So Sunny May

Wow, I kind of really left this to the last moment. Last day of May and all, but no only that, I put it off the last two days, when I had time to do it. Then I remembered today and said, well I sure can't leave it for tomorrow. So here I am.

This month has been characterized by a few new things. One, sun. Well not really sun in general, we have that here, but warmth, and hotness coming from the sun in large quantities, if you know what I mean. Two, Americans. Literally Americans (and a girl from Canada). This month I have had more contact with Americans and have spoken more in English than probably the last 7 months combined. Three, an increased awareness (by all) that my time here is almost over (at least for this stay).

As for the sun, it kind of explains itself. The sun has officially came out in Spain, and sometimes it is hot and sometimes it is not. But now at least I can wear some shorts, and it's nicer to go out and stay out. The sun is fun.

As for the Americans, well, maybe we should just say Englsih speaking people. Even though most have been Americans.

Fun Fact: Saying that you are "americano" to any person from Spain does NOT mean that you are from the United States of America. It means that you are from the continent of America, which for Spanish people is from Argentina to Alaska. When you "americanos" understand what I wrote, you will probably be surprised. Ummm no, only Americans are americanos. But that's not really at all true, and it all has to do with the different views of what and which land mass is a continent. To learn more about this topic you can go to this article and the Wikipedia page that does have a cool gif even if the content [could] be questionable. 

Okay, back to the Englsih speaking people. A friend of the family, from Canada, came to visit for a few days, and she stayed in out house. During that same time my host mom decided that we could house two more Americans. Well, not house, but feed, they stay in a different apartment. They are two college students from St. John's in Minnesota. They are here for 5 weeks, and are earning all the Spanish credits they will need for college in this month by living and studying here.

Those two aren't the only "kids" from St. John's living and studying in Valladolid. There are about 40 of them, some of whom I have met. Another reason for there being a lot more Americans in Valladolid (and Spain in general) is that in America, a lot of schools are out for the summer and the college semester is over. And Spain is great for vacation, thus, Americans.

Well, as I mentioned before, it is alost time for me to be catching a plane from Madrid to state-side. Only a little more than two weeks are left of this stay in Spain. It won't be last time I'm here, but it brings to conclusion a long period of many new things, learning a language, and being away from home. Things will have changed everywhere, but it's time. Time for me to get back to my family and speak English [regularly] again. I won't say that I want to leave, but it's probably time to say goodbye (for now). Although, I will not be saying goodbye until the last second. (:

FYI: I now have a Facebook, which gets more frequent updates and probably more pictures, although I don't say much on there. If you know my face you can probably find me on Facebook. (;

Un saludo, Miguel Sabol

Paintballing with the friends

Fernando, Pablo, and Miguel Millaruelos's graduation. Only Fernando and a friend from class are pictured. 

A little trip to Madrid 

Pilar Millaruelo graduates from college (for the second time)

Miguel Sabol graduates college!!

Pamplona

En Abril, Aguas Mil

So obviously I've made this a monthly thing. You may have noticed. It helps me so that at least I have some motivation to sit down and write this, because without that little push, I'm really quite lazy. Not that I don't want to write to you guys, it's just difficult to sit down and write anything. Takes time and concentration. But this month I probably could have written a couple different blog posts without a problem, because of all the down time I've had.

It's been a quiet month. (I'm not saying that literally, by any means). I haven't done very many big things like some months. Mostly just school, studying, talking, and hanging with friends. 

I don't want to downplay the month that much, as it's been fun. Plus everyone needs those times of calm and "quietness" to think, collect thoughts, and rest. And after going hard for 7 months I have needed it. 

Oh and about this month's title... well, it translates literally to mean: "In April, a Thousand Waters", but what it really means is: "It rains a LOT in April". And it's true. I can vouch for that. It's been raining all month. Although, we have started spring and so in between the rains the weather is very nice. But it really does rain a lot. The Pisuerga river in Valladolid went up almost 6 feet at one point. Personally, I'm not a big fan of rain, or wetness. I am not sure if that's because I have lived in New Mexico for so long or that I just don't like water that much (except to drink). I have, however, more or less mastered how to hold and umbrella (out of necessity), which I'm proud of as I had no clue how to hold it when I arrived. 

School's going good. If you were still wondering, yes, it is all in Spanish, except my [foreign language] English teacher speaks mostly in English (although I don't pay much attention in that class). Also, yes, I understand everything. By now I know all of the words that they use or by understanding the context, I can easily figure out what they mean. Since when I said "everything" it was an ovious exaggeration, I'll tell you that when I do hear a word that I don't understand, I will either look it up in the little dictionary or will tell my classmates that I don´t know what the word means, and they usually are able to explain it to me. So that's all going fine and dandy. 

