Spanish Culture

I don't even remember blinking and this week is already half way over! Things are really starting to fly by which is both scary/ exciting at the same time! I haven't had any other major trips lately but I've been learning a lot about the culture of Spain from a class I'm taking: Spanish Civilization and Culture. It's all in Spanish and my professor is from Spain and we're going to cover everything to geography to the people of Spain. At first I wasn't so sure I'd like this class and was a little disappointed because I had high hopes. But this week my mind was changed. We've been talking about the food of Spain this week in class. I'm not going to lie, I really don't like the food here at all mainly because it's all meat but also I just feel as if, besides Paella, it doesn't have much to it. My teacher thought I was ridiculous for not eating meat and like my senora told me I should just try a piece of Ham because it's so flavorful. I winced and walked away. But he also was able to give us the background and history of the words Paella and Gazpacho, two very popular dishes in Spain. Paella comes from the Arabic word for "leftovers" and that literally is what Paella consists of: the leftovers of the week. They usually eat it on Thursdays and Sundays, Thursdays with Monday-Wednesday leftovers and Sunday with Thursday-Saturday leftovers. I found that very interesting. Paella is a rice dish, usually with a mixture of meats included but I'll enjoy mine with vegetables. It has a saffron seasoning and the rice part of it is delicious! Based on the various regions and what their specific type of meat they enjoy is depends on what the Paella in that region will look like. Secondly, we covered Gazpacho which to us is known as a cold soup, but in Spain it's not known as a type of soup because to them 'sopa' or soup is warm and gazpacho is cold. This word stems from the Greek word for leftovers and is also a mixture of whatever a senora is inspired to include. He told us everyone has a different recipe for "gazpacho" in Spain. We haven't finished our food conversation but today in class I'm sure I'll learn more about the typical foods.
Last night he took our class on an optional field trip walking around Spain. It was really cold yesterday and we woke up with snow on the cars, which was a big deal for me, but by midafternoon it had definitly warmed up by about 15 degrees and was a beautiful day. Which was great for our walking tour until the sun went down, then it got cold. But, only a few people showed up from my class which was a little disappointing because I saw it as a great opporuntity to experience Spanish culture. We visited Egyptian ruins that were a gift and are placed on mt. Principe Pio and overlook the countryside of Madrid. At night they are beautifully light up and surrounded by water. We then walked down by the river and visited the tomb of Goya in an old Greek church. The church was built during the neoclassical era and isn't very spectacular looking compared to the common Gothic churches seen in Spain but inside is a beautiful fresco covering the ceilings that Goya painted. He was Spaniard himself and is known as one of Spain's most famous artists. From there our teacher took us a little Spanish restaurant where we enjoyed cider and everyone else had chicken. The cider is a popular drink, but it just tasted like Martinellis sparkling apple cider to me. Since I don't eat meat I just nibbled on some bread and sipped my cider. Spain also has an abundance of fresh bread and wine everywhere, which I didn't known Spain was known for their wine but he assures us it is and is always telling us a little saying "Con pan y vino, andar el camino".
After dinner most people took the Metro home but I figured I'd walk even though it was around a 20 minute or longer walk, it's a pretty view of the palace and the city. Our teacher also walked back even though he lived farther than me so him and I enjoyed a(at first awkward) walk back together. It was a good way to practice my Spanish and I was able to ask him more random facts about Spain because this man is like an encyclopedia of knowledge on the topic. He is one of the most awkward acting and looking people I've ever met and I have no clue why he is a teacher but he's smart so it works. He has glasses with super thick lenses that make his eyes look like bugs and he's super skinny and lanky, kind of like an awkward teenager but he's really funny once he isn't afraid and shy. I told him how I live in California and he asked about Mexico, because he's lived in Spain his whole life. I told him also how I'm here to learn Spanish and he told me I need to practice with the locals and he told me the best way was to find a boyfriend. It was hilarious, I said I don't disagree with that I'd be happy to but their hard to find. He agreed and then told me how Spaniards don't like to date American women because their sensitive and one word will have them hurt and the Spaniards don't want to deal with it. I was laughing so hard but he was dead serious. Sadly, it's totally true. But, he did give me advice on ways to practice and immerse myself more in the culture so I'll definitly be taking up those opportunities. My awkward walk turned into a success and he definitly made my day :).
I actually am suprised by how many people stop my on the streets asking me for directions, thinking I'm from Spain. I personally do not think I look Spanish at all, but I'm absolutely flattered. Spaniards also have THE cutest children I've ever seen. They are all dressed with little bonnets, long pea coats and leggings, and I am envious! They are all adorable with flushed cheeks in the cold and speaking Spanish faster than I could ever comprehend but so precious.
There are all these little 7/11 type stores here, literally 2 on every block, called Alimentacions, but we call them Chinos because their all owned by chinese. (I'm not kidding-every single one). And here you can literally find ANYTHING smushed into these tiny closet sized stores. I nearly cried with happiness when I found soy sauce in one the other day and I've almost used a whole bottle to spice up my food in the past 3 days- it was an other successful find. It's also my goal while I'm here to try and make typical Spanish foods such as a tortilla (which I've heard is easy and my senora said she'd help me) and Paella, veggie of course! We have a full kitchen, with an interesting assortment of cooking equipment so we'll see how far it takes me. I really want to bake but I don't think the Spaniards are as into it as we are back home, I can't find cooking ingredients anywhere.

This weekend we're going to Seville which should be amazing and hopefully a little warmer, maybe in the 60s, which sounds like heaven on Earth to me. Also in two weeks we signed up for a trip t0 Cadiz, Spain in the second weekend of February for their annual Carnival which is the 3rd largest festival in the world I just found out so I'm excited to celebrate! Our winter break February 18-23 will be spent in Paris and Germany! We are trying to work out a trip to Istanbul and Greece for Spring Break which I am praying works out because it sounds like a dream come true if it works. Fingers crossed!

My first little stint of homesickness came this weekend seeing all of the new babies that we're accepted after rush in Theta. All the pictures from bid-day looked so fun. It made me sad I wasn't there, but excited to meet them all when I return. Welcome new little Thetas :), I'll meet them soon!

Now back to studying to learn every region, province and capital in Spain!