I have to brief stories of where my ability to speak spanish was a bit inadequate when trying to communicate with my Senora. Hopefully you'll enjoy them.
Peanut Butter:
Right after I moved in with my Senora she asked me what types of food I like to eat. I was trying to say peanut butter which in spanish is mantequilla de cacahuete (butter of peanut) but instead I said mantequilla de cocaina (butter of cocaine) OOPS!
Calamari
One night for dinner my Senora made me paella, which is a rice dish with seafood. The paella had calamari in it. What I mean to say was "how weird, I can see the calamari's tentacles (tentaculos)" but instead I said, "how weird, I can see the calamari's testicles (testiculos)" I was so embarrassed.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Ilana in the UK
After a bit of excitement, with flight delays and the like, I began my European adventure with a day on my own in London. I found the place where I would be staying, got a tube pass and then spent the next 5 hours walking. I acquired some ginormous blisters on the soles of my feet. I met up with the tour that evening for dinner and went to sleep before 7pm. (By the way, my watch and at least half of the signage I see is in military time. So 19:00 if you will.) Day 2 was more touring, but in small groups rather than alone. We saw the British Museum and the Tate. I fell in love with London...just in time for us to leave and go to Edinburgh. I will need to go back to London.
Edinburgh got off to a rough start. The weather excited my allergies and asthma and had me sleep through an entire day. My 30 hour nap and loads of medication helped me get better in time to see tons of shows, a couple of castles, haunted dungeon, ghost tour, crazy people, beautiful scenic country side and so much more. One of my favorite shows was the performance of the Military Tatoo. It's several groups performing traditional Scotish music and dance in front of Edinburgh Castle. Not what I would consider "my thing," but non-the-less AMAZING!
The group when home and I arrived in Dublin on Sunday. I found my hostel, met some Canadian girls who stayed in my room, then took to the city to roam similarily to how I had the first day in London. I made my way over to Trinity College where the most beautiful blue eyed Irish man gave me a tour around the campus. I fell in love...with the college that is. The last stop on the tour was the old library where I got to explore and learn about the Book of Kells and some other very old manuscripts. The writing and pictures where incredible. It really got my trip off to a great start. That night I saw some Irish comedy and had a pint of Guinness. (I'll be legal for the rest of my life now...though I won't be 21 until January!) Day 2 I saw the Guiness Storehouse, Dublin Castle and spent the evening with some roommates exploring some night life. Today I visited the National Gallery, National Museum, St. Stephen's Green and tonight I'll be going with some of my roommates to continue learning an important Irish tradition, drinking. (Legally, remember?!)
I was quite nervous about staying in the hostel, especially because I am in a mixed gender room. But I have been pleasantly surprised. I have met many really nice people (from Canada, Scotland, US, France, Australia, Poland and Italy) and I'm having a truly wonderful time.
I leave in the morning for Belgium. So bye bye to the UK!
Edinburgh got off to a rough start. The weather excited my allergies and asthma and had me sleep through an entire day. My 30 hour nap and loads of medication helped me get better in time to see tons of shows, a couple of castles, haunted dungeon, ghost tour, crazy people, beautiful scenic country side and so much more. One of my favorite shows was the performance of the Military Tatoo. It's several groups performing traditional Scotish music and dance in front of Edinburgh Castle. Not what I would consider "my thing," but non-the-less AMAZING!
The group when home and I arrived in Dublin on Sunday. I found my hostel, met some Canadian girls who stayed in my room, then took to the city to roam similarily to how I had the first day in London. I made my way over to Trinity College where the most beautiful blue eyed Irish man gave me a tour around the campus. I fell in love...with the college that is. The last stop on the tour was the old library where I got to explore and learn about the Book of Kells and some other very old manuscripts. The writing and pictures where incredible. It really got my trip off to a great start. That night I saw some Irish comedy and had a pint of Guinness. (I'll be legal for the rest of my life now...though I won't be 21 until January!) Day 2 I saw the Guiness Storehouse, Dublin Castle and spent the evening with some roommates exploring some night life. Today I visited the National Gallery, National Museum, St. Stephen's Green and tonight I'll be going with some of my roommates to continue learning an important Irish tradition, drinking. (Legally, remember?!)
I was quite nervous about staying in the hostel, especially because I am in a mixed gender room. But I have been pleasantly surprised. I have met many really nice people (from Canada, Scotland, US, France, Australia, Poland and Italy) and I'm having a truly wonderful time.
