oh Carnaval

This huge Spanish celebration is called Carnaval, which is pretty much just like Halloween in the US except way bigger. It is the first week before Lent starts and is a time of "freedom" before the famous 40 days leading up to Easter and Semana Santa. They have 3 stages in the streets where bands play. My friends and I were huge fans and made our way to the front where we continued to dance like idiots while the Spaniards stared and judged. There are also dances in the streets, parades, games and tons of food.

Here is Sydney (right) dressed as a bird but you can't see her mask. I am dressed as Jane of the Jungle and Marisa (left) is dressed as??

This is a few of us with some new spanish friends dancing on a stage where everyone walks up and down to show off their costumes.

And I had to get a picture with the group dressed as the Dharma Initiative from one of my favorite TV shows Lost and a chicken? People were decked out in costumes like rugby teams, I saw a shopping cart disguised as a bull, clowns, doctors, pirates, babies and much more. Tradition for Carnaval is for the men to dress like women and women to dress like men.

Lazy Sundays

So I know at home we like to relax on Sundays by sleeping in and reading the newspaper or watching a movie, but Spain truly has lazy Sundays. People don't do anything and the whole city of Alicante is shut down. However these Sunday has become my favorite day of the week by far. If you walk down to the beach all the roads and highways that run along the beach are closed until 2 pm so that people can walk, run or ride a bike. It is the perfect time for people watching. I took a few pictures of my first Sunday here and wrote the captions next to them.

Top: A view from the boardwalk looking at the beach and the castle.

Left: There are vendors on the street that sell all kinds of things like knock-off sunglasses, purses and clothing. Police came charging in and they all pick up their stuff and run like hell in hopes of not getting caught.

This is called the Senior Gym. There are tons of different activities or exercises that older people are able to do for a workout while hanging out at the beach.

Chica americana

Ok, so even if you go out and buy the most euro outfit that you can find the people here can pick you out like a sore thumb for being american. Sometimes when I talk to people in Spainsh they will respond to me in English. All I want is for them to humor me a little. Today I accidently bumped into a guy and said "lo siento" (I'm sorry) and he replied, "Don't even worry about it." Come on! The best story is today I was shopping in a thrift store in order to find a cheap heavy sweater when the store owner approached me. Without me saying a word he asks me in english, "Have you heard of the Donaldson line." Having know idea what that was I replied to him in spanish "No, I haven't." He took me to the back of the store to show me the Donaldson line which consists of all Disney theme clothing...I mean its bad enough that you can tell that I'm from America but you are really going to take me to the Disney section?! AHH

Spainards

Here are a few observations I have made:

1. They love to talk, and when you want to talk they just talk over you.

2. They are very blunt.

3. They don't use garbage cans.

4. Don't cross the street unless it's a green crossing sign because they will run you over.

5. Don't wear running shorts in January, people will try to trip you.

6. They don't do anything on Sunday's.

7. Never pay more than 1.5 euro for a glass of wine.

8. They eat EVERYTHING with olive oil.

9. Expect to eat at least 4 oranges a day here.

10. Don't think that you can expect to go to any restaurants or stores between the hours of 2-5 because they are all at home eating and taking a siesta.

El castillo de Guadalest.

Finalmente!

I made it safe and sound to the beautiful city Alicante. We had orientation for 3 days and then moved in with our host families. I live in "el centro" with madre Carmela Ros. My host mom is wonderful, she is super active, funny, loves to talk and go for walks. It is a completely different lifestyle in every aspect over here in Spain, both good and bad. I usually wake up around 7:30 a.m. and eat some breakfast, go off to school, come back around 3 and eat lunch. Lunch is their big meal here, everyone leaves work for two hours to go home and eat with their family. You can barely find any small shops open during the hours of 2-4 pm. After you eat you go and take a "siesta" for a good couple hours and then get up for dinner that is usually served around 9. The younger crowd will do their homework after and then hit up "el barrio" around midnight and not make it back until around 4 or 5 am. Then wake up and do it all over again.

I am having a blast but it is frustrating at times, especially when it comes to speaking the language. However, I am slowly adjusting and having a great time. I will post pictures soon. Miss you all at home!