TravelStream™ news feed for member sandramorrow on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/sandramorrow en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:47:49 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193359380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193359380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193359380/tpod.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:47:49 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Granada, Spain and Canary Islands

The following is a questionnaire that my mom sent me after one of my email silence binges. My responses follow sequentially.Mom: The worry meter is starting to register. Please fill out the following brief questionnaire:Sandra: Sorry Mom. I thought we had had recent communication. I guess it has been a while. Sometimes I lose track of time and it doesn't seem like its been that long. It seems to happen a lot in Granada for some reason huh? Love the questionnaire. Here is my reply.I am in a. Granada b. Barcelona c. other ________Sandra: I am in Granada. Still with Francisco. I leave tomorrow evening for Barcelona and arrive early in the day. Why am I still here? Good question. I think there are many factors involved. The largest being that I have some serious anxiety about going to Barcelona for some reason. Probably because it will be somewhat permanent, for a while, and there is a lot of work to be done when I get there. I began to do some of that here, but as you know, I have never been so good at organizing these things that have so many factors. I just don't know where to begin and can't concentrate on any goal long enough to complete anything. I am a. happy b. sad c. distraught d. immobilized e. confused d. other ________Sandra: As far as how I feel. I think I feel all. Immobilized has probably the best word to describe myself since you left due to the factors explained in the paragraph above. Sometimes I agonize over whether I should be away from home. Maybe here isn't the right place to be. But I am here, and also wonder if I wouldn't kick myself for not taking advantage of that. But don't get me wrong, it hasn't been all sad and confusing I have had a wonderful time with Francisco and other friends and love being in Granada. My plans for this upcoming month are a. undetermined b. developing along the lines of ___________ c. established as follows _____________Sandra: When I get to Barcelona I plan to stay at the INOUT hostel which is run by people with developmental disabilities. It costs about the same as it would to rent a place so I guess I'm not losing money. I will chat them up and see if I can't come up with an arrangement with them work wise. I am a little doubtful because the government is involved. I will stay there until I find an apartment or an alternative place to crash. And also look for jobs. I hope that my mostly unproductive time here has allowed me the rest I needed in order progress rapidly as soon as I hit the streets of Barcelona. I am really looking forward to Lindy Hopping again. I think I get moody when I'm not swingin' and amongst my swingin' compatriots.Regarding my parents a. I wish to keep in touch with them b. who cares c. I love them madly d. some of a. b. and c depending on the day and timeSandra: Regarding my parents. I love them madly and I wish to keep in touch with them. I feel quite a bit of guilt about not meeting them again while they were in Spain. I hope that they weren't too hurt by that and didn't take it personally. I did really want to see them again and I cannot quite explain my actions to the contrary. I just got in this funk concerning my future in Barcelona and couldn't organize to move. Time flew by and you were gone. In the beginning, I had planned to travel with you everywhere, but backed down on those plans because it didn't seem to be what you had in mind. Sandra: Again I am sorry I haven't been good at keeping in touch. Sometimes I read your letters and think I have responded to them when I haven't. Francisco actually asked me today, "How do you feel about your parents?" "Do you ever just not want to see them?" And I have to say I really couldn't identify with that idea. I went on to say, isn't it wonderful to have some people who biologically and sociologically are designed to love each other and be there for each other unconditionally. It is wonderful to have a family. Another friend asked me in a conversation yesterday, what would you do if you had a month to live? And without a pause our a doubt I said "Well I'd go home and be with my family and friends where I belong." The idea of seeing another country or attending another dance camp or wild festival didn't even enter my head. Hope that clears things up for you.Love you and miss you madly,Sandra
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1224980520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1224980520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1224980520/tpod.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:38:37 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Granada, Spain and Canary Islands

