All other political beliefs aside, I have one big reason to be strongly opposed to Spain’s new president, Mariano Rajoy: he’s declared a war on puentes. As I’ve mentioned before, puentes, literally translated to “bridges,” are long holiday weekends. People will use “puente” to refer to any holiday weekend, but I believe puente in its truest definition refers to when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday and schools and businesses get the Monday or Friday off as well, making it a fabulous 4-day weekend. In the U.S., we typically shift any holiday to a Monday to make it a nice, clean 3-day weekend, rather than giving any extra time off, and Rajoy wants to do the same. It’s logical, I know, and it’s good for business, but for those of us who want to take advantage of long weekends to travel? Not so good. Rajoy, quit being such a bummer.

Anyway, I began this rant because in February, we had a 4-day puente (meaning 5 days for people like me who don’t work Fridays) for Día de Andalucía, which we used to explore an oft-forgotten region of Spain, Extremadura. With a population only just above one million in the entire comunidad autónoma (state, basically) and far less international acclaim than Spain’s more popular destinations like Barcelona, Madrid, or Andalucía, Extremadura, the region north-west of Andalucía, is a bit of a hidden gem, and a gem it is indeed.

Our Spanish friend Javi kindly offered to drive, so off we went on our Extremadura road trip! Our first stop was Cáceres, a beautiful city that dates back to prehistoric times. By night, we explored the old part of the city, distinctly medieval. I was instantly charmed by it and felt like I had been transported directly back into medieval times. The first night in Cáceres brought that feeling of giddiness and awe, almost like love, that I’ve experienced on my favorite trips.

Sara, me, and Linnaea overlooking Cáceres' Plaza Mayor

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Another year, another batch of hopeful auxiliares de conversación/North American Language and Culture Assistants anxiously awaiting their placements. I’ve been there, and, as a renewal, I’m there again. I understand the anxiety, the stress, the excitement as you wait for the Spanish government to, well, pretty much determine your future. But before you go insane waiting to find out where you’ll be living in five months, here are twelve ways to pass the time until you get that sacred adjudicado email from the Ministerio de Educación.

1. Brush up on your Spanish
   Whether you’re going to Spain fluent in Spanish or barely remembering how to say, “Thank you,” it’s a great idea to brush up on your Spanish before heading over. And a simple way to do that right from home is through media. Download podcasts in Spanish! My personal favorite is the free Notes in Spanish, which will help your comprehension as well as introduce you to fascinating cultural facts about Spain. Also check out PeliculasYonkis and SeriesYonkis for free (illegal) streaming movies and TV shows dubbed or subtitled in Spanish. Or simply turn on your local Spanish station, such as Telemundo or Univisión, which won’t help with the Castellano accent but will still improve your listening skills.
   

   Everyone's favorite guilty pleasure Spanish show, Física o Química

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Okay, first of all, I apologize for the overly cheesy title, but it had to be done. Second of all, I’ll point out that it’s been almost five months since my Morocco trip, but I’m finally getting around to writing about it.

In December, blessed with a week-long puente (Tuesday and Thursday were holidays, meaning we also got Monday and Friday off, and my school was kind enough to let me take Wednesday off as well), I took off for 5 fabulous days in Morocco, led by DiscoverSevilla. I had been to Morocco two years prior and absolutely loved it, so I was psyched to go back.

We took a bus from Sevilla to Tarifa, then a ferry from Tarifa to Tangiers, then a bus from there to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where we had lunch (oh man, Moroccan food is amazing), walked around the beach, and explored the town a bit. First stop was the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Hassan Tower, featuring some beautiful Moroccan architecture. Next, we headed into the old medina of Rabat. With its blue-washed buildings lining tiny, winding streets, Rabat’s old medina reminded me of Chefchaouen, my favorite town from my 2009 visit to Morocco, although this led out to a view of the city lights twinkling over the sea accompanied by the tunes of street musicians.

The beach in Rabat

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Easter bunnies versus KKK-like hooded figures? Dyeing eggs versus praising heavy, gold virgins in the streets at 4am? The U.S. and Spain may celebrate the same holiday, with the same historical and religious origin, but American Easter and Spanish Semana Santa couldn’t look any less alike.

Last week was one of the most important celebrations in Spain, particularly in Sevilla, Semana Santa, or Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. While I took off to Istanbul for the majority of the holiday (more on that fabulous trip later!), I still got to partake in my fair share of both Semana Santa and Easter celebrations, embracing the two very different traditions.

