Thought I Would Try Something New

Hello Everyone, 

I thought I would post a video instead of typing a long boring blog that you have to read, hope you like it! 

And here is the link to my 365 project that I said I would post : http://365project.org/pdwhalen/365

Oh the Differences

I am a month and ten days away from being back in America and I realized that I have not really talked about the differences between Spain and the U.S.A. I think that this is because I usually try to avoid comparing two completely different cultures to each other, but I think today is a good day to write a blog about it.
I will start with the differences in the classroom. In the states if you talk in class while the teacher is talking there are usually consequences and it is not accepted, here in Spain however you are shushed but then you go on with your conversation, which I think is very rude.  Also, class almost never starts on time here in Spain, which goes with their relaxed culture but is a very big difference. The professors will change the time or place of a class that you originally signed up for whereas in the states I have never had that happen. Usually your class is based on one big paper or presentation and then a test, no homework, nothing else. But, here you get two chances on your final exam, so if you don't pass the first time no worries, you will take it during the second try exam period and hopefully pass.
The differences in the home are the most interesting to me. Almost every Sunday everyone gets together with their family and they have a very large meal, this is possible because every single store is closed throughout the town. Grandparents have a very active role in the lives of their grandchildren and usually help the parents to watch the children while they work. Other little differences are that most people do not have dryers so clothes are hung to dry, most people live in apartments or flats, and most of the floors are wooden.
The food, oh the food! I personally love the food here, I know others who have visited and who are studying here who do not agree though. I love the color that I have on every plate that my host mom makes for me. She also makes me eat a ton of fruit which I really have grown to love. Just in general I feel as if they eat healthier, there isn't a McDonald's every couple of blocks, actually you have to quite a ways to get it if you want in my town. Everyone walks as well so the amount of overweight people is much less than I am used to seeing in the states.
Another thing that I really appreciate and love about Spain is that they take pride in their country. There are fountains and statues and flowers and everything like this all over the place and I feel like that shows that they are proud and want to show off their abilities and make their country more beautiful. The architecture as well is just so beautiful.
As with every culture there are differences from what we are used to, some of them we like, some of them we do not. With every culture though we appreciate a little bit more of our own and learn a little bit more and appreciate a little bit more as well of the other.

I'm a lucky girl

As you can tell I have not updated my blog in a while and I am very sorry about that. I have been busy and just haven't found the time to write. I left off on the second day of Magdelena and that was because I was preparing to meet my parents in Barcelona and then go with them to Rome. We spent 4 days in Rome and it was beautiful, we saw just about everything that you imagine seeing in Rome. The food was wonderful and the town was just breath-taking, I would love to go back to Rome someday.
We then traveled back to Spain and visited my town and my host mom, saw my university, the town, and had a nice lunch with my host mom. Our last day was in Barcelona were we saw as much as we could with the rain. I then said goodbye to my parents and came back to Castellon. Waiting for me in Castellon was the beginning of my Spanish course and a ten page paper that I had to write about a book in Spanish. I had the advantage of reading the book in English which helped but the paper still took a lot of time and work. A couple weeks later my grandparents came here and we spend 10 wonderful days in Barcelona. We did so many things and loved walking around the Gothic area there. We did make a trip to Castellon to see my town and it was very enjoyable. The only bad thing about the trip was that my grandpa got pick-pocketed in the Metro on their second to last day here. A warning to you all, be careful whenever you are in a big town not just Barcelona. I said goodbye to them and came home to have a wonderful friend of mine here help me correct my paper and to finish it.
I then took a couple days to relax and enjoy the wonderful weather we have been having here. One of those days was a BBQ with the students and families of the Family Program here. It was a hot day but it was very nice to see everyone and for all of us to talk. I also love any occasion when I get to see my host mom's grand-kids, they remind of home.
So here I am writing this blog to all of you. A couple more updates... I will be home in only 47 days, time has just gone by too fast. I am getting excited to come home though too. I also officially quite my first and only official job at Steak 'n Shake, and received a new job coaching T-Ball at Belvidere Park District this summer. I signed up for 3 summer classes at Rock Valley College this summer as well. Life back home is going to be hecktic which is why I am enjoying the rest of the time I have here. My relationship with my host mom is still wonderful and leaving her is going to be the hardest thing I will have to do during my trip.
Nothing else too much, classes are wrapping up so I am working on getting ready for finals and working on final projects, which is harder than usual, and preparing for my trip back home.

Hope you all are well. I'll try to update soon!

Magdalena - Day 2

Hola!

Today begin early, well early in the eyes of my host mom, at 10:30am when we were all hustling to get out the door and begin our day. We didn't successful get out the door until 11:00am but then began our 8 kilometer walk to the Magdalena. What is the Magdalena you may find yourself wondering? Not only is it the name of the festival but it is also a Cathedral on a little mountain on the outskirts of town. It is a tradition for most of the town to walk there on the first Sunday of the festival. Some begin at 7:30 with canas (basically walking sticks) and others start later on in the day. We decided that the canas were not very important to us so we started later on. Some groups of people coordinate clothing, some wear the typical bandanna (which is a blue and white plaid) around their necks, and others the typical clothing of the magdalena festival. There are multiple stopping points to stop and eat some food, buy some balloons for the kids, or just rest a little while. We kept on walking because we felt that if we stopped we wouldn't get up again.

