07 December 2008
26 November 2008
Weird People
In a city of five million people, some of them are bound go crazy eventually. Each of these people I see on a pretty frequent basis, and each of these people I want to ask, "what the hell is your deal?" So let the freak show commence.
1.) "Homeless" lady with an iPod:
I call her homeless only because she kind of looks like a vagabond, smells, and is constantly begging on the street corner by my house. To the normal, untrained eye she would look like your average homeless person. Slightly destitute, standing in the same place for long periods of time, and begging for money. I encountered her for the first time shortly after arriving in Madrid. I know you're not supposed to give homeless money because they may buy
a.) drugs
or
b.) alcohol
but I tend to give them five cents here and there just as a good deed for the day. She always stood on the street corner by the plaza in my neighborhood with her house hand out, but I never paid her any mind. The first time I approached her to give her a donation, I already had my hand in my pocket, feeling around for a 5 center. Shortly before approaching her, I realized something strange. There was a white string hanging out of her ears, running down through her jacket, into her hand. In her hand was what appeared to be an iPod video. At that moment, I jammed my hand back in to my pocket, determined not to ever give her my money. For most people, this would seem like a mean gesture, but I have my rationale for my actions. Although she may have stolen the iPod, she would at the very least need a computer to charge it. If she had a computer, she would need a place to plug it in, presumably a house. And finally, if she had a house, then she clearly didn't need my money. She's a fraud. If you're going to fake being homeless, do a better job at it.
2.) Latino short guy with the worst case of short guy syndrome ever.
If you get on the number one line at Atocha at 5 PM and get in the first car, you will no doubt see this "man". I use the term loosely because he's about a foot and a half shorter than I am (mind you I'm just under six feet). This man instantly plows you over to get on the metro to assert his male dominance. After almost pushing you in to the gap between the platform and the Metro itself, he manages to take up as much room as possible. If you're not familiar with the situation, Atocha (the main train station in Madrid) is quite busy during this time, so space on the Metro is at a premium. Having a 4'6" man take up the space of a 6'3" 375 pound man is quite an inconvenience. While he's occupying a space large enough to land a Black Hawk helicopter, he likes to take his tweezers out of his pocket and go to town. This is not acceptable. This is tantamount to clipping your toe nails in public. However, this man does not tweeze the normal spots. No nose hair, no uni-brow. This man tweezes his goatee. I don't know if he has a hormonal balance, but if you have so little facial hair that you need to tweeze it, you should just give up on facial grooming. After littering his shitty goatee hair all over your bag (which he does every day, mind you), he plows over you on his way out of the Metro, b-lines it up the stairs, and pushes an old lady in front of a car.
To close I will leave you with the weirdest. Not weird because of what he does, but because of the context in which he does it.
3.) Creepy crying guy who cries outside of his apartment building once a day.
Now I know people have emotional issues, and everyone cries sometimes, but everyday? Really? It's sad. Truthfully, I want to stop and talk to him one day, ask him what's wrong, but I have a feeling he might be a serial killer that lures people in that way. When I say he's crying, it's not the "oh man, I'm stressed, a good cry would do me some good" cry. It's the "my mom, my wife, the president, and my dog were all in a plane that crashed into a nunnery" kind of cry. He just sits there and bawls his eyes out. Hard. And let me tell you, that makes the 30 seconds it takes to walk past him seem like an eternity. Hopefully he gets the help he needs.
And thus ends my post about the many weirdos of Madrid. Trust me, I could fill the Library of Congress with this shit.
1.) "Homeless" lady with an iPod:
I call her homeless only because she kind of looks like a vagabond, smells, and is constantly begging on the street corner by my house. To the normal, untrained eye she would look like your average homeless person. Slightly destitute, standing in the same place for long periods of time, and begging for money. I encountered her for the first time shortly after arriving in Madrid. I know you're not supposed to give homeless money because they may buy
a.) drugs
or
b.) alcohol
but I tend to give them five cents here and there just as a good deed for the day. She always stood on the street corner by the plaza in my neighborhood with her house hand out, but I never paid her any mind. The first time I approached her to give her a donation, I already had my hand in my pocket, feeling around for a 5 center. Shortly before approaching her, I realized something strange. There was a white string hanging out of her ears, running down through her jacket, into her hand. In her hand was what appeared to be an iPod video. At that moment, I jammed my hand back in to my pocket, determined not to ever give her my money. For most people, this would seem like a mean gesture, but I have my rationale for my actions. Although she may have stolen the iPod, she would at the very least need a computer to charge it. If she had a computer, she would need a place to plug it in, presumably a house. And finally, if she had a house, then she clearly didn't need my money. She's a fraud. If you're going to fake being homeless, do a better job at it.