The following is a questionnaire that my mom sent me after one of my email silence binges. My responses follow sequentially.Mom: The worry meter is starting to register. Please fill out the following brief questionnaire:Sandra: Sorry Mom. I thought we had had recent communication. I guess it has been a while. Sometimes I lose track of time and it doesn't seem like its been that long. It seems to happen a lot in Granada for some reason huh? Love the questionnaire. Here is my reply.I am in a. Granada b. Barcelona c. other ________Sandra: I am in Granada. Still with Francisco. I leave tomorrow evening for Barcelona and arrive early in the day. Why am I still here? Good question. I think there are many factors involved. The largest being that I have some serious anxiety about going to Barcelona for some reason. Probably because it will be somewhat permanent, for a while, and there is a lot of work to be done when I get there. I began to do some of that here, but as you know, I have never been so good at organizing these things that have so many factors. I just don't know where to begin and can't concentrate on any goal long enough to complete anything. I am a. happy b. sad c. distraught d. immobilized e. confused d. other ________Sandra: As far as how I feel. I think I feel all. Immobilized has probably the best word to describe myself since you left due to the factors explained in the paragraph above. Sometimes I agonize over whether I should be away from home. Maybe here isn't the right place to be. But I am here, and also wonder if I wouldn't kick myself for not taking advantage of that. But don't get me wrong, it hasn't been all sad and confusing I have had a wonderful time with Francisco and other friends and love being in Granada. My plans for this upcoming month are a. undetermined b. developing along the lines of ___________ c. established as follows _____________Sandra: When I get to Barcelona I plan to stay at the INOUT hostel which is run by people with developmental disabilities. It costs about the same as it would to rent a place so I guess I'm not losing money. I will chat them up and see if I can't come up with an arrangement with them work wise. I am a little doubtful because the government is involved. I will stay there until I find an apartment or an alternative place to crash. And also look for jobs. I hope that my mostly unproductive time here has allowed me the rest I needed in order progress rapidly as soon as I hit the streets of Barcelona. I am really looking forward to Lindy Hopping again. I think I get moody when I'm not swingin' and amongst my swingin' compatriots.Regarding my parents a. I wish to keep in touch with them b. who cares c. I love them madly d. some of a. b. and c depending on the day and timeSandra: Regarding my parents. I love them madly and I wish to keep in touch with them. I feel quite a bit of guilt about not meeting them again while they were in Spain. I hope that they weren't too hurt by that and didn't take it personally. I did really want to see them again and I cannot quite explain my actions to the contrary. I just got in this funk concerning my future in Barcelona and couldn't organize to move. Time flew by and you were gone. In the beginning, I had planned to travel with you everywhere, but backed down on those plans because it didn't seem to be what you had in mind. Sandra: Again I am sorry I haven't been good at keeping in touch. Sometimes I read your letters and think I have responded to them when I haven't. Francisco actually asked me today, "How do you feel about your parents?" "Do you ever just not want to see them?" And I have to say I really couldn't identify with that idea. I went on to say, isn't it wonderful to have some people who biologically and sociologically are designed to love each other and be there for each other unconditionally. It is wonderful to have a family. Another friend asked me in a conversation yesterday, what would you do if you had a month to live? And without a pause our a doubt I said "Well I'd go home and be with my family and friends where I belong." The idea of seeing another country or attending another dance camp or wild festival didn't even enter my head. Hope that clears things up for you.Love you and miss you madly,Sandra
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193529600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193529600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193529600/tpod.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:22:44 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Barcelona, Spain

I'M IN BARCELONA!!!!! I have decided to live in Barcelona because I want to improve my Spanish, live in Spain and dance lindy hop. Barcelona is the only city you can do all three. Not to mention, Barcelona rocks!On my last day in Granada, I spent the day hiking up in the hills of Sacramonte and climbing la muralla (the wall) to say good by to el ciudad de mi corazon (The city of my heart)I got here at 10:30AM after a 14-hour, full-moon-lit, nite-bus ride with no leg room because my seat had a wall where your feet are supposed to go. Ouch! Lamento Boliviano/Lamento Americano (quickly becoming my latest theme song) greeted me as I got of the bus in Barcelona this morning. I sat down with a pastry and a cup of coffee to relax, re-orient and re-organize before heading off to find my hostel.Many people had warned me about the epidemic pick-pocketing in Barcelona so I was borderline paranoid as soon as I hit Estacion Norde. I put my valuables in my large suitcase and my wallet in the front pocket of my sweatshirt under my buttoned up coat so there wasn't anything for pickpockets to get at. I will have to work on a long term solution to this problem however as I will have to live day to day life under this threat. Bummer huh?On the way, I happened upon a group performing traditional Catalunian dancing and sat in the sun for a half an hour to watch. Then took two metros then I carried my 100 plus pounds of accumulated luggage up this mountain to the hostel.The hostel I am staying in is called IN-OUT Alberg. A large hostel run by people with developmental disabilities. Sounds like my kind of gig (not because I have developmental disabilities, though some may beg to differ) but because I have worked both with people with deveopmental disabilities and in a hostels environment before. I'm gonna see if they need any help in exchange for a place to stay or some dinero. It is located on a