FRIENDS

Friends here in this new life of foreign exchange come in two forms. The first group of friends are the one's who are there for me every step of the way, who understand the many things I'm going through, and the ones who can also talk to me about anything. These are the other exchange students. At our first orientation (which was at week 1) in Madrid, we got to spend a weekend together. I won't lie, the orientation itself was a load of crap. They made us do a bunch of pointless games and I'm pretty sure they were trying to kill us all with the food they served. But what made this weekend so special is that we got to meet and get to know the other students. It is very hard to explain but because of the shared experience of leaving everything we know and starting anew, it took very little time to form strong relationships with each other. We now keep in contact through Facebook mainly, because we are spread all over Spain. I currently only have three other students I can actually meet and see on a regular basis. One of them goes to my school and our host families are friends. Through sharing the same experience day to day, these new friends are some of the closest I've ever had and I am so glad to have them to lean on. The other group is just as important. These would be my spanish friends. Now making friends with the natives is not as easy as it may sound. It took me a good month to begin to develop actual friendships with these guys. This is due in part to the language barrier, the cultural barrier, and the fact that you are basically inserted into these peoples lives out of the blue. What I mean by that is that the people here had their friends, their "clics", their social classes, and their way of life long before I arrived. So it takes a lot longer for one in my situation to "find his place" in the social network. I started my social life here with "friends", because my host family's daughter went on exchange to Australia, so I "inherited" her group of people. It was difficult for the first few weeks because I knew nothing about any of them, and for a while "hanging out" was simply me standing in the corner watching the rest of them talk. But as time passed I began to insert myself into conversation and everyday life with them. I later branched out and found another group of friends who I also like being with. These spanish friends are so important because THEY are my life now. One thing that is drilled into our heads before we leave is to live in our host country, not back home. Friends, family, life... should all be here. And your life back home is to be almost forgotten. This way you can adapt much more quickly to our new culture. So in short, they are all I have right now. Two girls in particular have played a huge role in my new life here. Itati and Itatxe are the best friends of my host parents daughter, and they kind of took me under their wing. It is because of them I am not a complete social outcast here. So as I've learned, having people in my life on exchange is a very different experience than the group of friends I took for granite back home. Speaking of them, if any of you are reading this, just want to say I miss you and I'm thinking of you. Same goes to my family. More stories to come! 

My two spanish guides Itati and Itatxe

AMERICA!!

Intercambios

Feeling very feminine.... 

This food was total S#it... but the people were great!

Friends from all over! Mi amiga Alemán (German)

BULL FIGHTING

Official position on Bull Fighting:
What I was expected was the bull to be mocked and laughed at until its death, but the bull actually receives a heroes respect. It is very cruel, and the bull suffers a lot of pain. It is stabbed and cut to the point where it is completely covered in its own blood. But because it is so respected, and treated with so much honor in it's death, I have come to respect this cultural event. I do not agree or disagree with with it, but it is most definitely better than my past understanding of it.

VALENCIA!

Now because I consider it (so far) on of the best parts of my trip so far I would like to do a little piece on Valencia. This beautiful city has been on my bucket list of cities to visit ever since I heard of Spain, and visiting it was an incredible experience for me. The city is known as "The cultural center of modern arts and sciences" in Europe, due to it's very modern architectures in the "Modern" area of the city. When we visited this part the I was astonished by the buildings. The whole area turned out to be almost like a city park (Which I didn't know prior to coming there). There was a omni-theater, an art and science museum, and a full zoo/aquarium housed in these set of very abstract looking structures. We took a full day there doing all of the activities. Later that night we went out of the city about 10 Km's and checked into our hotel. My host dad told me as we were pulling up that they usually stay in 4 to 5 star hotels, but because they heard that the hotel we were going to was a great place from a friend, they decided to try this smaller, slightly MOTEL looking Inn. At first I was a little nervous, seeing that the actual building looked slightly like a Super 8 back home, back after my first day there, I was blown away. The hotel happened to be right on the beach, approximately 100 meters from the water. The view was absolutely dream like. Palm trees and ocean waves clouded my thoughts for the next few days. Every day the Hotel provided us with a breakfast, lunch, and dinner; All consisting of fresh seafood, hand made bread, and the finest Mediterranean wines. Upon further inspection I realized the this Spanish "Super 8" was actually a a Five star restaurant with a hotel attached. The beach was fantastic. I went every morning and stayed as long as I could, and at night I would put in my headphones and walk along the beach at midnight or so. I was a little shocked that about half of all the women on the beach during the day... did not wear tops. But after an explanation from my host dad that this was a normal thing in all beaches on the Mediterranean...ya know... I didn't have too big of a problem with it. The water of the sea was absolutely perfect. Because it was a Sea and not the actual ocean, it was 10 - 15 degrees warmer than any other ocean i've swam in. I could have been out there all day, but the salt took a toll on my skin. After dinner one night, my family and I walked to a small town that we were close to. It happened to be Fiestas that week and this is where I witnessed my first "Running of the bulls". This ritual differs from town to town, and this one happened to be just one bull, horns lit of fire, running through the streets chasing drunk people. Later on I realized this was one of the more humane ways performing this slightly controversial act, as other towns, including mine in Navarra, kill the bull eventually. There is even one west of my town that runs the bulls off a cliff as its finally. The fiestas during this week were very fun. Lots of people dancing in the streets, and lots of fireworks always going off. We only went to them for two days but I enjoyed them a lot. Towards the end of my stay, we went to see the actual city of Valencia. I was, again, blown away. When my host dad told me the actual city was older architecture, he meant OLD. Castles and grand churches were on every corner. There was history from all eras. There were Muslim castles from when Spain was under Muslim control, and giant catholic churches from the middle ages. There were even structures that were built by the Romans when Spain was apart of that empire. The people of the city were very nice as well. We ate at a little bar in the center of the city that I found out had been running for...wait for it...200 years! The little pub still had the original walls and tiling it did when it opened. Also in Valencia is where I discovered a drink called horchata. It is made from soaking a certain nut for 3 or 4 days then squeezing the contents into a concentrate. Add ice cold water and you have horchata. Valencia is known for this very sweet drink and I LOVED it. I hope that I can find some way to make it when I get back to Wisconsin. When It was time to leave Valencia for my next adventure in Madrid I was a little sad. I didn't know when I would be coming back. But I knew I would want to after I was back in the States. Possibly with a friend or two for a month. Valencia is literally a DREAM vacation and with a group of friends I can't imagine how amazing the experience would be. I can't wait to go back.