2.) Latino short guy with the worst case of short guy syndrome ever.
If you get on the number one line at Atocha at 5 PM and get in the first car, you will no doubt see this "man". I use the term loosely because he's about a foot and a half shorter than I am (mind you I'm just under six feet). This man instantly plows you over to get on the metro to assert his male dominance. After almost pushing you in to the gap between the platform and the Metro itself, he manages to take up as much room as possible. If you're not familiar with the situation, Atocha (the main train station in Madrid) is quite busy during this time, so space on the Metro is at a premium. Having a 4'6" man take up the space of a 6'3" 375 pound man is quite an inconvenience. While he's occupying a space large enough to land a Black Hawk helicopter, he likes to take his tweezers out of his pocket and go to town. This is not acceptable. This is tantamount to clipping your toe nails in public. However, this man does not tweeze the normal spots. No nose hair, no uni-brow. This man tweezes his goatee. I don't know if he has a hormonal balance, but if you have so little facial hair that you need to tweeze it, you should just give up on facial grooming. After littering his shitty goatee hair all over your bag (which he does every day, mind you), he plows over you on his way out of the Metro, b-lines it up the stairs, and pushes an old lady in front of a car.
To close I will leave you with the weirdest. Not weird because of what he does, but because of the context in which he does it.
3.) Creepy crying guy who cries outside of his apartment building once a day.
Now I know people have emotional issues, and everyone cries sometimes, but everyday? Really? It's sad. Truthfully, I want to stop and talk to him one day, ask him what's wrong, but I have a feeling he might be a serial killer that lures people in that way. When I say he's crying, it's not the "oh man, I'm stressed, a good cry would do me some good" cry. It's the "my mom, my wife, the president, and my dog were all in a plane that crashed into a nunnery" kind of cry. He just sits there and bawls his eyes out. Hard. And let me tell you, that makes the 30 seconds it takes to walk past him seem like an eternity. Hopefully he gets the help he needs.
And thus ends my post about the many weirdos of Madrid. Trust me, I could fill the Library of Congress with this shit.
22 November 2008
05 November 2008
03 November 2008
Thrift Stores and Anarchists
Journal Entry from 1.11.08 at about 9 PM:
Went to Sincoste tonight (free thrift store run by anarchists). Nothing good clothing-wise. However, some good came of the whole trip. I inadvertently introduced myself to Madrid's anarchist underground. Sincoste and Patio Marvillas (the anarchist squat where Sincoste is located) aren't so much stores or a place to hang out. They are an anarchist squatters' paradise. As I write this I hear echoes of demonstration and revolt. Drums, whistles, and screams for freedom reverberate down tthe street as they march towards Plaza de Espana. I'm not sure what they're marching for or against, but at least it's a start. This network of non-conformists is unlike anything I've ever seen or heard of in the United States. Soon, the sounds of punk, hip-hop, and reggae will be sounding from the basement of their five story home.
All political, all pro-human rights, all anti-war, and all for the greater good.
As an American who sympethizes with their causes and beliefs, I am frequently disenfranchised with the political, anti-war, "anarcho" ethos of those living in the United States . The revolution is dead there, they are no longer fighting. They hide behind their rhetoric and beliefs and use them more as a fashion statement than a stament of their lifestyle and beliefs. The anarcho-communists here, however, do not. For them it is a religion, a passion, a belief, a way of life. You don't hear about these people in the news. This is grassroots, word-of-mouth, donation financed revolution. The way it should be.