mountain in a national park on the out-skirts of Barcelona. Its pretty inexpensive, with great facilities: free Internet to work from and located in a huge city park so I don't mind being here, other than the slow drain on my dwindling finances. I am aching to Lindy Hop again, my swingin' has been sparse since I left Herrang. No dancing today unfortunately, so I will spend the day recuperating and starting to organize my life here. Can't wait to hit the dance floor and meet up the Barcelona swingers! Tomorrow there are two dances though, one in the afternoon in the park and one at a grand ball room with a live band. Looks like there will be dancing almost every day here. Ahhh, just like home. Calle, as usual, has come to my aide and connected me with a number of his friends in Barcelona. I just wrote to 2 of them today and hope to meet them dancing tomorrow or soon. We'll see if anything comes of it. Happy to be here and on my way.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193619000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193619000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1193619000/tpod.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:00:28 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Barcelona, Spain

Today, I made up for lost time, Lindy-wise by attending two dances: One out side in a square in the afternoon and one in a large salsa ball room with a full swing band. I reconnected with a number of acquaintances and met some new people. It was good to get out and dance, but I still feel very alone. No one really knows me or cares that much about me in this city. Its hard to have no one on your side. I guess I should be patient, these things will come. Tomorrow it looks like there is another dance, though I'm unsure if it is really happening since all the dancers said there wasn't anything happening until Thursday. I'll go check it out anyway and see what I can find. Tomorrow I plan on working on finding a place to stay or live and possibly look for some work and go shopping for food and some supplies. I've been living off of oranges, bread and havas (dried fried fava beans) for two days now. My curves are tragically disappearing as we speak. Well, time to take a shower and hit the sack. Buenas Noches!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1207268160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1207268160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1207268160/tpod.html Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:59:53 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Barcelona, Spain

A brief description of my Hostel Life when I first arrived in Barcelona:Last night, after dancing, I saw a wild boar mamma and her baby when I was walking back up the mountain to the hostel from the metro station! That might have been dangerous situation if I weren't INVINCIBLE! This morning, after consuming 1/2 of my 9AM complimentary breakfast and shoving the rest in my bag for latter nourishment being kicked out of the hostel for cleaning at 10AM, I took the two metro trains into town for some shopping. I found a Gelato tienda (Italian Ice-cream shop) and treated myself to una bola de cocao holandes (a scoop of Dutch Chocolate) before heading to Corte Ingles (Local upscale version of Fred Myer, it has everything! But pricey.) There, I bought some mandrinas, huevos, pechuga de pavo, sopa de champiñones y pepinos (Mandarin oranges, eggs,turkey loaf, mushroom soup and bell peppers) to survive off of for the next few days. Then I took the tram home, checked my email and went to my room to sleep. I had only been sleeping for 20 minutes or so when the staff burst in and started cleaning the place and yelling to each other in the hall. I wouldn't have minded this, I understand the rooms DO need to be cleaned, but they kick us out of the hostel from 10-2 every day in order to clean. I figure that is plenty of time to get things done and I should be allowed to rest in my room after 2(it was 4:30 when this happened). Well, I guess you get what you pay for (12 Euro a night.) After an hour, I got eventually got up and shut the door and the was able to get some sleep for a few hours. At 8PM I got up and made myself some soy pasta with a sauce made from dried mushroom soup. It was practically inedible, but somehow I choked it down. Since my arrival in Barcelona, food has become a matter of sustenance rather than enjoyment for me. I'm sorry to say, but I think mi culoso (big butt) will be a sad state of affairs by the end of all this malnourishment, dancing and walking up mountains. I'm tired too. Its all I can do not to go to bed right now. Maybe its just the lighting in the bathroom, but I seem to have aged 10 years since my arrival 2 days ago. My features sag with weariness and I have dark bags under my eyes. The good new is, things can only improve from here. : ) And I think I'm on my way!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1194564600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1194564600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1194564600/tpod.html Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:09:07 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Barcelona, Spain

