Figs & Correfoc

1. Correfoc. This topic really deserves its own blog but I'm feeling lazy. Correfoc is a giant parade of sparks, devils, and hell. People, wearing flame retardant suits, carry sticks that spray sparks out in a frenzy into a panicking crowd. When the procession started I dropped to the ground filled with sheer excitement and terror that I would get burned. Hannah ran over and patted sparks out of my hair. The idea is that when the devils aka people carrying the fire come through you run under the sparks grabs the devil by the shoulders and dance with him. I don't know...but the pictures were amazing. Here are a few:




2. I think I am beginning to look more Spanish! An old man asked me for directions today and earlier someone asked me to sign a protest that only registered Spanish voters can sign...

3. Pilar is just as into fruit as I am. And now I share a passion for her favorite fruit, figs! The other day we went to the fruit store together and bought 6 bananas, 23 figs, 25 manadrin oranges, 15 apples, 4 pears, 2 kilos of grapes, and 15 peaches. We have already gone through a lot of it.

4. Speaking of food the other week I saw a cake in the fridge. Excited I asked Pilar about it. She said we were eating it tomorrow. It resembled a log cake with thick white frosting on top. I asked her if the white stuff was some kind of cream and she looked at me funny and said, "No. Es Mayonesa." What I then discovered was that in essence it was a log of tuna fish, potatoes, and mayonnaise....uh oh. I was dreading lunch the next day. When I finally got served a chunk I discreetly as possible scraped the mayo off but Pilar noticed. She asked if I didn't like Mayo...and I said uhhh not this much. I took a bite and was VERY surprised to find I liked it!

5. I have a tryout for a soccer team tomorrow. Por fin! I am so excited to finally play on a real field with real players! I've been dragging my butt over to the gravel/sand patch that has now officially been dubbed the litterbox to juggle and dribble. It's wearing through my kleats faster than I thought physically possible and I come home looking like i've been mugged and thrown in dirt.

6. I think all in all I'm finally adjusting and falling into a good rhythm. I feel a lot better about life in general that I did a week ago. I finally have my classes figured out after changing them one last time today. I have been going to the gym regularly, hanging out with friends that I like, and generally enjoying my classes.

7. Next up on the to do list: Buy a cell phone! I have gone a month without one and after originally thinking I could do the impossible and go ...gasp 9 months...without a phone I have succumb to the inevitable. It is impossible to be a teenager in the 21st century and have a social life without a cell phone.

8. Speaking of the impossible, I have also come to the conclusion that NO Spaniard can say my name. Not even close...I get all sorts of weak attempts. Pilar went two and a half weeks without calling me anything. Now every so often I get a feeble Queetleen or Cateen but mostly she just calls me Guapa or Nena. oh well!