I never understood that old maxim, but now I do: "the Revolution won't be televised". It can't be, for that would kill it, bastardize it, and commercialize it (like what has already been done in the United States). It witll destroy what these people believe in. This has already been done in the United States where being a revolutionary, sporting a Che shirt, or wearing a Castro style hat is considered counter-culture. Here they walk the walk. Their revolution is silent and whispered while also shouted and screamed. That is the essence of their revolution.
Subversive and dangerous, the way it should be.
Went to Sincoste tonight (free thrift store run by anarchists). Nothing good clothing-wise. However, some good came of the whole trip. I inadvertently introduced myself to Madrid's anarchist underground. Sincoste and Patio Marvillas (the anarchist squat where Sincoste is located) aren't so much stores or a place to hang out. They are an anarchist squatters' paradise. As I write this I hear echoes of demonstration and revolt. Drums, whistles, and screams for freedom reverberate down tthe street as they march towards Plaza de Espana. I'm not sure what they're marching for or against, but at least it's a start. This network of non-conformists is unlike anything I've ever seen or heard of in the United States. Soon, the sounds of punk, hip-hop, and reggae will be sounding from the basement of their five story home.
All political, all pro-human rights, all anti-war, and all for the greater good.
As an American who sympethizes with their causes and beliefs, I am frequently disenfranchised with the political, anti-war, "anarcho" ethos of those living in the United States . The revolution is dead there, they are no longer fighting. They hide behind their rhetoric and beliefs and use them more as a fashion statement than a stament of their lifestyle and beliefs. The anarcho-communists here, however, do not. For them it is a religion, a passion, a belief, a way of life. You don't hear about these people in the news. This is grassroots, word-of-mouth, donation financed revolution. The way it should be.
I never understood that old maxim, but now I do: "the Revolution won't be televised". It can't be, for that would kill it, bastardize it, and commercialize it (like what has already been done in the United States). It witll destroy what these people believe in. This has already been done in the United States where being a revolutionary, sporting a Che shirt, or wearing a Castro style hat is considered counter-culture. Here they walk the walk. Their revolution is silent and whispered while also shouted and screamed. That is the essence of their revolution.
Subversive and dangerous, the way it should be.
24 October 2008
Over Inspired
The reason I haven't been blogging isn't a lack of inspiration, or being too busy. I have actually had too much inspiration. Countless times I have sat down at my laptop, opened up Blogger and stared aimlessly at the screen until I decided to just go look at Facebook because I wasn't going to write anything. To alleviate the situation, I decided to by a small notebook in which to chronicle my thoughts. So, from now on instead a play-by-play recap of my time in Spain, it will be selected notes and observations. Enjoy:
10/22/08 on the train heading back from uni:
If Philadelphia is the city of Brotherly Love, then Madrid is the city of Platonic Love. This city drips lust and sex out of every one of its pores. The smell of the city and the prostitutes lining the streets create a city-wide horniness that manages to perverse every facet of our collective being. You can call it culture or obsession, but what ever it is, everyone feels it. Maybe it was the 30 years of sexual repression under Franco's regime, but there is definitely a sexual revolution occuring in Spain.
The evidence is in the streets.
There, lovers, prostitutes, and lovelorn singles cross paths everyday. Although most are looking for love, and some for the kind that can be bought, many have already found it. Perhaps it is the sexual acts I've seen in doorways, on street corners, and in the Metro on late weekend nights. Whatever it is, it's everywhere.
Ironically, this culture which displlays such affection towards those who are familiar, gives a cold shouler to outsiders. Glaring looks are received after accidentally bumping two entangled lovers. In this momoent they turn their love in to seemingly pure hatred for you. Hatred because you ruined that shear moment of passion, hatred because you existed, just pure hatred. They never resort to violence, but their death glares envoke the same amount of damage as any knife could.
This is the duality of Spanish love: passionate love balanced by nonverbal physical hatred. Viva amor.
10/22/08 on the train heading back from uni:
If Philadelphia is the city of Brotherly Love, then Madrid is the city of Platonic Love. This city drips lust and sex out of every one of its pores. The smell of the city and the prostitutes lining the streets create a city-wide horniness that manages to perverse every facet of our collective being. You can call it culture or obsession, but what ever it is, everyone feels it. Maybe it was the 30 years of sexual repression under Franco's regime, but there is definitely a sexual revolution occuring in Spain.
