El calor me mata

It is so hot in Spain right now.  Record hot.  So hot that you take a cold shower, get out, and immediately start sweating.  No AC in the dorms.  I'm on the 4th floor.  So let me introduce you to mis amigos.... mis ventiladores (my fans).

Meet Wally.  He came with me to Spain this year.  He's from Walmart in the US.  $6.  Best $6 I've every spent.  He operates on batteries and cools my face during the night.  Wally is my face fan. 

Meet El Fénix (The Phoenix)...he's the oldest of the group.  He was kept in the basement from the primera fase last year, and I got him back this year.  He has a lot of problems and often dies, but he always rises from the ashes.  He takes about 25 minutes to "warm up" and start working.  There is also weird, orange goup all over his buttons.  He's good to have, though.  He turns and can cool a whole room when he works.

Meet Sr. Chino.  Sr. Chino comes from a "Chino" in Spain...honestly, it's what the stores are called here.  It literally means "Chinese."  They are cheap stores owned by peopled of Chinese decent.  Similar to a Dollar General.  Mr. Chino is the most dependable.  He has high settings and makes a good white noise.  He also has a timer on him. 

Yup, I have three fans in my dorm room.  And here's an overall picture of where I live!  It's the same building I lived in last year...la residencia/the dorms.

I actually have a view this year rather than a crappy, barren courtyard like last year.

I just got to Spain three days ago but it seems like I've already been here a few weeks.  I'm exhausted, happy, miss my husband (love you Charlie, I know you are reading this!), and am excited/nervous about my classes.  The workload is the same as last year but it somehow seems like more this year.  It's nothing I can't handle, it's just extreme amounts of class, little study time, and lots of "go, go, go."  But we need the city excursions and out of town excursions...why sit in a classroom and learn about the Roman bridges when we can walk to go see one??

Puente Romano, Salamanca

I arrived in Spain on Saturday with my friend Elizabeth that I met last year during the first phase of the program...we explored Madrid and because it was so hot, we spent a lot of time in El Prado/La Reina Sofia museums.  Facinating, amazing, wonderful...I have studied/will study most Spanish artists, so having learned about their work and then seeing it makes it far more powerful.  I don't have pictures, because taking pictures inside is prohibido...but I do have a few of the city.  This is my 4th time in Madrid, so I wasn't as "picture crazy".

Me and the famous Estatua del Oso, the Bear Statue in Madrid (the symbol of the City)

My first cafe con leche of the summer...it's actually quite disgusting how many of these I drink ;)

Elizabeth and I in a park near the Prado and right by our hotel!

Protesters in La Puerta del Sol...the unemployment in Spain right now is over 20%...what they are protesting among other things.

Street near our hotel

Elizabeth and I got to Salamanca around 12:30 pm by bus...she had accidentally left her backpack on a bench in the metro (!!!), and we had to go back to get it.  Luckily she realized it right away and even luckier that it was still here.  I talked with the guard to have him call the station where we left it so the guy there could get it...such a close call.  Her computer, kindle, pasaporte, everything was in that backpack.  She was freaking out (and rightly so). And when something stressful happens, Spanish people tell you the following things in this order.... which also happened to Elizabeth, exactly in this order...

1.  Tranquila.  This literally means "calm down."  I've often pondered how if someone said that in English it would be soooo offensive, but in Spanish, it's not at all.  It's just trying to make you feel better.

2.  No pasa nada.  This literally means "nothing is happening" or loosely translated, "no big deal," or "it's fine."  People say this all the time. 

3.  Joder, chill, man.  This last one I've heard in English a lot ;)  The first word is a cuss word, but everyone says it...a lot.

These next couple of weeks are going to be filled with lots a lots of class.  My classes began today, and I can honestly say that I like all of my teachers a lot.  This year I'm taking a Spanish culture class, a cine class, an evolution of linguistics class, an art history class, an Latin American lit. class, a grammar class (not how the language is used but being able to explain why), and a modern social and political issues class.  Whew.  And then I have my Master's!  I just need to submit the paperwork.

I'll update when I can, at least to post some pictures...but after today, I forsee my time being pretty limited.  And when I do have free time, I don't want to be spending it on the computer, that's for sure!

Changes afoot!

I leave tomorrow early afternoon for Spain for 6 weeks to finish my Master's.  I'm excited.  I'm anxious.  I'm (mostly) packed.  I'm already missing my husband...and my pooch.  My schedule is long hours...lots of class., little time to rest, but lots of opportunity to be re-immersed in Spanish culture, food, language, and art (ahhhhh...I'm soooo excited about my art-history class!!!!!)