I don't actually study much, and when I do it's usually the stuff that I want to study: Spanish, math, history. Mostly Spanish because there's a lot you don't hear or understand unless you go over it. Plus since I mostly just learned Spanish by speaking and learning vocabulary, I have to learn all the rules of speaking and writing, also. Something that they've already stopped teaching in Spain at my age, so I have to do that mostly seperate from school. 

Well as for talking, all I can say is that they seem to understand me, and there haven't been too many misunderstandings. I'm pretty sure I can count myself as fluent because I've kind of stopped speaking English all together unless some asks me to speak for class or to help them. I also speak to my parents and grandparents in English, although sometime I go to start in Spanish and then realize that I should't.

To be honest speaking English nowadays is a real pain and slightly difficult. I can read, write, and think in English but when it comes time to speak, the Spanish tries to come out. I count that as a good thing, because I've at a point where I don't have to think to speak in Spanish anymore. (Well I still do but it helps the confidence). It's weird for me to think that I couldn't even speak Spanish (like almost at all). 

As for big things I've done this month, like I said, they are few. 

This month I have met more American people (kids) than in the whole trip combined. A lot of American East Coast schools send about a class of kids to Spain for one week, and these kids like know nothing of Spanish and are very "wide-eyed" about everything (exactly how I was when I arrived). Mostly I've just said "hi, how are you" to a them and then they go off one way and I stay here. 

Also, I a volunteering thing at a hospital in Valladolid, just giving a presentation to the kids that live there on the United States of America. It was a good experience. 

Went to see a rugby game, the final of the Copa del Rey, a very big tournament in Spain. My first live rugby game and probably the only one I've ever seen in full. I helped make a record for Spain, being one of the people to attend. The record was: the most attended rugby game in Spanish history. In case I said that wrong, I'm trying to say that more people attended that game than any other game, ever, in Spanish rugby. The king of Spain attended the game. They tell me it wasn't a great game and it also rained, but overall I had a good time. 

Well I think that is about it for April. Made this post a lot longer than usual because I'm not sure why.

I´m 8 months down in this trip and only one and a half left. It's hard to believe that at the same time it has gone by so fast and so slow. 

Well now I'm going to go play paintball with my friends (April has a few birthdays). 

Un saludo, Miguel Sabol

Holidays Away from Home

From now on, I'll probably stop apologizing for being "late" persay on my own blog, even if I do feel a little bad at doing some stuff on time, like... write a blog post that doesn't actually have a set date. Or that's what I tell myself, even as I set the date in my mind, and then pass over it, again and again.

Anyways, this holiday season was a special one, certainly, and a different one. Thank goodness that they don't play as much Christmas music here. (Sorry if you like Christmas music, but to me it´s not that great).

The holidays here aren't much different from those that I have experienced in the USA, but at the same time, are completely different. One thing that I liked was the amount of food. And that's one thing that every person I talked to complained about after the holdidays. That they had eaten too much. A lot of times (most with my family) all the food is served at one time, or we go buffet style, but in Spain, there are courses... Well, not like a 5 course meal or anything. On a normal day there are 3 courses, but then their are holidays and festive days when we go 4 courses or more. We start out with like appetizer food in the living room, then move to the dining room to eat the (big) soup, then on to the meat, and then dessert. And that also comes with as many drinks as you need to wash it all down ;). And sinces there are a lot more festive says during Christmas break, you end up eating a lot more. I thought it was great.

We spent almost all of holiday holidays with my host extended family, all of whom are pretty cool. We filled the house a few times with all the family. We never fit at one table, let me tell you that. But to be honest, my family has never fit at one table. Haha, and so far Spain has not changed that part.

It was a busy but relaxed Christmas break all in all. We were always doing something, never stopping. But we also had a lot of relax time, just to do whatever. We took a few trips within the region, but nothing far away. I have been to a lot of convents all over Castilla y Leon (my region of Spain) because of the work that my host mother does with them. And me hitching a ride with her on her convent-ional trips (pun intended) has taken me quite a few places.

Christmas, as in the day itself, was a lot different from the previous 15 times I have experienced it. Like, a lot different. The morning was the same, we went to midnight mass, and then sometime later (earlier??) we went to sleep, but no one really woke me up a measily 5 hours later for presents. Actually I think I might have gotten a full 8 hours of sleep too. (Don't worry it wasn't a surprise to me, they'd already told me). And then, we got up and dressed, and left to go have a big meal with the family in the pueblo (basically where the family started and so they all have houses there). And we ate, made a side trip to a convent, went to visit a 100 year out aunt, and then went home and ate again, and eventually went to sleep.
Did I forget anything, no. Spaniards, in general, do not celebrate more than the birth of Jesus on the 25th of December. It's Christmas, but without the Coca Cola advertizer (Santa Claus; if you didn't catch the red and white reference). Haha those aren't my words. Those are some of the Spanish opinions that I have witnessed. They appreciate Saint Nick and what all, but Santa Claus is a bit of a sham to them. Some even asked if I was sure I was Christian (Catholic) because by having celebrated Christmas with Santa Claus, I merited that question. It was a bit wierd but they didn't bother me that much. They do presents on the 6th of January, the Epiphany. (more on that later).

