El Dìa de los Reyes

January 6, 2012

Roscón

Today was Three Kings Day. Here it is like Christmas.  This is when the receive all of the presents.  There are three kings that travel in sleighs that come and deliver presents just like Santa Claus.  There was a parade down the main street.  There were people dressed up as the three kings and they all had big floats the were sitting on and threw little caramels out to all of the little kids.  It was so cool to see....a very cultural experience.  Later I went to a friend's house for dinner and then we all went out to celebrate.  This all took place on the eve so then the next day came the food and boy was it good. We had a half of a pig sitting on the table...haha.  Then desert is the best part.  They have what is called a roscón.  It is filled with whipped cream inside and there are two things hidden inside of it.  One of them is good and the other bad.  The first one is a figurine of one of the kings.  If you get it in your piece it means you have good luck for the year.  The second one is a dried fava bean that means you have to pay for the roscón the next year.  I loved celebrating Three Kings Day and it was really nice to have the extra time to get presents :) 

Skiing in the Pyrennes

January 3, 2012
Today we went skiing for the first time and it was absolutely incredible!!!  It felt like I was in a completely different fairytale world.  We went to Formigal, the biggest one in Spain which is about a half an hour drive from Sabi.  From the road it doesn't look like much but you actually drive into the mountain to get to the parking lot.  And there are 4 parking lots all located in different places in the mountains.  So when you are skiing you can pretty much ski in 360 degrees and 'travel' across the mountains.  Like its not all on one face or plane at all so you can never see the whole thing but it makes for a feeling of being on top of the world and really going somewhere.  Also all hidden throughout the trails and bars and restaurants of course with great food.  They also have hired DJ's to play great music all day and the food options are insane!  You can get regular 'mountain food' or kababs or crepes or pretty much anything you can think of.  They also have around 3 magic carpets and pomas which are actually quite long like you aren't just skiing for 20 seconds on a flat part.  I can't believe the skiing here and am so excited to go again!!!!

NOCHE VIEJA

December 31, 2011- Januray 1, 2012!
New Year's Eve!  So This might have been my best New Year's ever.  I started off the night at dinner at our neighbors house.  We had a typical new year's dinner with lots of fish of course.  Also here there are quite a few traditions.  At midnight, everyone eats 12 grapes for 12 months of good luck in the new year.  Also if you put you ring in your champagne it is supposed to bring you good money.  The last one is you are supposed to wear something red for I think good luck also.   And at midnight instead of watching Times Square and the ball drop everyone watches the main square in Madrid and there are famous people there who eat the grapes and everyone eats them then.  After that everyone goes to the sports center where there is a band playing.  It's not just like any other town party because everyone gets dressed up in usually black dresses and button downed shirts.  It's so fun!  And I actually came home a little early because my feet were dying for dancing for 7 hours...early as in 7:30 in the morning.  It was such a great way to start the new year!

Pádel

December 28, 2011
Today I played paddle tennis for the first time.  My host dad and brother are obsessed with this game.  So I went to play with my host brother today.  It was so fun!  He actually teaches the sport so it was very helpful.  Never mind the fact that it was a great time plus exercise (well needed after Christmas dinner) but we were playing under the lights at night with the stars above.  How perfect.

Feliz Navidad and Happy Hanukkah

December 20 - December 27, 2011

This holiday season for me was really about learning the new culture and also teaching a little bit of mine...a true exchange of cultures.  My grandma sent me a little Hanukkah care package so I could celebrate it with my family.  It was cool because they had never heard of it before.  We lit the candles and played dreidel one night and I also made them potato latkes.  For Christmas here they have Santa Claus and presents but it isn't as big because these also have Three Kings Day on the 6th of January.  For Christmas Eve we went to Jaca with Merche's family.  It was so fun and I still am full.  There was so much food!  Also I mad eggnog for everyone!  Now I finally know ALL of the family, and there is so much.  We did a invisible friend (secret santa) and I got a Sevillana dress!!!!  These are the traditional dresses of Flamenco.  I am so excited to now have a Flamenco dress of mine own, such a classic thing to come back form a year abroad in Spain with.  For Christmas day we went to Mamen's house, on Julio's side of the family.  Once again the food was amazing although I was a little sick so I couldn't eat all of it.  Also my host family gave me this really cool scarf and perfume (I think it is THE Christmas present, everyone I know got perfume or cologne).  I had such a wonderful Christmas, couldn't have asked for better.

Little Juan

December 13, 2011
The other day when I got home from my painting class Mamen (my host dad's sister) and her family were at our house.  They have a little son named Juan who is 4.  Mamen told me that the other day at school Juan was asked to draw a really really happy moment that he remembers.  Out of all the things he could have drawn he drew himself with me and Victor (my host brother) playing with him on his birthday that had been the week before.  This just made my week!

Puente en Zaragoza

December 9-10, 2011
In Spain the 6th and the 8th of December are fiestas...so I had a long weekend! I went to Zaragoza and stayed with Maggie, another exchange student.  I made the trip strictly for shopping seeing as I hadn't really bought anything since I have been here.  I would say it was a success.  I had so much fun with her and her host family and got everything that I needed, except boots which I don't think I will ever find ones that I absolutely love.  At night we went to this crazy cabaret show at the discoteca....SO Spanish.  Very successful weekend!