The evidence is in the streets.
There, lovers, prostitutes, and lovelorn singles cross paths everyday. Although most are looking for love, and some for the kind that can be bought, many have already found it. Perhaps it is the sexual acts I've seen in doorways, on street corners, and in the Metro on late weekend nights. Whatever it is, it's everywhere.
Ironically, this culture which displlays such affection towards those who are familiar, gives a cold shouler to outsiders. Glaring looks are received after accidentally bumping two entangled lovers. In this momoent they turn their love in to seemingly pure hatred for you. Hatred because you ruined that shear moment of passion, hatred because you existed, just pure hatred. They never resort to violence, but their death glares envoke the same amount of damage as any knife could.
This is the duality of Spanish love: passionate love balanced by nonverbal physical hatred. Viva amor.
01 October 2008
Wi-fi: The Opiate of the Masses
So, I finally got wi-fi in my apartment, and let me tell you it's the best feeling in the world. I finally have some sort of connection with everyone back home! So on to stories from the last week. As you can see from my previous 2 posts, I was going through a bout of homesickness. I told my friend Mariah about it here and she decided to take me on a week of adventures. Things didn't exactly turn out how we had planned, but we managed to create a fun week out of our endeavours. To culminate our week, we decided to go on a daytrip to Toledo (south of Madrid). Funny enough, Toledo is about as far from Madrid as Toledo is from Detroit. Anywho, we got lost in the city, found a great pizza place (finished 3rd in the European pizza cup) and managed to get down all the way to the river and take some amazing pictures. Then we walked all the way back up to the top of the city and saw el Alcazar and the Toledo Military School from across the river. I'd keep describing it but my words do not do it any justice. The proof is in the Kodak, so check the pictures at the bottom of this post.
In other news, Spain has been good. Met some interesting people from all over the world (England, Ireland, Argentina, Switzerland, Sweeden, Finland, France, etc...). The strangest thing is the fact that I continually see people who look exaclty like the people from home.
So far I've seen: "Jillian", "John Vournakis", "Justin Rinke", and "Matt Embree" of rx bandits fame. The latter I've seen a million times, you have no idea how many dirty hippies there are in Spain.
Spain is rife with amazing grafitti, so take a look in the pictures to see what you're missing.
Anyways, here's the photos, take it sleasy.
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032457&l=6b6ea&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032456&l=3f101&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032455&l=36d6f&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032389&id=36202877
In other news, Spain has been good. Met some interesting people from all over the world (England, Ireland, Argentina, Switzerland, Sweeden, Finland, France, etc...). The strangest thing is the fact that I continually see people who look exaclty like the people from home.
So far I've seen: "Jillian", "John Vournakis", "Justin Rinke", and "Matt Embree" of rx bandits fame. The latter I've seen a million times, you have no idea how many dirty hippies there are in Spain.
Spain is rife with amazing grafitti, so take a look in the pictures to see what you're missing.
Anyways, here's the photos, take it sleasy.
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032457&l=6b6ea&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032456&l=3f101&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032455&l=36d6f&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032389&id=36202877
25 September 2008
I rescind my previous statement
In my previous post I was in the middle of a spat of homesickness. I'm not leaving, so don't worry. Bigger blog coming soon.
21 September 2008
16 September 2008
Fuck Me Sideways (AKA, my first weeks in Spain)
To sum up the last couple weeks in Spain, things have gone from good, to better, to homesick, to shitty, to worse, to drunk (a lot), to good, to shitty. I will get to these all shortly.
In the last week I've seen some marvelous things in Madrid. I have finally become acclimated to the Metro system and know how to walk to pretty much everyone of my friends' houses and to other important places. I've met a lot of cool people since I've been here and enjoy spending time with all of them. Our first week consisted mostly of orientations and getting drunk way too late in areas with transvestite hookers, so it was a good time. This week we started our classes and they seem pretty easy and very similar to the way Albion had classes set up. It takes me about an hour to get to school, so learning to be a commuter student is not exactly the most enjoyable experience in the world, but I am quickly learning to deal with it and have started to enjoy my 45 minute nap on the way to class.