Yes, I am now in Barcelona until the end of January, when I will return home for my super good friend, Will's wedding. Which reminds me, I have to write a toast. Damn! That's going to be the hardest English assignment I've ever had. Oh well it will be really fun to have the old gang back together again like the good old days. I have been in Barcelona almost 2 weeks and I have a job working in the local Lindy studio which I am starting today. No I am not teaching. Its mostly secretarial duties and it pays shit (I haven't been paid this poorly since I was in my teens. But I try to see in a positive light by focusing on the fact that when you convert it to American Dollars its not so bad) Anyway, I think its a good start, its has flexible hours and it will allow me to connect to the dance community and go dancing a lot. : ) The dancing so far has been mediocre at best with the all too common problem of many Followers and not enough leads, but I have met some dancers and struck up a conversation with some of the swing band members and we might also meet later this week. Its tough having been away from Lindy so long. I can feel how out of practice I am and it s frustrating to remember how much better I was when I left Herrang. But "Poco a poco" as they say here. I hope I can get it all back, plus some! Currently, I am living with my friend's friend's Ex-boyfriend. Sounds like a Jerry Springer episode, I know. (The big bald bouncer is going to have to stop one of us from hitting the other over the head with flowers or a folding chair.) No, but really, its quite a felicitous set up. Calle, bless him, for the millionth time, has introduced me to practically everyone he knows in Barcelona via the Internet and those connections have been priceless for me. He introduced me to Paca who met me for coffee then gave me a place to stay and rides to out-of-town dances last weekend, then set me up with Jordi, her ex-boyfriend. He is a professional bassist by night and teaches people how to use home music writing, recording,and mixing programs during during the day. He is a very sweet slightly older guy maybe in his 40's and has made me feel like "su casa es mi casa" right away. I will stay here for the next 2 weeks or until I find my own place which ever comes first. And that is where I a now. I placed an add in loquo.com (the local Craigs List) saying I was willing to practice English with someone who was willing to give me a place to stay. I figured nothing would come of it, but thought "nothing ventured, nothing gained" so tried my luck anyway. I actually received several replies and a few days ago met with a nice woman who seems like she wants to do it. I will visit her flat tomorrow and hopefully take it. If that works out, then I will not have to worry about rent and my meager salary at the dance studio should maintain me without dipping into the rest of my savings. I tell you, the exchange rate is killing me!!!! Its basically 1.5 dollars to the euro. OUCH!!!! I feel like a Canadian back in the early 90`s. Oh, dear friends, we are witnessing the fall of the great beast - the mighty mighty US of A. I would celebrate with the rest of the world if only I weren't part of that beast. I guess that is part of what I am doing here: seeing if I can give up my beast status for something better. Anyway, returning from the rant, I have also been working on and procrastinating from (mostly the latter) creating a CV that will eventually be in English and in Spanish to hand out to the local Irish bars and other job opportunities. I am hoping to find a better salary in this work, though the thought dealing with drunken Britts makes me slightly homicidal..... Perhaps this is not the best career choice for me, but it seems like I have few other options. Other than that, I have been making a few friends and hanging out. My favorite being, Ellen (another Calle introduction) who is a 25 y/o student from Sweden. We spent my first week plus some together almost every day for one reason or another. She is nice and funny and fun and shares my foreigner status and general bewilderment of these proud, hot-blooded people; Spaniards. Anyway, life has been an adventure, though sometimes a lonely and bewildering one, but with so many lessons learned. I feel I have matured years since I left. Its strange to look in the mirror and still see a 20-something, when my inner self is sits knitting peacefully in her rocking chair with a wrinkled little smile that says 'I have dreamed, I have seen, I have been and I am content.'
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1189207560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1189207560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1189207560/tpod.html Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:03:28 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Västerås, Sweden

I'm engaged! Its amazing how quickly these things happen! You walk into an immigration office with a friend and you walk out with a fiancé. Just like that! This is how it happened:It all started innocently enough: a few days ago Jonas and I were discussing my plans for Europe, when the subject of visas came up. I told him that I had spoken to a man at the beginning of my trip who believed that there might be a limit to how long I could stay in the E.U. perhaps just three to six months. Jonas, being an astute, rational fellow, was slightly alarmed by this and suggested that "it might be a good idea to find out." Jonas' concern jostled my remissive state of naiveté, so we sat down to a online search. After an embarrassingly short amount of time, Jonas presented his findings saying, "I think this is what you are interested in." It was a sight entitled "The Schengen Agreement." Now, before I go any further, can I just say that the one thing that anguishes me most about traveling abroad is my automatic appointment as American diplomat and archetype, put forth upon this continent to challenge the stereotypes, assuage the anger, and mend the misgivings precipitated by our media and "moral" majority. To show them, hey not all of us are bad, hell, some of us even recycle and didn't vote for Bush. With this heavy job description, I often feel like I am far from the best candidate for the position, especially when the topic turns to history or world affairs, subjects that, in school, were viewed by me