Tanning for hours! It was so nice.

Very unusual but beautiful. 

My favorite sight! A little square about a block away form the center of the city.

Me and the lil' bro chillin'

Juan tells me this is a Muslim castle. Parts were rebuilt using the same materials and designs.

Everyone...has cars like this here. This is the bartenders BMW.

Palm trees everywhere here.

Fiestas!

MONTH ONE

Sorry about the the lack of updates! It has been quite crazy here in España. I guess I'll start by saying that I am doing well. Spain has been treating me very good and I am (for the most part) enjoying my stay here. Being here one month I have noticed more differences than I could ever describe. Some good, some bad, and some just plain different. It is taking awhile to adjust to all of them but I'm working on it. The hardest part so far I'd say is the schooling. High school over here is not what it is like in the states, and my official opinion on this matter is that the US, though lower in standards, has a far superior system of educating it's youth in the classroom environment. Or simply put, school over here SUCKS. Kids are put in a classroom (mind you only one classroom, the teachers move from room to room and not the students) and made to sit, straight back, eyes forward, for seven hours while information is lectured by the professor. There is no interaction between teacher and student, or student and student for that matter. Kids are taught like this since first level (kindergarten in the States) until they are ready to take "The test". Graduation is not important whatsoever and is not celebrated period. There are no "school activities" such as homecoming or field trips. Simply lecture and notes. "The test" mentioned before is the ticket into college. You pass, you go to college. Your fail and you are given one more chance. Fail twice, and I'm not sure what happens but I assume you work at the Spanish equivalent to Wal-Mart the rest of your life. For me, school consists of sitting in my chair and listening, attempting to pick up more spanish. I draw quite a bit too.
Now that that's out of the way, to the awesome things! First, the people. Because I am in the north (Kingdom of Navarra) the people are generally more reserved towards strangers at first. But now I have become a part of the town, they have warmed up to me and I am seeing just how crazy Spaniards are! With friends they are very open and laugh and joke constantly. I have started understanding more and more spanish so I can appreciate most jokes now!
Every saturday is party night here (believe me they don't like school either and need to make up for it on the weekends). Last saturday was the first one I was here for (I have been very busy) and it was no short of RAGING. My friends and I went to dinner at about 8:00 and ate until around 10:30 or so. Then it was off to the clubs. (Short side note - "night club" here does not mean what it means in the States, so DO NOT call a club that here. It is referred to a "Disco bar". Night club is.... well I'll let you look that one up.) Anyway the Disco bar was wild. Crazy dancing, lights, music...the works. I was so tired out by three I decided to head home. I figured it was a normal time to do so and didn't even think about it until the next day when my host dad looked at me in shock when I told him I came home at 3. I later found out that my other friends arrived home at 9AM, which, I guess, is "the normal time".
The night life being my favorite thing so far, my second favorite is the scenery. Here in Navarra we are surrounded by tall mountains (The pyrenees). They are incredibly beautiful. About a week ago my friends here asked me if I wanted to go on a "little" bike ride. It ended up being about a 30 KM ride that took hours. When I got home I was so tired I sat on the couch and didn't get up for the rest of the night. But what I saw on that ride was worth every ounce of pain. We went through mountains, cliffs, and valleys. I saw a crystal blue river weaving it's way through a massive gorge. The beauty was stunning. Since then I have biked as much as I can, and every time the beauty still shocks me. I experienced the same feeling on my vacation to Valencia. I have not had many experiences with beaches in my lifetime but I am sure that this tops many peoples. The Mediterranean was the picture perfect example of any beach. Palm trees, beautiful sunsets, unbelievable sand, and gorgeous women. That week I spent there is still the highlight of my trip so far and I would like nothing more than to go back there forever. I can not wait until I visit Valencia again. Whether it be in a week or ten years.
Well that's all for now. I will start to share other "random stories" more than full updates. It is easier and will give you a more detailed look at my every day life here. Hope everyone is good back home!

This tunnel was for bikes only, no lights... it was black as night and I used my camera flash to see in from of me.

My favorite scene that day.

Don't have this in Wisconsin!

Just getting a splash from the cool river water.

Bike rout.

Now this is trust.