"No soy de Alemania"

Tunes: Brandi Carlile

Today's events:
1) Good breakfast
2) Given a ton of papers to correct
3) Bought Tickets for the game against Germany on Thursday
4) Mascletá
5) Lunch
5) Back to school to read
6) Class
7) TBD

Un cuento: Okay, so I went to the stadium to buy fútbol tickets with my german friend Maria. We needed to buy 12 tickets, for us and our friends. The game is Valencia CF against Werder Bremen (Germany). Apparently, they won't sell tickets to Germans until Thursday, because they want them in a specific section. They don't want fights breaking out between fans mixed together.

So Maria and I are both blonde-haired and blue-eyed. She is from Germany, but she is officially here for school. I'm from Texas, but I look like a German. We both walked up to the booth, and tried to buy tickets. They guy wouldn't sell them to us because he said we have to wait until Thursday (with all the other Germans). After many attempts to tell him that we're students here, he just laughed at us. He was convinced we were from Germany (well, Maria was, but she doesn't like Werder Bremen).

I insisted I was american, and told him I was from Texas. He still didn't believe me. Finally, I pulled out my Texas driver's license, and pressed it up against the window. "I'm from Texas."

Immediately, he stopped laughing and consented. My ribs almost exploded from laughter. I can't believe that worked. I felt like I had two six-shooters, and pulled my coat back to reveal them. That feeling was enhanced by the fact that I was wearing my belt buckle made by my Uncle Frank. (Big, gold, cowboy, crosses, and spurs)

After apologizing, the man in the window told me he'd been to Dallas before, and said that I look like Dirk Nowitzki. Never head that before, but I'd like to think I'm slightly more attractive than him.

We have tickets! Definitely need to buy a Valencia CF scarf so others don't think that Dirk is going to get angry and start a riot in the Valencia section.

Good times

Warm Bread

Today is the second day I've been blessed with a freshly-baked baguette. I needed some sustenance before heading to the library, so I hopped into Mercadona for some nomnoms... score. You can really hear the bread sing.

Yes, library. Need to turn in a translation assignment by tonight, and it's proving to be quite difficult. Good thing I have Lykke Li and KVRX to keep me company, and friends to help me with my childish syntax.

I'll be in Morocco in 6 days.

More and more rain

"Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah"

Too many status updates

Tunes: Billie Holiday

There have been too many small things that I've wanted to tell you about, but I was blocked by wanting to write a whole lot and not having the time. I'll settle this matter by giving brief descriptions, in my favorite format (bullets), and leaving most up to your imagination.

-There are 4 old men, all of whom could be someone's high school principal, in my philosophy class. I've been sitting closer and closer to them each day, and now they talk to me a bit. Or rather, they talk about me, and talk about my oddities. I walked into class without a jacket, and one pinched my skin, said something about me not being cold, then made a comment about me using my computer, and they had a little discussion. They spoke in valenciano, so I didn't understand all of it. They all smoke small cigars in the streets.

-I love drinking oranges. Josep's dad sent me home with a huge bag of oranges for juice, and I'm drinking the equivalent to XXXXtra pulp, if that exists.

-I just booked a ticket to Cagliari, Italy for the week of Easter. 46 euros via plane, and I'm going to couch surf. ^_^

-I'm about to walk to the port, and take advantage of the rain. There's a small bar with big windows, and I'm going to get a coffee and read.

-Today, I received a package from my family full of easter candy, 2 SKIPPY JARS, some photos, ink refills for the best pen in the world, my led moo-ing cow, much needed vitamins, a garlic press?, some gum, and a SICK neck warmer made by Shannon. I LOVE YOU GUYS. All of the candy (except the bunny) is gone.

-While waiting to pick up my package at the post office, a leashed dog came up to me and an older lady sitting next to me. The owner apologized, but the lady and I said it's fine and began to pet him. After the man left, a few surrounding people and I had a conversation about how much we love animals.

-I've had a smile most of the day.

-I had the first real language difficulty today, when trying to print something out at school. I swear, this guy had cotton balls in his mouth.

-Billie Holiday is good

-RIP William

-Working on some translation stuff for my class... really difficult, but it's going to help a lot.

-Looks like I'm going to start teaching Flor's little brother some English! That'll be fun. He's a rowdy kid, and I need some of that non-stop energy around me from time to time.

Bye

iPhoto

iPhoto is giving me some mess, and it won't let me upload my pics. Bear with me.

Mercadona

Mercadona is Valencia's equivalent to HEB. They have their own brand of products, just as HEB has Hill Country Faire. Mercadona's brand is called Hacendado. I think the stuff's pretty good. My roommate calls it "hace daño."

Hehe

It's about time I let people know what's up

Tunes: Angel. From the Abbey Road Session. Solid tune.

I can't make too many excuses, but I've been more or less out of internet for a few days.

Today is the first day of March, marking the beginning of FALLAS! Google search Las Fallas, and you'll get a slight grasp on what it is here. Basically, for the whole month, there will be a ton of fireworks, lots of food, too many people, and lots of burning things. There will be a mascletá every day. In fact, I'm going to one right after posting this email. I'll try to get a good video.

I went to Sueca this weekend, and had a great time. My friend Josep (pronounced geeusep) had me at his place: very nice flat near the center of the town. Saturday night, we went to see a movie with some classmates, then went to a local discotec for some drinks/dancing. Sunday was awesome. Woke up, and had breakfast with his family. We talked about a variety of things over freshly-squeezed oj, strong coffee, croissants, traditional pumpkin buñelos, and croissaunts.

Tiny highlight of the morning: standing on his balcony, hearing the central church's bells sing, and watching two men struggle and argue while unloading a mattress from a truck.

After breakfast, Josep and I went for about a 3-hour walk around Sueca. He and his father go on walks around the town every Sunday evening, and Josep showed me all of his childhood favorite spots. I fell in love with all of the architecture. And, as some of you know, I can never keep my hands off of things. I wanted to touch every ornate, large door knocker on the immaculate doors. At one place, I accidentally let the knocker fall, and an old lady came out. I tried so hard to get a picture of her, but she wouldn't give into my pleading. Let me try to sketch it for you:
The door was about 12-feet tall, with two heart-shaped knockers (will post a picture). The lady who came out had completely white hair, a blue apron, and a nervously curious smile on. She was a child compared to the door she stood beside, and she seemed to fit so well into the scene. It was great.

I have some other pictures of various sites.

We came home for lunch, and boy was it a feast. We had bread, a salad, cockles, black wine, and chicken & pork paella. For dessert, we had coffee/tea, a very large mocha tarta, pineapple slices, and ice cream. It just kept on coming. Lunch lasted for about 3 hours.

Josep's family was so kind and generous. His uncle, aunt, and cousins came over to talk with me, and they invited me to go traveling to Galicia with them during Easter. Not sure if I'll go, but it was very sweet. After very much talking, I had to leave to get home! I had a ton of homework, and had to make it to a church service. They wanted me to stay another night, so I had to really work to leave. That's the kind of family I like.

TIME TO RUN. Gotta lose my hearing at the mascletá.