as synonymous with Nap Time 101. I would like, if I may, to be given official pardon from representing my fellow countrymen on these matters as I have an ignorance that far exceeds that of your typical loud-mouthed, money-lovin', gas-guzzlin', beer bellied, tooth-pickin', burger-eatin', bible-beatin', lasseau swingin', gun slingin', anthem singin', star-spangled, middle finger to the world, yippie-kai-yai-yay American. Case and point: in a recent interviewed with a Belgian I was asked: "What comes to your mind when you think of Brussels?" All that I could come up with was "...... sprouts?" and when he asked me for my thoughts on Brussels as the E.U. Capital my response was, "It is?!" Now, we could go into depth as to why these important matters fail to retain my interest; discuss at length my feelings of being overwhelmed by the endless problems of the world, my sense of helplessness to do anything, my suspicions concerning the media and analyze that repression and denial in the guise of apathy is likely an ego protection strategy and perhaps this is manifestation of a trauma in my oral phase, frustrated phallic envy or being placed into daycare too early. But this strays from the topic at hand. The point is, that when it came the "Schengen Agreement" I had NEVER heard of it.Anyone empathizing? For those of you who also elected to take Nap time 101 over Current World Affairs here's a little "refresher" nipped and tucked mostly from Wikipedia:Before Schengen, citizens of western European countries could travel to neighbouring countries by showing their national ID card or passport at the border. Nationals of some countries were required to have separate visas for every country in Europe they wished to visit. A vast network of border posts existed around the continent which disrupted traffic and trade--causing delays and costs to both businesses and visitors.Then came the 1985 Schengen Agreement which is an agreement among European states (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden,) that allows for the abolition of systematic border controls between the participating countries. It also includes provisions on common policy on, the harmonization of external border controls, cross-border police co-operation and the temporary entry of persons (including the Schengen Visa).Citizens of non-EU, non-EEA countries who wish to visit Europe as tourists, and who require a visa to enter the Schengen area, are simply required to get a common Schengen Visa from the Embassy/Consulate of the Schengen country they intend to visit first. What it doesn't say here is that Americans need not apply, their Passport works as an automatic 90 day visa to all Schengen countries. It was after reading such a document that the discordant harpsichord sounded and I cringed in horror as I realized I had overstayed my Visa and I WAS FUGITIVE! I collapsed on the couch and launched into an accelerated Kübler-Ross Cycle: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, denial..... Jonas calmly took control of the situation searched the web for solutions to my "crisis." I had barley gotten half way through my fourth cycle when Jonas patiently announced that he may have found something. Curiosity peaked, I jumped off the cycle and began to read over Jonas's shoulder. For a moment I thought the Schengen shock had rendered me illiterate until Jonas started translating the Swedish. He explained that he might be able to get me a Swedish Residents Permit that might rescue me from my fugitive status and restore me at last to the right side of the law. Our hope was that a Swedish Residents Permit would stop my Schengen clock from ticking, make my time here legal and, once again, give me a right, this time as a Swedish Resident, to travel freely within Schengen or at the very least, complicate the matter enough to frustrate Border Patrol Officers from taking further action. Our plan set, we decided to set out on our mission impossible as soon as possible. A few days later, I met Jonas by the cities only "sky scraper" (more like a sky scratcher) in order to inquire at the immigration office about residents permit. This mission, as with any mission, was not without a sense of danger since my inquiries of them would initiate their inquiries of me which meant it was likely that the authorities would discover my fugitive status. Would they show mercy a criminal trying to come clean? Or would they give me the hard line and show me to the door to my embassy with their boot? I didn't wait long in immigration office to find out, once I had presented them my American passport and my Swedish sponsor, I was whisked into a private office and after the exchange of 1000 Swedish Crowns and a few questions (foreshadowing: perhaps it is here where things got lost in translation), my passport was returned to me with a fancy Swedish Residence Permit sticker complete with shiny Swedish seal. As we walked exultantly out of the immigration office and prepared for our victory lap (Sandra & Jonas-1: Schengen-0) Jonas opened up the papers presented to me along with my residents permit and began to translate triumphantly: "You have traveled to Sweden on the 29th of June 2007 and now applied for a residents permit in order to extend your visit with...." he paused, eyes widening, then threw back his head in laughter. "What? What? Tell me what is says!" I demanded anxiously. "...in order to extend your visit with your..... FIANCÉ!" he blurted, as we both erupted in peals of laughter. We laughed there, out side the immigration office till our eyes wet with tears and Jonas was late for work, so I gave Jonas a hug of thanks and went on my merry way or shall I say "married" way home. ***aaaaand.....SCENE.*****And that, boys and girls, is how it came to be that your haphazard heroin unwittingly became engaged, at least in the eyes of Swedish authority.Little do they know, it is a union destined for failure considering my imminent departure to exploit the remainder of Schengen, compounded by his upcoming work placement in Shanghai, culminated by my indefinite return to the U.S. All the same, its a comfort to know that, come tomorrow, should God announce, "Times up. Pencils down." I will have a check next to this major milestone.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1189730400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1189730400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1189730400/tpod.html Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:24:18 -0500 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Granada, Spain