This past Saturday was spent enjoying one of Spain's last festivals of the summer, la Noche en Blanco (white night, and trust me I've made all of the racist jokes about it that could be made). La Noche en Blanco is essentially a night when museums, bars, and concerts are all open till about 6 in the morning. This night, Mariah and I deecided to go to a classical music concert and meet up with friends. However, nothing this night went as planned. We arrived there about 45 minutes early, but could not meet up with our fellow CIEE students so we enjoyed the concert separately. After the concert we headed back to meet our group at our local sangria hangout in Plaza del Sol. After deciding to be cultured and see a Flamenco dance exposition instead of getting black out drunk, we ventured through the streets of Madrid.
This is when things got hairy. Upon turning on the street that the exposition was on, we realized we were on the same street as the biggest event of the night. The world record holder for the farthest and highest tight ropes (something like at the top of a 100 something story building, and crossing the Thames) was set to cross the busiest and biggest street in Madrid. After wading through the crowd of at least 5000 people for 30 minutes, we had only managed to travel a mere two blocks. Our night was on the downslope. After a mental breakdown or two, Mariah and managed to make it out of the clusterfuck that was downtown Madrid and proceeded to duck into the closest dive bar we could find to drink the night away. Eventually we manage to meet up with the rest of our friends to close out the night and caught the first Metro at 6 AM.
In other news, I have received multiple e-mails from Albion and CIEE stating that there have been problems with my tuition payment. My parents are currently working on it, but I don't know if we will have everything done by Friday (the deadline). If we don't have everything finished there is a very good chance that I will be going home this week. Hopefully this doesn't happen.
Alright, time to go take care of my tuition issues and stop stealing this cafe's wireless.
Besos a todos,
Gregorio
Pictures from the last few weeks (some are doubles)
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032058&l=56d29&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032056&l=296df&id=36202877
In the last week I've seen some marvelous things in Madrid. I have finally become acclimated to the Metro system and know how to walk to pretty much everyone of my friends' houses and to other important places. I've met a lot of cool people since I've been here and enjoy spending time with all of them. Our first week consisted mostly of orientations and getting drunk way too late in areas with transvestite hookers, so it was a good time. This week we started our classes and they seem pretty easy and very similar to the way Albion had classes set up. It takes me about an hour to get to school, so learning to be a commuter student is not exactly the most enjoyable experience in the world, but I am quickly learning to deal with it and have started to enjoy my 45 minute nap on the way to class.
This past Saturday was spent enjoying one of Spain's last festivals of the summer, la Noche en Blanco (white night, and trust me I've made all of the racist jokes about it that could be made). La Noche en Blanco is essentially a night when museums, bars, and concerts are all open till about 6 in the morning. This night, Mariah and I deecided to go to a classical music concert and meet up with friends. However, nothing this night went as planned. We arrived there about 45 minutes early, but could not meet up with our fellow CIEE students so we enjoyed the concert separately. After the concert we headed back to meet our group at our local sangria hangout in Plaza del Sol. After deciding to be cultured and see a Flamenco dance exposition instead of getting black out drunk, we ventured through the streets of Madrid.
This is when things got hairy. Upon turning on the street that the exposition was on, we realized we were on the same street as the biggest event of the night. The world record holder for the farthest and highest tight ropes (something like at the top of a 100 something story building, and crossing the Thames) was set to cross the busiest and biggest street in Madrid. After wading through the crowd of at least 5000 people for 30 minutes, we had only managed to travel a mere two blocks. Our night was on the downslope. After a mental breakdown or two, Mariah and managed to make it out of the clusterfuck that was downtown Madrid and proceeded to duck into the closest dive bar we could find to drink the night away. Eventually we manage to meet up with the rest of our friends to close out the night and caught the first Metro at 6 AM.
In other news, I have received multiple e-mails from Albion and CIEE stating that there have been problems with my tuition payment. My parents are currently working on it, but I don't know if we will have everything done by Friday (the deadline). If we don't have everything finished there is a very good chance that I will be going home this week. Hopefully this doesn't happen.