I also got to go to a Real Madrid/football match in Madrid on the 30th of December. That was fun. You should go if you ever get tickets and are in Madrid. Just saying guys.

Well, they do celebrate New Years' Day basically like in the USA: alcohol, fireworks, and the same channel on TV. But we add the grapes.
The Grapes. The 12 grapes. The last and first time you choke for a year.
Basically, you down 12 grapes in the 12 second before the "ball drops". Which is basically just you choking on the 7th grape, and then you end up having 9 grapes in your mouth, while shaking the hands of everyone around you. 100% brilliant tradition. I don't have to hear your voice for the first minute of the new year. Already the year has started off good. The general public (everyone) in Spain throws a significant amount of firworks in the 2 weeks leading up to the New Year and the day/night itself. Just a warning.

Then came the 6th of January, the, by now, much anticipated day of presents, that needn't be shared with Jesus. Los Reyes Magos, the Three Wise Men, or the Three Kings, however you prefer, had arrived.

Actually, los Reyes Magos are the ones bringing the presents to all of the kids of Spain (and the rest of the world), just like they brought presents to Jesus. (And that's their reason for saying they're more Christian than I am, even when they can't stand through a 30 minute church service without complaining). So I got some presents from los Reyes Magos too. Pretty nice of them to stop by for the little American boy.

January 6th I was woken up at an unholy hour by the youngest of my host siblings here. He tried to wake everyone up, but it only made us angry at him. Because everyone in the family is a lot older and we have all decided that through years of experience that the presents are not going anywhere in the near future, and that the extra hours of sleep will be appreciated later, when we want to play with our toys. Though, eventually we got up, and opened presents. Nice job to los Reyes Magos, whereever you guys reside when it is not January 6th. (nobody would explain that one to me)

Then, suddenly and rather violently, I was thrown into school,  a measely two day later. And BAM we are back in school. Yay. 
It's been a slow start for me at school. But it only gets easier (in regards to the Spanish part; the other part just continues to get harder).

And then, I recieved a couple of packages from the US of A. And then it kind of hit me a little bit, that I had just missed my first Christmas with my mom and dad, and my siblings. And a few Kleenexes may have been needed for when I had to read the 8 letters that I found within the two packages. I send a special thanks to the genius who made each of my siblings write me a letter about why the miss me and double thanks (because it cheered me up) to them, for telling me why they didn´t miss me. That was especially nice of you guys. I needed that. Seriously, almost thought you liked me or something. (Totally joking around for those of you who don´t catch sarcasm when it is written.) Love you guys. 

All in all it was a pretty good Christmas season. Hope yours was a good one too.

Un saludo, Miguel Sabol

Halloween and Otras Cosas

I realize I have not blogged in a month and sorry. Life (being a lazy 16 year old) hit me in the face and I've been busy having fun (hahaha yeah you can be jealous). 

But really my list of reasons is: I'm lazy, learning Spanish full time, going to school, studying Spanish and for school, playing soccer, and balancing it all with the Spanish version of a social life.

«Part 2»

So last month was like Cancer Awarness Month or something right? I can't remember if there's a specific name. They don't really go as into it here. But anyways we did have a run. You know, the one where you run and then after, everybody asks about the number of "k's". Yeah well there were 5 times k number of k's. For those of you who are bad at math or got lost after my second senctence: I ran a 5k (kilometer) run against cancer in my city. There were some 26,000+ people that walked or ran in this "race." Which was a little like "wow" for me being as where I live in the US only has a population of 45,000. And yeah that's like half of my town running/walking in race. Anyways yeah. I realized 3 k's in that I'm out of shape… oops. It was a fun morning, albeit a tiring one. "Lucha contra el cáncer"

I liked the fog. Yes. That's a beach. 

So did October go by really fast for anybody else?? Because wow. For me it went by really fast. I mean one day I'm looking at social media and people in the USA are carving pumpkins and I remember thinking "it's a little early to be doing think you weird American people" (Spanish people don't cut up their food and put fire in it). Anyways then I looked at the date and it was the 28th of October. True story. 

Anyways. I was going to tell you that Halloween is a lot different here in Spain. We have Halloween just, I'd say, not to the American extent. I live in the city center and no one decorated for Halloween. No one decorates at all really. And there's not as much candy. And costumes aren't as big of a deal. Sure some people like dressing up but it's perfectly alright if you don't. Because after all, it just another day to party, except with a better excuse for your parents to stay out longer. Well I mean that's what we use it for here in the center of the city. Hahaha. So we parties all night and into Sunday morning. It was pretty awesome. 