I have fallen in love with a Bachata. For those of you who are saying "Bachawha'wha'?" right now, a Bachata is style of latin music with a specific rythem that is usually slow and mournful and often danced in close proximity. (the Salsa equivolent to Blues for all you Swingers out there). The name of the particulare Bachata that has caught my fancy is called Lamento Boliviano and as luck would have it Francisco, who I am staying with, happens to have this very song! I have become so enchanted with it that I had Francisco repeat all the words to me slowly and translate those that I didn't understand. Since then I have gone on to learn all the words myself IN SPANISH! And my final tribute has been to create my own version, a parody IN SPANISH called "Lamento Americano" about an American in Spain who has forgotten how to speak Spanish. Perhaps a slightly autobiographical. My parody includes errors that are often made by english speakers. Toward the end of the english translation the words that are starred are what an English speaker would be trying to say. Anyone who has suffered an inadequacy in Spanish or any foriegn language for that matter should be able to identify. Below you will find the words and the parody (Lamento Americano) followed the original (Lamento Boliviano) with the english translations in parenthesis. At the top of this entry I have included an Mp3 of the original at the for your listening pleasure. Enjoy......LAMENTO AMERICANO Español(AMERICAN LAMENT English) Ay Maestro,.............................(Oh Teacher,)No recuerdo el nombre por esto..........(I don't remember the name for this....)Tengo agitar............................(I am bothered)si mucho agitar.........................(Yes very bothered)mi mente una roca.......................(My mind is a rock)palabras no me tocan....................(Words they don't touch me)"es ser o es estar".....................(Is it 'ser' or is it 'estar') no puedo conjugar.......................(I can't conjugate)yo quiero estar tranquilo...............(I want to be calm)es mi esituacion una desolacion.........(My situation is one of desolacion)siento el lamento, lamento Americano....(I feel the lament, the American lament)Olvide Español y estoy en España........(I forgot Spanish and I am in Spain)Y esto me hace daño.....................(And this hurts me)Whooooooaa whoa whoa ooo ooo ooo........(Whooooooaa whoa whoa ooo ooo ooo) Yeah eh eh Yeah ehhhhh ahhhhhh..........(Yeah eh eh Yeah ehhhhh ahhhhhh)Y yo estoy aqui.........................(And I am here)Estraño y tonto.........................(Foriegn and stupid)y mi cerebro idiota.....................(And my stupid brain)siempre flipara.........................(Always freaks out)y yo olvide.............................(And I forgot)Olvido por siempre......................(I always forget)todos masculinos, femininos.............(All masculines, feminines) y los plurales..........................(and the plurals)ser contra estar........................('ser' verses 'estar')Maestro!................................(Teacher!)Porque no me haces estudiar ma'?........(Why didn't you make me study more?)Repeta. Entonces un golpe..............(It repeats. Then a rap) que no quiero traducir.................(that I don't want to translate)y yo olvide..............................(And I forgot)olvido por siempre.......................(I always forget)nunco es estoy caliente, embarazada...(It`s never I am horney *hot*, pregnant *embarassed*o estoy buena...........................(or I am sexy *good*Maestro!................................(Teacher!)____________________________________________________________ LAMENTO BOLIVIANO Español.............(BOLIVIAN LAMENT English)Ay Mami.................................(Oh Baby)Este trago va en tu nombre mi amor.......(This toast goes out to you my love) Me quieren agitar........................(They want to disturb me)me incitan a gritar......................(They insite me to scream)soy como una roca........................(I am like a rock)palabras no me tocan.....................(Words, they don't touch me)adentro hay un volcan....................(Inside there is a volcano)que pronto va a estallar.................(That will soon explode)yo quiero estar tranquilo................(I want to be calm)Es mi situación una desolación...........(It is my situation is one of desolacion)soy como un lamento, lamento boliviano...(I am like a lament, a Bolivian lament)que un día empezo y no va a terminar.....(That one day began and is not going to end)y a nadie hace daño......................(And it hurts no one)Y yo estoy aquí..........................(And I am here)borracho y loco..........................(Drunk and crazy)y mi corazón idiota......................(And my stupid heart)siempre brillará.........................(Will always shine)y yo te amaré............................(And I will love you)te amaré por siempre.....................(I will love you for always)nena no te peines en la cama.............(Baby, don't comb your hair in bed)que los viajantes se van a atrasar..(For its going to slow down the traveling businessmen)(Repeta. Entonces un golpe..............(It repeats. Then a rap) que no quiero traducir.................(that I don't want to translate)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1194124080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1194124080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1194124080/tpod.html Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:13:05 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Barcelona, Spain