Alright, time to go take care of my tuition issues and stop stealing this cafe's wireless.
Besos a todos,
Gregorio
Pictures from the last few weeks (some are doubles)
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032058&l=56d29&id=36202877
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032056&l=296df&id=36202877
04 September 2008
Day one recap
I'm currently writing this from the rooftop of our current hotel in downtown Madrid. From my vantage point in the south of the city I can see almost all that the city has to offer. The wind is blowing strong and I'm starting to enjoy the city more after my first harrowing day in Europe.
As I boarded my plane at Detroit Metro I just knew there would be a problem with my luggage. Call it intuition, call it not trusting the French (I flew with Northwest to Paris, then connected using Air France), but my luggage did not arrive. After talking to the lost luggage people in a foreign language, I really saw how my Spanish skills would be put to the test. I finally left the airport at 1800 (5 PM) after arrive at 1500 (3 PM) local time with the understanding that my luggage would arrive on the 2030 (8:30 PM) flight coming from Paris. After paying 20 euro for a shitty salad at my hotel, I hopped back on the shuttle for the airport. I was told to go to three different places to reclaim my lost luggage, which contained all of my clothing for the next three months. After getting lost and turned around in the Madrid airport for an hour I finally decided to work up the courage to just sneak back through security to the baggage claim area. After committing which was most likely a felony, I was told that my luggage would not be arriving until 2220 on a flight from Paris. I busied my self in the airport by reading a copy of El Mundo (the national Spanish newspaper, think USA Today). Finally around 2300 (11PM) I was rejoined with my luggage and ventured back to the hotel. In short, yesterday was a Hell involving airports and trying to describe luggage in a foreign language. Hopefully this isn't a precursor for the rest of my trip.
So far today has been much better as I joined up with my group around noon. I awoke at 1000, checked out and caught a cab to my current hotel (I was staying at the airport Hilton before, check Facebook for pictures). They all seem like good people and one of the other guys is even an Rx Bandits fan. We went to lunch at a restaraunt called Gingers (no it's not owned by the half human freaks) and now we are back at the hotel. Since everyone else arrived today, they have not had time to adjust to the time difference and enjoying their first siesta.
The programs that CIEE (the organizing program) has set up seem really interesting and I can wait to immerse myself in Spanish culture. Noche Blanco is coming up (all night street festival) so I will be sure to post pictures. I miss all of you and be good to eachother.
02 September 2008
I Hate Airports
I'm currently in my de facto home for the next 3 hours, the Detroit
airport. This message most likely won't be posted till I get to Spain,
but I need to do something to kill the boredom. Sitting in the Fox
Sports bar, I'm surrouded by at least a hundred people waiting for
buisness trips, vacations, and flights to see loved ones. Undoubtedly,
some of these people are in the same boat as me. They're waiting to
start a new chapter in their lives like I am. I'm sure someone in this
smokey sports bar is going through similar to what I am. Someone here
is afraid, anxious and nervous just like me, waiting to start
something new. They are waiting just like me. I know everything will
be just fine, I know Jill, my friends and my family will all be
waiting for me when I get back in December, but I am sure I will have
changed by then. Time to kill two hours walking around the terminal. I
hope everyone is happy and healthy, and I miss you all.
airport. This message most likely won't be posted till I get to Spain,
but I need to do something to kill the boredom. Sitting in the Fox
Sports bar, I'm surrouded by at least a hundred people waiting for
buisness trips, vacations, and flights to see loved ones. Undoubtedly,
some of these people are in the same boat as me. They're waiting to
start a new chapter in their lives like I am. I'm sure someone in this
smokey sports bar is going through similar to what I am. Someone here
is afraid, anxious and nervous just like me, waiting to start
something new. They are waiting just like me. I know everything will
be just fine, I know Jill, my friends and my family will all be
waiting for me when I get back in December, but I am sure I will have
changed by then. Time to kill two hours walking around the terminal. I
hope everyone is happy and healthy, and I miss you all.
01 September 2008
Americans Abroad!
Golden arches risin' above the next overpass.
These horizons are endless.
Americans abroad!
Americans abroad!
Profit driven expansion into foreign markets.
