Skål
15 years ago
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
An unforgettable night
Tunes: Timshel
Sunday night: get back from the beach, and have an email waiting for me from Karioka, my capoeira teacher, asking me if I want to party with him and his friends in Elda. Down. So within 5 minutes, I threw some things in my bag and headed out the door for pickup. We caught a bus, and headed down. I had no idea what we had in store for us. (Oh, btw, it was 7pm when I left VLC, and Elda is about 2 hours away in bus. So the commitment meant being out all night and catching a train the next morning to make it back in time for classes. Which happened)
So we arrived in Elda, and grabbed a kebab while admiring the festivities of the Moros y Cristianos festival that was going on: thousands of people dressed as Muslims, pirates, and centurions parading through the streets. That was quite a sight by itself, but it was not what called us to the town. Karioka (Which is a nickname for a guy from Rio de Raneiro. His real name is George) has some friends of many years who wanted to celebrate in their own manner. We met up with them in a bar, and the laughs ensued. The group was 40 years+, and we were the weirdest combination of people. One guy from Las Canarias, one from Brazil, one from McAllen, Texas, a 20-year-old from the US, one from Spain, and a hob-glob of friends who came and went like a swarm of giddy children.
After a few bars, where I was not permitted to buy anything, we headed to Pepe's warehouse. What were we doing there, I wondered... I soon found out, as a series of Brazilian drums were brought down from shelves and distributed to every able hand. Karioka had taught these guys how to play years back, and we were going to make our own parade to outdo the Moros and Cristianos. After about 30 minutes of practice, we hit the streets.
Our Brazilian conductor was so meticulous, ensuring each person was dead-on. The result: a fantastic melody of beats, whistles and yells, accompanied by a town-full of people ready to join in and dance around us. We went from street to street, plaza to plaza, drawing crowds and smiles. We played from 1am to 7:30am. I don't understand how it was possible. Here's a photo of what that did to my hand:
I'll soon post photos of the smiles, dancers, and insanity of it all.
And I made it back to class the next day?? Yupp. Nothing a little siesta, food, and frisbee can't fix. Man, that was a great night. I don't know how it happened, and don't know if it will ever happen again. Thank you God, thank you Spain.
Sunday night: get back from the beach, and have an email waiting for me from Karioka, my capoeira teacher, asking me if I want to party with him and his friends in Elda. Down. So within 5 minutes, I threw some things in my bag and headed out the door for pickup. We caught a bus, and headed down. I had no idea what we had in store for us. (Oh, btw, it was 7pm when I left VLC, and Elda is about 2 hours away in bus. So the commitment meant being out all night and catching a train the next morning to make it back in time for classes. Which happened)
So we arrived in Elda, and grabbed a kebab while admiring the festivities of the Moros y Cristianos festival that was going on: thousands of people dressed as Muslims, pirates, and centurions parading through the streets. That was quite a sight by itself, but it was not what called us to the town. Karioka (Which is a nickname for a guy from Rio de Raneiro. His real name is George) has some friends of many years who wanted to celebrate in their own manner. We met up with them in a bar, and the laughs ensued. The group was 40 years+, and we were the weirdest combination of people. One guy from Las Canarias, one from Brazil, one from McAllen, Texas, a 20-year-old from the US, one from Spain, and a hob-glob of friends who came and went like a swarm of giddy children.
After a few bars, where I was not permitted to buy anything, we headed to Pepe's warehouse. What were we doing there, I wondered... I soon found out, as a series of Brazilian drums were brought down from shelves and distributed to every able hand. Karioka had taught these guys how to play years back, and we were going to make our own parade to outdo the Moros and Cristianos. After about 30 minutes of practice, we hit the streets.
Our Brazilian conductor was so meticulous, ensuring each person was dead-on. The result: a fantastic melody of beats, whistles and yells, accompanied by a town-full of people ready to join in and dance around us. We went from street to street, plaza to plaza, drawing crowds and smiles. We played from 1am to 7:30am. I don't understand how it was possible. Here's a photo of what that did to my hand:
I'll soon post photos of the smiles, dancers, and insanity of it all.
And I made it back to class the next day?? Yupp. Nothing a little siesta, food, and frisbee can't fix. Man, that was a great night. I don't know how it happened, and don't know if it will ever happen again. Thank you God, thank you Spain.
Friday, May 28, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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
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
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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.
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.
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