I leave in the morning for Belgium. So bye bye to the UK!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Here I go on my European Adventure!
So I went through with a name change because I decided my blog was more about travel than my thoughts. Well, my perhaps my thoughts on travel...but anyway. I tried to make it @nomadlife, but nomadlife limits me to 14 characters, and I can't come up with a name I like that is short enough. Ugh. Let me know if you have suggestions.
I leave in less than 12 hours for my European Adventure. I'm so full of emotions right now, it's crazy. I still have a bit more to do in the way of packing...namely my computer box for shipment post my departure. Fortunately I am continuing my before big travel tradition of not sleeping the night before I go. This should give me the time I need to get all things in order.
I'm already having to overcome my first challenge, concerning my eurail pass. I suppose it is my second challenge, if you consider the fact that my less than 2 week old camera for Europe was stolen 5 days before departure. Worry not, the pictures will come...I got a new camera.
My thoughts are kind of scattered...a combination of nerves, excitement, tired-ness and knowing I still have many things to accomplish. Keep me in your thoughts as I begin my European Adventure.
*I hope that I get better at writing on this as I go.*
I leave in less than 12 hours for my European Adventure. I'm so full of emotions right now, it's crazy. I still have a bit more to do in the way of packing...namely my computer box for shipment post my departure. Fortunately I am continuing my before big travel tradition of not sleeping the night before I go. This should give me the time I need to get all things in order.
I'm already having to overcome my first challenge, concerning my eurail pass. I suppose it is my second challenge, if you consider the fact that my less than 2 week old camera for Europe was stolen 5 days before departure. Worry not, the pictures will come...I got a new camera.
My thoughts are kind of scattered...a combination of nerves, excitement, tired-ness and knowing I still have many things to accomplish. Keep me in your thoughts as I begin my European Adventure.
*I hope that I get better at writing on this as I go.*
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Beginning
I have had this blog for a while I suppose, but I have never written a blog post. I went through and looked at a bunch of the settings, but decided to keep them the same. I'm considering revising the title, but I kind of like it. I thought of changing it to "exploring my thoughts" but decided against it because many of my thoughts are really stolen from others thoughts. Maintaining the lack of "my" seemed best.
Many of my closest friends are or have recently been scattered across the globe. It seems kind of crazy to me, but I feel like, generally speaking, it is becoming the norm.
I'm interning this summer on campus at the International Center. One of my responsibilities is to speak about Study Abroad to the incoming freshman at Summer Welcome. Some people stop and talk to me, some just pass by. Sometimes when "pass by"-ers are trying to pass by, if I ask if they're interested in Study Abroad, mostly they say "yes" and listen to me for a few minutes then fill out a raffle card. Today when I asked one particular boy he said he was "not interested." I was taken aback by his frankness. Typically, even if people don't want to listen to be speak for a while they will either say "yes" and take a flyer or ignore me all together. But this boy was different. My automatic response was a mixture of sympathy, because he clearly didn't know what he was missing out on, and confusion, because how could someone be "not interested" in going abroad. I suppose he just said he wasn't interested in "Study Abroad" rather than going abroad all together.
I'm going to Europe for an academic year. I leave in 7 weeks. I hope I will be ready. I am quite nervous.
Many of my closest friends are or have recently been scattered across the globe. It seems kind of crazy to me, but I feel like, generally speaking, it is becoming the norm.
I'm interning this summer on campus at the International Center. One of my responsibilities is to speak about Study Abroad to the incoming freshman at Summer Welcome. Some people stop and talk to me, some just pass by. Sometimes when "pass by"-ers are trying to pass by, if I ask if they're interested in Study Abroad, mostly they say "yes" and listen to me for a few minutes then fill out a raffle card. Today when I asked one particular boy he said he was "not interested." I was taken aback by his frankness. Typically, even if people don't want to listen to be speak for a while they will either say "yes" and take a flyer or ignore me all together. But this boy was different. My automatic response was a mixture of sympathy, because he clearly didn't know what he was missing out on, and confusion, because how could someone be "not interested" in going abroad. I suppose he just said he wasn't interested in "Study Abroad" rather than going abroad all together.
I'm going to Europe for an academic year. I leave in 7 weeks. I hope I will be ready. I am quite nervous.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