And while I hope I'm not like them, I'm not so sure.
This is the best summer that I've ever had.
European Vacation, me and my best friends.
Americans abroad!
Americans abroad!
Whatever there is to be said is said in English.
And while I hope I'm not like them, I'm not so sure.
Here we are, a rock band looking for new audiences.
Wherever we go, Coca-Cola's already been.
Americans abroad!
Americans abroad!
And I just can't help but think that there's nothing in sight.
And while I hope I'm not like them, I'm not so sure.
These horizons are endless.
Americans abroad!
Americans abroad!
Profit driven expansion into foreign markets.
And while I hope I'm not like them, I'm not so sure.
This is the best summer that I've ever had.
European Vacation, me and my best friends.
Americans abroad!
Americans abroad!
Whatever there is to be said is said in English.
And while I hope I'm not like them, I'm not so sure.
Here we are, a rock band looking for new audiences.
Wherever we go, Coca-Cola's already been.
Americans abroad!
Americans abroad!
And I just can't help but think that there's nothing in sight.
And while I hope I'm not like them, I'm not so sure.
25 August 2008
Welcome to Ohio
last moments of summer. In about a week I will be finally heading to
Spain. I've managed to avoid packing anything up until this point but
I really have to hit it when I get back.
So far this summer has been spectacular, but there have been ups and
downs, especially with by job at Caribou ending and the store
closing. Now I'm trying to scramble and get everything in order for
when I get back. It seems as if life is starting to move so fast. My
flight hasn't even landed in Madrid yet and I'm already starting to
focus on when I get back. Hopefully everything starts to slow down so
I can take stock of everything...
Saying hello to Ohio and Spain, but bye to Michigan.
13 August 2008
Things That I Will Miss
Sitting at Caribou, I'm starting to realize that there's a whole lot
I'm going to miss in Spain. Besides the obvious things like Jill, my
friends and family, there are a number of intangible things I will
miss. I will miss nights like this when I'm sitting outside with
friends discussing unimportant topics. I will miss waking up at noon
with nothing to do, driving to get coffee and meeting my friends.
Things like this can't be replicated anywhere, only at home where all
these experiences exist. I think about these kind of moments quite
often with my trip approaching. Hopefully I'll make new experiences
and have something to miss when I get back from Spain.
I'm going to miss in Spain. Besides the obvious things like Jill, my
friends and family, there are a number of intangible things I will
miss. I will miss nights like this when I'm sitting outside with
friends discussing unimportant topics. I will miss waking up at noon
with nothing to do, driving to get coffee and meeting my friends.
Things like this can't be replicated anywhere, only at home where all
these experiences exist. I think about these kind of moments quite
often with my trip approaching. Hopefully I'll make new experiences
and have something to miss when I get back from Spain.
In other news, I've started to get to know some of the people I'm
going to Spain with. So far they seem to be pretty interesting at
least, and some are interested in the same music. Hopefully this pans
out well.
30 July 2008
Visas and iphones
Just got my hands on a new iPhone and I'm blogging from it for the
first time. I recently got my visa back in the mail and will be
posting some pictures of it soon. This means I'm really getting close
to leaving. It's really weird to be getting so close to leaving. It's
a strange feeling but I'm getting used to it. Hopefully things will
go better then I think they will right now. Anyways visa pictures
coming soon. Enjoy!
first time. I recently got my visa back in the mail and will be
posting some pictures of it soon. This means I'm really getting close
to leaving. It's really weird to be getting so close to leaving. It's
a strange feeling but I'm getting used to it. Hopefully things will
go better then I think they will right now. Anyways visa pictures
coming soon. Enjoy!
21 July 2008
Accepted.
I received the following e-mail today:
Dear Greg Hodges,
I hope all is well. This email is to let you know that your student visa
has been approved and issued by the Spanish Consulate of Chicago.
Your visa is a sticker placed on one of the blank pages of your
passport. Included with your passport/visa will be the original version
of your visa application. You should bring these documents to Spain in
case you lose your passport, as it will make replacing your visa easier.
Best,
Megan
So it's official. I'm heading to Spain.