Last Friday night I left beautiful Granada (city of my heart) for busteling Barcelona. I took 14 hour night bus that I would rather forget and arrived in barcelona at 10:30. I spent the next 4 nights at the INOUT Alberg on the top a mountain that was run by people with developmental disabilities. (Entries from these days will be up as soon as I have a moment to spare) Since then, I have had several address changes. On Wednesday I met a swing dancer that Calle connected me with named Paca. We met for Coffee at Starbuck's (a truly cultural experience for me) to talk about what I needed and what she might be able to help me with. She turned out to be very nice and fun and helpful. She left me saying that she would ask her roommate if they could host me and give me a ride to the Lindy Hop workshop dances being held in Sitges a city a half hour drive out of town. After our meeting I went back up to the hostel to look on Loquo (the Barcelonian Craig's List) for a job and an apartment. At 8 I dragged my luggage down the mountain onto the metro and across town to drop it off at the apartment of a french guy named Patrice's, who I had met on CouchSurfing.com and had agreed to host me for 2 nights. It was a quick exchange, a brief: bonjour, tour of the house and bequeathing of the keys then he was out the door to meet his girlfriend for dinner. This was no problem for me because I had plans with another couch surfer, an Italian named Gabrielle, who had invited me to his end of job party. I arrived late at the Pizzeria, where the party was being held, thinking it was was a Pizza Hut type of joint where people would be casually dropping in to give their congratulations. Turns out it was a classy sit down dinner with a bunch of 'Suits' in suits from HP where he formerly worked. It was rather embarrassing, but Gabrielle was ever so gracious and made me feel comfortable right away, introducing me to everyone and sitting me next to him. I hadn't been there five minutes, when Paca and her X-boyfriend Jordi breezed in (Gabrielle had invited Paca earlier). I spent an embarrassing 5 minutes discussing my future housing arrangement at the door to this fancy restaurant under the bewildered stare of the other party guests. It turned out that Jordi's roommate was about to leave for Portugal for 2 weeks and had offered me her room while she was gone. Paca had also spoken with her roommate Marta and gotten the go ahead for me to stay with them for the weekend in order to carpool to dances out of town then move to Jordi's on Monday. Gabrielle once again came to the rescue and broke the awkward moment by inviting them to join the party. They accepted and we discussed the details over pizza in a mixture of Spanish and English. After dinner Paca and Jordi left and Gabrielle, the party and I walked down the street to a Bar, half of which had been reserved for his party. I mingled with the mostly Italian HPers and met a guy who had just returned from living out his dream of visiting Seattle. His enthusiasm for my city made me miss home tremendously. After an hour, Ellen a Swede going to University in Barcelona, another Calle introduction, arrived with a German friend named David in tow. Ellen, David, Gabrielle had a blast making terrible stereotypes about each other's cultures until it was time to go out dancing. Now, having followed this story I want you to guess what time it probably was at this point...... do you have your guess in your head? In The States it would probably be between 11 and 12 right?. Not here! Here in Spain, it was 3AM a completely normal time to be heading out for a night of dancing. Not to mention Ellen had received a flyer for a party starting at 6AM! I tell you the Spaniards know how to party. After a little confusion about which club was best to go to, we arrived at your average European techno/house club and hung out and danced for about an hour until I had had enough of that intolerable noise. I said goodbye to Ellen and my new HP friends and in the interest of easy late night/early morning transportation opted to stay on Gabrielle's couch rather than attepmt to find a way back to my French Host's couch. In the morning, or more accurately, mid-afternoon, Gabrielle returned me to my French Hosts on his way to pick up some family from the airport then pack for his 10PM flight to Romania for the long weekend. Its a four day weekend here. I tell you Spainairds find any excuse for a holiday. When I returned to the French house I met the other occupants of the house, Patrice's roommates, Joel and Christophe. They fed me steak and home made 'freedom fries' as they put it. They were very nice and hospitable and I was in heaven listening to their French accents. After lunch the guys headed out and I spent the rest of the day sleeping until 7:30PM, when I had to get up to get ready to go dancing at 8:30. I arrived at Bilibal, the local dance studio, uncharactersitically on time only to discover that I had, once again, done the math for the 24 hour clock wrong and was 2 hours early. Still tired, I returned home to the French house to find Patrice with 3 more American girls in the living room. Patrice introduced us all and then ran out the door on another important arrand. This is the last I