A Weekend In Santander... Anything But Boring

This weekend, we stayed in Santander.  I really love this little city.  So basically, my weekend has consisted of watching TV by day and going out by night.  A little homework mixed in.

The whole watching TV in Spanish thing is pretty awesome.  There's a whole industry here for voicing over TV shows, such as everything on the Disney Channel, shows like Family Guy, The Simpsons, American Dad, etc.; I've also watched Scrubs, Castle (yes, Mom, I'm actually watching Castle right now...) movies such as Jingle All the Way, Bolt, Space Jam... And then there's the shows that Conchi always watches that are kind of Jerry Springer-ish.  Also, Conchi loves watching the competition shows such as El Gran Hermano (Big Brother).  Any way you look at it, watching TV in Spanish is definitely a good way to better your Spanish abilities because you understand and listen to native speakers, and also get to listen to different ways that people speak.  It's great.

And by night, we like to go out.  Shocking?  My friend Jesika is a dancing fool, and has a kind of belly-dancer style of dancing... the boys here are very intrigued by her.  Going out in Santander is great.  The main center where all the bars are near to is called La Plaza de Cañadíos, and it's about two blocks from my house.  Lucky me. =)  Now that we've spent a few nights going out in Santander, we've figured out which bars play good music (El Divino, Zen, Indian), which are too young for us (Cambalache), which we have yet to explore (Ocho, Fortunny) and which are too mature for us (too many to name).

The following pictures are a summation of my weekend.  Enjoy.

So, Jesika and I were out on Thursday night when we met this character.  He approached us and was asking for hugs.  Then he tried to convince us that he was a famous guitar player.  This picture is of him showing Jesika how he had the calloused hands of a guitar player.  He also sang in Jesika's ear while he was giving her a hug, and started swaying back and forth.  The only thing I actually learned about him is that he's from Basque Country.  Figures.

After the adventure with the Basque man, we went to Zen, where we ran into this cutie with his group of friends.  This is Roberto...

... and here's the rest of the boys.

One of the guys, Gilber (pronounced hill-burr), tried to teach me how to dance... Yikes.

Laura brought her ballerina shoes this day.  Laura is the 11-year-old neice of Conchi (Conchi is seated at the table).  Laura loves dance, and dances to classical, pop, jazz, etc.  You name it, she dances to it.  Besides country maybe.  Haha.  She's a feisty little thing, too.  She really started warming up to me the other day... she brought me a CD one of her friends made, and I copied all the songs down on my computer.  It's so great when she sings along with Lady Gaga and other English songs... she says she understands a little tiny bit.  It's probably like when I mumble along and sing with Spanish songs.  Haha.

On Friday afternoon, Kelsey, Jesika and I went to the market in town.  It's neat living right on the ocean - there's so much delicious fresh seafood!

After the open market, we stopped by a little clothing store on the way home.  I made Jesika try this dress on... so cute on her!

This is a 5.75€ bottle of tequila.  I'm not brave enough for that.

Friday night, we went out with Jesika's conversation partners.  First, we met up with that at the "Local," which is their hangout spot.  It's an area on the ground floor of an apartment building, and they have it filled with couches, a stereo system, a pool table, etc.  I think it's as close to a fraternity hangout as it gets.  You can see in this picture what typical Spaniards look like.

This is just a picture of the club.  If you think that the typical Spaniard looks like Penelope Cruz or Antonio Banderas... well, yes and no.  Although there are definitely many dark-complected people, there are some people who are very light-skinned as well.  No natural blondes, but every now and then you'll see a token blonde, either a non-native or dyed.

Here's the group we went out with.  Good times.

Jes was so excited... a Honda!

This coming week is the seventh week of school.  Yikes.  On Friday, we're going on an excursion with the group to Burgos, Segovia, and Toledo.  I'm very excited, because I've heard great things about each city... Such as the Cathedral in Burgos and the Aqueduct in Segovia, that was built by the Romans and still stands.  Incredible.

I'm sure there are some of you wondering if I'm homesick.  Yes and no.  Coming here, I was very naive in thinking that the language was the greatest cultural barrier, but the truth is that the cultural differences are vast and are much more than the language.  In class the other day, our substitute teacher asked us what things we notice about life in Spain that strike us as different.  I brought up how the family is always arguing in loud voices.  To the American, it seems like they're super angry at each other, but it's just their way of, well, talking.  Discussing.  Another girl in my class brought up the PDA.  Since the home is such a private place, just for the family, public places become areas to show affection... I have yet to go on a metro or city bus and not see a couple or two kissing, hands all over each other's tushies, etc.  But to the Spanish, it's their girlfriend or husband, and it's not that they want to show that off, it's that they truly don't care if the rest of the world sees.  And so many people have dogs.  Little dogs like English Bulldogs and "The Target Dog" as we like to call it.  Everyone walks around the city with their dogs, and although most people pick up the doodoo, some people don't.  Sometimes I get really grossed out at all the dog poo around.  And my biggest fear came true: Yes, I did step in a pile one time.  Gross.  But with the culture, sometimes it fascinates me.  Sometimes it exhausts me.  All in all, I know that I'm learning a lot, and that this is an experience I'll never forget.

And yes, I do miss home.  I miss the country probably more than anything.  I've only ever been in the city while in Spain, and I tell you what, I miss the smell of the country - the dirt and the trees and the fresh smell when it first rains.  I miss the plants (which are living! Yay!) and I miss the animals.  I miss the family, and seeing them around everywhere - birthday parties, sporting events, etc.  I miss my freedom, too.  Here is Spain, it is a cultural norm for people to live with their mothers until they get married, and if they don't, they might live with them forever.  But in the culture, I'm a youngin.  I'm very well taken care of, but sometimes I miss being able to make my own food, blast my music and sing on the tops of my lungs... Conchi is always chastising me for walking around barefoot, or not turning on the light in the living room when it starts getting dark.  I feel like a tween all over again.  Which is really weird.

Like I said, while I might have these cultural conflicts, I'm having the time of my life.  When faced with these sort of internal conflicts, you learn so much not only about where you are, but also about yourself.  Such a great journey.  I love the Skype calls with everyone and care packages from my mom (the one that's coming has Wheat Thins, Ritz, and SALSA!!!  Ahhh so excited!).

Shoutout to Dani, who begs me for blog entries every time we talk.  Shoutout to my dear José "Chepe" Camacho, whose birthday is today.  And to everyone else, I miss you all!  Be good!  Only 36 days until I'm back in the US...  I promise to make the best of what I have left!  Adios!