Excited to celebrate Semana Santa on my trip to Sevilla in 2010

One of my favorite tasks as an auxiliar de conversación this year has been preparing PowerPoint presentations for each major holiday, explaining to my students how Americans celebrate, with lots of previously-taken-for-granted details and “¡Ooh qué continue reading..

There’s no denying that spring has hit Sevilla. And I think most would agree that springtime is, by far, the most delightful of seasons in Sevilla, the time of year in which this stunning city truly shines. Spring is undoubtedly the best time of year to experience Sevilla, and Sevilla is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to experience spring.

Temperatures are perfect in the 70s. The sun stays out until past 9pm. Students sip sangría on the riverbank. And, best of all, the spectacularly sweet scent of azahar (orange blossom), perhaps my favorite smell in the world, floods the air for a few weeks.

Azahar and the Torre del Oro

In three days, Semana Santa (Holy Week) festivities kick off. Semana Santa is one of the most important events in Sevilla, and Sevilla has continue reading..

I haven’t been as faithful to this blog recently as I would like to be, distracted by that thing called real life. I know, who chooses real life over the internet? But things are continuing to go splendidly, and more detailed posts about recent trips and adventures are in the works, but here’s some updates about my vida española:

• I continue to love my job, my school, and my students. Sure, the kids can be a bit rowdy at times, and I’m still getting used to the world of teaching, but, really, this is the life.
• I’m anxiously awaiting my regional placement for next year. I should be placed in Madrid because I listed it as my first choice and have priority as a renewal, but I won’t assume anything until I have an actual email from the Spanish Ministry of Education.  I’m also dying to know where my friends will be placed. Gah, impatience! And no fixed dates!
• A few weeks ago, three of my friends and I took advantage of our 5-day weekend and road tripped to Extremadura, visiting the cities of Cáceres, Guadalupe, Trujillo, and Mérida. A fantastic time was had by all.

Hanging out by a 2000-year-old Roman bridge in Mérida, Extremadura

• My mom and sister visited at the beginning of the month! We were also joined by my mom’s college friend and her son, with whom we took a daytrip to Gibraltar, and later in the week I got to see my aunt and uncle, who came down from Madrid for a day, before we all headed up to Madrid for a fantastic weekend of eating, drinking, and relaxing in — I’ve resisted picking a favorite Spanish city for so long because it’s like choosing a favorite child, but I’m prepared to say it — my favorite city in Spain.
• This past weekend, a few friends and I flew to Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, and hit up La Coruña and Santiago de Compostela. The weather may have been rather blah, but it was great seeing a new part of Spain.
• Spring break is about a week and a half away! And I’m going to Istanbul!
• The weather in Sevilla lately is lovely. Springtime in Andalucía is the best.

More updates soon!

Throughout Catholic countries around the world, it’s Carnival season, which means it’s time to party! Carnival marks the beginning of Lent, the time to get all your partying out before forty days of fasting. There’s disputes over where the name came from, but the explanation I prefer is that it comes from “carne va,” or “meat goes,” referring to the ban on meat during Lent. Americans best know this celebration as Mardi Gras, with New Orleans’ Mardi Gras being one of the biggest Carnival celebrations in the world, along with Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval.

A Mardi Gras celebration elsewhere in the world

Spain loves Carnival as well, and one of the most popular places in Spain to celebrate the holiday  is Cádiz, a beach city about an hour and a half south of Sevilla. So, like any good guiri would, last Saturday, I dressed, as my co-teacher explained, as a mamarracho (basically, continue reading..

Valentine’s Day is all about love, and not just the romantic kind, so I want to wish all of you wonderful people a very happy Valentine’s Day! My life is so full of love, largely thanks to you guys.

From what I’ve seen, Spain doesn’t go quite as crazy over Valentine’s Day as we Americans do. Just as we call it a Hallmark Holiday, Spaniards refer to it as a “Día de El Corte Inglés” (El Corte Inglés being Spain’s major department store), but perhaps El Corte Inglés hasn’t succeeded at taking over everyone’s lives quite as much as Hallmark has. Some stores in Spain have Valentine’s Day decorations, but far fewer than in the U.S. Kids celebrate the holiday in school, but full-blown Valentine’s Day parties, complete with tons of cards, cookies, candies, and crafts, are replaced by a few educational activities. The Spanish fast-food pizza chain Telepizza does sell heart-shaped pizzas today, at least. If only Telepizza’s pizza were edible.

You'd think it would be hard to go wrong with pizza, but you'd be wrong. Meet Telepizza.

Even still, I’ve done my best to bring my 3rd favorite holiday (after Christmas and my birthday — what? My birthday isn’t a holiday?) to life. I kicked off continue reading..