Dear Greg Hodges,
I hope all is well. This email is to let you know that your student visa
has been approved and issued by the Spanish Consulate of Chicago.
Your visa is a sticker placed on one of the blank pages of your
passport. Included with your passport/visa will be the original version
of your visa application. You should bring these documents to Spain in
case you lose your passport, as it will make replacing your visa easier.
Best,
Megan
So it's official. I'm heading to Spain.
20 July 2008
Why So Serious?
Apprehension. I can say I truly know what this word means at this point. Over the last 6 months I have been caught up in the anticipation that a trip to another country would naturally bring. However, I'm starting to have certain anxiety about my time in Spain. Strangely, it's not about what's going to happen to me while in Spain, but rather what's going to happen here without me. I'm sure so many things will change while I'm gone and I can't help but feel left out of my own life. Although I will miss my friends, family, and girlfriend, I know they will all continue to live life without me. I will continue to do the same. I will find new friends, I will have new experiences which I will treasure throughout my life.
Even though I am sure I will have a great time, I am beginning to become apprehensive about the upcoming semester. Is it worth it? Can I even compare the time I would spend here with my loved ones to the time I would spend discovering a new culture and myself? Only time will tell.
I have only six weeks and one day left until I must board my flight and head to my temporary life as a Spanish student. Things are about to get much more serious than I had originally thought.
We'll see if it's worth it.
Even though I am sure I will have a great time, I am beginning to become apprehensive about the upcoming semester. Is it worth it? Can I even compare the time I would spend here with my loved ones to the time I would spend discovering a new culture and myself? Only time will tell.
I have only six weeks and one day left until I must board my flight and head to my temporary life as a Spanish student. Things are about to get much more serious than I had originally thought.
We'll see if it's worth it.
16 July 2008
Visas and Preparation: An Introduction
This will be the first of what will hopefully be many blog posts while I am preparing for/in Spain. In the last couple months I have begun preparations for my trip to Spain. After my initial application (which I completed on the required due date), I was accepted to the program and began to start the visa application process.
For those who have never applied for a visa to another country, it is quite a process. Each country has its own specific standards and requirements for applying for a student visa. Luckily for me, Spain has some of the most stringent standards for applying for a student visa. I was required to fill out two applications, include 4 passport sized photos, receive a physical, send my passport, 2 copies of my passport, a notarized letter saying that my study abroad company was my legal representative, and a money order for 100$ USD. As a service, my study abroad organization (CIEE) set up a group visa appointment so that each student did not have to travel to their respective consulate. Seeing as the consulate for Detroit is located in Chicago, I thought that this would save me a lot of hassle and expenses. However, this was not exactly the case. The process turned out to be quite stressful seeing as my (now former) bank managed to give me an official check instead of a money order. After returning the check and sending two overnight packages and incurring the charges for two overnight packages, I had spent around 100$ for shipping and other fees. However, all my necessary materials arrived on time to be taken to the visa appointment. As of this point I am waiting to hear back on the status of my visa. As long as my application is accepted I will be enjoying Spain in less than two months. If not I'm going to have to scramble for a back up plan...
For those who have never applied for a visa to another country, it is quite a process. Each country has its own specific standards and requirements for applying for a student visa. Luckily for me, Spain has some of the most stringent standards for applying for a student visa. I was required to fill out two applications, include 4 passport sized photos, receive a physical, send my passport, 2 copies of my passport, a notarized letter saying that my study abroad company was my legal representative, and a money order for 100$ USD. As a service, my study abroad organization (CIEE) set up a group visa appointment so that each student did not have to travel to their respective consulate. Seeing as the consulate for Detroit is located in Chicago, I thought that this would save me a lot of hassle and expenses. However, this was not exactly the case. The process turned out to be quite stressful seeing as my (now former) bank managed to give me an official check instead of a money order. After returning the check and sending two overnight packages and incurring the charges for two overnight packages, I had spent around 100$ for shipping and other fees. However, all my necessary materials arrived on time to be taken to the visa appointment. As of this point I am waiting to hear back on the status of my visa. As long as my application is accepted I will be enjoying Spain in less than two months. If not I'm going to have to scramble for a back up plan...
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