So, for the next 6 weeks or so, my blog will be a little less about my spouse and a whole lot less about our house...it will be about my European adventure.  Mi aventura española to be exact. ;)  What I see, what I eat, what I do, what I feel.  When I come home it will regain my day to day "american normalcy," but for the next few weeks, expect to be hearing about tapas, siestas, viajes, and.... vino tinto.  Lots of vino tinto.  And cañas.  That, too ;)  And if you don't know what any of those mean, keep following because you will soon.

I'm completing the segunda fase (second phase) of a program I began last year, so the beauty of it is, I get to be with the same people, the friends I have gained last year: Spanish, Latin American, Mexican, Canadian... so I'm excited to see everyone again and share this experience.  :)

Last year was an amazing one.... I saw Spain win the world cup...

Went to class here... (corny pose alert!)

And saw a million and one beautiful, historic places places....

Rural church 2 hours outside of Salamanca

Segovia

Salamanca, by night

My favorite place to have a vino tinto ;)

I love Spain, I really do.  So excited.  Completing this program has been a huge part of my life goals and dreams.  After living in Spain in 2006, I knew, knew, knew, in the depths of me I wanted to go back, become the BEST Spanish teacher I can be and get my master's in Spanish language.  I didn't know how, where, or when, but I knew that somehow, it was part of my future journey.  

When I tell most people I'm going to Spain for 6 weeks, they are happy for me, but many of them say (more than I expected), "Wow, you are going to leave your husband for all that time??"  Or "You are almost done!  Just get this over with as soon possible so you can be with your husband." 

Um, thanks?

This doesn't make me mad...just makes me smile inside because they clearly don't understand.  At all.  Will I miss Charlie?  Absolutely.  Every day.  Will he miss me?  Definitely.  But what I love about him, and one of the many reasons I married him, is that he supports me 110% in pursuing this goal.  He recognizes that I am furthering my education, myself, and our future, and that 12 weeks apart is part of that sacrifice to get there, and in the grand scheme of the universe, not that much time at all.  Milliseconds.  I prayed about it, God provided, and my husband is amazingly supportive of my calling.  Amazingly.  So many people go back to school to get their Master's...they just go to class several nights a week for a few hours.  I am going in a very concentrated amount of time, but immersed in the culture I am "mastering."  For our marriage what some people see as a sad parting is actually a blessing.  Besides, it's true what they say...absence does make the heart grow fonder.  ;)

However I have to say, I think the best part for my DH is knowing that when I come back, after having missed two anniversaries in a row, we have a great trip awaiting in summer, 2012.  Right now, Costa Rica is a front-runner.  I'd love suggestions.  It's happening, people!!!

For now, signing off from the US, my next post will be from España.  See you on the flip side! 

Hiking

I leave for Spain in less than a week, and some of our friends thought that we should plan a goodbye "adventure."  Adventures are scary because I'm not super athletic.  In fact, I just may be non-athletic.  (Not a bum, just not very coordinated.)  Lucky for me hiking doesn't require much coordination...just putting one food in front of the other and moving forward! More difficult than walking, but the only direction in mind being the summit--however long it takes to get there.  Endurance and willpower.  I can handle it.

The hike itself took about 3 hours, and was about 5 or 6 miles.  We went to Stony Mountain in NC, which is about a 2 hour drive away.  It was my first time really, truly hiking, so I didn't know what do expect, and I was pleasantly surprised.  The trials were stunning, the views were incredible, the weather was just about perfect (although we did get caught in a massive downpour for the last 1/2 mile!)  I am going to be so sore tomorrow, but it was totally worth it. 

Here are a few highlight pictures of the day...

Charlie thinks he's a bird ;)

Our group minus me...taking the pic!

That's all granite!!!

View from the trail

Summit pic!

Fun-filled day.  I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight.  We have decided to find more trails like this in NC.  Good times had by all!

breakin' out the brushes in the master!

School ended.  Paperwork is turned in.  It's summer.  I start my Master's classes in less than two weeks....so what do I do???  I paint.  That's right...the master bedroom.  I didn't say I was normal or that my fun was the same as your fun.  ;)  My current obsession is Valspar's Voyage.  It's grey, but blue, but grey, but blue...this unexplainable transformy color that I love.  It was the color of choice.

It's neutral, and exactly one shade darker from our living room color, Valspar's Silver Leaf:

So, on a random Monday night I got to painting...yeah, Monday.  School was a day of paperwork and classroom cleanup, so it was easy-peasy.  I'm used to being on my feet, being interactive, and well, teaching people.  It was a walk in the park comparatively.  Charlie came in to help me on Tuesday and we finished the job.  We did touch-ups on Wednesday.

We took our room from this before-before (aaaaaaahhhhh, ugly fan alert):

To this intermediate stage (so beige, so blah):

To some more color....

 It's still a work in progress.  Eventually I would love a full length mirror and a few more decorative items, but that comes with time.


