The end of Capoeira

Tunes: The Revelator

Well folks, Capoeira is done for the semester. We had our last class Wednesday, and a "family dinner" last night. Our teacher always calls us his family, and we really experienced it last night. I think I might have said this in a previous blog, but it holds true: there's something about the bond among people who've killed themselves in workouts together. It's been the same in wrestling, football, and rugby. I can't explain that well enough, but I can show you a picture of the effects capoeira has had on my feet:



I think I'll continue to do this sport/dance when I return to Austin. We'll see though, since I always find a way to do too many physical activities, leaving no mental energy for studying (which is why I'm in Austin right now).

A bit of ramble this morning. Just enough time to sit down for a coffee, but not quite to break out my journal and Bible, so I figured I'd share my morning mood with you.

I'm curious as to what my life will be like upon my return. Any person I know here, I've met on this side of the Atlantic, so they don't truly have enough of a bearing on me to see where/how I've changed. I don't often have someone hold a mirror up to my face.

I feel more free, but also with an accompanying stability. I am a little less outspoken, but I feel that I express myself better than ever. Oh, time the revelator. We shall see how I emerge from this epic.

Sixty-nine cent cherries

Tunes: The Cinematic Orchestra, and other recently added songs

Been really enjoying my time recently. This morning, I woke, prepared breakfast, and drank coffee while diving into the word and my mind. It's been a battlefield recently, and I haven't been bored. I later grabbed a sheet and my backpack, hopped on my bike, and headed to the Viveros garden. Stopped at a fruit stand to get a cluster of cherries. I discovered a moth hiding in the pile, and commented how it adds más proteína.

Sunlight, birds, books, and cherries. All while spread out in the park. Finished the Screwtape Letters, and moved locations to read Peyote Tourists. Since then, I've been thinking about how it's possible to experience the most beautiful things without enjoying them, all because of an unhealthy heart. And conversely, how it's possible to experience the most simple things while enjoying them immensely with a healthy and steadfast heart.

Time for class

A view of yesterday's experience

Check out the photos I just posted.

Teeth marks left by biting watches

Tunes: The Black Keys

I had a great day today. My alarm was DeYarmond Edison, and I had enough time to sit around in the quiet of the morning before I made my way to class. Literature was the most engaging yet: we just read The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and we talked in depth about the existential core of the story. The whole class seemed to be on the edge of their seats, and the discussion went on well after class let out. We were tearing into the idea of the circular plot and the dreamed, yet unattained salvation. Oh, existentialism.

A good friend gave me her thesis to read, and I was captured by it for the rest of the day, reading it in my translation class and whenever I had a chance. Remember how I was talking about anxiety? Well, I went to the doc's today to get a heart monitor for 24-hrs. Gotta make sure my ticker's working properly. After that, I went with my fellow UT friend Becky to the City of Arts and Sciences to walk around and take pictures. I have to say, I think today had the best weather of Valencia I've experienced yet.

After a couple of hours, we walked back, stopped for my first-ever cup of mouth-watering horchata, and parted ways. I dropped into my faculty to say hey to some friends, then headed to the Viveros, which is a large park at the edge of my campus. I'm so glad I got to spend most this amazing day at such a tranquil place. I continued my reading and day-dreaming by a large bird cage, listening to their songs while reading about Julio and Lila. After a few hours (time was irrelevant), I wandered around the largest rose garden I've seen. They just fully bloomed last week, and I'm glad I had my camera.

I'm going to a friend's place now to eat dinner and watch a movie.

Goodbye

Ground beef

Tunes: O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack

Just about to go to bed. I'm hobbling around because my feat are like ground beef. Had capoeira today, and it was a fantastic class. Only thing is, I'm missing a good amount of skin from my feet now. We did work, that's for sure. Things are starting to click.

Our teacher is from Brazil, and has the most unintelligible Spanish I've ever heard. I could swear he doesn't even speak Spanish, and that he speaks to us in Portuguese. Anyway, he's a beast of a man. He's going to be a great grandfather one day, but I don't think he ages. He just gets more mighty. He calls me "barba," which is beard in Spanish.

Our class has been bonding quite a lot over these past months. We're planning on doing a BBQ on the beach before the semester's up, and I hope it happens. There's something about the bond formed with people you've sweated pounds with... and then there's something else about the bond formed with people you've FIGHT-DANCED with.

It's too late to be writing. I have class at 8am. I'll try to give you something good soon.

Old men, new teacher

Tunes: Rhymin and Stealin

My philosophy class got a new teacher last week--you know, the class with the old men. The old men and I have a growing a relationship. Each day, they speak to me a little more, and one even knows my name. It's like I'm surrounded by a bunch of fathers, but they really act like children. It's fun.