saw of my host. The girls sat and chatted on the couch/my bed, so I traded it for the temprory use of their bed to take a nap for 45 minutes until it was time to go again. This time, I woke up late and dashed to the metro to catch the 2 trains to get to the studio. I was kicking myself for being late until I got there and saw that no one was on the floor yet. Like everything else, Lindy dances also start late in Spain. It was pretty slim pickings so I asked someone where all the dancers were and found out that there was a better dance going on in Sitges that night which had taken most of the dancers. Soon Ellen arrived and we comiserated over our fate and danced a little until it was time to catch the 1AM night bus. On the way out I talked to the owner of the studio about getting a job there and we agreed to discuss it at next week's dance. I am going to email him now though to get the ball rolling. On the way home Ellen invited me to an outing to el Parque de Labarinto, a beautiful green park of fountains and statues with a maze in the center. Then next morning, I said goobye to my friendly French hosts and lugged my luggage to Paca's apartment, which was conviently located only a few blocks away. After a quick tour and another key bequithment, I headed out to meet Ellen at the park. I met her and her two friends, a German and a Carribian and explored the park for a few hours taking loads of photos as usual. Then went home and napped until it was time to get up to get ready to go to the dance in Sitges. Ellen, who had also had been promised a ride, arrived at 9 and we spent an anxious half hour teetering on the edge of not being able to go due to lack of car space. There was a lot of phone calls back and forth between the dancers and finally just when Ellen and I had given up and were saying thank you for trying, a car became available and we were off to Sitges. We got there at midnight, only and hour late, and spent the next 3 hours dancing or complaining that there weren't enough leads. Oddly enough I found another Lindy Hopper from Seattle who was a Western Student there. This really made me feel less exotic. But she was just up for the weekend from Cadiz so soon my exotic sole Seattlite status will be returned to me.After a long night of dancing and mingling, we got home at about 4:30 had a quick snack went to bed. This morning I slept in and got up to meet a Brazilian friend I had made at the HP party at 1PM to go for a walk in the Parque Olimpico. The beautiful day was hightend by the magnificient views of the sprawling city and the surrounging hills and seaside. We had a nice walk and a good conversation, then I went home to eat lunch, shower and work on my future plans, which is what you find me doing now. Tonight is another dance in Sitges and tomorrow I move to Jordi's and perhaps meet up Barbara another person I met though CouchSurfing. Good to hear you had a good Halloween. Maggies coustume sounds hilarious. That is so her! Hope this message finds you well and to hear from you soon. Love always,Sandra
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1180151520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1180151520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandramorrow/espana_or_bust/1180151520/tpod.html Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:41:39 -0400 Espana or Bust: One girls quixotic quest for adventure in the land of Cervantes and beyond("Plus Ultra").

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Huelva, Spain

Hola desde Huelva, España. I write to you on my palm pilot as I sit on the couch with Yolanda and her 15 year old Daughter Alba. Yolanda watches television Alba chats away on the computer.Not much to report for today. After a long night of working on my Travelblog entries, I woke up at noon and worked on the computer for another hour before Yolanda and Javier woke up. I soon grew sleepy again and slept for another hour and a half before getting up for the day. Javier Yolanda and I walked into town and ate Tortilla (a Spanish potato omelet) for lunch before hitting the local Corte Ingles (the Spanish version of Target) for some beauty products for Yolanada. Javier left us half way through the shopping trip to head to a catering job for the evening and Yolanda and I finished shopping and headed home. On the way, I remembered I wanted to buy a sim card so I could have a cell phone, now that I am finally back in Spain. We ended up spending more than an hour visiting 4 different shops and asking many questions in a quest to find the best company for my needs. Keep in mind Yolanda speaks less english than I speak spanish so pratically all of my dealings were entirely in Spanish. Just as in the US, the cell phone sitch is "muy complicado" and I ended up abandoning the quest prefering to do my research on the internet in Eglish, just to make sure I understood everything. Cell phone mission abandoned, Yolanda and I headed home and sat around the kitchen table and had a long chat about relationships and life IN SPANISH (I was very proud of myself). Then we sat down to relax on the couch and Yolanda chatted on the computer while I took a siesta soon it was evening and Alba arrived. We have spent the evening sharing our favorite Youtube and Myspace videos and practicing our English (I have to admit I'm pretty good at this) because Alba is going to spend a term in England this summer and Yolanda wants her to practice and to be honest I want a siesta from Spanish. Which brings us no now on the couch. Its been a nice relaxing time here and its been good to see Yolanda and Javier again, but I think I have to break the news that I must leave soon, because I must be in Granada by the 28th and I still have yet to visit Cordoba.
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