to get excited and dream, ¿no?
-Find a boyfriend and start a family. Or at least the golden retrievers. I think I want to do more of foster kids, as I feel a calling to work with teens. Someone has to do it.
-Obtain a Spanish passport. After a conversation about the differences between Spanish and American/English school systems, I honestly don't know if I could go back to American ways. I would like to either return to Valencia or go to Catalunya (a town near Barcelona, or Girona capital).
-Obtain a stable job teaching secondaría in Spain.
-Have one of my novels published, and finish Novel #2 and Novel #3 (and hopefully 4 and 5, as I have the ideas for both of them even if I haven't started them.)
-Travel to Morocco, Ireland, Greece and Argentina. I hope to pick up Australia and Asia too, as I want to step foot on every continent...but little by little.
-Have my Spanish driver's license and a car.
-Have my credit cards and most of my student loans paid off. The loans are in perpetual forbearance right now.
I probably have more things, but I think this is a good start.
-Find a boyfriend and start a family. Or at least the golden retrievers. I think I want to do more of foster kids, as I feel a calling to work with teens. Someone has to do it.
-Obtain a Spanish passport. After a conversation about the differences between Spanish and American/English school systems, I honestly don't know if I could go back to American ways. I would like to either return to Valencia or go to Catalunya (a town near Barcelona, or Girona capital).
-Obtain a stable job teaching secondaría in Spain.
-Have one of my novels published, and finish Novel #2 and Novel #3 (and hopefully 4 and 5, as I have the ideas for both of them even if I haven't started them.)
-Travel to Morocco, Ireland, Greece and Argentina. I hope to pick up Australia and Asia too, as I want to step foot on every continent...but little by little.
-Have my Spanish driver's license and a car.
-Have my credit cards and most of my student loans paid off. The loans are in perpetual forbearance right now.
I probably have more things, but I think this is a good start.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
mi euskadi adventure 2012 part II. Donostia
Previously, on senorbrightside:
Semana Santa, 2010, Pablo went to San Sebastián (Donostia) and Bilbao in País vasco and fell in love with the landscape, declaring Donostia his favourite place in the world due to the peace he felt there and the beauty that is Donostia.
Christmas, 2010. Pablo visits a friend in Bilbao, has a breakdown, finds peace in Sanse-Donostia.
2011: Pablo leaves his beloved Valencia and returns to living in Madrid.
27 April 2012, Pablo sojourns back to Bilbao. He was about to board a bus to Donostia on the 29th....
So I got to Donostia, checked into the pensión, whose owners are super nice and friendly. It's located right in the old part of the town, my favourite part. It's sunset time, so I hightail it to the beach to watch the sun set...I went for some pintxos, which I am getting sick of by now, then went to the other beach used mainly for surfing. I really want to try surfing, but classes are 52 Euros, and I am part catalán, cheap. So after watching the waves crash for a while, I head back to get some sleep.
Monday morning, I got up bright and early to catch the train to Hendaye, just over the Spanish-French border, to go to Biarritz, which is supposedly the French San Sebastián, still being part of País vasco. Still have Euskera and stuff.
It is not.
I got a ticket for a cancelled train, laughing at the Spanish used on the French system. The French apparently get other languages totally wrong just like the Spanish. The French guy asked me if I spoke Spanish, and explained that the train had been cancelled due to a strike, so he changed it for me. I then saw a couple get kicked off the train for not having validated their ticket, which was actually entertaining. It sucks for them, but hearing the conductor's bad English tell them this information? Priceless.
The second I stepped off the train, the downpour started. I was going to try to walk to the town, but the rain made me turn around and wait a bit, trying "cafe au lait et crossaint". Super expensive. The rain let up, I walked into town which took about 40 minutes. Then the second downpour came. Everything in my backpack got ruined as my umbrella broke. I had a 3,20 café au lait...which in Spain is never more than 1,30€ except at the most pijo places.
The rain let up, and I walked around a bit, trying a crepe and eating chicken at some place in town. I found my friend's supermercado and bought the world's smallest Coca Cola can, which they threw out this morning grrr.
There were some cool sights, but I prefer Spain. It felt so good to hear Spanish when the train arrived in Hendaya. I felt like home.
I got back in time for a walk around Mt. Urgell along the sea, and went for more freaking pintxos and trying mosto, which I am now loving. It's like a grape juice. Watched more waves crashed and contempelated life, wanting a boyfriend, a golden retriever, to live by the sea and write.
