The Story of Our Lives

Well folks, you asked for it! A glimpse into the daily marvels of our lives in Valladolid. As we have been here for a week, we are comfortably settling into place. Our routine goes as follows: Katarina and I awaken, shining gloriously into the day, and prance like glimmering gazelles into the living/dining room. Merthedes gives us these great muffin things, orange juice and some sort of magical, mysteriously creamy coffee (breakfasts by Merthedes are straight up awesome) which we elegantly consume. We brush our teeth in harmony, gather our books, and skip leisurely to school.  

Once there, we are locked up in a tiny room with bars on the window and engage in the learning process from nine to eleven. 

Help me

Our profesora,  Patricia (or Patrithia as it were), is great. Her English is not terribly extensive but that matters not as she speaks mostly Spanish to us and makes all these great noises while teaching. Really, the sounds she makes are previously unknown to humankind; they vary from rhythms and little songs to sounding like an animal is being ripped from her chest. We get a break from 11:00-11:30 and basically everyone goes to this grocery store/bakery down the street  to emerge with the ever-popular baguettes and various pastries (chocolate napolitana, por favor). We go back to learn for two more hours then are done with class for the day. 

Katarina and I go home to eat lunch with Merthedes about 3 (more about food issues later). After lunch, a great deal of CSBSJUers go down to the beach. Katarina and I lucked the heck out when it came to locations as we live about three minutes from the school, maybe five from the beach, and ten from the center of the city (some people have to walk over half an hour to get to school, which really would not fly with our natural propensity for tardiness). Anyway, the beach: 

The beach towel my host mom gave to me. I think it's pretty indicative about what's acceptable in Spanish culture (hint: almost everything)

La playa is on a river that was severely contaminated so we aren't allowed to actually go in the water or we'll get sick and die, but still has sun, volleyball/basketball courts, and what looks like a playground but is actually this curious outdoor gym thing. I have not yet used it but see many ultra fit-looking Spaniards exercising on the pretend play equipment. When we drag ourselves home from the beach, we either start our homework (me) or fall asleep for a few hours (Katarina). Merthedes comes home from work about 8 (she works like10-2 and 5-8 because everything in Valladolid closes for a few hours during siesta) and we eat dinner at 9 or 10 which is very typical here. Dinner is an interesting time because this is when Katarina y yo try new foods (!!!) and heartily attempt to make some conversation in broken Spanish. Merthedes patiently tries to understand us but realistically, we sound like children who haven't been taught linking verbs or more than two tenses (because that's what we are).

In America, this would be about time to start winding down, but not in Spain! Either we hang out at home (as Katarina and I don't really see enough of each other when we're together every waking moment: every meal, sitting by each other in class, walking to school and the beach, exploring the city, doing homework, plucking Kate's eyebrows, Kate taking naps in my bed for no reason, Kate taking naps on my knee, rubbing Kate's head, etc) or we engage in socialism. And by that I mean walk past permanent political encampments to go socialize. 

Spanish hippies

Our group currently dominates a bar called La Negra Flor near the Plaza Mayor. The bartender, Carlos, loves rascally Americans like us and does our bidding. On weekdays, CSBSJU folk are really the only people in there, recently joined by a few people from Texas who are also doing the language courses at University of Castellae. 

Before we go to sleep, Katarina and I reflect on what a wonderful life we lead while looking fondly towards the next day. With the stars in the sky shining brightly down on the city, Kate departs from my side to go dream in the Land of the Dolls. 

She tells me she grows fonder of them with each passing day.

Fin.