Well, since we got our new teacher, the class dynamic has changed greatly. Our new professor actually interacts with us, asking us questions, and searching for more than one-word responses. One of my old men friends normally throws out quick answers to some questions, and with the old teacher, never encountered any problems. Our new teacher responds with "why." A simple response, yes? Well, the first couple of times this happened, the old man looked like he was going to have a heart attack. It was as if he was never asked a question before/called out in front of the class.

It almost makes me sweat, watching him (sweat).

New prof is great. Now the class has depth.

Well hey there

Tunes: Iron & Wine

Sorry to all for not writing as often. I've been quite busy with school as exams approach, but that's not the main reason I've been so absent. I've been dealing with anxiety over things I can't control. It's been a struggle to live in the present and trust God with circumstances that are out of my hands. Day-by-day, He's been showing me how to do this, and I've been able to take part in some beautiful things that I could have missed out on.

Take yesterday, for example. I was in my room most of the day because I had quite a load of work, but was tinkering through it slowly, held back by a worrying mind. I finally laid all of it out, and plowed through what needed to be done. After that, I was able to go to the beach--however, as I arrived, so did the clouds. And the rain. But with a filled spirit, an uplifted heart, and some good friends, we decided to stay at the beach. Good choice.

Spaniards don't like bad weather. Almost all of my classmates haven't been to the beach once because it's "too cold." All of the Erasmus students go every day because most don't have beaches close to their homes normally. The rain hitting was quite a spectacle. There were screams, and a large wave of people flooding toward the metro stops. I had to hold back my laughter.

It was Nick, Allison, Caitlin, Julian, Will and me. We packed up all of our stuff (to keep it from getting soaked), and started hitting the volleyball around while laughing at the fleeing beach-goers. (Can I still call them beach-goers in this situation?) Caitlin and I walked barefoot to a restaurant to get some ice cream. When we returned, we decided to play paddle ball in the sand. Made up a sort of paddle ball / 4-square game combination.

Then, we started up a 3v3 game of volleyball. We were such fools the entire time. Whenever announcing the score, we would (try to) make up stupid rhymes. Our team (Nick, Caitlin, and I) lost both times, but I think we had more fun that way. Everything was a joke, and we had no decibel limit. Fun without the sun ftw.

At around 6, we all ran home to shower up and head to church. I love that place. They are a true family there, and we were immediately adopted. After a great message and many kisses, we went back to the girl's place to watch Dear John. Dear reader, don't bother. It was some good fellowship time, though. We know how to enjoy each other.

Bah. I have to get back to grading papers. Hasta pronto

A panoramic

San Sebastián weather is funny. Both days I was there, it was cloudy/rainy constantly, until 5pm, when the sun magically came out. Both days. Unfortunately, I climbed this castle hill before 5pm, so this picture has clouds. Imagine this picture, but at 5pm.

Munsters in San Sebastián

Been quite wiped recently, because I took a trip to San Sebastián this weekend. I went with two German and one American friends. Definitely one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Spain to date.

We went in an overnight bus, leaving from Valencia at 11pm, and arriving at our destination at 6am. (I'll avoid complaining about the bus ride) Upon arrival, we caught a cab to our hostel, where our Russian host allowed us to check in! Six hours before normal check-in. It was perfect--we had planned to find some bar to hang out in and drink coffee, but a bed for a much-needed nap was more than amazing.

The weather wasn't what we would have hoped for, as it was cloudy and raining off-and-on. However, it was unable to mask the beauty of San Sebastián. It is a city on the Northern Atlantic coast, surrounded by green mountains and boasting of surfer-worthy beaches. We spent our entire saturday walking around, climbing up a castle that overlooked La Concha beach, the city, an island with a quaint lighthouse, and more beautiful coast.

This city is quite different from Valencia. Being so close to France, it has a more european feel. The people seemed to be a bit more relaxed than the Valencianos. Well, to be honest, I'm not sure that is exactly it. It's the Basque country: a region that, much like Texas, values their independence. They seem to have their own way of doing things. I didn't spend enough time to really explore their culture for two reasons: I was only there for two days, and the city was full of Irish and French for a rugby match.

Speaking of rugby... I went to my first proper match. Totally unexpected. It just so happened that the semi-final match of the Heineken Cup was held in San Sebastián, due to the fact that neither Munster (Ireland) nor Biarritz (France) had a stadium large enough for the match. It was great. I'm not sure why, but on my way to the match, I felt the happiest I have in weeks. I think it had something to do with the fact that I was walking in the drizzling rain along a canal, surrounded by stunning buildings, and heading to something I've never experienced before.

Beer was sold by the liter, songs were song for every occasion, female and male, child and adult... everybody was exploding with excitement. Being surrounded by all of that made me sweat with desire to get out on that field. Sporting a red beard, and speaking English, I naturally cheered for Ireland. We lost, but it was a fantastic match. And another thing: after a rugby match, everyone's friends. Well, more or less. The Irish sure love a fight (I was told), but I didn't see anything break out.

I'm sorry, but I need to return to homework. Crazy thing, homework. It needs to be done.