Today I slept in til 9 when I woke up on my own, went for a hike up to Jesus (a giant statue of our Saviour) on Mt. Urgell, then took off to Zarautz. The bus said it would take 15 minutes. I obviously got on the INDIRECTO bus, as it took 45 minutes through some amazing scenery. Zarautz was a bit touristy for my tastes, even if they were Spanish tourists.
I caught Euskotren back to Donostia, treated myself to a Menú del día for 9,80, went to my favourite cafe in Donostia, rested a bit, walked over to El Peine del viento, another long walk and more pintxos later, another amazing sunset, sad to be headed back to Madrid tomorrow, but having to say, as always, Donostia has been an amazing, rejuvenating trip.
I seriously need to try surfing again next time. I tried it in Hawaii. Amazing.
Along the way, I finished one of my goals on my Bucket List. To read Don Quijote in Spanish.
Semana Santa, 2010, Pablo went to San Sebastián (Donostia) and Bilbao in País vasco and fell in love with the landscape, declaring Donostia his favourite place in the world due to the peace he felt there and the beauty that is Donostia.
Christmas, 2010. Pablo visits a friend in Bilbao, has a breakdown, finds peace in Sanse-Donostia.
2011: Pablo leaves his beloved Valencia and returns to living in Madrid.
27 April 2012, Pablo sojourns back to Bilbao. He was about to board a bus to Donostia on the 29th....
So I got to Donostia, checked into the pensión, whose owners are super nice and friendly. It's located right in the old part of the town, my favourite part. It's sunset time, so I hightail it to the beach to watch the sun set...I went for some pintxos, which I am getting sick of by now, then went to the other beach used mainly for surfing. I really want to try surfing, but classes are 52 Euros, and I am part catalán, cheap. So after watching the waves crash for a while, I head back to get some sleep.
Monday morning, I got up bright and early to catch the train to Hendaye, just over the Spanish-French border, to go to Biarritz, which is supposedly the French San Sebastián, still being part of País vasco. Still have Euskera and stuff.
It is not.
I got a ticket for a cancelled train, laughing at the Spanish used on the French system. The French apparently get other languages totally wrong just like the Spanish. The French guy asked me if I spoke Spanish, and explained that the train had been cancelled due to a strike, so he changed it for me. I then saw a couple get kicked off the train for not having validated their ticket, which was actually entertaining. It sucks for them, but hearing the conductor's bad English tell them this information? Priceless.
The second I stepped off the train, the downpour started. I was going to try to walk to the town, but the rain made me turn around and wait a bit, trying "cafe au lait et crossaint". Super expensive. The rain let up, I walked into town which took about 40 minutes. Then the second downpour came. Everything in my backpack got ruined as my umbrella broke. I had a 3,20 café au lait...which in Spain is never more than 1,30€ except at the most pijo places.
The rain let up, and I walked around a bit, trying a crepe and eating chicken at some place in town. I found my friend's supermercado and bought the world's smallest Coca Cola can, which they threw out this morning grrr.
There were some cool sights, but I prefer Spain. It felt so good to hear Spanish when the train arrived in Hendaya. I felt like home.
I got back in time for a walk around Mt. Urgell along the sea, and went for more freaking pintxos and trying mosto, which I am now loving. It's like a grape juice. Watched more waves crashed and contempelated life, wanting a boyfriend, a golden retriever, to live by the sea and write.
Today I slept in til 9 when I woke up on my own, went for a hike up to Jesus (a giant statue of our Saviour) on Mt. Urgell, then took off to Zarautz. The bus said it would take 15 minutes. I obviously got on the INDIRECTO bus, as it took 45 minutes through some amazing scenery. Zarautz was a bit touristy for my tastes, even if they were Spanish tourists.
I caught Euskotren back to Donostia, treated myself to a Menú del día for 9,80, went to my favourite cafe in Donostia, rested a bit, walked over to El Peine del viento, another long walk and more pintxos later, another amazing sunset, sad to be headed back to Madrid tomorrow, but having to say, as always, Donostia has been an amazing, rejuvenating trip.
I seriously need to try surfing again next time. I tried it in Hawaii. Amazing.
Along the way, I finished one of my goals on my Bucket List. To read Don Quijote in Spanish.
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