Interestingly bad picture of the inside of the disco. 

Picture that I snapped in the Plaza Mayor at 3am. 

Although they (friends and family) told me that not everyone parties. That in the pueblos (where a lot of people go during Halloween) they do a bit of trick or treating. Many people go to their pueblos during Halloween because of the cemeteries for All Souls' Day and All Saints Day. Maybe some Day of the Dead stuff, but that's more of a Latin American tradition. 

Sunday after Halloween "All Saints' Day" we made a trip to some pueblos to visit the deseased of the family that I am living with. And we visited 2 cemeteries. And let me tell you, you have not seen a cemetery in the USA like the cemetaries in Spain. They are filled with tombs. Huge things made of stone like granite. With crosses that are all taller than 6 feet and sometimes 8 feet (average 2.5 meters). And they "bury" the family members one on top of the other. Not everyone or family do it this way or with "every" family member since every person has two family names. But that's why I say tombs. They have lids and when the "next" person dies you open the lid and put the other coffin very nearly on top of the previous coffin. (Obviously I haven't seen a burial but my family explained it to me). I rather thought it was interesting and a cool way to be buried. I mean the tombstones themselves were awesome. 

Just now realized that I never told anyone about Antoine. Oops. Je suis désolé Antoine. (Thanks Google Translator). Anyways quick summary. Antoine is a 20 year old Frenchman studying for some architecture degree for a year here in Valladolid at the university. He's stay with us. If you hadn't guessed already. Anyways. He speaks French, English, and Spanish. Well like he definitely speaks French. I speak English. Everyone else in the house speaks Spanish. But he's pretty fluent in English. And we're both learning Spanish. He's been here longer though. He's very into technology and studying and he plays the piano in the house all the time. Tried to learn to play the guitar in one night at random. He's very creative and a good artist. And studies a lot. Apparently you have to have studied to create building that's could potentially hold people. Whatever. 

Fin.

And then in the pueblo Fernando, Antoine, and I went and took some pictures in the pueblo of Cuenca. It was very pretty and had some cool places to see. Photo credits go to me and Antoine.

 

Part 1 is also up. So go check that out too. 

Un saludo, Miguel 

October/Octubre Adventures

I realize I have not blogged in a month and sorry. Life (being a lazy 16 year old) hit me in the face and I've been busy having fun (hahaha yeah you can be jealous). 

But really my list of reasons is: I'm lazy, learning Spanish full time, going to school, studying Spanish and for school, playing soccer, and balancing it all with the Spanish version of a social life.

«Part 1»

So like I said the Spanish social life which involves two main food groups: partying and hanging out in the city. The above picture is me and a few of my friends at a disco-bar in Valladolid. We usually go to the disco once or at max twice a weekend and then hang out in the city center. During the week everyone in Spain pretty much studies, school is difficult, for everyone. 

I went to a couple of pro futbol (soccer) matches featuring the city futbol (soccer) team, Real Valladold CF. The team is not doing great (or good) this year but whatever, I though it was cool. 

Also my school had an excursion (field trip) to Avila. Yeah, so my school in Spain does quite a few field trips throughout the year, and usually at the end of the course there is a really big one, sometimes to another country (which are not that far away). We made this excursion because this year is our schools 100th year open. And also it is Saint Teresa (of Avila)'s 500th anniversary of her birth, but we were celebrating her feast day. (In case anyone goes and looks that up). 

The city of Avila was beautiful, but I really liked the [old] city wall of which I have never seen the likes. We had a guided tour set up of the museum of Saint Teresa and needless to say it was all in Spanish. And after 3 hours of listening to different men speak in fast Spanish about the life of St. Teresa… well, I had a headache. But then we got free time. Yeah I know releasing 100+ kids into a city doesn't seem like a good idea, but that's just how they do it. But the way I see it is that this: none of them can driv well, technically I can. But I'm the only one. And Avila is like 1 hour and 30 minutes from Valladolid which is "literally forever" for a kid that lives in the center of the city. And maybe there parents don't have a car so they have to go back on the bus. And they don't go out of the city that much so a lot of them had never been there before, so we were all basically trapped in the center of Avila for 3 hours. And all the while the adults got to do whatever that wanted. But whatever, I'm cool with it. 

So they told me that they don't have school dances here in Spain.

But then we had one. But apparently it wasn't supposed to be good. 

But then it was. I'm going to give that credit to me because I was there. But we ahould also give a lot of credit to my friends, who are the craziest kids I know. And they are all really good dancers. Well I mean I am too, but they've been dancing a lot longer. Anyways, it was called the "verbena" which is an "open-air dance." I tell you they have words for everything here. 

Part 2 is also up. So go check that one out too. 

Un saludo, Miguel