Once we arrived at the top there were a few people making a huge serving of Paella and a very long line for people to wait for it, after all it was free, people selling ice-cream, soda, typical food of the Magdalena, and much more. We sat down and ate our lunch because we didn't want to wait for the Paella we had packed sandwiches and fruit. We rested a while and watch and took pictures and then headed to find the buses to take us back. We figured we deserved a break and the 1.50 euros didn't seem too bad for a nice calm ride back to Castellon. Once we were back in town we began our short walk home, but not without stopping for a little ice cream for all of that hard work. We arrived at the house, rested, and everyone else took a little nap!

It is now dark as I finish this post and the sound of the music and fireworks are getting louder as families heading out for the night for drinks, concerts, and partying.

Tomorrow is just another day filled with surprises for me and for you!

Magdelena - Day 1

This week begins the festival of the Magdalena in my city in Spain. It is a festival that started today and will end next Sunday. There is a lot that goes on every day so I thought it might be good if I update my blog more frequently during the days that I am here for it.

La fiesta de la Magdalena celebrates the birth of Castellon more than 700 years ago. It begins around noon with la mascleta which is a combination of fireworks and other explosions such as firecrackers. There were many people there and there were so many fireworks that the ground was shaking and the sky was filled with clouds of smoke. Later at 4pm is a parade called Cabalgera del Prego which included floats, bands, and tons of dancers. I attended for a little while, but as it is about two to three hours long and mostly dancers my host mom and me decided to leave after about an hour and a half. Throughout the day there is drinking and tapas, shopping at little tents, and children setting off little firecrackers and other fireworks in the streets. Later on, once it is dark out there were fireworks that were so loud you couldn't miss them. Now, as I sit in my bed after a very long day I hear music and other noises from the street (and I live on the 9th floor). I will not be participating in the partying this evening because tomorrow morning we have another adventure to embark on which will require a lot of energy. I won't tell you too much now though you'll have to wait until tomorrow!

Hasta Manana!

Tick Tock... I need the clock to stop

Hello Everyone!

Not too much has happened lately. The most exciting thing that I have done was taken a trip to a near-by town named Valencia where I did a little souvenir shopping and got some Starbucks with one of my friends here. It was a beautiful day and a lovely trip. I love Valencia because it is slightly bigger than Castellon and there is a Starbucks as well as a few other places that remind me of home.

Also, Inma's son and grandson recently had birthdays last weekend so we all go together and ate lunch and of course sang feliz cumpleanos to them and ate cake. It was a wonderful Sunday with my family here. I was also able to see how much more I understand in Spanish which is always a plus!

I also have passed my 100 days left until I return home which is a happy and sad realization at the same time. I miss my friends and family and am excited to come home to you all soon, but I know I will miss my family and friends here as well.

My live is about to get more interesting here for a while though. Tomorrow morning begins a festival called Magdalena here in Castellon. There are bull fights, a walk to a mountain, and many more traditions for me to look forward to and experience. I will only be in town until Wednesday morning though as I will be meeting my parents in Barcelona Wednesday evening and we will then be flying out to Rome, Italy Thursday morning. We will be there until Monday night and then we will spend the next few days in Spain until they leave Thursday. I will of course post about that after they leave.

I then get about two weeks to relax and then I will have a visit from my Grandparents. I am again meeting them in Barcelona and then we will be taking day trips around the area and exploring Barcelona. Once they leave I will only have a little over two months left and I know the time will fly faster than it has been even.

My host mom continues to tell me that I speak Spanish very well and that I am improving. I know that my Spanish class that will be beginning next week will help my Spanish continue to grow. I think that I am getting a little too acostumed to the lifestyle here. I am very relaxed and calm and enjoy my relaxing afternoons which sometimes include the siesta. The weather is getting warmer so hopefully that means that I will be going to the beach soon!

Hope all is well! Hasta luego!

Opps.. It's been a while

With the wrapping up of the holidays and starting classes again I have neglected my blog. I will give you a summary of what has been going on.

Dan came and visited 3 days after Christmas and I was able to show him around Castellon and celebrate New Years with him. We spent a few days in Barcelona as well and had a great time. It was fun to be able to share what I have learned with someone from home.

I took my finals for my regular classes here and have found out that I passed!! I am not sure what my grades will be back at WIU but I do know that I have passed them.

I spend 5 days in London! I went with a girl that I meet here from the states. It was a lot of fun, but very cold! We went to the Westminster Abbey which has a lot of history and is very pretty (but you can't take pictures), the British Museum which has items like the Rosetta stone, Cleopatra, and a tons more. We also saw a debate in Parliament, Big Ben, ate fish and chips and drank tea, went to Hyde park, notting hill, Piccadilly circus, convent gardens and much more. It was a great trip and I would love to go back someday.

I came back from London and moved into the bigger room that had become available because the woman who was living with Inma moved to be closer to her son. Inma's son has spent many Saturdays here painting the house and doing a little sprusing up and it has been nice to interact with him and his family as well.

Finally, I have started my classes here again. I am taking History of Medieval Europe and Photography both in Spanish. It is a challenge but I think it will be very good. I will also be taking a Spanish class that will begin in late March. It has officially been 5 months since I left home and tomorrow it will be 4 months til I return home. I can't believe how time has flown. I have so much to look forward to this semester, my parents visiting, going to Rome, my grandparents visiting, going to Germany, going to Madrid, and much more! I promise I will be better and updating this but to avoid a really long post I am going to stop now.

Until next time Adios!