We probably won't be painting for at least a little while longer, because that upper trim was a huge pain to get on a ladder to paint!  But when we do paint again, it will be  Charlie's office in Valspar's Drizzling Mist:

Awards!! :)

For this award, the blogger must:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award & link

back to their site in your original post.

2. Tell us seven things about yourself.

3. Pass along the award to five newly discovered bloggers.

4.Contact these bloggers and let them know they got

this award.

Someone wants to give ME an award?  Really? :)  I'll be the first to say that I'm new at this whole "cyber awards" thing...and sometimes, I don't have time to properly thank the people that send them my way...so I want to give a shout-out to The Transforming Townhouse.  She's doing an amazing job of reno/decorating her, well, townhouse!!.  :)  And to top it off little Zeke melts my heart!

So here goes my seven facts....

1. I'm a lefty when I write, but golf, cut, sew, and play baseball right-handed.
2. I never have long nails because I just break them.
3. My current favorite color is grey.  I love grey.  Although some say it's not a color...
4. I am currently reading the book Wicked.
5. I am obsessed with peas and butter recently.  Total kid food and I love it.
6. I'm probably taller than you (I'm almost 5'10'')
7. When I play scrabble, I take a really, really long time to take a turn.  Like, you might have your next birthday first ;)

 Here are some bloggers I'm totally loving...they blog about their homes, but their personal lives, too :)  I think they deserve lots of love (in no particular order).  Note:  I did put lots of thought into this...these aren't just 5 randoms....they truly deserve it!

• Chris loves Julia
• This Dusty House
• D and B
• Newlywed and Decorating
• Directions Not Included

Joys

I found out this week that next year has changes in store for my job.  Not whether or not I have it or the school I am teaching in, but they are still changes nonetheless.  Budget cuts mean change; I can tell you that much.  Change is really, really hard if you are a person like me.  I like things to stay the same.  Who doesn't?  I'm kind of to the point where I hang super fugly Christmas decorations because they are "sentimental" and I preform weird kissing pattern rituals on my dog because I have to kiss her in the same pattern every time.  Awkward.  I'm just weird like that.  ;)  

In all seriousness, and I'm not going to get into detail on my blog.  ;)  To be honest, our principals don't even know the specifics, yet.  All I know is that I am going to keep teaching and impacting kids, and I'm employed next year.  These things make me very, very, more than blessed, so I choose to focus on the joys.... 

• IT'S SUMMATIME!!!  The kids packed up their last binder and turned in their last paper.  Final end of course exam average for my two classes combined?  90.5%.  They may be the most brilliant kids I've ever taught.  I love them.  I feel like a proud momma bear...sending my cubs off to high school.  Okay, that was an awkward analogy, but you get the point.  
• I leave for Spain in 2 weeks to finish my masters.  Then I'll have a masters.  Ah.  :)
• I ordered the pendant lamp from Overstock.  $79 with tax and free shipping.  Can't get better than that.  I got an email saying it shipped out today.  Yay.

• My sister-in-law found pictures of our National Whitewater Center adventure online.  I'm in the back left and DH is the front right.

• And me falling out is captured on film!! :)

• I am drinking a celebratory drink while writing this post. ;)

What are you joyful for?

adventures in upholstery and lighting

I have hardely been blogging lately.  It is the end of the school year, so grading papers/tests has been a huge part of my life, but also, this past week we said goodbye to my husband's Grandmother.  It wasn't easy, but it was her time.  She live a beautiful, long life (almost to 90!), and she was a cancer fighter.  She is now resting with Charlie's Papa and at peace with the Lord.  For that we celebrate  :)

I have been pretty sick these last two days with a bad head cold, so I am trying to rest and save my strength for the visitation and funeral today.  Unfortunately, I've been having trouble sleeping due to said head-cold, so here I sit, browsing home-goods online.  It's like retail theraphy but you don't have to go anywhere.  :)

Currently I am working on the dining room and updating it.  One of the main things to update are the chairs.  I bought fabric for them, and I've done some experimenting using tape to see how it would come together.

Before:

Like I said, they are not stapled down, yet (still need to get me a gun!), but I'm happy with the look so far.  Which leads me to "birthday gift to myself" time.  A litte splurge if you will.  Since we got our new furniture, I have been wanting to change the lift fixture in the dining room...it's just way to heavy for the space.  It had been since the beginning, really.  Here is the before, before:

And the progress:

See what I mean?  It's too big and too dark, espeically with the heavy furniture. 

This is the one I'm currently eyeing from Overstock.com for around $70. 

It's smaller, more subdude, and more modern.  It's about 18'' in diameter versus the whopping 24'' inches of the current one.  It is also a shorter shade which I think will make the ceiling feel taller.

Here is the other contender I like from Overstock.  It is more modern than the first, but I really like it a lot.  The down side is that it is $124, more expensive from the first, but it was also $225 to begin with, so the savings are greater. 

Which would you choose?